March 2015

Business Intelligence for the New North

Growing a hospitality workforce

Training initiatives to develop more skilled workers in northeast Wisconsin’s hospitality industry.

US 41 upgrades for 2015

Transportation Adapt and Thrive

Manufacturing

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Business Intelligence for the New North

20

March Features 20 COVER STORY

Growing a hospitality workforce Hospitality industry jobs are increasing in northeast Wisconsin.

A handful of training initiatives help develop more candidates to fill skilled positions.

26 TRANSPORTATION

Trucks, planes and boats

Our annual overview of U.S. 41 construction projects in the year ahead, as well as improvements to area airports and the Port of Green Bay.

26

30 MANUFACTURING

Adapt and Thrive

Innovation is a survival tactic for northeast Wisconsin manufacturers.

Departments 30

4

From the Publisher

6

Since We Last Met

8

Corporate Earnings

12 Build Up Pages 37

Professionally Speaking

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

www.newnorthb2b.com

NNB2B | March 2015 | 3

From the Publisher

Build tomorrow’s workforce on April 7 NWTC needs voter support to turn the tide on region’s workforce capabilities

Five years ago, workforce shortage crises were nothing more than a vision in a crystal ball. We know such concerns were in the mail, but at the time such prognostications meant little in regard to the challenges of the prevailing recession.

Today, the impact of this inevitable workforce shortage is much more tangible. It hurts our companies’ production capabilities. It hurts the manner in which our companies are managed. And it hurts our companies’ bottom lines.

Throughout the last century, Wisconsin’s technical colleges have been on the front lines addressing skills deficiencies demanded by local employers. On the far northern reaches of the New North region, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College confers more than 3,100 associate degrees and program certificates each year to young adults entering the workforce or to existing workers looking to improve their skill set.

As high as that number might sound, it’s still not enough to feed the appetite of northeast Wisconsin employers trying to expand and remain competitive within their respective industries. In fact, that number represents only about 35 percent of the labor demand from the region served by the two-year college, according to NWTC President Jeffrey Rafn.

Unfortunately, NWTC is reaching capacity issues that challenge its capability to produce even more trained workers for northeast Wisconsin employers. NWTC is running out of classroom and lab space – not just on its main campus in Green Bay – but at satellite campuses in Marinette and Sturgeon Bay as well. It currently runs classes on Saturday mornings, as well as provides some of its handson training during second and third shifts.

NWTC officials have developed a plan to modernize its campuses to meet 21st century workforce demands, as well as increase capacity to add another 1,500 students beyond its current enrollment of just fewer than 7,000 fulltime equivalencies during the next three years. That plan comes with a $66.5 million price tag, and as high of a cost as that may sound, it’s truly a bargain toward improving the next two decades of the New North regional economy.

At just $5 per year in additional property taxes for a home valued at $100,000, the cost of not moving forward with this educational facilities upgrade plan would choke the region’s workforce pipeline even further. And with interest

4 | March 2015 | NNB2B

rates on borrowing still at a historically-low cost, this facilities improvement plan couldn’t be better timed. Voters in the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College District need to vote “Yes” on this referendum when they go to the polls April 7.

In total, the facilities upgrade plan includes more work to retool existing, outdated educational space than it does new construction. About 240,000 square feet of existing educational space – all originally constructed during the 1970s – will be renovated to accommodate modern job training technology, making classroom and laboratory space flexible, wireless and mobile.

The facilities plan also calls for 160,000 square feet of new construction. The entirety of the new and renovated space will pave career pathways in business operations management, information technology and software development, energy production and distribution, electromechanical technology, public safety and commercial construction – fields employing tens of thousands across northeast Wisconsin.

It’s truly disparaging to hear northeast Wisconsin businesses say they could grow faster and become leaders within their respective markets if they only had the employees to fulfill customer demand. But the reality of our economy in northeast Wisconsin is that workforce demographics are changing drastically as Baby Boomers retire, and far more entry-level jobs require additional education and training beyond a high school diploma compared to a generation ago. As a region we’ve made great strides in transitioning to a skills-based economy, but that momentum must continue to evolve if northeast Wisconsin plans to remain globally competitive.

NWTC can proudly point to a more than 100-year track record of improving employee skills to enhance the workforce of leading companies across northeast Wisconsin, and doing so in a cost efficient manner without compromising on quality and safety. But it may struggle to continue doing so without community investment in larger, modern educational training facilities.

The referendum plan developed by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College to upgrade its ability to train more skilled workers in the New North is a responsibly prepared package that deserves a vote of “Yes” on April 7 from business owners, their employees, and all of their families across the region.

The ultimate cost of this critical investment is minimal. But the expense of ignoring this opportunity could leave a lasting negative effect on the region’s workforce and our economy. n Editor’s note: New North B2B Publisher Sean Fitzgerald’s spouse is an employee of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. www.newnorthb2b.com

Sean Fitzgerald Publisher & President x sean@newnorthb2b.com Carrie Rule Sales Manager x carrie@newnorthb2b.com Kate Erbach Production Contributing writers Rick Berg Lee Marie Reinsch

1

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Since We Last Met

Since We Last Met

Since We Last Met is a digest of business related news occurring in the Greater Green Bay, Fox Cities, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac areas in the one month since the previous issue of New North B2B.

January 21 The board of trustees for Moraine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac voted to suspend its Building Trades Construction Worker one-year diploma program for the 2015-16 school year due to low enrollment. The program which trains workers for the construction industry needs at least 15 to 20 students per class, but has had enrollment in the single digits for many of its courses. School officials will work with contractors and K-12 educators next year to evaluate options to attract more students with hopes of resuming the program the following year. The one-year suspension was the second such deferment in the program’s 10-year history.

January 27 Menasha Corp. announced plans to construct a new corporate office building for its headquarters and for Menasha Packaging Company’s offices on the site of its current

2003 March 10 – Miles Kimball Co. in Oshkosh was acquired by Connecticutbased direct-marketer Blyth Inc. for $65 million in an all-cash deal.

Miles Kimball had been privately held since its founding in 1934.

2004 March 1 – Governor Jim Doyle signed into law a measure providing a tax credit of up to $50,000 to cover expenses of modernizing or expanding a dairy farm. The credit is broad, and applies to improvements of any size, ranging from better fencing to new milking facilities.

2007 March 11 – Outagamie County Executive Toby Paltzer asked the county board of supervisors to create a special committee to explore changing the name of Outagamie County Regional Airport and give oversight of the airport to a commission composed of both board supervisors and appointed representatives.

6 | March 2015 | NNB2B

headquarters in Neenah. Company officials said growth over the last five years has led to increasing demands for more collaborative work space. Demolition of the existing 50-yearold corporate office building will begin in April, with plans to complete construction by fall 2016. Employees housed in the current corporate offices will be temporarily relocated to other Menasha Corp. facilities during the construction. Menasha Corp.’s adjacent corrugated manufacturing and fabrication facility will not be impacted by the construction project.

February 3 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Detroit District announced $12 million for Upper Great Lakes repair and dredging projects during 2015, including $800,000 for a dredging project in Sturgeon Bay harbor and $2.1 million for the repair and rehabilitation of the navigation locks along the Fox River from Wrightstown to Little Chute.

2008 March 17 – A Brown County jury determined nine insurance companies will have to pay costs assessed to Appleton Inc. for the cleanup of the PCB contamination of the lower Fox River. Those costs could amount to between $550 million to $730 million. Six other paper mills have been ordered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to present a plan for dredging and capping PCB-contaminants from the lower Fox River.

2012 March 6 – Executives from Gogebic Taconite said they were dropping plans for a $1.5 billion iron mine in northern Wisconsin after legislation to improve the state’s mining regulatory climate died on the floor of the state’s senate. The proposed mine was poised to create thousands of jobs in Iron and Ashland counties as early as mid 2013.

www.newnorthb2b.com

Member FDIC February 4 Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2015-17 state budget included nearly $300 million in funding cuts for the University of Wisconsin System, including more than $6.5 million to UW Green Bay and more than $14 million to UW Oshkosh.

Additional, unspecified cuts estimated at less than $1 million each would impact UW Fond du Lac and UW Fox Valley in Menasha. The estimated budget cuts are anticipated to be larger in the 2015-16 academic year than during the second year of the state budget biennium. Universities across the statewide system were asked to submit preliminary budget reduction plans to UW System officials and the UW Board of Regents before March 4.

February 5 Georgia Pacific Consumer Products division in Green Bay announced it will lay off 89 employees from its shipping operations in late April. The state Department of Workforce Development is preparing staff from the Bay Area Workforce Development Board to deliver job search, career planning and resume assistance as well as job training to affected workers.

February 6 The U.S. Department of Labor reported 257,000 new jobs were created in January, leaving the nationwide unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 5.7 percent.

Job gains occurred in retail trade, construction, health care, financial activities and manufacturing.

February 11 Hortonville Village Administrator Patrick Vaile resigned from his position after being charged with 16 felony counts of possessing child pornography. Vaile was arrested the previous day following a criminal investigation prompted from a tip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

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February 12 Neenah Paper announced plans to build a 44,000-sq. ft. manufacturing plant in Appleton which could create as many as 20 new jobs. The new production facility would take previously manufactured base paper and add chemical technology to put the final touches on specialty filter papers.

Construction of the new manufacturing facility should begin in late spring and be completed by early 2017.

February 17 The state Board of Commissioners of Public Lands approved $2.5 million in State Trust Fund Loans to the City of Green Bay to support a tax incremental finance development project. Money in the State Trust Fund comes from revenues generated by state fees, fines, forfeitures, unclaimed property and timber sales. n www.newnorthb2b.com

fnbfoxvalley.com 920.729.6900 NNB2B | March 2015 | 7

Corporate Earnings

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

Associated Banc Corp.

4Q 2014 4Q 2013 Income $48.7 million $47.8 million s 2% EPS 31 cents 28 cents s 11% The Green Bay-based financial institution reported its full year 2014 income of $186 million, or $1.16 per share, a 1 percent increase from fiscal 2013 earnings of $184 million, or $1.10 per share. Associated reported its average loans grew $1.2 billion, or 8 percent, from a year ago to $16.8 billion, and its average total commercial loan balances grew $1 billion, or 10 percent, from last year.

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

4Q 2014 4Q 2013 Revenue $4.8 Billion $4.9 Billion t 1% Income ($83 million) $539 million t115% EPS (22 cents) $1.40 t116% The manufacturer of consumer paper and tissue products with significant operations in the Fox Cities reported fiscal 2014 sales of $19.7 billion increased 1 percent from 2013, while full year earnings per share increased 5 percent to $5.51 during 2014. Company officials attributed the fourth quarter loss to the spinoff of its health care business as well as a $462 million charge taken as a currency remeasurement against the volatile Venezuelan bolivar.

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

4Q 2014 4Q 2013 Revenue $3.5 Billion $3.6 Billion t 1% Income $450 million $408 million s 10% EPS $1.16 93 cents s 25% The parent company of Miller Electric Manufacturing operations across the Fox Cities reported revenues for its

8 | March 2015 | NNB2B

full fiscal year 2014 were $14.5 billion, an increase of nearly 3 percent from 2013. The company reported its fourth quarter welding revenues grew 4 percent, with North America increasing 10 percent due to strength in equipment sales to industrial and commercial customers.

Brunswick Corp.

4Q 2014 4Q 2013 Revenue $939 million $837 million s 14% Income ($4.3 million) $581 million t101% EPS (5 cents) $6.16 t101% The parent company of Mercury Marine operations in Fond du Lac indicated sales for its full fiscal year 2014 were $3.8 billion, an increase of nearly 7 percent above 2013 fiscal receipts of $3.6 billion. Full year 2014 income of $195 million, or $2.05 per share, decreased from fiscal 2013 earnings of $756.8 million, or $8.07 per share. The company’s marine engine segment, which includes Mercury Marine operations, reported fourth quarter sales of $465 million were up 10 percent from fourth quarter 2013 revenues, driven by an 8 percent gain in international sales.

Bemis Company Inc.

4Q 2014 4Q 2013 Revenue $1.1 Billion $1.1 Billion t 3% Income $59.1 million $56.2 million s 5% EPS 59 cents 54 cents s 9% The Neenah-based supplier of flexible packaging and pressure sensitive materials reported full year revenues of $4.3 billion were down 3 percent from 2013, while earnings of $191 million were down 11 percent from $213 million in fiscal 2013. Fiscal 2014 sales in the company’s U.S. Packaging segment of $2.9 billion were down 4 percent as a result of the divestiture of the company’s paper packaging division during the first quarter of the past year.

www.newnorthb2b.com

Plexus Corp.

Oshkosh Corp.

1Q 2015 1Q 2014 Revenue $665 million $534 million s 25% Income $23.1 million $17.7 million s 31% EPS 67 cents 51 cents s 31% The Neenah-based contract electronics manufacturer reported it received 32 new programs in its Manufacturing Solutions group during the quarter, estimating they will generate nearly $190 million in revenue when fully ramped into production.

1Q 2015 1Q 2014 Revenue $1.4 Billion $1.5 Billion t 12% Income $34.6 million $54.7 million t 37% EPS 43 cents 63 cents t 32% The manufacturer of specialty vehicles indicated its first quarter sales and earning decrease resulted from expected lower defense segment sales and lower fire and emergency segment shipments. Defense sales fell 44 percent to$269 million primarily due to lower receipts to the U.S. military as well as the absence of international sales of its all-terrain vehicles.

Humana Inc.

4Q 2014 4Q 2013 Revenue $12.3 Billion $10.2 Billion s 22% Income $145 million ($30 million) s583% EPS 94 cents (19 cents) s595% The health and benefits company with extensive operations in the Green Bay area reported full year earnings of nearly $1.15 billion during 2014, a 7 percent decrease from fiscal 2013, on total revenues of $46.0 billion. Company officials are expecting to grow earnings by an estimated 17 percent during 2015 based upon projections of 13 percent growth in its individual Medicare Advantage program as well as an 11 percent growth estimate for its individual Medicare stand-alone PDP program for the coming year.

www.newnorthb2b.com

Dean Foods

4Q 2014 4Q 2013 Revenue $2.4 billion $2.3 billion s 4% Income $5.3 million ($37.7 million) s114% EPS 6 cents (40 cents) s115% The dairy-based foods company with extensive operations in Wisconsin, including the Green Bay area, reported full year 2014 sales of $9.5 billion were up 5 percent from 2013 revenues of $9.0 billion. The company reported its milk volume dropped 2 percent during the quarter to 683 million gallons when compared to the fourth quarter 2013, and its share of the U.S. fluid milk market remained flat at nearly 36 percent.

NNB2B | March 2015 | 9

Corporate Earnings

VF Corp.

4Q 2014 4Q 2013 Revenue $3.5 Billion $3.3 Billion s 9% Income $122 million $368 million t 67% EPS 28 cents 82 cents t 66% The parent company of Jansport operations in the Fox Cities reported full-year revenues for its fiscal 2014 were up 8 percent to a record $12.3 billion driven by continued strength in the company’s outdoor and action sports coalition, which includes Jansport operations. The company’s Vans brand recorded more than $2 billion in receipts for the year, becoming the second VF Corp. brand to achieve $2 billion in annual sales behind The North Face.

Neenah Paper

4Q 2014 4Q 2013 Revenue $217 million $205 million s 6% Income $26.9 million $13.1 million s105% EPS $1.57 78 cents s101% The papermaker with significant operations in the Fox Cities reported full-year sales for fiscal 2014 were up 7 percent to $903 million, driven by 12 percent growth in its technical products segment. The company recorded annual earnings of $68.7 million, or $4.03 per share, an increase of 39 percent compared with $49.4 million in 2013.

Bank First National Corp.

4Q 2014 4Q 2013 Income $3.1 million $2.9 million s 8% EPS 49 cents 45 cents s 9% The Manitowoc-based financial institution with significant operations across northeast Wisconsin reported full year 2014 income of $12.6 million, or $1.99 per share, up from earnings of $11.6 million during 2013. Bank officials indicated the increase resulted from loan growth in business banking services.

First Business Financial Services Inc.

4Q 2014 4Q 2013 Income $3.7 million $3.8 million t <1% EPS 89 cents 95 cents t 6% The commercial-oriented financial institution serving Madison, Milwaukee and northeast Wisconsin reported fullyear income of $14.1 million, or $3.51 per share, up from fiscal 2013 earnings of $13.7 million, or $3.49 per share. The bank grew its net loans and leases for the 11th consecutive quarter to a record $1.267 billion at the end of the fourth quarter 2014. n

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NNB2B | March 2015 | 11

Build Up Fond du Lac

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Build Up

Indicates a new listing

Fond du Lac 1 - 77 N. Pioneer Road, Fond du Lac Hampton Inn, a three-story, 73-room hotel facility. Project completion expected in summer.

2 - 625 W. Rolling Meadows Dr., Fond du Lac Holiday Inn, a nearly 5,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing conference and banquet facility. Project completion expected in May.

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4 - 300 Block of Camelot Dr., Fond du Lac Grande Cheese Company, an 87,000-sq. ft. new corporate headquarters and research center. Project completion expected in early 2016.

Projects completed since our February issue: â&#x20AC;˘ Panda Express, 859 W. Johnson St., Fond du Lac.

3 - 55 Holiday Lane, Fond du Lac Holiday Inn Express, an 86-room hotel facility. Project completion expected in late spring.

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Build Up Oshkosh

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Build Up

Oshkosh 1 - 3500 N. Main St., Oshkosh Bemis Healthcare Packaging, a 162,790-sq. ft. addition to the existing manufacting facility and office complex. Project completion expected in late fall.

2 - 1522 S. Koeller St., Oshkosh Ross Dress for Less and Sports Authority, a 37,000-sq. ft. retail center. Project completion expected in July. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay.

4 - 1705 S. Washburn St., Oshkosh FloorQuest, a multi-tenant retail building to include a flooring store.

Projects completed since our February issue: None

3 - 1560 S. Koeller St., Oshkosh Noodles & Company, a 5,200-sq. ft. multi-tenant retail center to include a restaurant. Project completion expected in June.

General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay.

• Prime Highway 41/441 corridor with commercial and industrial sites available

• Many commercial and industrial sites are located in Tax Increment Districts

• Favorable tax and utility rates with fully serviced sites available

• Quality schools, great Village park system and excellent municipal services available Contact James Fenlon, Village Administrator, at 920-423-3850 or visit www.littlechutewi.org.

14 | March 2015 | NNB2B

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NNB2B | March 2015 | 15

Build Up Fox Cities Build Up

Fox Cities

Indicates a new listing 1 - 719 Industrial Park Ave., Hortonville Piping Systems Inc., a 65,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected in late spring.

2 - intersection County Road BB & Casaloma Dr., town of Grand Chute Werner Electric Supply Co., a 250,000-sq. ft. corporate office and distribution center. Project completion expected in late fall. General contractor is Consolidated Construction Company of Appleton.

3 - 4001 W. Spencer St., town of Grand Chute Bay Area Granite & Marble, a 5,250-sq. ft. showroom and office. Project completion in March. General contractor is James J. Calmes & Sons Construction of Kaukauna.

4 - 3920 W. Spencer St., town of Grand Chute Grand Chute Fire Station No. 2, a new fire station.

5 - 2445 W. College Ave., town of Grand Chute Bergstrom Kia, a 23,064-sq. ft. new automotive dealership.

6 - 1818 N. Meade St., Appleton Appleton Medical Center, a two-story, 7,500-sq. ft. addition to the existing hospital for a hybrid operating room. Project completion expected in fall.

7 - 3925 Gateway Dr., Appleton Fox Valley Hematology & Oncology, a 60,000-sq. ft. cancer treatment facility. Project completion expected in summer.

8 - 1735 Nixon St., Little Chute Shapes Unlimited, a 31,430-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected in March.

9 - 3200 E. Calumet St., Appleton Auto Zone, a new commercial retail building. Project completion expected in March.

10 - 1216 S. Oneida St., Appleton Houdiniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Escape Gastropub, a 2,800-sq. ft. addition to the existing restaurant and bar. Project completion in April. General contractor is James J. Calmes & Sons Construction of Kaukauna.

11 - 420 7th St., Menasha Menasha High School, two separate additions totaling 46,603 square feet of educational space, as well as interior renovations to the gym, locker rooms and swimming pool. Project completion expected in summer.

12 - 600 Racine St., Menasha Boys & Girls Club of Menasha, a 33,000-sq. ft. community center for children. Project completion expected in May. 13 - 116 Main St., Menasha Menasha Senior Center, an addition to the existing community center. Project completion expected in March.

14 - 1050 Zephyr Dr., town of Menasha St. Mary Central Middle School, a new educational facility. Project completion expected in June.

16 | March 2015 | NNB2B

www.newnorthb2b.com

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Projects completed since our February issue: • F.C. Dadson, N1043 Craftsmen Dr., town of Greenville.

• Bergstrom Automotive Used Car Supercenter, 2925 Victory Lane, town Grand Chute.

• Team Industries, 1200 Maloney Road, Kaukauna.

• Countryside Auto Transport, W5298 State Road 114, Harrison.

• Lake Park Sportzone, N8770 County Road LP, Harrison.

• Cross & Oberlie/Aquecs Inc., 916 Byrd Ave., Neenah.

www.newnorthb2b.com

Better Business Bureau New Members Businesses accredited through the Northeast Wisconsin office during January 2015 Bricco Services, Kaukauna Clean Confidence, Clintonville Ecklund Motorsports, Oshkosh GLH Home Services-Gutter Glove, Oneida Heise Heating & Air Conditioning, New London Laib Restoration, Oshkosh Pink Hammer Corporation, Peshtigo VIP Fan Experiences, De Pere

NNB2B | March 2015 | 17

Build Up Greater Green Bay area 1

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Build Up

Greater Green Bay area 1 - 2700 Lineville Road, Howard Lineville Intermediate School/Howard-Suamico Schools, an indoor swimming facility. Project completion expected in June.

2 - 1010 S. Military Ave., Green Bay Broadway Pre-Owned, Broadway Hyundai and Broadway Ford, three separate dealership facilities. Project completion expected in March.

3 - 857 School Pl., Green Bay Bay Valley Foods, a 25,000-sq. ft. addition and remodel of the existing manufacturing facility. Project completion expected

18 | March 2015 | NNB2B

Indicates a new listing

in May. General contractor is Consolidated Construction Company of Appleton.

4 - 301 E. Main St., Green Bay KI Convention Center, a 30,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing convention center facility. Project completion expected in late summer.

5 - 100 E. Main St., Green Bay CityDeck Landing, a six-story, mixed-use development to include 76 residential units and 7,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor.

www.newnorthb2b.com

6 - 110 S. Adams St., Green Bay Initiative One, a complete refurbishment of the 10,500-sq. ft. former commercial space for new offices. Project completion expected in April.

7 - 1220 E. Mason St., Green Bay Bellin Memorial Hospital, a 5,400-sq. ft. addition to the existing hospital facility.

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8 - 1820 Main St., Green Bay Fox Communities Credit Union, a new financial institution branch office. Project completion expected in May. 9 - 1160 Kepler Dr., Green Bay Aurora Baycare Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center, an addition to the existing orthopedic clinic for new offices.

CONSTRUCTION DELIVERED.

10 - 2014 Lime Kiln Road, Bellevue a 5,000-sq. ft. multi-tenant retail building to include New Style Salon. Project completion expected in May. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. 11 - 839 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay Bank of Luxemburg, an 11,444-sq. ft. office building.

12 - 2077 Airport Dr., Ashwaubenon Austin Straubel International Airport, an extensive renovation of an existing 6,098-sq. ft. building to accommodate U.S. Customs operations. Project completion expected in July.

13 - 1333 Parkview Road, Ashwaubenon Fosber America, a 6,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing manufacturing facility. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. 14 - 506 Butler St., De Pere De Pere Christian Outreach, a 5,116-sq. ft. addition to the existing retail store. Project completion expected in summer.

General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

15 - 2000 American Blvd., De Pere a new commercial office building.

16 - 100 Grant St., De Pere St. Norbert College Gehl-Mulva Science Center, a 150,000sq. ft. education and research facility to house the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Green Bay campus. Project completion expected in spring.

17 - 1850 Enterprise Dr., De Pere ARMS Inc., a 20,500-sq. ft. addition to the existing warehouse for storage and offices. Project completion expected in May.

N2193 Bodde Road • Kaukauna, WI 54130 (920) 766-7940 www.JamesJCalmesConstruction.com

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Projects completed since our February issue: • Zesty’s Frozen Custard & Grill, 2455 Lineville Road, Howard.

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Cover Story

Growing a hospitality workforce Hospitality industry jobs are up in northeast Wisconsin. A handful of training initiatives help develop more candidates to fill skilled positions.

Story by Lee Marie Reinsch

America’s growing waistband is having an unexpected upside: Ballooning employment in the hospitality and leisure sector.

Between February of 2010 and May of 2014, these areas added 1.67 million seasonally-adjusted jobs nationally, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Granted, not all were in food service. The hospitality industry includes arts, leisure, restaurants and hotels/lodging. But we all know Americans love to eat, and the numbers show they’ve had enough of living on a shoestring. Or, as one wise sage put it, “You can’t afford Italy, but you can afford a big plate of pasta.”

Wendy Hielsberg, executive director of the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau, sums it up: “I don’t think we’re in a recession anymore, but what the tourism industry has tracked is that people still want to have a good time,” she said. “People still want to enjoy their free time, and whether it’s boating or hiking or going to an event or going to a restaurant, they still find time to do that.”

20 | March 2015 | NNB2B

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Numbers up

Wisconsin’s food service and hospitality sector added 1,090 new jobs during 2013-14, and the Oshkosh area filled 8 percent of that total. It’s an increase of 12 percent above the previous year for Oshkosh. In fact, the Oshkosh-Neenah metropolitan statistical area tallied in at No. 6 in the nation for percentage of growth in hospitality jobs in 2014, according to an unofficial poll conducted by the human resources blog, Talent Tribune. Augusta, Ga. topped the list with a 19.1 percent increase in hospitality jobs, followed by Grand Rapids, Mich. (15.9 percent), Topeka, Kan. (14.4 percent), Boise City, Idaho (13 percent) and St. George, Utah (12.3 percent).

Hielsberg attributes most of her area’s growth to the openings of Best Western Premier Waterfront Resort & Convention Center and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Alumni Welcome and Conference Center, both in Oshkosh. “They aren’t little properties, and they hired all-new staff,” Hielsberg said.

One tiny anecdote illustrating how the restaurant industry is booming in another city similar in size to Oshkosh is Fond du Lac. Ten years ago, the roughly square-mile around Forest Mall had a handful of places to eat, mostly fast-food. Now there are more than 21, not including grocery stores.

Submitted photo

Culinary students benefit from hands-on learning in the Jones Dairy Farm Culinary Theatre at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton.

you’re qualified for it,’” Igel said. “If you’re going to build a house, you’ve got to pour the foundation first. You can’t start with the roof.”

Local colleges to the rescue Growth in the hospitality industry means more jobs, which means there’s a need for more training. Fortunately, help is nearby. The Wisconsin Technical College System offers several strong programs in hospitality, with specialties including hospitality management, events management, food-service production and culinary arts. Southwestern Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore even offers a golf-course management specialty.

Closer to home in the Fox Cities, Fox Valley Technical College offers programs in hotel and restaurant management, culinary arts and food service management, as does Moraine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac.

Cornucopia of workplaces A two-year degree from a technical college can open dozens of doors. “Employment can run from general chef to sous chef to personal chef. We have students who become stewards or find work in ancillary components such as food-selection or purchasing agents,” said Fred Rice, dean of applied technology and trades at Moraine Park. The school even had a student working at the South Pole in the U.S. scientific research station.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay offers a hotel and restaurant management program, and Lakeshore Technical College in Manitowoc County offers programs in hospitality and culinary arts.

A lot of hospitality industry careers don’t require a four-year degree, said Conor Smyth, director of strategic advancement for the Wisconsin Technical College System. He noted catering managers, pastry chefs, restaurant food service managers, bakers, deli workers, banquet coordinators, convention sales agents, hotel managers, meeting planners and tour managers.

Everyone knows what a restaurant is and roughly what a chef does. But Chef Jeff Igel of Fox Valley Technical College said those not in the industry might have trouble envisioning hospitality management.

Event management is another growing career – coordinating all of the behind-the-scenes setup for an event such as tents, seating, public address systems, crowd management, food, vendors, entertainment, security and parking.

“Culinary majors are the ones who say ‘I want to spend most of my time in the kitchen,’ while hospitality management majors are the ones who want to spend most of their time out with guest,” Igel said.

Smyth said the rate at which Wisconsin hospitality grads are “snapped up quickly” attests to the demand for their skills in the workforce.

Igel is department chair for Fox Valley Tech’s culinary arts and hotel/restaurant management programs. He often gets asked which program to take.

It might not sound as glamorous as becoming the next Rachael Ray, but many grads find viable careers at supermarkets, says James Simmers, instructor in the culinary arts program at Moraine Park.

“I always tell students, ‘You don’t know what you’re going to need at the ripe age of 18, so you might as well give yourself the most trades possible so when the opportunity is there,

“Grocery stores are building and building. Their delis are growing and expanding, too,” Simmers said. “It’s a good profit center for them.”

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NNB2B | March 2015 | 21

Cover Story The healthcare field is also employing more chefs than ever before. “Years ago, the big joke was hospital food,” Simmers said. “Now we see cafeterias with executive chefs and numerous choices” from salad bars and soup bars to comfort foods and everything in between: ethnic, gluten-free, kosher, low-fat, sugar-free and more.

A friend of Simmers’ quit a job as executive chef at a country club and went to work as chef at a high-end retirement community because it paid more. “It’s a great time to be a chef,” he said.

The 1980s: When life was simpler?

When Simmers began working in the restaurant industry in the 1980s, its landscape looked much different than it does today. For one thing, back then, you could start out as a dishwasher, which he did, and work your way up, which he also did.

Back then, kitchen culture was different than it is today. The executive chef reigned above everyone else. “The chef was the one with the tallest hat, and you barely spoke to them.

They only spoke to the people under them who spoke to you,” he said. “Now it’s more of a team atmosphere of working together.”

Even terminology was simpler. Most people had never even heard the word gluten, or of celiac disease. Or of a peanut allergy. Going meatless in a small town was considered radical – not to mention becoming a vegan.

Wisconsin’s food service and hospitality sector added 1,090 new jobs during 2013-14, and the Oshkosh area filled 8 percent of that total.

If a restaurant customer wanted to eat healthy, pretty much the only option for them was that restaurant’s version of “The Dieter’s Platter” – a baseball-sized glob of cottage cheese on a leaf of iceberg, with a few segments of canned peaches.

These days, it’s no longer enough for foods to be “heart healthy” or “made from scratch.” Now patrons expect glutenfree, locally sourced and organic options.

Even where food was grown was, if not simpler, then at least predictable – in giant farm fields rife with pesticides.

Back then, gardens were an old ladies’ leisure activity. Now they’re a political movement. If a restaurant was so kitschy as to have its own garden back then, it was hidden from guests.

Nowadays it would be flaunted as a selling point.

One of Simmers’ earlier restaurant employers had a small garden, but they kept it out of sight, behind some hedges.

“Now it’s a concentration, and it’s more in the spotlight,” Simmers said.

Developing workforce excellence from within Good help is hard to find. So one area hospitality company is taking matters into its own hands by creating good help.

Neenah-based RB Hospitality, which owns a string of hotels and restaurants in northeast Wisconsin, developed its own training model that blends good old-fashioned experience, repetition and tenets from its franchises’ parent companies, Best Western International and Ground Round, which also have their own training models.

“We still use the philosophy of not to hire somebody because they have a pulse, but to keep digging and looking for good people,” said Rich Batley, president of RB Hospitality. “We still look for the things you would expect: positive attitude, a team player and a good personality, because we feel we have a good training program and we can train them.”

In Neenah, RB Hospitality owns Best Western Premier Bridgewood Resort Hotel & Conference Center, Bridgewood Golf Course and Ground Round Grill & Bar. In Oshkosh, RB Hospitality owns Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Conference Center, Ground Round Grill & Bar at River’s Edge.

It also owns Germania Restaurant & Banquets in Menasha and Copperleaf Boutique Hotel & Spa in downtown Appleton. The company employs around 500.

Its restaurants use their own training from Ground Round corporate, and its Best Western hotels use their own online training from Best

22 | March 2015 | NNB2B

Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Conference Center in Oshkosh

Western International.

But RB’s Culture of Service model adds another level of training. It involves quarterly cycles of 13 topics, with one emphasized each week.

Some of the topics include listening skills, personal appearance, product knowledge, owning a customer request and the steps in doing so, such as accompanying a guest to a location within the hotel instead of just pointing at it, said Dan Schetter, general manager at Best Western Waterfront Hotel in Oshkosh.

“In each department, the manager goes over with (employees) to train them about the weekly topic, help them understand the topic, help them

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Fully-baked technology

These days, work in the hospitality industry is more specialized. Instead of writing orders on note pads, wait staff might use tablets. Reservations and orders can be made online, and cash registers are replaced with fully integrated point-of-sale systems.

Even kitchen equipment is getting more sophisticated. Newer ovens are able to change temperatures in the middle of a cooking cycle, or adjust relative humidity inside.

“Business is profit-driven, so things have to remain updated, which means things like setting the relative humidity in an oven,” Simmers said.

He credits Martha Stewart for “bringing people back to the stove” in the last two decades, paving the way for the Food Network and celebrity chefs.

“It’s built a tremendous popularity for our field,” Simmers said. “It’s not always realistic, but that’s why there’s school, to tell kids that it’s not necessarily the way a kitchen works.”

With new equipment and technology on the rise, trends and diets changing quickly, allergies and food sensitivities on the rise, it all adds up to one thing: A workforce that needs to be trained and well-versed in various facets of culinary arts.

“There’s a larger demand today for skilled workers, whereas you used to just hire somebody and train them,” Simmers said. “People are wanting (workers) with experience or education. I have students asking me which is better, working in the industry or getting an education. My answer is always ‘Yes, both.’ Because there’s so much growth (in number of available jobs), I don’t know how much competition

implement the topic,” Schetter said.

Week No. 1 starts with a new topic, on which employees are coached all week. Week No. 2 another topic starts. “You’ll check back to see how things went with Week 1 and use your new topic for Week 2,” Schetter said. This goes on for 13 weeks during each quarter of the year before the rotation starts anew.

The repetition and regular rotation of topics takes in mind the turnover in the hospitality industry.

“We want employees to keep repeating the topics on a quarterly basis and live the topics from a day-to-day standpoint,” Schetter said. “You can send people to seminars, and the retention really isn’t that good. So you went to this great seminar for half a day or a day, and you get back and you remember maybe 5 percent of it.”

The aim is better guest service than the competition.

“We look at it as an investment instead of a cost,” Batley said. “We invest in training because we realize that you can’t just throw people on the floor and get good results. Training is important, and I think it gets skipped a lot in our industry. People say, ‘Hey, what if they don’t stay?’

Well, we’ve learned ‘What if they stay and you don’t train them?’”

- by Lee Marie Reinsch

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Cover Story our students face at this time, but when the competition arises, they will have the education.”

Happiness one bite at a time

“I didn’t think having a job right out of culinary school would be this awesome, but I was lucky and got this job and it’s really good,” she said. “I love my job.”

At the tender green age of 20, Kayla Pier has already found her calling: making people happy. “Good food makes really happy people,” she said.

Her favorite thing to do in the kitchen, though, is bake. While a student, Pier took cake decorating classes through the bakeware company Wilton and found her passion.

Actually, she found it as a senior at Horace Mann High School in North Fond du Lac and quit the basketball team to join the culinary team. When she competed with the team at a Wisconsin Restaurant Association show, all other career paths were off the table for Pier.

“I’m a baker at heart,” she said. “It’s fun to just chill and decorate cakes and cupcakes for like 4 hours and just pipe all these little details. It’s totally relaxing.”

She went through the culinary arts program at Moraine Park and received her associate’s degree in 2014, two years after graduating high school.

Pier said if for some reason the culinary profession doesn’t work out, she doesn’t know what else she’ll do. “I don’t see myself doing anything else but making good, delicious food, whether it’s a chicken dish with pasta or doing something with cakes and cupcakes,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll ever find something that makes me as happy as this.”

Pier quickly found a job as a cook at Heidel House Resort in Green Lake’s BoatHouse Pub, where menu items range from Baja tacos to pecan-encrusted walleye. She said she doesn’t

Lee Reinsch of Green Bay worked 18 years at daily newspapers before launching her freelance business, edgewise, in 2007.

“I really didn’t see myself doing anything else,” she said.

Submitted photo Chef Kayla Pier at Green Lake’s Boathouse Pub.

mind the long hours because she’s doing what she loves.

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Transportation

✦ U.S. Highway 41 – Brown County Construction Projects for 2015 ➊ Mainline U.S. 41 Timeline: Now through December 2016 ✦ Mainline segments under construction in 2015: Glory Road to 9th Street and Memorial Drive to Lakeview Drive.

➋ Interstate 43 Interchange Timeline: Now through December 2016 Reconstruct and improve the system-to-system interchange. ✦ Northbound U.S. 41 to southbound I-43 ramp is closed from now until September. ✦ Southbound U.S. 41 to southbound I-43 ramp and northbound I-43 to southbound U.S. 41 ramp will close for 12 months between October through September 2016. ✦ Intermittent nighttime ramp closures and lane restrictions.

➌ Velp Avenue Interchange Timeline: Now through June 2017 Reconstruct the Velp Avenue interchange. ✦ The southbound U.S. 41 exit ramp to Velp Avenue will close for 13 months between October 2015 through October 2016. ✦ The Velp Avenue entrance ramp to northbound U.S. 41 will close for five months between July and November.

➍ Morris Avenue underpass Timeline: Now through November Reconstruct the U.S. 41 bridges over Morris Avenue. ✦ Morris Avenue may close for 30 days outside the school year.

➎ Cormier Road underpass Timeline: Now through November Reconstruct the U.S. 41 bridges over Cormier Road. ✦ Cormier Road may close for 30 days outside the school year.

➏ WIS 172 Ramps Timeline: Now through summer 2016 Reconstruct WIS 172 ramps and mainline U.S. 41. ✦ The eastbound WIS 172 to southbound U.S. 41 ramp will close in late 2015 or early 2016.

26 | March 2015 | NNB2B

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✦ The southbound U.S. 41 to westbound WIS 172 ramp will close for 14 days in fall 2015.

✦ Intermittent nighttime ramp closures and lane restrictions.

✦ Intermittent nighttime ramp closures and lane restrictions.

➑ Parkview Road underpass

➐ Waube Lane/Oneida Street Interchange Timeline: Now through summer 2016

Timeline: Now through November Reconstruct the U.S. 41 bridges over Parkview Road.

Reconstruct the U.S. 41 bridges over Waube Lane/Oneida Street.

✦ WIS 441 – Winnebago County Construction Projects for 2015 ➊ U.S. 41 Interchange

➍ WIS 47 (Appleton Road)

Timeline: Now through 2018

Timeline: April to August

Reconstruct and improve the system-to-system interchange.

Reconstruct Appleton Road and construct Vermillion Street connection.

✦ Cold Spring Road will close for 60 days beginning in late spring/early summer. ✦ Southbound U.S. 41 to westbound U.S. 10 ramp will close for 30 days beginning in late spring/early summer.

✦ Appleton Road between Valley Road and Midway Road along with the U.S. 10/ WIS 441 ramps will close for 75 days between April and early July.

➋ Roland Kampo Bridge (Little Lake Butte des Morts crossing) Timeline: Now through 2016 Construct new eastbound bridge across little lake butte des morts. ✦ Intermittent lane restrictions throughout 2015.

➌ County Road p (racine road) Timeline: April 2015 through 2018 Reconstruct Racine Road interchange westbound. ✦ U.S. 10/southbound WIS 441 entrance ramp from Racine Road will close long-term between summer 2015 to 2018. ✦ Westbound U.S. 10/southbound WIS 441 exit ramp to Racine Road will close between summer 2015 to fall 2016. ✦ Eastbound U.S. 10/northbound WIS 441 entrance ramp from Racine Road will close between fall 2015 to fall 2016.

NE Wisconsin road project information www.newnorthb2b.com

Website: www.us41wisconsin.gov www.us41wisconsin.gov/wis441

Traveler information: www.511wi.gov

Facebook: Facebook.com/WisconsinUS41

Other state Department of Transportation projects can be found here:

Twitter: @WisconsinUS41

www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/ne.htm NNB2B | March 2015 | 27

Transportation

✦ International flavor Region’s leading airports enhance facilities for business travel abroad Improvements underway at two northeast Wisconsin airports during 2015 are set to make the region more welcoming to international business professionals, as well as leave an exceptional impression as a potential first point of entry into the United States and the region.

Outagamie County Regional Airport in Greenville is in the process of becoming just the state’s third designated international airport behind Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay and General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. The airport received conditional approval from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol earlier in 2014 to become a “user fee” international airport, according to airport director Abe Weber, meaning it will develop its own facilities and fund operations for federal customs agents.

As part of the designation, the airport will formally change its moniker to Appleton International Airport in August upon completion of a newly renovated international facility in its

3,000-sq. ft. former fixed-based operator building adjacent to the main terminal. Construction of that $1.7 million project is expected to begin in April.

The international designation will allow aircraft of 20 passengers or less arriving from outside the United States as well as planes with limited foreign cargo to arrive at the airport and be cleared for entry into the country. The international designation was sought by the Fox Valley business community which increasingly welcomes foreign business professionals visiting the area in corporate and other private jets. Those planes currently need to first land at another international airport to clear customs and border processes before proceeding to Appleton, Weber indicated. “(The international designation) has the potential to be the doorstep into the Fox Valley for many of the business professionals coming into the area from abroad,” Weber said.

“We see (the airport) as an economic driver in the community.”

To help the airport with some of its estimated annual operating costs of $150,000 to $200,000 to support U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Weber said the airport received five-year pledges from Fox Cities Regional Partnership for $10,000 annually and $1,500 a year from Fox West Chamber of Commerce. User fees paid by many of the planes arriving internationally will offset other costs of operating.

The designation will also allow corporate and private jet passengers leaving Appleton for international destinations a variety of boarding and registration advantages to being cleared in Appleton as opposed to first flying to another domestic airport with international status before leaving the country, Weber said.

Improving international facilities

February 28 – June 14, 2015 Artist Nathan Sawaya takes LEGO® into the art world by creating large-scale sculptures with only the use of these iconic toy building bricks. The way he conceptualizes the action of the subject matter enables him to elevate an ordinary toy to the status of fine art.

OSHKOSH

PublicMuseum 1331 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI 54901 920.236.5799 s oshkoshmuseum.org 28 | March 2015 | NNB2B

At Austin Straubel in Green Bay, which has held its status as a U.S. Customs and Border point of entry for some time, construction is underway to revamp a former airport firefighting structure as a 6,100-sq. ft. standalone international arrivals facility. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol operations at Austin Straubel currently occupy a small space on the second floor of the airport’s main terminal in order to process the nearly 400 international flights which depart through Green Bay annually.

Airport officials indicated the new expanded facility will allow for more customs staffing and the ability to develop a full service federal inspection station for commercial operations.

The $4.3 million project is funded primarily through the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as partial funding from the state and from Brown County. The new facility is expected to be complete and operational in July.

- by Sean Fitzgerald, New North B2B publisher

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✦ Port year will be tough to top Expected decrease in coal shipments will prove difficult cargo to replace Port of Green Bay officials experienced a good year in 2014, eclipsing the 2.3 million ton threshold of cargo for the first time since the recession.

But reaching that total again in 2015 will be quite an accomplishment, noted Dean Haen, director of Brown County Port and Resource Recovery. Haen said projected coal shipments – which typically account for nearly 10 to 15 percent of total cargo coming through the port – could decrease by 24 to 40 percent during the 2015 shipping season, primarily because Georgia-Pacific Corp. implemented a new natural gas-fired boiler for its manufacturing facilities in Green Bay, replacing older coal-fired boilers.

“If (port operations) are as equal to last year, then we’ll have a great year in 2015,” Haen said.

Port activity will likely begin later in March for the 2015 shipping season, and shipments are likely to continue growing for other commodities such as petroleum coke, limestone and other petroleum products including ethanol, diesel and gasoline. Limestone is the single largest commodity into the

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port, and has increased at a rate of about 5 percent a year for each of the past five years. Shipments of petroleum coke arrived at historic levels during 2014, and Haen reported Kimberly-based U.S. Venture has experienced double-digit growth of its petroleum product shipments each of the past few years.

Dredging ahead

Annual dredging projects that occur throughout the 11-mile port zone – which extends eight miles out into the bay and three miles up the mouth of the Fox River – will extract alluvial deposits in 2015 to allow larger petroleum-carrying vessels into the port harbor to service U.S. Venture.

Additionally, Fox River PCB contamination clean-up efforts move downstream to the port harbor during 2015 and 2016, Haen said. While the clean-up dredging efforts will create a variety of obstacles around the port for commercial ship traffic and recreational boaters alike, Haen said affected areas under work will be well marked.

WWW.MODMADMEN.COM 920.252.8128

- by Sean Fitzgerald, New North B2B publisher

#MODERNDAYMADMEN NNB2B | March 2015 | 29

Manufacturing

Adapt and

THRIVE

Innovation is a survival tactic for northeast Wisconsin manufacturers Story by Rick Berg

The dustbin of manufacturing history is filled with stories of companies that clung too long to their original idea. Fortunately, northeast Wisconsin has several examples of long-lasting companies still going strong because they continued to adapt and innovate. We’ve profiled a few of them here.

The motivation for change can come from many directions.

EMT International of Hobart, for example, produced parts for web printing presses, but developed its own line of digital printing presses when it saw that digital printing would soon overwhelm offset printing. Menasha Packaging transformed itself into a leading provider of custom packaging and retail displays to avoid the commodity price pressures of the corrugated packaging market. Lakeside Plastics in Oshkosh expanded into traffic safety cones to avoid losing business when one of its largest customers left the market. Ariens just keeps innovating and expanding because the Ariens family remembers all too well an early business failure during the Great Depression.

Ariens grew out of fertile soil

The Great Depression may have cost Henry Ariens his Brillion Iron Works business, but it paved the way for one of the most successful outdoor power equipment manufacturers in the world.

In 1933, Brillion-based Ariens Company got its start when Henry and his three sons – Steve, Leon and Francis – began building a rotary tiller in Henry’s garage. By 1940, Ariens Company tillers were well established with farmers in the Midwest. In the late 1940s, Ariens introduced the multi-row Tillivator, a power take-off unit for tractors cultivating from four to sixteen rows at a time.

More innovation followed in the 1950s and 1960s, as Ariens introduced products for the residential market, including lawn 30 | March 2015 | NNB2B

mowers and snow-throwers.

The company produced just under 2,000 Sno-Thro units in 1960, but within a decade Ariens was selling more than 100,000 units per year. Today, Ariens Sno-Thro is widely considered the leading snow-thrower brand in the world.

Henry’s sons carried on the company tradition after his death in 1956.

His grandson, Michael Ariens, became company president in 1969, and in 1998, An old adve rtisement fo Submitted im ag r the Tillivato current company r from the 19 e 40s. president Dan Ariens became the fourth generation to lead the company.

Today, Dan Ariens says, the company expects to continue to grow by maintaining the eye toward innovation that has characterized the company’s entire history.

“I do think there are lessons we learned way back in our history, long before I was born, and they have stayed with us,” Ariens said. “Losing Brillion Iron Works during the Depression, I believe, really created this anxiety about how fragile things are. That drives innovation and creates this www.newnorthb2b.com

Retool or Die

Born in the 1930s as Economy Machine and Tool, EMT International spent the first 30 years of its existence as a tool-and-die job shop producing a variety of custom tools and equipment, primarily for local and regional customers. By the 1960s, the company had begun specializing in tooling and modules for the printing industry, producing parts for many of the leading printers and printing press manufacturers in the world.

That book of business continued to be Hobart-based EMT’s bread and butter well into the 1980s, when current President Paul Rauscher joined the company as an owner. By then, EMT was internationally established for its quality craftsmanship.

By the late 1980s, however, Rauscher was already seeing some ominous handwriting on the wall. Digital printing, he was sure, would soon dominate the industry, but much of EMT’s client base seemed stuck in an analog world.

Submitted photo

Ariens Company staff in front of the Brillion manufacturing facility.

impatience about what’s next. How do we not only improve our products, but how do we do it. Every business has its challenges, and with snow-throwers ours is really driven by the weather. It’s very cyclical, so we have to be very vigilant about growing the rest of our business. Without growing you’re dying, so we have to always be asking, ‘what will the growth initiative be each year?’”

Much of Ariens’ growth has come through acquisition, starting with the purchase of Gravely Company, a North Carolina lawn and garden tractor manufacturer, in 1982. Along the way, Ariens has acquired aftermarket parts suppliers and other equipment manufacturers.

Dan Ariens believes innovation can be just as important in processes as it is in products. He launched a lean manufacturing process nearly 20 years ago that is widely recognized for its success.

Dan’s father, Michael, “was a systems guy, driving innovations in the plant, as well as in products,” Dan Ariens said, adding that the lean initiative just took it a few steps further.

“Lean is an innovative process – it’s a strategic system in terms of how you engage your workforce,” Ariens said. “It’s all part of the whole theory of innovation and growth. We see it as a way to make sure our plants are going to be effective and productive, that our skilled workforce is as productive and cost effective as anything in the world. Lean gives a way to drive costs down from the supply chain to inventory control to plant setup. The simple story is that when we weld those parts together, that’s the only time we add value and adding value is all customers want to pay for.”

Whether through product innovation, acquisition or process improvement, Dan Ariens believes his company can be justifiably proud of its record.

“It’s never as pretty on the inside as it looks from the outside,” he said, “but we know we need to keep innovating and growing. www.newnorthb2b.com

It took a while for Rauscher to effect the changes he knew would be necessary, but by the late 1990s, EMT had begun to shift from being strictly a parts provider to designing and manufacturing its own line of printing equipment, introducing the Chameleon line in 2001.

In 2007, EMT partnered with a major global technology company to design and develop one of the first digital web printing presses. That initiative launched the largest growth spurt in EMT’s long history. In the past decade, EMT has grown from about 25 employees to about 175, including programmers and mechanical engineers.

Rauscher’s prescience about the market shift to digital printing likely secured EMT’s future.

“If you look at our business base from the 1990s compared to today, we’ve lost more than 50 percent of our old customers,” Rauscher said. “Where are those old customers? A lot of them are just gone, out of business. We knew back then that if we didn’t change, we would sink. The type of business we were doing in the 1990s makes up less than 2 percent of what we do today. We had to pick a place to go and we are fortunate that the place we picked was the right one.”

Staying ahead of the market curve is the continuing challenge.

“I call it the Walmart effect,” Rauscher said. “You have to continue to provide more at a lower cost. To compete in a global market, you have to stay on the high end and provide world-class service. The road we’ve taken, we have had to continually redefine ourselves and that won’t change going forward.”

Submitted photo

EMT International got its start in the 1930s as Economy Machine and Tool in a Quonset hut on Green Bay’s east side.

NNB2B | March 2015 | 31

Manufacturing A Package Deal

Few billion-dollar companies have a history as remarkable as Menasha Corporation and its signature business, Menasha Packaging. The company that would become known as Menasha Packaging was born in the 1850s as a wooden pail manufacturer. The company incorporated as Menasha Wooden Ware in 1872 and quickly became one the largest woodenware manufacturers in the United States.

The major transition into the packaging business came in 1927, when Menasha Corp. entered the corrugated box business. Through the years, the business incorporated plastic packaging and pallets, as well as pressure-sensitive and heat-seal labels. In 1995, Neenahbased Menasha Corp. reorganized into seven business groups, including its packaging group, now known as Menasha Packaging.

Though its 20th century experience was as a “brown box” manufacturer in a commodity market, Menasha Packaging has reinvented itself in

the 21st century by expanding into specialty display and custom-designed packaging.

The transition began in the early 2000s with strategic acquisitions that gave Menasha Packaging entry into the retail food market with in-store modular displays. Menasha is now a leading provider of custom packaging to consumer product goods companies.

The company also began to innovate in other ways, including providing more entrepreneurial autonomy within business units. Menasha also launched the Retail Integration Institute, which is designed to provide consumer goods companies and retailers with collaborative packaging and display solutions.

“It’s important that our customers see us as partners, and for us to be able to offer them added value to our relationship. In order to do that, we prefer to be seated at the table when strategic conversations are happening,” said Jeff Krepline, Menasha Packaging vice president for national sales and

Submitted images

Above, a modern day sampling of the in-store modular displays Menasha Packaging creates for its consumer goods customers.

Below, an advertisement for corrugated boxes from Menasha Wooden Ware Corp. during the early 20th century.

Words to Profit by:

“

AJS proves in many ways our responsibility, reliability and ability to meet the customers’ expectations. The BBB recognizes worthy businesses, which creates an environment that our customers feel safe with us being in their personal spaces when they are not there. Having a BBB accreditation and earning our positive reviews have grown our business to new heights.

”

Adam & Tricia Ascher Ascher’s Janitorial Service BBB Accredited Business since 2011

With Accreditation Comes Trust…With Trust Comes Customers

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Better Business Bureau

32 | March 2015 | NNB2B

920.734.4353

www.newnorthb2b.com

Suttner ACCOUNTING

Submitted photo

Employees from Menasha Wooden Ware pose in front of a rail car carrying the company’s pails, tubs, barrels and kegs.

RII. “The Retail Integration Institute address both by offering a venue that is conducive to strategic conversations and by providing our customers with a perspective that can only be gained with the scale and reach of Menasha Packaging.”

The strategy has paid off. From a company imperiled by the commodity “brown box” pressures as the 20th century drew to a close, Menasha Corp. now boasts strong growth, with annual revenue topping $1.5 billion.

One Word: Plastics

At least a decade before Benjamin Braddock got the word in 1967’s The Graduate that plastics would become the wave of the future, Lakeside Plastics in Oshkosh had already dipped into that wave.

In 1957, Lakeside was originally formed as a plastics and resin division of the A.P. Nonweiler Company, set up to provide synthetic resins for toy and household utensil manufacturers.

The company was spun off and sold to Don Seibold and Bill Cuttill in 1972.

Nearly six decades after inception, Lakeside remains a second-generation family-owned business, led by President Jeff Seibold. The company operates from a 77,000-squarefoot facility and is still a premier manufacturer of custom plastisol formulations for medical equipment, playground

How Lakeside got from 1957 to 2015 is a classic example of a manufacturer staying in tune with the market and adapting to changing market needs. www.newnorthb2b.com

Stephanie Geurts, CPA Partner sjg@suttnercpa.com 920.235.6789

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

Quality ❘ Value ❘ Timeliness NNB2B | March 2015 | 33

Manufacturing

Traffic safety cones became a staple of Lakeside Plastics’ business after it bought out one of its major customers in 1984. Today the Oshkosh company is the largest manufacturer of traffic safety cones in the U.S.

equipment, automotive coatings and tool handles, to name a few. Lakeside also manufactures plastisols for dip coating, rotational molding, slush molding, open form molding and knife coating, as well as plastisol screen printing inks for a number of applications.

Those products still make up the majority of Lakeside’s business, but in 1984 the company expanded into the manufacture and sale of traffic safety products, including safety cones, traffic management barrels and traffic barrel base weights often used by municipalities and for highway construction.

What works today might not work tomorrow. How Lakeside got from 1957 to 2015 is a classic example of a manufacturer staying in tune with the market and adapting to changing market needs.

Seibold noted that sometimes opportunities to diversify and grow come from unexpected directions. In the case of the traffic safety products business, Lakeside had been a major supplier of plastisol to another company who manufactured safety cones. In 1984, Lakeside’s customer decided to divest itself of the traffic safety business. Lakeside was faced with a choice: acquire the business or lose a substantial line of sales. Lakeside made its choice and today ranks as one of the premier providers of traffic safety products in the world and is the largest manufacturer of traffic safety cones in the U.S. “It had to be a very quick decision at the time, but it was really a matter of self-preservation,” Seibold said. “We couldn’t risk losing that business. It was a pretty big learning curve for us and that learning process still goes on today. It’s important that we maintain and build efficiencies into our manufacturing process. Our employees continue to push us to build better quality products using the most efficient means available. Our employees continue to differentiate us against our competition.”

It’s apparently working. During 2014, Lakeside added approximately 35 employees, increasing its workforce by nearly 50 percent.

34 | March 2015 | NNB2B

www.newnorthb2b.com

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SHARE By booking an event with the Bring it Home program, you may receive Fox Cities area gift certificates.

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NNB2B | March 2015 | 35

Manufacturing Success Is In the Bag

Since Judson Moss Bemis founded his manufacturing business in 1858, producing cotton and burlap bags, Bemis Corp. has become a global packaging powerhouse. During the Civil War, Bemis produced haversacks, oat bags and other materials for the army.

During the 1930s, Bemis began to sell patterned feed sacks and flour bags. As the company approached its 100th anniversary, Neenah-based Bemis saw several changes in the bag market that inspired new, innovative products and shifted business priorities. Bemis opened new paper plants in Arkansas and California to accommodate higher customer demand for convenient, smaller paper bags. In 1959, Bemis entered into the pressure-sensitive adhesives business.

Today, those products are used in a wide variety of industries including: printing, graphic design, packaging, digital imaging, photography, assembly engineering and communications.

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In 1960, Judson (Sandy) Bemis, grandson of Bemis founder Judson Moss Bemis, became president and ushered in an era of intense diversification.

Bemis acquired many companies with specialties ranging from reprographic products to vinyl clothing and wall coverings.

In 1965, Bemis Bro. Bag Company became Bemis Company, Inc. The new name was versatile enough to serve as an umbrella for the increasingly diverse product lines manufactured and marketed by the company. Bemis became a public company in 1885, but in the company’s early days, its stock was not sold on the open market. In 1966, Bemis stock was listed for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol BMS. A flour sack manufactured by Bemis Company earlier in its history.

In the 1980s, Bemis continued to emphasize long-term development, limiting acquisitions and concentrating on the expansion of its technologically-oriented businesses.

As convenience became the buzzword of the day, Bemis created packaging solutions that fit into consumers’ increasingly on-the-go lifestyles. The company developed convenience products that are now commonplace in modern society such as frozen entrée trays that could be used in microwaves and traditional ovens, heat-in pouches that could be boiled in the bag or microwaved, and vacuum-packed brick pack coffee packages.

At the dawn of the 21st century, Bemis continues to create innovative flexible packaging and pressure sensitive solutions, solving today’s packaging problems with products that address the concerns of the modern world.

Bemis’ international presence has grown significantly since 2000, due in particular to its acquisition of Brazilian company Dixie Toga in 2005 and to Bemis’ European and Asian expansion during the decade.

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

36 | March 2015 | NNB2B

www.newnorthb2b.com

Professionally Speaking Professionally Speaking is a paid promotional spot in B2B.

In commercial contracts, we do not want to be our brother’s keeper

by Thomas V. Rohan of Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. 920.431.2243

When you are presented with a commercial contract, if you pay attention to no other provisions, carefully review the indemnification clause.

An indemnification clause is a provision by which one party agrees to protect the interests of another party, including paying all damages and usually expenses, e.g., attorney fees, incurred because of the acts or omissions of a party. Often, contracts will contain reciprocal indemnification rights and duties. Watch out, however, when the language used for one party is not the same as that used for the other party.

It is not unusual for one party to be burdened with broad indemnification duties and the other party having a far lesser burden.

Be cautious of indemnification clauses using the words “sole” or “solely.” A

typical example would be, “X Party shall be liable for all costs, expenses … incurred by Y Party, except to the extent any of the same are caused by the sole negligence of Y Party.” Seem fair enough? It’s not. This language does not deal with breaches of contract.

Party X will also need to make sure the contract gives it protection for breaches of contract by Party Y.

even though its responsibility might otherwise be a small fraction of the total damages. Worse yet, commercial liability insurance policies all include exclusions for liability an insured agrees to pay by contract, so an insurer might refuse to pay damages its insured is only liable for because it agreed to pay them in a contract.

In Wisconsin, negligence liability is based on a comparison of the fault of the contributing parties. If the two contracting parties participate in a project that causes damage to a third party, absent any contractual allocation of fault between them, each party would be responsible to that third party in proportion to their fault. If one party agrees it will only pay damages caused by its “sole negligence,” however, the usual liability for proportionate fault may not apply. In that case, one party may wind up paying all the damages

Thomas V. Rohan is an attorney with the Green Bay office Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. Mr. Rohan’s practice focuses on commercial law, including loan documentation for a number of area banks, general corporate work, mergers and acquisitions, general contract drafting and review, and workouts, collections and bankruptcy issues. For questions about indemnification or other legal issues, contact Mr. Rohan at 920.431.2243 or by email at trohan@ dkattorneys.com.

Propel Your Brand with Video Marketing in 2015

by Amanda Betts of Stellar Blue Technologies

2015 is being dubbed “The Year of Video” and for good reason! This is partly due to the fact that 80 percent of Americans have an HD camera in their pockets – also known as a smartphone. With platforms like YouTube, Facebook and even Twitter supporting the storage and sharing of video, there’s no excuse to not be jumping on this marketing bandwagon!

Create a content calendar Decide that you have the time and resources to produce one short video per quarter.

Create a content calendar to help plan and schedule the production and publishing of your videos. Having a goal and a deadline will make it much easier to commit and followthrough with your video goals.

www.newnorthb2b.com

Professionally Speaking is a paid promotional spot in B2B.

920.931.4250

Keep it short and sweet Short videos tend to do better on social media. With any video, it’s important to grab the audience’s attention immediately and provide the most pertinent information as early as possible in the video as viewers will begin to drop off over the length of the video. A good rule of thumb is to try to keep videos under one minute. If you have a 5 to 10 minute video to share, consider splitting up the video into shorter, multiple videos for sharing.

Plan an optimal distribution strategy Creating the video is half the job. Once the video has been created, in order to get people to see it and engage with it, you have to make sure you have a solid distribution strategy. YouTube is a great place to store videos. YouTube is also the second largest search engine behind Google, and YouTube also integrates with many other platforms for easy sharing. You can easily embed your YouTube videos to most websites and social

networks. Facebook supports in-platform video and also automatically plays in news feeds. Know where your audience is, and where they are most likely to engage with your video.

Overall, video marketing is great way to tell your story, explain the value you provide your customers and clients, and engage with your audience. 2015 will be the year where companies and organizations small and large take the deep-dive into video. If you’d like to explore your options for video marketing, check out www.stellarworkshops. com for upcoming video and social hands-on workshops!

Amanda Betts, marketing director of Stellar Blue Technologies, has been with the firm going on five years, providing search engine marketing and project strategies to its nearly 350 clients internationally. Readers can reach her by calling (920) 931-4250 or by email at amanda@ stellarbluetechnologies.com. | |February NNB2B NNB2B March 2015 | 37

Who’s News

Incorporations

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

Brown County

UV Nails LLC, Chi Nguyen, 567 Swan Road, De Pere 54115.

Benefit Auction Pro LLC, Christopher Cichocki, 1384 Navigator Way, De Pere 54115.

Ananda Healing Massage and Reiki LLC, Nicole Wettemann, 619 W. Rock River Cir., De Pere 54115.

Dittmer Masonry LLC, Steve M. Dittmer, 603 S. 9th St., De Pere 54115.

Lynn Meshke Communications LLC, Lynn Marie Meshke, 1946 Copper Top Way, De Pere 54115.

Misty Ridge Orchard LLC, Steve Gonnering, N5183 Deer Run Tr., De Pere 54115.

Krause Annuity Services INC., Dale Michael Krause, 1234 Enterprise Dr., De Pere 54115.

K and M Stencil Trucking LLC, Monica Ullmer-Stencil, 631 Woodrow St., Denmark 54208.

Legacy Meadows LLC, Jeffrey S. Cichocki, 3516 Keweaton Lake Ct., Denmark 54208.

Martin Communications LLC, Edward N. Martin, 1609 Western Ave., Green Bay 54307.

Precision Powder LLC, Steven Paul Kerscher, 1545 Sixth St., Green Bay 54304.

Innovanta Analytics LLC, Rajeev Bukralia, 633 Saint Martin Ct., Green Bay 54311.

Seidl Trucking LLC, David J. Seidl, 2878 Crab Apple Lane, Green Bay 54311.

38 | March 2015 | NNB2B

Xing Long Restaurant INC., Qing Xiang Xu, 414 S. Military Ave., Green Bay 54303.

Woodhead Insurance Services LLC, Diane L. Woodhead, 1585 Allouez Ave., Green Bay 54311.

Purple Haze DJ’s LLC, Lawrence Schneider, 1981 Sagebrush Way, Green Bay 54311.

Levina Coffee LLC, Liem T. Tran, 2146 Ridgecrest Tr., Green Bay 54313.

Pete’s Garage LLC, Tyson Schwiesow, 1087 W. Mason St., Green Bay 54303.

Map Staffing LLC, Meg Ann Palmbach, 3481 Autumn Wood Tr., Green Bay 54313.

Handy Self Storage LLC, Kurt G. Deneys, 938 Velp Ave., Green Bay 54303.

Subsurface Instruments International INC., Terry J. Gerbers, 480 Pilgrim Way, Green Bay 54304.

Screamline Lures INC., Andrew Reyment, 2816 Sussex Road, Green Bay 54311.

Anderson Landscape LLC, Christopher T. Anderson, 1225 Spence St., Green Bay 54304.

Pho1 Noodle and Grill Restaurant LLC, Nhia Lee, 2201 S. Oneida St., #1, Green Bay 54304.

Big Fish Marketing Group LLC, Jason Fischer, 1059 Herne Bay Way, Green Bay 54313.

Orr Construction Services LLC, Matthew Orr, 3259 Meadow Cir., Green Bay 54311.

Steve Pavlik Trucking LLC, Steve L. Pavlik, 4293 Main St., Green Bay 54311.

Life Safety Systems INC., Tiffany Shae Vernon, 2520 He Nis Ra Lane, Green Bay 54304.

Innovators Atlas LLC, Jeff Hitzler, 1749 Chateau Dr., Green Bay 54304.

Fresh Chefs LLC, Victoria Su Martinez, 231 Oak Hill Dr., Green Bay 54301.

Kim’s Cuts LLC, Kim Bertrand, 3189 Early Bird Lane, Green Bay 54313.

Prestige Beverage Consultants LLC, Lorena A. Heinrich, 2193 Palmer Dr., Green Bay 54311.

www.newnorthb2b.com

Anne Frea MD LLC, Anne Marie Frea, M.D., 240 E. Falcon Hill Way, Green Bay 54302.

Champion Electric LLC, Amos John Geske, 711 Mather St., Green Bay 54303.

Cornerstone Buy-Side Services LLC, Scott Bushkie, 200 S. Washington St., Ste. 205, Green Bay 54301.

L&G Woodworking LLC, Cory A. Bromann, 2852 Curry Lane, Green Bay 54311.

Hribar Construction LLC, Carolyn M. Toigo, 3000 Riverside Dr., #130, Green Bay 54301.

Healthcare Optimization Group LLC, Lucas James Schubert, 1014 LaCount Road, Green Bay 54313.

Authentic Masonry And Stone LLC, Scott Horkman, 4208 Willow Road, Green Bay 54311.

Stephen Janquart Anesthesiology Services LLC, Stephen J. Janquart, 5019 Redbud Ct., Green Bay 54311.

Vanderlinden Farms LLC, David J. Vanderlinden, 4487 Wayside Road, Greenleaf 54126.

JD Meissner Trucking LLC, John D. Meissner, 1476 Navigator Way, Hobart 54115.

Baeten Dairy LLC, Marcia Baeten, 5375 Luxemburg Road, New Franken 54229.

Your Path To Empowerment and Purpose Holistic Coaching and Counseling LLC, Bonnie Nussbaum, 1893 Riverside Dr., Unit D, Suamico 54313.

Giddy Up Western Wear LLC, Ricky Lemmen, 2780 E. Deerfield Ave., Suamico 54173.

Fond du Lac County

“Fan” - Tastic Frames LLC, Brent D. Krueger, N2740 U.S. Hwy. 45, Campbellsport 53010.

More For The Money Auto Sales LLC, Laurie Jean Leestma, 115 Rose Ave., Fond du Lac 54935.

Foot of the Lake Fishing Club LLC, Scott Scharfenberg, N7255 Winnebago Dr., Fond du Lac 54935.

Don Wells Custom Home Improvements LLC, Michelle M. Drehmel, 288 McKinley St., Fond du Lac 54935.

Overnight Livery Service LLC, Dean P. Waldschmidt, 452 T-Bird Dr., Fond du Lac 54935.

Elaine Graf, First Weber Group LLC, Elaine Graf, W5099 Valley Creek Road, Fond du Lac 54937.

Superfine Detailing LLC and Unique Auto LLC, William Minnier, W7486 County Road OO, Fond du Lac 54937.

Spay and Neuter Store INC., Beth Revello, 956 Woodside Ave., Ripon 54971.

Total Sleep Apnea Solutions LLC, Daniel James Zimmerman, 205 State St., Ripon 54971.

Rural Sealcoating LLC, Evan Hagen, W4741 Twin Lake Road, Waupun 54981.

Slam-Dunk Hosting LLC, Javeed Kadri, 717 Robin Road, Waupun 53963.

YOUR ENERGY FUTURE B E G I N S W I T H P L A N N I N G T O D AY At American Transmission Co., we’re hard at work keeping the lights on and planning today for how the electric grid of our future will deliver reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible power.

Read more at www.atcllc.com/PowerForward

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Green Lake County

Anesthesia Services PRN LLC, Kristin Louise Koch, 145 E. Moore St., Berlin 54923.

Little Rascal’s Daycare LLC, Andrea Lyn Rodensal, W891 County Road V, Berlin 54923.

Outagamie County

Crude Engineering LLC, Jordan P. Connor, W5442 Red Clover Tr., Appleton 54915.

Bamboo Nails and Spa 1 LLC, Thuy Phan, 5337 Brookview Dr., Appleton 54913.

Hope Clinic and Care Center INC., Karen Vandenbush, 2693 W. Grand Chute Blvd., Appleton 54913.

Techperdiem LLC, Wendy L. Diem, N9138 Hedgerow Dr., Appleton 54915.

CS Hair LLC, Christopher David Sanders, 205 1/2 W. College Ave., Appleton 54911. www.newnorthb2b.com

Office x Manufacturing x Warehousing 3 year warranty on workmanship and subcontractors Family owned business over 50 years

RRSTEELCONSTRUCTION.COM NNB2B | March 2015 | 39

Who’s News

We Make Software Work

Midwest Agriculture Almanac LLC, Marybeth Matzek, N9565 Crystal Dr., Appleton 54915.

Leap Marketing LLC, Kenton Owen Craddock, 105 Valerie Dr., Appleton 54915.

Building Hope Therapy Services LLC, Amanda Lee Kletti, 510 E. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton 54915.

Ahava Salon and Spa LLC, Breyann L. Vander Velden, W5891 Sweet William Dr., Appleton 54915.

Doug Dahm Voiceover LLC, Douglas James Dahm, N3964 Mary Joan Ct., Appleton 54913.

Alex’s Auto Service LLC, Bernardino Hernandez, 2520 S. Kerry Lane, Appleton 54915.

Blue Line Maintenance LLC, Ana Avella Ramirez, 715 W. Spring St., Appleton 54914.

Donze CPA LLC, David John Donze, 5001 N. Cherryvale Ave., Appleton 54913.

Kingdom Fellowship Church of the Apostolic Faith INC., Frederic K. Buford II, 22 Brighton Cir., Appleton 54915.

Shamrock Graphics LLC, Denise Marie Van Rossum, N3491 Hooyman Ct., Freedom 54913.

Zaug Delivery Consulting INC., Nicole R. Zaug, N1474 Forest Glen Dr., Greenville 54942.

Caring Bridges Home Care LLC, Mary Kirchner, W6769 Greenville Dr., Greenville 54942.

Bunnell Trucking LLC, Richard M. Bunnell, N3102 Ledge Hill Road, Hortonville 54944.

McLaughlin Insurance INC., Clint McLaughlin, 181 W. Wisconsin Ave., Kaukauna 54130.

Ghost Transport LLC, Stacey L. Snider, 115 W. 8th St., Kaukauna 54130.

Everest Crane LLC, John Jaeckels, W5007 Amy Ave., Kaukauna 54130.

Wildlife Plaque Art LLC, Thomas Bernard Mischler, N1918 Emery Lane, Kaukauna 54130.

Precision Tubing LLC, Nickolas C. Schmitt, 612 Draper St., Kaukauna 54130.

Cathy Keeley Makeup And More LLC, Cathy Jo Keeley, 424 Windmill Dr., Kaukauna 54130.

Bella-Thai Cafe LLC, Tracie Hang, 1800 Freedom Road, Little Chute 54140.

Yoga By Matt LLC, Matthew Brugman, 1324 Lexington Ct., Oneida 54155.

Timber Milling and Kiln LLC, Tadd Davis, P.O. Box 306, Oneida 54155.

Winnebago County

Steve Engmann

Scott Loker

Tina Krueger

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920.993.1077 Appleton WI www.WeMakeSoftwareWork.com 40 | March 2015 | NNB2B

Kim Engmann

Reyes Bakery LLC, Ramiro M. Arroyo, 113 Harold Dr., Menasha 54952.

Precision Cut Construction LLC, Jerry Frazee, W6434 Dogwood Lane, Menasha 54952.

Big and Small Home Improvement LLC, Colin James McClure, 1143 Morgan Taylor Ct., Menasha 54952.

Nah Vapor LLC, Colton Schwandner, 1866 Mary Lane, Neenah 54956.

Premier Property Services of Wisconsin LLC, Michael K. Gregesich, 8616 State Road 76, Neenah 54956.

Cebery Property Maintenance LLC, Mark Cebery, 109 Union St., Neenah 54956.

Quality Weld Specialist LLC, Robin L. Donchess, 116 W. Bell St., #202, Neenah 54956.

Arise Chiropractic LLC, John Paul Mancl, 688 Trailsway Lane, Neenah 54956.

It’s Vapor INC., Frank Heisler, 2332 Jackson St., Oshkosh 54901.

Gabrielle’s Dance Workshop LLC, Gabrielle Marie Lattery, 625 W. 11th Ave., Oshkosh 54902.

Powergrid Solutions International INC., Corey Canniff, 3110 Progress Dr., Oshkosh 54901.

Salon Inveja LLC, Christian Faye Murphy, 1938 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh 54901.

Dimensions Plastering LLC, Eric J. Kappell, 5172 County Road A, Oshkosh 54901.

Lindemann Logistics LLC, Jeffrey Lindemann, 2850 S. Oakwood Road, Oshkosh 54904.

Educational Services and Consulting LLC, John Terzynski, 3812 Red Oak Ct., Oshkosh 54902. www.newnorthb2b.com

Building permits

B2B includes a monthly list of building permits (not to include residential projects) in excess of $400,000.

New style salon, 2014 Lime Kiln Road, Bellevue. $400,000 for a 5,000-sq. ft. multi-tenant retail center. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. January 5.

Baylake City Center, 301 N. Adams St., Green Bay. $800,000 for an alteration to the existing multi-tenant commercial building. General contractor is Smet Construction of Green Bay. January.

Pizza Ranch, 1051 S. Washburn St., Oshkosh. $400,000 for an interior renovation of the existing restaurant building. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. January 14.

Bellin Memorial Hospital Inc., 1220 E. Mason St., Green Bay. $790,000 for a 5,400-sq. ft. addition to the existing hospital facility. General contractor is Miron Construction Co. of Neenah. January.

Without execution, they’re just numbers.

Let us do the math.

Bellin College, 3201 Eaton Road, Bellevue. $888,310 for interior alterations to the existing educational campus. General contractor is Miron Construction Company of Neenah. January 26.

Valley Fair Development, 445 W. Calumet St., Appleton. $550,198 for an interior remodel of a portion of the former shopping mall to accommodate a call center. General contractor is Blue Sky Contractors of Appleton. January 30.

Successful Journeys Need a Guide™ 920.427.5077 www.guidentbusiness.com

Cancer Specialists of Northeast Wisconsin/Fox Valley Hemotology & Oncology, 3925 N. Gateway Dr., Appleton. $22,000,000 for a 60,000-sq. ft. cancer treatment facility. General contractor is Miron Construction Co. of Neenah. February 9.

New locations Stellpflug Law, S.C. of De Pere opened an office on the first floor of the Appleton Center, 100 W. Lawrence St. in downtown Appleton. The firm also maintains offices in Lakewood and Hayward.

The Rehab Center at Oakridge Gardens relocated to 1700 Midway Road in Menasha. The renovated facility better accommodates short-term, postacute patients recovering from illness, injury or surgery.

Business honors Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership presented its Design of the Year Award to The Commonwealth Companies of Fond du Lac for its Riverside Senior Apartments, a five-story mixed-use building located downtown.

Evensong Spa at Heidel House Resort in Green Lake ranked No. 1 in the Midwest and No. 12 nationally in Spas of America’s annual Top 100 Spas of the Year.

Evensong was chosen among 700 spas represented in the U.S. Faith Technologies of Menasha received a 2014 Projects of Distinction goldlevel award from Associated Builders & Contractors of Wisconsin for its work on the Plexus Manufacturing Solutions facility in Neenah.

AN EVENING WITH ALEX KRIEGER

river TALKS

At Water’s Edge: A Town Endures and Transforms

Join us as renowned architect, urban designer and Harvard professor Alex Krieger, presents his insights regarding waterfront redevelopment in our community.

Thursday, May 21 High Cliff Supper Club Sherwood, Wisconsin 4:00 p.m. Networking, food & drink 5:30 p.m. Program begins

“River Talks” event registration at heritageparkway.org with support from

Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce presented its 2014 Community Awards to Agnesian HealthCare of Fond du Lac, The Arc Fond du Lac and Manowske Welding of Fond du Lac. www.newnorthb2b.com

NNB2B | March 2015 | 41

Who’s News

Mathes

Sanders

Kelly

Mergers/acquisitions Forefront Dermatology, also known as Dermatology Associates of Wisconsin, acquired The Dermatology Clinic S.C. at 715 Superior Road in Green Bay from retiring dermatologist Dr. Kolleen Zimmerman.

Incline Equity Partners of Pittsburgh acquired BCI Burke Company of North Fond du Lac, a designer and manufacturer of commercial playground and leisure equipment.

Blyth Inc., the parent company of Silver Star Brands in Oshkosh, acquired Florida-based Native Remedies LLC and will merge many of its operations into Silver Star Brands in Oshkosh. Native Remedies is a direct-to-consumer marketer of natural and homeopathic health and wellness products. Its customer relations and order fulfillment functions will be transitioned to Oshkosh in early April, adding about 20 positions.

New hires The accounting firm Kerber Rose S.C. hired Andrew J. Mathes, CPA as a tax and accounting manager in its Oshkosh office. Mathes has five years of accounting experience, specializing in taxation.

Prospera Credit Union of Appleton hired Mike Sanders as vice president of commercial lending. Sanders has more than 20 years experience in commercial lending and 12 years of credit union experience.

Cornerstone Business Services of Green Bay hired John P. Kelly as manager of its new food and beverage division, and Jason Tuzinkewich as a mergers and acquisitions advisor. Kelly served 11 years as president of Kelly Pickle Company, formerly Bond Food Products in Green Bay, before establishing Kelly Business Advisors to provide consulting to food processing companies and other businesses.

Tuzinkewich has 20 years experience in business operations, most recently serving as chief operating officer for Holland-based ThermoDynamics Group, where he leverage a joint venture for an alternative fuel technology. He earlier founded a restaurant consulting firm which worked with a dozen restaurant groups with more than 100 units in the Midwest and Northwest.

Schultz

42 | March 2015 | NNB2B

Conrad

Holliday

Raimondi

J. Erskine

K. Erskine

Homeless Connections in Appleton hired Tricia Raimondi as manager for its High Risk Prevention Program. Raimondi has 18 years of human service delivery experience, most recently serving as an adjunct psychology instructor for area colleges.

Thrivent Financial hired the husband and wife team of Jim and Kim Erskine as financial representatives with the organization’s North Fond du Lac ofice. Jim Erskine previously worked at Team Largo LLC, Airborne Express and the U.S. Navy.

Kim Erskine previously worked for Ripon College, Oxford University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Greater Green Bay Chamber hired David M. Schultz as its youth apprenticeship program manager. Schultz previously worked for nine years as a high school teacher and coach in Yuma, Ariz.

Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh hired Nikki Conrad as an insurance administrator, Katie Holliday as an assistant editor for EAA’s magazines and electronic communications, and Megan Chriske as part of the organization’s culinary team.

BriMark Builders of Neenah hired Marcia Knapp as its human resource manager. She previously worked six years as the human resource manager for a fire sprinkler company.

Ledgeview Partners of Appleton hired the following new employees: Andy Kluck as marketing coordinator; Dave Edwards as a network administrator; Amy Crane as a recruiter. Jeremy Aschenbrenner, Ellen Heidel and Mindy Filipenko as CRM application consultants and business analysts; John Weninger as a CRM development consultant; Tom Hardwick as a project manager and business analyst; Lisa Karll, Karen Coenraad and Deborah Bellows as inside sales account managers; Nate Wynveen as a lead generation representative; and Aaron Schumacher as an oil and gas customer care representative.

BayCare Clinic in Green Bay added Karanjot Sundlass, M.D. as a radiologist.

Consolidated Construction Co. Inc. of Appleton hired Dean Dequaine as a project manager; Chris Grebe and Kim Laudolff as project engineers; Josh Thao as an architectural designer; and Ryan Hellerud as a project superintendent. Dequaine has worked in commercial construction since 2001, overseeing big box retail, health care, cold storage and industrial projects. Grebe has prior project engineer

Chriske

Knapp

Sundlass

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Dequaine

Grebe

Laudolff

experience in Madison, while Laudolff has LEED Green Associate credentials and is currently an adjunct instructor of AutoCAD and Revit design software at Fox Valley Technical College. Hellerud has 15 years experience in commercial construction with carpentry and steel welding trade expertise, and has been a foreman and superintendent for the past seven years.

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Austin E. Cofrin School of Business named Tim Weyenberg to a two-year term as its first executive-inresidence. Weyenberg retired in 2013 after 16 years as chief executive officer for Foth Companies in Green Bay. He continues to serve as chair of the board of directors for Foth. Weyenberg also held various volunteer leadership roles in the community with New North, Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and Greater Green Bay Chamber.

Stellar Blue Technologies of Appleton hired Amber Tefft as a graphic design strategist. Tefft previously worked as the art director for a creative agency in Michigan.

Neenah-based McMahon hired Nicholas Knorr as a plumbing designer and Andrea Bonell as a project engineer. Knorr has 16 years of plumbing design experience while Bonell has seven years of civil engineering experience.

Hierl Insurance, Inc. in Fond du Lac hired Tonya Bahr as a benefits advisor.

Bahr has 15 years experience in human resources and benefits.

Omnni Associates of Appleton hired Brynley Nadziejka as a geotechnical technician, Rick Romenesko as a materials testing technician, and Tony Kaczmarzyk as a survey technician.

H.J. Martin and Son hired Melissa Kalupa to its residential design and sales team at its Green Bay showroom.

UW Oshkosh Credit Union hired Lisa Weiler as a loan processor. Weiler spent the past 13 years with Anchor Bank in Oshkosh, most recently as a senior residential loan processor, and has 29 years of total banking experience.

Weyenberg

Tefft

Knorr

Promotions Omni Resources, Inc. of Appleton promoted Jeff Lang to president and chief executive officer. Lang had served as managing director of Omni’s solutions group since 2008, and previously served as a senior technology consultant for the company.

MBM of Appleton promoted Dave Spencer to president following the retirement of third generation owner and president Fritz Merizon. Spencer has been with the company for nearly 10 years as vice president of service. Prior to joining MBM, Spencer spent 23 years with Appvion, leaving as its director of technology and new business development.

Valley VNA Senior Services in Neenah promoted Angela Simon to assisted living supervisor. Simon joined Valley VNA in 2001 as a kitchen aid and housekeeper during high school. She was later promoted to team leader and assistant shift manager.

The Benefit Companies of Green Bay promoted Stew Koskinen to vice president. He started with The Benefit Companies, Inc. in 2005, and specializes in employee benefits and group insurance.

Breakthrough Fuel of Green Bay promoted Heather Mueller to vice president of The Breakthrough Experience, Peter Romenesko to vice president of Breakthrough global division, and Ryan Decker to vice president of energy technologies. Mueller has been with Breakthrough for four years and manages the company’s brand and marketing as well as talent recruitment, training and development. Romenesko has been with the company for five years, while Decker has been with Breakthrough for eight years.

U.S. Gain, a division of Kimberly-based U.S. Venture, promoted Stephenie Wix to director of divisional sales for North America. Wix joined U.S. Gain in 2013 and previously served as business development manager for the lower Midwest market.

She has 17 years of sales experience including lubricants and diesel exhaust fluids in the trucking and construction industries.

Omni Glass & Paint, Inc. in Oshkosh promoted David Vander Zanden to executive vice president and Karl Keas to vice president and general manager of its paint division. Vander Zanden has been with Omni since 1980, most recently serving

Bonell

www.newnorthb2b.com

Kalupa

Weiler

Lang

Spencer

Koskinen

NNB2B | March 2015 | 43

Business Calendar

Mueller

Romenesko

Decker

as vice president and general manager of the glass division. Keas started at Omni as an intern in 1996 and became full time in 1999.

Individual honors Alyssa Kwasny, human resources and wellness coordinator at Faith Technologies in Menasha, was named to the inaugural list of Top 100 Health Promotion Professionals by Wellness Council of America. Kwasny has served as wellness coordinator for Faith Technologies since 2010.

Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce presented its 2014 Volunteer of the Year Award to Jenny Knuth of wisnet.com LLC in Fond du Lac and presented a Community Award to Mike Shannon of Holiday Automotive in Fond du Lac. Knuth serves as president of Young Professionals of Fond du Lac.

Elections/appointments Dennis Bonn, Menasha Packagingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vice president of marketing, was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors for Point of Purchase Advertising International, the global association for the in-store marketing industry.

Tom Doney, president and CEO of Cypress Benefit Administrators in Appleton, was elected chairman of the board of directors for the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators for 2015.

Wix

Kwasny

Doney

Business calendar

New North B2B encourages businesses and organizations looking to attract interested persons to upcoming events to email info@newnorthb2b.com.

March 3 Greater Green Bay Chamber Power Networking Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the chamber offices, 300 N. Broadway, Ste. 3A in Green Bay. No cost to attend for members. For more information, call 920.437.8704 or email members@titletown.org.

March 3 Greater Green Bay Chamber Business Showcase and Business After Hours, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at KI Convention Center, 333 Main St. in Green Bay. For information, call 920.437.8704 or email members@titletown.org.

March 4 Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Coffee Connection, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Aurora Health Care, 210 Wisconsin American Dr. in Fond du Lac. For more information or to register, call 920.921.9500 or go online to www.fdlac.com.

March 5-6 OSHA 10-Hour Training for construction professionals, presented by Valley Home Builders Association at its offices at 920 W. Association Dr. in Appleton. This training will explore the functions of OSHA, its inspection priorities, and the inspection process. The course offers 10 continuing credits toward the State of Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Credential. To register, go online to www.vhba.com or contact Megan at megan@vhba.com or call 920.731.7931.

March 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 more information, call 920.303.2266 or go online to www.oshkoshchamber.com.

44 | March 2015 | NNB2B

www.newnorthb2b.com

March 10 Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Before Hours Business Card Exchange, 8 to 9 a.m. at the chamber building, 101 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Kaukauna.

To register, email Kelli at kclussman@heartofthevalleychamber.com.

March 11 Women in Management – Fox Cities Chapter monthly meeting, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fox Banquets & Rivertyme Catering, 111 E. Kimball St. in Appleton. To register, go online to www.wimiwi.org or email foxcitiesprogram@wimiwi.org.

March 12 Morning Business 60, a workshop for small business owners presented by Epiphany Law, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Cambria Suites, 3940 N. Gateway Dr. in Appleton.

Program is “Protecting Your Ideas.” No cost to attend, but registration is required by contacting Amanda at 920.996.0000 or afredrick@epiphanylaw.com.

March 12 Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m. at Gerhards The Kitchen & Bath Store, 2100 W. College Ave. in Appleton. To register, email Kelli at kclussman@heartofthevalleychamber.com.

March 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. For more information or to register, go to www.wimiwi.org or email Lisa at lkoeppen@communityblood.org.

March 17 Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Business Connection, 5 to 7 p.m. at Holiday Inn Select, 150 S. Nicolet Road in Appleton. No charge for members to attend. For more information or to register, contact Pam at receptionist@foxcitieschamber.com.

Advertiser Index

Alberts & Heling CPAs ⎮www.alberts-heling-cpas.com. . . . . . . . . . . . 10 American Transmission Company ⎮www.atcllc.com/PowerForward . . 39 Aurora Health Care ⎮www.Aurora.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Bank First National ⎮www.bankfirstnational.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Bayland Buildings ⎮www.baylandbuildings.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Better Business Bureau ⎮www.go.wisconsin.bbb.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Borsche Roofing Professionals ⎮www.wiroofer.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Candeo Creative ⎮www.modmadmen.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 CitizensFirst Credit Union ⎮www.citizensfirst.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative ⎮ www.CommonGroundHealthcare.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Competitive Strategies ⎮www.WeMakeSoftwareWork.com. . . . . . . . . . 40 Consolidated Construction Company ⎮www.1call2build.com. . . . . . . . 5 C.R. Structures Group, Inc. ⎮www.crstructures.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. ⎮www.dkattorneys.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Dynamic Designs ⎮www.dynamicdesignspulaski.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 First Business Bank ⎮www.firstbusiness.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 First National Bank ~ Fox Valley ⎮www.fnbfoxvalley.com. . . . . . . . . . . 7 Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau ⎮ www.FoxCities.org/bringithome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Fox Communities Credit Union ⎮www.foxcu.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Fox Valley Savings Bank⎮www.FVSBank.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Fox Wisconsin Heritage Parkway ⎮www.heritageparkway.org. . . . . . . 41 Frontier Builders and Consultants ⎮ www.frontierbuilds.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 www.newnorthb2b.com

March 25 A.M. Oshkosh, a morning networking event from the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, 7:45 to 9 a.m. at Image 360, Inc., 347 Sawyer St. in Oshkosh. Cost to attend is $2. For more information or to register, call 920.303.2266 or go online to www. oshkoshchamber.com.

April 7 Greater Green Bay Chamber Power Networking Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the chamber offices, 300 N. Broadway, Ste. 3A in Green Bay. No cost to attend for chamber members. For more information, call 920.437.8704 or email members@ titletown.org.

April 16 27th Annual WPS Volunteer Awards Breakfast, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at KI Convention Center, 333 Main St. in Green Bay. For more information or to register, go online to www.volunteergb.org or email awards@volunteergb.org. n

Coming to B2B in April 2015 Commercial Real Estate

Big hopes for blighted, undeveloped spaces

Guident Business Solutions ⎮www.guidentbusinesssolutions.com. . . 41 James J. Calmes & Sons Construction ⎮ www.JamesJCalmesConstruction.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Keller Inc. ⎮www.kellerbuilds.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Moraine Park Technical College ⎮www.morainepark.edu/training. . . . 35 National Exchange Bank & Trust ⎮www.nebat.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Network Health ⎮www.networkhealth.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 NEW Building & Construction Trades Council ⎮www.newbt.org . . . . . 12 NWTC Corporate Training & Economic Development ⎮ www.corporatetraining.nwtc.edu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau ⎮www.meetinoshkosh.com . . 38 Oshkosh Public Museum ⎮www.oshkoshmuseum.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Outagamie County Regional Airport ⎮www.atwairport.com. . . . . . . . . 46 R&R Steel Construction Company Inc. ⎮www.rrsteelconstruction.com.39 Stellar Blue Technologies ⎮www.stellarbluetechnologies.com. . . . . . . 37 St. Norbert College ⎮www.snc.edu/go/newmba. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Strategic Solutions Consulting, LLC ⎮ www.strategicsolutionsconsulting.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Suttner Accounting ⎮www.suttnercpa.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 TweetGarot Mechanical ⎮www.tweetgarot.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 UW Oshkosh College of Business ⎮www.mba.uwosh.edu . . . . . . . . . . 11 Village of Little Chute ⎮www.littlechutewi.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Winnebago County Solid Waste Management ⎮ www.co.winnebago.wi.us/solid-waste/container-rental-program. . 34

NNB2B | March 2015 | 45

Key Statistics

If there are indicators youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to see in this space, contact our office at 920.237.0254 or email sean@newnorthb2b.com.

local gasoline prices february 22................. $2.29 february 15................. $2.23 february 8....................$2.16 february 1................... $2.05 february 22, 2014....... $3.38

existing home sales

january

homes sold median price brown cty .....................117 .................... $141,500 Fond du Lac cty .............53 ....................$120,000 outagamie cty ...............99 ....................$134,000 winnebago cty ..............75 ....................$125,000 WI Dept. Revenue Collections january

$1.531 billion 0.7% from January 2014

46 | March 2015 | NNB2B

u.s. retail sales january

$439.8 billion 0.8% from December 3.3% from January 2014

u.s. industrial production (2007 = 100) january

106.2

0.2% from December 4.8% from January 2014

air passenger TRAFFIC (Local enplanements)

jan 2015 jan 2014 Outagamie Cty. ATW....................20,012 .......17,196 Austin Straubel GRB.................... 22,255 ....... 19,439

local unemployment

december nov dec â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14 Appleton . ..... 5.4% ...... 5.3% ........6.7% Fond du Lac . . 5.3% ...... 5.0% ........6.5% Green Bay....... 6.3% ...... 5.8% ........7.7% Neenah ........... 5.8% ...... 5.4%.........6.5% Oshkosh ........ 4.8% ...... 4.8% ....... 5.9% Wisconsin ..... 5.0% ...... 4.7% ....... 5.8%

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

february................... $0.561 january..................... $0.566 february 2014.......... $0.957 Source: Integrys Energy

ism index Numbers above 50 mean expansion.

Numbers below 50 mean contraction. january. . . . . . . . . . 53.5 december 2014. . . . 55.1

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