Chamber to Unveil New Health Plan at Pre-EXPO Program

The Chamber will offer members a first look at a new health plan solution during a special program ahead of Business EXPO 2025. The ‘Healthcare Solutions’ session, hosted in partnership with M3 Insurance and WPS Health Insurance, will be held at 8 a.m. on Thursday, April 17 in the Eagle’s Nest room at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Rothschild. Advance registration is required.

The Chamber has teamed up with M3 Insurance to launch an exclusive health plan for member businesses with 5 to 99 employees. This initiative gives growing businesses access to competitive, customizable and cost-effective healthcare coverage.

“This is a game-changer for small and midsize businesses in our region,” said Dave Eckmann, President and CEO of the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce. “We’re proud to provide our members with a tool that helps attract and retain talent while managing healthcare costs.”

The Chamber Health Plan Initiative is not a co-op or association plan. Each participating business is individually underwritten, meaning rates and coverage are tailored to their actual group — not pooled risk. That means participants keep control and avoid the one-size-fits-all approach of association health plans.

“M3 is excited to collaborate on this effort to deliver flexible, smart solutions to Chamber members,” said Makenzie Loveland, Client Executive and Employee Benefits Lead at M3. “This approach gives employers control and confidence in their healthcare choices.”

Following the program, the region’s largest business event, Business EXPO 2025, will kick off at the Central Wisconsin Convention + Expo Center. The EXPO will host thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors. The show opens at 9 a.m. for exhibitor-to-exhibitor networking and opens to the public from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free with a business card or $20 without.

The event will feature the Small Business of the Year Awards at 10 a.m., a mascot parade at 1 p.m. and the Best In Show Awards will be presented around 3 p.m. Admission to the event is free with a business card or $20.

The EXPO will be followed by the Fun@EXPO networking event from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at bantr in Rothschild. Fun@EXPO is the region’s largest business networking event of the year, offering a unique opportunity to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones. Food and beverages at the event will be supplied by numerous Chamber member restaurants, caterers, distributors and breweries. Cost is $25 at the EXPO or at the door.

The Small Business of the Year Awards and Business EXPO are sponsored by M3 Insurance - Wausau at the presenting level, The Dirks Group, SDS Painting Company and Vitality Bar at the platinum level, by Ho-Chunk Gaming-Wittenberg and SUN Printing at the gold level, American Family Insurance – David Cooper Agency, In The Lite Electric, Jim Kryshak Jewelers, Northwest Tool & Manufacturing Company Inc, Spectrum Insurance Group LLC-Wausau and Yach’s Body & Custom at the silver level. Media sponsors for the week include Midwest Communications, The Business News and WAOW News 9. The printed map sponsor is RotoGraphic Printing Inc and the Best In Show Awards sponsor is Fully Promoted-Wausau.

For more information about becoming a member of the Chamber or to learn more about this health plan, visit WausauChamber.com or contact Kathy Peterson, membership director, at 715-848-5951.