Sept. 21, 2026
Contact Nicole Van Ert, dean of the Viterbo University College of Business, Leadership, and Ethics at nmvanert@viterbo.edu
Viterbo University and the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce Announce First-of-Its-Kind Partnership
New partnership brings the La Crosse Area Chamber to Viterbo’s College of Business, Leadership, and Ethics
LA CROSSE, Wis. — Viterbo University and the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce announced an innovative partnership that will bring the Chamber directly into Viterbo’s College of Business, Leadership, and Ethics, creating new opportunities to connect students, faculty, and the region’s business community.
Through the partnership, the Chamber will have a presence within Viterbo University’s College of Business, Leadership, and Ethics (CBLE). As an initial step, the Chamber will host educational and professional development programming on campus, regularly bringing business and community leaders to Viterbo and creating opportunities for students, faculty, and professionals to connect and learn from one another.
Believed to be among the first partnerships of its kind in the nation, the collaboration offers a distinctive model for strengthening the relationship between higher education and the business community. Bringing business leaders, students, and faculty into a shared environment creates opportunities for relationships and ideas to develop naturally, and for students to engage with the business community while they are still completing their education.
“The Chamber has always been about connecting people, ideas, and opportunities to strengthen our business community,” said Sam Scinta, CEO of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce. “This partnership allows us to expand that work in a meaningful way while building stronger connections with the next generation of professionals and leaders. By working more closely with Viterbo, we can create new opportunities for learning and engagement that benefit our members, students, and the broader community, rooted in our shared commitment to servant leadership.”
The partnership brings together two organizations with deep roots in the La Crosse region and a shared commitment to developing leaders and strengthening communities. For more than a century, the Chamber has championed local businesses and economic vitality, while Viterbo has educated generations of students who lead and serve throughout the region.
That shared commitment is already reflected in the organizations’ longstanding collaboration on the Certificate in Servant Leadership. Over the past 12 years, more than 500 individuals have completed the program, developing leadership practices grounded in service, ethics, and care for others.
“Universities and business communities often work together, but few have the opportunity to build a partnership this integrated,” said Dr. Rick Trietley, president of Viterbo University. “By welcoming the Chamber into the College of Business, Leadership, and Ethics, we are creating an environment where education and community come together in a meaningful way. It reinforces Viterbo’s commitment to preparing students not only for their careers, but to lead and contribute to the communities they will serve.”
“This partnership reflects our vision for a college where learning extends beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Nicole Van Ert, dean of Viterbo University’s College of Business, Leadership, and Ethics. “When business and community leaders are part of the life of the college, students gain opportunities to build relationships, learn from experience, and explore the challenges and opportunities shaping our region. Those connections enrich education and help students see how they can make a difference in the organizations and communities they will serve.”
The partnership aligns with CBLE’s commitment to providing a personalized, career-connected, and leadership-focused education grounded in ethics, service, and Viterbo’s Catholic Franciscan values. The Chamber’s presence within the college will create a foundation for continued collaboration and new opportunities to emerge as students, faculty, business leaders, and community members come together.
About Viterbo University
Viterbo University is a Catholic, Franciscan university, dedicated to preparing students for faithful service and ethical leadership. For more than 130 years, Viterbo has combined academic excellence with a deeply personal, purpose-driven educational experience grounded in Franciscan values. Through undergraduate and graduate programs, professional learning opportunities, and community partnerships, Viterbo empowers students to discover their purpose, develop their talents, and make a meaningful impact in their professions and communities. Within the College of Business, Leadership, and Ethics (CBLE), students benefit from leadership-focused education, guaranteed paid internship opportunities, and meaningful engagement with business and community leaders throughout the region.
About the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce
For over 150 years, the Chamber has worked to strengthen the La Crosse area by working collaboratively with businesses and regional partners to drive economic growth, cultivate and retain talent, expand opportunity, and foster a thriving community where people and organizations prosper together. Its mission is to champion and empower the business community through advocacy, education, and collaboration - leading the La Crosse area FORWARD.
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