PROFILE
IN SERVICE
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The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it
can never forget what they did here.
-Abraham Lincoln
Pliml finds SUCCESS with
hard work & collaboration
–Michelle Gormican Thompson, Thompson Communications
S
ituated on the banks of the Pacific Ocean, on
beautiful Monterey Bay in California, Lance
Pliml entered the world at Fort Ord Army
Hospital. It is not really a stretch to state that Lance
was born into service. After all, his father Frank was
stationed there after having received draft papers on
his wedding day to his bride Marlene.
Growing up in Downers Grove, Illinois, Lance
came of age as many Baby Boomers did, surrounded
by an extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was nurtured with the idea that to get what you
want in life, you have to work hard.
“My family was successful because they got
up every day and worked. My great grandfather
owned a butcher shop and my grandfather started
making deliveries in the company truck when he was
12 years old in the Chicago area. They gave me a
moral compass and a strong work ethic,” said Lance.
“Every opportunity I’ve had in life was because of
my parents.”
“WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING”
With solid role models, Lance was active growing up,
be it in the Boy Scouts, where he would ultimately
achieve not only Eagle Scout, but also the esteemed
Order of the Arrow, or in athletics, in which he
excelled. Tenacious, he was not particularly large, yet
still went on to earn eight varsity letters in football,
cross-country, wrestling and baseball at his large
suburban Chicago high school. Lance got his first
taste of service as his eighth grade class president,
when he created a drug abuse forum.
“I was always looking for opportunities and willing
to try anything,” he said.
As a student at UW-Madison, Lance got his first
taste of the hospitality industry, working at several
restaurants throughout his time in school to help pay
the bills. “I liked being around people all day and
engaging with them,” he said. “I saw my family work
hard for someone else my entire life and they taught
me if you don’t like the rules, be the rule maker.”
While still in college, Lance formed the first of his
three corporations in the food and beverage industry.
Eventually he made his way to Wisconsin Rapids,
where he owned the popular, “Lance’s Never Inn.”
For 20 years it was ranked as the number one rated
nightclub north of Madison and featured music
seven days a week.
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“The way we can enhance the work of the
association is to get even more involved.”
Wood County Chair Lance Pliml sat down this fall to speak with Michelle Gormican Thompson, Thompson Communications and WCA
Managing Editor Jennifer L. Bock in a beautiful wood-paneled courtroom at the Wood County Courthouse. The photograph of Pliml on the cover
of this edition, as well as those above were taken by Fond du Lac photographer Patrick Flood.
“I’ve also been a real estate broker for over 30 years
and have been with First Weber for eight years,” he
said. “I enjoy it because it’s a people business.” For
the company’s Northern Agents, Lance is regularly
ranked as a top agent.
PUBLIC SERVICE CALLS
A leader in the business community and active in
several organizations in Wisconsin Rapids, Lance
was first recruited to run for the Wood County board
in 1996 in the midst of a new jail discussion. “My
initial answer was no,” he said. “Two years went by
and I thought I’d give it a shot, so I ran and won in
1998.” In 2004, he became board chair and stands
today as the longest serving Wood County board
chair and the first to have been elected to consecutive
terms since 1856.
“Once you’re involved, you realize you can make
a difference. I hadn’t planned on doing this for so
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long, but it’s the people and the relationships that
are hard to walk away from,” he said. “On a regular
basis people call, send cards and thank us for all our
work on the board. Serving as a county official is
truly rewarding.”
He continues to this day to bring in as many
people as he can on issues facing his county. “I think
the greatest trait for any leader to have is that of
collaboration. At the county level, I’ve always tried
to bring people together and take emotion out of
things,” he said. “It’s so important to have buy in on
an issue. It doesn’t matter if you have a ‘D’ or an ‘R’
after your name, you have to work with people to find
real solutions.”
Even after 17 years on the board, Lance still feels
that every day is a learning experience. “County
issues are complex and involve a lot of people. When
you pull on one end of a string the other end doesn’t
just come along. In county government, it’s more like
At the 2015 WCA Annual Conference in La Crosse, newly inaugurated WCA President Lance Pliml gathers with the Wood County delegation.
This impressive turn out from Wood County were in attendance to celebrate Pliml’s induction as president at the WCA Presidential Reception.
a spider web, where actions impact so many people.”
Lance became involved with the Wisconsin
County Mutual Insurance Corporation in 2007,
where he now serves as vice president of the board. In
2013, he was elected as WCA second vice president.
PRIORITIES FOR TERM
During his term as WCA President, Lance hopes to
continue to work with the WCA staff and his peers
from around the state on the many long-standing
county issues such as the ability to maintain local
control. “The farther government is located from the
people they serve, the bigger the issues,” Lance said.
“WCA is considered a premier organization with
the Legislature and I hope to work with our staff to
continue to make strides for counties.”
Transportation is another top priority. “We must
find long term real solutions to funding infrastructure
in our state, including finding a sustainable and
reliable source of revenue that doesn’t borrow from
generations to come,” he said. “Infrastructure also
includes broadband build out so every corner of the
state has access to the opportunities and economic
development that go along with it.”
Lance also plans to work with his peers to
encourage them to take advantage of opportunities
WCA has to offer during his term. “The way we can
enhance the work of the association is to get even
more involved,” he said. “Whether it’s participating
in a webinar, attending educational seminars,
registering for conferences or serving on steering
committees, we all benefit.”
continues on page 29
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Above: Newly inaugurated President Pliml receives a standing ovation after his address at the 2015
WCA Presidential Reception. Bottom left: Pliml is sworn in by Wood County Clerk Cynthia
Cepress and Wood County Vice-Chairperson Trent Miner (standing behind Cepress).
In a time honored tradition, Lance
accepted the “gavel” of the presidency
at the 2015 WCA Annual Business
Meeting. This oversized gavel is
engraved with the names of past
WCA presidents.
Pliml (cont)
AT THE FOUNDATION
Life is busier than ever for Lance. In addition to his
work with the county, his business and WCA-related
activities, he has been involved with the Elks for more
than 30 years, where he has served in numerous local,
state and national positions.
“When I have spare time, I like to stay very active
and do things such as hunting, skiing, snowmobiling,
four-wheeling, kayaking and golfing,” he said. “I’m
also a ‘wanna be’ farmer and have just short of 100
acres near my house.”
As it always has been, family is at the foundation
of Lance’s life. He and his wife Julie have been
married for close to 33 years. “She is my confidant
and I would have never been afforded so many
opportunities without her.” Together, they have two
children, Michelle, who works in the Milwaukee area
and Matthew, who is nearby working in Wisconsin
Rapids. His parents live in Naples, Florida for part
of the year and at their lake house near Reedsburg
for the remainder.
With his term underway as WCA president, Lance
is excited to do what he is always done: work to make
his community and state a better place to live. “I am
a lucky guy and am grateful to lead this association,”
he said. “Every day is a learning experience and as
always, I’m up for any challenge.”
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