Why I Grew My Career in Education in Green Bay, WI

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Home to top-rated school districts, innovative private schools and renowned institutions like UW-Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, St. Norbert College and Bellin College, the Greater Green Bay, WI, region maintains a reputation as a hotbed of educational excellence for students and educators. Education professionals benefit from a tight-knit community that values collaboration, professional development and student success as well as the region’s great quality of life.

Leaning Into Leadership in Public Schools

Mark Smith, superintendent of the Howard-Suamico School District, has spent nearly three decades in education across the Green Bay, WI, region. He was a social studies teacher at Preble High School, his alma mater, then he was associate principal and held various other executive leadership titles at Green Bay Area Public School District before assuming his current superintendent role. Smith says his career path demonstrates how the region nurtures educators.

“I loved teaching, coaching, inspiring, being a role model and trying to be a positive influence for students,” he says. “I had no aspirations of being an administrator. It wasn’t until then-principal Dr. Christopher Wagner asked me if I was willing to lead that I began to consider leadership.”

Smith says even if you aren’t looking, sometimes the opportunity to lead presents itself. “As my leadership journey has evolved, I’ve learned that it is really less about me, and it’s more about my ability to create conditions so that others can really be successful.”

Smith says what sets the Green Bay, WI, region apart is the support the communities offer education professionals.

“There’s something unique about this community. You don’t just work in the community as an educator; you’re a part of the community,” he says. “And the community, in turn, demonstrates genuine pride in our public-school districts, and that’s the entire Greater Green Bay, WI, area.”

Finding the Right Address in Green Bay

For Benny Rieth, the Green Bay, WI, area has proven to be the perfect place to build a meaningful career in higher education. Rieth serves as vice president of student affairs, enrollment and belonging at Bellin College, a small private nursing school and graduate school in Bellevue. He says what initially drew him to the area and Bellin College was the size and community feel. After completing his undergraduate degree at St. Norbert College and briefly living in Milwaukee, he and his husband chose to return to Green Bay.

“We love what this community offers,” he says. “We love being able to get anywhere within 15 minutes. You have the Packers and the arts and a vibrant nonprofit community, which is something that’s really important to us. We’re a small but large city at heart, so there’s lots to offer in a smaller setting.”

Rieth says educators can gain a lot of experience at smaller institutions like Bellin College. 

“You can have your hands in so many different pots and get so many different experiences. As educators, you can really steer a ship and be part of that movement within this area,” he says.

Rieth says the collaborative nature of the educational institutions in Green Bay also set the region apart.

“Bellin College has cultivated strong partnerships with institutions like St. Norbert College, UW-Green Bay and even larger schools such as Marquette University in Milwaukee,” Rieth says. “Being in the Green Bay area offers a unique balance. You can connect with major universities and access larger cities like Milwaukee and Chicago, all while enjoying the comfort and convenience of living in a smaller city.”

Building for a Bright Future

After serving 15 years at Lakeland University in Sheboygan County, Jessica Lambrecht, executive officer of continuing education and workforce training at UW-Green Bay, decided to bring her talents closer to home.

“I was able to grow my career at a point that I felt like I was really connecting with the business community and supporting the university student population,” she says. “What brought me to UW-Green Bay is really more opportunistic. More than anything, I wanted to be able to expand my reach and impact the region to help strengthen our workforce.”
Lambrecht says area businesses do their part to assist the region and those in it.

“Our businesses are deeply invested in helping the area flourish, and part of that is supporting individuals who may lack formal education or feel intimidated by traditional educational environments. My role is to think creatively and design structures that align with the needs of businesses while helping employees grow.”

Like Rieth, Lambrecht says the Green Bay, WI, region’s size makes it an attractive place to grow a career in education.

“It’s the third-largest metropolitan area in the state, yet it still has that small-town feel,” she says. “There’s a strong sense of connection here, making it easy for professionals to network and collaborate within similar industries. It’s a place where rising and senior professionals alike can thrive, learn and grow.”

This article is sponsored by the Greater Green Bay Chamber.