September 2015 by New North B2B

Business Intelligence for the New North

Mastering

your career

Various educational programs enable working professionals in northeast Wisconsin choices in advancing their skills

䴀愀爀欀猀猀攀渀椀猀䈀甀 A Taxing Concern From the Publisher A Value Proposition Transitions At Your Service Service Industry

September 2015 | $3.95

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Business Intelligence for the New North

September Features 20 COVER STORY

Mastering Your Career

Various educational programs in northeast Wisconsin enable working professionals choices in advancing their skills

26 TRANSITIONS

A Value Proposition 䈀甀猀椀渀攀猀

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For business owners looking to sell, the challenge is to get maximum value and protect themselves, their business during the sales process

32 SERVICE INDUSTRY

At Your Service

Growing concierge industry aims to help individuals, businesses out of a bind when available time is at a premium

Departments 32

From the Publisher

Since We Last Met

10 Corporate Earnings 14 Build Up Pages 36

Professionally Speaking

38 Who’s News 44 Business Calendar 45 Advertising Index 46 Key Statistics

www.newnorthb2b.com

NNB2B | September 2015 | 3

From the Publisher

A taxing concern WI Revenue’s annual property value report offers mixed bag of news for local officials as they approach budget discussions

by Sean Fitzgerald, New North B2B publisher

The recent mid-August release of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s annual equalized value report for 2015 indicates overall property valuation in the state returned to about 95 percent of pre-recession levels. The $491 billion in cumulative property value across the state registers 2.4 percent above 2014 totals, but still far short of the 2008 high-water mark of nearly $515 billion. That’s good news in the sense that average property values have been increasing for the past two years, but still disappointing considering the explosion of new construction across the state during the past two to three years. While property growth increased most in western and southern parts of the state, communities in northeast Wisconsin only improved their property values at the same pace as the state average. One notable exception was in Oshkosh, where property values actually declined last year by one-tenth of one percent. Such property valuation metrics don’t necessarily mean much when viewed in the context of one particular year. Beloit led the state’s largest 20 cities in property growth last year with nearly a 6 percent gain, but has one of the lowest per capita valuations of any of the largest communities in the state. So in other words, it didn’t require as much development or enhancement of value for Beloit to grow more rapidly in a year. It’s also on the Illinois border – along with Kenosha, which held the second largest rate of property value growth in the state last year at 5.2 percent – which benefits from the in-migration of Land of Lincoln residents and businesses heading north. The nearly 2.6 percent increases in property valuation across each Green Bay, Appleton and Fond du Lac reflect a good deal of commercial and industrial development completed in those communities during fiscal 2014. Even though similar new construction occurred in Oshkosh last year, both categories experienced a downturn in total valuation over the year – commercial property values dropped by $1.5 million, while manufacturing properties dropped by nearly $700,000. Augmenting the concern, personal property valuation dropped by 6 percent in Oshkosh, led by a decline in both furniture, fixtures and equipment, as well as depreciating manufacturing machinery and tools. Property valuation changes are more than just one metric of economic vitality. In a state where property taxes are overwhelmingly the primary revenue source for public schools and local units of government, property valuation 4 | September 2015 | NNB2B

increases are akin to the annual increases in revenue business leaders rely upon to offset inflating expenses in annual budget projections. When a community’s equalized property value increases, as it did for a number of communities in the past year, local governing bodies have greater latitude to lower taxes while maintaining service levels, increase spending without necessarily increasing the tax rate, or even chip away at debt more easily. When total equalized property values don’t increase, pricing – that is, property tax rates, in the case of government – generally need to increase in order to pay for annual spending increases such as raises in wages and salaries or escalating health insurance benefits. That could result in a serious challenge for Oshkosh as it prepares its 2016 budget in the months ahead, particularly as it established a 5-year debt reduction plan which counted on equalized property values rising in a post-recession construction boom. While the 2.6 percent increase in property values enjoyed by Appleton, Green Bay and Fond du ac will allow those city’s governing council’s more wiggle room to make decisions, it’s still a rather limiting increase when compared with the rate of inflation for many of the municipalities’ largest expenses. As local government leaders look ahead to the release of the state’s 2016 equalized value report next August, one can hope this year’s commercial and industrial construction surge will substantially increase property values across northeast Wisconsin communities. B2B is witnessing record development in the region on our monthly Build Up pages, a trend which has been sustained throughout the summer.

Build Up listing nearly as thorough as possible Speaking of B2B’s popular, signature Build Up pages appearing in each edition, readers do note from time to time that an ongoing project they’re familar with doesn’t appear in the magazine. I’ll be the first to admit we’re not perfect with our coverage of all new building projects. Despite our best efforts, we rely upon the work of municipal building inspection offices from cities, villages and towns in northeast Wsconsin to provide accurate and up-to-date public information regarding new development. That process doesn’t always happen as smoothly as our staff or our readers would like. Readers may recall we’ve written about this issue in the past, and I want to leave you assured we’re working closely with the communities where they’ve had some problems providing public information. If you are familiar with a construction project which should be on our Build Up pages and is not, or if you’re a contractor building a commercial or industrial project in our readership area, feel free to report it to us. We’ll be glad to consider the information for inclusion in an upcoming edition of B2B. n www.newnorthb2b.com

Sean Fitzgerald Publisher & President x sean@newnorthb2b.com Carrie Rule Sales Manager x carrie@newnorthb2b.com Kate Erbach Production Contributing writers Rick Berg J.S. Decker Lee Marie Reinsch Chief Financial Officer Vicky Fitzgerald, CPA

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1call2build.com ARCHITECTURE I FUNDING I CONSTRUCTION I SERVICE | September 2015 | 5 NNB2B

Since We Last Met

Since We Last Met is a digest of business related news occurring in the Greater Green Bay, Fox Cities, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac areas in the one month since the previous issue of New North B2B. July 28 Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh reported attendance from its 2015 AirVenture convention was about 550,000, an increase of about 2 percent from a year ago. The exhibition attracted more than 10,000 aircraft arriving at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. August 3 The Village of Little Chute closed the Mill Street Bridge on its Heritage Parkway Trail until spring 2016 to demolish and replace the 87-year-old bridge. The new bridge will be a bascule-type structure for bicycle and pedestrian traffic crossing the Little Chute Canal to Island Park. The project is funded through a grant from the Federal Highway Administration, as well as contributions from Outagamie County and the Village of Little Chute. Access to Island Park is still available from Little Chute’s Heesakker Park during the bridge construction. August 4 Appleton-based Appvion Inc. sold its Encapsys microencapsulation division for $208 million to Baltimore private investment firm Sherman Capital Holdings LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, the newly independent Encapsys LLC has a long-term supply agreement to produce and sell microcapsules to Appvion that it uses in the production of its carbonless paper. Appvion created its Encapsys

division in 2006 to discover, develop and manufacture microencapsulation solutions for use in the building and construction, paper, bedding, and personal and household care industries. Encapsys sales topped $61 million in 2014 and the division employs about 90 people, who will continue to work in their existing Appleton office and lab space. August 4 Appvion Inc. CEO Mark Richards announced his retirement at the end of 2015, prompting the company’s board of directors to appoint Kevin Gilligan, president of Appvion’s paper division, as its next chief executive officer. Richards, who will assist Gilligan in the transition and continue to serve as chairman of the board until his retirement, was hired as the CEO of the former Appleton Papers in April 2005. Gilligan joined Appvion in June 2014, having previously worked 20 years at specialty chemical company H.B. Fuller in St. Paul, Minn., where he left as the vice Gilligan president of global operations. August 7 The U.S. Department of Labor reported 215,000 jobs were created in July, leaving the national unemployment rate unchanged at 5.3 percent. Job gains occurred in retail trade, health care, and professional, technical and financial services.

2007 September 20 – Little Chute Windmill Inc. asked the village permission to relocate its proposed $2.5 million windmill construction project from the 100 block of Main Street to Island Park. 2004 September 19 – Fox Valley Technical College received $1 million in federal funding to support a new DNA training initiative. The funds will be used to create a lab for processing DNA crime scene evidence. 2006 September 21 – The New North received a $50,000 Growing Regional Opportunities in Wisconsin grant from the state Department of Workforce Development. The grant will enable the newly formed NEW Manufacturing Alliance to address a shortage of skilled manufacturing workers in northeastern Wisconsin.

6 | September 2015 | NNB2B

2011 September 7 – The City of Appleton Common Council agreed to extend health care insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of nonunion employees. The benefit extension is estimated to cost the city an additional $100,000 annually. 2012 September 14 – Alliance Laundry Systems in Ripon announced plans for a $23 million expansion project that is expected to create more than 260 jobs in the next few years. The project involves an addition to its manufacturing campus to allow for increased production of its small chassis washer and dryers.

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August 10 The City of Neenah’s Joint Review Board established a nearly $9 million tax incremental finance district to redevelop its west side Downtown Gateway District and Arrowhead Park at the foot of Little Lake Butte des Morts. The redevelopment proposal includes $3.5 million for developer assistance, $4.8 million for additional parking, $300,000 to continue developing the lakefront recreation trail, and funds to continue cleaning up the site of the decommissioned Fox Valley Energy Center.

Suttner ACCOUNTING

August 11 Allegiant Air announced plans to begin twice weekly flights between Appleton International Airport and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport in Florida beginning Nov. 6, 2015. Allegiant already serves the Appleton airport with existing flight service to Orlando, Las Vegas and Phoenix. August 12 Gov. Scott Walker signed the legislative bill providing $80 million in state funding over the course of the next 20 years toward the proposed Milwaukee Bucks arena in downtown Milwaukee. The state will provide $4 million a year through 2036 to cover debt principle and interest associated with the construction of the proposed $500 million arena. Current and former ownership of the National Basketball Association franchise committed $250 million toward the arena, while local governments will fund the remainder of the project through infrastructure investment, direct funding and financing from the Wisconsin Center District. Proponents have argued the state receives about $6.5 million annually from income taxes related to the Bucks and NBA. Team ownership had threatened to move the team out of the state if public funds weren’t made available to support the construction of a new arena. August 12 Representatives from Michigan-based supercenter retailer Meijer acknowledged plans to purchase property at State Road 47 and Evergreen Dr. in the town of Grand Chute for future development of a 190,000-sq. ft. store. Meijer officials said construction for one of its gigantic signature grocery and general merchandise stores wouldn’t begin until 2017, with the store opening in 2018 at the earliest. Meijer stores of that size typically employ between 250 and 300 people. Meijer has previously acknowledged plans to construct two supercenter stores in the Greater Green Bay area in Howard and Bellevue. August 14 Marian University in Fond du Lac was awarded a five-year, $1.2 million TRiO-Student Support Services program grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The university will receive $220,000 annually to develop programs to increase college retention and graduation rates. About 140 students – primarily from low income backgrounds, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities – will receive individualized academic coaching and guidance, information about financial aid and economic literacy, career guidance and more. August 14 Port of Green Bay officials reported 940,000 metric tons of cargo passed through the port during July, a 14 percent decline from July 2014. Salt shipments decreased by 36 percent from a year ago and limestone cargo declined by 42 percent. www.newnorthb2b.com

Stephanie Geurts, CPA Partner sjg@suttnercpa.com 920.235.6789

Tax Planning & Preparation Financial Statements Bookkeeping/Write Up Payroll Services Visit suttnercpa.com/client services for a more complete list of services

Quality ❘ Value ❘ Timeliness NNB2B | September 2015 | 7

Since We Last Met

August 17 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation closed the eastbound U.S. Highway 10/WIS 441 on ramp from Racine Road/County P in Menasha until fall of 2016 as part of the larger U.S. 10 expansion project. Both the westbound on and off ramps at the same interchange remain closed during the interchange reconstruction project, which includes realigning the mainline of the highway and constructing roundabouts at the ramp terminals. Motorists are encouraged to use the Midway Road interchange further east. August 17 The Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau awarded a $25,000 Tourism Development grant to the Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass in Neenah to assist with its upcoming “Transcending Time: A Survey of Works in Glass by Italian Maestro Lino Tagliapietra” exhibition. The exhibition will run from Oct. 8 through Feb. 14. August 18 Officials from the Brown County Professional Football Stadium District estimated a $17.6 million surplus will be available when Brown County’s half-percent sales tax expires at the end of September, nearly twice the $8 to 10 million surplus forecast by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue back in May. The special sales tax collected since 2000 paid for renovations to Lambeau Field as well as established a more than $90 million reserve to pay for maintenance to the stadium through 2031. State Assembly Rep. David Steffen (R-Howard) recommended a surplus-use plan which would appropriate $4.4 million toward renovations to the neighboring Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena and dispersing the remaining $13.2 million to Brown County municipalities on a per-capita basis for property tax relief, debt reduction or economic development. August 20 The state Department of Workforce Development awarded $2.2 Million in Youth Apprenticeship grants to 32 regional consortiums, including $78,760 to the Fond du Lac Consortium, $51,735 to Green Bay Area Partners in Education, and $215,440 to Oshkosh-based CESA 6. Youth apprenticeship programs are expected to provide in-demand training opportunities for nearly 2,500 high school students across Wisconsin this school year. August 20 The Green Bay Packers announced plans for a 34-acre Titletown District development west of Lambeau Field expected to begin construction this fall and be complete in time for the 2017 season. The proposed $120 to 130 million development will include a 10-acre public plaza, a fourdiamond hotel built and managed by Kohler Company, a Bellin Health Sports Medicine Clinic and Hinterland Restaurant and Brewery. The proposed Lodge Kohler on Ridge Road will include a panoramic bar and restaurant, an indoor/ outdoor garden pool, spa and fitness facility. Bellin Health will construct a 30,000-sq. ft. facility, while Hinterland will build a 20,000-sq. ft. facility with a main floor brew pub and upper level restaurant. A remaining 16 acres of property will be available for future development of commercial, retail and residential entities. n

8 | September 2015 | NNB2B

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NNB2B | September 2015 | 9

Corporate Earnings

Once each quarter, New North B2B runs a digest of quarterly financial reports from local publicly traded companies, or from out-of-the-area parent companies with significant operations in our northeast Wisconsin coverage area.

Associated Banc Corp. 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Income $47.9 million $45.1 million s 6% EPS 31 cents 28 cents s 11% The Green Bay-based financial institution reported average loans grew $373 million, or 2 percent from the first quarter, including $220 million in average commercial loan growth, an increase of about 2 percent.

Kimberly-Clark Corp. 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $4.6 Billion $5.0 Billion t 6% Income ($305 million) $509 million t160% EPS (83 cents) $1.35 t161% The manufacturer of consumer paper and tissue products with significant operations in the Fox Cities reported its second quarter losses were driven by non-cash pension settlement charges. Its revenue decrease resulted from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which negatively impacted sales by 10 percent.

VF Corp. 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $2.5 Billion $2.4 Billion s 5% Income $171 million $158 million s 8% EPS 40 cents 36 cents s 11% The parent company of Jansport operations in the Fox Cities indicated revenues from its Outdoor & Action Sports coalition – which includes Jansport operations – grew 9 percent on the quarter to $1.4 billion. The increase was driven by a 6 percent growth in revenues from the company’s The North Face brand.

10 | September 2015 | NNB2B

Oshkosh Corp. 3Q 2015 3Q 2014 Revenue $1.6 Billion $1.9 Billion t 17% Income $89.7 million $105 million t 14% EPS $1.13 $1.22 t 7% The manufacturer of specialty vehicles experienced an expected 59 percent decrease in revenues from its defense segment related to the break in production for the U.S. Department of Defense, but also reported its access equipment segment sales decreased 10 percent to $933 million due to heavy rains in May disrupting construction projects. Defense sales were $194 million, while fire & emergency segment sales increased nearly 7 percent to $200 million. Commercial segment sales climbed 19 percent to $294.

Plexus Corp. 3Q 2015 3Q 2014 Revenue $670 million $621 million s 8% Income $23.8 million $24.6 million t 3% EPS 69 cents 71 cents t 3% The Neenah-based contract electronics manufacturer posted a record third quarter revenue in which it won 34 new contracts it expects to generate an additional $147 million when fully ramped into production. Plexus officials said they expect continuing end-market weakness from its networking and communications customers in the quarter ahead, which consequentially could lead to lower sales in the fourth quarter.

Bemis Company Inc. 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $1.0 Billion $1.1 Billion t 6% Income $65.6 million $65.8 million t <1% EPS 67 cents 65 cents s 3% The Neenah-based supplier of flexible packaging reported a 4 percent drop in revenues from its U.S. Packaging segment to $695 million as a result of the company’s strategic pricing decisions. Revenues from its Global Packaging segment decreased nearly 10 percent on the quarter, but strictly as a result of negative currency translation. On a currency neutral basis, global packaging revenues would have registered a 6 percent gain.

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R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.

Appvion

2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $2.7 Billion $2.9 Billion t 5% Income $43.5 million $64.7 million t 32% EPS 21 cents 32 cents t 34% The printing company with significant operations in the Fox Cities indicated second quarter operating cash flow of $205 million exceeded second quarter 2014 operating cash flow of $150 million. Company officials also announced plans to divide the existing operations into three independent publiclytraded companies, which it will pursue during the second half of 2015.

2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $178 million $208 million t 14% Income ($9.8 million) ($1.1 million) t791% The employee-owned producer of thermal papers reported a nearly 25 percent decline in sales of its thermal papers to $83.0 million compared with $111 million during the second quarter 2014, which company officials said resulted from its decision to not compete for certain low-priced market opportunities, decreasing volume by 18 percent.

Blyth Inc. Neenah Paper 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $224 million $230 million t 3% Income $16.7 million $15.0 million s 11% EPS 97 cents 88 cents s 10% The papermaker with significant operations in the Fox Cities reported record earnings per share and record operating income of $27.9 million on the quarter. The company completed its acquisition of FiberMark on August 1 and anticipates growth in its premium packaging and technical products markets.

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2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $88.0 million $104 million t15% Income ($8.8 million) ($4.4 million) t100% EPS (55 cents) (28 cents) t 97% The parent company of Silver Star Brands operations in Oshkosh reported its sales decrease was primarily attributed to negative currency translation associated with its candles and home dĂŠcor segment business in Europe, Australia and Canada. Its catalog and Internet segment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which includes Silver Star Brands operations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; grew sales by 11 percent to $35.0 million during the quarter, reflecting sales from its acquisition of Native Remedies earlier this year.

NNB2B | September 2015 | 11

Corporate Earnings

Illinois Tool Works Inc. 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $3.4 Billion $3.7 Billion t 8% Income $480 million $1.5 Billion t 68% EPS $1.30 $3.66 t 64% The parent company of Miller Electric Manufacturing operations across the Fox Cities indicated a soft capital spending environment led to a 6 percent decrease in sales from its welding segment, though its automotive OEM segment grew organic revenue by 6 percent on the quarter.

WEC Energy Group Inc. 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $991 million $1.0 Billion t 5% Income $80.9 million $133 million t 39% EPS 35 cents 58 cents t 40% The newly merged operations of WE Energies and Integrys Energy Group, the parent company of Wisconsin Public Service Corp., indicated lower revenues resulted from a comparably cool June that significantly diminished customer demand for air conditioning across the region. The company said residential electricity use dropped 5 percent compared with a year ago, while small commercial and industrial electrical use climbed by 2.3 percent.

Dean Foods 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $2.0 Billion $2.4 Billion t 16% Income $26.5 million ($645,000) s4,517% EPS 28 cents (1 cent) s2,900% The dairy-based foods company with extensive operations in Wisconsin, including the Green Bay area, stepped up its advertising and marketing during the past quarter to support the launch of its DairyPure brand. Raw milk costs dropped 6 percent since the first quarter and decreased a total of 33 percent from the second quarter 2014.

First Business Financial Services Inc. 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Income $3.9 million $3.5 million s 10% EPS 89 cents 88 cents s 1% The commercial-oriented financial institution serving Madison, Milwaukee and northeast Wisconsin reported loans and leases grew for the 13th consecutive quarter to a record $1.33 billion at the end of the second quarter, up 34 percent from a year earlier. The bank grew its top-line revenue by 39 percent to $18.3 million, primarily as a result of its Alterra Bank acquisition in late 2014.

Brunswick Corp. 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $1.1 Billion $1.1 Billion s 6% Income $108 million $87.1 million s 24% EPS $1.14 92 cents s 24% The parent company of Mercury Marine operations in Fond du Lac reported strong growth in its marine parts and accessories business, which included revenues from acquisitions completed in mid-2014. Its marine engine segment, which includes Mercury marine operations, saw total receipts grow 6 percent to $689 million during the second quarter.

12 | September 2015 | NNB2B

Bank First National Corp. 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Income $3.4 million $3.1 million s 10% EPS 54 cents 48 cents s 13% The Manitowoc-based financial institution with significant operations across northeast Wisconsin reported a 32 percent increase in year-over-year residential mortgage origination earnings. The bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total assets were $1.13 billion at the end of the second quarter, up 3 percent from $1.09 billion at the same time a year earlier.

Humana Inc. 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $13.7 Billion $12.2 Billion s 12% Income $431 million $344 million s 25% EPS $2.85 $2.19 s 30% The health and benefits company with extensive operations in the Green Bay area indicated a substantial portion of its income resulted from the sale of its Concentra business during the recent quarter. Company officials also noted a stabilizing rate of use of Humanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medicare Advantage program during the quarter.

West Corp. 2Q 2015 2Q 2014 Revenue $572 million $552 million s 4% Income $49.6 million $47.8 million s 8% EPS 58 cents 56 cents s 4% The enterprise communications service provider with substantial operations across the Fox Cities and Greater Green Bay areas reported its revenue growth was partially offset by 3.6 percent from the impact of foreign currency exchange rates. During the quarter the company acquired Intrafinity, Inc., doing business as SharpSchool, a provider of website and content management system software solutions for the K-12 education market for $17.2 million. www.newnorthb2b.com

Manufacturing Dental Convenience Store Financial

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NNB2B | September 2015 | 13

Build Up Fond du Lac

Build Up

Indicates a new listing

Fond du Lac

1 - 330 N. Peters Ave., Fond du Lac Society of St. Vincent de Paul Store, a 15,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing retail building.

5 - 545 W. Pioneer Road, Fond du Lac Mercury Marine, a 45,000-sq. ft. addition to its paint facility. Project completion expected in January 2016.

2 - 94 S. Rolling Meadows Dr., Fond du Lac Michels Corp., a new aviation hangar.

6 - 250 Camelot Dr., Fond du Lac Grande Cheese Company, an 87,000-sq. ft. new corporate headquarters and research center. Project completion expected in early 2016.

3 - 77 N. Pioneer Road, Fond du Lac Hampton Inn, a three-story, 73-room hotel. Project completion expected in September. 4 - 255 County Road K, Fond du Lac St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Springs Academy, a 92,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing high school campus.

7 - Industrial Parkway, Campbellsport Swenson Tool & Die, a 16,250-sq. ft. industrial facility and offices. Project completion expected in September. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

Take the first step toward a professional, quality built construction project...

Building Quality Communities Contact us or visit our Web site for a full listing of your local construction professionals.

9 2 0 . 7 3 3 . 3 1 3 6 y 866.966.3928 y www.newbt.org 14 | September 2015 | NNB2B

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Build Up Oshkosh

10 11 12

Indicates a new listing

Build Up

Oshkosh

15 16 17

8 - 2247 Ryf Road, Oshkosh Castle-Pierce Printing Co., a 12,250-sq. ft. addition to the existing printing facility.

14 - 2875 Atlas Ave., Oshkosh 4imprint, an addition to the existing distribution facility and training center. Project completion expected in September.

9 - 3500 N. Main St., Oshkosh Bemis Healthcare Packaging, a 162,790-sq. ft. addition to the existing manufacturing facility and office complex. Project completion expected in late fall.

15 - 2450 Badger Ave., Oshkosh Curwood Inc./Bemis Specialty Films, an addition to the existing tandem coater building. Project completion expected in October.

10 - 1074 N. Washburn St., Oshkosh Panera Bread, a new restaurant building. Project completion expected in September.

16 - 2340 State Road 44, Oshkosh Taco John’s, a new restaurant building. Project completion expected in September.

11 - 1005-1015 N. Washburn St., Oshkosh Dick’s Sporting Goods, a multi-tenant big box commercial retail building.

17 - 1423 Planeview Dr., Oshkosh Barr Warehousing, a multi-tenant office/warehousing facility. Project completion expected in September.

12 - 530 N. Koeller St., Oshkosh DFB Wealth Planning, a four-unit multi-tenant office building. Project completion expected in late fall. General contractor is R.J. Albright Inc. of Oshkosh.

Projects completed since our August issue: • Mi Tech Diversified Energy Services, 46 S. Rolling Meadows Dr., Fond du Lac. • multi-tenant retail building, 2200 N. Jackson St., Oshkosh. • Ross Dress for Less, 1522 S. Koeller St., Oshkosh. • Multicircuits, 2301 Universal St., Oshkosh. • Lakeside Elementary School/Oshkosh Area School District, 4991 South U.S. Highway 45, Oshkosh.

13 - 1522 S. Koeller St., Oshkosh Sports Authority, a 14,000-sq. ft. retail store. Project completion expected in September. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay.

Coming to B2B in October 2015 Industrial Development

Emerging industrial parks across NE Wisconsin

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NNB2B | September 2015 | 15

Build Up Fox Cities Build Up

Fox Cities 1 - W6490 Greenville Dr., town of Greenville Wolf River Community Bank, a 3,350-sq. ft. new financial institution branch office. Project completion expected in fall. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna. 2 - 5401 Integrity Way, town of Grand Chute Costco Wholesale, a 154,497-sq. ft. wholesale club store and fuel station. 3 - 1271 N. Casaloma Dr., town of Grand Chute Discount Tire, a 9,554-sq. ft. automotive and tire service center. Project completion expected in late fall. 4 - 4201 W. Wisconsin Ave., town of Grand Chute Bank First National, a 6,697-sq. ft. financial institution office. Project completion expected in late fall. 5 - 2 Systems Dr., town of Grand Chute Hooper Law Office, a 3,974-sq. ft. addition to the existing office building. Project completion expected in September. General contractor is R&R Steel Construction Company of Appleton. 6 - 320 N. Westhill Blvd., town of Grand Chute Milwaukee PC, a 5,760-sq. ft. multi-tenant retail building. Project completion expected in September. 7 - 4800 W. Prospect Ave., town of Grand Chute Werner Electric Supply Co., a 260,775-sq. ft. corporate office and distribution center. Project completion expected in late fall. General contractor is Consolidated Construction Company of Appleton. 8 - 400 E. North Island St., Appleton Neenah Paper Inc., a 45,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing specialty paper mill. Project completion expected in late 2016. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. 9 - 1818 N. Meade St., Appleton Appleton Medical Center, a two-story, 7,500-sq. ft. addition to the existing hospital for a hybrid operating room. Project completion expected in September. 10 - 3925 Gateway Dr., Appleton Fox Valley Hematology & Oncology, a 60,000-sq. ft. cancer treatment facility. Project completion expected in early fall. 11 - 2500 E. Capitol Dr., Appleton ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center, a 82,000-sq. ft. cancer treatment facility. Project completion expected in mid 2016. 12 - 2911 W. Evergreen Dr., Little Chute Feeding America - Eastern Wisconsin, a 39,720-sq. ft. food pantry distribution center.

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Indicates a new listing

13 - 235 Allegiance Ct., Little Chute Sign Country, an 11,992-sq. ft. commercial building. 14 - 1915 Freedom Road, Little Chute Tomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Drive-In, an addition to the existing restaurant for more dining space. 15 - 1500 Lamers Dr., Little Chute Building Services Group, a 4,960-sq. ft. addition to the existing warehouse. Project completion expected in September. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna. 16 - 100 W. Second St., Kaukauna Kaukauna City Hall, a new municipal services building. Project completion expected in May 2016. 17 - N8890 State Road 57, Brillion Prestige Auto, a 9,027-sq. ft. auto dealership building. Project completion expected in November. General contractor is Frontier Builders & Consultants of Kaukauna. 18 - N161 Eisenhower Dr., town of Buchanan Biolife Plasma Services, a 17,557-sq. ft. medical facility and offices. 19 - 2520 S. Kensington Dr., Appleton Crunch Fitness, a new fitness center. 20 - 1499 Appleton Road, Menasha Kwik Trip, a new convenience store, fuel station and car wash. 21 - 177 Main St., Menasha One Menasha Center, an eight-story, 100,000-sq. ft. multi-tenant office building to include Faith Technologies, Community First Credit Union and RLJ Dental. 22 - 912 Haase St., town of Menasha Stowe Woodward LLC, a 5,556-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility for a new crane bay and new offices. Project completion expected in late fall. 23 - 450 S. Commercial St., Neenah Dairy Queen, a 1,056-sq. ft. addition to the existing restaurant and interior renovations for more dining space. 24 - 1257 Gillingham Road, Neenah Menasha Packaging Company, a 48,382-sq. ft. addition to the existing pre-print facility. Project completion expected in March. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. 25 - 1645 Bergstrom Road, Neenah Menasha Packaging Company, a two-story, 103,900-sq. ft. corporate office complex. Project completion expected in fall 2016.

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26 - 630 Muttart Road, town of Neenah N&M Transfer, a nearly 100,000-sq. ft. warehouse and loading dock terminal. Project completion expected in September. Projects completed since our August issue: • St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran School, 225 E. Harris St., Appleton. • Trinity Lutheran Ministry Center, 804 Grignon St., Kaukauna. • St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School, 1600 W. Prospect St., Appleton. • Kuehl Electric Inc., 2215 Harrison St., Neenah. • Morton Long Term Care Pharmacy Solutions, 201 E. Bell St., Neenah.

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Better Business Bureau New Members Businesses accredited through the Northeast Wisconsin office during July 2015 Achievable Senior Care Solutions, Oshkosh Advantage Remodeling and Restoration, Sobieski Dalton Carpet Outlet, Manitowoc Dan’s Concrete of Sheboygan, Sheboygan Door County Cab, Sturgeon Bay E-Cig Store, Appleton Packer City Antiques, Green Bay The Iola Tax Place, Iola Vande Berg Construction, Eldorado VL Performance, Appleton

NNB2B | September 2015 | 17

Build Up Greater Green Bay area 1

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Build Up

Greater Green Bay area

1 - 2447 Lineville Road, Howard Dunkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Donuts, a 1,900-sq. ft. restaurant building. Project completion expected in September.

2 - 320 N. Broadway, Green Bay DDL Holdings/Titletown Brewing, an addition to the former industrial facility for a mixed-use retail development. 3 - 509 W. Walnut St., Green Bay NEWCMG Properties, an addition to the multi-tenant office building. 4 - 201 Main St., Green Bay Hampton Inn/Fox River Hospitality, a complete refurbishment of the existing structure for a new 136-room hotel. General contractor is Consolidated Construction Company of Appleton. 18 | September 2015 | NNB2B

Indicates a new listing

5 - 301 E. Main St., Green Bay KI Convention Center, a 30,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing convention center facility. Project completion expected in late summer. 6 - 100 E. Main St., Green Bay CityDeck Landing, a six-story, mixed-use development to include 76 residential units and 7,000 square feet of first floor retail space. Project completion expected in fall. 7 - 314 S. Baird St., Green Bay Washington Middle School/Green Bay Area Public Schools, an addition for a new entrance to the existing school building. 8 - 1593 E. Mason St., Green Bay Grand Central Station, a 9,000-sq. ft. convenience store and www.newnorthb2b.com

fuel station. Project completion expected in December. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. 9 - 1160 Kepler Dr., Green Bay Aurora Baycare Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center, a 39,400-sq. ft. addition to the existing orthopedic clinic for new offices and a separate 31,000-sq. ft. addition to the ambulatory surgery area. Project completion expected in early 2016. 10 - 1351 Ontario Road, Green Bay Willow Creek Behavioral Health, a 72-bed, 52,265-sq. ft. psychiatric hospital and substance abuse treatment facility. Project completion expected in late summer 2016. 11 - 3200 S. County Road P, Denmark Riesterer & Schnell Inc., a 12,000-sq. ft. storage facility. Project completion expected in the fall. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna. 12 - 1754 Allouez Ave., Bellevue American Climate Control, a climate-controlled commercial storage facility. 13 - 2325 Holmgren Way, Ashwaubenon Ashwaubenon Investors, a 4,210-sq. ft. addition to the multi-tenant office building. 14 - 2395 Holmgren Way, Ashwaubenon Gerbers Law, S.C., a 6,600-sq. ft. office building. Project completion expected in November. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. 15 - 2461 Holmgren Way, Ashwaubenon Prevea Plastic Surgery & Rejuvenation Center, a 14,000-sq. ft. medical clinic. Project completion expected in late fall. 16 - 2561 S. Broadway, Ashwaubenon Brown County Port & Resource Recovery, a 1,512-sq. ft. addition to the existing building. 17 - 2821 S. Oneida St., Ashwaubenon Van’s Honda, a 45,000-sq. ft. automotive dealership and maintenance shop. Project completion expected in November. 18 - 1163 Glory Road, Ashwaubenon Paper Converting Machine Co., an addition to the existing industrial facility. 19 - 1001 Main St., De Pere Festival Foods, an 8,174-sq. ft. addition to the existing grocery market for a new wine and spirits department. Project completion expected in November. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. 20 - 506 Butler St., De Pere De Pere Christian Outreach, a 5,116-sq. ft. addition to the existing retail store. Project completion expected in September. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna. 21 - 1900 Williams Grant Dr., De Pere Hemlock Creek Elementary School/West De Pere School District, a 24,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing school building for a new classroom and gymnasium. Project completion expected in September. 22 - 755 Scheuring Road, De Pere Syble Hopp Elementary School/West De Pere School District, an 18,285-sq. ft. addition to the existing school building. Projects completed since our August issue: • Wagner RV, 1751 Wildwood Dr., Suamico. • Lineville Health Mart Pharmacy, 2673 Lineville Road, Howard. • Northeast Asphalt Inc., 1524 Atkinson Dr., Green Bay. • Chappell Elementary School/Green Bay Area Public School District, 205 N. Fisk St., Green Bay. www.newnorthb2b.com

NNB2B | September 2015 | 19

Cover Story

Mastering

your career

Various educational programs in northeast Wisconsin enable working professionals choices in advancing their skills

Story by Lee Marie Reinsch

Think about the past year or so of your life. Did much happen? Some of us have trouble finding enough novelty to fill the annual Christmas missive.

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攀琀椀渀最

But in the 16-month span when Oshkosh Corp.’s Vice President of Global Rewards Tina Seashore worked on her master’s of business administration degree at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s College of Business, she married, bought a house, became pregnant with twins, traveled for business four times to Asia and Europe (never missing an assignment) – all while working fulltime at a different employer and raising her young son. Phhewwwww. Feel like a triple espresso, or perhaps a nap? Maybe Seashore’s a highly evolved mutant strain of superwoman efficiency. “I tend to live at a fast pace,” Seashore said. “If something crazy’s not going on in my life, it’s just not normal.” Or maybe today’s graduate business programs are designed around people’s full lives. But no program could be that well-designed, could it?

20 | September 2015 | NNB2B

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We’ve rounded up a few leadership advancement programs at area educational institutions, and here’s what we found. “We want (programs) to be convenient – it’s an investment, but students do it willingly,” says Kathy Hagens, UW Oshkosh MBA program director. “You’re investing in yourself and your company, and we want to make sure people get the return on investment they’re looking for,” through networking opportunities, exposure to businesses, guest speakers and sites, Hagens said.

UW Oshkosh MBA program

UW Oshkosh has sites in Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh and Stevens Point, as well as online. Executive classes meet in Appleton. Aside from an in-person team-building exercise, all of the executive MBA can be done online, Hagens said. After graduation in December 2014 and the birth of Seashore’s twin daughters in March, she landed the position at Oshkosh Corp. while on maternity leave. “I really know my experience was a key indicator of earning the opportunity to be here (at Oshkosh Corp.) but I really do feel that having the MBA was the differentiator from folks who were considered for the role (who didn’t have the degree),” Seashore said. “The degree can really make the difference if all else is equal.” Seashore chose the UW Oshkosh executive MBA program because of its brevity: 16 months of classes every Saturday. Sacrificing that many weekends was daunting, but Seashore called her decision “an opportunity-cost discussion.” “I knew I needed to find something that aligned with my responsibilities (and that) I could be focused on,” Seashore said. “If it were nightly for eight years, it would be too grueling.” She’d been at her previous company 17 years in a senior position, but she still felt “incomplete.” “I had always had a personal goal to go back to school to get

UW Oshkosh College of Business Programs: Master’s in Business Administration, executive and professional tracks When started: 2013 (executive); 1970s (professional) Credits: 33 Time to complete: 16 months (executive); average 3.5 years (professional) Mode: In person and online When classes meet: Saturdays (executive); weeknights and online (professional) Who it’s for: Professionals wishing to move up the corporate ladder. Executive MBA program candidates need eight years of professional work experience, including five years in management. Emphasis: Management, leadership, finance, operations, human resources, information technology, talent management, accounting and marketing. Cost: $58,000 (executive); $675 to $750 per credit (professional)

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my master’s, but it never seemed to be the right time, with personal life and career life,” she said. “Being a mother and in HR, you don’t always think about yourself. I decided this was my year to be selfish.” UW Oshkosh’s executive MBA is for those climbing the career ladder toward being a C-level executive, leading a division or starting their own company, Hagens said.

There’s nothing more rewarding for us than to have a student come and say ‘Wow, we talked on Saturday and the following week I could apply that... Kathy Hagens, MBA program director, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh The professional MBA program is for those who want to learn more about business strategy. “They want to know things like not just how can I grow personally and professionally, but how can I help my company grow revenue, increase sales, reduce expenses ... expand with new products or maybe new manufacturing facilities in other countries or other locations,” Hagens said. Both programs offer a combination of management, personal and professional development, leadership and functional core competencies including finance, operations, human resources, talent management, accounting, IT and marketing, she said. Participant feedback has been positive. “We tell people, ‘You’re in a very fast-paced program. You’re going to learn a ton, you’ll learn on Saturday things you can apply on Monday,’” she said. “There’s nothing more rewarding for us than to have a student come and say ‘Wow, we talked on Saturday and the following week I could apply that and am completely blown away about how this has helped my business and me professionally.’”

NWTC Leadership Academy

Before taking Northeast Wisconsin Technical College’s Leadership Academy last spring, Nate Moore subscribed to the “my way or the highway” philosophy of management. “You’re going to do it this way because I said you’re going to do it this way – basically, you’re the boss and what you say goes,” is how Moore describes his pre-enlightenment vision. Moore is lead operator in charge of scheduling at Metals Engineering in Green Bay. Leadership Academy taught him that’s not necessarily the best approach. “One mind is not as good as two,” he said. “Three minds are better than two, and four are better than three. You can get more accomplished with a team than you ever could by yourself … To get people engaged, you’ve got to listen and give feedback. Your team has to trust you and know you’re there for them.”

NNB2B | September 2015 | 21

THE ONLY THING

MORE SOLID THAN STEEL

While the products we make may be measured in millimeters or weighed in tons, the industries we develop are reinforced by a tradition of hard work and a spirit of personal success. When we provide our workforce with the opportunities to realize its goals, innovation becomes reality. Together, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll build a framework of success upon which we can build the future of a greater Oshkosh.

920.230.3321 x 2380 HWY 44, SUITE B, OSHKOSH, WI 54904 x WWW.GREATEROSHKOSH.COM

IS SPIRIT

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Green Bay Program: Leadership Academy Year started: 2013 Credits: Non-credit program Time to complete: Six months Mode: In person and online When classes meet: One morning every other week Who it’s for: Individuals or organizations looking to enhance their leadership abilities. Emphasis: Developing leadership, conflict resolution, critical thinking and problem solving.

Moore, 40, floated through a panoply of careers, from patternmaking and metallurgy to landscaping and advertising. With a daughter, he needed something more solid. When a lead position opened at Metals Engineering in Green Bay, his bosses sent him to Leadership Academy. “This was real eye-opening and self-reflective for me,” Moore said. “It took a lot of the ambiguity from me and relieved it because it helped me understand what my role was as a leader and what my primary responsibility would be to help that organization improve process by getting people involved.” Last year, NWTC worked with 1,100 businesses to provide some form of training or consulting. Enrollment in its corporate training programs topped 27,000, said Dean Stewart, dean of corporate training and economic development for NWTC. Not all were in leadership programs, but leadership is one of the school’s key emphases. Leadership Academy is for front-line manufacturing workers, many who often evolved their careers into supervisory positions. Students learn conflict resolution, critical thinking, problem solving, peer leadership and high-performance teams. Between sessions, students meet online to discuss how they implemented what they learned. “It’s our way to understand whether they picked up on the concepts we tried to instill in them,” Stewart said. The program has enjoyed a good deal of demand. It’s run four times and is so popular that registration for the most recent session closed within a day, Stewart said. “It’s been embraced by manufacturing within northeast Wisconsin, and we’re running several sections this fall,” Stewart said. The next Leadership Academy begins the end of September and costs $625.

St. Norbert College MBA program

For years, people asked why St. Norbert College in De Pere had no MBA program. Its curriculum has included business studies for most of the school’s 118-year history. Initially, St. Norbert leaders had to answer why the world needs another MBA program, said Kevin Quinn, dean of St. Norbert’s www.newnorthb2b.com

Donald J. Schneider School of Business & Economics. Two things stood out, Quinn said: the Green Bay area had no homegrown MBA program. And if St. Norbert were to undertake an MBA program, it wanted to maintain its liberal arts tenets: so-called soft skills including communication, critical thinking, independent learning, writing and networking. “We thought we’d be doing the right thing if we were to offer a master’s version of that,” Quinn said. The result is a solid values-based education in business emphasizing relationships between faculty, students, college and business community, Quinn said. “St. Norbert has a lot of ties to the business community in northeast Wisconsin, and we want to provide students with the benefit of those,” he said. “In return, we want to provide the business community with fresh, energetic thinking.” Focus groups found demand for tracks in manufacturing and healthcare as well as general business. St. Norbert is keeping classes small – eight to 12 students for electives, and 20 to 25 for core classes. Transportation and logistics magnate Donald J. Schneider was a St. Norbert graduate and second-generation owner and CEO of Ashwaubenon-based Schneider. He passed away in 2012, and a generous bequest from his family helped finance the launch of the newly established MBA program. With a 5-month-old son, Schreiber Foods retirement analyst Heather Milbach felt ambivalent about returning to school this fall. But her husband and advisors support her dream.

St. Norbert College

Donald J. Schneider School of Business & Economics, De Pere Program: Master’s in Business Administration Year started: Fall 2015 Credits: 37 Time to complete: Minimum two years Mode: In person When classes meet: Weekday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. Who it’s for: Manufacturing, healthcare and business professionals. Emphasis: Solid business and leadership skills plus networking, critical thinking, independent learning and communication. Cost: About $25,000 “A lot of people going through it are working professionals, so you have to balance coursework and work,” said Milbach, a 2009 St. Norbert business administration and economics graduate. She’s part of the inaugural MBA class, which begins this fall. One might think the on-campus-only classes would be unappealing to some. “I like the idea of being on campus, because part of the idea of going back for your MBA is that interaction with working professionals,” Milbach said. “We think there’s tremendous value in having people sitting in the same room together,” Quinn said. “We’re really emphasizing the quality of the experience on this beautiful campus.” NNB2B | September 2015 | 23

Cover Story Classes meet a few nights a week for about three hours each. “It’s a commitment. People are going to be going to class one, two, three nights a week, but it’s meant to be built around people who have jobs and lives,” Quinn said. Focus groups showed students would rather give up weeknights than weekends, so there are no weekend classes. But this won’t be the easiest way to get an MBA, Quinn said. “You aren’t going to be taking yoga or joining a book club for a couple years,” he said. The program keeps prerequisites to a minimum, aside from statistics and accounting/finance. “We aren’t asking students to replicate an entire undergraduate business core – they don’t need it,” Quinn said. They should understand how to work with people from those fields, not actually specialize in them. “We think this group is capable enough to pick up what they need as they move along.” St. Norbert aims to provide a broad-based business education for those with expertise in other areas, to give them the tools to be effective senior leaders, Quinn said. “A lot of that comes from the liberal arts character of St. Norbert College. We believe the important things to learn are critical thinking, the ability to learn on your own, the ability to make connections between different things, and that DNA is going to be present,” Quinn said. “The same things we think are important for undergraduate students we’re taking and emphasizing, but for people who are already along the way in their careers.”

24 | September 2015 | NNB2B

Marian University School of Business, Fond du Lac Program: Master’s in Organizational Leadership When started: 1992 Credits: 30 credits, formerly 36 Time to complete: 21 months Mode: In person and online When classes meet: In person classes meet one night weekly from 6 to 10 p.m.; self-paced online. Who it’s for: Experienced professionals from any industry. Emphasis: Understanding leadership concepts, as well as strategy, systems, integration, teamwork, the quality philosophy, and ethics and social responsibility. Cost: Approximately $20,000

Marian University School of Business

Good leaders need more than a commanding baritone. They need expertise and credibility, they need to know how to strategize, and how to mine their own and others’ strengths. They need emotional intelligence. “Somebody can have a great mind but not be able to relate to other people and be very ineffective as a leader,” said Jeffrey Reed, dean and professor of management for Marian University’s School of Business in Fond du Lac. “Sometimes people get put into leadership positions because they’re a good

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individual contributor and somebody notices that and pats them on the back and says ‘Hey, you should do this or we need you to do this,’ and they don’t have the skills, motivation or desire to be a leader or a manager.”

We Make Software Work

Marian’s Master of Science in Organizational Leadership program is for professionals aiming to rise in their careers. It integrates teamwork, systems, problem solving, addressing barriers, getting buy-in, and a business simulation. Classes can be in person, online or both. “It’s entirely possible to complete 100 percent of the degree online,” Reed said. Marian recently revamped its program, compressing necessary credits for completion from 36 to 30. “We looked at what was going on in business education and what business leaders are saying about how they need people to be prepared for leadership kinds of positions,” Reed said. They need people who can make data-backed decisions, assess risk, induce change, make presentations, and solve problems. Trista Michels Bubolz of Neenah, a 2006 Marian marketing and management graduate, went through the Master’s in Organizational Leadership program last year. “In the bachelor’s program, everything is sort of how to work for yourself and get where you’re going yourself, and this is more a group setting, where everybody has different strengths and weaknesses and different work styles,” she said. “It kind of opens your eyes to finding the little nugget from each person on how to make your team successful as a whole unit.” Her class cohort helped Fox Cities Warming Shelter streamline its processes with new marketing and strategic plans.

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“We worked with staff members, got a feeling of what they liked about working there, and what we could improve, and incorporated some changes into their facility so they could function more smoothly,” Bubolz said. “It was really neat to work with a local nonprofit to give back to the community.” Marian aims to keep class sizes at 10 to 15. Bubolz’s class had six. “By doing that, we get a good mix of backgrounds, interests and abilities,” Reed said. Cohorts commonly consist of healthcare, public safety, manufacturing, retail and social services employees. “What they find is there are a lot of commonalities in the kinds of problems we face, regardless of the industry we’re working in,” Reed said. “We want a cohort composed of people who are 30, 35 or 40 years old who have actual experience they can bring to the classroom, who are ready to move to the next level. They bring their experience, issues and challenges to the classroom, and we work with them as we move through the program.”

Without execution, they’re just numbers. Let us do the math.

The program fit Bubolz’s life. She continued working fulltime and not only planned a wedding during that time, but also gave birth to a baby boy. “They were really great flexibility-wise, so I was very happy with the overall program,” she said. n Lee Reinsch of Green Bay worked 18 years at daily newspapers before launching her freelance business, edgewise, in 2007. www.newnorthb2b.com

Successful Journeys Need a Guide™ 920.427.5077 www.guidentbusiness.com NNB2B | September 2015 | 25

Transitions

A Value Proposition For business owners looking to sell their companies, the challenge is to get maximum value and protect themselves and their businesses during the sales process Story by Rick Berg

When Doug LaViolette first pondered selling Green Bay-based Executive Office Interiors in 1995, he and his wife, Renee, were still reeling from the untimely drowning death of their son, Brian, three years earlier. Though they had owned and operated that successful business for more than 20 years at that time, the LaViolettes felt it was time to move on and devote more of their time to the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation. “We just really felt at that time that there were more important things in life than selling furniture,” LaViolette said. They eventually managed a successful sale of Executive Office Interiors in 1999. But that first attempt in 1995 did not go well, and it provides a cautionary tale for any business owner considering the sale of his or her business. First, partly as a result of dealing with their son’s death, the LaViolettes saw sales flat lining by 1995 after two decades of 26 | September 2015 | NNB2B

solid growth. That, LaViolette said, is no time to be selling a business. It tends to undervalue the business and leave the seller vulnerable to prospective buyers – especially competitors – who want to get a better deal on the business, LaViolette said. That’s exactly what happened during the negotiation process in 1995, during which prospective buyers focused on current sales and thus valued the business well below what LaViolette knew the true value to be. www.newnorthb2b.com

Worse, negotiations with one prospective buyer led to a seller’s worst nightmare – a breach in confidentiality. Although LaViolette and the buyer had a nondisclosure agreement in place to guard against such a breach, one family member on the buyer’s side, perhaps unaware of the nondisclosure agreement, disclosed the negotiations in a social setting. Word spread quickly and it didn’t take long for the rumor to reach the ears of LaViolette’s employees.

member fdic

Since the negotiations had broken down by that time, LaViolette was able to tell employees in all honesty that there were no plans to sell the business. Still, LaViolette said, “We lost a couple of good people over that.” The nondisclosure agreement gave LaViolette the legal option to recover damages, “but what would I gain in that case? I just didn’t want to go there,” LaViolette said, noting that any further action would only bring more attention to the consideration of selling the business.

Willing to walk away

By 1999, when LaViolette again considered selling the business, sales had rebounded nicely and he was in a stronger negotiating position. On June 18, 1999, the sale closed with terms the LaViolettes considered a fair value for the business they had spent a good portion of their life building. The nondisclosure agreement also held firm this time around and no one – not even long-time employees – knew anything until the morning LaViolette announced the sale. “You have to do it that way, as difficult as that may be, especially with long-time, loyal employees,” LaViolette said. Today, LaViolette is president of The LaViolette Group, which provides marketing services to clients nationwide, but he keenly recalls the challenges faced when trying to protect the business and his family during the selling process. At one point during the 1999 negotiations, LaViolette was presented with a proposal he considered to be “a deal breaker.” He stood firm and eventually got the deal he felt comfortable with. “You have to be confident in your numbers and be willing to walk away,” LaViolette said. “I was and I walked away during negotiations. Ultimately they came back with a more acceptable proposal and it worked out for everyone.”

Protect yourself at the start

LaViolette credits the expert counsel from his attorney, accountant and broker during the sales process for the success of the negotiations. Long-time experts in business acquisitions and sales say there are several key elements necessary to protect your business and family during the sales process.

THINK LOCAL Shop LOCAL BANK LOCAL #banklocal

It all starts with having a nondisclosure agreement in place before confidential financial information such as tax returns and financial statements change hands. The nondisclosure agreement also binds both parties to confidentiality about the fact that discussions are taking place. “If it becomes known that you are in discussions to sell your

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Transitions

Business valuation models and terms Adjusted Book Value Method – A method within the asset approach whereby all assets and liabilities (including off-balance sheet, intangible, and contingent) are adjusted to their fair market values. Asset (Asset-Based) Approach – A general way of determining a value indication of a business, business ownership interest, or security using one or more methods based on the value of the assets net of liabilities. Discounted Cash Flow Method – A method within the income approach whereby the present value of future expected net cash flows is calculated using a discount rate. Discounted Future Earnings Method – A method within the income approach whereby the present value of future expected economic benefits is calculated using a discount rate. EBITDA – Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization. Sometimes also called operational cash flow. An approximate measure of a company’s operating cash flow based on data from the company’s income statement. This earnings measure is of particular interest in cases where companies have large amounts of fixed assets which are subject to heavy depreciation charges (such as manufacturing companies). It is rarely a useful measure for evaluating a small company with no significant loans. Fair Market Value – The price, expressed in terms of cash equivalents, at which property would change hands between a hypothetical buyer and seller, acting at arm’s length in an open and unrestricted market, when neither is under compulsion to buy or sell and when both have reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. Goodwill – Intangible assets arising as a result of name, reputation, customer loyalty, location, products, and similar factors not separately identified. Income (Income-Based) Approach – A general way of determining a value indication of a business, business ownership interest, security or intangible asset using one or more methods that convert anticipated economic benefits into a present single amount. Intangible Assets – Non-physical assets such as franchises, trademarks, patents, copyrights, goodwill, equities, mineral rights, securities and contracts (as distinguished from physical assets) that grant rights and privileges, and have value for the owner. Key Person Discount – An amount or percentage deducted from the value of an ownership interest to reflect the reduction in value resulting from the actual or potential loss of a key person in a business enterprise. Market (Market-Based) Approach – A general way of determining a value indication of a business, business ownership interest, security, or intangible asset by using one or more methods that compare the subject to similar businesses, business ownership interests, securities or intangible assets that have been sold. Net Book Value – The difference between total assets (net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization) and total liabilities as they appear on the balance sheet (synonymous with Shareholder’s Equity). With respect to a specific asset, the capitalized cost less accumulated amortization or depreciation as it appears on the books of account of the business enterprise.

business, the risk is that there is a negative perception in the community among vendors and customers and bankers,” according to Stephanie Geurts, CPA, a partner in the Oshkosh office of Suttner Accounting. “You absolutely do not want to release information until you have nondisclosure in place – and you should have an attorney or business broker involved at this point.” “One important factor is that if a deal isn’t reached, the nondisclosure agreement should require that all documents and confidential information be returned to the seller,” said Tony Renning, an attorney and partner at Strang, Patteson, Renning, Lewis & Lacy, the Green Bay-based employment law and business law firm with offices in Oshkosh and Madison. “You don’t want to have that information floating around out there.” Once negotiations have progressed beyond the exploratory stage, it’s time for a letter of intent from the prospective buyer, Renning said. Katie Blom, managing partner at Epiphany Law in Appleton, added that disclosure of confidential information before receiving a letter of intent should be limited to tax returns and basic financial statements. With a letter of intent in place, the seller can feel more secure in releasing detailed financial information. However, “secret sauce” kinds of information – customer lists, contracts and other proprietary material uniquely valuable to the business – should be withheld until there is a purchase agreement in place. First of all, Blom said, “it’s important to do your due diligence on the buyer to see their history of acquisitions, to make sure they’re reputable and not going to steal your information.” Then, she continued, “we usually advise our clients to have that NDA (nondisclosure) right away, before any significant discussions take place,” Blom said. “If they’re an educated or well-represented buyer, they’re going to want to see tax and financial information in order to evaluate the opportunity. But there are some things we advise our clients to hang onto as long as possible. And we want to see as many contingencies as possible eliminated from the purchase agreement.”

Getting good value

As LaViolette discovered in his negotiations, there are almost always differences between how the buyer and seller value the business. Sometimes each will bring his or her own accountant – ideally a certified valuation analyst – to the table, leading to competing valuations that must then be negotiated. More often, according to Geurts, the parties will agree upon a third-party certified valuation analyst. “Usually that report will be honored by both sides, although certainly one side or the other might

Source: National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts

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challenge some parts of the valuation and that becomes a point of negotiation,” Geurts said. The real question often comes to down which valuation method will provide the fairest valuation for a specific business. The asset approach might work well for a retail or manufacturing operation in which tangible assets and inventory make up a significant portion of the sale, but less so for a service business. “The asset approach can be book value (basically the equity on the balance sheet) or liquidation value,” according to Geurts. Either way, she said, in many cases it may not be “very useful since it is historical cost and might not be relevant to what (the business) is worth.” For service businesses, the revenue or income potential approach “works well for service industries that don’t have a lot of equipment or inventory that is worth much,” Geurts said. That approach, she added, “uses historical revenues and earnings and normalizes any expenses that are unusually high or low such as officer compensation.” The market value approach – which uses data from similar businesses, recent sales or industry rule of thumb – is favored by many sellers. However, Geurts said, “it can be tough to find comparative data.” Perceived business value can also be impacted by goodwill, which is an intangible asset resulting from characteristics such as name, reputation or customer loyalty. The valuation might also be impacted by how critical the current owner is to the success of the business, according to Blom. For a business heavily reliant on the current owner’s participation,

the valuation might be as low as four times EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), while a business less reliant on the current owner might bring a valuation as high as seven times EBITDA, Blom said. In the end, if the offer to purchase comes in at below what the seller would want, there are options to help bridge the valuation gap. For example, Geurts said, the offer could include an “earn out” provision, which would enable the seller “to be eligible for an earn-out based on financial performance.”

Asset sale or stock sale?

The purchase price might also be affected by whether the buyer and seller agree to a stock sale or an asset sale, both Blom and Geurts noted. “In an asset sale, the seller retains the company and the buyer purchases individual assets of the company, such as equipment and inventory,” Geurts said. “The buyer gets additional tax benefits when they purchase the assets, because they are able to step up the depreciable basis of the assets. Buyers usually prefer asset purchases because they avoid potential liabilities like contract disputes, warranty issues, environmental or regularity issues and employee lawsuits.” For sellers, on the other hand, “asset sales generate higher taxes so they typically want a stock sale,” Geurts said. “Usually the sale of assets will be taxed at the ordinary income tax rates (10 to 39.6 percent) versus the capital gain rates of 0 to 20 percent for a stock sale.”

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NNB2B | September 2015 | 29

For those reasons, Geurts said, “a buyer is often willing to pay a higher price to purchase the assets so they can get the increased depreciation expense and not have as much risk of unknown liabilities, while a seller is often looking for a higher price when selling assets since they will have more in taxes.” “We had a client who was doing an asset sale, but the tax implications were going to be significant,” Blom said. “We were able to restructure the deal so that it would be a stock sale. It worked out well for both sides. The buyer asked for a price reduction from what they had offered in the letter of intent, but the net still came out far ahead for the seller, even with the reduction of purchase price.”

Transitions

The transition from current owner to new owner takes multiple forms. In many cases, the buyer will want the seller to remain on in some capacity for a period of time after the sale – either as an employee or consultant. Also, in some cases, the purchase agreement calls for the buyer to pay part of the purchase price over time, generally called “seller financing.” For the seller, a long-term payout can be fraught with risk. LaViolette, for example, stood firm on immediate payout, in part because he had seen too many business acquaintances come up short of full payout when they went that route. For business owners, seller financing may be the only way to complete the deal – either because the buyer can’t summon the total purchase price or, more likely, because the buyer has concerns about a potential loss of client base.

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In that case, Blom, Geurts and Renning all agree the seller is often well advised to stay on in some capacity for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of business – thus ensuring his or her payout. The buyer may also request a noncompete agreement to prevent the seller from opening a competing business and siphoning off customers. The purchase might also contain an attrition clause, Geurts said, “so some money may be held back or required to be paid back if key customers are lost within certain time frames. That also motivates the seller to stay on and help with the transition.” Renning, who specializes in employment law, said buyers also need to do their due diligence on labor issues related to the purchase. That includes being aware of regulations regarding potential layoffs, and in the case of union shops they need to understand their status as “successor employers.” An often-ignored post-sale factor is that of communication with existing employees, Renning said. “Once everything has been hammered out and the need for confidentiality is gone, it’s critical that the owners communicate with the employees and keep them in the loop about what’s going on.” LaViolette’s experience might have been more difficult than many. Besides the 1995 negotiations, LaViolette spent more than six months negotiating the 1999 sale. Still, he said he has had no “seller’s remorse” after letting go of a business he founded and operated for 25 years. “It was time to move on. For us it was a new beginning.”

Rick Berg is a freelance editor and writer based in Green Bay. www.newnorthb2b.com

NNB2B | September 2015 | 31

Service industry

At your service Growing concierge industry aims to help individuals, businesses out of a bind when available time is at a premium Story by J.S. Decker

It’s finally possible to find 36 hours in a 24-hour day. No miracle or scientific breakthrough gets your chores done, but a simple phone call asking for help that once was limited to hotel guests. As a spokesperson for the growing concierge industry puts it, “Let me do the things that have to be done so you can do the things that you want to do.” A growing number of Fox Valley businesses are glad to wash your car, buy your groceries or mow the lawn. They’ll throw the office Christmas party or take your employees’ suits to the drycleaners. Some businesses offer concierge services among workplace benefits in hopes of attracting the best work team. The results are less stress, less exhaustion and greater productivity. “Oh, sure!” agreed Rhonda Halron, who regularly hires Bring It! Errands & Delivery of Green Bay. “When I’m going out of the country they take care of my home. It’s getting my mail, watering plants, taking my cat to the boarding service...” On a normal day Bring It! may take the cat to be groomed or swing by the grocery store. “If I get caught up or fall behind I just give them a call. They’re right there on the spot for you. 32 | September 2015 | NNB2B

The spontaneity of availability they have is amazing,” added Halron. Officially, 24-hour notice is expected for all errands. Such help is wonderful to fall back on, but she doesn’t hire the service every week. “I wouldn’t say it’s addictive. It’s just a way out of a bind.”

Assistance provided Halron heard of the service through a business-owning friend, and word of mouth remains a leading way to connect with new clients. After founding Bring It! in 2010, Lynn Kamps and Janet Perret have reached out through advertising and a variety of marketing strategies. Perret said the most common chores are grocery and personal shopping, in-home laundry, dry cleaning pickup and delivery, restaurant delivery, pets, waiting, vacation, auto, pharmacy, new parent concierge, milk delivery, key lockout, concierge, package delivery and courier services. “If there is an errand we can’t do, we can provide businesses we partner with who can get the job done,” Perret said. As long as the task is legal and ethical, it’ll get done, said Katharine Giovanni, author of three books on the industry and founder of Triangle International, a concierge training and www.newnorthb2b.com

directory service based in North Carolina. “A good concierge has a lot of contacts,” she explained, and that helps a lot when the job doesn’t demand immediate action by the concierge service itself. “We have two different types of services in our industry,” Giovanni said. “One is concierge services, which is anything I can do from my desk. Hotel concierge don’t leave their desk either.” Any job that takes the concierge out their front door falls under personal assistant or errand services. “That’s a higher price point. I’ve got gas, I’m leaving the office, I’ve got more expenses. There’s definitely two different price points. Most people charge by the hour. Then you have people who offer memberships and will work a certain number of hours per month.” Some concierges are set up like an ala carte menu, Giovanni said, with different prices for different services. Cost can vary greatly by location. Expect between $25 and $60 per hour, depending on the job and the location. In the Green Bay area Bring It! charges $15 per errand, plus related expenses. It’s $15 to drop off or pick up something, but $25 to do both. Key lock-out service is $25 normally, but $40 after-hours or on weekends. Weekly milk service is $100 per year. Twice weekly milk service costs $150. Other tasks, like waiting on a new mother and her newborn, have hourly rates that vary. Any travel outside a 15-mile radius costs 57.5 cents per mile.

Growing industry

With repeat business comes stronger bonds, says Halron. “I’ve developed such a good relationship I don’t see them look over invoices every time,” Halron added. That may not hold true at all of the 698 concierge firms across the U.S. as of 2013, making a combined revenue of $318 million. In 2012 the total was $220 million earned by 658 businesses, according to business research firm IBIS World. The growth is only continuing. The appeal cannot be denied as more and more individuals and businesses sign on. “It’s not just a service for the uber-wealthy,” noted Giovanni. “That’s where it started. But that’s not what it is today.” American Express offers concierge services among its cardholder rewards deals, she added. Having been close to the industry for decades, she’s watched it grow and helped it along. “I’ve been training people to be concierges for over 20 years and created two associations. In 1998 there might have been 12 concierge services in the country,” she remembered.

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If a job is too challenging or too intimidating it’ll get hired out. “A concierge will clean and gut your fish if you want them to,” Giovanni said. “And if they won’t do it they’ll outsource to a fisherman who would. I have a friend who does that all the time. A good concierge has a lot of contacts.” At other times the job at hand is remarkably easy to do. “One of my concierges literally got hired to watch paint dry,” she recalled. It might be boring, but it’s important to the air moving and to keep hands away from the wet walls of the house. “You can’t go to work and leave your front door wide open all day long,” she pointed out.

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Service industry Managing unusual requests One recurring job for Little Chutebased Daily Details Concierge LLC is much more personal than others. “We help a man named Tommy at Brewster Village in Appleton,” explained co-owner Cindy Wendzicki. “Tommy had a stroke and we help teach him how to use his iPad to learn how to communicate and play Angry Birds.” That simple interaction and encouragement to re-learn life skills

changed his whole outlook, she added. “He was very depressed when we first started and now he looks forward to seeing us!” “This is the perfect business for us since we love helping people and enjoy doing a variety of different tasks that other people might find daunting,” said Kristin Surk, Wendzicki’s business partner. “At times it was hard to get things started since we are a unique service to the area, but we were always determined and could see how great our service will be for the community. We have yet to find a challenge that we weren’t able to overcome!” It all started with a call from Pennsylvania during the 2012 EAA AirVenture convention in Oshkosh. “Our very first client called and needed help surprising her daughter that was turning 18. She was going to be at the EAA and her mom needed us to help get a package together with various items the girl loved.”

Submitted photo

Cindy Wendzicki, left, and Kristin Surk, owners of Little Chute-based Daily Details Concierge LLC.

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just to get in and you can’t drive up to the party venue. “We made this a special day for a Mother so many miles away! That was the best and most exciting errand we have ever run for a client!” said Wendzicki. Almost exactly one year later they expanded by hiring another employee. By September they hired another and growth continues. The next big step could be a franchise in another city. “In the next two to five years we would like to open more locations in Wisconsin,” she said. As the appeal gains more acclaim and acceptance, further growth of the industry as a whole seems certain. As of now, neither Bring It! nor Daily Details offers specific rates for writing a news article about concierge services, but they’d both be willing to do it. And, if necessary, they know a journalist to whom to outsource such chores. n J.S. Decker is a business journalist based in Oshkosh.

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THANK YOU to our clients and staff. First Business is proud to have received an outstanding 97% in our annual client satisfaction survey. This phenomenal score is a testament to the wonderful relationships that exist between our staff and clients. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to thank our clients for this great compliment, and our staff who works hard each day to go above and beyond in delivering outstanding client satisfaction.

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Professionally Speaking

Professionally Speaking is a paid promotional spot in B2B.

How tourism benefits Oshkosh by Wendy Hielsberg of Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau 920.303.9200 We’ve had the pleasure of welcoming a lot of visitors to Oshkosh this summer. They packed EAA’s AirVenture grounds, boosting attendance to 550,000, the highest since 2005. They filled Ford Festival Park for festivals like Country USA and Rock USA. They launched their boats into Lake Winnebago, pedaled our River Walk, and they took in special events like the Dressing Downton exhibit at the Paine Art Center and Gardens. Travelers are coming here for so many reasons, and their visits bring tremendous value to Oshkosh. Here are a few reasons why. Jobs: Tourism generates significant employment in the Oshkosh area. According to research commissioned by the state Department of Tourism, visitor

spending totaled more than $230 million in Winnebago County last year. This spending supported 4,850 jobs in the Oshkosh area. Workers supported by tourism earned more than $121 million. Taxes: Visitor spending generates tax revenue that supports this area. According to the state, visitors to Winnebago County generated $29.8 million in state and local taxes in 2014, a 4.2 percent increase over the year before. This revenue helps fund things like our police and fire departments and our roads and parks. Community pride: It feels good when people want to visit your community. It’s a reminder that you live in a special place and have assets that don’t exist elsewhere. People come from around the world to experience what we have in Oshkosh. When you meet a visitor from Florida, California, Japan or Germany, it’s a reminder that this community we call home is truly world class.

Quality of Life: Visitors support the events, attractions and businesses that make Oshkosh special. For example, visitors help fill seats at our concert venues, allowing promoters to bring in national headliners that residents can enjoy, right in their city. Visitors spend money in our restaurants and retail businesses, helping keep our establishments vibrant. Visitors also give us incentive to continue improving and adding to our community’s assets, like our outstanding River Walk. In so many ways, travelers benefit Oshkosh. That’s why we welcome them so enthusiastically this year and why we are working so hard to ensure they return. Wendy Hielsberg is the Executive Director of the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau. To learn more about tourism in Winnebago County, go to www.VisitOshkosh.com or call (920) 303-9200. Professionally Speaking is a paid promotional spot in B2B.

Don’t Let Your Contract Turn Litigation Into a “Road Game” by Thomas V. Rohan of Davis & Kuelthau, s.c.

Traveling on business usually isn’t much fun. It gets a lot worse when that travel is to appear in court. Provisions in a contract with a party located out of state could put you on the road if things do not go well with that party. More than missing home cooking and a familiar bed, you may find yourself represented by an attorney you barely know, who charges a much higher hourly fee than your local attorney, before a judge or jury that may have an unconscious bias against you because you “aren’t from around these parts.” Towards the end of many commercial contracts you can find “choice of law,” “governing law,” “jurisdiction” and “venue” paragraphs. Choice of law and governing law provisions determine which state’s laws will apply to the interpretation and 36 | September 2015 | NNB2B

920.431.2243

enforcement of the contract. Jurisdiction paragraphs address which state’s courts will have authority to render a judgment in a dispute between the parties, and venue provisions deal with the particular county or federal court within the state where trial is to be conducted. Normally where a case will be litigated is determined by statutory and common law as they apply to a particular situation. Oftentimes, especially with larger companies, both parties are amenable to jurisdiction in their home states as well as the state of the other party to the contract. In many instances, however, especially with smaller companies, this is not the case. So, while your company may have no substantial connection to the other party’s state, if you consent to be sued in the other party’s state, that is most likely where you will wind up. As such, be careful about the paragraphs noted above and do not agree to be hauled

into court in the other party’s state. If the other party will not agree to your state as the one where disputes will be resolved, get them to agree to delete paragraphs that mandate particular governing law, jurisdiction and venue, and let the facts of the situation determine that question. Doing so may save you in more ways than one. Thomas V. Rohan is an attorney in the Green Bay office of Davis & Kuelthau. Mr. Rohan’s practice focuses on commercial law, including loan documentation for a number of Green Bay area banks, general corporate work, mergers and acquisitions, general contract drafting and review, and workouts, collections and bankruptcy issues. He also is experienced in business litigation, insurance related litigation and coverage matters. For questions regarding corporate matters, contact Mr. Rohan at 920.431.2243 or via e-mail at trohan@dkattorneys.com. www.newnorthb2b.com

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Financial Planning is an Experience, Not an Event by Scot Madson of Navigator Planning Group

What does “financial planning” really mean? Does it only happen when something big such as retirement is about to happen? The answer is no. It should happen regularly. We are told from little on to read things before we sign them, test drive before we buy it, and plan things out so there are no surprises. Financial planning is no different. Here is a simple example of financial planning: You know what car payment you can afford before you buy a car. Therefore, you look for cars in the correct price range. Maybe the car’s not exactly as fancy as you would like, but if it gets you to where you need to be and you can afford it, that is what you do. The same goes for buying a home or going on a vacation.

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Retirement works the same way as these every day decisions, but because it hopefully lasts a long time, you need to take the time to plan. You can use many tools that are available on financial websites to help you get started or you can talk to advisors to create a road map to retirement. My best advice is to get started and work on it on a regular basis. Five to ten years before you think you can retire, go to your advisor and ask him or her to do a plan as if you were retiring today. Ask them to tell you where and how they would invest the money. Then you can track several things before you actually retire and see if your investments performed well enough to meet your retirement needs and wants. After you have been in a sample retirement environment, you will truly understand the financial aspects of your retirement decision. Most importantly you

experience the emotions that come with investing. The highs do not seem as high and the lows do not seem as low if you’ve experienced it before. It’s called “Financial Planning” for a reason. Start planning now to experience it. Let us know if we can help with your financial planning experience. We are invested in you.

Scot Madson is a financial advisor and managing partner of Navigator Planning Group and can be reached by email at sjm@navigatorpg.com. Securities and advisory services offered through SII Investments, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC and a registered investment advisor. Navigator Planning Group and SII are separate companies. SII does not provide tax or legal advice.

Professionally Speaking is a paid promotional spot in B2B.

Enhance client experience and bring your brand to life with landscape architecture by Brian DeMuynck, PLA, LEED AP of SITE landscape architecture

The job of a landscape architect is to create spaces that bring your brand to life and influence the overall experience of your clients. A client’s experience begins the moment your building comes into view and is reinforced each time they visit or drive by. Together with your building interior, your site’s landscape should be viewed as a progression from space to space, with each space serving a purpose, contributing to the site’s overall appeal, and telling a story about your business. Working with a landscape architect helps ensure the story being told is the message you wish to convey and that the many opportunities that present themselves during site design are identified and creatively used to reinforce your message. In site design there are always big design www.newnorthb2b.com

920.202.0889

tasks, like establishing site lines and vehicular approaches, but there are also many smaller, less obvious design choices to be made. When combined, these small choices become an integral part in the client experience. For instance, ensuring sidewalks are an appropriate width with joints spaced accordingly sounds like an insignificant detail, but creating walks that are scaled appropriately for their intent and spacing the joints correctly creates space that is more comfortable for a person to walk through, or even stop for a moment, if that is the desired outcome. A good landscape architect will also be attentive to existing or planned structures as well as the site’s surroundings. Materials and design elements will be selected that ensure seamless integration of all elements of the site. Sustainability is another component of landscape architecture that provides an opportunity to enhance the identity

of your business. As part of an overall sustainability plan you may wish to incorporate native plants, permeable pavements, or a host of other sustainable design elements. Alternative stormwater management can be both environmentally beneficial and attractive. A landscape architect can not only design with environmental sustainability in mind, but can also help showcase these efforts through signage or informational kiosks. By taking a holistic approach to design, a landscape architect can help you tell the story of your brand and improve the experience and satisfaction of your clients. Brian DeMuynck, PLA, LEED AP is a landscape architect and owner of the design firm, SITE · landscape architecture, in Appleton and can be reached at 920.202.0889.

NNB2B | September 2015 | 37

Who’s News

Incorporations

New North B2B publishes monthly new business incorporations filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Brown County

Peregrino Press LLC, Travis James Vanden Heuvel, 2284 Glen Meadows Cir., De Pere 54115. Premier Branding Solutions LLC, Melissa M. Patnode, 2091 Rushway Cir., De Pere 54115. JLK Accounting LLC, Joseph L. Karchinski, 1318 Crown Ct., De Pere 54115. Packerland Electric GB LLC, Troy A. Beyer, 2862 Country View Cir., De Pere 54115. Creamery Cafe LLC, Patrick Hoffman, 1605 Fort Howard Ave., De Pere 54115. American Mortgage & Equity Consultants INC., Jason Fischer, 3321 Packerland Dr., Ste. C, De Pere 54115. Charles Painting & Decorating INC., Frederick Charles, 5327 State Road 57, De Pere 54115. Suri Compliance Assistance LLC, Shawn Suri, 660 Florist Dr., De Pere 54115. Melissa Belanger Creative LLC, Melissa Anne Belanger, 3380 Dickinson Road, De Pere 54115. Fullerton Orthopedic Consultants LLC, Fred T. Fullerton, 307 Grandeur Oaks Ct., De Pere 54115. Therapy of Touch LLC, Ashley Christine Goddard, 6460 Kvitek Road, Denmark 54208. Darby Trucking LLC, Antonio D. Hatton, 1209 Grant St., Green Bay 54303. Global Physician Partners LLC, Ajmal Kazman, 3562 Abbey Ct., Green Bay 54313. Brown County Community Women’s Club INC., Carol J. Simpson, 341 W. Briar Lane, Green Bay 54301. SA Electric LLC, Steven J. Ausloos, 2937 Gilbert Dr., Green Bay 54311. Jem’s Green Cleaning Services LLC, John Edward Maradiaga, Jr., 1948 Oakdale Ave., Green Bay 54302. Intelligence Analytics LLC, Justin Hinch, 629 Maywood Ave., Green Bay 54303. Transporter Livery Service LLC, Charles Anderson, 613 Hubbard St., Apt. 2, Green Bay 54303. Classic Import Auto LLC, Phetsakone Soukhaphaly, 1801 Industrial Dr., Green Bay 54302. Tony’s Hot Rods and More LLC, Anthony Boutin, 4010 Velp Ave., Green Bay 54313. Hillsberg Handyman and Renovation Services LLC, Dean Harlo Hillsberg, 216 Hazel St., Green Bay 54303. Greenwich Bistro LLC, Becky Turner, 1134 Wirtz Ave., Green Bay 54304. Stevens Law S.C., Brian T. Stevens, 1600 W. Shawano Ave., Ste. 212, Green Bay 54303. Advanced 3D Creations LLC, Adam Coursin, 1319 Van Buren St., Green Bay 54301. 38 | September 2015 | NNB2B

Posy Floral Design LLC, Beth Lynn Richards, 2384 Jubilee Dr., Green Bay 54311. Gold Star Transport LLC, Roman N. Sinitsky, 2875 E. Shore Dr., Green Bay 54302. Bay View Psychology LLC, Katie Olbinski, 2911 Bay Settlement Road, Green Bay 54311. Wicked Smart Aviation LLC, Thomas D. Burgess, 1085 Parkview Road, Ste. B, Green Bay 54304. Steve Sladky Insurance Services LLC, Steven Sladky, 1921 Beech Tree Dr., Green Bay 54304. Diederich Custom Hauling LLC, Wayne M. Diederich, 138 Elm Dr., Green Bay 54313. MS Commercial Real Estate LLC, Brick N. Murphy, 231 S. Adams St., Green Bay 54301. Talk, Play, Learn: Speech Therapy LLC, Kia L. Schilling, 1375 Villa Park Cir., #6, Green Bay 54302. The Dog Spot LLC, Adam R. Konkel, 3211 Holmgren Way, Green Bay 54304. Grand Central Ice LLC, Daniel J. Pamperin, 1275 Glory Road, Green Bay 54304. Bibi African Hair Place/Beauty Supply LLC, Blessing Lutter, 3283 Meadow Cir., Green Bay 54311. Allouez Buccaneers Football Club INC., Paul Ihlenfeldt, 3301 Camelia Ct., Green Bay 54301. Strategic Career Coaches LLC, Paula Ann Christensen, 1470 Limerick Ct., Green Bay 54313. SS Tile Professionals INC., Lonnie L. Schreiber II, 882 Dousman St., Green Bay 54303. Clean-A-House & Companies LLC, Kevin J. Hartjes, 683 A Borvan Ave., Green Bay 54304. Kyle’s Cakes LLC, Katherine Ann Ossmann, 2700 S. Memorial Dr., Green Bay 54313. Pic It Photo LLC, Michelle Madruga, 913 Velp Ave., Green Bay 54303. T&H Auto Sales and Service LLC, Moises Faustino Torres, 1845 Allouez Ave., Green Bay 54311. Robert J. Parins Legal Society of Northeast Wisconsin INC., James M. Ledvina, 231 S. Adams St., Green Bay 54301. Blue Ribbon Construction LLC, Brin E. Hanson, 1825 Lilac Lane, Green Bay 54302. Simply Endless Words LLC, Mai Lee Harkey, 512 Vancaster Dr., Green Bay 54311. Scoreboard Grille LLC, Matthew R. Kiphart, 1844 Aspen Lane, Green Bay 54303. Quality Harvesting LLC, Michelle Drewieske, 8075 Holly Mor Road, Greenleaf 54126. Rally Man Entertainment LLC, Shawn Adam Kiser, 821 Centennial Centre Blvd., Hobart 54155. Black Sheep Pub and Grill LLC, Thomas Anderson, 2478 St. Kilin Road, New Franken 54229. Depeau Law Office LLC, David John Depeau, 4191 Gravel Pit Road, New Franken 54229. Village Mane Salon LLC, Courtney Lynn LaFave, 1757 Riverside Dr., Suamico 54173. A+ Home Inspections LLC, Matthew Michel, 2783 Elmwood Road, Suamico 54313. Clean H2O Technologies LLC, Doug Robert Englebert, 3587 Wheatfield Dr., Suamico 54313.

Fond du Lac County

Derksens Fairwater Farm LLC, Wesley Gene Derksen, W13877 Sheldon Road, Brandon 53919. Global Purchasing Network INC., Stephen Kocos, 150 S. Hickory St., Fond du Lac 54935. S & T Natural Beef Trucking LLC, Stanton D. Zielicke, N3030 Kelly Road, Fond du Lac 54937. Envie Lymphatic and Cellular Detox LLC, Tracy Kathleen Fleisner, 54 Cherry Lane, Fond du Lac 54935. Blacksmoke Transport LLC, Daniel P. Frank, 487 Taft St., Fond du Lac 54935. Touch of Tranquility Therapeutic Massage LLC, Angie Broennimann, 924 Forest Ave., Ste. 202, Fond du Lac 54935. Heinrich Farms LLC, Blaine A. Heinrich, W1784 Kiel Road, Malone 53049. M&M Carpentry LLP, Carrie L. Maser, 1801 Chapman Ave., North Fond du Lac 54937. Duenkel Tree Farm LLC, William G. Duenkel, 542 Hamburg St., Ripon 54971. King Auto Service LLC, Rene R. Muzquiz Jr., 621 Liberty St., Ripon 54971. Freedom Farm LLC, Andrea Bradley, 216 N. Main St., Rosendale 54974. From the Heart Tutoring LLC, Emily Joan Terpstra, 502 McKinley St., Waupun 53963.

Outagamie County

The Plant Station & Storage LLC, Lori Locy, 1700 W. Northland Ave., Appleton 54914. Fox Cities Oriental Market LLC, May Doua Xiong, 219 S. Walter Ave., Appleton 54915. Caged Fight Gear LLC, Christopher Robert Annis, 111 S. Appleton St., Appleton 54914. Westline Financial INC., Xiuping Shao, 225 E. Stratford Lane, Appleton 54913. Graff Insurance Agency LLC, Adam Michael Graff, 1000 W. College Ave., Ste. 7, Appleton 54914. Have Hope Realty LLC, Hope Virginia Vaughan, 1000 W. College Ave., #7, Appleton 54914. Valley American Asian Foods LLC, Phasor Ly, 628 N. Story St., Appleton 54914. International and Caribbean Food Company LLC, Freddy Orozco, 1225 W. Hawes Ave., Appleton 54914. Paul’s Detailing Service LLC, Paul Kaddatz, 3501 Parkridge Ave., Appleton 54914. Accountable Building Services LLC, Christopher Ritchie, 907 N. State St., Appleton 54911. Bustamove Party Bus LLC, Brittany Jo Geise, N2969 State Road 47, Appleton 54913. Appleton Coworking INC., Kimberly Hottenstine, 120 N. Morrison St., #101, Appleton 54911. Buttondown Creative LLC, Matthew Schmitz, 4 Brookwood Ct., Appleton 54914. Charity Millard D.C. LLC, Charity Ann Millard, 1239 W. College Ave., Appleton 54914. Guardian Care INC., Christina Mutschlechner, 1418 W. Washington St., Appleton 54914. Sunrise Nails & Spa LLC, Sonha Phan, 409 N. Casaloma Dr., Appleton 54913.

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Read Learning Educational Services LLC, Kelly Steinke, 3123 Teardrop Ct., Appleton 54914. Department of Wisconsin Marine Corps League Auxiliary INC., Lori L. Gruse, W6150 County Road BB, #102, Appleton 54914. Northeast Endodontics Associates S.C., Malekshah Oskoui, 5008 N. Mary Martin Dr., Appleton 54913. Heart Stone Gift Shop LLC, Terri Countney, 1606 N. Superior St., Appleton 54911. Paradiso Performance Fitness LLC, Evan Paradiso, N9345 Cheyenne Dr., Appleton 54915. Cabinet Repair Services LLC, Ideal Cabinetry LLC, 3100 French Road, Appleton 54913. 3B’s Massage and Bodywork LLC, Victoria Ann Buelow, 1815 S. Mohawk Dr., Appleton 54914. Casper’s Truck Equipment - Milwaukee INC., Gene C. Lee, 700 Randolph Dr., Appleton 54913. D’pelos Beauty Salon LLC, Leonora Gabriela Cardenas-Arvizu, 2323 Southwood Dr., Appleton 54915. Baka Core Training Centers LLC, Katherine Rae Tegen, 3232 N. Ballard Road, Appleton 54911. Dollface Boutique LLC, Justin M. Marsh, 625 S. Olson Ave., Unit F, Appleton 54914. 519 Engraving LLC, Timothy Edward Riley, 519 S. Christine St., Appleton 54915. Northeast Wisconsin Chimney Specialists LLC, Jason Arthur Schmidt, 3241 E. Rubyred Dr., Appleton 54913. Ballard Road Storage LLC, Christopher A. Winter, 3315A N. Ballard Road, Appleton 54911. Yang’s Cafe LLC, Chue Yang, 435 W. Sunset Ave., Appleton 54911. Quality Lab Solutions LLC, Shelly Ann Herrbold, W2132 Ludwig St., Freedom 54130. Midwest Mobile Marketing LLC, Lloyd J. Dorner, N1866 Greenwood Road, Greenville 54942. Wolf River Farms Golf Club LLC, Bill Verbrick, N1337 Summer View Dr., Greenville 54942. Periwinkles Hair Salon LLC, Maria Skotzke-Schmidt, N1787 Lily of the Valley Dr., Greenville 54942. Friends of the Grignon Mansion INC., Craig Lahm, 1404 Kenneth Ave., Kaukauna 54130. Elite Lawn Care & Snow Removal LLC, Bryce P. Behling, 308 E. 7th St., Kaukauna 54130. Sprayfoam and Coatings Solutions LLC, Joel M. Weyers, 1504 Kenneth Ave., Kaukauna 54130. Eventful Concepts LLC, Christine Ness, 2117 Chesterfield Ct., Kaukauna 54130. True Flow Engineering LLC, Clyde Weycker, 1250 E. North Ave., Little Chute 54140. Nurses PRN Home Care LLC, Scott R. Vanden Heuvel, 2100 Freedom Road, Little Chute 54140. Los Jaripeos LLC, Antonio Sandoval, 247 S. Main St., Seymour 54165.

Winnebago County

Peterson Grain Farms LLC, Michael B. Peterson, 5789 Lakeview Road, Larsen 54947. Dhami Food Mart LLC, Keith Schroeder, 1535 Plank Road, Menasha 54952. Johnson Electric & Training LLC, Terry D. Johnson, W6337 Ravine Ct., Menasha 54952. Performance Medical CORP., Kim Calvert, 907 Irish Road, Neenah 54956. Summit Plastics LLC, Larry Beyer, 1641 Margeo Dr., Neenah 54956. Greenpiece Gifts LLC, Alexander Star, 525 E. Cecil St., Neenah 54956. Mr. & Mrs. Eggroll LLC, Chee Vang, 3025 Heise Road, Omro 54963. The Trading Post Bar & Grill LLC, Leonard E. Wright III, 8338 Tritt Road, Omro 54963. A-Z Cleaning Service LLC, Heather Anne Anderson, 1653A Doty St., Oshkosh 54902.

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