Summary

Part Two is set in 2009. Chapter 10, the first chapter of this section, is titled “Rock County 5.0.” A few people from the community, including Mary, began meeting that January at an office at the bank. John Beckord was the president of the business association, called Forward Janesville. James Otterstein was the Rock County economic development manager. John felt the first step was to rebrand Janesville. The cities of Janesville and Beloit, 13 miles apart, had an “everything rivalry” that centered around Janesville's superior economic situation with the GM plant. Beloit's iron works plant had already closed, and the land earned a designation as a toxic Superfund site. Mary agreed to lead the rebranding effort, but only with a partner from Beloit.

Diane Hendricks and her husband built ABC Supply, a company that became the largest roofing and siding supplier in the nation. Her...