LA CROSSE, WIS. – The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Kara Schuster as the new Southwest Regional Director covering La Crosse and the surrounding area in Wisconsin.
“We are thrilled to have Kara on board to lead our Southwest region,” said Kamaljit K. Jackson, Ph.D., WWBIC Vice President of Programs and Operations. “Her leadership, management and business ownership experience are a perfect fit for this position.”
Prior to joining WWBIC, Schuster spearheaded the development of the La Crosse Wellness Center, and spent 16 years owning and operating seven Snap Fitness locations. In addition, Kara is the co-founder of and advocate for the La Crosse Autism Foundation. She studied sales, marketing and management at Northwest Technical College and Moorhead State University.
In her role with WWBIC, Schuster will oversee the overall coordination and expansion of WWBIC’s business training and financial wellness programs in Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Juneau, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Richland and Vernon Counties, and ensure client satisfaction in the area.
The Southwest WWBIC regional office opened in La Crosse at 3500 State Road 16 in 2021 and has quickly made a positive impact in the community. The Southwest Office was named the Wisconsin Women’s Business Center of the Year for 2023.
About WWBIC
The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) is a leading statewide innovative economic development corporation that is “Putting Dreams to Work” by assisting micro enterprise & small businesses. They are AERIS rated and are one of Wisconsin’s first Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI). WWBIC’s primary focus is on women, people of color, lower-wealth individuals, and veterans and military connected families. They open doors of opportunity by providing direct lending and access to fair and responsible capital, quality business training, one-on-one technical business assistance and coaching to increase financial wellness.
WWBIC has fiercely championed their mission by operating in five Wisconsin regions to offer services statewide, channeling its activities through three primary lines of business: small business lending (ranging from $1,000 to $350,000); technical assistance/coaching; and entrepreneurship and financial wellness training. Since 1987, WWBIC has served 72,709 individuals and loaned $107 million to small business owners. Their technical and capital support has created or retained 18,027 jobs with 9,009 businesses started, strengthened, or expanded. To learn more about WWBIC visit: www.wwbic.com.
