4 Viable Strategies to Combat the Senior Living Labor Shortage
"What’s it like having five kids?" Jim Gaffigan recalls being asked. The comedian replied, "Imagine you’re drowning. And someone hands you a baby!" If you’re an executive in the senior living field, this may describe how you feel. Your work is essential. It requires a high level of specialized skill and a deep well of compassion to provide the care residents and their loved ones deserve. Times are tough, though. Special funding provided during the Covid pandemic is ending. Well-intended regulations are imposing unintended difficulties. Hiring and retaining quality staff is exceptionally challenging; operating margins are low. Moreover, burnout rates [...]
Embracing Partnership and Innovation: A Reflection on Collaboration with Wisconsin Lutheran College and Catalyst Construction
As I reflect on my journey with Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) over the past 16 years, one significant partnership stands out: our collaboration with Catalyst Construction. This relationship not only transformed our campus but also reinforced the principles of trust, stewardship, and innovation that are vital to our mission of preparing Christian leaders. The Beginning of a Partnership When I began my tenure as President in 2008, WLC was a smaller institution with 600 students. Today, we are blessed with a record enrollment of approximately 1,100 students, thanks in part to the strategic growth initiatives and building projects we've undertaken [...]
Catalyst Construction and Moss Universal Park: Pioneering the Future of Inclusive Recreation
Catalyst Construction is proud to announce its participation in constructing the Moss Universal Park, a groundbreaking project aimed at creating a universally inclusive park that goes beyond the playground and brings access from the forest to the baseball field, an all-inclusive playground to picnic areas, restrooms to sensory rooms. Every activity in Moss Universal Park is designed to be fully inclusive for families and individuals impacted by disabilities. But this park goes beyond that—it will intentionally be built for ‘everyBODY’, ensuring universal community access, so ‘noBODY’ feels left out. Scheduled to break ground in Spring 2025 and open by Fall [...]
Catalyst Construction Partners with Apostolic Truth Church for New Church Campus
Catalyst Construction is proud to announce its collaboration with Apostolic Truth Church (ATC) of Appleton, Wisconsin, on an exciting new project that marks a significant milestone for the local community. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new church campus took place on June 9, signaling the beginning of a transformative development on the north side of Appleton. The new ATC campus will feature a state-of-the-art worship center with seating for 950 people, extensive classroom and programming spaces, a dedicated youth center, and a children's area complete with a game room. Additionally, the campus will include a community room, a food pantry, [...]
5 Ways to Utilize Church Space During Summer
Have you ever wondered where your congregation goes during the summer months? Church leaders often say, “You can’t fight summer,” with calendars quickly filling up with picnics, parties, and vacations. It’s true that summer offers endless joy for families and communities alike, but preaching to half-full pews and empty worship halls can be disheartening for churches. The good news is that you can position your church as the central hub for sunny activities, laughing children, and joyful celebrations that honor God by optimizing your unused church spaces. With some planning and creativity, these vacant areas can become vibrant gathering points [...]
5 Construction Priorities That You Can’t Afford to Overlook
There are two types of people in this world. Those who make “to-do” lists – and those who rely on them! Which one are you? Knowing what to expect helps you prepare. Being prepared empowers you to be present. Like going on vacation. If you thought through everything you need and double-checked your luggage, you’ll be far better positioned to enjoy the ride. Of course, you don’t have to plan the life out of everything you engage in. Spontaneity has its place. But you don’t want to walk into your life’s biggest moments with a blindfold on. Taking on a [...]
10 Effective Development Partnerships for Church Spaces
Seasons change. Chapters close. Life cycles repeat. There is a time for everything under the sun. There is a time to start new churches, close old ones, and revitalize declining churches. Tragically, many churches don’t recognize their current stage in the church’s lifecycle. John Bussman reports that churches can dramatically overestimate their health. His research found that: “LCMS congregants are three times likelier to report growth than official attendance data suggests, and 70% less likely to report decline than official attendance data suggests.” This phenomenon is not unique to one denomination. Churches of all flavors can misread their situation – [...]
Bring Your Vision to Reality with a Multilayered Church Construction Process
DIY is all the rage. YouTube tutorials promise to make everyone an expert. That’s great in some cases. Why not learn how to craft, paint, or upcycle? In other cases, DIY can be disastrous. Take whitewater rafting as an example. You can read blogs, watch videos, talk to experts, and even take a class. But you need a guide if you’ve never physically gone through rapids on a raft. Once you’re in the water, there's no time for second-guessing or revisiting your notes. The unpredictable rocks and rapids demand split-second decisions. They won’t offer a second chance. Without an experienced [...]
Church Building Construction: Embracing Flexibility and Adaptability
Do you remember driving in new places before a GPS navigation system told you exactly what to do? If you were cautious, you’d track down a map at a gas station, or print one from the internet. Otherwise, you had to rely on the well-meaning, but less helpful directions from a friend. They'd say, “Turn left by the big tree. “You can’t miss it,” they’d promise. Inevitably, you’d miss it! Even with the best of directions, you couldn’t possibly anticipate the amount of traffic, detours, or Sunday drivers. All of which could cause you to pivot and find an alternative [...]
What is a Groundbreaking Ceremony and 3 Values it Displays
Ben didn’t want to walk. He didn’t see the purpose. It would be a long, uncomfortable day. Walking across a stage, receiving his college diploma, shaking the hand of the dean – none of these things would alter his life in any noticeable way. Janet, his mother, disagreed. From her perspective, this moment was about something much bigger than a one-afternoon celebration. It was a culmination of years—generations—of investing in Ben. It also signaled the beginning of a new, exciting chapter in her son’s life and the generations to come. Some moments must be celebrated because they point to something [...]
