A new initiative aimed at convincing graduates from Wisconsin colleges who’ve moved out of the state to move back is underway. Local 5’s Kris Schuller reports the marketing campaign asks all alumni – to come home. 

Dr. Tina Sauerhammer Dean is a UW-Green Bay graduate who took her skills to the east coast and then years later returned to Wisconsin. It’s a decision she’s never regretted.

“When I was living on the east coast I felt like I was making an impact on my patients lives. But I didn’t feel like I was making the impact I wanted to on my career,” said Sauerhammer Dean.

A Green Bay native – here she has set down roots to grow her career and her family. 

“This is where I’m meant to be and I have my 9-month-old daughter now so life is good,” said the doctor.

Sauerhammer Dean is an example of the many out-of-state alumni of Wisconsin colleges which Wisconsin wants to lure back home, using a new marketing campaign unveiled Monday.

“We need to assure that our job creators have access to enough talented individuals,” said Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch. “This is about putting the right people in place and we know the right people got educated in Wisconsin.”

It’s a partnership between WEDC and nine colleges statewide. With social media ads linking to videos telling local success stories.  The ads appearing nationally on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

“If you ask 10 employers what’s the most significant challenge you face in the coming year –  more than half will say talent acquisition,” said Dave Wegge of St. Norbert College. 

The ads link to a new website called InWisconsin.com – where visitors can explore career and lifestyle opportunities. 

“The family orientation, the great school systems, university system, it’s a very attractive package for anybody thinking about the future,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Gary Miller.

“Statistics will show you that once they have a family and are looking at quality of life and safety issues they move back home and this is an opportunity to accelerate that,” said Laurie Radke, head of the Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Sauerhammer Dean says moving back to Wisconsin was a wise choice and she’s urging others to do the same.

“Everything I thought it would be and more,” said the doctor.

You can find the website by following this link.