September 2010, Around the State
Around the State
Post layoff, Midwest executives usually “fare well”
Despite the sluggish job market, three out of four laid-off executives find a new position at the same or higher level as the one they previously held, according to a study by Right Management, the talent and career management expert within Milwaukee-based Manpower.
The firm analyzed data on nearly 600 senior-level executives to whom it provided career transition services and who found new jobs during the first half of 2010. The study population includes individuals with such titles as general manager, director, vice president, senior vice president, executive vice president and even chief executive officer.
Among the 92 executives in the Midwest U.S., 71 percent found comparable or better positions compared with a national average of 72 percent. As a rule, the compensation was comparable to that in their former position.
“Our findings suggest that most top-level executives are bouncing back from job loss despite uncertain economic indicators,” says Mary Haskins, senior vice president, Career Management Practice Leader for Right Management. “These individuals at the middle to upper corporate levels are likely filling positions created as a result of changes in business strategy. These executives are experienced, skilled and very competitive in the marketplace. However, we recognize that such outcomes aren’t as consistent for job seekers at lower ranks or different geographies.”
The study of 599 executive-level jobs seekers participated in Right Management career transition programs was conducted between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2010.
Community Health Charities adds new organizations
Seven new organizations have been accepted into Community Health Charities, a West Allis-based federation of health agencies that partner to raise charitable contributions through workplace giving campaigns.
The new members are:
• Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee
• American Parkinson Disease Association
• Bread of Healing Clinic
• The Wisconsin Parkinson Disease Association
• South East Wisconsin Adaptive Ski Program
• The Wisconsin Dental Association Foundation
• Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin
“These members represent a continuation of new strategic growth direction for Community Health Charities,” says Executive Director Gary Ross. “Our goal is to provide workers across Wisconsin with the ability to help organizations that they find meaningful. Many people have benefitted from the research and support services of these organizations. We are pleased to bring them into the Community Health Charities federation.”
Community Health Charities of Wisconsin is a federation of Wisconsin’s health agencies that partner to raise charitable contributions in workplaces across the state. All funds raised through workplace giving campaigns are designated directly to the member organization of the donor’s choice and remain local.
For more information, visit www.healthcharities.org/wisconsin.
Ruder Ware celebrates 90 years
On July 12, 1920, Ruder Ware Founder George L. Ruder registered his name in the Marathon County Attorneys’ Roll Book. During those early years, the firm’s practice was devoted primarily to real estate, corporate law and probate. Today, the firm has more than 40 attorneys and active practices in a wide range of areas. “As we look back on our firm’s 90-year history, the most striking thing we observe is that change is constant,” says Ruder Ware President Mark J. Bradley. “To continue our success, we know we have to be at the leading edge of the changes our clients face, whether from laws and regulations, technology or demographics. I think that understanding and commitment from our attorneys is why many businesses and families remain clients of the firm and why we continue to grow in Wausau and Eau Claire.”
Ruder Ware’s history has spanned the time from the Great Depression to the post-war boom and from the dot-com revolution to the current economic unpredictability.
“Our clients’ needs change as the economy changes,” Bradley says. “Our growth as a firm during both difficult and prosperous times is a testament to the diversity of talent we have been able to assemble in central and western Wisconsin. That’s what it’s all about. A 90-year history comes from talented and dedicated people providing clients with what they want — prompt and creative solutions to their problems.”
WPS’ first green service center earns LEED Gold
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation’s new service center in Rhinelander has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification. The facility, which is WPS’ first green service center, earned 47 points under LEED-New Construction v2.2 to receive the Gold designation. The center, which opened in August 2009, was designed by Hoffman LLC and was delivered at less cost than the conventional budget that had been developed for the project.
“WPS’ LEED Gold certification validates that sustainable design and construction can be done at or below conventional costs,” says Mark Hanson, Hoffman’s director of sustainable services. “It’s the right thing to do, and there is no reason not to design and build green.”
WPS is an electric and natural gas utility that has served homes and businesses in northeastern and central Wisconsin and Upper Michigan for more than a century. This service center consolidates functions previously performed in multiple buildings at two different sites.
Numerous sustainable features were incorporated in the design.
Key features include: An integrated design approach that combines comfort and energy cost savings; high clerestory windows in interior office space, the warehouse and service areas, providing abundant daylight and decreasing the amount of energy used for lights; motion sensors for lighting and HVAC systems, which contribute to the estimated 42-percent reduction in energy consumption when compared to the LEED baseline building; and water saving fixtures that reduce water use in the building by a minimum of 40 percent over the LEED baseline building.
Visitor center receives TIC grant
The Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center has received a Tourism Information Center (TIC) grant for $15,000 to reimburse expenses related to providing regional and statewide travel information and customer service to travelers. This is the first round of grants awarded by this program, which was passed by the legislature last year.
The Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center provides services including touch screen kiosks, regional maps and travel guides, restroom facilities, interpretative trails and daily listings of area events. In 2009, the annual visitor count for the Northern Great Lakes Center topped 122,000.
The grant money will help offset staffing expenses for five visitor information employees and cover various equipment and signage costs.
The TIC grant program is open to non-profit tourism organizations, municipalities or Native American tribes who operate a regional tourist information center and provide information on cultural, recreational and other tourism businesses.
New student housing facility opens
Parents, students and school supporters came together on July 31, 2010, to cele-brate the grand opening of Shepherds College’s newest student housing facility in Union Grove.
With more than 85 percent occupancy, the new structure will provide increased opportunity and education to students of Shepherds College, the country’s leading three-year, post-secondary education program for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Designed by Zimmerman Architectural Studios and constructed by J.H. Findorff & Son of Milwaukee, the 8,200 square-foot project features two identical buildings with the capacity to house up to 16 students and staff. The new housing structure is equipped with common dining and living rooms, as well as a shared laundry facility and multiple kitchens to provide areas for teaching self-sufficiency skills to students.
New Constructing Opportunities cohort graduates
This summer, eight new graduates of Workforce Connections Inc.’s Constructing Opportunities program entered the work force. Constructing Opportunities is a 10-week program that puts out-of-work adults to work building and remodeling homes. So far 43 adults have graduated from the program, which has been funded through a Community Development Block Grant from the City of La Crosse and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Constructing Opportunities participants work eight-hour days Mondays through Thursdays and half days on Fridays. The cohorts have been rehabbing city owned townhomes located in the northern part of La Crosse.
Linda Zimmerman, manager of community building programs for WCI, says participants who are most successful in the program are those who want to change and be successful.
“Candidates/participants need to be willing to show up on time every day and do the work — similar to what every employer is asking for,” she says, adding that the willingness to learn, the ability to work well with others and the interest in stretching themselves to try something new are also important.
The program recently received additional funding of $337,000 as part of Wisconsin’s $34 million Transitional Jobs project, which will allow it to prepare at least 30 more participants to work in unsubsidized employment.
MOVERS
Southwest: Steve Roth has been promoted to vice president, Healthcare Services & Southern Operations for Miron Construction Co. • Stephen Lucas is the new CEO at Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative, headquartered in Lancaster. • Workforce Connections Inc. has selected Jamie Applin as its new executive director and CEO. • Wisconsin Community Bank has added Patrick Peters as a new personal banker in its Madison office. • Rene Zimmerman has joined Summit Credit Union as its Baraboo branch manager. • Ann Dencker and Paul Thompson are the newest partners at Hiebing. The firm has also added Jay Gullixson as broadcast producer/art buyer; Scott Kwiat as a production manager/designer; and Sarah Ostermeier as an account executive. • Tri-North Builders has added Anna Stern as its new vice president. • Xolve Inc., a UW-Platteville technology spin-out, has announced the appointment of John Biondi as its new president and CEO. • Peter Kujawa has been named president of Locknet. • Jack Peplinski has been promoted to president/CEO of Altra Federal Credit Union. • The Dane County UW-Extension Cooperative Extension has added Carrie Edgar as the new director of the County’s Extension Department.
Northwest: Ruder Ware has added Jeffrey J. Serum who will be based in the Eau Claire office as a member of the Business Transactions Practice Group. • Andrew Kasun has joined K-Sun Corp. of Somerset as a distribution manager. • Peter G. McPartland, president and chief operating officer of Sentry Insurance a Mutual Company has been elected to its board of directors.
Southeast: Clifton Gunderson has added Ellen Trytek as chief growth officer. • United Heartland has appointed Patrick Walsh as vice president of Claims and Managed Care. • Dr. Gary Ross has been named the president and CEO for Community Health Charities of Wisconsin. • Dean Tandeski has been hired as vice president at C.H. Coakley & Co. Inc. for the document imaging division, American Micrographics. • Chellee Siewart is the new vice president of marketing for the Milwaukee Wave. • Wixon Inc., a leading food and flavor products manufacturer based in St. Francis, has named Ed Becerra as vice president of operations. • R.A.Smith National has added Heather Patti as an ecologist and project manager. • Water Quality Testing has added Paul Junio as a regional account manager. • Enviro-Safe Consulting LLC of Brookfield has hired Mark Bell as a sales account manager. • Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman has added Rachel S. Delaney into the firm’s Health Law section in its Milwaukee office. • HGA Architects and Engineers has promoted the following Milwaukee office employees to senior associate: Ronald S. Burns, Michael Franz and Lora Strigens. • Aileen Smith has been promoted to account supervisor with The Ritterbusch Group.
Northeast: ImproMed Inc. has hired Pat Curran as its new sales director. • Calewarts, Duffy & Gagan Associated Attorneys has announced that Robert R. Gagan is the Brown County representative to the Wisconsin State Bar Board of Governors.
Business Briefs: Statewide
As reported in an earlier issue of CRW, The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp. has been selected to receive more than $250,000 in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This funding is now being used to improve training program videos and develop a mobile training center which can travel throughout Wisconsin for training. The truck will also help avoid taking organizations out of the field because their equipment was previously used to do the training.
Business Briefs: Southeast
OCONOMOWOC: Wismarq Corp., a metal coil coater specializing in narrow width and smaller run coating, has announced an agreement with Valencia, Pa.,-based Ply Gem Industries Inc. for the acquisition of its coil coating assets, processing equipment related to the coil coating operation, the associated business base and related customer goodwill associated with its facility. With this acquisition, Wismarq is expanding its reach geographically and its coating capabilities.
WAUKESHA: Inlanta Mortgage, a mortgage banker since 1993, has announced that American Foundations MortgageBanc’s retail offices and operations are merging with Inlanta Mortgage through a strategic agreement. American Foundations MortgageBanc was previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Generations Bancorp Inc. of Pewaukee. American Foundations MortgageBanc has retail branches in Illinois and Wisconsin that will change their name to Inlanta Mortgage.
MILWAUKEE: Wipfli LLP has joined the 2010 Inner Circle for Microsoft Dynamics, a group for strategic Microsoft Dynamics partners from across the globe whose sales achievements rank them in the highest tier of Microsoft Dynamics global network of partners. u Health Payment Systems of Milwaukee and Trilogy Health Networks of Brookfield have announced the formation of a strategic business alliance to provide employer-sponsored self-insured health plans with a comprehensive network of providers at discounted rates.
RACINE: With many Wisconsin manufacturers seeing unprecedented drops in production volumes, Marini Tool is moving forward on a 10,000-square-foot expansion to its existing facility. “The timing was right for Marini Tool to consolidate our operations under one roof to maximize efficiencies while taking advantage of today’s preferred construction pricing,” says Tom Marini, president and CEO of Marini Tool and Die Company. “My grandfather started this business in 1952 with a steadfast commitment to remain a firmly-established Racine-based company and it brings me personal pride to be in a position to see the company grow during these uncertain times.” Kenosha-based Riley Construction is providing construction services on the project.
Business Briefs: Northwest
BALDWIN: Contour Plastics has been acquired by Sweden-based Nolato Group. Contour’s President Barry Grant and members of Contour’s management team will remain in their positions. “This acquisition will give us a presence in the region from Minneapolis to Chicago, one of our four key American medical technology clusters,” says Christer Wahlquist, president of Nolato Medical Business Area. Contour’s customers include a number of major American medical technology companies. According to reports, an estimated 80 percent of Contour’s business is attributable to molding parts for medical device companies. With the acquisition, Contour Plastics will operate as Nolato Contour.
EAU CLAIRE: Sterling Water Inc. d.b.a Culligan of Eau Claire has announced its acquisition of the bottled water portion of Gibson’s WaterCare business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but included all assets and customers associated with their Nicolet bottled water service. Gibson’s served customers in northwestern Wisconsin and the Eau Claire/Chippewa Falls, as well as the Rice Lake metropolitan areas.
Business Briefs: Northeast
RANDOM LAKE: Badger Tag & Label Corp., a printer of custom tags and labels, is celebrating its 75th year in business. The business was founded by Emil Thiel, and it remains a privately held, family owned business, now in its third generation.
PESHTIGO: BPM Inc. has unveiled its new Web site, designed to provide a one-stop location to learn about capabilities, products and services at www.bpmpaper.com. BPM Inc. is a progressive manufacturer of specialty MG papers and converted material for the food service and packaging industries and uncoated paper made from 100-percent post-consumer waste recycled materials.
LITTLE CHUTE: Heartland Business Systems has acquired the assets of Victorin Business Systems of Lisle, Ill. The existing Victorin Business Systems’ office location will become the Illinois headquarters for Heartland Business Systems and its current Illinois engineering staff and account directors.
DE PERE: Automated Records Management Systems Inc., a full-service information management company, has acquired Security Shredders Inc. of Seymour. u Seroogy’s Chocolates is celebrating its 111th anniversary this year.
APPLETON: The Boldt Co. has signed a contract with Rio Tinto and Kennecott Eagle Minerals Co. for structural, mechanical and electrical work at the Eagle Mine Site located in Michigamme Township in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Boldt, a member of the Upper Peninsula Construction Council, has built a number of significant projects in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan including the new Bell Memorial Hospital in Ishpeming, the Baghouse upgrade for Units 5,6,7,8 and 9 at the Presque Isle Power Plant in Marquette, The Berry Event Center and Art & Design Studio Addition for Northern Michigan University, remodeling of Wadsworth Hall at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, as well as numerous mining and paper mill projects.
RIPON: UniMac, a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty industrial commercial laundry equipment, has just launched its new Web site at www.unimac.com.
Business Briefs: Southwest
MADISON: U.S. AutoForce, a division of U.S. Venture Inc., has opened a new tire and parts distribution center in Madison, its third distribution center in Wisconsin. “We needed to expand because our current facilities were reaching their capacity,” says U.S. AutoForce Executive Vice President Pat Hietpas. “Madison was chosen because of our desire to supply our customers in the area with an unmatched level of service so they can become preferred providers.” The firm, a wholesale distributor of tires, exhaust and undercar parts, now has 16 distribution centers servicing the north central part of the United States.
KUDOS
• CIO magazine has announced that Foley & Lardner is a recipient of the 2010 CIO 100. The 23rd annual award program recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT).
• Savant Capital Management, a national firm with offices in Madison, has been recognized by InvestmentNews as the fifth largest Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm in the Midwest, ranked by discretionary assets under management.
• United Heartland and M3 Insurance Solutions have been selected as one of the best places to work in insurance for 2010 by Business Insurance. The firms are among 54 nationwide firms to be recognized this year.
•Enviro-Safe Consulting LLC of Brookfield, for the third consecutive year, has been selected for the 2010 Best of Brookfield Award in the environmental consulting and ecological services category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).
• The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh has been named one of “America’s 100 Greenest Schools” in the September-October issue of Sierra magazine. UW-Oshkosh was ranked 36th out of 162 colleges nationwide by the Sierra Club in its publication, which used an 11-page questionnaire to determine the levels of sustainability at each school.
• Four Wisconsin colleges made the grade on the Forbes annual Best Colleges list: Lawrence University in Appleton at 50th; St. Norbert College in DePere at 152nd; Ripon College in Ripon at 195th and the University of Wisconsin-Madison at 212th. Forbes examined a number of criteria in determining the rankings, including: Amount of enjoyment students get out of their classes; students’ success after graduation; amount of debt incurred while in school; and success of students in distinguishing themselves academically.