Join Sam Scinta, the new CEO of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the Chamber's Workforce Strategies Director Lauren Harris, for a conversation about the La Crosse Chamber, where it has been, and importantly, where it is going in 2026 and beyond. We will discuss the mission of the Chamber and why the Chamber is so excited about the future of the La Crosse region, with a sneak preview of some upcoming programs.     

Sam Scinta was recently named CEO of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce. He has been a Lecturer in the Political Science Department at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a Lecturer in the History Department at Viterbo University. He is the creator, in partnership with Viterbo's Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership, of Rebuilding American Civics, a program providing civics education and a space for civil discourse for community members, and Civics and Cinema, in partnership with the Rivoli Theater. For over 25 years, he served as editor and publisher for an independent book publisher, and was the founder of a nonprofit focusing on critical thinking and civil discourse within regional high schools. He received his JD from the University of Denver, and has served on several boards in the Western Wisconsin region.

Lauren Harris is Workforce Strategies Director at the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, where she leads the First Friend Newcomer Connection Program as part of the region's talent attraction and retention efforts. Partnering with more than 30 area employers, she welcomes job candidates and new hires through providing personalized community tours and building connections to area residents and organizations. 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2020-2021 Statewide Waste Characterization Study found that wasted food and food scraps made up 20% of trash going to Wisconsin landfills. This amounts to approximately 854,000 tons annually, or 294 pounds per person, in Wisconsin during the study period. The study estimated that more than three-quarters of this food could have been consumed.  A 2025 study from the EPA found that the cost of food waste to each U.S. consumer is $728 per year. When food goes in the trash, so do resources, time, and money.

In this presentation, Ruth raised awareness on the scale of food waste and how it impacts the climate. Ruth  provided zero cost solutions so that consumers can manage food more effectively and prevent good food from going