The Above and Beyond Award- Bob Wolf

“Nominees in this category will be an individual who supports and reinforces the values of the Chamber and exhibits a high level of commitment, initiative, leadership, cooperation, and dedication – going above and beyond expectations.”

Bob Wolf, Osceola Medical Center

Physics loss; our gain

The next award is given to Bob Wolf for his Above and Beyond work done in 2014 serving as the President of Wheels & Wings Inc. and the Wheels & Wings Work Group Facilitator.  Along with Vice-President Rod Turner, Treasurer Jerry Tack, Secretary Paul Strand, Board Member Rob Cardenas and Advisors Jeff Meyer and Phil Mattison, Bob did hours and hours of work, both at the committee level and on-site the day of the event.  When his Wheels & Wings collaboration began, Bob was excited to work with so many different groups around town.  Bob’s role was to help the Wheels & Wings organization come together and to talk towards a common goal to help improve this festival and the community.

Bob is also currently serving in Osceola as Vice-President for the Millpond Learning Foundation and as a Vision 2030 member.  In his home community of White Bear Lake, he teaches martial arts and has volunteered his time building parks in that area.  He has been on the Osceola Chamber Board since 2007.  Within the chamber he has served as Vice-President, Organization Committee Chair, Wheels & Wings Committee Chair and Finance Committee Chair.  His friend, Carter Johnson asked Bob to join the chamber board and Bob jumped at the chance to be able to work with the business community.  He takes relating to community very much to heart and it provides Bob with opportunities to grow personally and professionally.  Bob feels a big part of his job and volunteer work is to work with everybody.  He believes in accompanying others to make them look better.

Bob was born in Ashland, WI.  His family moved to southern Wisconsin and Bob graduated from Stoughton High School.  He was attracted to UW-River Falls to study physics.  One quarter of physics was enough and he graduated with a degree in Journalism and Metropolitan Regional Studies and a minor in Spanish.  He really wanted to be a journalist and loves explaining things to people and writing and talking about communities.

Bob has held various communication jobs over the years including reporting for the Hudson Star Observer, Community Relations Coordinator for the North Branch School District, consultant for Twin City Testing in St Paul, general communications consulting, hospice development, Community Relations Coordinator for Core Products in Osceola and currently works at Osceola Medical Center, also in community relations.  He helps plan OMC’s annual 5K, parades, health booths and helps promote the fitness center.  It was in 1992 when he was working as a consultant that he first came to Osceola.  One of his clients owned the Osceola Sun.  He enjoyed the area and feels very fortunate in being able to continue to work here.

Bob has two children and enjoys traveling when not at Wheels & Wings meetings.  He has visited Ireland, Spain, Montana, most of the Midwest, Washington DC, North Carolina, Alabama, South Dakota and Canada.  On his travel wish list is Iceland.  One favorite Wolf family activity is taking IQ tests so his wife can stay up to date on testing.

We sincerely thank Bob for his many hours, hard work, patience and leadership for the Chamber and more specifically, Wheels & Wings.

As Bob says, “I enjoy doing what I can to make the bigger picture better.”  Thank you.