Living in the Fox Cities offers a perfect balance of work and play.
Young professionals living in the Fox Cities have an abundance of opportunities for personal and professional development, while also finding time for fun with family and friends. Networking organizations like the Fox Cities Chamber’s PULSE Young Professionals, along with a range of other opportunities, provide plenty of incentives for people to build a life and career in the area. Here are two professionals who came to the Fox Cities at different times in their lives and found compelling reasons to stay.
Find Your People
Kayla Fischer works as the community outreach lead for Scheels, a sporting goods chain that has a store at the Fox River Mall in Appleton. Fischer grew up in the Fox Cities, having moved to the area in second grade. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for college and considered moving to Milwaukee or Texas before deciding to settle in the Fox Cities.

“Growing up, I always had those big city dreams,” Fischer says. “Appleton and the Fox Cities have that big city heart, where you have everything so close to you. It also has that more local heart and core to it. You can leave your door unlocked, and people are just more friendly. You can drive 2 miles, and it’s not going to take you 30 minutes.”
Fischer lived in the Fox Cities while commuting to school, which she says allowed her the opportunity to network in her community through internships and volunteering with local nonprofits.

Fischer credits PULSE Young Professionals as being one of the most beneficial groups she has joined. Now vice president of PULSE, she helps organize a variety of events to help connect young professionals with peers in their community.
“When you attend a PULSE event, there’s just something different that makes it so much easier to connect,” Fischer says. “When you’re meeting with people who are all around the same age as you, they’re all in relatively the same boat. … So, it’s really great to connect in that sense with professionals who are in similar seasons of life as you.”

Aside from professional opportunities, the Fox Cities offer much in the way of entertainment. Fischer’s personal go-to has been Yoga3, a hot yoga studio that recently reopened. For lunch or dinner, she recommends Katsu-Ya of Japan and Rye Restaurant, both in Appleton. She also points out the abundance of great local coffee shops, including Copper Rock Coffee Co. and Bedrock Coffee Roasters.
Yet, it is ultimately the community of Appleton that keeps Fischer in the area.
“The biggest reason I love it here is the people,” Fischer says.

Pursue Your Passion Living in Fox Cities
Originally from Wausau, Wisconsin, Carissa Paul found her way to the Fox Cities, thanks to her husband.
“I just fell in love with the area,” Paul says. “It’s a great place to raise a family, develop my professional goals, and just network and grow.”
Paul now works as the program manager for the Fox Valley Memory Project, which offers support for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and their families. While she works in Menasha, Paul lives with her husband and children in nearby Neenah, allowing her to experience the best of both worlds.
Paul also utilizes networking groups, including PULSE as well as LINC, which is affiliated with United Way. While PULSE allows her to connect with other professionals in the area, LINC provides a way for members to give back to their community.
“These are professional networking groups providing a fun way to broaden my professional connections, acquire new skills and unlock potential leadership prospects,” Paul says.
Living in Neenah, Paul frequents the downtown area, which is packed with shops and restaurants to explore during her free time.

Broken Tree Pizza and Zuppas Café have become her favorite restaurants. In the summer, Paul enjoys golf, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers baseball games and the Mile of Music festival. For families with young children, she recommends the Building For Kids Children’s Museum in Appleton, which offers hours of interactive play.
Paul counts herself fortunate that she enjoys going to work each day in a close-knit area like the Fox Cities, where her work has a direct impact on the local community.
“I love what I do,” Paul says. “I love the organization I work for, and I love the people I work with. Opportunities to be involved in the community through my young professional network groups have just brought so much joy and so much passion into what I’m doing.”

Three Ways to Make Connections in the Fox Cities Region
Anyone new to the Fox Cities will quickly take notice of its low cost of living, high-quality schools and beautiful scenery. But longtime locals will say it’s the sense of community they love most about the region. For those plantingroots in the Fox Cities, here are a few ways to get involved.
Fox Cities Chamber
With more than 1,400 business members and 700-plus young professional members, the Fox Cities Chamber offers a plethora of opportunities to get plugged into the community. Network with peers as well as CEOs of the area’s largest companies. Learn and socialize through many programs and services. Or, volunteer to be part of the Octoberfest Committee.
Pulse Young Professional Network
The PULSE Young Professional Network is sponsored by the Fox Cities Chamber, and it provides programs that allow individuals ages 20 to 40 to connect. PULSE meets at least once a month, and the 2024 event calendar includes both professional development and social events such as Lunch ’n Learn, CEO Breakfast, Cocktails & Conversation, Mini Golf Outing and Night at the Museum.
Volunteer Fox Cities
Volunteer Fox Cities connects individuals and businesses with a heart for their communities to volunteer projects across the Fox Cities region. To find available opportunities, reference the Volunteer Fox Cities website at volunteerfoxcities.org.
By Wesley Broome on August 19, 2024
Livability Magazine