October 2011 by New North B2B

Holding back Progress?

Regulatory burdens cause confusion and waste for business owners

Extinguishing the fire

Firefighters Progress Report

Wellness for small business

Health Care

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October 2011 $3.95

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new north b2b OCTOBER 2011

on business

24 28

Features

18 COVER STORY ❘ Navigating the maze ❘ Regulatory burdens hinder progress in several Wisconsin industries

24 FIREFIGHTERS ❘ Extinguishing the fire ❘ Business owners find new direction after intense introspection

28 HEALTH CARE ❘ Wellness for all ❘ Accessibility of wellness programs making its way to smaller businesses

32 SMALL BUSINESS PROFILE ❘ Friends and family ❘ Industrial Protective Coatings mixes both effectively

Departments 4 From the Publisher 5, 36 Professionally Speaking 6 Since We Last Met 9 Guest Commentary 10 Build Up Pages 17 Pierce Stronglove 38 Who’s News 44 Business Calendar 45 Advertiser Index 46 Key Statistics

On our Cover

Cover illustration by Kate Erbach of New North B2B.

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 3

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Healing power of tax deductions

Ribble’s latest tax bill aims to bring incentives for those who pay their own health care

Sean Fitzgerald New North B2B Publisher 4 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

Voters in Wisconsin’s Eighth Congressional District might not draw many parallels between former Congressman Steve Kagen, the Appleton Democrat who represented the district from 2006 to 1010, and Rep. Reid Ribble, the Sherwood Republican who unseated Kagen last November. Though both appeared at seemingly opposite ends of the political spectrum during the campaign a year ago, they both share a common interest in fixing health care. Kagen, a physician and former owner of the renowned allergy clinic that bears his name, spent much of his four years in Washington pushing for definitive menu pricing for health care procedures, holding the belief that it would allow patients to purchase health care in much the same way that they analyze information to make decisions about purchasing a car or a flat-screen television. Kagen also sought the creation of massive purchasing groups to allow individuals from across the country to pool their financial strength together in order to command more competitive pricing for health care insurance. Neither idea made its way into a bill for Congress to consider. Ribble, the freshman representative from northeast Wisconsin to the lower house of Congress, has likewise taken a leading interest in the nation’s health care debate, particularly from the standpoint of an employer attempting to manage its benefit expenses. Ribble spent his career owning a handful of roofing companies, and routinely recognized the toll that out-of-control health insurance premiums took on both the company and it’s employees. In a recent interview with New North B2B magazine, Ribble said his own business’s health care costs went up 20 percent a year ago. Two months ago, Ribble introduced the Health Equity Act of 2011, a piece of legislation designed to give Americans greater incentive for taking care of their own health, as well as for the responsibility to take on their own health care and health care insurance costs. The bill would allow sole proprietors to fully deduct the cost of their own health insurance from their individual income taxes, and would also allow individuals purchasing health care on their own to deduct the cost of the health insurance from their gross income.

As the cost of health care benefits continues to grow and outpaces other operational costs for a business, Ribble said he’s increasingly witnessing employers who choose to drop their health insurance benefits altogether. He said his legislative measure could ease the burden of such a shift, both for business owners as well as for their employees. “I want to be out ahead of that,” Ribble said. His bill would also extend a tax deduction to individuals of up to $1,200 in costs associated with fitness programs, athletic club memberships, fitness equipment and weight loss programs. These wellness measures are aimed at Americans taking the responsibility upon themselves to become healthier, using fewer health care services down the road, and ultimately driving down the cost of health care to a more manageable level. It’s part of an improved health care climate in the United States in which Ribble said Americans move closer to being responsible for their own health care and feeling what health care actually costs in its totality. The bill seems like a winner, particularly for sole proprietors and other would-be entrepreneurs reticent to jump into business ownership because they’re afraid of losing their employer-based group health insurance. So can the proposal become law? By Ribble’s own admission, it’s not likely to make it as far as the president’s desk. The Health Equity Act is gaining steam and support from others in the Republicanbacked House of Representatives, Ribble said, but he doesn’t see the Senate moving forward with the bill once it advances to the upper chamber of the capitol. So it would seem curious, why don’t his colleagues in Washington get it? “They haven’t run a business,” said Ribble, who’s been tapped by Republican leadership in the House to serve on a handful of small business and job creation initiatives. “If you lived in a system where your health insurance is handed to you every year, you’re not going to be sympathetic to the guy who is footing the bill for the health insurance.” Hopefully that mindset from Ribble’s colleagues on the Hill changes before Obamacare is fully ushered in during the next couple of years.

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PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING

NLRB proposes new union election regs by Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. Tony Renning

920.232.4842

If you have a particular labor/employment law question, please forward your question to Mr. Renning at info@ newnorthb2b.com. If he responds to your email in a future issue, your name and company will be withheld to preserve your privacy.

Reader Question: What is the National Labor Relations Board doing with respect to union organizing? Tony Renning: The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is attempting to implement several of the goals of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) without having to get the votes in Congress to pass the EFCA. The NLRB recently issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that could significantly alter current union representation election procedures, giving both employers and employees little time to react to union organizing in the future. The proposed regulations offer several changes to how union elections are conducted, including: • Union organizers will be able to electronically file their petitions for a union election. • An NLRB Regional Director would set a pre-election hearing to begin seven (7)

Sean Fitzgerald

Publisher & President

sean@newnorthb2b.com

Carrie Rule

Sales Manager

carrie@newnorthb2b.com

Kate Erbach

Creative Director

kate@newnorthb2b.com

Contributing writers

Robin Driessen Bruecker John R. Ingrisano Lee Marie Reinsch Chief Financial Officer

Vicky Fitzgerald, CPA

days after a hearing notice is served and a post-election hearing fourteen (14) days after the tally of ballots. • Voter-eligibility issues would be addressed after the direction of an election. • Phone numbers and electronic-mail addresses would be included on the final voter list available to all parties. • The final voter list would be produced in electronic form when possible and the deadline would be shortened to two (2) workdays after the direction of an election. The intent of the proposed regulations is to shorten the election process. However, the shortened election process could prevent employees from making an informed decision as employers would not have the opportunity to weigh in. Unions strongly support the proposed regulations. Employers are more critical of the proposed regulations. Legislation has already been introduced in both chambers of Congress (the Employee

NEW NORTH B2B is published monthly by WINNEBAGO B2B LLC for $20 per year or $3.95 for a single issue. A single complimentary subscription is offered to all members of the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce, Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce. Printed by Digicorporation, 120 Lake St., Neenah, WI 54956 POSTMASTER: send address changes to: WINNEBAGO B2B LLC 923 S. Main St., Oshkosh, WI 54902. Bulk-rate postage paid at Oshkosh, WI. Reproduction of any contents of NEW NORTH B2B without express written permission of its publishers is strictly forbidden. The appearance of any advertisement or product information does not constitute endorsement of any product or service by WINNEBAGO B2B LLC. Copyright 2011.

Rights Act) to block the proposed regulations, among several other provisions (legislation prohibiting the NLRB from ordering a company to relocate its employment). Stay tuned. For advice and counsel as to labor and employment issues in the workplace, contact Tony Renning at (920) 2324842 or trenning@dkattorneys.com or any other member of the Davis & Kuelthau Labor and Employment Team. Tony Renning is an attorney in the Oshkosh office of Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. (219 Washington Avenue). Mr. Renning provides counsel to private and public sector employers on a wide variety of labor and employment law matters. This article is intended to provide information only, not legal advice. For advice regarding a particular employment situation, please contact a member of the Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. Labor and Employment Team.

Green Bay

Fox Cities

Oshkosh

Fond du Lac NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 5

SINCE WE LAST MET

Since we last met Since We Last Met is a digest of business related news occurring in the Green Bay, Fox Cities, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac areas in the one month since the previous issue of New North B2B. August 23 The City of Oshkosh Common Council voted against the proposed development of a CVS Pharmacy at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and Koeller Street, citing concerns about preserving the nearby residential neighborhood as well as concerns regarding traffic safety turning in and out of the location. Representatives for CVS proposed several solutions to ease the concerns of nearby residents, though the concessions still didn’t sway the position of the majority of council members. August 25 The Green Bay Packers unveiled plans to expand Lambeau Field by 6,600 seats, which would give it a total capacity of 79,000, making it the fourth-largest stadium in the National Football League. The $143 million project will also include two new entrances and a rooftop viewing platform in the north end zone. The franchise expects to pick up some of the expansion costs itself and may offer a stock sale to help pay for renovations.

2002 October 17 – The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a $990,000 project to upgrade and remodel the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Kolf Sports Center to accommodate the school’s new athletic training program.

2004 October 11 – The Oshkosh Parks Advisory Board voted unanimously to close the 44-year old Pollack Pool indefinitely and raze it. Needed capital improvements total $125,000, not including annual operating costs.

2007 October 8 – Time Warner Cable was awarded $1.05 million in state Enterprise Development Zone tax credits in conjunction with its decision to construct a 130,000-sq. ft. operations facility in Appleton.

August 25 The Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce hired Laurie Radke, the dean of corporate training and economic development at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, as its new president and chief executive officer. Radke replaces Paul Jadin, who left the top role at the chamber this past January after nearly eight years to serve as the secretary of the state Department of Commerce, which reorganized this past summer as the Radke Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. August 26 School Specialty of Greenville reported first quarter fiscal 2012 sales increased 9 percent to $276 million. Earnings were up from the first quarter of fiscal 2011 to $13.6 million, or 72 cents per share. August 29 The Wisconsin Department of Tourism launched its new Meetings Mean Business grant program aimed at assisting communities as they bid for national or Midwest regional meetings and conventions. The new grant program provides finances for expenses such as facility rental costs, shuttle buses or other transportation, promotional expenses associated with a host city preview, guest room rebates or other host requirements. Traveler spending from meetings and conventions increased 45 percent from 2000 to 2008, making it the fastest growing segment of travel in the state prior to the recession. August 30 Wisconsin’s Main Street Program admitted the City of Omro to its ranks, joining programs already in place in Fond du Lac, Ripon, De Pere and Green Bay. As a Main Street community, Omro will receive intensive technical services and training from Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. staff to revitalize the downtown area while preserving its historic character. August 30 The Basic Needs Giving Partnership through the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation launched a joint initiative to address the needs of low-income, isolated elderly residents in the region. Proposed programs or services can receive a grant of up to $300,000, and must serve residents in all three of the Green Bay, Fox Cities and Oshkosh areas. September 1 The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Foundation announced

6 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

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SINCE WE LAST MET a plan to purchase and renovate the seven-story City Center Hotel in downtown Oshkosh, as well as separate plans to build a 22,000-sq. ft. riverfront conference center. The UW-Oshkosh Foundation partnered with WHG Companies of Oshkosh – a large hotel developer and management group – to purchase the ailing downtown hotel with a promise to invest nearly $8 million to renovate and revitalize the 179-room property on the banks of the Fox River. The two partners anticipate approaching the City of Oshkosh for tax incremental financing to assist in the renovation. The separate UW-Oshkosh Alumni Welcome and Conference Center will be built on the site of Carl Steiger Park which the university foundation acquired from the city this past summer. The proposed facility will feature a ballroom with capacity for 460 people, meeting spaces for groups of 70 to 80, a boardroom and breakout work rooms. September 1 SCA in Menasha announced plans to invest $70 million during the next two years into technology and equipment to expand the premium product offering in its North American tissue business. The company said it’s recognizing increased demand in the away-from-home market for premium towel, tissues and napkin products. September 2 Aver Informatics Inc., a De Pere firm that has created a Web-based data exploration software to help insurers spot errors in medical claims, reported it raised $1.3 million in angel

capital. Wisconsin Investment Partners and Silicon Pastures reportedly participated in the funding, along with individual angel investors. Aver Informatics just wrapped up a three-month pilot with Group Health in Madison. September 2 The U.S. Department of Labor reported employment was relatively unchanged during August, leaving the national unemployment rate steady at 9.1 percent. Health care continued to add jobs, while a decline in information employment reflected a strike in the telecommunications field. September 6 The City of Menasha Common Council approved a measure to borrow $250,000 from the city’s highly successful Midway Business Park tax incremental finance district to help pay interest expenses and refinance a principal payment on its Third Street corridor TIF district. That district, created five years ago, has been struggling to generate sufficient income to pay off its debt on schedule. September 6 The Village of Allouez Board of Trustees voted to continue negotiations to merge its fire department and rescue operations with the Green Bay Fire Department rather than with De Pere. A committee reviewing merger options believed Green Bay has the capacity to maintain existing service levels in Allouez, and also described the proposed merger as a cost-effective alternative to remaining an independent fire department.

Oshkosh’s Commercial Real Estate LEadER Specializing in Commercial Real Estate since 1967

O f f i c e ❘ i n d u s t r i a l ❘ r e ta i l ❘ i n v e s t m e n t

Dennis Schwab 920.233.4184 schwabd@firstweber.com

Grant Schwab 920.203.1917 schwabg@firstweber.com

Dick Casey 920.216.0115 caseyd@firstweber.com NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 7

SINCE WE LAST MET

Year-end payroll and planning webinar Please join us for a year-end tax planning webinar to discuss a range of payroll and retirement plan topics surrounding the revised regulations for 2012. Date: Thursday, November 17, 2011 Time: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Cost: Complimentary To register, visit www.bakertilly.com/payrollwebinar

Connect with us: bakertilly.com © 2011 Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP An independent member of Baker Tilly International Baker Tilly refers to Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, an independently owned and managed member of Baker Tilly International.

Catch the VACCINE, not the FLU! • Flu shots are $22 • Can be done on-site or at Agnesian HealthCare IntegNet Occupational Health Services in Fond du Lac or at Ripon Medical Center • IntegNet can bill each employee’s insurance if a business desires. The charge will be higher. • For more information or to schedule a time, contact: Fond du Lac Juana Montes-Hernandez • (920) 926-5676 montes-hernandezj@agnesian.com Ripon Deanne Rogers • (920) 748-9156 rogersd@agnesian.com

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8 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

September 7 The City of Appleton Common Council agreed to extend health care insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of non-union employees. The benefit extension is estimated to cost the city an additional $100,000 annually. The benefit extension was part of a broader measure which cut sick leave in half, established a zero percent pay raise, and extended sick and bereavement leave for same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners. September 8 The Federal Aviation Administration awarded $448,500 in grant funds to Outagamie County Regional Airport to rehabilitate several concrete apron panels on the airport’s air carrier apron, as well as to design a runway 12/30 concrete panel replacement project. September 9 The Fond du Lac School District was awarded a $200,000 charter school grant from the state Department of Public Instruction to fund the new Fond du Lac STEM Academy dedicated to science, technology, engineering and math. The STEM academy, which is a partnership between Fond du Lac schools and Mercury Marine, is expected to instruct about 100 students in Grades 3 to 5. September 12 The 2012 U.S. News & World Report rankings of best colleges and universities in the country pegged UW-Oshkosh at No. 70 and UW-Green Bay at No. 78 in its Best Regional Universities-Midwest category. Marian University in Fond du Lac ranked No. 109 in that category. The publication’s rankings of Best National Liberal Arts Colleges included Lawrence University in Appleton at No. 60, Ripon College at No. 116 and St. Norbert College in De Pere at No. 127. September 15 Midwest Environmental Advocates and its clients withdrew a petition challenging Rosendale Dairy’s Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and paid Rosendale Dairy for legal and expert witness fees to settle the dairy’s claim that its opponent’s accusations were frivolous. Midwest Environmental Advocates filed the petition in 2009 challenging six issues regarding the state Department of Natural Resources permit given to the 4,000-head dairy operation in Fond du Lac County. Five of those six claims were voluntarily withdrawn this past May. September 21 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation completed the nearly $1.75 million project to resurface 10 miles of State Road 23 from Rosendale to Fond du Lac. The highway was closed to traffic and detoured more than 20 miles since the project began in early August. September 21 The Federal Reserve Board voted to maintain its target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent. In doing so, the nation’s leading board of bankers said it anticipates economic conditions to remain low for an extended period.

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GUEST COMMENTARY

Profiting from mental illness at work Removing the hidden costs of mental illness among staff can help add to the bottom line

Brad Lyles, M.D.

You can generate insane profits net of all expense if you grapple with the mental illness in your company. Current health and productivity business management research clearly describes the actions required of management to effectuate the new “mental illness revenue stream.” However, these actions must be grounded in an understanding of the nature of mental illness in the workplace and the particulars of mental illness-related productivity costs. For example: It is widely accepted that 26 percent of the population suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. This is significant because a mental disorder diagnosis requires the disorder cause substantial misery or dysfunction. Accordingly, it is reasonable to presume a mental disorder diagnosis portends grave functional disability for the afflicted employee. Fortunately for the employer, mental illness is less common among working populations. Nevertheless, employee rates of diagnosable mental illness are still quite high, ranging from 12 to 15 percent in any given year. The most common workplace mental illness is major depression, affecting 7 to 9 percent of employees in any given year – each episode lasting from a few months to a few years – untreated. Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are also common, each affecting from 2 to 4 percent of the workforce in any given year. As to the significance of these disorders, are they merely annoying or are they devastating? Since 2000, both Harvard University and the World Health Organization have identified major depression as the No. 1 cause of disability in the world, ahead of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc. Given that diagnosable depression will affect 7 to 9 percent of your employees this year and that it is also the leading cause of disability in the world, you should understand that depression’s impact upon your company is significant. There is a more palpable approach to visualizing the effects of mental illness upon your bottom line. Consider what workplace mental illness looks like: fatigue, lack of motivation, inertia, inattention, poor memory, distractibility, agitation, disrupted sleep, impulsivity – all of a severity to be disabling. Given these common symptoms, isn’t it clear these disorders damage productivity? Isn’t it apparent the havoc these symptoms

will wreak in countless extra days absent, presenteeism days, short-term disability and FMLA days, accidents, personal injury, workman’s compensation suits, job turnover, hiring, firing and training costs? Isn’t it clear that your productivity will be affected – badly? Unfortunately, mental illness is often invisible to the naked eye. Mental illness is also usually invisible to those it afflicts, a situation not unlike the case of high blood pressure, known as the “silent killer” in the 1960s. However, because mental illness is usually invisible to friends, loved ones and ourselves, it is understandable that one-half to two-thirds of those afflicted do not seek treatment. It gets worse. Two-thirds of those who seek treatment receive inadequate treatment. Either the provider is inexpert or the expert is inexpert. Fifty years ago this didn’t matter so much. There were only a few treatments for mental illness and none worked very well. Nowadays, there are dozens of research-proven medical treatments such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers, as well as psychotherapy techniques. We now have excellent methods to accurately diagnose and treat mental illness – these methods work 85 to 95 percent of the time – and they work rapidly. But since mental illness is invisible and nobody knows they should look for it, few recognize it, few are treated, and few are treated well. Workplace productivity melts away. Adam Smith, the father of capitalism, declared the great paradox of capitalism: It is only when we work solely for the benefit of ourselves and our families that we can best serve mankind as a whole, “as if guided by an Invisible Hand.” When it comes to employee mental illness, understanding this paradox is crucial. If you will only do those things that will most profit you and your company regarding employee mental illness, you will best serve your affected employees as well as all of your employees. Dr. Brad Lyles is a general and child/adolescent psychiatrist practicing in Green Bay. A long time advocate for the mentally ill, Lyles believes that if profit-motive could be tied to increased mental illness treatment, the damage from late or no diagnosis and inadequate treatment could be neutralized. He’s co-authored The Diagnostic Organization, available at Amazon.com. Readers can contact Lyles at williamlyles@hotmail.com. NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 9

BUILD UP FOND DU LAC

1 5

4 2 3

C - Indicates a new listing

Build Up Fond du Lac

3 - 217 E. Larsen Dr., Fond du Lac, Tru-Fire, a 17,900-sq.

- 145 N. Rolling Meadows Dr., Fond du Lac, C Winnebago Oral Surgery, a 2,730-sq. ft. oral surgery center. Project completion expected in December. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

2 - 1155 S. Military Road, Fond du Lac, Rolling Meadows Development, renovation of a former nursing home building and an addition to the fourth floor shell for a 101room hotel and conference center. Project completion expected in the spring of 2012.

ft. office and warehouse facility. Project completion expected in December. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

- 855 Martin Ave., Fond du Lac, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, an addition and interior alterations to the existing daycare. Project completion expected in December.

5 - 430 E. Division St., Fond du Lac,

Agnesian Healthcare St. Agnes Hospital, a build out of the fourth through sixth floors of the South Tower for private patient care rooms.

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BUILD UP OSHKOSH

C - Indicates a new listing

6 - 980 E. Division St., Fond du Lac, Marian University, an indoor athletic facility. Project completion expected in October.

9 - 1190 S. Koeller St., Oshkosh, C Olive Garden, a new

10 - 500 W. Waukau Ave., Oshkosh, C Oshkosh Corp.,

- 1045 E. Johnson St., Fond du Lac, CitizensFirst Credit Union, a 4,100-sq. ft. new credit union office. Project completion expected in December.

Build Up Oshkosh

8 - 600 Block of Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, a five-story, 340-bed student residence hall. Project completion expected in mid-2012.

restaurant building.

a 7,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing manufacturing facility. Projects completed since our September issue: • Wausau Equipment Co., N6425 Stanchfield Dr., Fond du Lac. • Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., 2541 W. 20th Ave., Oshkosh.

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 11

BUILD UP FOX CITIES The Build Up department of New North B2B includes a monthly two-page spread identifying significant commercial and industrial construction projects ongoing in the Fox Cities area. C - Indicates a new listing

1 - 4082 N. Richmond St., Appleton,

Timbercrest Dental Center, a 3,594-sq. ft. dental office. Project completion expected in the fall. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

6 - 1506 S. Oneida St., Appleton, St. Elizabeth Hospital, a 6,370-sq. ft. addition as part of the ongoing campus revitalization project. 7

- 2701 Winslow Ave., Appleton, A to Z Machine Company, a 38,855-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility.

- 310 S. Lynndale Dr., Appleton, Gustman Subaru, a 2,793-sq. ft. addition and remodel of the existing car dealership building to accommodate a new showroom and customer service area. Project completion expected in November. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

- 2351 Northridge Dr., Kaukauna, Andres Machine Service, a 16,800-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected in October. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

- 1111 DeLanglade St., Kaukauna, Badger Utility Inc., a 13,340-sq. ft. addition for offices and additional truck maintenance and repair space. Project completion expected in October. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

5 - 1500 Lamers Dr., Little Chute, Building Services Group, a 4,430-sq. ft. addition and remodel of the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected in the fall. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

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- Two Plexus Way, Neenah, Plexus Corp., a two-story, 20,000-sq. ft. training and development center. Project completion expected in the summer of 2012.

- 1100 Harrison St., Neenah, C Wisconsin Central Railroad Co., a 5,500-sq. ft. rail yard office building.

10 - 1645 Bergstrom Road, Neenah, Menasha Packaging Folding Carton Group, a 20,000-sq. ft. addition to the manufacturing facility for a new sheeter and scrap removal system. Projects completed since our September issue: None

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BUILD UP FOX CITIES 1 3&4 2

7 6

9 & 10

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 13

BUILD UP GREEN BAY

The Build Up department of New North B2B includes a monthly two-page spread identifying significant commercial and industrial construction projects ongoing in the Green Bay area. C - Indicates a new listing

1 - 2500 Block of Lineville Road, Suamico, Auto Zone, a 7,575-sq. ft. automotive retail store. 2 - 2555 Lineville Road, Howard, C Anduzzi’s Sports Bar, an 11,669-sq. ft. restaurant and bar facility. 3 - 2348 Lineville Road, Suamico, Midwest Expansion, a 15,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing multi-tenant retail center. 4 - 1520 Brookfield Ave., Howard, The Solberg Company/ Amerex Foam Products, a 19,494-sq. ft. manufacturing facility and corporate office headquarters, as well as a separate 5,976-sq. ft. research and test laboratory. Project completion expected in spring 2012.

11 - 501 Eastman Ave., Green Bay, C Proctor & Gamble Paper Division, a 20,000-sq. ft. cold storage facility, as well as remodel of five other industrial buildings on the campus. 12 - 2845 Greenbriar Road, Green Bay,

Aurora Baycare Medical Center, an addition to house a linear accelerator and supporting equipment. 13 - 2502 S. Ashland Ave., Ashwaubenon, Western Racquet & Fitness Club/ Prevea Medical, a two-story, 28,418sq. ft. addition to the existing fitness center and a new health care clinic.

- 2422 S. Oneida St., Ashwaubenon, C Mattress Firm, a 5,000-sq. ft. retail store.

5 - 2949 Riverview Dr., Howard,

15 - 871 Hansen Road, Ashwaubenon, Kwik Trip, a new convenience store, fuel station and car wash facility. Project completion expected in November.

6 - 2300 Woodman Dr., Howard, C Menard’s, a 214,000-

16 - 100 Grant St., De Pere, St. Norbert College Michels

Community First Credit Union, a 6,705-sq. ft. credit union office. Project completion expected in November.

sq. ft. retail store and offices and a separate 42,352-sq. ft. lumber warehouse.

Commons, an addition to the existing student commons and cafeteria. Project completion expected in May 2012.

17 - 1313 Lawrence Dr., De Pere, Menard’s, a 162,340sq. ft. retail store and warehouse space as well as a nearly 50,000-sq. ft. covered lumberyard. Project completion expected in November.

18 - 352 High St., Wrightstown, Village of Wrightstown Municipal Office Building, a 10,000-sq. ft. office building. Project completion expected in December. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

- 2600 Larsen Road, Green Bay, Donald & Patricia Schneider Education Center at Green Bay Botanical Garden, a 13,000-sq. ft. education and training facility. Project completion expected in late October. - 2740 W. Mason St., Green Bay, C Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, a 7,000-sq. ft. addition and alteration to the existing education institution.

- 1230 Hurlbut St., Green Bay, C Oneida Energy Gasification, a 70,000-sq. ft. pyrolytic gasification electricity generation plant.

10 - 300 Block of N. Washington St., Green Bay, Watermark, a six-story, 70,000-sq. ft. mixed-use development which will house Hagemeister Park restaurant and Children’s Museum of Green Bay. Completion expected in early 2012. 14 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

Projects completed since our September issue: • CVS Pharmacy, 930 Main St., Green Bay. • JBS-Green Bay / Packerland Packing Co., 1330 Lime Kiln Road, Green Bay. • Ariens Family Welcome Center at St. Norbert College, 100 Grant St., De Pere.

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BUILD UP GREEN BAY 3 &4

1&2

5 6

7 8 11 10

14 15

17 & 18

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 15

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AROUND THE BOARDROOM

7 Sense-Saving Coupon Tips

t’s a sign of the times: coupons are being redeemed at a faster clip. First-half 2011 trends reveal that, since 2008, average face value is up, delivery modes are expanding, the average expiration is shorter, multiple purchases are more likely required, and redemption is outpacing previous years. A few trendrelevant tips can help your coupon payout: 1. Make an attractive and worthwhile offer. Thanks to a permanent shift toward a value-oriented mindset and rising food and gas prices, marketers are well aware of today’s value-centric consumer. They’re more committed to delivering compelling value, building loyalty and retaining deal hunters in a sluggish economy with more competitive marketplaces. That, or face losing market share. 2. Be present where consumers are looking for value. The savvy and growing legions of value hunters know where to look – nearly four out of five consumers now say they use coupons regularly. Consumer Package Goods marketers continue to deliver nearly 90 percent of coupons via freestanding inserts (your Sunday newspaper supplement) and shared delivery vehicles (coupon books and envelopes mailed to homes without depending on inclusion with declining newspaper circulations). Despite their initial growth, the distribution of digital offerings remains small – estimated at 1 percent or less of all coupons in the marketplace – and mobile coupons are less than one-tenth of that percent. Recent findings reveal consumers who obtain coupons via text or e-mail tend to be young, affluent, educated and female – while consumers interested in scannable mobile coupons are more likely to be younger, affluent and having families. So the digital coupon is right for certain strategies. 3. Have a great hook or get out of town. Resist the temptation to be cute or clever with your dominant copy. The vast majority (80 percent) of prospects read only the headline. These folks scan at the speed of light. So kill your little darlings and stick with a clearly screamed offer. Make this the priority in your creative work. No exceptions. 4. Engage consumers. Expect better results by maintaining consistent brand messaging continuity with your other advertising and promotional tactics, especially rewards/ loyalty programs, and digital, broadcast and print media. Build a bridge. If Mother Stronglove is already aware and receptive to EasyPouch Cocktail Sippers’ advertising message

(“Travels like a juicy drink but packs the real punch”) you can hook-line-and-sink her with a coupon header that reads “Clip $2.00 and punch EasyPouch fun on the run.” 5. Activate responses/ redemptions on multiple levels. Use your print to draw consumers into a digital relationship. Example: a print/ mail campaign delivers a coupon and then invites a text request to receive more coupons for additional deals. Next, it invites subscribers to provide their loyalty card number via text to update their contact info. That’s three touches to strengthen the relationship – all for little more than the cost of a single one-way print encounter. 6. Measure and track coupon activity. Measure as often and as much as you can. It provides guidance not available or possible without a coupon. Look at the number of redemptions, but also measure the performance of particular marketing tactics: a marketing program on Facebook, specific subscribers to your email rewards list, a Google search on a particular keyword, etc. 7. Respect your prospect. Your offer (in any form) must be clear and conspicuous with respect to all conditions and terms, especially in adhering to regulations. Use best practices. Mobile marketing messages that promote a subscription as FREE, then employ an illegible font to obscure how “Msg&Data rates may apply” is wrong, wrong, wrong-o. Graphically emphasizing a temporary promotional price on, say, monkey chow, and then burying deal-breaker qualifiers like “as low as” or “select varieties” could cost you dearly in lost customers and their ensuing negative word-of-mouth advertising. To get a friend, you have to be a friend. And your prospects? They want to be loved by you. Boo-boopy-doo. Behind the façade of Mr. Stronglove is an advertising professional with more than 25 years of awardwinning industry experience. You can contact him at piercestronglove@gmail.com. To submit work for review, it must be attached as a PDF in Adobe format with no other attachments.

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 17

COVER STORY

NAVIGATING the maze

Regulatory burdens cause headaches, confusion and additional time, stress and money for business owners

Story by Lee Marie Reinsch Ask anyone who’s had a run-in with the state Department of Natural Resources, and they’ll tell you DNR stands for “Department of Neverending Regulations.” Granted, many edicts placed on business and industry are intended for the good of animal, vegetable and mineral. But many, it would seem, are in place simply to give business owners cluster headaches. And if you’ve ever torn your hair out over the latest batch of bone-headed red tape, you might even suspect a conspiracy 18 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

between the government and Rogaine. “Wisconsin in many instances goes way above and beyond other states and what most people would see as appropriate,” said Jeff Landin, president of the Wisconsin Paper Council. “That makes it much more difficult to be competitive.” A weak economy isn’t the time to strong-arm businesses with regulations, say representatives from leading northeast Wisconsin industries.

www.newnorthb2b.com

COVER STORY Manufacturing...or just making stuff up? What drives Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce insane: Basically, all of the invisible fairy dust that enables the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to change its mind more often than it changes its tighty-whities. While WMC’s James Buchen likes to focus on the positive, he’s not that averse to rattling off a few of his beefs about the state’s quirks. One of those is the state Department of Revenue’s little habit of reneging on its rulings, according to Buchen. “If the Department makes a determination in an audit, it has to stick by that determination. It can’t change its mind on the next audit and decide that the transaction is taxable,” Buchen said. WMC supports a taxpayer protection proposal that includes, among other things, that the Department of Revenue hold more consistency on its decisions. “It requires them to issue binding guidance. If they provide written guidance to taxpayers at their request, they have to be bound by it; they can’t just change their minds willy-nilly like they do currently and decide something’s taxable all of a sudden,” said Buchen.

“

Wisconsin in many instances goes way above and beyond other states and what most people would see as appropriate.

”

- Jeff Landin, president, Wisconsin Paper Council Case in point: A bank decided to set up an investment subsidiary in Nevada, which has no corporate income tax. (What’s earned in Vegas stays in Vegas.) Other banks dug the idea and sought written advice from the Department of Revenue regarding the admissibility of such an arrangement. Other banks followed suit after the Department of Revenue gave its blessing. “Subsequently, they just changed their mind, decided these people were all bad actors, and they were going after them,” Buchen said of the Department of Revenue. Although many criticized the banks, it’s beside the point. “Whether or not you think it was a good idea or sound public policy to (establish branches in states with no income tax), the fact is, the Department of Revenue told them it was OK,” Buchen said. “To me it’s just an example of how the Department shouldn’t be operating.” Buchen hopes another clump of red tape gets unstuck: the tax on benefits for adult dependent children. “Under Obamacare, health insurance for dependent children was extended to age 26. Normal healthcare benefits aren’t taxed, but coverage for the extension to dependent children was; we’re trying to get the legislation to extend the tax exemption,” Buchen said. Buchen said fear of lost revenue probably prompted the

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COVER STORY decision to tax the added benefits. “But it’s more of a huge irritant more than a big revenue generator,” Buchen said.

Cooking up les absurdités What fried the Wisconsin Restaurant Association: The strange byproduct of the streamlined sales tax code forcing pizzerias that offered buy-one, get-one-free pizzas to pay sales tax on the cardboard box from the pizza they gave away, even though they weren’t earning money from the sales of these free pizzas.

“We had members shelling out $1,000 to accountants to calculate what amounted to $15 in sales tax,” said Peter Hanson, director of government relations for the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. Hanson is pleased that as of July 1 of this year, restaurants don’t have to pay sales tax on the cardboard from free pizza, plenty of other things stick in his craw and the craws of the state’s 19,000 restaurants. Like the idiosyncrasy in the sales tax law that doesn’t impose

“ On the Web Wisconsin Paper Council www.wipapercouncil.org Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin www.pdpw.org Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce www.wmc.org Associated Builders & Contractors www.abc.org Wisconsin Builders Association www.wisbuild.org Wisconsin Restaurant Association www.wirestaurant.org

20 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

We had members shelling out $1,000 to accountants to calculate what amounted to $15 in sales tax.

”

- Peter Hanson, director of government relations, Wisconsin Restaurant Association tax on items like pies and loaves of bread that some restaurants sell as to-go items. For tax purposes, a mammoth muffin from the bakery case at Perkins counts as a grocery item – that is, it’s not taxed if it’s not for in-store eating. If a restaurant employee includes a napkin, plastic fork, or anything else that would indicate the item is to be eaten in the restaurant, then it’s considered restaurant food and thus subject to sales tax. Another of Hanson’s prime peeves: The 2009 Wisconsin Act 20, which gives state courts the ability to impose punitive and compensatory damages on employers found guilty of discrimination. Prior to this act, plaintiffs had to go to federal court to seek punitive and compensatory damages for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, anguish and other non-quantifiables. “It’s easier and cheaper to file in state court, and what (2009 Wisconsin Act 20) has done is created a situation where attorneys looking to get a third of a big payout start filing new claims and taking on cases they wouldn’t have otherwise because there wasn’t enough evidence to take a case to court

www.newnorthb2b.com

COVER STORY or the dollars weren’t big enough for them to take the case on a contingency basis,” Hanson said. Once such cases are filed, and the employer is faced with the spectre of huge legal fees and possibly a $300,000 payout, the employer is forced to settle for mere tens of thousands of dollars to make the case go away. And don’t get Hanson started on the oleomargarine thing. For the record, WRA hasn’t taken a hardline stance on that issue.

Inspiring your potential.

Mr. Gorbechev, put a sprinkler on that wall! What gets Associated Builders & Contractors’ knickers in a twist: Wisconsin’s commercial building noncode, which enables individual municipalities to impose stricter mandates than anywhere else in the United States. “I think most people in our country and in our state feel that we are regulated enough and that if a state creates regulation to build all commercial buildings in the state, that’s probably going to be pretty onerous in and of itself,” said Steve Klessig, vice president of architecture and engineering for Kaukaunabased Keller Inc. and a member of ABC. In 2001, Wisconsin adopted the International Building Code for commercial buildings with one caveat: Communities can be more stringent than the code. Essentially, that’s meant nothing is guaranteed uniform across the board. “The reason it becomes onerous for the construction industry, for architects and for building owners, is that we never know what building committee in what town is going to pass one of those rules tomorrow night at their meeting, and it’s almost impossible for us to keep track of who’s passing what rules concerning the building code,” Klessig said. The campaign his group is leading for a uniform commercial building code doesn’t interfere with a community’s right to create covenants, but pertains to things like materials, size and sprinkler systems. Senate Bill 32 would eliminate the current patchwork quilt of codes that vary from municipality to municipality and establish a uniform commercial building code for the state, said John Mielke, vice president of Associated Builders & Contractors. Uniformity has long been the norm for one- and two-family housing, small apartment buildings, and manufactured homes. “The last bastion left that is not uniform is commercial building, and that is something our organization is promoting this legislative session,” Mielke said. Building and designing structures that can be built in different parts of the country, using one set of standards, would benefit economic development, Mielke said. “If Wisconsin is going to be in the place where we realize an economic development – and we all hope that’s right around the corner – one of the things we’d like to do is make sure that when we’re ready for that building to take place, we are situated the best we can be to accommodate that building,” Mielke said. “We think a big part of that will be a uniform commercial building code.”

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Paper: Between a rock and a...scissors Woe to the lowly piece of paper. If it’s not being replaced by pixels and tweets, it’s being accused of stinking up the place. It might seem to those in the biz that its only remaining acceptable use is to print more legislation regulating its manufacture.

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COVER STORY “The paper industry is without a doubt the most heavily regulated industry in Wisconsin,” said Wisconsin Paper Council President Jeff Landin. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, Landin said. “We do impact a lot of areas: we use a lot of water, and our factories have a lot of boilers, so we are putting emissions into the air. We rightly should be impacted by regulations.” After the PCB drama in the lower Fox River during the past two decades, it might be hard for many to feel sorry for the wafer-thin paper industry. But Landin said his members are encountering more and more regulatory hurdles on both air and water pollutants that they would argue have “little or no impact on the environment.” An example: The new phosphorous regulations that took effect in July. While the vast majority of phosphorous that goes into lakes, rivers and streams comes from sources difficult to regulate, the cost is being born by a small segment of emitters of phosphorous, Landin said. “There is still a tremendous amount of phosphorous going into the water. It’s putting tremendous costs on industry and utility companies, which get passed on to homeowners,” Landin said. “At the end of the day, it’s for very little benefit.” The regulations, which promise to become ever stricter, present a catch 22 for the industry, according to Landin. Paper requires a lot of water – one part fiber to 99 parts water – and most paper mills have their own wastewater treatment facilities. Phosphorous is used to feed the microbes that treat the water. Wisconsin paper mills do meet the guidelines for minimum phosphorus usage, but the Paper Council fears more stringent regulations not only on phosphorus but boiler emissions will drive paper companies out of the state.

Dairy: Unreasonable records requirements The big surprise: Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. Lest anyone feel like unloading about what a pile of $#&% all these regulations are, please don’t do it in front of a dairy farmer. They have enough recordkeeping to do. Farmers with lots of livestock need to have nutrient management plans in place, which involves recording where and when and how much animal waste gets spread. “The regulations are pretty reasonable, but it is a paperwork overload, to tell them where we did it, when we did it, why we

“

I suppose some of these regulations are supposed to save farm land, but I haven’t seen much of that.

”

- Daphne Holterman of Rosy-Lane Holsteins did it,” said Daphne Holterman of Rosy-Lane Holsteins near Watertown. Probably the most challenging regulations are the zoning permits and land-use plans, she said. “We have to have a conditional use permit in our county to operate our dairy because of the size, and we have to renew that every five years, and right now we are renewing our state DNR permit,” Holterman said. “I suppose some of these regulations are supposed to save farm land, but I haven’t seen much of that.” She said she and her fellow farmers would probably do 90 percent of what’s required without being told, simply because they’re good stewards of the land. “You can’t just start farming,” Holterman said. “I think a lot of young people new to farming will be surprised at how many regulations there are.” Building a new barn or installing a manure lagoon requires permit after permit, and all of the hoops farmers need to jump through can really delay the process, Holterman said. “It can double the time, just waiting for a permit, then a meeting, then another permit, then waiting for someone to stamp the plans. It works its way through eventually,” she said. “We have some regulations that annoy us more than they would hinder us,” Holterman said. Many of the regulations, she feels, are more appropriately suited to a factory or business with four walls – things like electrical outlets needing covering, and well-labeled fire exits. Most farmers are excellent stewards of the land and water, she said. “If we don’t preserve it for the next generation, it won’t be here.” Lee Reinsch writes and edits from Green Bay.

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FIREFIGHTERS PROGRESS REPORT

Firefighters of northeast Wisconsin

Extinguishing the fire Business owners find new direction after six months of intense introspection Story by Sean Fitzgerald New North B2B Publisher

It started out innocently enough back in the early part of this year: New North B2B sent out a call to business owners who feel as if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re constantly putting out fires within their business, chasing their tail and never really advancing the company forward in any meaningful way.

24l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

www.newnorthb2b.com

FIREFIGHTERS PROGRESS REPORT We’d select two businesses among the nominees, then pair their frazzled owners up with a couple of northeast Wisconsin’s leading small business strategy consultants for six months of fix-it assistance at no cost. What happened along the way came as quite a surprise. Not only to the business owners themselves, but to the advisors who helped guide them along into a new chapter in their entrepreneurial journeys. At the end of the six-month Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin initiative, co-owners of Green Bay-based IT Connexx went through a clean and amiable partnership divorce, of sorts, and the husband and wife team running Action Painting & Carpet Care in Appleton have been sleeping better at night because they’ve better organized their business and personal finances. Each of the business owners say they now have a definitive strategy to move their enterprises forward in the years ahead, a peace of mind they didn’t all necessarily share six months ago. Here’s how far each had come, and what they learned along the way.

A healthy separation IT Connexx co-owners Brian O’Shaughnessy and Kevin Scholz sent in their nomination for our inaugural Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin initiative as the size of their two companies’ operations had grown to a point where they faced challenges managing their resources effectively. IT Connexx, a regional IT solutions provider for small to midsized companies across northeast Wisconsin, was started by O’Shaughnessy eight years ago after he spent a career working in IT departments for larger employers – the last being with American Medical Security, now United Healthcare, in Green Bay. In 2005, Scholz had evolved a specialized practice serving the IT needs of veterinary clinics nationwide into a fulltime business. The two friends and former co-workers in the Eau Claire area during the 1990s decided to merge their one-man shows in 2005 to become more productive and more efficient together. In the six years since, IT Connexx and its sister company, DVM Connexx, have grown up together into a shared operation that had matured to 12 employees, shared a large office in downtown Green Bay, and intertwined systems such as payroll and lines of credit. While the vision for each of the companies might have been somewhat clear for O’Shaughnessy and Scholz, it was anything but for employees. One minute, O’Shaughnessy might ask an employee to give immediate priority to a project for IT Connexx. Two minutes later – and without knowing the

PROFILE Company: Owners: Location: Year started: Employees: Web site:

IT Connexx Brian O’Shaughnessy Green Bay 2003 7 www.itconnexx.com

PROFILE Company: Owners: Location: Year started: Employees: Web site:

DVM Connexx Kevin Scholz Green Bay 2005 4 www.dvmconnexx.com

immediacy of the employee’s new task – Scholz might come by and ask that same staffer to drop everything they were doing for a DVM Connexx emergency. The two companies, and their two owners, needed a common vision and a shared strategy for the future if they were to remain vibrant together. We matched the two business partners up with Steve Van Remortel, president of SM Advisors in Green Bay, who has completed more than 500 strategic planning processes in more than 250 different businesses across the country. Focusing on the fundamentals and strategy and talent, Van Remortel developed his proprietary Stop Selling Vanilla Ice Cream process which he uses with clients to develop differentiating – in the nuance of not being vanilla – strategies. The two business owners immediately noticed a difference in themselves as they began working with Van Remortel. “I am now always thinking about our company strategy,” said Scholz, the CEO and now the sole owner of DVM Connexx. “I have, at least to a significant degree, stopped living by the ‘urgent is most important.’” O’Shaughnessy agreed, noting that for the first time he realized the strategy needed to make IT Connexx successful wasn’t necessarily the same strategy needed to enhance DVM Connexx. “At the size we had both become, it was difficult to make strategy decisions that would affect both companies (in the manner which they were intended),” O’Shaughnessy said. Working through Van Remortel’s Stop Selling Vanilla Ice

The consultants Gary Vaughan Founder, owner and president Guident Business Solutions LLC, Appleton www.guidentbusinesssolutions.com

Steve Van Remortel Founder, owner and president SM Advisors, Green Bay www.smadvisors.com

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 25

FIREFIGHTERS PROGRESS REPORT Cream process, the business owners more clearly saw their operation as two separate storefronts with a common back end. It was confusing for staff to hone in on the company’s identity. Just a month or two into their work with SM Advisors, the two partners realized they’d be better off putting all their eggs in one basket – focus exclusively on either IT Connexx or on DVM Connexx, but not both.

“

I am now always thinking about our company strategy. I have, at least to a significant degree, stopped living by the ‘urgent is most important.’

”

Kevin Scholz, CEO DVM Connexx Passion and pride created quite an obstacle. Both had put a good deal of sweat equity, love for their work and time away from their families to get each respective company to its current status. Neither felt comfortable walking away from everything they’d accomplished with one company to support the other. At the same time, both owners also realized they’d likely lose some of their key staff members if they went one direction versus the other.

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Toward the end of this past July, a random brainstorming session between the business owners led to a possibility that hadn’t previously been on the table – a formal separation of the two companies, splitting the staff, the office, the ownership, much in the same way an amiable divorce might be mediated. It initially felt a bit extreme. “My first thought was that, ‘We’re failing. This isn’t the way it was supposed to work,’” O’Shaughnessy said. But as the two discussed it further in the following days and eventually brought the idea up with Van Remortel, it seemed to become more logical. The two set an effective date of September 1, 2011 for the business separation, which gave them about a month to work out all the details of the separation. The untangling of the two companies came easier than they expected. O’Shaughnessy paid Scholz $1 to sell his share of DVM Connexx, while Scholz paid $1 to O’Shaughnessy to liquidate his stake in IT Connexx. DVM Connexx would take four of the employees and move into a new office space in the Advance Business Center on Green Bay’s west side, while IT Connexx would retain the remaining staff and existing office space. Van Remortel helped walk them through the amicable separation. “We did it in probably the most painless way possible,” O’Shaughnessy said. “In some cases, it was easy to just pull stuff apart and say ‘This is your company, and this is our company.’” Still close friends but no longer business partners, the two have discovered a positive outlook for each of their separate companies that allows room for growth at both IT Connexx and DVM Connexx without one stepping on the toes of the other. “Nearly a month into our change of company structure and location, it is already evident throughout the team that we now have a clear purpose,” Scholz said of his DVM Connexx staff. “We all know what our business is about and how we as individuals fit in the business.” O’Shaughnessy said he and Scholz probably spent the past six years intentionally avoiding stepping on one another’s toes or hurting one another’s feelings. “In some ways, we communicate better now than we ever did when we were together,” O’Shaughnessy said. “Now that our own individual successes aren’t impacted by each other and it’s not affecting each other’s business, it’s easier to communicate.” Now moving forward on his own, O’Shaughnessy said he plans to change the business development strategy for IT Connexx with a goal of doubling the size of the company a year from now. He said the experience of working with Van Remortel and SM Advisors ultimately brought out a defining fork in the

“

It seemed as if we were always doing what we needed to do for the moment.

”

June Contreras, co-owner Action Painting & Carpet Care www.newnorthb2b.com

FIREFIGHTERS PROGRESS REPORT PROFILE Company: Owners: Location: Year started: Employees: Web site:

Action Painting & Carpet Care Ruben and June Contreras Appleton 2005 6 www.actionpaintingservices.com

road for both he and his former partner, Scholz. “”It was a solution that we were not thinking about doing, but it was the right one to do,” he said. “We could have gone through any strategic planning process, and if it had not been Steve’s (Van Remortel), we probably would be doing something extremely different.”

Financial picture in focus When our Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin initiative profiled Action Painting owners Ruben and June Contreras back in April 2011, the two were six years into a seemingly successful business, but the financial picture was an unorganized mess. June, who did the bookkeeping for the sixemployee company, said she suffered a lot of sleepless nights as a result of their challenges. “It seemed as if we were always doing what we needed to do for the moment,” June Contreras said. “The path where I was on before felt like I was just hanging on.” We paired the couple together with Gary Vaughan and Guident Business Solutions in Appleton. Vaughan has a good deal of success working with business owners to get back to the basics of understanding financials, human resource practices and management skills. He brought in one of the accountants from his team, Schelly Somenske, to help the Contrerases take a more systematic approach to their business finances. One of the first steps the Guident team took with the Contrerases was to collect the last 12 months of profit and loss statements to assess the validity of the information they were using to guide the business decisions affecting Action Painting. Next, they dissected the balance sheet and cash flow statements for the company, a task in which the business owners required a bit of training in order to interpret what the financial statements were saying about their company. “Getting their cash flow under control was one of the critical aspects early on,” said Vaughan. Three months into their work with Guident, the Contrerases established a formal operating budget, which allowed them to more strategically make decisions regarding the business. They also worked on formally systematizing certain procedures within the business, as well as establishing job descriptions and an employee manual. Altogether, the financial picture is under tighter control, stress levels are down substantially, and the two are better able to look forward into the future of their business. “They’ve given very good advice, and we’ve followed their advice, and that’s why we’ve been able to have the turnaround that we’ve had,” June said.

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NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 27

HEALTH CARE

, f f a t S y h Healt y n a p m o c healthy Wellness programming has become much more accessible to smaller employer groups in the New North in recent years Story by Robin Bruecker With health care and insurance costs being so high, you’d think that old cliché “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” would have a lot of merit these days. It’s cheaper for both employers and employees to prevent health problems or nip them in the bud early. Yet, for various reasons smaller companies – i.e., those with 50 or fewer employees – many are slower to embrace wellness programs, which are designed to get employees in better shape and improve their quality of life while reducing health care costs. “It always has to come down to cost and time with a small employer,” said Chris H. Hanson, president of Appleton-based Hanson Benefits Inc., an independent insurance agency that provides health, dental and other products to businesses. As a small-business owner herself, Hanson has to weigh the two resources. “Unless I remain focused on what I do best and hire out the rest, anything that takes away from my bottom line will negatively affect my business quickly. My return on investment or cost becomes much more glaringly evident than in a larger company. Thirty minutes of wasted time a day can quickly become an issue,” Hanson said.

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With a wellness program there may be no direct correlation to reduced costs, plus no guarantee that employers will see health insurance savings, noted Deborah Anderson, director of health promotion with Menasha-based Network Health Plan. But a healthier population is beneficial in the long term.

The path to wellness Network Health Plan offers small employer groups – those with at least two and up to 100 enrolled participants – a no-cost wellness program called Wellness Pathways. By participating in the program and meeting certain wellness criteria, members are able to earn back as much as 10 percent of the yearly premium. “Wellness Pathways is the only program that I know of that will give rewards to employers when their employees do the right thing,” said Anderson. “The program does not come at a cost for employers and they can see real money returned to them on an annual basis.” Anderson added that to get the most out of their wellness program and increase employee participation, small businesses may opt to hire a wellness provider, and this tactic has been shown to get results.

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HEALTH CARE Hanson – a co-founder of the Well City-Fox Cities initiative involving more than 50 local employers aiming to become certified well workplaces – has a number of clients who joined Network’s Wellness Pathways program. “This program is revolutionary in my mind, because Network is truly putting their money where their mouth is by offering back to the employer for any employee who can attain the criteria that NHP has established to be considered healthy,” she explained. “A reward of earning back 10 percent of the total annual premium paid is huge. In some cases, an employee (and family) can see upwards of $1,000 to $1,300 returned on their behalf. “The employers don’t have to implement any extensive program with this wellness initiative either. One employee can choose to participate – because it’s voluntary – and receive the reward, and the next employee can bypass it completely.” Upon enrollment in Wellness Pathways, each member takes a form to their annual physical to assess biometric scores. If five of the seven wellness criteria are met between the start of the plan and 15 days before the end of the plan year, the employer is eligible for a wellness reward based on a percent of the employer’s total health insurance premium, Anderson explained. Points are earned for annual wellness visits, not

“

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Chris Hanson, president, Hanson Benefits Inc., on the rewards of Wellness Pathways using tobacco, and not having high blood pressure or a high body mass index, as well as other health criteria. After the group coverage with Network is renewed, a wellness-reward check is sent to the employer. The employer can choose to use the reward check however they like. Often, these rewards are used for prizes, cash, debit cards and other incentives for employees. However, in compliance with the state Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, the reward can’t be used to offset employees’ monthly contributions to their health plans. Since Wellness Pathways was launched in July 2010, Network Health Plan recently made its first payout to participating companies – around $116,000 total. “We are making a significant commitment to assisting small employers with implementing wellness programming,” said Anderson. Money talks. For participating employers, the opportunity for a financial reward offered significant encouragement. “The financial gain was the main reason we participated in Wellness Pathways,” said Julie Weisshahn, office manager for the law firm of Remley & Sensenbrenner, S.C., in Neenah. “We achieved 70 percent participation and ended up with a financial reward (cash back) of approximately one month of

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 29

HEALTH CARE premium. We made sure participants understand what they needed to do and followed up to confirm the information was received by Network Health.” Weisshahn said her goal for the upcoming plan year is 100 percent participation from their group. She noted that Network’s Wellness Pathways program aligns with some of the firm’s own benefits, including a wellness program available to all staff with matching funds for health club memberships, exercise equipment, an annual health assessment, and so on.

Wellness for all Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield offers a wide range of wellness programs and tools for employers called 360° Health. They’re seeing greater interest from smaller employers. “Many of 360° Health’s components are included automatically in the health insurance products we sell to small employers, and additional programs and services are available for purchase as add-ons,” said Scott Larrivee, public relations director for Anthem in Wisconsin. There are no-cost tools for members on Anthem’s Web site; a free online program called Healthy Lifestyles; a 24/7 NurseLine; ConditionCare for individuals with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or diabetes; a program in which expectant mothers can speak with registered nurses; and MyHealth Advantage, in which reminders and messages are tailored to each customer. Additionally, employers can use an online wellness education toolkit called Time Well Spent to share information with staff. Like other wellness program providers, Anthem had seen a trend in smaller companies avoiding wellness programs when

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30 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

they were first rolled out years ago. “Some small employers have shied away from workplace wellness because they feel like they don’t know where to start and are afraid of what it will cost to offer a wellness program to their employees,” Larrivee said. “However, the thing about wellness programs that a lot of people don’t realize is that it is the level of the commitment to the program – not the dollars spent on the program – that is the single biggest predictor of success. You can spend all sorts of money on programs, motivational posters and giveaways, but if company leadership isn’t championing and supporting the wellness program, the company will see very little return on investment.” It takes time as well as commitment to build long-term results. “Before a small business launches a wellness program, the company’s leadership team should ask themselves, ‘Are we building a wellness program, or are we building a culture?’” said Larrivee. “Programs are temporary – a culture of wellness is much more enduring. Employees have to understand that the wellness program is an investment the company is making in them as people – not something they’re doing for a shortterm boost to the bottom line. If that message is delivered and then backed up by action, that company will have much greater success than a company that puts a few posters in the lunchroom but fails to live the values of a well workplace.”

A check-up for your workplace What do your employees need the most? Are there smoking or weight issues? Are too many doughnuts and vending-machine snacks being consumed? Does your staff spend too much time sitting at a desk? Could they benefit from the increased physical and mental health that comes with a better diet and enough exercise, thereby reducing or preventing illnesses and chronic conditions? “Employers will likely want to combine the tools their insurer offers with some home-grown wellness initiatives – such as walking clubs or healthy recipe groups – to create a program that works for their employees and their workplace,” said Larrivee. “There are lots of possibilities and your insurer as well as local nonprofits such as the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society and others may be able to help you get started through their programming. It may be bringing in a chef to do a healthy cooking instructional and then have healthy potlucks every Friday.” Small businesses also can consider employee-driven wellness teams, Larrivee said. “Executive leadership is essential to getting things off the ground, but engaging your staff is the best way to help them shape the culture and ensure buy in. And best of all, these don’t have to cost any money.” He cited several examples such as simply removing doughnuts from morning meetings, having manager-led walking meetings, and handing out pedometers for a small fee per person. Larrivee added that more employers, small and large, are including their employees’ families in wellness activities. “The health actions of those around us affect our health, just as our health decisions have an impact on our friends and family members,” he said.

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HEALTHCARE What about 2014? What’s going to happen in 2014 when health care reform kicks in? Will employers get more, or less, involved in employees’ health and insurance? What should they get ready for? “It’s anyone’s guess at this point,” said Hanson. “We have a presidential election next year, and more political races after that. There are some states refusing to even begin discussing or designing their state ‘Health Insurance Exchanges.’ You have some states like Massachusetts who are about six years ahead of us in terms of exchanges with now proof that they are not working as intended, and then many other states, Wisconsin included, who are in the beginning stages of a Web-based portal for shopping for insurance.” Anderson also feels it’s difficult to discuss the 2014 changes because so much is unknown at this point. “If we move to a community-rated model of rating for health insurance, I think we will be taking a step backwards,” she said. “If the rate is the same for a person who leads an unhealthy lifestyle as someone who is health conscious, we are going to see less people working on wellness. Then health care utilization and costs will continue to climb and the population will suffer from illnesses that can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle.” Larrivee speculated that the health care reform could unintentionally lead to some employers not implementing wellness programs because they won’t think it’s necessary. “No matter what the effect of health care reform, the smart employers will realize that quality wellness programs are an employee recruitment and retention tool. Top talent wants to

work in an environment that is flexible and supportive of their health and well being. We do not expect that to change, no matter what the law.”

Individual improvement for the whole With health insurance being a major expense for an employer, it makes sense to add a wellness program to the mix. Network Health Plan sees more employers doing so, regardless of the size of the group. Healthier individual lifestyles can lead to a healthier workforce. “This will result in lower absenteeism and fewer job-related injuries, as well as lowering the risk profile of the group,” said Anderson. “By reducing health-risk factors, individuals become more desirable to insurance carriers and will be offered better rates.” And it’s no longer as difficult a task for smaller employers to implement wellness into the workplace. “Small businesses should not feel discouraged or intimidated by the prospect of creating a culture of health in their workplaces,” said Larrivee. “Nobody has corporate wellness 100 percent figured out. Creating a culture of wellness is not that different from improving your own personal health – there are no shortcuts and you have to keep experimenting and trying new things until you find what works for you.” Robin Driessen Bruecker has more than 15 years of experience in feature writing and marketing communications. Contact her at robindb41@sprint.blackberry.net.

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NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 31

P R Family&Friends O F I L E SMALL BUSINESS PROFILE

Small Business

PROFILE

Industrial Protective Coatings’ second generation blends people and profits

Story by John R. Ingrisano

The term “family business” can have negative connotations. Potential employees may have concerns about their long-term opportunities. At the same time, customers and suppliers may harbor doubts about the future of the company when the next generation steps up to take up the reins of management. If people had such misgivings about the changing of the guard at Industrial Protective Coatings in 2005, they were soon pleasantly surprised to learn that they were wrong. Gerald, better known as Jerry, and his wife, Jean Brosteau, founded Industrial Protective Coatings in De Pere in 1980. Twenty-five years later, when they passed the company on to their daughter, Kelsie Czukas; their son, Gerald Brosteau (known as Toby); and Patrick Londo, a nonfamily employee, the outcome was a textbook example of transition planning at its smoothest. Today, the three partners work shoulder-to-shoulder in an ego-free operation that generates nearly $3 million a year in revenue. Plus,

32 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

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SMALL BUSINESS PROFILE founder Jerry is still involved just enough to offer advice and input when needed. Add to this strong management mix a stable, dedicated workforce – as well as past employees who, with the blessing of the owners, have set up shops to become working partners with IPC – and loyal customers who are more like old friends, and Industrial Protective Coatings becomes a conservative, old-school business model that focuses on doing what it does best.

A small business success story The Brosteaus started IPC in a 200-square foot area of their basement 31 years ago. Providing flooring systems for the local cheese, pulp and paper industries, they quickly built the company into a $200,000-a-year business. Today, the company has 12 fulltime employees – along with between six and 12 part time workers, depending on need – and operates out of a 15,600-sq. ft. plant, generating nearly $3 million a year in sales. The company’s vast portfolio of customers past and present can be found across the country. “We formulate, manufacture and install industrial floor coating systems in a number of industries, including canning, cheese and meat rendering,” explained Kelsie, who primarily manages the accounting and financial side of the business. “We do business in 49 states and Mexico.” Industrial Protective Coatings fills an important market niche, said Toby Brosteau, president. “The government regulates safety and health issues in food plants,” Toby said. “Regular concrete will harbor bacteria and mold that will affect food products. Our textured epoxy and urethane flooring systems improve cleanability and safety.” The company primarily provides flooring in the beef and pork food industries, as well as for paper and pulp manufacturers. Additionally, noted Toby, “we help provide durable, non-slip floor systems for light manufacturing and agriculture.”

An effective transition plan By 2003, founder Jerry was ready to begin the transition to the next generation. His children Kelsie and Toby had been involved in every aspect of the business up to that point and, explained Kelsie, “We learned it from the bottom up.” Another key member of the new ownership team was Pat Londo, who had worked with and for Jerry for years. Still, research indicates that only 30 to 40 percent of small

Patrick Londo, Toby Brosteau and Kelsie Czukas

Installing proprietary coating for a local manufacturer. businesses actually make a successful transition to the second generation. Why has it worked well with Industrial Protective Coatings? One key to the success of the transition was that it was gradual. Kelsie, Toby and Pat were insiders, involved in the business for years. By 2003, said Kelsie, “Pat and Toby and I were increasingly included in more and more of the management operations. We were afforded the opportunity to give our two cents in making a lot of decisions. We got involved gradually. “Our transition was unique,” she added. “We had Pat with his experience, while Toby and I were relatively green.” Another factor that helped was that each of the three individuals brought different skills to the business: Toby’s primary strength is in marketing, Kelsie has an accounting background, while Pat is a chemist who leads and is hands-on with product development. “This can never be a one-man show,” said Pat, who was involved with Jerry in other business dealings before coming on board Industrial Protective Coatings. “Jerry brought people on board to help the business grow. Like Kelsie says, over a three or four year period, we got more involved in the management.” Finally, Jerry didn’t just hand the new ownership team the keys to the front door of the business and walk away. While the official transfer of ownership was completed in 2005, he remains actively involved. “(Jerry) is on the road at least three days a week, three weeks a month,” said Pat. “Jerry’s big role now is to service the customers. He enjoys that. He is good with the customers, many of whom have become close friends over the years.” As for Jerry’s working relationship with the three current

PROFILE Name: Business: Location: Year started: Employees:

Gerald (Toby) Brosteau, president, 37 Patrick Londo, vice president, 47 Kelsie Czukas, secretary/treasurer, 40 Industrial Protective Coatings, Inc. (www.anchorbond.com) De Pere 1980 12 fulltime, 6 to 12 part time

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 33

SMALL BUSINESS PROFILE

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Industrial Protective Coatings custom mixes unique applications for each client. owners, “He is very aware of his role and does not interfere,” added Pat. “It’s a great relationship all around.” Daughter Kelsie agreed. “We still welcome any and all help we can get,” she said. Of course, she admitted, “it can be tricky at times, and we occasionally need to have a few open and frank talks from time to time. Still, there is no friction.” At the same time, the three owners do not live in rigid compartments when it comes to dividing up responsibilities and making decisions. Though they all have their separate titles and areas of expertise, there are no clear-cut lines of work demarcation, said Kelsie. “With our individual areas of expertise, we tend to make joint decisions. All decisions overlap.”

A unique company in many ways This family business thrives on the relationships with its customers and its employees. When asked about the best part of leading a family-owned business, Kelsie quickly points out that it is the “customers and personal relationships we have formed over the years. We can take away the big corporate image and make business more personal. Some of our customers are friends with my parents today.” Pat agreed that the small-business mentality is a big plus. “We can be more direct to the customer in all that we do. They also know they can reach us at any time. A customer recently called on a Saturday, got one of us on a cell phone, and got the answer he needed. “Also, what makes us unique is that we stand behind every step,” he added. “We do our own research and development. Plus, we manufacture and install, which is unique to the industry. We control all aspects of purchasing, manufacturing, and follow-through to make sure we are doing everything right for the customer.” Toby sees this as a key advantage of the company. “We consult with and get feedback from our installation crews, making them part of the product development process,” Toby said. Another thing that makes IPC unique is that the company operates on a fairly flat management and decision- making model.

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“You can go through any one of the people involved on a job and get an answer,” said Pat, from the front office to the installers. “Every decision brings in the people involved. There is no trying to please the guy above you. We’re all the same across the board.” That is one reason IPC has survived today’s tough economic times fairly well. Another, said Kelsie, is “due to the conservative business approach we have taken. We have old-school money- management values. We have little or no debt. Plus, we commit profit to reinvest in the business. Our trucks and equipment are all well maintained. We have never relied on our line of credit. “Plus, we have committed to maintain raises and benefits and perks throughout the recession to keep people on board,” Kelsie added.

Including unique employee relationships Industrial Protective Coatings also has a unique relationship with employees. They hire through staffing agencies. “We give profiles of the type of person we are looking for,” said Pat. “They then send up three or four applicants. We interview and decide and schedule them into our routines.” This makes it possible for both the company and applicants to decide if that person would be a good fit with the company. Also, added Pat, when it turns out that new employees do not work out, “we help them find new jobs.” The company also works with installation crew members who want to go out on their own. Rather than treat them as com-

petitors, Industrial Protective Coatings helps groom them as contractors. “We are not afraid to take an employee and help him build his own company or enterprise,” said Kelsie. “We have helped some of our crew members transition into their own installation companies. “We helped train them and offered them a learned trade,” she said “So when they want to go out on their own, we support them. In a sense, they become our customers.”

Final thoughts When it comes to making the transition between generations or simply a new management team, Kelsie recommended: “You need to learn every job at the company. That way, because when you need to make ownership level decisions, you must be able to see the whole picture. You must have hands-on experience in all positions.” And that is how to make a family business prosper and keep growing into the second generation.

John Ingrisano is a Wisconsin-based business journalist, marketing strategist and public speaker. If you would like John to review your company’s needs or do a presentation for your business group, contact him at john@thefreestyleentrepreneur.com or call 920.559.3722.

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 35

PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING

The BBB and the government by Better Business Bureau

Although the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has “bureau” in its name, the BBB is not a government agency. The BBB is a non-profit membership organization with an associated 501(c) 3 educational foundation. The BBB was founded in 1912 by advertising executives that committed to advertising honestly and openly in order to assure the public that it could believe their ads. The belief was that self-regulation could hold companies to a higher standard than legislation could, and would help build trust in business. This premise has been the basis of the BBB ever since. In the name of full disclosure, the BBB is funded by member businesses. What many people don’t know is that member businesses must apply for BBB accreditation and be researched and approved in order to gain that accredited status. These businesses also commit to

JoEllen Wollangk

920.734.4352

the standards of the BBB, and if they fail to operate within those standards, their accreditation will be revoked. What are the standards accredited businesses must maintain? All accredited companies pledge: 1. Excellence: Provide the highest quality service with excellence and consistency everywhere it operates. 2. Integrity: Be honest and ethical in all business activities. Treat everyone with integrity and keep your promises. 3. Teamwork: Cooperate with the BBB in an effort to uphold the highest standards of business practice and do your part to make the community a better place to live and work. 4. Trust: Communicate with honesty and candor. Say what you mean and mean what you say. 5. Respect: Treat your customers with respect and dignity, and realize people are your fundamental asset.

Governmental regulations are necessary in many areas, but when it comes to issues of honesty, integrity and trust, it is very difficult to legislate. The BBB believes that self-regulation, and businesses monitoring the marketplace to maintain the credibility of the brand, gives a clearer picture of which companies can be trusted. Be sure you use the BBB’s free business reviews at www.bbb.org to make sure you are working with companies you can trust. The BBB also evaluates charities. You can find both charity reports and the charitable standards on the BBB Web site. JoEllen Wollangk is the Northeast Regional Manager for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Wisconsin. JoEllen opened the first branch office of the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin in Appleton in November of 2006.

2011 HOLIDAY GUIDE

36 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

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PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING

What Exactly Does AACSB-Accredited Mean? by University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh If you’ve done any research on leading business schools, you’ve probably encountered the words “Accredited by AACSB International.” While you likely understand it’s an impressive credential, do you understand what it is all about? AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation, represents the highest standards in achievement for business schools. It is awarded only to programs of the highest caliber. Less than 5 percent of business schools worldwide have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence. To maintain accreditation, a business program undergoes a rigorous internal review every five years, ensuring high standards in every aspect of the school. “It takes a great deal of self-evaluation and determination to earn and maintain AACSB accreditation,” said Jerry Trapnell, vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “Schools not only must meet specific

Kathy Hagens, MBA

standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty, and staff must make a commitment to ongoing improvement to ensure continued delivery of high-quality education to students.” Just as business leaders are looking for ways to stay competitive, business schools do the same. And that starts with having a talented workforce. Increasing numbers of employees, particularly in business, healthcare and engineering, are going back to school to obtain their Master of Business Administration degree (MBA), seeking career advancement and potential salary increases. Additionally, more entrepreneurs are launching their own startups. Attaining an MBA to help understand overall business strategy is critical for these opportunities. While there are many reasons to enroll in an MBA program, student expectations are the same. As the next generation of leaders, MBA students are looking for business success. They want personal and professional satisfaction.

920.424.7407 They expect high standards. They want the best faculty. They require a commitment to continuous improvement. And they need confirmation that they have obtained their education from an institution that has those same standards. AACSB International is the highest degree of excellence. The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is the only university in northeastern Wisconsin that is AACSB Accredited. Nine colleges in the state, including the University of Wisconsin Madison and Marquette University, claim this designation. Kathy Hagens is the MBA Program Director at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Business. She earned both her MBA and Bachelor’s Degree from UW Oshkosh. She has over 15 years experience leading strategic planning, marketing, branding and communications. She can be reached at HagensK@uwosh.edu.

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 37

WHO’S NEWS Incorporations New North B2B includes a monthly list of new business incorporations filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.

Brown County Kopish Law Offices LLC, Brian Kopish, 1251 Scheuring Road, Unit B, De Pere 54115. Floorproshop.com LLC, Mathew Hoffman, 500 Leonard St., De Pere 54115. J&N Electrical Contractor LLC, Randy J. Vercauteren, 3860 Rosin Road, De Pere 54115. Evergreen Electrical Services LLC, Paul T. Lubinski, 181 DesPlaine Road, De Pere 54115. Everett Advanced Reclamation Technology HQ LLC, Environmental Advanced Reclamation Technology, 2077B Lawrence Dr., De Pere 54115. The Brown County Area Christian School Association Inc., Tori Lynne Kluess, 231 S. Adams St., Green Bay 54301. Pressurefryers.com Inc., Brion Earl Hayward, 1120 Garland St., Green Bay 54301. All Dialog Connection LLC, Choua Lee, 989 W. Mason St., Green Bay 54303. Brown Dog Meditation & Wellness Center LLC, Wendy Fahrbach, 384 Windward Road, Green Bay 54302. JD Dental LLC, William S. Woodward, 318 S. Washington St., Ste 300, Green Bay 54301. Tidy Landscapes LLC, Justin Martin Kroening, 707 S. Greenwood Ave., Green Bay 54304. Encompass Surgical LLC, Jason Thomas Bluck, 3452 Leeds Castle Dr., Green Bay 54313. Schumacher Bakery LLC, Stacey Ann Spencer, 1707 Boland Road, Green Bay 54303. Bellevue Storage LLC, Mark Herlache, 1883 Hazen Road, Green Bay 54311. Lakebreeze Digester LLC, Grant Grinstead, 1585 Allouez Ave., Green Bay 54311. Maleport Insurance Agency LLC, Nicole Maleport, 2551 Telluride Trl., Apt. F, Green Bay 54313. Bling Press LLC, Susan Moran, 2660 W. Mason St., Green Bay 54303. Rank Distributing LLC, Glenn M. Rank, 508 Terrace Lake Lane, Green

38 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

Bay 54311. Quality Service & Machining LLC, Randall J. Liska, 999 Glory Road, Green Bay 54304. Quality Antennae LLC, Steve P. Steinbrecker, 928 N. Van Buren, Green Bay 54302. Rabideau Automotive LLC, Joseph Gerald Rabideau, 1461 W. Mason St., Green Bay 54303. Home Finishing By Mike LLC, Michael Gary Nier, 1648 Carole Lane, Green Bay 54313. Dan Goben Cars LLC, Dan Michael Goben, 1592 E. Mason St., Green Bay 54302. Midwest Datacore LLC, Steven J. Schneider, 130 E. Walnut St., 3rd Floor, Green Bay 54301. Calco Financial Services LLC, Craig Liegel, 815 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay 54301. Madina Coffee & Boutique LLC, Mariam M. Ibrahim, 991 N. Military Ave., Green Bay 54303. With Integrity Cardservices LLC, Christopher R. Severson, 3126 Jaguar Lane, Green Bay 54313. Teos Painting Corp., Catalina Taboada, 2701 Larsen Road, Green Bay 54303. Ball Auto & Truck Parts Inc., Bradley Paul Bosar, 2574 N. New Franken Road, New Franken 54229. Turtle Lakes Beverages LLC, Dahlia Munoz, 4155 Merrimac Way, Oneida 54155. Harley Bob’s Saloon LLC, Robert Andrew Wessley, 556 Riverdale Dr., Oneida 54155.

Fond

Lac County

J.J. Kustom Autocare Inc., John J. Richter, W13101 State Road 49, Brandon 53919. Spirit Lake Foods Inc., Mark G. Patton, 3713 N. State Road 67, Campbellsport 53010. Bud’s Auto Repair and Restoration LLC, Stanley J. Menzynski, 221 Railroad St., Campbellsport 53010. Steve Reilly Grain Farms LLC, Steven Richard Reilly, W4838 County Road F, Fond du Lac 54937. Inmate Money Consulting & Software Inc., Suzanne B. Lechner, 54 Amory St., Fond du Lac 54935. C and T Screen Printing & More LLC, Christine Ann Koenig, 302 S. Peters Ave., Fond du Lac 54935. Beck Amusements LLC, Joseph www.newnorthb2b.com

WHO’S NEWS Michael Beck, 28 4th St., Fond du Lac 54935. K & K Stone Company LLC, Kit Kramer, 977 Morris St., Fond du Lac 54935.

Green Lake County Her-Store-Re LLC, Charmaine Marie Kivi, 180 E. Huron St., Berlin 54923. Lundt Auto Repair LLC, Jamie Alan Lundt, W1997 Cypress Ave., Berlin 54923.

Outagamie County Budget Pre-Owned Appliance LLC, Joel D. Thompson, N9574 Garnet Ct., Appleton 54915. Lone Willow Island Sportsmen’s Club LLC, Frank H. Heckrodt, 7 Golf Terrace Ct., Appleton 54914. A & N Farms LLP, Allan Tiedt, W4538 County Road S, Appleton 54913. JLM Mechanical Inc., Bruce Truskowski, 1400 N. Rankin St., Appleton 54911. Computer Mayhem LLC, John Heinz, 2516 N. Richmond St., Appleton 54911. Kustom Kitchen and Bath Shoppe Inc., Robert C. Van Egeren, 741 W. College Ave., Appleton 54914. National Food Products LLC, Hector Beserra, 1316 N. Richmond St., #3, Appleton 54911. Badger Appraisal Service LLC, Jana Lynn Niemi, N249 Whitetail Ridge Ct., Appleton 54915. Trailside Tavern Inc., Kevin Redlin, 2340 Stroebe Island Dr., Appleton 54914. Clear Water Car Wash, Quick Lube & Detail Center LLC, Rose Marie Lamine, N485 Milky Way, Appleton 54915.

J’s Smoke Shop LLC, Al Walschinski, 2010 W. Wisconsin, Appleton 54914. Intelligrowth Industries LLC, James Frederick, N1000 Craftsman Dr., Greenville 54942. The Barbers’ Chair LLC, Lynda E. Tesch, N1050 North Road, Hortonville 54944. Long Term Care Planners LLC, Michael Curran, W10136 Gilwin Lane, Hortonville 54944. Premier One Marketing LLC, Garret Van Drasek, 564 Willow Dr., Kaukauna 54130. John Forcey Insurance Agency LLC, John C. Forcey, 119 E. Second St., Kaukauna 54130. Fox Valley Property Maintenance LLC, Bridget R. Lovett, 2902 Fieldcrest Dr., Kaukauna 54130. RV Mini Excavating LLC, Jesse Vosters, W1970 Industrial Dr., Kaukauna 54130. Bachelors Bar & Grill LLC, Kim Arts, 1333 Edgewood Dr., Kaukauna 54130. The Lord’s Way Trucking LLC, Jennifer A. Locke, 1140 Harrison St., Kaukauna 54130. Boomerang Photography LLC, Stephanie Lynn Harvey, 121 W. 2nd St., Kimberly 54136. Treml Millwrighting & Contracting Inc., Kevin J. Treml, 345 S. Main St., Kimberly 54136. Little Chute Career Pathways Academy Inc., David Botz, 325 Meulemens St., Ste. A, Little Chute 54140.

Winnebago County R.G. Inventory Consulting LLC, Randy C. Gunderson, 1763 Lakeshore Dr., Menasha 54952.

Adore Shoppe LLC, Laura Truax, 2412 Manitowoc Road, Menasha 54952. Interior Views LLC, Amy Marrazzo, 1324 Bradford Ct., Neenah 54956. Jewelry by Jessica Theresa LLC, Jessica Theresa Roth, 1420 Mansur Dr., Neenah 54956. Badger Curb LLC, Joe Clohessy, 2255 E. Shady Lane, Neenah 54956. Jennifer Kippa Design LLC, Jeffrey Kippa, 3321 Knox Ln., Neenah 54956. Alpha Construction LLC, Robert Tyler Miles, 115 Wright, Neenah 54956. KT’s Cafe LLC, Tina Maria Tonn, 615 S. Lake St., Neenah 54956. Grow Local LLC, Steven Catlin, 1535 S. Park Ave., Neenah 54956. Patriot Firearms LLC, Andrew John Jaeger, 1885 Cold Spring Road, Neenah 54956. Once Again Resale Shop LLC, Jonathan Thomas Mainville, 727 Higgins Ave., Neenah 54956. Swarovski Crystals by Sue LLC, Susan K. Mitchell, 6780 Ninth Street Road, Omro 54963. Fox Storage LLC, Chris Borchardt, 1990 W. Snell Road, Oshkosh 54904. Branelle Home Improvement LLC, Gary Lynn Bunke, 5049 Tamarack Trail, Oshkosh 54904. E-Flight LLC, Jeremy Trent Monnett, 2347 Ashland St., Oshkosh 54901. JNS’s Horse Haven Inc., Jody Markel, 2996 Nekimi Ave., Oshkosh 54902. Bill’s Home Repair Service LLC, William Kendall Freeman, 308A Bowen St., Oshkosh 54904. Midstate Property Management LLC, Scott J. Blau, 630 Starboard Ct. West, Oshkosh 54901.

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 NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 39

WHO’S NEWS Building Permits

turing facility. Contractor listed as owner. August 15.

B2B includes a monthly list of building permits (not to include residential projects) in excess of $400,000. Lake View Memorial Park, 2786 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh. $409,000 for an addition to an existing mausoleum. Contractor is Mork Mausoleum Construction. August 2. Oneida Energy Gasification, 1230 Hurlbut St., Green Bay. $4,200,000 for a new energy generation facility. General contractor is Alliance Construction of De Pere. August 3. Oshkosh Corp., 500 W. Waukau Ave., Oshkosh. $525,000 for a 7,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing West Plant manufacturing facility. General contractor is Miron Construction Co. of Neenah. August 5. Wisconsin Central Railroad Co., 1100 Harrison St., Neenah. $500,000 for a 5,500-sq. ft. rail yard office building. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. August 9. Theda Clark Memorial Hospital, 130 Second St., Neenah. $2,723,380 for a renovation to the sixth floor of the existing hospital facility. General contractor is Boldt Construction Co. of Appleton. August 12. Pow’r Gard Generator Corp., 3815 Oregon St., Oshkosh. $1,124,000 to install a new paint line in the existing manufac-

Anduzzi’s Sports Bar, 2555 Lineville Road, Howard. $1,019,527 for an 11,669-sq. ft. restaurant and bar facility. General contractor is Smet Construction Co. of De Pere. August 16. Mattress Firm, 2422 S. Oneida St., Ashwaubenon. $456,000 for a 5,000-sq. ft. retail store. General contractor is Bayland Builders of Green Bay. August 17. Fort James Operating Co., 1919 S. Broadway, Green Bay. $4,500,000 to repair and reroof two industrial buildings on the campus of the paper products manufacturer. General contractor is Miron Construction Co. of Neenah. August 19. Olive Garden, 1190 S. Koeller St., Oshkosh. $750,000 for a new restaurant building. Contractor listed as owner. August 23. Proctor & Gamble Paper Division, 501 Eastman Ave., Green Bay. $8,659,000 for a 20,000-sq. ft. cold storage facility, as well as to remodel five other industrial buildings on the campus of the paper products manufacturer. General contractor is Badgerland Buildings Inc. of Black Creek. August 24. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, 2740 W. Mason St., Green Bay. $1,000,000 for a 7,000-sq. ft. addition and alteration to the existing education institution. General contrac-

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40 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

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WHO’S NEWS tor is Miron Construction Co. of Neenah. August 26. Amerex Foam Products, 1520 Brookfield Ave., Howard. $3,593,003 for a 19,494-sq. ft. new manufacturing facility and corporate office and a separate 5,976-sq. ft. research and test laboratory. General contractor is Smet Construction Co. of De Pere. August 29. Menard’s Stores, 2300 Woodman Dr., Howard. $5,628,000 for a new 214,000-sq. ft. retail store and offices and a separate 42,352-sq. ft. lumber warehouse. General contractor is IEI General Contractors of De Pere. August 31. Winnebago Oral Surgery, 145 N. Rolling Meadows Dr., Fond du Lac. $650,000 for a 2,730-sq. ft. oral surgery center. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna. September 14.

Business honors Awards and honors earned by individuals are listed separately in the Who’s News section of New North B2B. Heartland Business Systems of Little Chute ranked No. 171 on CRN magazine’s 2011 VAR500 list, which ranks the top technology integrators and IT solution provider firms in North America. The VAR500 rankings consider earnings from hardware sales, software sales and managed IT services. Heartland’s ranking improved from No. 307 on the 2010 list.

New hires Belville Fletcher Chiropractic in Oshkosh hired Dr. Kimberly Conn as a pediatric and obstetric chiropractor. MBM in Appleton hired Jason Loker as a sales representative covering eastern Outagamie, Calumet and Shawano counties, and hired Jill Zanzig as a technical resource coordinator. Loker has eight years of sales experience, while Zanzig has more than 15 years experience in customer service and inside sales. Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin hired Dawn Kunick as an area team leader for its

Wojahn

Ditter

DiVito

Ashwaubenon retail store. Kunick previously worked for Brown County N.E.W. Zoo as the concessionaire supervisor. Integrity Insurance in Appleton hired Jill Guertin as a personal lines underwriter and Stacy Chapin as a property claims representative. Guertin has 12 years of industry experience, most recently as a licensed producer with THZ Insurance Group in Seymour. Chapin has 11 years experience in the property claims department at State Farm Insurance.

Conn

Jaceena J. Weaver was hired by the law firm of Hager, Dewick & Zuengler, S.C. in Green Bay as a paralegal. Natural Healthy Concepts in Menasha hired Lisha M. Vanevenhoven as operations manager. Vanevenhoven has 27 year of financial management experience, most recent serving as director of loan operations at Fox Communities Credit Union.

Loker

The Downtown Oshkosh Business Improvement District hired Cassie Daniels as its BID manager. Greg Simia was hired as the chief financial officer for St. Mary’s, St. Vincent and St. Nicholas hospitals in Green Bay and Sheboygan. Simia comes from a health system in Virginia where he served as the regional CFO.

Zanzig

Leibold in Neenah hired Bowen Hobbs as a graphic designer. Hobbs previously worked at local designs firms in print, Web and social media communications. Metlife in De Pere hired Christy Rose as a financial services representative. Rose has worked in the financial services industry for one year.

Guertin

Certified Professional Restoration in Appleton hired Stacey DiVito as its agency marketing representative. DiVito has five years of customer service experience and two years as an account executive with Countrywide Full Spectrum lending division. Skyline Technologies, Inc. in Appleton hired Eric Ditter as a software engineer and Dan Wojahn as

Rose

Hobbs

Chapin

Simia

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 41

WHO’S NEWS a business intelligence consultant. Prior to joining Skyline, Ditter worked at AB Technologies as a Web designer.

Cannizzo

The Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra Association hired Roseanna Cannizzo as its executive director. She leads all operational aspects of the adult and youth orchestras, from fund raising to ticket sales. Cannizzo has previously served as the director of conservatory admissions at Lawrence University and as the director of the artistic operations department with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Miron Construction Co. in Neenah hired Dean Gilbert as a small tools mechanic, Jason Sommerfeld as a warehouse operations laborer, and Chris West as an order processor.

Anderson

Strong-Twohig

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of BayCare Clinic in Green Bay added Courtney A. Anderson, D.D.S. as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Dr. Anderson specializes in tooth extractions, TMJ disorders, and replacement of missing teeth with dental implants. Kathy Strong-Twohig was hired by the University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac as its special events coordinator. She previously served as the executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Fond du Lac.

Promotions

Alexander

Calmes

Ehr

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP promoted the following staff in its Appleton office: Kristy Alexander to senior advisor with Baker Tilly Investment Advisors; Jodi Calmes to senior accountant with the commercial services team; Chad Derenne to senior manager with the manufacturing team; Daniel Ehr to manager with the manufacturing team; Ben Garrity to manager with the commercial team; Jessica Harrison to senior manager with the commercial team; Luke Hartzheim and Betsy Hufford to senior accountants with the manufacturing team; Melissa Kissinger to manager with the construction/real estate team; Steve Lunn to senior accountant with the private client group; Daniel Ney to managertechnical services in the technology group; Jason Schmudlach to manager with the retirement plan consulting group; Matthew Stegman to manager with the dealer services team; and Christina Stelter

Garrity

42 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

Harrison

to senior HR generalist in human resources. St. Vincent and St. Mary’s hospitals in Green Bay promoted the following staff members: Paul Baker to director of dialysis at St. Vincent, from emergency services business manager for St. Mary’s; Diane Jahnke expanded her role of therapy director to include oversight of St. Mary’s St. Vincent Home Health therapy and Birth-to-3 therapy programs; Darla Stebane to director of cardiac intensive services for St. Vincent, from manager of the heart and vascular center at St. Vincent; and Teri Steinberger to director of information technology operations and special projects, from business manager of short stay services at St. Vincent. Agnesian HealthCare Foundation in Fond du Lac promoted Rita Meidam to executive director. Meidam has been with Agnesian for 22 years, most recently serving as senior community affairs associate Tri-County Community Dental Clinic in Appleton promoted J.J. Schauske to clinic coordinator. Schauske joined the clinic in 2008 as a dental hygienist. Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin promoted Doug Schacht to leader of donations for its 35-county region. Schacht previously served as the GoodWipers team leader at Goodwill’s Shiner Center in Appleton. Valley VNA Senior Services in Neenah promoted Cheryl Ehlers to supervisor. Ehlers joined Valley VNA in 2003 as a resident assistant. She later became a shift manager and then the education and training coordinator.

Individual awards Nancy Lorenzoni, the coordinator of infection prevention at St. Mary’s and St. Vincent hospitals in Green Bay, received the 2011 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Chapter Leadership Award by the Northeastern Wisconsin Board of Directors of APIC. Gary Lyons, an instructor in Fox Valley Technical College’s culinary arts program, received the 2011

Hartzheim

Hufford

Kissinger www.newnorthb2b.com

WHO’S NEWS Wisconsin Restaurant Association Salute to Excellence College Educator Award. The Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce presented its 2011 Athena Award to Betsy Mitchell, vice president of organizational/staff development for the Green Bay Packers, and presented its 2011 Daniel Whitney Award to Denis Hogan, regional president for Associated Bank - North Region. Robert A. Fale, president and chief executive officer of Agnesian HealthCare in Fond du Lac, was named to Becker’s Hospital Review “291 Hospital and Health System Leaders to Know” list for 2011.

Certifications Tony Krance with 401k Plan Advisors, LLC in Green Bay earned the Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent designation by the Internal Revenue Service. This designation allows Krance to represent taxpayers before the IRS concerning a variety of qualified retirement plan issues.

Business calendar New North B2B encourages businesses and organizations looking to attract interested persons to upcoming events to send an announcement to: New North B2B, Attn: Who’s News, P.O. Box 559, Oshkosh, WI 54903. For more events, log on to: www.thenewnorthevents.com. October 4 “Explore Starting Your Own Business,” a no-cost seminar through the Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at FVTC’s D.J. Bordini Center, 5 Systems Dr. in Appleton. Participants will learn three critical elements to launching and sustaining a business. FVTC will also provide nocost business training consultation from 3 to 7 p.m. For information or to register, call 920.735.5709 or go online to www.fvtc.edu/smallbiz. October 5 Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Coffee Connection, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Ala Roma, 171 N. Pioneer Road in Fond du Lac. Cost to attend is $2 for AC members. For information or to register,

Lunn

Schmudlach

Stegman

go online to www.fdlac.com or call 920.921.9500. October 7 “Meet Your Legislators,” an event from the Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Little Chute Village Hall Community Room, 108 W. Main St. in Little Chute. Invited legislators include Sen. Frank Lasee (R-Ledgeview), Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay), Rep. Al Ott (R-Forest Junction), Rep. Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) and Penny Bernard Schaber (D-Appleton). There is no charge to attend, though registration is appreciated by calling the chamber office at 920.766.1616 or going online to www.heartofthevalleychamber.com. October 11 Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce Sales Club, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the chamber building, 120 Jackson St. in Oshkosh. No cost to attend for chamber members. For information or to register, call 920.303.2265. October 11 Fox Cities Operational Excellence Association meeting, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Fox Valley Technical College’s D.J. Bordini Center, 5 Systems Dr. in Appleton. The session will focus on strategy and tools of Lean and Six Sigma and their application for competitive advantage. For information or to register for this event, call 920.735.2525, email bi.services@ fvtc.edu or go online to www.fvtc.edu/FCOEA. October 11 Young Professionals of Fond du Lac Company Tour, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fond du Lac Fire Department Main Station, 815 S. Main St. in Fond du Lac. Cost is $5 for YPF members or $15 for nonmembers and includes lunch. For information or to register, call 920.921.9500 or go online to www. ypfdl.com. October 13 Marketplace 2011, a 30th annual event staged for minority-owned businesses, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 2040 Airport Dr. in Green Bay. The event is aimed at minorityowned businesses seeking development assistance and looking to sell to government and large corporate buyers. For information, contact the Wisconsin

Baker

Jahnke

Fale

Mitchell

Lyons

Meidam

Steinberger

Stebane

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 43

BUSINESS CALENDAR Economic Dev. Corp. Bureau of Minority Business Development at 414.302.2830 or info@MarketplaceWisconsin.com. Register online at www.MarketplaceWisconsin.com. October 17 Northeast Wisconsin Inventor Night, a networking session sponsored by the Fab Lab at Fox Valley Technical College in partnership with Northern Products Development Group, 4:30 to 9 p.m. at FVTC’s D.J. Bordini Center, 5 Systems Dr. in Appleton. Guests can meet with successful commercial inventors and industry professionals who have used technology and start-up resources through FVTC’s Fab Lab. Registration fee is $10. For information or to register, visit www.fvtc.edu/newin or call 920.993.5177. October 19 Taste from the Heart, an event through the Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, 5 to 9 p.m. at Van Abel’s of Hollandtown. For information or to register, call the chamber office at 920.766.1616 or go online to www. heartofthevalleychamber.com. October 20 2011 Economic Insights, a presentation sponsored by Oshkosh’s West Side Association and New North B2B, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at La Sure’s Banquet Hall, 3125 S. Washburn St. in Oshkosh. Gregory B. Pierce, a partner and financial advisor with Reinhart partners Inc. in Oshkosh, will discuss issues such as

the federal debt ceiling, the bond market and consumer spending, among others, and the role they share in economic recovery. Cost to attend is $10 and includes continental breakfast. Advanced registration is appreciated by emailing info@westsideassociation.com or by calling Connie at 920.424.4260. November 2 Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Coffee Connection, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Fond du Lac Credit Union, 171 N. Pioneer Road in Fond du Lac. Cost to attend is $2 for AC members. For information or to register, go online to www.fdlac.com or call 920.921.9500. November 8 Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce Sales Club, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the chamber building, 120 Jackson St. in Oshkosh. No cost to attend for chamber members. For information or to register, call 920.303.2265. November 15 Entrepreneur’s Connection, an evening seminar and networking event for local entrepreneurs, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac. The event will feature a panel of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac business owners sharing their stories of growth. Cost to attend is $30. For information or to register, contact Annette at 920.929.2928 or info@ fcedc.com, or go online to www.econnectevent.com.

Now you can smile with peace of mind. Employers, provide richer dental benefits to your employees at a lower cost. With our affordable dental plans you can have a smile, and an investment, to feel good about. CarePlus Dental Plans mean you are able to provide access to high-quality dental care, resulting in healthier and happier employees. Worrying about the out-of-pocket expense is a thing of the past. CarePlus is available at each of the convenient Dental Associates centers. Call 800.318.7007 or visit careplusdentalplans.com/b2b and learn more about CarePlus and smiles made easy.

Care-Plus Dental Plans, Inc. is a non-profit Limited Service Health Organization licensed and regulated by the State of Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. Dental Associates is the exclusive provider to Care-Plus Dental Plans, Inc. CPB2B1011

44 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

www.newnorthb2b.com

BUSINESS CALENDAR

Advertiser Index Accupro Business Solutions www.accuprobusiness.com..................... 27 Agnesian Healthcare www.agnesian.com......................................... 8 Anthem www.anthem.com............................................................ 23 Baker Tilly www.bakertilly.com......................................................... 8

Better Business Bureau New Members

Businesses accredited through the Northeast Wisconsin office during August 2011

Bank First National www.bankfirstnational.com.................................. 29 Bank Mutual www.bankmutual.com................................................ 22 Better Business Bureau www.wisconsin.bbb.org............................... 36 Breakthrough Solutions www.breakthroughsolutionsllc.net..................... 40 CitizensFirst Credit Union www.citizensfirst.com . ............................ 35 Community Benefit Tree www.communitybenefittree.org. ..................... 45 Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. www.dkattorneys.com............................... 5, 31 Dental Associates - CarePlus www.careplusdental.com..................... 44 Dermatology Associates www.dermwisconsin.com.............................. 2 Digiprint www.digiprint.biz............................................................ 37 E-Connect www.econnectevent.com................................................. 34 Fast Signs www.fastsigns.com....................................................... 27 First Business Bank www.firstbusiness.com. .................................... 16 First National Bank ~ Fox Valley www.fnbfoxvalley.com. ................... 12 First Weber Group/Schwab Realty www.firstweber.com....................... 7 Fox Valley Technical College www.fvtc.edu. .................................. 12 Great Harvest Bread Co. www.neenahgreatharvest.com....................... 36

Absolute Electric LLC, Freedom Appleton Music Academy LLC, Appleton Blaylock Construction Co. LLC, Fond du Lac Chimera Hobby Inc., Fond du Lac & Appleton Daryl Conger Construction LLC, Neshkoro Dermatology Associates of Wisconsin S.C., multiple locations DirectBuy of Northeast Wisconsin, Appleton Herrmann Advantage Consulting LLC, Fond du Lac Informed Choice Insurance Agency, Green Bay Jim Miller Remodeling LLC, Kaukauna Legacy Wireless Inc., Green Bay LeMense Quality Homes Inc., Green Bay Londre Roofing, Appleton Mark Roloff Construction, Fond du Lac Nichols Construction, DePere The Goldsmith, Fond du Lac TNT Auto Services, Random Lake

Guident Business Solutions www.guidentbusinesssolutions.com............ 29 Keller Inc. www.kellerbuilds.com ................................................... 46 Marian University www.marianuniversity.edu..................................... 21 Network Health Plan www.networkhealth.com . ................................ 47 NEW Building & Construction Trades Council www.newbt.org.......... 39 New North www.newnorthsummit.com.............................................. 19 Nsight www.nsighttel.com............................................................. 48 Oshkosh Country Club www.oshkoshcc.com. .................................. 36 Outagamie County Regional Airport www.atwairport.com. ........... 11-15 R. J. Albright Inc. www.rjalbright.com. ........................................... 26 Sadoff & Rudoy Industries www.sadoff.com................................... 10 Stellar Blue Web Design www.stellarblue.net................................... 20 Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. www.stifel.com . ......................................... 30 TEC www.tecmidwest.com. ............................................................ 16 UW-Oshkosh College of Business www.mba.uwosh.edu................... 37 West Side Association www.westsideassociation.com......................... 38 Winnebago County Solid Waste Management www.co.winnebago.wi.us/solid-waste/container-rental-program. ....................

Coming

to B2B in November The New Lending Environment

Financial institutions once loaned money only to sound businesses that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily need the financial backing. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lending environment, is everything old new again?

NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011 l 45

KEY STATISTICS Per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline.

September 18 $3.66

September 11 $3.72 September 4 $3.75

$3.70 Sept. 18, 2010 $2.75 August 28

Source: New North B2B observations

August

571,000

5.0%

from July

5.8%

from August 2010 August

0.3%

from July

8.1%

from August 2010

August

$389.5 billion

Unch. from July

7.2%

from August 2010 (2007 = 100)

August

94.0

0.2%

from July

3.4%

from August 2010 (Manufacturers and trade)

July

$1,526 billion

0.4%

from June

12.0%

Appleton Fond du Lac Green Bay Neenah Oshkosh Wisconsin

July June July ‘10

9.2% 9.6% 8.8% 9.2% 10.8% 11.2% 8.7% 9.2% 7.8% 8.4% 7.7% 8.1%

10.6% 9.8% 11.0% 10.0% 8.3% 8.4%

Prices for small businesses using less than 20,000 therms. Listed price is per therm.

September $0.727

$0.779 Sept. 2010 $0.728 August

Source: Integrys Energy (Numbers above 50 mean expansion. Numbers below 50 mean contraction.)

August July

50.6 50.9

from July 2010

If there are indicators you’d like to see in this space, contact our office at 920.237.0254 or email info@newnorthb2b.com.

FACE of Keller

I am your next door neighbor. I may have volunteered beside you with the Optimist Club or Big Brothers, Big Sisters or taught one of your children in Junior Achievement. I’ve helped out with Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together Fox Valley, and most recently, the remodel of Exceptional Equestrians. As a commercial Regional Manager, I may have built your Manufacturing Plant or your office building. I am a face of Keller and I live and work in your community. I am an Employee Owner, Regional Manager, and Design/Build Expert. But don’t just take me at face value, call today and experience for yourself the difference that is Keller, Inc.

Construction Excellence Since 1960 See Mark’s work at the following local businesses: Northshore Bank, Women’s Specialty Care, Bay Industries, Lamers Bus Lines, Faith United Church, Tadych’s Econo Foods, WireTech Fabricators, Gustman Subaru and Simon Creek Winery to name a few.

1.800.236.2534 l www.kellerbuilds.com Offices in the Fox Cities, Madison, Milwaukee & Wausau 46 l NEW NORTH B2B l OCTOBER 2011

Mark Regional Manager Co-Owner

www.newnorthb2b.com

Expect More From a Health Plan One of an employer’s greatest assets is its employees, and the health and well-being of those employees is an important priority. Network Health Plan understands. We work with you and your agent to develop the perfect health insurance solutions, tailored for your specific business needs.

Network Health Plan is different. • We’re locally owned and operated and understand the needs of Northeast Wisconsin businesses. • When you or your employees need us, we are responsive, quickly getting the answers you need. • Our members have access to top-rated doctors, clinics and hospitals. • We help our clients build cultures of healthy living by offering health and wellness program options that reward plan participants for their healthy activities and behaviors. To find out more about Network Health Plan’s superior service and custom benefit plans, contact your insurance agent or our sales department at (800) 276-8004.

1570 Midway Place | Menasha, WI

www.NetworkHealth.com

HMO plans underwritten by Network Health Plan. POS plans underwritten by Network Health Insurance Corporation, or underwritten by Network Health Insurance Corporation and Network Health Plan. Self-funded HMO and POS plans administered by Network Health Plan.

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