Oshkosh comes together for friendly competition at the annual Northeast Wisconsin (N.E.W.) Dragonboat Festival

October 09, 2024

Oshkosh Corporation proudly took part in the annual N.E.W. Dragonboat Festival, hosted by the Northeast Wisconsin Chinese Association and the City of Oshkosh. This event offered exhilarating dragon boat races, cultural exhibits and memorable experiences that highlighted the rich heritage of our thriving community.

Community comes together to celebrate cultures and embrace teamwork

The festival provided participants and spectators alike with an engaging experience, building strong bonds and lasting memories. Spectators energized the teams with their cheers, motivating them to push toward the finish line.

"Participating in the N.E.W. Dragonboat Festival for the fourth time has been an incredible experience," shared Jeff Naimon, an Oshkosh Corporation team member. "It's not just about the competition, it's about building camaraderie with my colleagues while appreciating the rich cultural heritage that makes this area so special."

The N.E.W. Dragonboat Festival embodies the spirit of celebrating rich cultural heritage, fostering social connections and creating a welcoming space for both newcomers and long-time participants alike. As a cornerstone event, it strengthens community bonds and promotes cultural understanding.

This annual celebration also supports the local economy by drawing visitors to Northeast Wisconsin, broadening cultural perspectives and forging new connections among businesses, organizations and nonprofits.

Oshkosh's commitment to cultural connection

Oshkosh's participation in this event aligns with the goals of our employee business resource group, Culture Connect 360 (CC360), along with the company's overall core values. As proud sponsors and participants, we live out our core values of people first and making a difference by uniting team members across the organization to promote collaboration amongst each other. Along with doing our part in the community while providing our team members with beneficial experiences.

This year, Oshkosh fielded a team in the corporate division, representing both the organization and CC360. Our team, composed of members from various departments, worked together and secured a first-place victory - demonstrating the power of hard work and the strength of coming together.

"The Dragonboat event is a fun way to learn about different cultural traditions" said Rick Panske, an Oshkosh Corporation team member and CC360 member. "What I liked most was working hard, shoulder to shoulder with my teammates."

A celebration of unity

Join us next year as we celebrate the spirit of unity at the N.E.W. Dragonboat Festival. At Oshkosh Corporation, we're dedicated to fostering our values of people first, as well as making a difference through local events that bring our team members together.

To learn more about our employee business resource groups, click here.