January 2012

DOWNTOWN

HEROES

The behind-the-scenes volunteers who use their powers to make downtown a better place

Top Ten of 2011 Trip to the Tech Fantastic

January 2012 $3.95

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new north b2b January 2012

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Features

18 COVER STORY ❘ Downtown Heroes ❘ Behind-the-scenes volunteers who use their powers to improve downtown

26 WORKFORCE ❘ Labor pool drying up? ❘ Fond du Lac area workforce study shows wave of impending retirements

32 TOP TEN OF 2011 ❘ Year in Review ❘ Our take on the leading business stories occuring in the region this past year

36 TECHNOLOGY ❘ Trip the Tech Fantastic ❘ Various services help small businesses stay in the technology dance-a-thon

Departments 4 6 10 16 17 38 40 44 45 46

On our Cover

From the Publisher Since We Last Met Build Up Pages Around the Boardroom Pierce Stronglove Professionally Speaking Who’s News Business Calendar Advertiser Index Key Statistics

Cover illustration of an American Graphic Novel (Comic Book) icon representing the best that people can be and some of the Super Heroes just next door.

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 3

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Occupy protesters are standing in the way of economic progress

Sean Fitzgerald New North B2B Publisher 4 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

No, the sky isn’t falling

It would seem easy to poke fun at the various Occupy protesters around the country.

And because the hurried holiday season, all of the year-end activities associated with running a business, and our efforts to send this January edition to the printer, I’ve decided to make it easy on myself to chastise their plight.

But before my readers equate easy with lazy, consider for a moment the pointless, sky-is-falling behavior of many of these misguided efforts.

Back on Dec. 12, Occupy Los Angeles protesters blocked more than 200 trucks attempting to head in and out of the international shipping port at Long Beach. Blocking the transport of cargo in and out of the port at Los Angeles isn’t making any kind of a point or any kind of sense. It’s not just hurting the rich or hurting corporate America, it’s hurting working employees trying to help their employer grow so that, in turn, they can create even more jobs.

Other protesters targeted retail stores across the country on Black Friday in an attempt to hurt “the businesses that are in the pockets of Wall Street,” according to the group’s website at www.stopblackfriday. com. Again, the protestor’s absent-minded strategy really only took a toll on frontline employees working hard at a little more than minimum wage.

Maybe such protests are the result of frustration of getting paid less than they might have three years ago, or taking on more responsibilities within their job. Perhaps the protests are a reaction to an extended difficulty finding a new job after being laid off. Or maybe they’d rather just protest than work.

The fact of the matter is that, no, the sky is not falling, and efforts to get the economy back on track are being derailed by the small minority who seem to believe they’re making a difference.

And the protesters are making a difference – not a positive one, for certain – but they’re continuing to play a pivotal role in the public relations effort to convince American consumers and investors that economic conditions continue to be bad and will only get worse. They’ve created a media environment in which those businesses who have been able to achieve success during the past three years keep quiet and muffle any effort to share the news of their good fortune, not-

ed Greg Pierce, a partner and financial advisor with Reinhart Partners Inc. in Oshkosh.

We’ve seen this dynamic play out ourselves when interviewing various business owners for recent articles in B2B. “It’s almost politically incorrect to say you’re doing well in business right now,” Pierce said. “And only just because there’s a general belief that things are bad.”

Quite the contrary, economic conditions in the U.S. continue to improve, even though it’s not necessarily evident at street level to the average person.

Industrial production has continued an upward climb over the past 24 months – even though it may not quite be back to 2007 levels at this point – and capital investment by manufacturers has been reignited in the past year, particularly here in northeast Wisconsin.

Retail spending continues to hit record levels every month after really only taking a dip for a brief period back in 2009. Retail recovery has been in place since late 2009, and has eclipsed then-records levels from 2008 for the entirety of 2011.

Job creation has been slow, but jobs are being created. Unemployment is slowly retreating, and weekly unemployment claims have been trending lower since 2010. For the most part, private-sector job growth has been offset by public-sector job losses, noted David Risgaard, a managing director and founding principal at North Star Asset Management Inc. in Menasha, while addressing the audience at a December gathering for clients of First National Bank ~ Fox Valley.

“The private sector is stepping up where government is cutting back,” Risgaard told the group of nearly 100 people.

So the economy is definitely growing but will that growth be sustainable? Both Pierce and Risgaard are resoundingly affirmative, noting corporate profit growth is one of the best indicators of the ability of economic growth to be sustained.

At the end of the third quarter of 2011, S&P 500 companies showed 22 percent of their balance sheets in cash, a reserve that’s bound to flow back into the economy when CEOs regain confidence that their shipments aren’t going to be delayed to customers by a brood of protesters at the port entry.

Yes, recessions are painful. But they’re also about healing, and moving forward stronger as a result.

www.newnorthb2b.com

PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING

Legislative Update - Wisconsin

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 type of labor and employment legislation is being proposed for 2012?

Tony Renning: The 2011 session of the Wisconsin Legislature resulted in a number of progressive changes in labor and employment law, much of which applied to public sector employment. What will 2012 bring about?

A number of changes in labor and employment law are proposed for 2012, many of which apply to private sector employment: Senate Bill 202 proposes to amend the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA) to eliminate compensatory and punitive damages for acts of employment discrimination, unfair honesty or genetic testing.

Under current law, workers compensation is generally the exclusive remedy of an employee against his/her employer for an injury sustained while performing

Sean Fitzgerald

Publisher & President

sean@newnorthb2b.com

Carrie Rule

Sales Manager

carrie@newnorthb2b.com

John Furkin

Graphic Designer

john@newnorthb2b.com

Contributing writers

Robin Bruecker Cheryl Hentz Lee Marie Reinsch

Chief Financial Officer

Vicky Fitzgerald, CPA

services growing out of or incidental to employment. Assembly Bill 364 proposes to provide an exception to the exclusive remedy provision permitting an employee who alleges that he/she has been injured as a result of being subjected to an “abusive work environment” to bring an action against his/her employer in circuit court.

Senate Bill 8 is intended to bring the Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act (WFMLA) into alignment with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Current law, subject to certain exceptions, prohibits discrimination in employment based on conviction record. Senate Bill 309 seeks to prohibit consideration of the conviction record of an applicant for employment before the applicant has been selected for an interview.

Senate Bill 246/Assembly Bill 350 proposes to amend the WFEA to prohibit discrimination based on credit history.

Finally, Senate Bill 249/Assembly Bill

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Contact us: P.O. Box 559, Oshkosh, WI 54903-0559 • 920.237.0254 www.newnorthb2b.com

344 proposes to amend the WFEA to prohibit employment discrimination based on employment history (the receipt of unemployment insurance benefits).

For counsel as to pending legislation, contact Tony Renning at (920) 232-4842 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 JANUARY 2012 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.

November 22 The City of Fond du Lac City Council passed a $29.4 million budget for 2012 that keeps the Taylor Park Pool open next year and restores about a third of the funding initially cut from the public library. The new budget levies $20.5 million on taxpayers, setting a tax rate of $7.93 for every $1,000 of assessed property valuation. The new city budget also eliminates the city assessor’s office and assigns that department’s duties to a private contractor.

November 22 The City of Menasha Plan Commission approved plans for a proposed $2 million, 17-unit private student housing project on Midway Road near the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley.

The project being pursued by a Neenah development firm could eventually include a 56-unit complex built in four phases over the next two years. The first phase of construction could be completed by June and provide housing for up to 60 students.

The development firm also plans to have a fulltime resident director live on site to promote student activities. UW-Fox does not have any on-campus housing for students.

November 23 Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. indicated Winona Foods, Inc. in Green Bay is eligible for up to $75,000 in economic development tax credits through its $1.6 million expansion project which is expected to create up to 27 jobs. The ex-

2003 January 6 – Rates on parking meters in downtown Fond du Lac were raised from 25 cents an hour to 35 cents an hour. On nearly 900 meters throughout the downtown, the change is expected to generate annual parking revenues of $198,000, up from the nearly $145,000 brought in during 2002.

2006 January 16 – NEW Capital Fund, LP partners announced the creation of a new $10 million venture capital fund to invest in entrepreneurial endeavors in northeast Wisconsin.

The fund includes 75 investors, and plans to invest in 10 to 12 projects within the next five years.

6 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

pansion will include additional production space and new capital equipment for the maker and supplier of high-quality cheese.

November 23 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation wrapped up work and opened the new $13.6 million County Road RK project which created a new south frontage road along State Road 29 between County Road J and Packerland Drive west of the highways 41 and 29 interchange in Brown County.

The project, which began in May, included a new County J underpass at Highway 29 and a roundabout at the intersection of county roads J and RK. The project also included a new bridge crossing Duck Creek.

November 23 The bipartisan 12-member Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also referred to as “the supercommittee,” indicated it would be unable to reach an agreement to cut spending and cut the federal deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over the next nine years.

November 29 The Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program issued more than $3.6 million in grants to various local agencies for programs that connect low income workers with jobs through enhanced local transit services. Local recipients and programs include: Advocap, serving Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake and Winnebago counties, $144,944 for vehicle purchase and repair loans, vehicle repair grants and mobility management;

2007 January 25 – Menasha Corp. earned a victory in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals that will allow it to recover about $250,000 in back state sales taxes. The suit resulted from a state Department of Revenue appeal of a Wisconsin Tax Commission ruling that Menasha Corp. is exempt from paying state sales tax on custom software it purchased.

2011 January 20 – Both the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate passed a bill which would provide a tax deduction for individual investments into health savings accounts. The measure is expected to make health care more affordable for employees and small businesses.

www.newnorthb2b.com

SINCE WE LAST MET CAP Services, serving Outagamie County, $48,256 for vehicle purchase and repair loans; City of Appleton, $181,977 for Valley Transit; and Forward Service-Brown County, $100,930 for vehicle repair loans, mobility management, vanpooling and driver’s license recovery.

December 1 Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson formally kicked off his campaign for U.S. Senate to fill the seat being vacated

by Sen. Herb Kohl, who has held the post for 24 years. Thompson served as governor for 14 years from 1987 to 2001 when he was appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush. Other candidates seeking the seat at this point include Republicans Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald (RHoricon), the speaker of the Assembly, and former Congressman Mark Neumann, who opposed Gov. Scott Walker for the party nomination for governor in 2010. The only Democrat running is U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison).

December 2 The U.S. Department of Labor reported 120,000 new jobs were created in November, dropping the national unemployment rate by four-tenths of a point to 8.6 percent.

Employment climbed in retail trade, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and health care, while government employment continued to trend down.

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December 6 Gov. Scott Walker signed Assembly Bill 1 which increases the amount available for the Jobs Now Tax Credit from $5 million to $10 million beginning in the 2013-14 fiscal year.

Under the program, employers who create jobs can claim tax credits based on the wages paid to new employees and on certain training costs. The credit is 10 percent of qualified new employee wages or $10,000, whichever is less. To qualify, new jobs must pay annual wages of at least $20,000.

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December 6 Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna announced plans to seek a fifth four-year term in office in April. Hanna was first elected mayor in 1996. Other candidates for the office include Ald. Curt Konetzke and Don Geenen. A primary election will be held Feb. 21.

December 7 The Profitable Sustainability Initiative, managed by the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership, admitted 30 manufacturers across the state into its program, including MCL Industries of Pulaski, Oshkosh Door Co., Oshkosh Plating Services, Resource One International of Little Chute, and The C.A. Lawton Company of De Pere. The sustainability initiative is designed to help small and mid-size manufacturers in Wisconsin develop sustainable practices that save money and improve competitiveness.

December 7 The Oshkosh Board of Education set a $13 million public referendum for April 3 to replace the aging Oaklawn Elemen-

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SINCE WE LAST MET tary School. A concept design for the proposed $20 million, 68,000-sq. ft. school includes 30 classrooms outfitted with Smartboards and space to educate up to 460 students. If approved by voters in April, the measure is estimated to add between 12 to 20 cents to the school district’s tax rate annually for the life of the construction loan.

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December 7 Kaukauna Utilities presented a $37 million hydroelectric facility proposal which would replace four total generators – two which are 103 years old each and two at 85 years old – with two modern generators that will increase output by 25 percent. The utility commission would borrow on 20-year bonds to finance the project. Kaukauna Utilities produces an estimated 20 percent of its energy from its hydroelectric plants.

December 8 Aver Informatics of De Pere and Frozen Codebase LLC of Green Bay were both certified for the Qualified New Business Venture program through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., allowing investors in these companies eligibility for a 25 percent tax credit on the amount they invest.

Aver Informatics was formed in 2010 to develop software for the healthcare industry for pre and post-claim identification of errant or fraudulent claim submissions. It projects adding up to 29 fulltime jobs during the next three years. Frozen Codebase is a video game developer established in 2006.

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December 9

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Albany International Corp. announced plans to shut down operations at its Menasha forming fabric facility beginning in January, resulting in the loss of 48 jobs. Company officials said all employees will be offered severance and outplacement assistance.

December 13 The Federal Reserve Board again decided to keep the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent, noting some improvement in overall labor market conditions, as well as some advancement in household spending. However, the committee did note the housing sector remains depressed and it anticipates economic conditions will warrant keeping the federal funds rate low through at least mid-2013.

December 13 The Green Bay Redevelopment Authority approved a plan from General Capital Group of the Milwaukee area to invest $12 million in Larsen Green – a series of four former vegetable processing plant buildings on North Broadway – to build 60 apartments and various commercial spaces. In approving the measure, the RDA gave its blessing to a proposed $600,000 tax incremental finance district to help fund the project, which will go to the city council for a final approval. As part of the agreement, On Broadway will move its offices into the completed Larsen Green project, which will include apartments, retail space and a public market. The developers are also seeking www.newnorthb2b.com

SINCE WE LAST MET affordable housing tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, which could be a critical factor in financing the project.

December 13 The Outagamie County Board of Supervisors tabled a decision to provide $45,000 toward the cost of a study analyzing the assets and infrastructure of the idle NewPage paper mill in Kimberly, which closed in 2008, putting 600 people out of work.

Such a study could help market the property to other manufacturing firms for potential reuse of the site. The City of Kimberly has pledged $50,000 toward the cost of the study, and Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. offered another $25,000.

December 15 The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wisconsin lost 14,600 jobs in November, including 11,700 private-sector jobs and 2,900 public-sector jobs. Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted November unemployment rate was 7.3 percent, down from 7.7 percent in October.

December 16 Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac paid a special one-time bonus to about 1,200 of its hourly workers based on the length of service over the past year. The bonuses for someone who worked over the entire year reportedly were around $1,200.

Company officials said the bonuses were paid due to a productive year for the company and in appreciation for the compromises employees made during the past two years to help bring

additional production to its Fond du Lac facilities.

December 19 A collaboration between Green Bay-based Bellin Health, Appleton-based ThedaCare and a network of nearly 700 physicians was selected by the federal Center for Medicare Services to pilot a payment program designed to improve healthcare services for Medicare patients. Bellin Health-ThedaCare Healthcare Partners was one of 32 groups selected nationwide to pioneer the Accountable Care Organization model, which is part of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act. The ACO model determines payment to the healthcare provider based on achieving specific goals including process measures, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction scores with the goal of saving money while improving care quality and outcomes.

December 20 The Village of Ashwaubenon decided to opt out of a study looking at the possible efficiencies of consolidating fire departments in the Green Bay metro area. Only De Pere has contributed $10,000 toward the cost of the study, which could also include the municipalities of Allouez, Bellevue, Green Bay and Howard. Those organizing the study suggest that a consolidated fire department could reduce response times and make staffing and capital equipment purchasing more efficient. Ashwaubenon officials indicated a consolidated fire department wouldn’t help the village because its officers are trained for policing as well as fire and rescue, and participating in regional fire services would require the village to create a separate police department.

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NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 9

BUILD UP FOND DU LAC

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Creative Construction with Experience

Build Up Fond du Lac 1 - 336 Trowbridge Dr., Fond du Lac, Basic American Medical Products, a 40,000-sq. ft. expansion of the existing manufacturing facility. Project completion expected in February. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

2 - 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.

• commercial • retail • industrial

Build Up Oshkosh

3 - 3870 Jackson St., Oshkosh, C Christian Community Child Care Center, a 2,100-sq. ft. addition to the existing child care center. General contractor is R.J. Albright Inc. of Oshkosh.

• hospitality design/build & consulting services

4 - 606 E. Murdock Ave., Oshkosh, Muza Metal Products, a 47,700-sq. ft. addition to the existing manufacturing facility. General contractor is Frontier Builders of Kaukauna.

5 - 600 Block of Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, a five-story, 340-bed residence hall.

920-759-5033

2204 Crooks Avenue, Suite A • Kaukauna, WI 54130 team@frontierbuildersandconsultants.com

10 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

6 - 310 Ohio St., Oshkosh, C ImproMed, an 8,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing tech campus. Project completion expected in April. Contractor is R.J. Albright Inc. of Oshkosh.

7 - 1190 S. Koeller St., Oshkosh, Olive Garden, a new restaurant building. www.newnorthb2b.com

BUILD UP OSHKOSH 3 4

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C - Indicates a new listing

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8 - 1210 S. Koeller St., Oshkosh, C

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11 & 12 U.S. Cellular, a new

retail building.

Used Cars, a new retail automotive dealership.

13 - 450 Ripple Ave., Oshkosh,

9-

2045 W. 20th Ave., Oshkosh, Jay Manufacturing, a 52,871-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility.

10 - 4000 State Road 91, Oshkosh, AP West Shore, an addition to the existing industrial facility.

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Bergstrom

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- 3365 S. Washburn St., Oshkosh, C Bergstrom

- 3159 S. Washburn St., Oshkosh, Volkswagen, a new retail automotive dealership.

Evco Plastics, a 30,734sq. ft. addition to the existing manufacturing facility. Project completion expected in March.

Projects completed since our December issue: • Winnebago Oral Surgery, 145 N. Rolling Meadows Dr., FdL. • Tru-Fire, 217 E. Larsen Dr., Fond du Lac. • Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 855 Martin Ave., FdL. • CitizensFirst Credit Union, 1045 E. Johnson St., FdL. • Oshkosh Corp., 500 W. Waukau Ave., Oshkosh.

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NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 11

BUILD UP FOX CITIES 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 - 2693 W. Grand Chute Blvd., town of Grand Chute,

6 - 558 Carter Ct., Kimberly, U.S. Venture, a 12,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing office building. Project completion expected in April. General contractor is Keller Inc. 7 - 800 S. Lynndale Dr., Appleton, Wisconsin Electric Power Co., a new service utility garage. Project completion expected in January.

Appleton Alliance Church, a 105,300-sq. ft. addition to the existing church campus.

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- 3335 N. Lynndale Dr., town of Grand Chute, Our Shepherd Child Care and Family Ministry Center, a 13,500-sq. ft. addition to the existing child care center. Project completion expected in May.

9 - 800 Midway Road, Menasha, R.R. Donnelley & Sons, a 3,950-sq. ft. addition to the offices of the existing printing facility. Project completion expected in January. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

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- 2551 Northridge Dr., Kaukauna, Classic Gears and Machining, a 19,504-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected in spring. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

4 - 1700 Stephens St., Little Chute, Heartland Business Systems, a remodel and 30,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing office building. Project completion expected in the spring.

General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

5 - 130 W. Main St., Little Chute, C Little Chute Windmill Inc., a windmill and village visitor center.

Business Expo 2012

- 4601 W. College Ave., town of Grand Chute, C Buffalo Wild Wings, a new 6,161-sq. ft. restaurant building.

- 101 Main St., Neenah, Affinity Health System, a two-story, 31,400-sq. ft. medical clinic building.

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

12 - 1645 Bergstrom Road, Neenah, Menasha Packaging Folding Carton Group, a 20,000-sq. ft. addition to the manufacturing facility for a new sheeter.

Projects completed since our December issue: • Dollar General, 1135 Appleton Road, Menasha.

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BUILD UP FOX CITIES 2

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8 6 7

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10 & 11

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entertainment, events and arts. Authentic Experiences.

Downtown Oshkosh is where it’s Happening!

www.downtownoshkosh.com • Phone number - 920-303-2265 NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 13

BUILD UP GREEN BAY Build Up Green Bay The Build Up department of New North B2B includes a monthly twopage spread identifying significant commercial and industrial construction projects ongoing in the Green Bay area.

C - Indicates a new listing

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5 - 1230 Hurlbut St., Green Bay, Oneida Energy Gasification,

2348 Lineville Road, Suamico, Midwest Expansion, a 15,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing multi-tenant retail center.

Project completion expected in January.

a 70,000-sq. ft. pyrolytic gasification electricity generation plant.

2 - 1520 Brookfield Ave., Howard,

a 5,288-sq. ft. addition to the existing commercial building.

The Solberg Company/ Amerex Foam Products, a 19,494-sq. ft. manufacturing facility and corporate office headquarters, as well as a separate 5,976sq. ft. research and test laboratory. Project completion expected in spring.

6 - 904 S. Military Ave., Green Bay, C Keith’s Hair Center, 7 - 1077 W. Mason St., Green Bay, Tower Clock Surgery Center, a new ambulatory surgery center.

Menard’s, a 214,000-sq. ft. retail store and offices and a separate 42,352-sq. ft. lumber warehouse.

8 - 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 April.

4 - 2740 W. Mason St., Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, a 7,000-sq. ft. addition and alteration to the existing education institution. Project completion expected in January.

9 - 501 Eastman Ave., Green Bay, Proctor & Gamble Paper Division, a 20,000-sq. ft. cold storage facility, as well as remodel of five other industrial buildings on the campus. Project completion expected in January.

3 - 2300 Woodman Dr., Howard,

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Aurora Baycare Medical Center, an addition to house a linear accelerator and supporting equipment. Project completion expected in Janaury.

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1010 Centennial St., Ashwaubenon, Laser Form, a 9,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility.

13 -

100 Grant St., De Pere, St. Norbert College Michels Commons, an addition to the existing student commons and cafeteria. Project completion expected in May.

14 - 1499 Lawrence Dr., De Pere, Culver’s Restaurant, a new restaurant building.

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Projects completed since our December issue: • Anduzzi’s Sports Bar, 2555 Lineville Road, Howard.

• Western Raquet & Fitness/ Prevea Medical, 2502 S. Ashland Ave., Ashwaubenon.

• Jos. A. Bank Factory Outlet, 2385 Holmgren Way, Ashwaubenon.

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AROUND THE BOARDROOM

1.0 The percent school property taxes statewide dropped from last year to this year, reflecting the first such decline since 2005-06, when levies fell 0.5 percent.

Source: Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance

Title: Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck Why Some Thrive Despite Them All Author: Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen Publisher: Harper Business (2011) Pages: 320 List Price: $29.99 Why Buy: Ten years after the worldwide bestseller Good to Great, Jim Collins returns with another groundbreaking work, this time to ask: Why do some companies thrive in uncertainty, even chaos, and others do not? Based on nine years of research, buttressed by rigorous analysis and infused with engaging stories, Collins and his colleague, Morten Hansen, enumerate the principles for building a truly great enterprise in unpredictable, tumultuous, and fast-moving times.

QUOTEWORTHY ...if Congress cannot put down their swords and resolve their “ differences, then I am willing to support any legislation that extends these benefits, so long as it does not add to the deficit .�

A Dec. 21 statement from U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Green Bay) after Congress failed to extend the payroll tax holiday into 2012. The following day, Congress approved a two-month extension of the tax break, a bit of a compromise for Congressional Republicans.

16 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

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AROUND THE BOARDROOM

Social Force

A

sensation began over two years ago with Medline’s introduction of Generation Pink latex-free exam gloves. The company wanted to remind people about breast cancer.

They wanted them to understand the importance of mammography. They said they’d donate a portion of the profits to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

– most likely during happy hour when her guard was down. And there they were, Medline’s pink gloves – not only in the emergency department and mammography, but all over the hospital.

A media purchase could not be more on target or efficient. In fact, one can’t buy that kind of force, that kind of real.

Goodness, try to explain that to a titular Chief Word-ofMouth Officer I know of. He couldn’t stop talking about how much he wanted to “do” a pink glove tactic, too.

He erroneously thought he was in the position of the Portland hospital. In reality, he’s more like Medline, the tertiary beneficiary of a condition they created. They were focused on the health of society and the passion of the medical community. The positive blowback was collateral profit.

It can’t be duplicated, but it can be precipitated – still, not in a statistically projectable way to meet the demand for a reliable and measurable payout. Medline made a leap of faith and left it all in the hands of society.

Motives aside, this exquisite product strategy is rooted not in greed, but rather in an altruistic desire to put relevant good into the stream of life. No wonder it inspired a Portland hospital staff to create the viral “Pink Glove Dance” video that swept the breast cancer-concerned nation.

Staff members said, “It [breast cancer] touched my life. I wanted to be part of it.”

Undeniably authentic, it touches people like no antediluvian marketing approach can.

In fact, it touched me when I brought Mother Stronglove to the emergency room last week. She said her arms had been feeling tingly, especially on Wednesdays. She also had been having premonitions of an impending alien invasion

So, as Jay Sean’s “Down” lyrics from the tune in the video go, “baby, if you’re down don’t worry. Even if the sky is falling down…” if you do the next right thing, everything will turn out for the good.

Behind the façade of Mr. Stronglove is an advertising professional with more than 25 years of award-winning industry experience. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison, he has wielded his strategic and conceptual skills and talents in all forms of media (except book jackets) for small independent businesses as well as Fortune 500 companies, both consumer and trade, from local to global. 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 JANUARY 2012 l 17

COVER STORY

By Lee Marie Reinsch

DOWNTOWN

HEROES The behind-the-scenes volunteers who use their powers to make their downtown a better place

If you’re applying for the superhero job, it might help to wear your best tights and cape to the interview. Along with “team leader,” your resume probably needs to include things like “ability to take the initiative and rescue damsels and small kittens in danger.”

Talents like zipping through the air faster than a speeding bullet, rappelling down gossamer arachnid-spit threads and deflecting gunfire by crossing bracelet-clad wrists might even get you a second interview.

But if you want to be a “Downtown Hero,” you have to be willing to work harder than anyone Marvel can conjure up. Since you own your own business, there’s no downtown-hero HR department to apply to, no drug-screening and nobody to tell you when to stop working, because you’re likely on the job 24/7. You need to lead by example. You need to make your downtown a better place for everyone. You need to be quick with solutions, willing to work quietly behind the scenes while local mucky-mucks get the credit, and you need to figure out how to draw Joe and Jane Citizen out of their big-box-store fugues.

And, oh yeah. Tights are optional.

18 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

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COVER STORY Oshkosh’s Batman Take Chanda Anderson, for example. If Oshkosh equals Gotham City, then Chanda Anderson equals Batman.

“He’s always trying to make Gotham City a better place to live, and I’m trying to make Oshkosh a better place to live,” said Anderson, owner of Caramel Crisp & Café located in the Shops at City Center in Oshkosh.

“I love Oshkosh, it’s got so much to offer, and people just don’t take advantage of it. I want it to be a better place for our kids.”

Although Oshkosh residents probably won’t find Anderson swooping across the night sky with wings outstretched, they may find her stretching her wings in other ways. In addition to playing a key role in downtown business improvement district seasonal events – from garnering live reindeer for the downtown holiday parade celebration to organizing entertainers for the farmers markets – Anderson has taken it upon herself to invent a brand-new winter celebration. Slated for February, Heart of the Winter will highlight area food specialties and feature ice sculpture, chocolate artists, dogsled racing, ice bowling, downtown sales and music. Proceeds will go to Day to

Day Warming Shelter, which provides temporary emergency shelter for the homeless.

Cassie Cook took over in August as manager of the downtown Oshkosh BID. In such a short time, one merchant has played a big role in helping Cook get her feet wet.

“Chanda has been one of the most helpful people in the downtown area, as far as getting contacts for me and getting more people involved in the downtown,” Cook said. “She really wants the downtown overall to succeed and thrive.”

Cook describes Anderson as a go-getter.

“If I have a question, I go to her and she will either have an answer or find an answer for me,” Cook said.

Cover identity: Chanda Anderson, cafe owner and baker.

Base of operations: Caramel Crisp & Cafe, 200 City Center, Ste. D, Oshkosh.

Secret power: Loving what she does.

Archenemy: Getting out of bed at

5 a.m.

Weakness/Achilles heel: Paperwork.

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 19

COVER STORY Fond du Lac’s Flash Gordon Flash Gordon uses his wits and agility to battle tyrants like Ming the Merciless and his minions in places like Planet Mongo.

Fond du Lac’s Sam Meyer could use a little of Flash Gordon’s speed and adroitness to zip from one meeting to the next.

Besides being owner of a downtown Fond du Lac business and two historic properties, Meyer is president of the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership board of directors. He serves on its design committee, and he’s also recently served on the Fond du Lac City Council as well as on the Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors. Plus he’s a husband and father of four.

“It’s amazing how he gets it all done,” said Amy Hansen, director of the Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership.

Meyer bought and renovated the former Eric’s Pastry Shoppe around 10 years ago, turning the bakery into his office space and massively upgrading the second-story living space into a bed and breakfast, which Meyer closed in November due to lack of time. It’s now an upscale luxury apartment.

He did the same refurbishing a few doors down with the former Graebel’s shoe store, now leased out to The Knitting Room.

Both projects earned him the Wisconsin Main Street Design of the Year and awards from the state Department of Commerce.

du Lac has held its own pretty well. “We have strong merchants who have been here a long time, and we do what we can to sustain that,” he said.

The city has been a good partner with the downtown by putting in upgraded sidewalks, decorative streetlights and cross walks, Meyer said.

“If we can all pitch in and help the downtown, it helps us all,” he said.

“The materials he uses are the best, and the designers he uses are the best,” Hansen said, adding that he puts more into the renovations than he gets out of it. “He’s not getting rich off this, that is for sure,” she said.

Meyer had new custom-made arched-top windows made for the former Graebel’s site, restored the original brick facades, and commissioned Amish craftsmen to build the cabinetry for the residential space above.

“I am very sensitive to being true to the historic look of the buildings I have,” Meyer said. “It cost a few nickels, but I am here for the long term – I am not going to flip these properties.

Hopefully this will foster something in others.”

Meyer said considering the down economy, downtown Fond

Cover identity: Sam Meyer

Base of operations: Sam Meyer Insurance Agency, 42 N. Main St., Fond du Lac.

Secret power: Getting from one meeting to another in a flash.

Archenemy: The slumping economy.

Weakness/Achilles heel: Worrying about details.

20 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

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COVER STORY Neenah’s Casper the Friendly Ghost Ghosts are generally thought of as scary, except when it comes to Casper the Friendly Ghost. Even though his relatives push him to be menacing, he stays true to his heart and plays nice.

“I don’t need to be bigger than other people,” said Jim Reiser, owner of the downtown Neenah Dairy Queen and former president of the Neenah business improvement district board of directors. “My wife tells me I’m more lovable when I’m vulnerable.”

Reiser didn’t always get personally involved in his community. Until just a few years ago, it was a lot easier to write a check than to volunteer his time. “My time is expensive to me, and I guard it,” he said.

But part of his staying out of downtown politics had to do with his own insecurities, he said.

On the Web Downtown Fond du Lac www.downtownfonddulac.com Downtown Oshkosh www.downtownoshkosh.com Downtown Neenah / Future Neenah www.neenah.org

“I finally realized I was OK,” he said.

“Knowing who I am changed me, I figured out how I want to live my life. I realized I couldn’t keep buying my way into the community (by simply writing out a check),” he said. “The community helped build me, and I need to help build the community.”

He just ended his seventh year as president of the Neenah BID board, and although he doesn’t think of himself as a leader, the rest of the community does, according to Amy Barker, director of Future Neenah.

Downtown Appleton www.appletondowntown.org Downtown Green Bay www.downtowngreenbay.com Bellin Building www.bellinbuilding.org

“He exemplifies the gold standard,” Barker said. “He goes above and beyond with customer service, in keeping the exterior of his building clean, through his friendly and non-abrasive manner.”

Barker describes Reiser as a collaborator who is easy to deal with.

“When issues come up at board meetings, he takes them to heart and talks through an issue and says ‘Here’s my perspective,’” rather than talking someone down. “He’s very humble and down to earth, and probably doesn’t view himself as a mover and a shaker, but the other businesses in the area really look to him as a good example of how to promote his neighbor as well as himself,” Barker said.

As to why he is the way he is, Reiser credits his spirituality.

“Part of why I am the way I am is where I want to go.”

22 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

Cover identity: Jim Reiser Base of operations: Neenah Downtown Dairy Queen, 450 S. Commercial St., Neenah.

Secret power: Following his heart.

Archenemy: Control freaking.

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COVER STORY

Appleton’s Captain America If rundown rental properties equals the Axis powers of World War II, then Mark Behnke equals Captain America.

Captain America was a scrawny kid named Steve who enlisted in the U.S. Army and who, upon being too puny to pass endurance tests, undergoes a scientist’s experiment to create the new super-soldier. Transformed into a superhero, Captain America fights against the Axis forces.

Like that scrawny kid, Mark Behnke is a behind-the-scenes, under-the-radar kind of guy. So it wasn’t too surprising that he played shy when it came to comparing himself to any superhero. Appleton Downtown Inc. director Jennifer Stephany did it for him:

“Small business is the heart of the American economy and Mark helps support the American dream,” said Stephany.

Cover identity: Mark Behnke, owner of three downtown taverns and several downtown buildings Base of operations: Bazil’s Pub, 109 W. College Ave., Appleton.

Secret weapon: Long-term employees.

Archenemy: Property depreciation.

away if they have problems with something like a boiler or the roof,” Behnke said. “If you don’t take care of it right away, it costs more in the end. We just spent $50,000 last year on new roofs for two buildings. If you keep (properties) up and keep your tenants happy, then your tenants stay. If your tenants are always calling you because they have problems, they don’t stay. They look around for something better.”

Behnke gives his time and support to summer musical acts, Oktoberfest and the annual car show. “If they need something, they know that whatever they need, all they have to do is call,” he said.

Despite the many demands pulling him in all directions, Behnke always makes time to cook lunch at Bazil’s.

“I enjoy it. We cook right in front of people, and I have customers that have been coming in here for 20 years and that’s my way of being in touch with them. They come in here every day.”

“How could I be so stupid? Did I really kiss my co-worker from accounting?

And sing I Will Survive standing on the conference table, using the telephone as a microphone? Holiday office parties should be banned!”

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Behnke owns three bars in downtown Appleton – Bazil’s Pub, Olde Town Tavern and Firefly Lounge, which is transforming in 2012 – as well as 15 other downtown buildings, most of them around a century old, including the one housing Starbucks.

Stephany cites Behnke’s meticulous upkeep of his properties, his involvement with the BID board, and his informal mentorship of new business owners as reasons he’s worthy being called a downtown hero.

“Mark will take a building and renovate the upstairs to living quarters, and they are some of the nicest properties in the downtown,” Stephany said. “They are always kept up well, the maintenance is always kept up, and that is a great example of the quality of landlord Mark Behnke is.”

His low turnover rate in tenants and employees and the number of long-term (decade-plus) employees further supports that, she said.

“I fix things as they need it. I tell my tenants to call me right

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COVER STORY Green Bay’s Nobel Prizewinner When it comes to superheroes, Steve Schneider throws a wrench into the mix.

“I’m not big on Batman or Catgirl,” Schneider said. “I think there are non-cartoon superheroes, like Dr. Norman Borlaug, who should be more of a model than some fictitious character.”

Dr. Who? Nope, not the time-traveling British doctor who saves the universe and rights wrongs, but Dr. Norman Borlaug, 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner for his work as a plant geneticist. Borlaug developed new strains of disease-resistant wheat to feed hungry populations in India, Pakistan and the Middle East. He’s credited with saving more lives than any other human being, according to the Nobel organization.

It’s not a goal everyone can achieve, but then again, neither is zapping evil-doers with lightning bolts.

Schneider probably wouldn’t deign to compare himself to the 20th-century loaves-and-fishes icon, but he and the late Borlaug do have a few things in common. Like Borlaug, Schneider comes from a small town (Cresco, Ia., and Kellnersville, Wis., respectively), and like Borlaug, Schneider has the gift of transforming what could be into what is.

Take the nine-story, 97-year-old Bellin Building in downtown Green Bay, for example. A few years ago, it was tired, half-empty and its future nebulous.

“I thought it should be preserved,” said Schneider, who had an office there with one of his telecommunications companies. “Unfortunately, if old buildings aren’t relevant, they tend to get torn down or fall by the wayside.”

He lined up investors and bought it and the Zuelke Building in downtown Appleton from the previous owners. “Part of the plan for making (the Bellin Building) relevant again was attracting the right types of tenants, filling it up, and making it vibrant. People want to be where other people are. It’s 90 percent of the way there.”

Over the last five years, they put $1.2 million worth of renovations into the first and second stories alone, restoring old terrazzo floors, cleaning the exterior and resurrecting interior pillars. Two anchors now are

The Daily Buzz coffee shop and the Black & Tan Grille. Schneider and his partners are working on opening one of the ground-floor suites as a piano/jazz bar. A number of private offices are leased out, and a banquet hall and private dining area are available for private groups.

“He’s very generous with his time and with sharing his entrepreneurial spirit,” said Jeff Mirkes, executive director of Downtown Green Bay, Inc. Mirkes brought a class of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College business students downtown for a program spotlighting downtown business successes. Schneider was an evening guest speaker, but he didn’t give a generic 20-minute speech.

“He gave us a tour of the building, put us up in the best meeting room, and during the break, he brought in loads and loads of the best appetizers from the Black & Tan,” Mirkes said. “We went over the (allotted) time, but he didn’t mind. The students loved it. These were probably the best appetizers the students had ever tasted. He treated them like royalty.”

Schneider also showed his true colors when Mirkes’ group wanted to launch the first-ever Fridays on the Fox program on the city’s new CityDeck on the Fox River.

“We knew it would be a hit, with the food and the view, and we knew people would come from all over,” Mirkes said. “But sometimes, when all you have is the vision, it’s tough to find someone to believe in it, and he made it possible.

“He provided the lead sponsorship to make the first season a success,” Mirkes said. But he didn’t make demands or try to micromanage the event. “He just said ‘Yep, we’ll stand behind you.’”

“It was almost like someone who wants to give young entrepreneurs a successful start with seed capital,” Mirkes said. “That is the way he made us feel, like a non-profit organization that is activating the downtown.”

Lee Reinsch writes and edits from Green Bay.

Cover identity: Steve Schneider, president and CEO of Hilbert Communications (which includes subsidiaries Bug Tussel Wireless, LLC; Spiralight Networks, LLC; NOC NOC, LLC; Intelegra, LLC; Cloud1 Towers, LLC and Red Tail Tower, LLC) and ZeeBell Development, LLC, which owns the historic Zuelke Building in Appleton and Bellin Building in Green Bay.

Secret power: Bettering the downtown “because it’s fun.”

Weakness/Achilles heel: 1. Overcommitting.

2. A disillusionment with celebrities and chest-beating pseudo-heroes like Donald Trump.

Archenemy: “Politicians that don’t always represent the needs of our people and our country very well.”

24 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

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Dollar Tree

Harbor Frieght Tools

Former Kwik Trip

Sold for $984,000 - 10/07/11

Sold for $1,058,000 - 07/27/11

Sold for $145,000 - 09/13/11

1750 S. Koeller Street

1620 S. Koeller Street

2222 Jackson Street

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Closing January 2012

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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Labor pool drying up?

Fond du Lac area workforce study shows wave of impending retirements closer than previously thought Story by Cheryl Hentz An extreme labor shortage throughout Fond du Lac County could be on the horizon, and if no action is taken, businesses there could face more than 19,000 unfilled jobs by 2026. That may seem like a long way off, but according to those who helped spearhead the 2011 Retirement and Departure Intentions Study, it is none too soon to begin planning to replace the workforce.

The Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce, in conjunction with Fond du Lac-based Moraine Park Technical College and Marian University, conducted a similar study in 2008, then revisited it earlier in 2011 and released the results in early December. The purpose of both studies was to get a handle on what workforce needs Fond du Lac area employers projected for the short-term future, as well as for up to 15 years out.

Because a lot had happened in the economy and in the workforce, the partners decided to conduct the study again this past year, said Josh Bullock, vice president of strategic advancement at Moraine Park.

“Shortly after we released the study the economy began a recession, we elected a new president, we had a shift in our political climate in the state and we’re still participating in

26 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

numerous wars,” he explained. “So we wondered what impact all of those factors culminating might have had on retirement decisions.”

Surprisingly enough, those issues aren’t making the kind of significant impact one might have expected, he added.

“People’s intentions to retire went up from roughly 49 percent in 2008 to just over 51 percent in 2011. What we do know with this is that some of the factors that impacted us back in 2008 – which were more of the soft factors like one’s retirement coinciding with a spouse’s retirement or health concerns – weighed less heavily than the sheer financial factors of retirement,” said Bullock.

“So what this indicated to us along with some other factors was that people now are saying ‘When I’m ready to retire, I’ll simply be retiring.’ They don’t necessarily have the same desire to stay in the workforce that they would have had in 2008.

That means it’s going to be more difficult for employers to retain those folks to help transfer the institutional knowledge.”

Joe Reitemeier, president and CEO of the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce, agreed, saying that without question, of all the factors contributing to the projected shortage – the economy and how it affected the business community – now seem to be the most significant.

“In many instances it has forced companies to downsize. So those that are remaining in the workforce that are approaching retirement age have really focused their attention on when they get to a point where they feel financially comfortable enough to retire, they’re leaving,” he said.

“In the past studies we found that that was one of the factors. Other factors included their health, their ability to get

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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT health insurance, the age and intent of their spouse to retire, other family considerations, all of which were playing into decisions as to when someone was going to retire. But that’s not so much the case anymore. Now it’s simply ‘When my retirement fund reaches a certain amount, I’m retiring,’ and that’s the one and only consideration that they basically are giving.”

Survey says…

Survey results also show that most companies have not taken many new or innovative steps that will help them retain retirees or attract younger workers in a competitive, shrinking labor market. In addition results revealed shortcomings in preparing area youth and informing them of opportunities for success in the local community.

One of the more startling notes from the study was the significant number of folks – even in the next 10 years – who plan to retire from more traditional manufacturing operations and labor-type of positions, and at a faster rate than in other job categories.

“I think that’s very significant simply because they really are the bread and butter of our workforce,” said Bullock. “And when you see that group retiring, at least in a short period of time, it does mean that employers have less time to react, because truly 10 years is not a long period of time to train a new skilled workforce, to recruit that workforce, and hopefully retain that workforce and transfer some of that knowledge.”

Manufacturing employers say times have changed.

“One of the challenges from a manufacturing standpoint is that manufacturing is not the way it used to be years ago.

Having somebody stand in one place and do the same thing over and over and over again is really not the way the manufacturing workforce works anymore,” explained Sue Roettger, director of human resources for Mid-States Aluminum in Fond du Lac. “So the skills that we require from people continue to be ratcheted up, if you will, because of the requirements out in the global economy.

“When we hire people we are hiring people to be problemsolvers, to be able to communicate, and people who can move from one job to another as required. And for us, we’re also looking for people who have machining backgrounds and some past manufacturing experience, because there is a complexity to it that hasn’t existed in the past. And I know that’s the case with many manufacturers in the area.”

Finding a solution Beside Fond du Lac, other communities in northeast Wisconsin are either doing or considering similar studies. It’s expected they, too, will be facing severe labor shortages in coming years. But all is not doom and gloom. In fact, those directly involved with the Fond du Lac study said they choose to look upon these results as opportunities rather than problems, adding they need to follow the recommendations outlined in the report to deal with the challenges head on.

“Clearly we know in advance where we’re going to be losing employees and the approximate times we’ll be losing different types of occupational areas,” said Bullock. “And that bodes very well for us to work together as a community, as educators and as businesses to try and address these issues before we see that potential mass exodus.”

Among the things that need to be done are widening recruitment efforts to encompass a much broader geographic

Specific recommendations of the study The data contained in the 2011 Retirement and Departure Intentions Study has provided Fond du Lac County with a remarkable opportunity to foresee future labor needs and provide timely insight into the actions that must be taken in order to mitigate the impact of the inevitable labor crisis. Here are some of those recommendations.

• All Hands on Deck – Business and education professionals must establish open and lasting communication channels allowing for strategic and constant collaboration.

• Look Forward – Area businesses must work with local educational systems to identify the labor needs of the community and focus on preparing the workforce of the future.

• Promote All Opportunities – Area students, beginning in middle school, must be made aware of every career opportunity that exists.

• Prepare for Real Opportunities – Students must be encouraged to explore career options and begin specific training in high school.

• Redefine Success – Rewarding and thriving careers are in abundance throughout Wisconsin, many of which favor skilled employees over baccalaureate degrees.

• Understand the Local Workforce – Employee recruitment and retention will continue to be of high importance. To ensure that talent remains in Fond du Lac County, employers must be flexible and future focused.

• Start a Conversation – Employers must understand their workforce and actively participate in succession planning.

On the Web 2011 Fond du Lac Retirement and Departure Intentions Study www.fdlac.com

• Focus on the Future – Progressive, aggressive and proactive action is needed by both business and education to ensure the needs of the future workforce are being met.

• Recruit and Retain Talent – Bringing local business and future workers together is critical.

• Join Forces, Act Now – Clearly this is not an issue that can be turned over to government, education or business alone. It requires the full attention and cooperation of every leader, worker and citizen in the community.

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 27

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT How the study was conducted The employee surveying process was conducted via both a paper survey and an electronic survey sent directly to employees through the assistance of each employer.

Surveying lasted from early 2011 through mid-2011 and included Fond du Lac County organizations with more than 50 employees, excluding health care employers who were covered in a 2011 study of health care workers conducted by the Fox Valley Health Care Alliance and the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board.

Organizations surveyed employ an estimated 12,000 employees in the Fond du Lac area. A total of 3,197 surveys were returned, providing a margin of error of +/1.68 percent given a finite population of 56,687 workers in the Fond du Lac labor force as of June 2011. Although the survey was conducted using a convenience sample of organizations with 50 or more employees, it is assumed that the data is representative of the Fond du Lac labor force as a whole.

This study did not cover health care organizations.

They were specifically eliminated from the research, only because in January or early February there will be a report coming out focusing specifically on health care institutions in the Fox Valley, which covers more than 10,000 health care employees with all the major systems throughout the New North area.

area and working with educational institutions – both K-12 and post-secondary schools – to make sure there is adequate promotion for careers that don’t necessarily require four-year liberal arts degrees. That hasn’t historically been the message, said Reitemeier.

“We need to recognize that between 70 and 75 percent of area high school graduates will never get a college degree, yet we tend to promote college education as the one and only ticket to success. So we need to redefine success so that it includes all options and then present that to the students and their families,” he noted. “We also need to do a better job of connecting K-12 systems to the local economy so that teachers and administrators within the schools are promoting jobs that are available in their local market and helping train students so that they have the best opportunity to succeed in those particular careers.”

“There isn’t one single solution to this,” Reitemeier continued. “We have to involve ourselves in partnership with education on multiple levels. That means multiple grade levels as well. We have to start very early in the children’s development to make sure that they’re aware of opportunities within our local economy.

“We need to make sure that they recognize they are going to be positioned for lifelong learning. Education does not cease at the end of high school; it is a lifelong process. We need to make sure that the reliance we have in our local economy for manufacturing and agriculture are promoted as opportunities for successful and profitable lives.”

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28 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

www.newnorthb2b.com

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT The Association of Commerce has developed several programs to help accomplish those goals: Leaders and Readers – a program that sends business representatives into classrooms to promote literacy and reading as a valuable tool; Youth Apprenticeship Program – places students on job sites where they learn the real skills associated with these careers; Project Grill – a program in which students work alongside business representatives in the design, fabrication and production of a working charcoal grill; and Ag Ambassador Program – designed primarily for elementary schools and provides university-based curriculum teaching students about agriculture as part of the local economy.

“We’re also working now with area high schools in the formation of a manufacturing task force which is intended to promote careers within manufacturing and get both students and educators familiar with not only those jobs, but the skills associated with them,” said Reitemeier.

Why it matters Paula Stettbacher is a human resources manager with Aurora Health Care and as such is a member of Fond du Lac Area Human Resources Association. She said this group of concerned employers and educators are working to make Fond du Lac an attractive place to live and work, especially in terms of recruitment and retention in the workplace.

“We all need to do things in our places of business on a dayto-day basis that are inclusive in nature. So, for example, Mercury Marine might attract a candidate from somewhere else in the country or even outside the country, but to retain them is a little bit more difficult,” she said. “So we need to get better at things like that because we’re all going to be competing for labor in the future. Those who are able to do that now, and do it well, can hopefully get a little bit ahead of the game.”

Results of these studies need to be taken seriously. The situation they reflect is critical to the sustainability of the economy – not only regionally, but also for the state of Wisconsin. But rallying everyone together to best implement the recommendations from the study is the million-dollar challenge.

“The Association of Commerce has taken it upon itself to formulate at least the first intermediary council on the implementation of these recommendations. We’re in the process now of tapping some resources in the community to serve kind of as the overseers, to make sure that we don’t lose momentum, that we stay on task and that we are constantly challenging all aspects of our community to be not only involved, but to take on leadership roles in areas where they have the greatest amount of influence,” Reitemeier said.

Cheryl Hentz is a freelance writer from Oshkosh with nearly 30 years of professional writing experience. In addition to individual and corporate writing, her articles cover a variety of topics including business and economic development, government and politics, family pets and animal rights, minority and women’s issues, finance and education. She can be reached at 920.426.4123, via email at cheryl.hentz@gmail.com, or through her blog at www.cherylhentz.blogspot.com.

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Use the QR code or click the “Doing Business Downtown” tab on our website for a listing of available property for lease or sale and other details.

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 29

TOP TEN OF 2011

By Sean Fitzgerald, New North B2B publisher

Following all of the excitement of the elections in 2010 which shifted partisan power at both the national and federal levels of government, the year 2011 didn’t disappoint in delivering even more dynamic developments in the northeast Wisconsin business community.

From protests at the statehouse in Madison to a smattering of recall elections which garnered global attention, the past year featured a number of positive developments which may have the potential to become the bedrock on which a brighter future will rest.

1

As we have done each of the past 10 years at New North B2B magazine, we’ve compiled a list of the top state and local news stories affecting the business community in northeast Wisconsin during the past 12 months. These are the topics discussed around the office water cooler, in the break room or at board meetings, and are the issues that are likely to impact the business landscape of the region for years to come. So without further delay, the following is our list of the Top Ten business stories in the B2B coverage area for 2011.

Chaos at the Capitol

What amounted to the most upheaval in Madison since the anti-war protests of the 1960s, newly elected Gov. Scott Walker unveiled legislation early February which increased the health insurance premium and retirement plan contributions of public employees across Wisconsin.

Known as Act 10, the law was aimed at allowing the state, municipalities, counties, schools and technical colleges to more easily balance their budgets by affecting the personnel costs which attribute a majority of annual budget increases each year. What ensued was a neverbefore-seen walkout of 14 Senate Democrats, who fled the state to avoid a vote on the measure; weeks of protests at the capitol building which summoned tens of thousands from around the state to Madison; and national attention which attracted the likes of the Rev. Jesse Jackson and a variety of national union leaders.

Several school districts around the state – including Kimberly and Freedom locally – declared “sick outs” on Feb. 18 as faculty decided en masse not to report for work in protest of the legislation.

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www.newnorthb2b.com

TOP TEN OF 2011 Compounding the issue, Walker presented his version of a 2011-2013 biennial budget in early March that attempted to cure the state’s projected $3.6 billion budget shortfall by trimming $1.5 billion in aid to public schools and local government through the provisions of Act 10.

Without Democrats present to take a vote, Republicans in the state Senate approved an amended version of the state budget repair bill on March 9 that included no fiscal provisions but did rescind certain opportunities to collectively bargain for health insurance and retirement pension contributions. Perceived as a deceptive “endaround” by opponents of the measure, the action enraged foes of Act 10 and even led to death threats against certain legislators, including Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac).

2

Highway 41 expansion project progress

Following up on one of our top stories from 2010, the multi-hundred million dollar expansion of U.S. Highway 41 in Brown and Winnebago counties resumed in late February when the Wisconsin Department of Transportation closed the Scheuring Road interchange in De Pere for a $14.7 million project to reconstruct the interchange, overpass and construct roundabouts at the ramp terminals. That project was completed in late September.

Also in late February, work began to demolish the 9th Avenue overpass in Oshkosh, as well as to reconstruct the on and off ramps and expand the highway to six lanes on the six-mile segment from WIS 26 north to Witzel Avenue. The $53 million project was partially reopened in time for the EAA AirVenture convention in late July, with the remainder completed by November.

In the wake of the measure, a number of public employee unions renegotiated their existing contracts with employers, including the Green Bay School Board, which was able to cut nearly $15 million in each of the next two years; the City of Kaukauna, which was able to cut nearly $215,000 in each of the next two years; the Oshkosh School Board, which trimmed an estimated $4 million for the 2011-12 school year; the City of Green Bay, which saved as much as $600,000 for the remainder of 2011 and as much as $1 million in each of 2012 and 2013; and Outagamie County, which cut a total of $7.1 million during the next two years.

In a later chapter on the budget issue, state Department of Administration Sec. Mike Huebsch sent out a letter in late October asking state agencies to cut an additional $126 million from the current 2011-13 biennial budget, on top of the more than $174 million in cuts approved when legislators ultimately ratified the two-year budget in late June. The request came over concerns the state couldn’t generate sufficient tax revenue to support program spending due to economic challenges which have curtailed consumer spending.

In late March, work to demolish the Breezewood Lane overpass in Neenah, as well as to reconstruct the on and off ramps to the highway. The $56 million project included widening southbound US 41 to three lanes between Breezewood and U.S. Highway 45. In early April, the US 41/45 interchange near Oshkosh was closed to begin work on a free-flowing replacement interchange that won’t be completed until June 2012.

The U.S. 45 overpass opened in November, as did the southbound exit ramp from US 45 to US 41.

In June, work began on the construction of a free-flowing replacement interchange with WIS 29 in Green Bay, as well as the construction of the County RK frontage road on the south side of WIS 29 near the interchange. The new roadway, along with a County Road J underpass, opened to traffic in late November.

Lastly, in late September, work began on the $54 million project to reconstruct the US 41/WIS 21 interchange in Oshkosh. That project isn’t expected to be completed until November 2012.

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 31

TOP TEN OF 2011

3

Pro business state legislation

Less than 24 hours after being sworn in as Wisconsin’s chief executive, Gov. Scott Walker presented drafts of several legislative bills aimed at jumpstarting the state’s economy. The bills included: tort reform legislation; a tax credit for contributions into health savings accounts; an exemption for businesses from income and franchise taxes for two years for firms that have done business in Wisconsin for 10 years or longer; a tax deduction to businesses for each job they create in the state; and a $25 million increase in funding for economic development tax credits. Each measure passed through the legislature before the end of the month.

5

State Senate recalls

As a reaction to the Chaos at the Capitol highlighted at the top of our list, recall papers were taken out in early March on nine state senators, including Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac), Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay), Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon) from northeast Wisconsin.

All nine petitions received sufficient voter signatures to force summer recall elections.

In early February, Walker signed a measure replacing the existing Department of Commerce and most of its economic development assistance functions with the newly established Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

At the filing deadline to register for candidacy in midJune, all of the races included a “spoiler” candidate, forcing a July primary election in each race except for the 30th Senate District, where the state Government Accountability Board determined Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) did not secure enough valid signatures to appear on the ballot in the recall race against Sen. Hansen.

In early May, both houses of the legislature approved a bill increasing the number of enterprise zones in the state from 12 to 20, which expands the opportunity for businesses to become eligible for a range of tax incentives for creating jobs.

All of the sitting senators from northeast Wisconsin retained their seats in the Aug. 9 recall elections with the exception of Sen. Hopper in the 18th Senate District, who was defeated by Democratic challenger Jessica King with 51 percent of the vote.

Lastly, in November, Gov. Walker signed legislation allowing municipalities to work together to create tax incremental financing districts across municipal and town jurisdictions. The measure has been at the forefront of regional economic development efforts as a tool to help regions better pitch local resources to larger companies to move to Wisconsin.

4

Schreiber Foods expansion

On June 7, significant Green Bay employer Schreiber Foods announced plans to build a new $50 million corporate headquarters and technology center on the site of the former J. C. Penney Co. store in the closed Port Plaza Mall and the Days Inn building. The anchor of downtown Green Bay had sat vacant for more than a half decade since its closure.

32 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

As part of the development deal, City of Green Bay officials agreed to provide $14.5 million in assistance to acquire adjacent properties, pay off existing debt on the mall property, and demolish the mall structure.

Construction of the 130,000-sq. ft. headquarters and separate 90,000-sq. ft. technology center building is expected to begin in early 2012 and be complete in 2014 for Schreiber Foods to consolidate positions from its other facilities and move an estimated 550 staff members into the new location.

www.newnorthb2b.com

6

TOP TEN OF 2011

Fox Cities exhibit center

The ongoing endeavor to bring a modern, expanded convention center to the Fox Cities continued its progress in 2011, following a story that ranked No. 3 on our 2010 list.

In mid-January, the Outagamie County Property/ Airport committee indicated it would not likely sell the downtown Appleton parking lot it owns for the development of a proposed $20 million convention center, but changed course later in June when the full county board of supervisors voted to consider selling property near the downtown Appleton Justice Center for the site of the project.

As currently proposed by Fox Cities Exhibition Center Inc. – a grassroots group of community leaders steering the effort – the nearly 30,000-sq. ft. facility would be attached by skywalk over Lawrence Street to the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel. The exhibition center group would purchase the property and construct the convention facility primarily through an anticipated increase in hotel room taxes and a public fundraising campaign.

For its part, the City of Appleton committed $3.4 million in capital improvement funding toward the project when it ratified its 2012 budget in early November.

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 33

TOP TEN OF 2011

7

Possible re-use of former NewPage mill

In what’s become a staple of our Top Ten list over the past three years, the former NewPage mill in Kimberly still remains idle and vacant at the end of 2011, but does have a new owner. The paper mill had closed in September 2008, putting 600 people out of work.

This past spring, an unidentified prospective buyer investigated the possibility of converting the facility for a new use, but a feasibility study ultimately determined the plant would not suit the buyer’s needs effectively, and the prospective buyer backed out of negotiations in late April.

In early June, NewPage Corp. sold the mill to Montrealbased American Iron & Metal Co. Inc., which was considering demolition of the building and selling the scraps for recycling, a venture that wouldn’t create any long-term jobs. Community leaders stepped in once again late in the summer and began talks with Forest Resources LLC to possibly purchase the property from its new owners, but they withdrew from the discussions in late October.

This past December, the Outagamie County Board was still determining if it would provide $45,000 toward the cost of a study to analyze alternate uses for the mill in an attempt to more effectively market the property. The City of Kimberly committed $50,000 toward such a study.

8

Lambeau Field expansion

In an effort to compete with the larger markets of the National Football League, officials in the front office for the Green Bay Packers unveiled plans in late August to expand Lambeau Field by 6,600 seats – giving it a total capacity of 79,000 and making it the fourth-largest stadium in the NFL. The $143 million proposal also calls for two new entrances and a rooftop viewing platform in the north end zone. The franchise kicked off a stock sale in December to help finance the expansion costs and netted more than $46 million in the first 48 hours.

The development proposal comes on the heels of a Super Bowl championship as well as the early January announcement from the Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District that it was close to paying off the total debt for the $295 million renovation of Lambeau Field in 2003, nearly 20 years ahead of the projected debt retirement date in 2031. The early debt retirement is expected to save taxpayers more than $100 million in interest.

H o n o r a b l e Oneida Seven Generations energy project

Oshkosh City Center hotel fallout

Despite issues developing its proposed waste-to-energy electricity plant in the Village of Ashwaubenon in 2010, Oneida Seven Generations Corp. did successfully come to an arrangement with the City of Green Bay and began construction of a 70,000-sq. ft. pyrolytic gasification electricity generation plant in early 2011. The alternative energy facility will incinerate garbage at extreme temperatures and convert the energy into electricity.

Redevelopment dreams for the seven-story City Center Hotel in downtown Oshkosh fizzled in early November when the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Foundation and WHG Companies of Oshkosh backed away from a proposal to purchase the 179-room hotel on the banks of the Fox River and invest nearly $8 million in its renovation and revitalization. The buyers ultimately learned the costs involved with the project far exceeded their expectations.

Agnesian/Ripon hospital merger

Fox Valley Metro Police merger

In late May, Ripon Medical Center merged with Fond du Lac-based Agnesian HealthCare. Agnesian committed to plan for a replacement hospital in Ripon, enhance service lines, and implement an electronic medical record at RMC.

In March, the Village of Combined Locks approved merging its police department with the Fox Valley Metro Police Department serving the villages of Kimberly and Little Chute.

Combined Locks officials indicated they expect to save more than $500,000 during the next 10 years with the merger, in addition to receiving a higher level of police service.

34 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

www.newnorthb2b.com

9

Job Growth

Stories of employers from the region adding large numbers of new jobs always seems to find a place near the top of our list each year, but the instances of largescale expansions in 2011 were admittedly few and far between in 2011. But there were a few.

10

In early January, West Business Services in Appleton held a job fair to fill 160 sales and account management positions, with jobs expected to provide salaries from $25,000 to $40,000.

In late March, West again announced it would add 80 more fulltime jobs at its two Appleton locations, bringing its total employment in Appleton at close to 1,000.

In early April, Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac announced it would hire about 150 manufacturing and distribution employees, many of which were a result of transferring production work from the company’s stern drive plant in Oklahoma. In late October, Humana said it would add nearly 95 jobs to its Green Bayarea locations, primarily in its service operations and technology teams.

M e n t i o n

TOP TEN OF 2011

Wind turbine fight in Brown County

In mid-March, the Town of Glenmore Board of Supervisors in southeast Brown County approved a development plan for Cenergy to build eight wind turbines, despite strong opposition from more than 100 residents.

Less than a week later, Chicago-based Invenergy LLC retracted its plans to develop a separate 100-turbine wind farm across southern Brown County, indicating Wisconsin’s regulatory environment is too unstable. The proposal had been on hold as Invenergy awaited new guidelines from the state Public Service Commission, which was prompted by a proposal from Gov. Walker to curtail wind energy development in Wisconsin.

Later in the year, Sen. Frank Lasee (R-Ledgeview), who represents much of southern and eastern Brown County, called for a statewide moratorium on wind farm development until a comprehensive health study can be conducted.

(in no particular order)

City of Appleton employee benefits As part of its 2012 budget discussions, the City of Appleton Common Council agreed to extend health care insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of non-union employees, a measure estimated to cost the city an additional $100,000 annually. The benefit extension was implemented as a measure of fairness to all employees and to help attract and retain the best quality employees to the city.

Winnebago Co. – Health dept. merger Discussions that began in 2010 about the possibility of combining health departments from the cities of Oshkosh and Neenah with Winnebago County continued to move forward in 2011. A study released in September to determine potential efficiencies indicated operational costs could be trimmed by nearly 20 percent, or about $350,000 a year, through such a merger. Though particular

details are still being discussed, the consolidation could be complete early in 2012.

Green Bay convention center expansion The Greater Green Bay Lodging Association recommended a 2 point increase in the hotel room tax from 8 to 10 percent in August to help generate additional funds for the Greater Green Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau to market tourism. City of Green Bay officials asked to have half of the potential room tax rate increase go toward a proposed $18 million expansion of the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay.

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 35

TECHNOLOGY

Trip the tech fantastic

Story by Robin Bruecker

A multitude of services help keep smaller businesses in the technology dance-a-thon Business communications have gone so far beyond the days of phone and fax, even email. Any business, whether it has one staff member, 100 or more, now also considers other communication vehicles such as Web sites, social media, instant messaging, QR Codes and more. Ideally, all of that office technology should be integrated, maintained and, when possible, mobile. It’s one more thing vying for the business owner’s time and attention, and it would be nice if it became a smoothly running, less intrusive operation.

Answer the office phone anywhere A Web-based communication platform can help create the “portable office” that’s valuable for business owners, particularly those who spend a lot of time out of the office in meetings or visiting clients. One such product is NsightWorks, offered by De Pere-based Nsight Telservices, which keeps business owners in touch with phone calls, emails and more when they’re out of the office.

“NsightWorks is a landline-based service that allows the end user to customize use and control how they communicate with the rest of the world,” explained Nancy Loberger, account specialist for Nsight Telservices. It can be tailored for individual communication needs and is a cinch to have installed.

This service integrates with the end user’s contacts in Outlook.

A toolbar application called the NW assistant provides options such as a “sim ring” and NW Anywhere, in which clients can choose to have their other phones ring when their office phone is called – cell, home landline phone, hotel phone, etc. Whichever phone is answered, it will look like you’re using your office line.

“This can also be a cost savings if you have special call routing for long distance or international calls in place through your business,” added Loberger. And it’s obviously beneficial for productivity. “You always have the ability to communicate at your fingertips. No more worrying about missing a call, no matter where you are.”

NsightWorks clients control various aspects of their voicemail, 36 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

such as greetings, directories, deleting and so on, through a Web portal. Voicemail messages can be forwarded to an email address as a .wav file and saved permanently. A combined mailbox is available, reducing the need to access multiple mailboxes. Visual voicemail will be added to the toolkit soon and will convert messages to text files.

Like voicemail, phones also can be administered through a Web portal.

“The NW Web portal is a useful way to make changes to your individual phone, or if you have an administrator that takes care of all the phones,” said Loberger. “You can easily set up ‘company rules’ or individual changes if you have a new employee.”

With a hosted service, those ever-necessary upgrades are handled by the provider and therefore one less headache for the business owner.

Pro Web design for less Not only is a business website a great communication tool, but it’s also one way to get all of your business information into one line on a business card or in an advertisement.

Paying a firm to design, launch and maintain a business website can be one of those things that gets crossed off or moved farther down the to-do list of a small business that needs to throw cash at other necessities. Yet a cheaper alternative such as the do-ityourself website services offered online might not provide the customized, professional look or all of the functions a business owner would like. It may be worthwhile to contact local Web design firms and ask if there are special products and services that accommodate the needs and budgets of smaller businesses.

One firm that understands smaller businesses have the same needs as their larger counterparts but don’t have as big of a budget is Stellar Blue Web Design LLC in Menasha. Their brainchild is Web Pro, which packages the know-how of their team of programmers and designers into a software product made easy to use for business owners and removes the need to pay a firm hourly or per project. The Stellar Blue team also provides tech www.newnorthb2b.com

TECHNOLOGY support.

“A new Web site, whether it’s your first or 50th, is a large undertaking,” said Jim Dobinski, managing director at Stellar Blue.

“Web Pro is an effective solution for small businesses on a tight budget who still recognize the importance of a Web presence.

“Think of your website as another employee. It’s expected to generate sales, inform and retain clients. It represents your brand, services and quality. We need to hold our websites at a higher standard.”

Clients buy the software, which comes with a comprehensive manual and on-screen help, and pay a small set-up fee and thereafter a monthly administrative fee. After three hours of customized training, clients can get started on their website. The software follows the user-friendly “what you see is what you get” format in setting up photo galleries, feedback forms, blog posts, archive news and more. The monthly administrative fee means small businesses aren’t troubled with maintenance invoices or waiting on turnaround time.

Web Pro can be so easy to use that after the Stellar Blue team provided an initial hour and a half of training to a beta client when the software launched in spring 2010, recalled Stellar Blue Technical Director Dustin White, the once-apprehensive client group forged ahead and set up the pages and content of their new website without requiring additional training.

Tag, you’re it Since the advent of social media, smartphone apps and other tools that complement the traditional website, businesses have even more ways to promote their products and services, while consumers have faster and more mobile means to access them.

Take QR Codes, for example. These can be spotted just standing in line at the supermarket. A cardboard aisle display or magazine ad may feature a square that resembles abstract techno art and invites shoppers to photograph it with their smartphones and be taken to a video, website or audio clip right then and there.

“I think Andy Warhol would be proud of us for adopting these things,” joked Jeff Hayes, principal consultant and managing director at AlignTech Solutions LLC in Neenah.

As Hayes explained it, “Quick Response (QR) Codes are twodimensional, machine-readable encodings (barcodes) that can contain a wealth of information” such as a URL to a website, details about an event, a geographical location to direct consumers to a business, contact information, and more.

“As a marketing tool, QR Codes offer companies the ability to provide much more information about a product, service or event than can reasonably be displayed in a small area like a magazine ad, a sign or a business card,” he said.

Microsoft has its own version of these barcodes called Tags.

Free apps for reading QR Codes and Tags can be downloaded to consumers’ smartphones.

These advertising barcodes are also found on product packaging and direct-mail campaigns. Hayes noted the Wisconsin Department of Transportation may use QR Codes at gas pumps to give customers traffic and construction news. Real estate companies may use them to provide a link to property and agent information. Stores can provide product promotions and information.

On packaged foods, QR Codes can provide more details about when the product was made and expires. Consumers can use QR

Codes on their pets’ collars in the event a pet becomes lost — the barcodes contain the owner’s contact information and could even list a pet’s favorite foods or allergies.

“If and when the majority of employees, vendors and customers have compatible smartphones, then highly specific messaging will be easier to ‘push’ to those target audiences,” said Hayes.

“Note that we could achieve the same effect via mobile apps today without the use of QR Codes, but at some point QR Codes will become widely adopted.”

Other app-driven technologies include banking through one’s smartphone; EKGs, chemical analyses and other health care functions conducted through a health care professional’s smartphone or tablet; and online educational tools such as iFlash, Google Earth, and the new MIT Center for Mobile Learning. Hayes also suggested checking out Dropbox or similar cloud-based storage, although, he said, it isn’t safe to use with sensitive material yet unless the information is re-encrypted.

An office in the cloud A cloud-based service from Microsoft called Office 365 can be of particular usefulness for small and mid-sized businesses, noted Tim Van Hammond, director of enterprise portal services for Skyline Technologies Inc., which has offices in Appleton and Green Bay. Skyline sets up Office 365 for its clients.

This platform features four components that can be used singly or bundled: email and calendaring, called Microsoft Exchange; SharePoint document sharing and processing via a password-protected portal; instant messaging and online meetings or webinars via Microsoft Lync; and Microsoft Office Professional Plus, which can be purchased as a monthly subscription which enables business owners to buy only the services they need. And it doesn’t matter if the business has no IT staff.

“Because these are cloud-based, much of the set up, configuration and maintenance are done by experts in the cloud and a small or mid-sized business only needs to use, or consume, those services,” explained Van Hammond. “You don’t need to have the technical experts to manage hardware or software; you only need to ensure you have a connection to the Internet.”

Security is also a top priority. Microsoft’s systems scan each client’s documents and messages for malware and spam around the clock, and all data is protected by systems that have met the standards of ISO 27001 and the EU Safe Harbor.

Design tools are included with Office 365, enabling clients to quickly create a website including their own domain name.

Additionally, the price of Office 365 can be adjusted to each client’s needs and number of computer work stations.

When it comes to decisions about information management, including office technology, Hayes recommends taking an in-depth look at all of the costs involved and comparing in-house and outsourced means.

“The single largest obstacle to smart cost reduction with improved productivity is the ownership and maintenance of computing infrastructure and associated software systems. Companies of all sizes – not simply small businesses – should initiate technology alignment studies to determine the real costs of in-house information assets such as servers.”

Robin Bruecker has 16 years of experience in magazine and marcom writing. Contact her at robinbrueck@yahoo.com.

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 37

PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING

Why pursue an MBA degree?

by UW - Oshkosh College of Business Have you ever wondered if earning a Master’s degree is worth the effort? There are many reasons students pursue a Master’s in Business Administration degree. The most common include: • Career enhancement or advancement; • Increasing leadership and strategic business skills; • Career changes; • Increased earning potential; • Staying competitive in a tight job market.

Earning an MBA from UW Oshkosh has the potential to accomplish all of those things. Doing so also provides students with excellent networking opportunities as they advance through the program with classes full of peers from over 230 companies throughout the Fox River Valley.

Additionally, the UW Oshkosh College of Business is the only business school in the area accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business –

Terry Rapp

38 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

the gold standard of accreditation.

The decision to earn an MBA is both a time and financial commitment, but it can be more convenient than imagined.

Students may choose to take classes in any of three locations: on the UW Oshkosh campus; at the UW Oshkosh MBA Graduate and Education Center in downtown Green Bay; or select UW Oshkosh MBA classes held on the UW Stevens Point campus. All of the coursework is also offered online on a regular rotation, affording students the opportunity to take classes in the format that fits their personal schedule.

Over 95 percent of UW Oshkosh MBA students work fulltime while earning the degree, with only half the students entering the program with an undergraduate business degree. For this reason, business foundation coursework is available for those who need it. Onsite classes are held in the evenings from 6 to 9 p.m., one evening a week per class. Most students take a combination of onsite and online

920.424.3199 coursework to maximize their scheduling flexibility. Students are advised to take as many classes as possible in the onsite format to maximize networking.

What does a UW Oshkosh MBA student look like? The average student is in their early 30s with about eight years of professional work experience and a desire for personal and professional development in the form of reaching an educational goal.

In other words, they look just like you.

If you are interested in finding out more about the UW Oshkosh MBA Program, or would like to find out where you would start in the program, please contact Terry Rapp at rappt@uwosh.edu.

Terry Rapp is the MBA Program Advisor at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Business. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree with a business minor and MS in Educational Leadership from UW Oshkosh and has been a UWO employee for 17 years.

www.newnorthb2b.com

Pay Yourself First!

PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING

by Independence Financial LLC The New Year often starts with many New Year’s resolutions – most of which are difficult to keep. Now is a great time to act on a New Year’s resolution that’s easy to keep and can have a massive impact on your future!

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute in 2011, about two out of three American workers are saving for retirement, but less than half are confident that they will have enough money to live comfortably through their retirement years.

Of that “half,” many have likely not accessed their situation adequately.

When you systematically contribute to a 401(k) or similar retirement plan, you practice one of the most important savings concepts: Pay Yourself First. Individuals who earn an income, withhold their taxes, and cash their paycheck usually find that there is nothing left to apply to long-term savings goals, or they simply never get around to it. However, those who “pay themselves first” are automatically and systematically contributing to their 401(k) before they

Mike Scott

A

cash their paycheck. Not surprisingly, they can live within their budget just fine while they are concurrently saving for their future retirement goals!

Although it may be difficult to increase what you contribute to your 401(k), the good news is we frequently hear from employees that increased their retirement plan contribution, and within a few paychecks, they are used to the new amount they bring home and don’t give it much thought after that. What a perfect item for a New Year’s resolution – implement today, and then you can forget about it without having to feel guilty!

Here are some tips others have found helpful for easing the pain of saving more for retirement: 1. Increase the percent you contribute at the same time you get a raise. If your raise is 3 percent, increase your contribution by 2 percent. You will still see a raise to your take home pay and will never notice the difference.

2. Increase in baby steps. You can increase

920.236.6587 what you are contributing by 1 percent per quarter and stop when you hit your goal. It is a small enough increase that it has a small impact on your current budget.

3. Pick a daily habit you are willing to part with – like a $3 per day coffee for example. $3 per day times 365 days = $1095 per year. Assuming 8 percent average annual return over 30 years, that is over $130,000 of additional retirement savings!

Keep your New Year’s resolution simple this year and make an increase to your retirement saving!

Mike is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM practitioner and an owner of Independence Financial, LLC, an Oshkosh firm for 79 years. (920)236-6587 or Michael@IndependenceFinancialLLC.com.

Registered Representative of, and Securities and Investment Advisory services offered through Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc., (HTK), Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC, 1030 W. Higgins Rd. Suite 212 Park Ridge, IL 60068 Phone (800) 607-3300. Independence Financial, LLC is independent of HTK. A1JC-1216-01

FACE of Keller

I am your next door neighbor. I may have worked along side you packing medical supplies for Rotary or rehabilitating a home for Rebuilding Together Fox Valley. As a Business Developer and Marketing Director, I may have helped your company find the resources it needs to expand, then assisted with the ground breaking and open house.

I am a face of Keller and I live and work in your community. I am an Employee Owner, Business Developer, 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.

Keller

Planners l Architects l Builders Construction Excellence Since 1960

1.800.236.2534 l www.kellerbuilds.com Offices in the Fox Cities, Madison, Milwaukee & Wausau

Tracy Business Developer/Marketing Director Co-Owner

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 39

WHO’S NEWS Incorporations

Counseling By Schlader LLC, Anthony David Schlader, 1808 Treeland Dr., Green Bay 54304.

New North B2B includes a monthly list of new incorporations filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.

Cancer Vaccine and Cancer Immunotherapy Foundation LLC, Clifford Stuart Pukel, MD, 2824 Timber Lane, Green Bay 54313.

Brown County

Accelerated Placement Group LLC, Gregory James Gleason, 662 Dost Ct., Green Bay 54311.

Landscape Artisans Transport LLC, Lance R. Abts, 371 Main Ave., De Pere 54115.

Duck Creek Vineyard And Winery LLC, James Robert Ploetz, 1853 Rosewood St., Green Bay 54303.

Titletown Flooring LLC, Russell A. Van Rite, 3684 Packerland Dr., De Pere 54115.

Abundant Harvest Ministries Inc., Jerald D. Murphy, 2701 Larsen Road, Ste. 213, Green Bay 54303.

JPM Americas/Billboards Inc., John Mortensen, 1711 Scheuring Road, De Pere 54115.

On-Site Studios LLC, Jay A. Schillinger, 211 N. Broadway, Green Bay 54303.

Continuous Journey Support LLC, Trina Lachelle Anderson, 2412 Gemini Road, Green Bay 54311.

Hammys Auto LLC, Steven J. Jaworski, 1217 Weise St., Green Bay 54302.

Deutsche Technologies LLC, Richard Steffens, Jr., 220 Bellevue St., Green Bay 54302.

All Points Intelligence LLC, Patricia Lucas Nelson, 4195 Pine Lane, Green Bay 54313.

Thrive Nutrition LLC, Kalissa J. Murphy, 3550 Mardon Lane, Green Bay 54313.

Gold Times LLP, Blake Caldwell, Huron Marketplace, 821 S. Huron Road, Green Bay 54311.

GDH Transportation Resources LLC, Jonathan Olson, 108 Packerland Dr., Ste. D, Green Bay 54303.

Brookes Roofing & Siding LLC, John Charles Birk, 926 Pilgrim Way, Apt. 4, Green Bay 54304.

Wisconsin Home Health Care LLC, Thomas Teng Lee, 840 Challenger Dr., Ste. 16, Green Bay 54311.

John H. Reed Imagery LLC, John Hobart Reed, 1470-3 Redstone Trail, Green Bay 54313.

K & B Electric LLC, Jeff Koeppel, 2014 Elvira Way, Green Bay 54313.

Whitefield Auto Transport LLC, Brennen Jon Van Sistine, 1234 Chicago St., Green Bay 54301.

Walker Equipment Leasing Inc., Arnold W. Schmidt, 2929 Walker Dr., Green Bay 54311.

Wall Art Plastering LLC, Adam Lee Olbrantz, 1016 Wirtz Ave., Green Bay 54304.

Debbie’s Chocolates LLC, Debra Woods, 911 Shea Ave., Green Bay 54303.

Michaels Ivory Salon & Spa LLC, Kay Koeppel, 2616 Lavender Lane, Green Bay 54313.

Avenue Beauty Salon LLC, Janet L. Detert, 430 S. Webster Ave., Green Bay 54301.

Cape Financial Group LLC, James F. Cape, 1248 Gail Dr., Green Bay 54311.

Media Ad Buying LLC, Julie Ann Musial, 1256 Gail Dr., Green Bay 54311.

Sadoff Iron & Metal Co. has been partnering with businesses and industry since 1947. Our professional staff is available to help create an environmentally friendly program designed to protect your interests and exceed your needs. Scrap Metal Recycling

is what we do…Customer Confidence is what we do best.

920-921-2070 www.sadoff.com

40 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

240 West Arndt Street, Fond du Lac

OSHKOSH

with confidence.

FOND DU LAC

RECYCLE

GREEN BAY

BERLIN

Pamperin 5 Star Trucking LLC, Christopher P. Pamperin, 3838 Sandpiper Way, Green Bay 54311.

Phrasal Verb Guru LLC, Timothy James Pletcher, 2050 Riverside Dr., Green Bay 54301.

LINCOLN, NE

Bay Fabrication Inc., Arnold W. Schmidt, 2929 Walker Dr., Green Bay 54311.

First Team Tax & Accounting LLC, Michael K. Schlueter, 818 S. Fisk St., Green Bay 54304.

SHEBOYGAN

Performance Marketing Solutions Inc., James Schibly, 1614 Patton St., Green Bay 54301.

Packer Web Innovations LLC, Patrick Nathan Stoa, 2681 Vail Ct., Green Bay 54311.

MANITOWOC

Reynolds Packaging LLC, Kelly J. Reynolds, 2718 Don Gerard Way, Green Bay 54311.

www.newnorthb2b.com

WHO’S NEWS Skyleaf Design LLC, Raphael Spencer, 3197 Mill Road, Greenleaf 54126.

Foremost Fabrication LLC, Steven Thomas Lightfoot, 3765 Wayside Road, Greenleaf 54126.

Fond du Lac County Huizenga Construction & Farm LLC, Martin T. Huizenga, Jr., W12734 Hill Road, Brandon 53919.

King Farms Grain Company LLC, Robert King, N11534 Center Dr., P.O. Box 155, Brownsville 53006.

Jay Z Flooring LLC, Jason Lee Ziemer, 239 Mill St., Campbellsport 53010.

Langenfeld Plumbing LLC, Chad Langenfeld, W9470 Frank Road, Eldorado 54932.

The Village On Water LLC, Commonwealth Management Corp., 54 E. First St., Fond du Lac 54935.

Henes & Associates Reporting Service Inc., Donald E. Behnke, 43 Streeter Ct., Fond du Lac 54935.

Red Cloud Media LLC, Joerg Zinnsmeyer, 114 S. Main St., P.M.B. #192, Fond du Lac 54935.

Church View Storage LLP, John F. Charneski, W4587 4th St. Road, Fond du Lac 54937.

Fireworks Unlimited LLC, Luis Rucobo, 179 N. Lincoln Ave., Fond du Lac 54935.

Wisconsin Fraternal Alliance Inc., Jeff Long, N6463 S. Pioneer Road, Fond du Lac 54935.

Quantum Communications Corp., Lynn Wehner, W3547 Hillside Circle, Malone 53049.

Fons Expedited Freight LLC, Justin J. Fons, 836 Minnesota Ave., North Fond du Lac 54937.

Maid-4-U-2 LLC, Arlene Albrecht, 197 Prospect Ave., North Fond du Lac 54937.

Green Lake County MVP Benefit Solutions LLC, Heather R. McQuitty, 237 Broadway St., Berlin 54923.

Outagamie County World Wide Scrap LLC, Andrew Wagener, W6260 Communication Ct., Appleton 54914.

Home Pro Services LLC, Ryan Patrick Hawley, 3264 N. Morrison St., Appleton 54911.

Moes Carpet Care LLC, Timothy Garvey, 1814 W. Kamps Ave., Appleton 54914.

Get Connected Counseling LLC, Cherie Lindberg, 119 N. McCarthy Road, Appleton 54913.

Hillcrest Homes LLC, Timothy James Herber, W2404 Western Dr., Appleton 54913.

International Campaign Against Blindness Inc., Nitin Pandya, 2301 E. Ashbury Dr., Apt 1, Appleton 54913.

Walk For Suicide Awareness Foundation Inc., Barbara Bigalke, 1127 E. Roeland Ave., Appleton 54915.

Thrive Massage & Wellness LLC, Sanjiv Sharma, 3221 E. Northshore Blvd., #149, Appleton 54915.

CPI Technical Services Inc. and 5S Electrical Inc., Gregory B. Gill, Sr., 128 N. Durkee St., Appleton 54911.

Xtra Innings LLC, Nathan L. Maves, 1206 W. Capitol Dr., Appleton 54914.

1st Nails Salon LLC, Long Thoong, N474 Eisenhower Dr., Unit D, Appleton 54915.

Healing Touch Natural Therapies, LLC, Gretchen J. De Dee, 5733 Grande Market Dr., Appleton 54913 M & M Bakery LLC, Jairo Mazariegos, 432 E Wisconsin Ave., Unit B, Appleton 54911.

Kwik Kabob LLC, Jafar Nikkhah, 1717 Cedarview Dr., St. Cloud 53079.

Architectural Hardware Consulting, LLC, Jeffrey John Pistone, 3316 S. Solitude Lane, Appleton 54915.

Amaranth Antiques, Art, Reclaimed Treasures LLC, Kathy Jean Rabe, W8332 County Road N, Van Dyne 54979.

Elite Nails Of Appleton, LLC, Bich Thi Ngoc Kim, 4301 W. Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 142, Appleton 54913.

Station 17 LLC, Amber Gaffney, 901 W. Main St., Waupun 53963.

Always In Motion Trucking, LLC, Jessica Owen, 101 W. Edison Ave., Ste. 20, Appleton 54915.

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 41

WHO’S NEWS Better Business Bureau New Members

Businesses accredited through the Northeast Wisconsin office during November 2011

Haven Healthcare Solutions S.C., Olatunji S. Olaoye, 2505 Greenleaf Dr., Appleton 54913.

Comfort Companion LLC, Shannon McNeely, 3420 Crestview Dr., Appleton 54915.

Billy’s Maintenance LLC, William Joseph Snippen, 120 Fairway St., Combined Locks 54113.

Advantage, Inc., Appleton

Ament Bros. Construction, Inc., John Walter Ament, N1434 Highgreen Ct., Greenville 54942.

Affordable Pest Solutions, LLC, Kaukauna

Great Lakes Transit, Inc., Roy Jacobsen, N962 Tower View Dr., Greenville 54942.

Aire Serve of Northeast Wisconsin, Green Bay Ascher’s Janitorial, Abrams

Aaron’s Custom Home Creations, LLC, Richard Aaron Felty, W6135 Sherwood Point Dr., Greenville 54942.

Calwis Company, Inc., Green Bay

Fabulyss Boutique, LLC, Lisa Murphy, W8594 Hillview Road, Hortonville 54944.

Energy Control & Design, Inc., Appleton

Realty Restoration LLC, Cynthia J. Vander Zanden, W8918 Great Oak Lane, Hortonville 54944.

Key Elements for Health, Green Bay Nadler Auto Service, Lena Rural America Onshore Outsourcing, Inc., Two Rivers

Deike Fabrication LLC, Martin J. Deike, N1221 County Crest Cir., Hortonville 54944.

Laib’s Automotive Repair, LLC, Michael J Laib, 8071 County Road D, Kaukauna 54130.

Senior Helpers, Appleton

Commerical Plumbing LLC, Dan Dennis Van Den Wyngaard, 1117 Harrison St., Kaukauna 54130.

Tom Riemer Construction Co., Sherwood

Marshall Florist LLC, Ross Wayne Marshall, 171 W. Wisconsin Ave., Kaukauna 54130.

Wright Communications, Fond du Lac

Boardgametrader.com Inc., Timothy Paul Ceman, 631 Madison St., Little Chute 54140.

Ennoflex Technologies LLC, Jonathan Michael Martin, 520 Appletree Lane, Little Chute 54140.

Winnebago County Wisconsin Boston Terrier Rescue, Inc., Jodi Lemoine, 651 De Pere St., Menasha 54952.

Skype Marketing LLC, Purna Chuwan, 3045 Winnipeg St., Menasha 54952.

Uncommon Communications, LLC, Sheree Olson Rogers, 2097 Hidden Creek Road, Neenah 54956.

Symmetry Psychological Care, LLC, S. Weyenberg, Ph.D., 225 Webster St., P.O. Box 2198, Neenah 54956.

Honeytone Music LLC, Patrick J. Boland, 702 Hewitt St., Neenah 54956.

Kestrel Aircraft Corp., Jeffrey L. Hesson, 244 E. Doty Ave., Neenah 54956.

Plum Creek Farm LLC, Susan Jean Hase, 8409 S. Oakwood Ave., Neenah 54956.

Fitzgerald & Bomier LLC, Rachel Fitzgerald, 333 N. Commercial St., Ste. 175, Neenah 54956.

Valley Coin Machine LLC, Todd Stimac, 2414 Industrial Dr., #D, Neenah 54956.

2nd Garage Storage LLC, Michael B. Kiesling, 736 Kennedy Ave., Omro 54963.

Best Life Health Coaching LLC, Sarah Wright, 1955 Mereworth Ct., Oshkosh 54904.

Balance Bike Shop LLC, Jeremy M. Phillips, 2229 Willow Bend Ct., Oshkosh 54904.

42 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

www.newnorthb2b.com

WHO’S NEWS Wolfe Insurance Agency LLC, Scott J. Wolfe, 136 Jackson St., Ste. 2, Oshkosh 54901.

out the ninth floor of the building for a tenant. General contractor is Hoffman of Appleton. November 28.

Creek View Plaza LLC, Arthur E. Pommerening, 237 N. Washburn St., Oshkosh 54904.

Bellin Health, 1630 Commanche Ave., Ashwaubenon. $647,000 for an interior alteration of the existing health care facility. General contractor is Immel Construction of Green Bay. November 30.

Open Door Enterprises LLC, Elizabeth A. Hartman, 432 Hazel St., Oshkosh 54901.

Sublime Hair Studio LLC, Melissa S. Watkins, 930 Moreland St., Oshkosh 54902.

UW-Oshkosh Foundation Hotel Project LLC, Arthur H. Rathjen, 842 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh 54901.

Healthy Living Events LLC, Gerald Hendrickson, 2020 Jackson St., Oshkosh 54901.

Bioenergy Services LLC, Robert Brylski, 3117 Sheldon Dr., Oshkosh 54904.

Quick and Clean Oshkosh LLC and Three Corners Mall LLC, Albert E. Bleser, 566 N. Main St., Oshkosh 54901.

Madlom Fine Arts and Photography, LLC, Katie E. Madlom, 306A W. 16th Ave., Oshkosh 54902.

The Farmers Daughter Pie Company LLC, Chantelle M. Beal, 4367 Stoney Ridge Trail, Oshkosh 54904

Building Permits Heartland Business Systems, 1700 Stephens St., Little Chute. $1,020,614 for a 30,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing office building.

General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna. October 28.

Muza Metal Products Corp., 1849 Bowen St., Oshkosh. $600,000 for a 47,700-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility. General contractor is Frontier Builders & Consultants of Kaukauna. November 14.

Buffalo Wild Wings, 4601 W. College Ave., town of Grand Chute. $680,525 for a 6,161-sq. ft. restaurant building. Contractor is Cornerstone Construction Management of Minnesota. November 16.

Evco Plastics , 450 W. Ripple Ave., Oshkosh. $1,300,000 for a 30,734 sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility. General contractor is Cardinal Construction Co. of Fond du Lac. November 23.

Medical Arts Building, 704 S. Webster Ave., Green Bay. $400,000 to remodel 7,236-sq. ft. of the second floor of the building. General contractor is IEI General Contractors of De Pere. November 28.

222 Building LLC, 222 W. College Ave., Appleton. $572,686 to build

New Businesses Marza Luna - Curious World opened at 237 N. Broadway in Green Bay by Marta Mezo. The eclectic retail shop offers crystals and minerals, fossils, meteorites, framed butterflies and insects, articulated skeletons, marine life and shells, along with local artisan gifts, antiquarian prints, antiques and oddities.

New Locations Ellipse Fitness, a classes-only fitness studio, opened a new location at 1526 S. Commercial St. in Neenah. The phone number for the new studio is 920.727.4788.

Reinhart Partners Inc. moved into new offices at 2380 State Road 44, Suite A in Oshkosh. The firm’s phone number of 920.230.6929 remains the same.

New Hires Bayland Buildings, Inc. in Green Bay hired Lynn Jones as its director of marketing and business development. Jones is responsible for all commercial marketing and brand initiatives, new and existing business development and public relations. She has more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience, most recently as an account director with Imaginasium, Inc. Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin hired Pilar McDermott to its Menasha retail store, Paul Brunette to its Shiner Center in Appleton, Jeff Shackleton as the e-commerce team leader in Appleton, and Molly Halgrimson to its Oshkosh Lynn Jones retail store. McDermott previously worked for OEC Graphics in Appleton as a brand specialist. Brunette serves as the contract operations leader for the Shiner Center, having previously worked as the manager of The Wreath Factory/Otter Creek in Menasha. Shackleton has a wide range of experience in engineering project leadership, network

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 43

WHO’S NEWS administration, business ownership and team leadership.

J. F. Ahern Co. in Fond du Lac hired Robert Mathews as its vice president of corporate services and chief financial officer. Mathews has more than 20 years of financial expertise and business leadership, and most recently served as vice president of operations at Pioneer Metal Finishing in Green Bay. Robert Mathews

Bill Misek

Skyline Technologies, Inc. in Appleton hired Bill Misek as a software engineer. Misek previously worked at Alta Resources in Neenah as an application architect. He has more than 20 years of technical experience.

Guident Business Solutions in Appleton hired Dave Salzwedel as a senior business consultant. He works with clients in the areas of financial analysis, strategic planning, leadership development and management. Salzwedel has previous experience working in telecommunications, power generation and distribution, information technology and manufacturing and distribution, and has held various positions up to president. In 2001 he founded Excalibur Edge LLC, a consulting firm, and has also founded two groups for small business owners called Strategic Alliance Network for Executives.

Individual Awards Dave Salzwedel

Maggie May, associate dean and assistant professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac, was awarded the UW Colleges Chancellor’s Teaching Fellowship for the 2012-13 academic year. May received a fellowship to conduct research on using math technology to improve student learning.

Maggie May

Certifications Libby Welhouse, a payroll specialist with Schenck in Appleton, received her certified payroll professional designation.

The following staff members from Unity in Green Bay recently earned their Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse designations: Yvette Johnson, Haley Menor, Jennifer Meyer and Virginia Riggs.

Libby Welhouse

Andrew Branam

Andrew Branam and Seth Kabat, both staff accountants with Schenck in Green Bay, earned their certified public accountant designations.

Seth Kabat

44 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

Appointments Green Bay attorney Robert R. Gagan of Calewarts, Duffy & Gagan Associated Attorneys was elected to the Wisconsin State Bar Board of Governors Executive Committee for a term serving through June 2012. Gagan served as president of the Brown County Bar Association in 2005.

Danielle Knapkavage

Promotions Schenck promoted the following employees: Danielle Knapkavage, CPA to supervisor, Ben Baker to senior accountant, and Craig Asher, CPA to senior accountant, all three out of the Appleton office; Tara Wendt, CPA to manager, Paul Westberg to senior accountant, and Shane Jahns to associate accountant 4, all three out of the Fond du Lac office;

Craig Asher

Brian Blaney, CPA to supervisor, Adam Mleziva, CPA to supervisor, Heather Ryczek, CPA to supervisor, and Julie Gage to associate accountant 4, all four out of the Green Bay office; Greg Pitel, CPA to supervisor, Matthew Franti to senior accountant, Veronica Nelson, CPA to senior accountant, Jennifer Rundman to senior accountant and Joel Smits, CPA to senior accountant, all five in the government and not-for-profit services department of the Green Bay office; and

Tara Wendt

Amy Mueller to senior accountant and Jeremiah Gamble, CPA to senior accountant, both out of the Oshkosh office.

Business Calendar

Brian Blaney

January 3 Power Networking Breakfast, an event from the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the chamber building, 300 N. Broadway, Ste. 3A in Green Bay. No cost to attend for members, or $16 for prospective members. For more information or to register, contact Marilyn at 920.593.3419.

January 6 Coffee and Conversation, with Harlan Kiesow, CEO of the Fox River Navigational System Authority, a presentation from the Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Little Chute Village Hall, 108 W. Main St. in Little Chute. No charge to attend. For more information, call the chamber at 920.766.1616 or go online to www.heartofthevalleychamber.com.

Adam Mleziva

Heather Ryczek www.newnorthb2b.com

WHO’S NEWS January 10 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.

January 10 Business over Breakfast, an event from the Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Bergstrom of Kaukauna, 2929 Lawe St. in Kaukauna. The topic will be maximizing the value of your chamber membership. To register, go online to www. heartofthevalleychamber.com.

January 12 Women in Management – Oshkosh chapter monthly meeting, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at La Sure’s Banquet Hall, 3125 S. Washburn St. in Oshkosh. Program is “University Resources Can Help Your Organization” presented by Colleen Merrill of UW-Oshkosh Business Success Center. For more information or to register, go online to www.wimi.org or contact Nancy Jo at njdietzen@chamco. org or 920.232.9786.

January 12 Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Pinnacle Title, 3020 E. College Ave., Ste. 1 in Appleton. For more information or to register, call the chamber at 920.766.1616 or go online to www.heartofthevalleychamber.com.

January 18 Mid-Day Women’s Alliance monthly meeting, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, 333 W. College Ave. in Appleton.

Cost is $10 for pre-registered members. For more information or to register, go online to www.middaywomen.org.

January 26 Oshkosh Business Expo 2012, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Oshkosh Convention Center, 2 N. Main St. in Oshkosh. Booths are still available for purchase by contacting Megan at 920.303.2265. For more information about the event, visit www.oshkoshchamber.com.

February 14 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, call 920.303.2265.

Advertiser Index Appleton Downtown www.appletondowntown.org................................... 29 Bank First National www.bankfirstnational.com........................................ 7 Bouwer Printing & Mailing www.bouwerprinting.com.............................. 23 CitizensFirst Credit Union www.citizensfirst.com . ................................ 38 Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. www.dkattorneys.com......................................... 5 Dental Associates www.careplusdentalplans.com................................... 28 Digiprint www.digiprint.biz................................................................ 16 DiRenzo & Bomier www.direnzolaw.com............................................. 14 Epiphany Law www.epiphanylaw.com. ................................................ 48 Fast Signs www.fastsigns.com........................................................... 42 First Business Bank www.firstbusiness.com. ........................................ 21 First National Bank ~ Fox Valley www.fnbfoxvalley.com. ......................... 8 First Weber Commercial/ Schwab Realty www.firstweber.com............... 25 Frontier Builders & Consultants.................................................... 10 Guident Business Solutions www.guidentbusinesssolutions.com................ 33 Independence Financial LLC www.independencefinancialllc.com . ............. 39 Keller Inc. www.kellerbuilds.com ....................................................... 39 National Exchange Bank & Trust www.nebat.com................................. 2 Network Health Plan www.networkhealth.com . .................................... 47 NEW Building & Construction Trades Council www.newbt.org.............. 15 Oshkosh Business Expo www.oshkoshchamber.com.............................. 12 Oshkosh Downtown www.downtownoshkosh.com.................................. 13 Outagamie County Regional Airport www.atwairport.com. .......... 41,43,45 Sadoff & Rudoy Industries www.sadoff.com....................................... 40 Security Luebke Roofing www.securityluebkeroofing.com. ........................ 11 Skyline Technologies Inc. www.skylinetechnologies.com . ......................... 8 Spancrete www.spancrete.com ........................................................... 9 Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. www.stifel.com . ............................................... 7 TEC www.tecmidwest.com. ................................................................ 12 UW-Oshkosh College of Business www.mba.uwosh.edu....................... 38 Winnebago County Solid Waste Management

www.co.winnebago.wi.us/solid-waste/container-rental-program. ........................

33

NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012 l 45

KEY STATISTICS Per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline.

December 18 $3.25

November

$399.3 billion

0.2%

$3.26 $3.31 November 27 $3.33 Dec. 18, 2010 $2.99 December 11

from October

December 4

6.7%

November

(2007 = 100)

685,000

November

94.8

9.3%

0.2%

from October

from October

24.3%

November

0.7%

from October

Appleton Fond du Lac Green Bay Neenah Oshkosh Wisconsin

Oct. Sept. Sept. ‘10

8.1% 7.8% 9.2% 7.9% 6.9% 6.8%

8.5% 8.1% 9.6% 8.0% 7.2% 7.0%

8.4% 8.1% 9.5% 8.9% 6.9% 7.0%

from November

Source: New North B2B observations

from November 2010

3.7%

Prices for small businesses using less than 20,000 therms.

Listed price is per therm.

December$0.831 November $0.856 Dec. 2010 $0.911 Source: Integrys Energy

from November 2010 (Manufacturers and trade)

October

$1,546 billion

9.9%

from November 2010

0.8%

from September

(Numbers above 50 mean expansion. Numbers below 50 mean contraction.)

November October

52.7 50.8

8.7%

from October 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.

FIR E!

Do you spend too much time putting out fires and not enough time improving your business?

We’re here to help.

Firef ighters of northeast Wisconsin • coming april 2012 46 l NEW NORTH B2B l JANUARY 2012

Send an email to sean@newnorthb2b.com outlining your organizational challenges. You may be selected to receive no-cost assistance from our Fire Fighters of Northeast Wisconsin, providing tools to get you back on track. www.newnorthb2b.com

Network Health

Your Partner for the Future 920.720.1300 | 800.826.0940 | NetworkHealth.com

When it comes to business litigation, a good lawyer is the only weapon you need.

Accessible, Specialized, Efficient...

In today’s business world, the reality is that litigation is, at times, a necessary evil. Whether that is collections, shareholder disputes, contractual disputes, infringement, employment litigation, real estate or construction disputes, you can rely on the litigation team at Epiphany Law to aggressively protect your rights. While litigation is rarely a pleasant experience, having Epiphany Law on your side will stack the odds in your favor.

There are over 1,800 lawyers in Northeast Wisconsin; which one is right for your business?

920-996-0000

4211 N. Lightning Drive | Appleton, WI

See why Epiphany Law is right for your business. Call or visit

www.EpiphanyLaw.com.