Michael Lodholz Email & Phone Number

Michael's desire to use his public speaking and advanced research skills led him to a career in television journalism where he gets to highlight the unique Wisconsin landscape through community engagement and storytelling. He began as a reporter and is now the lead morning anchor and executive producer for the NBC station WJFW Newswatch 12. He also is an award winning journalist after gaining an award in the "best feature" category at the 2024 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association awards ceremony for a piece on wood tick races in Oxbo, Wisconsin. This position has allowed him to relate to more people and cause a positive impact through the joy of television. He also produces and edits a history segment for television called connecting the dots with another local historian Kerry Bloedorn. This public facing role is done in conjunction with his responsibilities for forest management and tree nursery guidance.Before expanding into the world of journalism, Michael learned responsibility through running his family's tree business, along with pursuing his educational aspirations. He has been an integral part of the family business, Lodholz North Star Acres, Inc. for over a decade. He Expanded capacity by updating structures, increasing inventory and modernizing the decades old business mentality. His role as general manager and forestry consultant put the responsibilities of hiring, training, community outreach and managing the finances on his shoulders. His forestry consulting was primarily through writing manage forest law plans and organizing timber sales, both for private landowners and signed off by licensed in house plan writers and foresters. Growing up in the tree industry was an education in forest management unlike any program could offer. He has remained in his position for more 10 years, while also pursuing his university studies in Minnesota and Germany. This often required him to split his time in both places on a weekly schedule and become an expert in time management.In 2020 Michael graduated from the University of Minnesota: Twin Cities. He double majored in American legal & European history and German, Nordic, Slavic and Dutch studies with a focus on German for his bachelor's degree. Community development has been a passion of Michael's since a young age. Therefore in 2021 Michael joined Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation. This saw him successfully write a $75,000 childcare grant for Oneida County along with giving valuable support to an $8 million grant for forestry pathways in the area headed by UWSP.