Kiel native is third generation in her family to serve on the Road America board. Plus, more Sheboygan news in weekly dose.

Brandon Reid, Sheboygan Press
·7 min read

SHEBOYGAN - Christina Laun Fugate, a Kiel native, recently joined the Road America Inc. Board of Directors.

Fugate is the third generation in her family to serve on the board. Her grandfather, John Laun, was instrumental in the development of Road America, and her father, Jonathan Laun, served as chairman of the board for 30 years.

Fugate and her husband have continued the family’s passion for motorsports through their son Dylan, who frequently races at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex.

Fugate is a partner at Ice Miller LLP in Indianapolis. She is chairwoman of Ice Miller’s Franchise and Distribution team and is a seasoned commercial litigator.

Fugate's appointment to the Road America board comes in succession to a vacated seat held by longstanding board member Chris Hartwig, who passed away earlier this year.

“We are excited to have Christina join our Board of Directors and share her insight and legal expertise as we continue into the future,” said Ron Pace, chairman of the Board of Elkhart Lake’s Road America Inc., in a news release.

Fugate has been recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” and a “Legal Eagle” by the leading industry publication, Franchise Times. In addition to leading the firm’s franchise practice, Fugate is national litigation counsel for several clients and regularly defends Fortune 500 manufacturers, distributors and retailers across the country against general commercial litigation, product liability, mass tort exposure and general contract claims. She also frequently litigates real estate disputes and acts as an outside general counsel to many clients.

In 2020, Fugate was a recipient of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Fugate holds a finance degree from Butler University and a law degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

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Start your week here in weekly dose, a roundup of local community news. Here are some more stories to catch up on:

► Road America unveils 2023 schedule: Road America unveiled its 2023 schedule last week. Here are the 10 events on the slate:

Road America’s season pass is available at an advance price of $520. The price increases to $560 on Oct. 3.

Jan. 1-June 1, 2023, the price for a season pass is $645.

Each season pass provides admission, special events and incentives for club events — details are available at www.roadamerica.com/season-pass or call 800-365-7223. Anyone 16 and younger gets in free at Road America when accompanied by a paying adult at the gate.

► A Million Dreamz seeks volunteers for upcoming workdays: With more than 125 kids on its waitlist and plans to open in November, Sheboygan’s new nonprofit 24/7 childcare facility A Million Dreamz is seeking volunteers for upcoming workdays.

Painting, cleaning, sorting, set-up and more will be on the list for volunteers as they help create the center at 415 Euclid Ave.

Workday sessions will be 4-7 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through November and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 20.

Sign up to volunteer by calling 920-287-8879 or visit amilliondreamz.org for more information.

► Walk to End Alzheimer’s tops $105K raised: More than 400 walkers from across the area participated in this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Sheboygan County at Evergreen Park on Sept. 24.

The walk, according to a news release, is anticipated to raise more than $105,000 to fund research and local services in Sheboygan County, including support groups, education, information and referral services, care and support, advocacy efforts and a 24/7 helpline — 800-272-3900.

Lisa Hurley, caregiver and dementia care specialist at the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Sheboygan County, and Dana Elmzen, director of marketing and development at Sheboygan Senior Community, were co-chairs for the event.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease — a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Wisconsin, more than 120,000 people are living with the disease and 198,000 serving as caregivers. In Sheboygan County alone, more than 2,400 individuals age 65 and older are living with dementia.

Donations can still be made to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s through Dec. 31 at act.alz.org/sheboygan. Mail-in donations should be directed to the regional mail-processing hub at this address: Alzheimer’s Association; Attn: WTEA Sheboygan, WI; 7900 W. 78th St., Suite 100; Minneapolis, MN 55439.

Promise Garden flowers are raised as more than 400 walkers from across the area participate in Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Sheboygan County at Evergreen Park Sept. 24.
Promise Garden flowers are raised as more than 400 walkers from across the area participate in Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Sheboygan County at Evergreen Park Sept. 24.

► Sheboygan County featured in new ‘Discover Wisconsin’ episode: “Discover Wisconsin,” the nation’s longest-running travel and tourism TV series, is exploring Sheboygan County and its rich history, tasty foods and fun-filled adventures in its new episode.

The episode is airing at varying times across local affiliates of Discover Wisconsin Regional Television Network. It can also be streamed at discoverwisconsin.com, Roku, Apple TV, SmartTV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire and YouTube. People can download the Discover Wisconsin+ App in the iOS App Store or Google Play store to stream on a mobile device.

In this episode of “Discover Wisconsin,” a news release said co-hosts Andrea Boehlke and Eric Paulsen explore all of Sheboygan County.

The release said the county holds a rich history of Wisconsin’s past, including the Wade House Historical Site.

Boehlke interviews two representatives from select local companies, including Sargento Foods Inc. and Kohler Co., to understand how the county has transformed from past to present and why their families have loved Sheboygan County through the years.

Up next, Paulsen starts his food tour of the county at City Bakery and orders the iconic Sheboygan Hard Roll. He then visits with renowned chef and owners Whitney and Stefano Viglietti to discuss the culinary culture in the county and their famous restaurants of Trattoria Stefano, Field to Fork, II Ritrovo and Stefano’s Slo-Food Market.

Not only does Sheboygan have these fantastic restaurants, every Monday evening during the warmer months there is Food Truck Night in the heart of downtown. Paulsen visits with a local Greek restaurant owner who helped spearhead this growing weekly event.

The “Discover Wisconsin” team also explores Whistling Straits, Quit Qui Oc and Sunset Hills to experience the three levels of golfing.

Paulsen then ventures into Lake Michigan to experience the uniqueness of charter fishing on a Great Lake and visits with the owner of Dumper Dan's to talk about his own charter fishing tours.

Boehlke then heads to one last stop while she’s in town, Road America. While she’s there, she gets a front-row seat at the local vintage car event and talks with drivers and fans about what makes Road America such an iconic stop on any racing circuit.

Discover Wisconsin’s “A County Known Around the World: Sheboygan County” episode is also featured in episode 142 of Discover Wisconsin’s podcast, The Cabin. The episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and various other podcast streaming apps.

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Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Road America has third generation board member and more Sheboygan news