Meet Bobbi Damrow, Ed.D. Vice President of Workforce & Economic Development and Community Relations, Mid-State Technical College
Experienced relationship-centric executive leader with demonstratable strategic outcomes. Career practice in Post-Secondary Education Administration, Community & Economic Development, Manufacturing Leadership, International Business, and Small Business Ownership. Bobbi is an entrepreneur at heart and a strategic thought leader versed in changing landscapes, emerging business practices, and inspiring team collaboration.
Bobbi holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Edgewood College, Madison, a Master’s in Management from Bellevue University, Omaha, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch College, Milwaukee, and an Associate’s Degree in Small Business Management from Northcentral Technical College, Wausau. She holds CCP and CPC certifications from the Business Credit Management Association, American Society of Credit and Collection Professionals (ASCCP).
Economic Development Engagement
Bobbi has been involved with regional economic development for most of her career. In 2006 when the Park Falls Paper Mill shuttered, she was a founding member of the Park Falls Area Economic Development Association with an immediate focus on strategically planning for an economic rebound of the mill and the community. She has been involved in initiatives with Visions Northwest, Grow North, and for the past decade with Centergy. She accepted the responsibility as Centergy Board Chair in 2022 and looks forward to working with the board and membership in updating the strategic directions.
As a Centergy member and advocate, Bobbi participates in Central Wisconsin Days, bringing the voice of central WI to legislators in Madison each year. She looks forward to Centergy’s annual Developer Tour and is a key collaborator on Centergy’s Central to Success initiative. Through her leadership at the College, Mid-State, Centergy and six other community organizations received funding through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Wisconsin Innovation Grant program in 2022. This grant will allow Centergy to make great strides in the Central to Success initiative.
Mid-State Technical College
At Mid-State Technical College, Bobbi is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and oversees the Division of Workforce & Economic Development, the Grants Team, and Marketing and Communications. Bobbi continues to vet new projects and opportunities related to workforce and economic development. She held leadership roles in launching the Healthcare Simulation Center in partnership with Aspirus Hospital, Wisconsin Rapids; Fire Training Center partnerships with Stevens Point, Marshfield, and Adams County Fire Departments; and most recently Mid-State’s Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering Technology, and Apprenticeship (AMETA) Center under construction along I-39 in Stevens Point. This new destination training center will serve the greater central WI area by bringing advanced training to the area. Students will skill for in-demand careers, employers will benefit from a relevantly trained pipeline of workers and the area will enjoy a $3M annual economic impact from the Center, once fully operationalized. The Center is slated to welcome students in the Fall of 2024. This grass-roots project brought together over 125 partners from public, private, local, state, and federal organizations to fund the $22M Center, ushering in Industry 4.0 to Central Wi. Additional details can be found here: www.mstc.edu/partner
In addition to Centergy, Bobbi also serves on the Northcentral WI Workforce Development Board, Portage County Business Council, and Boys and Girls Club of Portage County.
When not working, Bobbi will be traveling with her family and spending time at the Lake.