ETC paused work for apple pie and Obama inauguration

Middleton-based Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc. (ETC) paused its work day January 20 to make it possible for all of its interested 575 local employees to watch the swearing-in of Barack Obama via live video stream on a large projection screen in the company’s ‘Town Square’ atrium and on TVs around the building. The company ordered 100 apple pies for the event.

ETC’s CEO Fred Foster e-mailed his U.S. employees with the message: “I would like to invite you to take a break from your work day on Tuesday to watch the historic inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States and to enjoy a slice of apple pie. (What could be more American?)”

ETC is an American manufacturer of entertainment and architectural lighting, with more than 700 employees worldwide. The company is known for its unique corporate culture, close community, and artful headquarters building that features the re-creation of a 1940’s city street in its massive atrium.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We just didn’t want anyone to have to miss it,” says Foster,
ETC also extended the invitation to its other regional U.S. offices in New York City, Orlando, and Los Angeles to watch the inauguration during work time at their respective locations, complete with the apple pie.

Outlook positive for Madison-area health systems

HealthLeaders-InterStudy, a provider of managed care market intelligence, says that health systems in the Madison metropolitan statistical area are expanding, adding inpatient and outpatient capacity and increasing their reach in the suburban areas of the region. According to the new Madison Market Overview, the positive outlook for this segment is reinforced by strong health system finances, along with high inpatient occupancy rates and an expected reduction in charity care and uninsurance in the state.

“Expansion projects, coupled with Wisconsin’s plans to extend its subsidized health coverage, will yield positive results for Madison-area health systems even though state-subsidized initiatives are experiencing budget challenges as costs exceed revenues,” says Dave Raiford, market analyst with HealthLeaders-InterStudy. “The financial strength of Madison’s health systems, along with a local unemployment rate that is expected to remain stable over the coming year, should mean that area health systems will weather the national economic downturn.”

The three dominant health systems in Madison — UW Health, SSM Health Care of Wisconsin and Meriter Health Services —each represent about one-third of area inpatient discharges. Each health system operates with an integrated delivery structure with ownership interests in physician groups and complete or partial ownership of HMOs, which are a popular plan design in Wisconsin.

“As expansion projects continue, so should competition among UW Health, SSM Health Care of Wisconsin and Meriter Health Services,” says Raiford. “However, a shift in competitive advantage among these health systems is unlikely. The market metrics indicate room for overall growth for each organization.”

MOVERS

>> Brian D. Anderson has joined the Madison office of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. His commercial practice includes real estate development and redevelopment, condominium development, conversion and management, leasing, contract analysis, finance and construction.

>> Stephan & Brady Inc., a full-service marketing communications agency, hired Valette Piper-Bledsoe as senior account executive. Prior to joining S&B, Piper-Bledsoe worked in the non-profit sector for the National Association of Manufacturers, the Security Industry Association and North American Technician Excellence.