Joe Beck is both a scientist and an entrepreneur. Joe gave his new member classification talk at the Waunakee Rotary Club’s virtual meeting April 29.
Joe’s hometown is Beloit, where that large Hormel Chili plant is as you drive south on the Interstate. He attended college at UW-Madison earning a degree in microbiology and a Ph.D. in cellular microbiology before doing his postdoctoral work.
He went to work at Mithridion, a biopharmaceutical company working to develop a treatment for Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia. The company was composed of four biologists and three chemists. Afterwards, he started his own company, Protein Mods, which provides proteins for laboratories.
With a large building on Moravian Valley Road, formerly home to Geneva Ingredients, he became involved in e-sales in 2019, selling just about anything. That company, Blackstar Assets, helps company liquify their assets. They are also working with nonprofits who receive donations they can cannot use.
Joe met his wife in college and they have 5 children.
Joe also twists balloons into figures, saying it’s “a great thing I get to do with my kids.” He also twists the balloon creations at parties and fairs.
Other news:
-WaunaFest President Leonard Allen is working with Coca Cola to see if that company will provide a trailer, Jim Kattner said. The club is planning to host a stand selling meatball and mozzarella sandwiches and pork on a stick but is waiting to see if those menu choices are approved by the WaunaFest committee.
-Kylie West reported on Make Music Day, a global celebration of live music being held in Waunakee for the first time. It is June 21. She said the hope is to fill Waunakee with music everywhere, all day and all night. Rotary is planning to have a food stand near Hometown Pharmacy.
-President Tom Kennedy said the club is working on putting information into the 150th year cookbook.
-Lisa Humenik said her committee will present the board of directors with a strategic plan at its next meeting. She thanked all members for participating in the new member survey.
-Phil Willems said he has been setting up tee times at the Meadows of Sixmile Creek golf course. Anyone interested in playing golf after the Thursday Rotary meetings is welcome to join. Just email him.
Birthdays: None.
Anniversaries: May 6, Don and Joanne Tierney; May 6, Roxanne and Kevin Johnson; May 8, Todd and Tonya Schmidt.
