First and Last Name – Dave Neumann
Hometown – Born and raised in Fond du lac
What brought you to Fond du lac – Other than 4 years in college at UW Milwaukee, I have lived here all my life. My wife, also from Fond du lac, knew when we wanted to start a family that Fond du lac was a great place to raise them.
Place of employment and Position – Purchasing Specialist at RB Royal Industries
What do you enjoy the most about your current career? – Since 2020, one thing that has been a nightmare for all industries has been the supply chain. Though it has drastically improved, it is still certainly still quite challenging at times. This makes for an interesting adventure every day.
What words of wisdom would you share with other YPs in relation to career building?
Don’t be afraid of what’s next or what tomorrow might look like. Don’t ever feel like you have to settle or do something you don’t like. This doesn’t mean I think you should get a new job every two weeks, it means that you need to make sure you are doing what’s best for you and those around you, this may mean a new job or new career path.
Who or what inspires and motivates you to be your best?
My wife has been a big part of making me who I am (so its her fault!) She has always seen the best in me and pushed me to find out that being outside my comfort zone can be comfortable. I also think that it’s important for me to be my best for my kids. Though I may not always realize it, there could be times when they are paying attention to what I do or say and that can have an affect on how they approach things in life.
What are 3 characteristics and or Strengths that make you who you are?
I have always had a whatever it takes attitude when it comes to all facets of life, be it my career, parenting, friends, etc. If you ask me to do something, chances are I am going to get it done, even if it’s something that I know nothing about.
I have often been called the ideas guy. I love a good brainstorm session! Especially when it comes to planning a new event or ways to improve an existing event
I am also not afraid to do anything to make you laugh, check out the YPF week band video…if you haven’t seen it yet, you should find it!
What is favorite thing to do in your free time/a hobby you enjoy?
I am a music junkie and a vinyl addict. There are many things I love about streaming, but I still love the idea of physical music, holding the record in your hand, looking at the pictures on the back, the lyrics and pictures on the inside. When you put a record on, you have to listen to the whole thing, listen to it the way the artist intended you too. You can’t skip songs or only listen to the single. You can discover a lot of great music that way.
I also love going to concerts, there is something awesome about live music no matter the genre or if it’s at the bar or at the Fiserv forum, live music is a cheap (though ticket prices aren’t cheap these day) form of therapy. When you’re at a show, everyone there has a different story but for a few hours you are all united in your desires to ROCK AND ROLL!
What is your favorite part of being in YPF and how has it benefited you?
In the few short years I have been part of YPF, my network of personal and professional connections has grown tremendously. It is also incredibly exciting to know there is such a big group of people in the greater Fond du lac area that want the same thing I do, help make Fond du lac somewhere that’s fun to work and to play.
How has YPF evolved under your leadership, and what are you most proud of?
It’s certainly interesting to reflect on the past year, I can’t believe how fast it went! I wanted to make sure throughout the year we always had the right people in the right seats on the bus. I am most proud of the hard work that several of our very active members put in to help YPF as a program be set up for future success. As a leader, one of the most rewarding things to me is when you see someone find a strength, they didn’t know they had.
I am also honestly most of proud of the fact that I stepped up when asked. Though I would have never imagined myself in the chair role I am glad I didn’t shy away from the challenges that it brought.
A Favorite YPF memory
The very first committee meeting I ever went to was for YPF week, I didn’t say a word the entire meeting. Gina Popp even called me out at the end and said “Dave, any thoughts or input?” My journey from that moment to now having been the 2023 Chair has certainly been a fun one! I feel like there are still a few more memories to be made with this group, even though I am getting old!
What does community engagement look like to you?
Being engaged in the community has so many different levels. Fond du lac has a lot of great events (Walleye Weekend, Fondue Fest, Big Brother Big Sisters Halloweenie). It takes a lot of people to put on events like that, and even if you can’t be a part of the planning or working the event, you can be impactful by simply attending the event. So you can easily engage in the community at whatever level you feel the most comfortable with.
Share a lesson you have learned or a nugget of advice with other YP’s
Don’t be afraid to say yes. Now, you certainly don’t want to burn yourself out and stretch yourself thin. Saying no because its something outside of your comfort zone or because you simply don’t want to, maybe take a second and think before you instinctively pass on an opportunity. One of the worst feelings in the world is “man I wish I would have”
What do you love about the Fond du lac area today and what is your hope for its tomorrow?
If you find Fond du lac boring, I feel like you aren’t looking in the right place. They have done so many great things with Downtown Fond du lac! In the summer you have the Saturday mornings farmers market, Thursday Night market and bands at Thelma. Even in the winter you have Sturgeon spectacular or the Halloweenie Street Party in the fall.
My hope for its tomorrow is that we don’t lose momentum. There are a lot of people in this community that have an incredible vision for what its future holds. Having made so many connection thorough my time with YPF, I know that we have a lot of great things to look forward to in the Fond du lac community.
I also think we need a brewery in Fond du lac, but maybe I need to be the one to make that happen!
