BizTimes Milwaukee | January 24, 2022

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VIEWPOINT: INDOOR VENUE COMPLEX WILL BE GREAT FOR THIRD WARD 46 BRP SENIOR VP ON COMPANY’S BIG PLANS FOR STURTEVANT 47

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BizTimes Milwaukee (ISSN 1095-936X & USPS # 017813) Volume 27, Number 16, January 24, 2022 – February 20, 2022. BizTimes Milwaukee is published bi-weekly, except monthly in January, February, March, July, August and December by BizTimes Media LLC at 126 N. Jefferson St., Suite 403, Milwaukee, WI 53202-6120, USA. Basic annual subscription rate is $96. Single copy price is $5. Back issues are $8 each. Periodicals postage paid at Milwaukee, WI and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to BizTimes Milwaukee, 126 N. Jefferson St., Suite 403, Milwaukee, WI 53202-6120. Entire contents copyright 2022 by BizTimes Media LLC. All rights reserved.

Contents

Pandemic causes

in the economy Examining the great reallocation

04 Leading Edge 04 NOW

BY THE NUMBERS 05 BEHIND THE SCENES 06 MY FAVORITE TECH BIZ TRACKER 07 REV UP 08 IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BIZ POLL ON MY NIGHTSTAND 09 BIZ LUNCH 10 FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION

12 Biz News 12 STATE FUNDS, PARTNERSHIP ENABLE HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA PROGRAM TO EXPAND 14 MADE IN MILWAUKEE – DOUGLAS DYNAMICS

15 Real Estate COVER STORY

18 Special Report

18 Economic Trends 2022 This comprehensive report on the upcoming year includes a macroeconomic outlook and reports on the tight labor market, supply chain issues, cybersecurity threats and the COVID-19 pandemic.

34 Meet the Notable Women in Law 41 Strategies 41 TIP SHEET

45 Biz Connections 45 NONPROFIT 46 GLANCE AT YESTERYEAR COMMENTARY 47 5 MINUTES WITH …

KARIM DONNEZ OF BRP

New Hire?

Share the news with the business community!

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Leading Edge

BIZTIMES DAILY – The day’s most significant news → biztimes.com/subscribe

NOW

What’s ahead for Southridge?

By Maredithe Meyer, staff writer With a sheriff’s foreclosure auction on the horizon, Southridge Mall in Greendale faces an uncertain future. Real estate experts point to national trends as an indicator of what could be next for southeastern Wisconsin’s largest shopping mall.

During the rise of Amazon and e-commerce, regional malls across the country have suffered; property owners have been forced to

adapt by downsizing retail space, attracting unique or experiential tenants, and adding a mix of uses such as office and residential.

Southridge was once anchored by five big-box retailers, but is now down to two anchors: JCPenney and Macy’s. It has attempted to fill vacant space with fresh tenants and attractions such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Round 1 Bowling, TJ Maxx

BY THE NUMBERS More than

196,000 TICKETS

were sold for the “Beyond Van Gogh” immersive art exhibit during its seven-month run at the Wisconsin Center in downtown Milwaukee.

4 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

and Sixty to Escape.

The challenges faced by Southridge and other malls were only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. After failing to make mortgage payments for the mall in May, June and July 2020, Southridge owner Simon Property Group defaulted on its loan. Its lender filed the foreclosure lawsuit in December 2020 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Simon agreed to foreclosure, with debt for Southridge topping $121.3 million and growing.

Whoever purchases Southridge Mall will likely be drawn to its land value more than anything else because “the buildings aren’t going to be all that usable,” said a Milwaukee-area retail real estate broker who didn’t want to be named. He anticipates the property will be broken up and redeveloped into residential and potentially some office.

Plans are already underway for a mixed-use development project at the former Boston Store site at Southridge, which was acquired last year by the village. Milwaukee-based Barrett Lo Visionary Development plans to develop a residential complex with up to 790 apartment units and underground parking, as well as 50,000 square feet of retail and commercial space at the former Boston Store site.

But those plans may be

premature, said Nick Egelanian, president of Maryland-based consulting firm SiteWorks Retail Real Estate Services. He said mall properties are most attractive when the buyer can purchase and control the whole site – in the case of Southridge, 100 acres of prime real estate.

He drew an analogy between a troubled regional mall and an old car that ends up in a junk yard.

The junk yard operator (the buyer) sells parts of the car (outparcels and department store pads) for scrap value. The leftover metal is then crushed, melted down and used to create a new car.

“If you think about it in mall terms, all that’s left at the end is the land,” said Egelanian. “Now you have 100 acres of land, which, if you control all of it, is an amazing piece of land … but it’s basically junk as it relates to its prior life as a mall.

“If the community is smart, it would have let it get all the way down to that junk yard level, that scrap level, so that they could now attract somebody to the whole 100-acre piece. That could be a new mixed-use center, a sports stadium, housing, an Amazon warehouse, hotels.”

When the property is broken up “too early,” he said, it could lose value and be seen as less attractive to potential buyers. n

1

BEHIND THE SCENES JAKE HILL PHOTOGRAPHY

Riverside Theater

By Maredithe Meyer, staff writer

I

f you’re into live entertainment, then you’ve probably visited downtown Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater to see a favorite band or comedian. But what you probably haven’t seen is everything that happens hours before the doors open to make sure the show goes on. Work began at 6 a.m. for 30 local and touring crew members setting the stage ahead of the Riverside’s last show of 2021: Martina McBride Christmas.

Ride the antique service elevator up eight floors, and you’ll find the hospitality team getting ready to serve a breakfast in the newly remodeled green room, equipped with a full-service restaurant-style kitchen. It’s part of how Pabst Theater Group has built a reputation for rolling out the red carpet for touring artists.

“I think it’s very important for artists to feel comfortable,” said Simon Bundy, tech director at PTG. “A lot of people hear about, ‘Oh, artists want their green M&M’s’ or whatnot. But I feel like most people don’t realize what it’s like to not be home for three to six months at a time, and you start missing those comforts.” n

1

Regardless of the tour’s size, set-up usually takes about four hours. Take-down usually happens directly following the show.

2

Ernie Gonzalez, one of McBride’s Sharon Rose crew members, mans the sound board during pre-show sound check.

3

McBride’s Christmas production travels in three tour buses and two semi-trailers.

2

3

4

5

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Milwaukee-based Scathain LLC headed the green room’s remodel.

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Executive chef Kevin Sloan custom designs his menus according to the tour’s dietary needs and the artist’s background. biztimes.com / 5

Leading Edge

@BIZTIMESMEDIA – Real-time news

The latest area economic data.

Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November was

MY FAVORITE TECH KRISTIAN LARS LARSEN Director of e-discovery, Data Narro As the e-discovery director at Data Narro in Milwaukee’s Third Ward, Kristian Lars Larsen is constantly working with technology to help clients.

Outside of work, he also has several pieces of tech he uses to help him with his day-to-day routine.

3%

compared to the U.S. rate of 4.2% for the month.

66.4%

The state’s labor force participation rate in November was

compared to the U.S. rate of 61.8% for the month.

448,189

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport served

passengers in November, up 154.6% from a year ago.

APPLE WATCH

The Milwaukee-area manufacturing index was at

“I finally broke down and bought an Apple Watch in 2021. While I knew it would be a good fitness tracker, what I didn’t expect was how useful it is for personal productivity. Wearing the watch allows me to log in to work and home computers automatically. Several two-factor authentication platforms have Apple Watch apps, so logging into protected accounts requires a simple confirmation tap on my watch. Finally, the easy ‘Find my iPhone’ feature gets used constantly. It’s a huge timesaver.”

58.28

for December, up from 54.52 in November.

Any reading above 50 suggests the sector is growing.

THINGS “I’m a believer in the GTD (Get Things Done) method, which essentially means I like to make prioritized lists. Over the years, I’ve tried all the popular task managers. Things is by far the best one out there.

It’s a bit pricey, but it does its job so well and integrates perfectly across multiple platforms. It’s indispensable.”

FIREWALLA “I recently installed a Firewalla firewall solution to prevent intrusion into our home network and to provide a level of parental control over our children’s internet usage. It’s powerful and extremely easy to configure and deploy. Their handy app shows you which devices are connected to the internet, allowing you to grant or deny access based on rules you set. It’s an affordable security solution that’s easy to use.”

GRAMMARLY “I do a lot of writing in my job, and I have found that Grammarly is one of the most utilized tools in my collection. One of my big issues is that I make many mistakes that my own proofreading misses. Grammarly works seamlessly in the background, catching most of my mistakes in real-time, saving me countless hours each week.” n 6 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

3,585 Wisconsin added

residents in the 12 months ending July 1, a 0.06% population growth rate that ranks 31st in the country.

BestEd BUSINESS

LEADERSHIP: June Perry-Stevens, co-founder and co-owner; Krystle C.M. Perry, co-owner and business development manager

JAKE HILL PHOTOGRAPHY

REV UP

H E A D Q U A R T E R S: Mequon W H AT I T D O E S: Provides office and safety supplies, equipment and strategic sourcing services F O U N D E D: 2004 E M P L OY E E S: Two NEX T GOAL: Growing the furniture arm of the business.

June Perry-Stevens and Krystle C.M. Perry

Mother-daughter duo leads growing safety supply and furniture firm

By Lauren Anderson, staff writer MEQUON-BASED educational and office supply company BestEd Business counts some of the region’s largest employers among its clients, including Milwaukee County, Northwestern Mutual and Gilbane Building Co. In the fall, it added Milwaukee Public Schools to that list after securing a $1 million contract award to provide N95 masks to all 132 sites in the school system.

Supplying PPE in the midst of a pandemic is one of the latest iterations of the company, which has evolved since its founding in 2004 as a vendor of school supplies to now working with a range of businesses on office design for new and existing spaces, construction materials and supplies and assembly of packages, such as school backpacks and parent education packets.

Helping drive that growth is co-founder and co-owner June Perry-Smith’s “superpower” of building relationships in the community, said her

daughter Krystle C.M. Perry, who recently joined her mother as a co-owner of the business.

“Watching (June) and seeing how she handles business, how she’s able to develop partnerships and relationships – that’s been her niche as a businesswoman,” said Perry.

From the start, BestEd has been women-owned and majority minority-owned.

Perry-Stevens co-founded the company with business partner Beth Bauer, who recently divested her share.

The firm officially became a multi-generational, family-owned enterprise in the fall, with Perry acquiring a stake and taking on the role of business development manager. Perry, who has a master’s degree in learning and organizational development, also runs her own consulting and training business and works for Community Care Inc. as a learning and development specialist.

Entrepreneurship runs in the family.

Perry-Smith’s grandfather was the first Black licensed electrician in the state and owned an electrical contracting company, which her father and brother later joined.

Years before launching BestEd, Perry-Stevens founded Milwaukee-based nonprofit social services agency New Concept Development Center Inc. She retired in 2006 after leading the organization for over 30 years, which

allowed her to dive into BestEd more fully.

BestEd’s 15-year-long history has been punctuated by several high-profile contracts, including a contract to provide gear and equipment for construction workers at Northwestern Mutual’s downtown office tower and a threeyear contract with the city to provide safety equipment to the public works department.

As a growing number of large development projects in Milwaukee – including the Wisconsin Center expansion – are required to retain a certain percentage of minority- and women-owned contractors, BestEd is well positioned to bid on them.

“That’s a niche we have – we’re one of a few, if not the only, women- and minority-owned firms for office furniture installation for new and expanded construction, as well as PPE,” Perry-Stevens said.

In recent years, BestEd has also grown the furniture portion of its business. It was first asked to furnish the new Bader Philanthropies headquarters on Milwaukee’s North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, which soon led to another contract with the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin for its new office and coworking space, also on King Drive. That was followed by the new Running Rebels building on Capitol Drive and the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Ready Center, among others. n biztimes.com / 7

Leading Edge

BIZTIMES MEDIA – Connect

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

DUET RESOURCE GROUP 224 South First St. NEIGHBORHOOD: Walker’s Point FOUNDED: 1968 OWNER: Dan Mahlik EMPLOYEES: 18 SERVICE: Furniture and design firm

BIZ POLL

A recent survey of BizTimes.com readers.

How do you expect your company to perform in 2022?

53.1% About the same as in 2021: 28.1% Worse than in 2021: 18.8%

What brought you to Walker’s Point from Vliet Street?

Kim Melka, senior creative design director: “It was a three-year renovation process for us and it was an important step for the business as well. We were on Fourth and Vliet before, but it was just one of those locations that didn’t get a lot of visibility, so this is doing exactly what we wanted this to do.”

Mahlik: “We work closely with the (art and design) community, and a lot of that A&D community is in this part of the city, so we thought it was really important to be

as closely located to them as we could to open up our space for innovation, collaboration and community.”

What market trends are you seeing?

Mahlik: “Right now, with so much stimulus funding in the educational space, especially K-12 and a lot of referendum work in that segment, that’s probably where we’re seeing the most strength in our company, followed by corporate. We’re involved in a lot of conversations around what workplace should be, what it was pre-pandemic, what it is moving forward.

We’re in that dialogue daily.”

How has the business changed since it was founded?

Melka: “The business has really morphed over the years. We started as a manufacturers’ rep agency for different furniture manufacturers and then … with the business turning over to Dan in 2004 and especially in the last 10 years, we’ve turned into the full-service furniture dealership model with installation, interior design and then also project (management).” n

on my nightstand...

TRAVIS SPELL Business development manager Riverworks Development Corp.

Better than in 2021:

Share your opinion! Visit biztimes.com/bizpoll to cast your vote in the next Biz Poll.

8 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

“University of Success”

By Og Mandino

“UNIVERSITY OF SUCCESS” by Og Mandino has left quite a mark on Travis Spell’s life.

The 1983 self-help book is a collection of life lessons from 50 people Mandino considered the “greatest success authorities in the world.” Over 10 chapters – referred to as “semesters” – the book covers a range of topics from failure and taking risks to eliminating bad habits and developing financial literacy.

Spell, who works as business development manager at Milwaukee-based Riverworks Development Corp., said the book taught him how

to think about success and then to organize his life in a way that would help him obtain success. He says it’s allowed him to guide others to do the same.

He highlights two quotes from the book that have stuck with him: “Often it is not the wrong start but the wrong stop that makes the difference between success and failure,” and “We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.”

“Growing up I did not have these teachings, but in this book, I found the lessons and the inspiration to achieve it,” said Spell. n

1

BIZ LUNCH

Lunch

Biz

HOT HOUSE TAVERN WEBSITE: hothousetavern.com

CONTRIBUTED

2

A D D R E S S: N88 W16631 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls

CUISINE: American C H E F: Darin Yenter M O O D: Vibrant PRICING: Lunch and dinner entrees, $12-30 Sandwiches and salads, $10-14 Hot House Tavern opened in 2019 in downtown Menomonee Falls’ historic Fire Station No. 1 building. Like its two sister restaurants, Leff’s Lucky Town in Wauwatosa and Revere’s Wells Street Tavern in Delafield, Hot House attracts both casual everyday diners and those celebrating special occasions.

The three concepts are owned by Chris Leffler.

Hot House has become a neighborhood meeting spot, especially during the lunch hour, for local business professionals, including employees of nearby Milwaukee Tool and Kohl’s Corp.

“We opened the concept with mostly high-top tables, with the thinking that when you’re walking by a table, you’re still looking someone in the eye, … and if it happens to be a neighbor, coworker or friend, it builds that camaraderie in the community,” said general manager Nick Sanders.

3

1 2 3

The tavern’s mainstay is often likened to Nashville-style hot chicken, but Hot House adds its own flare with a house-made spice blend and comeback sauce. In sandwich form, Hot House Fried Chicken is served on a bun with pickle chips and coleslaw.

A popular lunch selection, the Mango Balsamic Salad features spring mix, mango, carrot, red pepper, cucumber, red onion, sugar snap peas, sunflower seeds and queso fresco, with balsamic vinaigrette.

Its main dining room has 32 tables and a 25-seat full-service bar, which includes 16 tap lines and a menu of specialty cocktails. For private and corporate events, the upper-level banquet hall seats up to 170 people. biztimes.com / 9

Leading Edge

BIZTIMES MEDIA – Like us

from

PRIMER hard seltzers

CONCEPT

to

COMPLETION January 2021: Co-founders Spina and Sievers had seen the rise of hard seltzers, led by brands like White Claw and Truly.

But they noticed that as other brands followed, there wasn’t much differentiation across the board. The duo wanted to bring something new to the market based on how consumer tastes were shifting, and the concept and name behind PRIMER was born.

It’s safe to say that modern-day drinking habits are a far cry from those of yesteryear. Hard seltzer is the new lite beer, cocktails come in cans, and whiskey is having a moment. But as consumer preferences evolve, another trend is gaining traction: non-alcoholic beverage consumption.

With careers in the beverage industry spanning more than 10 years under familiar brands like Pabst Brewing Co. and White Claw, Anthony Spina and Matt Sievers saw this shift as an opportunity to develop a new product suited for “everyone and every occasion.” They launched Milwaukee-based PRIMER electrolyte-charged hard seltzers as the category’s first brand to offer a selection of three alcohol by volume (ABV) levels in one package. Each nine-pack of PRIMER contains three 12-ounce cans at 0% ABV, 5% ABV and 8% ABV. February 2021: Under the guidance of Randy Hughes, former brewmaster at La Crosse-based City Brewing, potential flavors were narrowed down to the category’s top sellers: black cherry and mango.

The team later ran its first test brew and began workshopping the formula.

1

2

March 2022: You can find PRIMER at local retailers in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan.

5

4 Summer to fall 2021: PRIMER’s formula was adjusted for flavor continuity among the three ABVs. The team got to work on crafting its brand vision, 2022 sales forecast, package design and go-to-market strategy. Then came two more pilot brews, a website launch and a write-up in Forbes, followed by sampling at retailers and bar-restaurants.

10 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

3

April 2021: After receiving positive feedback on samples given out to friends, family and bars, the team conducted more testing, specifically on the three-ABV system.

“Momentum was building, and we knew we had something,” said Sievers.

IS YOUR COMPANY CELEBRATING A MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY IN 2022?

ANNIVERSARIES

Sponsored Content

The Horton summer picnic

ANNIVERSARIES

Sponsored Content Left: Julie Tolan (Co-Owner) and Jane Schroeder (Business Partner/Coach)

Above: a mural in the Waukesha office Left: Horton ‘Big Brother’ volunteers

celebrating

YEARS in business

THE HORTON GROUP, one of the largest shared the same hardworking, service-oriented to expand toWiesman (CEO/Coprivately-held insurance brokers in the United values as Illinois, and were inspired Above left: Mark States, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. more areas in the Midwest.

Owner) and Julie Tolan (Co-Owner) Above right: The company will commemorate this milestone “Our strong culture keeps us together as Mark the Wiesman (CEO/CoOwner) and Scott“It Rasmussen (President) by celebrating the past, and using it as a reason economy ebbs and flows,” Dan Horton said. to transform and make the changes to align the is certainly a challenge to maintain a sense of company with their future goals. ‘togetherness’ during these unprecedented times, PROVIDES A BROAD RANGE SERVICES TO DRIVE CLIENT SUCCESS “Fifty years is a remarkable feat, considering many LAUBER but we were able to make it work through newOF apps, businesses barely make it 10 years,” said Dan Horton, websites and virtual gatherings.”

Since 1986 Lauber has provided experienced for its own growth planning. Fundamentally, business Chief Executivecelebrating Officer. “We are excited to use our The Horton Group expanded their digital footprint leadership in times of growth and change for its is about talent – how to provide it, how to attract it, how ‘golden anniversary’ as a ‘golden opportunity’ to by hosting a wider variety of webinars and rolling out clients. John Lauber founded the firm as Lauber CFOs to retain it and how to optimize it. Sometimes Lauber celebrate everything we’ve accomplished while a new digital program for open enrollment. Internally, and sought to bring the value of an experienced CFO provides talent on an outsourced basis, like it ushering in change.” they’ve made training resources easily accessible to businesses of any size by providing part-time CFO does in finance and HR. Other times it helps clients The company was founded in 1971 as an eight- online, and implemented new communications services. Over time, Lauber added interim services as build out their internal talent pool. Recently, Lauber person agency as a single location in Orland platforms to keep everyone connected. And most well as executive search for permanent full-time senior launched several coaching offerings and a recruiting Park, Illinois. Since then, The Horton Group has impressively, despite an economically challenging financial leaders. process insourcing (RPI) service line. in business successfully transitioned from being a founder-run year, they experienced significant growth in 2020: Lauber has always sought to help clients grow their The battle for talent is only becoming more organization to a scalable enterprise. Today, there they welcomed 79 new hires, promoted 45 employees organizations and navigate challenges by bringing intense. One way to deal with this is to grow your are approximately 400 employees located in six and secured hundreds of virtual insurance renewals deep insight and expertise that can make an organization’s talent to be more effective, both states across the Midwest, specializing in insurance, and benefit open enrollments for customers. immediate impact on their organizations. In 2017, individually and as a team. Lauber provides coaching “This is a special place to work because everyone employee benefits and risk advisory solutions.

Julie Tolan and Mark Wiesman acquired Lauber CFOs. expertise through various delivery models to align The Horton Group has had a presence in prioritizes our community and our clients,” Dan They rebranded the business as Lauber Business talent development needs with organizational goals, southeastern Wisconsin since 1998, after acquiring Horton said. “Even in a year as challenging as 2020, Partners, Inc. to allow for expanded service offerings. creating a competitive advantage with increased the Laub Group in Waukesha. After conducting we were still able to come together and think of They added human resource services and productivity and job satisfaction, and a healthy and business in the Milwaukee area, the owners innovative ways to achieve success. I look forward to expanded the executive search services to include engaged culture. observed that many Wisconsin-based businesses seeing what lies ahead for us.” n other c-suite positions beyond finance.

Lauber saw its clients struggling to find the right “We immediately recognized the tremendous talent and in February 2021 added the recruiting reputation of the firm, its experienced consultants and process insourcing service line. Lauber manages the the many strong relationships it enjoys,” said Wiesman. recruiting process on its client’s behalf by offering “While many still see Lauber as a ‘finance firm’, HR now a scalable, fixed-fee and flexible RPI model that Year of Founding: 1986 represents almost 20% of our business and we also provides organizations a dedicated recruiter that works Number of consultants: 50 have several other rapidly growing service lines.” exclusively on filling its positions. Like its fractional As Lauber listened to clients and prospects, they consultants, Lauber becomes a part of its client’s team.

924 E Wells St #408 continued to hear clients asking, “How can we grow?”

“Bringing critical expertise and insight to our clients Milwaukee, WI | 53202 This led to the development of a growth planning to help them optimize their success through times of service line that helps its clients put strategic growth growth and change is our mission,” said Tolan. “We are L AU B E R - PA RT NE R S.com plans in place for their organization. Lauber is excited to be able to do this now with such an integrated 414.273.8060 deploying the same methodology it offers its clients offering of services.”n

YEARS

The Horton Group N19W24101 Riverwood Dr. Waukesha, WI | 53188 TheHortonGroup.com 800.383.8283

With a little bit of creativity, you can turn your anniversary from just another date on the calendar into an opportunity to share your story – and celebrate your success with BizTimes’ exclusive audience. It’s a chance to talk about why you started your business in the first place, where you’ve been, what you do, what makes you different, and what your plans are for the future. You can thank your employees and clients who’ve helped you reach this milestone.

Plan now! To reserve a space in this special issue.

Publication date March 21, 2022 Space Reservation date March 2, 2022

For more information contact Linda Crawford at (414) 336-7112, or advertise@biztimes.com

BizNews FEATURE

State funds, partnership enable high school equivalency diploma program to expand

By Lauren Anderson, staff writer IN THREE YEARS, 1,300 more people in Racine, Walworth and Kenosha counties could have their high school equivalency diploma in hand and be better positioned to fill pressing worker shortages throughout the region.

That’s the goal of a growing partnership among Gateway Technical College, YWCA Southeast Wisconsin, the Southeastern Wisconsin Workforce Development Board and Higher Expectations for Racine County, which was recently awarded $5.6 million from Gov. Tony Evers’ administration as part of a $60 million statewide workforce innovation initiative.

The grant allows YWCA and Gateway’s existing HSED program – which has graduated roughly 500 people over the past four years – to expand its scope and provide more support for graduates in their transition to higher-earning jobs or continuing on to higher education.

YWCA launched its HSED program in Milwaukee in 2015. For decades prior to that, the Milwaukee-based organization had operated a GED program. But in 2014, a new, more rigorous and computer-based GED exam was released, and scores plummeted nationally.

YWCA had been graduating 300 to 400 people annually through its program. Following the test change, that number dwindled to just a handful.

“The cost was huge because, without that foundational credential, you’re stuck,” said Jennifer de Montmollin, chief program officer for YWCA. “Not only are there many jobs you can’t access, but if you want to go to a tech school or a four-year or even take a training program, you need that foundational credential.”

The organization worked with the Wisconsin Department 12 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

of Public Instruction to create a four-month program that would help people get their HSED (an alternative to the GED), developing curriculum that was contextualized for adult learners and partnering with instructors from Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Leaders soon discovered the benefits of having cohorts of students go through the program together rather than working oneon-one with a mentor through a GED program.

“What we didn’t understand would be so powerful is that everybody coming out of these first couple of graduating classes said, ‘This is like family. You all have become like family,’” de Montmollin said, adding that the sense of connection led to a greater commitment to the class. “… Not only are they supporting each other academically, … they’re also supporting each other with attendance. It produced an 87% graduation rate.”

In 2017, responding to a push in Racine County to get more residents credentialed with their GED, YWCA advocated local leaders consider using the organization’s HSED model. YWCA didn’t have the funding to expand its program southward, but de Montmollin said leaders were confident it would work out.

“Because it was so successful here in Milwaukee, we knew it would be there as well – that, if we built it, essentially, they would come,” she said.

YWCA found a partner in Gateway Technical College, with the tech college providing instructors and the YWCA providing wraparound services to help address barriers to students’ completion of the class.

In August 2017, the program graduated an inaugural class of

Kalies Major, pictured with her son at her HSED graduation ceremony two weeks after giving birth.

Scott Fricke graduated from YWCA’s HSED program in December.

13. That number has since grown to 500. Despite the pandemic, which forced classes to go virtual, the program saw a 27% increase in graduates from March 2020 to 2021. Students have ranged in age from 18 to 72; the majority have been women.

“Many of the people that we serve, at the time that they were in high school originally, stuff happened,” de Montmollin said. “And in many cases, it was dealing with very adult-level responsibilities at a very young age, and the need to deal with that got in the way of progressing with school.”

Many graduates have ended up becoming evangelists for the program, encouraging family members and friends to also get their HSED. One cohort included a family of five, including multiple generations, de Montmollin said.

The efficiency of the program – at four months, compared to traditional year-long GED programs – works well for students who are ready for the condensed format, said Cyndean Jennings, dean of the School of Pre-College and Momentum Programs and dean of Racine campus affairs at Gateway.

It also benefits employers, said Michelle Blanchard, project director for the Southeastern Wisconsin Workforce Development Board.

“It makes a huge difference. We have employers right now that are screaming for individuals who have the minimum qualifications to take their openings,” Blanchard said.

“So, having folks who have that baseline educational level as quickly as possible in our region helps to fill some of those opportunities.”

Scott Fricke, a contractor of 30 years, was referred to YWCA’s

program last year.

“I found myself disabled and out of work and needed to figure out what was next,” said Fricke, who is a Burlington resident. “To go back to school, I knew I first needed my GED if I’m going to do that.”

It had been a long time since Fricke, 55, had last been in a classroom. Going into the course, he was concerned about math, like many of his classmates, but the experience was positive, and it gave him confidence in his abilities as a student.

He graduated in December.

“I really liked the process,” Fricke said. “Being in a classroom setting again let me know whether I could be a student. And I found out that I could be a better student than I was in high school.”

Fricke is figuring out his next steps; he’s considering several options, including computer-based jobs in the contracting field, becoming a freight broker, or another

role that would allow him to work now that he is in a wheelchair.

“It might sound cliché, but I feel like I can do just about anything now,” he said. “I can take classes and go any direction I want. When I started, I thought it would just be something I’d do to get to take the next step, but I found a lot of satisfaction in just getting that credential.”

Of 127 graduates surveyed, 90% said they wanted to continue to pursue higher education after graduation; just over half already had begun further studies.

“Without fail, students are saying ‘what’s next? I want to go into business. I want to get into nursing. How do I get started?’”

Jennings said she’s heard from instructors.

With the nearly $6 million infusion of funding over the next three years, the program will expand to serve students in Walworth and

presents the 15th annual:

Kenosha counties, in addition to Racine County.

“It’s a game-changer,” Jennings said of the grant.

The funding also brings SWWDB into the fold. The workforce development board will serve as a liaison between employers and graduates, deploying three workforce navigators to work with individuals to help them find the right career opportunity.

“Instead of just saying, ‘Here’s a number you should call’ if you’re interested in a job opportunity, there’s actually someone who knows who you are, what your interests are and can really work with you on those opportunities … and not let students fall through the cracks,” Jennings said.

Kalies Majors, a 21-year-old Racine resident who in December graduated from the HSED program, recognized her lack of a diploma as an impediment to her

Thursday, March 31, 2022

career mobility.

“I’ve been a CNA and staying at that level, but I want to elevate,” she said.

Despite the convenience of the class – which she said was accommodating of her schedule as a working mother – Majors faced challenges in reaching the finish line.

In late November, as she was nearing completion of the course, Majors gave birth to her son. She signed into her final virtual class from the hospital delivery room.

Two weeks later, she attended the graduation ceremony with her newborn.

“I just knew I had to do it for my son,” she said. “I want a brighter future for my son. I didn’t want him to go through what I went through.”

Majors is now working with a career specialist and preparing to enroll at Gateway to pursue her nursing degree. n

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BizNews

Douglas Dynamics helps tackle winter weather IF YOU SPOT a snow plow this winter trudging along the streets, there’s a good chance its attachment was made in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee-based Douglas Dynamics makes all the pieces needed to create plow attachments for work trucks and several other types of work truck attachments and equipment.

There are an estimated 500,000 snowplows and sand and salt spreaders in service that were made by Douglas Dynamics, according to a recent SEC filing.

“We’re the only snowplow manufacturer that produces our own hydraulic power units,” said Dan Lovy, director of manufacturing. “We pride ourselves that we make our own hydraulics.”

The primary parts of a plow include the blade, an attachment system that has a hydraulic power unit integrated into it and an under-truck mount.

Hydraulic fluid flows through the power unit, which then feeds the cylinders to make a plow move whichever direction the operator desires.

Douglas Dynamics makes several hundred attachment systems every day.

A sheet of steel accepted as part of the company’s morning shipment each day is turned into either a plow or plow attachment within 24 hours of entering the facility.

Every part made at its facility starts out as a raw plate of steel.

To create the blade itself, a sheet is rolled to create the curve shape 14 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

seen on a plow’s blade. A blade is only 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch thick but reinforced by other parts.

Only straight plow blades are built at the Milwaukee facility.

V-Blades, which are used to help plow larger areas, are built in a separate location.

The company’s MVP-Plus V-Plow sees the highest demand.

While the actual plow blade is made separately, the power unit is still made in Milwaukee.

“We have about 25 different power units, and we make all 25 every day,” Lovy said. “We take all 25 plow systems and we level load those throughout the year, so every day we build a little bit of everything.”

All the pieces that go into the power units are made in the facility’s machining shop. Dozens of different kinds of cylinders and metal parts can be seen at various stations throughout the facility.

The Milwaukee location produces 1,500 cylinders a day for various products – not just plow attachments.

“Anything that’s steel or aluminum, if we can make it, we make it,” said Rob Schleicher, business unit manager.

Douglas Dynamics uses a mix of robot and human production to keep up with demand.

“I think we’re at the point where about 90% of our product is built on a robot,” Schleicher said.

“If we didn’t have robots, we’d need almost three times as many people welding as we do today.

That’s a tough skill to find these days.”

Cooper Horn reinforces a straight plow blade at the Douglas Dynamics facility in Milwaukee.

DOUGLAS DYNAMICS 7777 N. 73rd St., Milwaukee

INDUSTRY: Manufacturer of work truck attachments EMPLOYEES: Approximately 350

douglasdynamics.com

Once a part has been shotblasted to get rid of imperfections, washed and sealed, it is then sprayed with an electronically charged powder coat (in either a red or black color) that is attracted to the metal of the product. This powder coat is used rather than paint because of its durability.

Despite a slow start to the winter season the past three years in terms of snow totals, Douglas Dynamics officials said in the company’s recent annual report that they are seeing increased demand for their products. The company had an order backlog of $126.4 million and $107.1 million at Dec. 31, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

Lovy said the company has remained well-staffed to help tackle the backlog on orders and it hasn’t been too severely affected by the ongoing labor shortage.

Douglas Dynamics recently moved an undisclosed number of members of its upper management team from the company’s plant, located near 76th Street and Bradley Road, to an office space within the One Park Plaza building,

located on the city’s far northwest side, to accommodate for a growing number of employees.

The move allows the company’s commercial snow and ice department to take up the office space at the company’s plant location, at 7777 N. 73rd St., and continue to grow. n

ASHLEY SMART Reporter

P / 414-336-7144 E / ashley.smart@biztimes.com T / @Biz_Ashley

Real Estate

REAL ESTATE WEEKLY – The week’s most significant real estate news → biztimes.com/subscribe

Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel in Menomonee Falls.

Flurry of hotel projects in northwest metro Milwaukee a sign of developer confidence

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY experts say the flurry of hotel development activity in the northwest corner of the metropolitan Milwaukee area shows hotel owners and developers are confident the market will continue its turnaround from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The area of far-northwest Milwaukee, Menomonee Falls and Germantown along I-41 is where

developers are working to build two new hotels and reposition others.

The latest proposed hotel is a 103-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott, which would be built at the Whitestone Station development in Menomonee Falls. It would be built next to an existing Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel.

Also expected is a new 122room WoodSpring Suites by Choice Hotels southeast of North 124th Street and West Bradley Road in Milwaukee and the conversion of the Comfort Suites at the Park Place office park into a Holiday Inn Express and Suites.

Chicago-based Odyssey Hotel Group LLC also plans to redevelop the Holiday Inn Express it owns in Germantown into a Fairfield Inn & Suites. Rachit Dhingra, chief executive officer and managing director of Odyssey Hotels, said the hotel is adding a third floor for larger, two-room suites. It will go from 72 to 100 rooms. This will help the hotel capture some of the summer travelers it’s missing, such as people in town for sporting events, said Dhingra.

“By the time we’re done, this is going to be pretty much a brandnew asset,” he said.

This all follows the 2019 conversion of a Radisson hotel into a Delta Hotel by Marriott in

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Milwaukee Tool began leasing the building earlier in the year after Sussex-based Quad/Graphics Inc. moved out.

Tom Shepherd with Colliers | Wisconsin said the sale represented the largest single-asset industrial sale for the year in terms of dollar value.

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BREAKING GROUND

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Menomonee Falls.

Multiple factors have likely led to this flurry of hotel development activity in the area, said Doug Nysse, director of project and development services with Colliers International | Wisconsin.

One is that suburban hotels have largely performed better than downtown hotels throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because suburban hotels are smaller than their downtown counterparts and don’t rely on large groups to fill their rooms, he said.

The northwestern suburbs are also seeing growth from employers, he said. This includes the Leonardo DRS and Milwaukee Tool corporate campuses in Menomonee Falls. “(The companies) by themselves might not lead to a significant number of room nights generated, but you put them all together, and you put them around a center of gravity of growth of corporate travelers … then it becomes more convenient for those guests to stay nearby,” Nysse said.

Another indicator of confidence, Nysse said, is the new brands the existing hotels are taking on. He said when hotels are repositioned, they can get a stronger or weaker brand. If they get a stronger brand, they are moving up the chain scale, which runs from economy to luxury.

The higher-end of the chain scale denotes pricier daily rates.

The hotel company behind the brand also matters. The premium brands, Nysse said, are Marriott, Starwood (part of Marriott), Hilton and Hyatt. The Radisson in Menomonee Falls upgraded to a Delta. Even though both are considered upscale brands, Delta is stronger because it’s by Marriott.

A review of industry data shows this corner of the market is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, though it has been better off than in 2020. Through November of last year, the occupancy rate for hotels in this area was down roughly 16.5% from the same period in November 2019, the year before the pandemic derailed

hotel business. That’s according to data provided by Hendersonville, Tennessee-based STR Inc. Greg Hanis, president of New Berlin-based Hospitality Marketers International Inc., said although demand has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, hotels are getting more money for the rooms that are being occupied.

STR data showed average daily room rates of the hotel rooms fell in line with 2019 levels in August.

They exceeded them in the following months through November. Average daily rate is another metric used to gauge industry performance.

Hanis said strength in average daily rates is being seen across the country and is a sign that hotel operators do not have to offer discounts to entice travelers.

“The hotels did not discount as much as they have in other recessions or economic downturns,” he said. “They said, ‘Well, people want to travel. Let them pay the rate.’ And that is pretty much what has happened here.”

Hanis said hotel developers in this market are likely thinking the same thing as others in the industry: 2022 is going to be a “significant swing year,” and the hotel market will be at or above where it was in 2019. He said if the new hotel projects break ground in early spring, they would be ready by 2023.

“By that time, if everything holds positive for the balance of the year, I think there’s going to be the ability for these markets to absorb an appropriate number of new rooms,” he said. n

ALEX ZANK Reporter

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Supporting:

Economic Outlook | Employment Trends | Technology biztimes.com / 17

STORY COVER

Economic Trends 2022

Pandemic causes

in the economy Examining the great reallocation

The U.S. and global economies have been under severe stress since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. The pandemic has caused shifts in the economy, some likely temporary, but others could be permanent.

Nearly two years since it began, the pandemic rages on with the highly contagious but less severe omicron variant. Hospitals in Wisconsin have been overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients since the delta variant’s significant spread throughout the U.S. in the second half of 2021.

The presence of an extremely transmissive but more benign variant will hopefully bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps establishing it an endemic (something we simply live with).

In 2021 there was hope that the availability of COVID-19 vaccines would be the thing to bring the pandemic to an end. COVID-19 cases dropped significantly in the middle of the year, but then there was a resurgence of the virus as it spread, mostly among unvaccinated individuals.

18 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

As COVID-19 cases waned, U.S. GDP rose 6.7% in the second quarter of 2021. But as the pandemic flared up again, U.S. GDP only grew 2.3% in the third quarter.

Inflation has been a major headwind for the economy. Government stimulus during the pandemic, in the U.S. but in other nations has well, has likely contributed to inflation. But the pandemic also caused a shift in consumer habits away from social experiences in favor of consumer goods, and the supply chain has struggled to keep up, which has also led to higher prices.

The Consumer Price Index rose 7% from December of 2020 to December of 2021, the largest 12-month increase since 1982. Energy prices rose 29.3% over the last year, and food prices increased 6.3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Another challenge for the economy is the extremely tight labor market, which has also been exacerbated by the pandemic as some workers left

MICHAEL KNETTER the labor force and have not returned. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.9% in December, and Wisconsin’s is even lower at 3.0%. That’s good news for workers, of course, but many businesses are struggling to fill open positions, which is hurting their ability to grow. U.S. job growth has been tepid.

The tight labor market and inflation are contributing to higher wages – again, good for workers but a challenge for businesses.

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STORY COVER

Despite the challenges, there are indications the economy is gaining steam. The GDPNow indicator from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta projects 5% GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2021.

So, where are we headed in 2022? Will the pandemic finally come to an end? Is inflation going to derail an economic recovery? Will people working at home return to the office? Have the economic shifts of the pandemic created a great reallocation and therefore a new normal?

To answer these questions and more, we once again turn to Michael Knetter, an economist and the president and chief executive officer of the University of Wisconsin Foundation. Knetter served as a White House economic advisor for the George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations, and each year he provides a macro economic outlook at BizTimes Media’s annual Economic Trends Event (to be held on Jan. 27).

BizTimes Milwaukee editor Andrew Weiland recently conducted his annual economic outlook Q&A with Knetter. Following are those questions and his responses.

BIZTIMES: What is your take on the overall economy? The pandemic – and attempts to fight it – has shaken up so many things, including the labor force, the supply chain, inflation and commercial real estate. Where are we headed in 2022?

KNETTER: “There is still significant capacity for growth. Unemployment rates are low, but that is partly due to weak labor force participation. I think that will resolve by fall. People will need to work to maintain balance sheets, and the pandemic will have subsided enough to become an endemic, and we will see a next normal assert itself.”

BIZTIMES: In an earlier conversation, you used the term ‘great reallocation’ to describe what you see happening in the economy. What did you mean by that?

KNETTER: “It is a refinement or extension of the ‘great resignation,’ a term used to suggest a mass exodus of workers from existing jobs. The great resignation is a real thing, but only part of the story. The pandemic caused a disruption in labor supply and consumer demand that is unprecedented. The closest analogy might be the forced changes to labor, production and consumption that accompany a wartime economy. As the pandemic abates (and I think we will see that in 2022), we will see another great reallocation of labor and spending from a pandemic-constrained outcome to a new normal.

“The new normal will look much like the old normal except there will be more opportunity for remote work (I would guess 25% of total hours 20 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

worked will be remote versus 5% pre-pandemic, with big variations by industry, per research done

by Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom) and less business travel (which will hurt hospitality and airlines). Both of these shifts will be good for productivity and quality of life.

“Some of the decline in labor force participation is forever lost as people retired early, but that is a temporary loss as they would have retired eventually anyway. Most of the decline will be reversed once we are confident schools will stay open and dual-earner families can return to normal.

“Labor will gain slightly relative to capital in the split of the economic pie. Remote work options do eliminate some of the frictions in the labor market that favored capital, which was always more mobile than labor and especially so in a globalizing economy.

“By the end of 2022, I am predicting we will be in our new normal.”

BIZTIMES: The supply chain mess has been felt throughout the economy. What’s going on there? Do you think that will work itself out in 2022, or is this a long-term systemic problem?

KNETTER: “The supply chain disruptions resulted mainly from two things: pandemic disruptions to the workforce in key input sectors and transportation (shipping) and large shifts in consumer demand away from things like leisure and hospitality into hard goods. Both labor supply and consumer demand shifts caused shortages throughout the economy. These will get worked out in 2022.”

BIZTIMES: Inflation is a significant issue, as the CPI is rising at the fastest pace since 1982. What do you expect to happen with inflation in 2022?

KNETTER: “Inflation starts the year high, around 6% and then subsides to more like 4% at year end with further deceleration in 2023 as the new normal sets in. By 2024, we will see inflation back between 2-3%.”

BIZTIMES: Why hasn’t the Fed taken action yet to tamp down inflation? What do you expect them to do in 2022?

KNETTER: “I think the Fed wanted to be sure we were past the worst pandemic shocks before tackling inflation. It seems they feel we are finally there. They are banking on everyone understanding that some inflationary pressures are truly temporary and can be reversed. The market expects three 25 basis point hikes in 2022, and I think we will get them.”

BIZTIMES: With so many people working from

home, shopping online and ordering carry-out, the pandemic has shaken up the commercial real estate market, especially for office space. Do you think work from home is with us permanently? Is the 9-to5, seven-days-a-week work schedule in the office a thing of the past?

KNETTER: “Nicholas Bloom has a trove of data and analysis on this subject. I predict that 25% of hours worked will be done remotely in the new normal, a five-fold increase relative to 2019. The impact on office space will be negative and very uneven. Where you have high concentration of industry where remote work is a viable option, we will see larger disruptions. I would think of Manhattan as a leading example.”

BIZTIMES: What do you expect from the stock market in 2022?

KNETTER: “A surprise, but I am not sure what kind!

I think it is a year fraught with risks of all sorts … policy risks, geopolitical risks and more. I’m going to forecast a flat stock market but that is the average of two very different worlds. If policymakers navigate the transition to lower inflation smoothly, there is room for equities to march higher. But there is a risk of a mistake or a geopolitical event that could provoke a shift to a risk off environment and a correction.”

BIZTIMES: How will U.S. GDP fare in 2022?

KNETTER: “I expect real GDP growth to be around 3.7%, which is above long-term trend and reflects growing labor force participation as the pandemic resolves.”

BIZTIMES: Any final thoughts?

KNETTER: “We have gone through a two-year period unlike anything most of us will ever experience (or so we hope). The entire world was upended by a virus that was especially lethal for older and immunocompromised people. The global pandemic will have long-term implications that are yet to be seen. The following significant changes can be attributed, at least in part, to the pandemic: » Dramatic increases in sovereign government indebtedness and central bank balance sheets. » A reversal of the global integration of the economy that had been ongoing since the 1970s (most notably the inward shift of China). » A change in the executive branch of government (I am conjecturing Trump would have been re-elected but for his attitude toward the pandemic).

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STORY COVER

» A revolution in remote-work options. » A shift away from travel and events toward more home-based activities and spending, reducing the variety of our experiences but maybe increasing our sense of intentionality about what we do and who we do it with. » Increased polarization in viewpoints and skepticism of traditional government, media or science authorities (or conventional wisdom).

“The global pandemic brought most people closer to small circles of relationships but has almost certainly caused greater detachment from everything outside of our small circles except that which is available on the internet. This is also true for countries. That is a bit ironic, since one might have imagined a global pandemic would bring nations into deeper collaboration. Instead, it has been more of a competition to acquire the resources to fight the pandemic internally or even locally.

“I believe that the pandemic has made our world more insular and divided. My hope that the pandemic would restore some faith and trust in science proved optimistic. The scientific path toward understanding new phenomena with a high degree of confidence is often slow and winding.

The voices of thoughtful scientists were too often overwhelmed by media and political voices with divisive agendas that serve their own interests.

Entertainment masquerading as news is just too seductive for most consumers, and so the voices of moderate thoughtful scientists are not able to get much of an audience.

“Solving challenging problems in the public space at the state or national level has gotten more difficult because of polarization and distrust that seem to have grown during the pandemic. And unfortunately, federal indebtedness and central bank balance sheet expansion may put a premium on national economic policy management. Can our two-party system find a way to come together to address pressing national problems when we are already overextended in our fiscal and monetary policies? Unlikely. If one party had control, would we like the actions they might take? I wish I felt more confident about that.

“Solving global problems, like the pandemic itself or pollution and climate change, has likely also gotten more difficult due to the inward turn of most nations. And global problems are growing. Western democracies certainly need to pull closer together and take global leadership before

China does.

“On the plus side, the private sector has shown an amazing ability to adapt and solve complex new problems quickly and effectively. That was never more evident than in the first three months of pandemic lockdowns. Markets were disrupted but new solutions filled the void remarkably quickly, aided of course by massive fiscal and monetary stimulus.

The work-from-home revolution that was born of necessity will deliver a long-term environmental and productivity dividend.

“The gulf between the effectiveness of the public sector and private sector is large and growing.

The only way that is a healthy thing for the country is if the private sector can begin to help tackle the challenges that the public sector traditionally addressed. Whether the private sector can organize at the scale needed to address national and global challenges remains to be seen. The vaccine development and recent space travel forays suggest that private sector actors are showing more interest in these grand challenges. How can we shift the incentives of private actors to engage them in the new challenges we face? If elected officials cannot fix our major problems, maybe they can figure out how to outsource them to people who can.” n

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SysLogic’s Tina Chang on protecting your business from cyber threats AS TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES to become a bigger part of our personal and professional lives each day, businesses are inadvertently opening themselves up to potential risks as more data and personal information is gathered.

BizTimes reporter Ashley Smart recently spoke with Tina Chang, chief executive officer of Brookfield-based IT firm SysLogic and a speaker at BizTimes Media’s Economic Trends Event on Jan. 27, about how businesses can be more aware of possible threats.

opening yourself up to potential vulnerability a decade from now. You don’t necessarily know if there are ways people can embed themselves into your environment today to do something down the road. I think we end up hearing about the one or two big (hacking incidents) because there is regulation that forces large companies to have to report to the government. We don’t hear how frequently our small-to-medium-sized peers are getting breached because we don’t have to share those stories with each other.”

BIZTIMES: Heading into this new year, how big of an issue is cybersecurity for small and mid-size companies?

BIZTIMES: What are some of the first steps businesses and individuals can take to protect themselves?

CHANG: “I think the obvious answer is that this is a huge issue and it’s especially getting to be more and more of an issue as businesses are realizing that they’re introducing more automation, technology and digital strategies to just stay competitive. As you continue to do that, you are making cybersecurity more of an issue for yourself. I don’t necessarily believe when businesses think about staying competitive — when they think about ‘How do I become more innovative in my business model?’ — do they necessarily think about what risks it might introduce.”

CHANG: “Knowing that smaller and medium-sized businesses do not have a big budget to do everything they probably should be doing, it is a combination of purchasing some basic tools together with awareness, employee training and really good business processes that protect your own ability to create your own vulnerabilities. Think about the employee that didn’t necessarily mean to do any harm but clicks on a link in an email and gives information that all of a sudden opens up the ability for malware or a virus to enter the ecosystem. There’s so much we can prevent just with good behavior.”

BIZTIMES: Why don’t businesses prioritize cybersecurity as much as they should?

CHANG: “I think small and medium-sized businesses, and you can even take this to the individual level, they start with, ‘Well this won’t happen to me.

Why would they care about my business when they could go attack somebody so much larger or more meaningful or who has more data?’

“To me, that is such a dangerous position because if you’re not protecting yourself today, you’re

BIZTIMES: How has SysLogic fared throughout the pandemic?

CHANG: “I think what the pandemic brought in sending everybody home was a general awareness on our reliance and efficiencies that can come from technology. You had entities all of a sudden aligning more of their budgets to technological initiatives.

From that perspective, we obviously were able to just increase our fair share of budget because of

TINA CHANG what was happening within society. Beyond that, we were prepared as a technology company to go remote — no surprise there. It was really not a hard change for us at all. Our challenge with working remote was with clients who didn’t necessarily feel the same way. What the pandemic did was it forced them to be comfortable with remote work.

The acceptance of remote work and ability to serve them did not go away because they had to do it. All of a sudden, this idea of doing remote work for a much larger market became realistic. In 18 months, we went from being in three states to now eight states. We’re now a national company.”

BIZTIMES: How do you see the issue of cybersecurity continuing to evolve in the coming years?

CHANG: “I don’t know if it’s about cybersecurity evolving, but the expectations for society to focus on cybersecurity will continue to evolve at a rapid pace in areas that we didn’t normally think about.

Did a consumer ever think about needing their smart refrigerator to also be a product to protect their privacy? Did we ever think as we were selling goods online that a consumer might now think about where companies are sharing their data? I think the largest changes are going to come from the consumer experience and their expectations on privacy and how that affects businesses and the products they offer.” n biztimes.com / 23

Special Report ECONOMIC TRENDS

Once omicron abates, what’s next?

Dr. Raymond of the Medical College provides health outlook for 2022 IF A RETURN TO NORMAL appeared on the horizon at the outset of 2021 thanks to the arrival and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, the spread of the delta variant and then the highly infectious omicron variant by the end of the year brought turbulence to a country eager to emerge from the pandemic.

So far in 2022, the sheer volume of COVID cases has led to an all-time high of hospitalized patients with the virus, the reverberations of which are felt among non-COVID patients who are waiting longer than usual to be seen at urgent care clinics and are being forced to suspend non-emergency procedures. Already facing serious staffing shortages, health care systems have sounded the alarm, urging people to get vaccinated and continue masking to slow the influx of patients in their facilities.

Meanwhile, the omicron spike has delayed return-to-the-office plans, forced some schools to revert to virtual instruction and prompted the cancellation of some large-scale events.

BizTimes associate editor Lauren Anderson recently caught up with Dr. John Raymond, Sr., president and chief executive officer of the Medical College of Wisconsin, who provided a public health outlook for the year and advice for employers who continue to navigate the disruption brought on by the pandemic.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As COVID cases and projections change daily, note that Raymond’s answers reflect a mid-January press time.

BIZTIMES: How long is omicron expected to run its course? And then what happens next?

RAYMOND: “Omicron is expected to peak within

the next two weeks, and to wane over the following six to eight weeks. We should watch carefully how the omicron surge continues to progress in South Africa, U.K. and Denmark, but more importantly in U.S. cities that are about 10 days ahead of us in the spread of omicron, such as New York, Boston and Chicago. After the omicron surge abates, we will need to be vigilant for the emergence of new variants.”

BIZTIMES: There’s a lot of talk of the coronavirus becoming endemic in 2022. How, on a practical level, will that change how we live with and manage it?

RAYMOND: “It is possible that COVID-19 will become endemic in 2022. What that means on a day-to-day practical level is that we will have achieved somewhat of a steady state in terms of background levels of COVID-19, and that we will have achieved a new equilibrium between public health measures and restoring some semblance of our pre-pandemic life. This transition will not be like flipping a switch but will occur more gradually over time.”

BIZTIMES: How can employers manage COVID fatigue among their employees?

RAYMOND: “COVID-19 fatigue is a real challenge for all of us. Employers should be consistent with messages that are easy to understand and are based on concern about the health and safety of their employees and customers.”

BIZTIMES: How do you expect COVID will affect workplaces moving forward this year? And what would you recommend employers do related to their offices?

DR. JOHN RAYMOND, SR. RAYMOND: “Office reopening plans should be deferred until March 1, 2022, if possible, to allow the omicron surge to abate.”

BIZTIMES: Do you expect more employers to begin requiring booster shots for employees?

RAYMOND: “Yes, but I believe that fewer employers will require boosters than required full vaccination, because 1) mandates are difficult and contentious, 2) tracking boosters poses logistical difficulties, and 3) fully vaccinated but not boosted still provides a strong measure of protection from hospitalization and death from COVID-19 (at least based on what we know as of early January 2022).”

BIZTIMES: In addition to fatigue, some feel as though the goalposts continue to move in terms of what they’re expected to do (masking, no masking, vaccines, boosters, etc.). What would you say to those who are frustrated with changing CDC recommendations?

RAYMOND: “This virus (not the CDC or public health officials) has moved the goalposts by constantly improving its ability to infect human beings. The CDC is doing its best to communicate changing guidelines for a dynamic, shapeshifting virus. The COVID-19 pandemic is unlike any public health challenge that we have faced in over a century.

Resistance to simple public health interventions has kindled misinformation, politicized science, demonized health care workers and has prolonged the pandemic.”

BIZTIMES: Any other important messages you think business leaders need to know for the upcoming year?

RAYMOND: “Encourage vaccinations and mitigation measures, beginning and ending from a position of concern for the safety, health and well-being of their employees and customers.” n

24 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

Consumers expected to spend less in 2022 as retail prices continue to climb

BY MAREDITHE MEYER, staff writer DURING A TIME marked by unpredictability and constant change, it should come as no surprise that consumers are behaving outside the norm – particularly in response to rising prices.

“The typical outlook on inflation is that it’s going to depress purchases because it lowers consumer sentiments, but what we’re seeing is something very strange,” said Brian Spaid, assistant professor of marketing at Marquette University.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices rose 7% in 2021, marking the biggest annual increase since 1982. But at the same time, U.S. holiday retail sales reached a record high, jumping 8.5% over 2020, according to a Mastercard report.

Spaid cautions against getting too comfortable with that trend.

“I would not expect to see that level of enthusiastic retail consumption to continue, especially given inflation,” he said.

Looking into 2022’s crystal ball, he expects spending to slow across the board, potentially resulting in a year-over-year decline. That will be the case specifically in areas where inflation has hit the cost of goods hardest, such as fast food, which saw consumer prices climb 8% in 2021.

Independent of inflation, Spaid is certain online purchases will only continue to grow this year – “essentially cannibalizing” in-store sales – as some consumers solidify online shopping as their new norm.

The shift toward e-commerce is nothing new for the apparel retail category, which ended the year with consumer prices up 5.8%, the most significant increase since the 1980s.

“It was time,” said Mark Kohlenberg, chief executive officer of Milwaukee Boot Co., Moral Code Footwear and Accessories, and Well Dressed Men (WDM) Footwear and Accessories.

In the business of both manufacturing and retailing footwear, Kohlenberg is dealing with inflation on several levels, one being supply chain and logistics.

“We source raw materials like hardware, buckles, laces and different components for accessories from a variety of countries around the world, and you need 100% of those components ready to roll when production starts,” he said. “We’ve been affected both with delays and increased costs for all of those components.”

While bumping prices on the retail side may seem like the most effective solution from a business standpoint, the group has so far eaten the ad-

ditional cost.

“We didn’t want to overreact and raise prices overnight just because we had a cost increase on our side, but it has persisted now for several months without much improvement,” he said.

Bulky shoes and boots aren’t usually cheap cargo, but shipping costs in the past year alone have in some cases quadrupled. If conditions don’t improve within the next few months, those costs will have to be passed on to customers as a $5 to $10 markup, said Kohlenberg.

However, a modest price increase won’t likely interfere with demand, which for direct-to-consumer brands Milwaukee Boot Co. and Moral Code has remained strong since July as people gradually return to the office and in-person activities.

“People are people – they want something new.

They don’t want to be sitting around wearing the same old stuff forever,” he said. “If anything, right now, we don’t have enough inventory. We cut back significantly during COVID, and we haven’t yet recovered in terms of replenishing our own inventory to meet demand.”

Thanks to persisting supply chain disruption and skyrocketing freight costs on the production and fulfillment side, consumers will likely see pric-

es get worse this year before they get better.

“Manufacturers are the ones that were eating those cost increases for a bit; now they just simply can’t. Manufacturers are truly the ones that are going to drive the price increases at retail,” said Jeff Peterson, co-founder and chief executive officer of Delevan-based Geneva Supply Inc. The third-party logistics provider helps manufacturers grow their business through Amazon and other e-commerce platforms.

With bottlenecks likely to linger for a few more months, Peterson is telling clients to focus now on bringing inventory levels back up to where they need to be.

That way, if supply chain issues improve later this year, the remainder 2022 can be all about driving sales. But until then, it’s also important to hold down your customer base.

“Just because you’re out of stock, find a different way to engage with consumers,” Peterson said.

“We’re in a situation where consumers realize that these challenges are broad based – all categories, all industries, all brands. … People are having a higher level of understanding of manufacturers being out of stock and the challenges of these price increases, so maintain that engagement.” n biztimes.com / 25

Special Report ECONOMIC TRENDS

Investor, tenant demand means strong apartment market will continue in 2022 MILWAUKEE’S MULTI-FAMILY REAL ESTATE MARKET has been a bright spot throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Apartments remained occupied. Developers have put forward more projects than in recent years to meet strong demand. National firms have brought new investment dollars into the market.

Industry experts say they expect that strength to continue into the new year.

“I think, overall, we’re in for an exciting 2022,” said Rick Stoll, managing partner at Milwaukee-based Harmoniq Residential, which manages 2,200 apartment units in Wisconsin and Illinois, from the Fox Cities to the northern Chicago suburbs.

Stoll predicted apartment unit occupancies will continue rising, as will market-rate rents. He added there will also likely be fewer concessions from landlords, such as promotional rates or rent discounts, despite new supply coming online.

Milwaukee is in desperate need of more units.

Gard Pecor, senior market analyst with CoStar Group Inc., said Milwaukee has lagged behind other major markets in new apartment construction over the past couple years. Demand for apartments in Milwaukee boomed during that same period.

“That’s what has led Milwaukee to have some of the lowest vacancy rates in the country,” Pecor said.

26 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

The Milwaukee market has a roughly 2.9% apartment vacancy rate, he said. This is the lowest rate in the Midwest and one of the lowest among the top 100 markets across the U.S. Milwaukee peaked for new apartment construction in 2017, when it had about 4,300 new units underway. In 2020, fewer than 2,000 new units were under construction in the metro area.

One driver of heightened apartment demand is the lack of single-family homes for sale. The Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors reported this month that 2021 was a record-breaking year, with 23,827 homes sold in the metro area. The problem is that there aren’t enough homes listed for sale or under construction to meet homebuyer demand.

Metropolitan Milwaukee only had enough single-family home listings to satisfy 1.9 months of demand (the time it would take to sell all of the homes on the market at a given time), according to GMAR. Subtracting listings with an offer, inventory stood at 0.7 months. Six months is considered a balanced market; anything less than that is a seller’s market.

As a result of tight inventories and high demand, area home prices climbed about 10.8% in 2021.

Pecor said people who normally would be able to buy homes are being priced out of the market.

They are turning to apartments.

BY ALEX ZANK, staff writer More apartment units are on the way throughout metro Milwaukee. Headlining those projects are three new market-rate towers at various stages of development in downtown Milwaukee and the Historic Third Ward neighborhood.

Ascent, a 259-unit mass timber tower at 700 E. Kilbourn Ave., is scheduled to open later this year.

The Couture, a 322-unit, 44-story building under construction at 909 E. Michigan St., is slated for 2023 completion. Another project, yet to start construction, is a 295-unit tower at 333 N. Water St. in the Third Ward.

“We are starting to see a surge in construction activity, and I think the demand is absolutely there for downtown Milwaukee,” Pecor said.

The downtown area itself has an apartment vacancy rate of 5.6%. Even though downtown vacancy is higher than the Milwaukee area as a whole, it is still quite low in comparison to other metro city centers. The vacancy rate in downtown Minneapolis is 13.2%, for instance.

Milwaukee’s downtown has about 1,100 apartment units under construction, Pecor said.

That amounts to about 6.8% of current inventory and is similar to the average rate of construction in other markets.

Downtown Minneapolis, with its notably

RENDERING: SOLOMON CORDWELL BUENZ.

The planned 32-story, 295-unit tower at 333 N. Water St. in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward.

higher vacancy rate, is building at a rate that amounts to 11.2% of current inventory. That’s almost twice the rate at which downtown Milwaukee is building, with a vacancy rate that’s more than double Milwaukee’s.

As another example, downtown Cleveland has an 11.6% vacancy rate and has units under construction that equal 12% of current inventory.

Communities outside of Milwaukee are also seeing their fair share of apartment projects. The west suburban area of Wauwatosa and West Allis is especially busy, Pecor said.

“Demand there is also extremely high, but they have not been building,” he said, minus a few projects such as the Crescent Apartments in

Wauwatosa, which opened last spring.

There is a backlog of as many as 1,500 units that are in the planning or approvals process, Pecor said.

The lack of supply tied with tight demand is made clear in what landlords are charging for rents. Wauwatosa had the highest rent growth in the area last year, of around 9.5%, Pecor said.

“We’re going to continue to see that rent growth if they don’t keep up that rate of supply,” he said. “If they don’t build this inventory to meet this demand, landlords have the power to keep pushing rents at that rate.”

Stoll also pointed to strong apartment growth in outer-ring suburbs and exurbs, including Mequon, Cedarburg, Grafton and Hartland.

Apartment projects there look different than the downtown towers. Stoll said developers are building apartments that feel like single-family homes, with private entrances and attached garages. Developers are also starting to introduce better amenities to these areas, such as restaurants.

“A lot of our clients have gotten really smart at looking at those markets,” he said.

One such project is the proposed redevelopment of the Wilo Machine Co. plant in Cedarburg.

The plan calls for 220 new residential units, including a pocket neighborhood of 26 single-family homes, 44 townhouses and two apartment buildings totaling 150 units.

Another consequence of rising rents, low vacancies and higher yields is an increasing level of investor interest.

Recent investment deals include California-based Hilbert Properties’ acquisition of two apartment properties in Milwaukee for nearly $39.4 million. The two properties included the Easton on the city’s East Side and the Quartet in Walker’s Point. Illinois-based Next Realty LLC recently bought the Dolphin Square apartments in Wauwatosa for $10.3 million.

Pecor said total sales of area multi-family properties in 2021 reached about $420 million, more than double the previous year’s levels and a nearly 60% increase from the previous record set in 2019.

Out-of-state investors accounted for 63% of total sales volume, or a little more than $260 million, he said. In 2020, they accounted for 12%. The threeyear average between 2017-‘19 was about 53%. The remaining $160 million in local investment deals last year marks one of the most active years for local investors as well, Pecor added.

Stoll said multi-family properties make for sound investments.

“What we really like about multi-family as it relates to being one of the stronger asset classes is it has very low volatility,” he said.

An office property could lose one big tenant and have a sizable chunk of space become vacant.

In comparison, an apartment building rarely sees mass, sudden vacancies, short of a major insurance claim, he said.

One thing Stoll said he will have his eyes on is how quickly the new downtown Milwaukee luxury towers fill up. Those properties are pushing the boundaries of high-end rental rates, he said. While many high-end properties are charging $2 per square foot or more per unit, the newest ones will be around $3 per square foot.

Stoll said he wonders how much of an appetite Milwaukee renters will have for that high-end pricing. It is not a massively high-income market like Los Angeles or New York, he noted.

But there are signs that there’s appetite for that price point in Milwaukee. The 35-story, 310unit 7Seventy7 apartment building at 777 N. Van Buren St. downtown, for instance, has high occupancy, Stoll said. Industry experts say that building paved the way for other luxury towers now under construction in Milwaukee.

Stoll also pointed out that Ascent developer New Land Enterprises said the project is drawing strong early interest from prospective tenants. The Milwaukee-based firm said in December Ascent had 26 reservations, something New Land hadn’t seen before at this stage of development.

“Is it a concern? No,” Stoll said. “It’s just going to be very interesting to see how that product gets absorbed.” n

biztimes.com / 27

Special Report

CREDIT: MSPHOTOGRAPHIC / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

ECONOMIC TRENDS

Amid supply chain chaos, paying attention to the details matters more

BY ARTHUR THOMAS, staff writer SANDI SIEGEL HAS HAD a pretty good seat for the chaos taking place in global supply chains. She’s the president of M.E. Dey & Co., a freight forwarder and customs broker, which means she’s regularly working with her team to move freight, figure out which methods of transportation to use and how to route it to its final destination.

M.E. Dey works with importers and exporters, and, besides arranging for the movement of cargo, the Milwaukee-based company also deals with compliance and customs issues.

This fall, when supply chain issues broke through into mainstream news with images of ships waiting outside of ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, it actually made the work a little easier as customers better appreciated the scale of the ongoing chaos.

Even once supply chain issues became a national story, Siegel said people she knows would ask if it was just about microchips or offer their own theory about why the country was facing logistics issues.

“The most misunderstood issue is it’s not one single thing, and there’s not one solution,” Siegel said.

She will be among the speakers at the BizTimes Media Economic Trends event on Jan. 27 at the Italian Community Center. The event is sponsored by Annex Wealth Management and BMO Harris Bank.

Some people will blame the issues on a shortage of truckers. There is a shortage, but even if the number of drivers doubled, there would still be a shortage of chassis to put containers on, Siegel said.

Even if the chassis problem were solved, ports are backlogged because of labor issues and infrastructure challenges. Ships are waiting to get into ports, so their empty containers are not making it back to Asia in high enough numbers to keep up.

“There’s so many parts of it and it’s so interwoven that there are a lot of things that have to change,” Siegel said.

She said there are two main drivers of sup28 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

ply chain issues currently: Demand outweighs supply because buying habits have changed, and COVID continues to impact the workforce at ports and suppliers.

“If COVID were more under control … then our buying patterns might change, right? Then we’re going to go back to going on vacation and doing some of these things and buy a little less (consumer goods),” Siegel said.

The challenges for the supply chain system are substantial. Daily import shipments have reached all-time highs and are up 40% from where they were two years ago, Siegel said. There were 91 ships waiting to get into the ports of L.A. and Long Beach at the end of the year, and the spot rate for ocean containers from Asia to the West Coast has been five to 10 times what it was for the past decade.

“Everybody expects rates to remain escalated well through second quarter 2022,” Siegel said.

“Where they are after this is somewhat unknown.”

She said variables like the spread of COVID and trade negotiations will shape how things play out.

Another issue is ocean carriers increasingly looking to negotiate directly with the owners of cargo instead of working with freight forwarders, Siegel said. Many are looking to lock those cargo owners in at set pricing for two years instead of the standard one-year contract to take advantage of uncertainty.

“Are you locking in at a good rate or is the market going to drop all of a sudden in six months?

That’s the unknown,” Siegel said.

One result of that trend might be freight forwarders having less space available to offer to their clients.

For businesses in southeastern Wisconsin, Siegel said relationships with providers will be more important than in the past.

“Everybody has more business than they can handle, so what happens? You pick and choose who

SANDI SIEGEL you’re going to work with,” she said. “If you weren’t in the habit of quarterly or routine meetings with your carriers, your freight forwarders, do that now – not only to kind of position yourself, but also to understand the details. The details matter more now than ever.”

Siegel said that while there is chaos everywhere, the level of congestion or delay can be “extraordinarily different” from port to port or even at different terminals within a port.

“You really need to drill down and look at all of your routing options and transportation options down to the detail and look at them holistically,” she said.

If a ship waiting to unload in L.A. is going to add three weeks of transit time, it might make more sense to bring cargo in through the Port of Tacoma in Washington, even if it is a little more expensive.

Siegel also pointed out the situation is fluid.

“Tacoma might be a better option today, but not in three weeks from now,” she said.

Siegel said it might also make more sense to take cargo to a warehouse on the West Coast, unload it and then put it on a truck to drive it to a destination instead of trying to get it to Chicago by rail.

“It’s expensive, but not when you compare it to something that’s sitting at the rail yard for one or two months,” she said. “You have to really challenge yourself to rethink some things that we’ve all relied on for so many years.” n

ManpowerGroup CEO on how companies can solve their workforce needs

BY ARTHUR THOMAS, staff writer IF THE LABOR MARKET was tight before the pandemic, it is even tighter now and the challenges are more acute in southeastern Wisconsin.

Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 3.3%. It spiked to 14.8% in April 2020, but by November 2021 the rate was down to 3%, tying the previous low from a 12-month stretch in late 2017 and 2018, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Metro Milwaukee’s unemployment rate was 2.2% in November, including a 1.5% rate in Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties and a 2.7% rate in Milwaukee County. Every other county in the region was below 2.3%.

A tight labor market and difficulty finding employees is nothing new for companies, but the pandemic has dramatically altered the way people think about their work.

“Talent shortages continue and employers are competing with a talent pool that has not fully returned to labor markets due to the pandemic,” said Jonas Prising, chairman and chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based workforce solutions firm ManpowerGroup.

Prising will be among the speakers at the annual BizTimes Media Economic Trends Event on Jan. 27 at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee.

The event is sponsored by Annex Wealth Management and BMO Harris Bank.

Even with the unemployment rate below pre-pandemic levels, Wisconsin’s labor market has not fully recovered. The total number of private sector jobs is still down 73,000 from February 2020. The labor force participation rate is 66.4%, up slightly from February 2020, but down from where it was in the fall of 2019. While Wisconsin’s rate is the 10th best in the country, it has been generally trending down since peaking at 68.2% in 2016, according to BLS data.

“Organizations now need to embrace bold

thinking on where, when and how work gets done to meet what workers want while balancing the requirements of business,” Prising said. “When the majority of the workforce are in roles requiring some time in the workplace, now is the time to build flexibility into all roles – from shift scheduling in manufacturing to hybrid work in professional services. Today, everyone is seeking the opportunity to choose when and where they work to a greater degree than before.”

Across the country, millions of people shifted to remote work. Some loved it, some hated it, others had mixed feelings. It remains to be seen exactly how many employees will stay remote, but it is clearly a bigger part of the landscape moving forward. At the same time, many workers have reevaluated their relationship with their job, especially in sectors like health care where the stresses

JONAS PRISING of the pandemic have been high.

This new outlook on work has contributed to the so-called “great resignation.” In November, an estimated 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs, according to the BLS. It was the fifth straight month of more than 4 million quits. Wisconsin saw 82,000 quits. It was third most for a month in data that goes back to 2000. The two higher months came in August, at 95,000, and September, at 88,000.

“Organizations need to be places where people come by choice because they know they can develop their skill sets,” Prising said. “The offer to workers today needs to be: However long you work with us, we can promise you for sure that you will have acquired new skills that make you more competi-

WISCONSIN’S LABOR MARKET PRE-PANDEMIC

Unemployment rate

CURRENT

3.3%

3%

66.2%

66.4%

Quits*

66,000

88,000

Hires*

99,000

116,000

146,000

213,000

Average hourly wage

$26.86

$28.96

Average hourly wage - production workers

$21.90

$22.64

2,583,800

2,510,600

Labor force participation

Job openings*

Private sector employment *3-month average

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics biztimes.com / 29

Special Report ECONOMIC TRENDS tive in the labor market than you were before.”

While some of those quitting their jobs may be leaving the workforce, many are leaving for new jobs. In November, nearly 6.7 million Americans were hired for new jobs, a figure only eclipsed as the economy emerged from COVID shutdowns in June and July of 2021. Wisconsin saw 120,000 hires in September and November, a figure that is in the top 15 in available data.

There is also demand for more hiring. The U.S. saw nearly 10.6 million job openings in November, the sixth straight month above 10 million, including two that topped 11 million. Wisconsin saw 210,000 openings in October, the fifth straight month with more than 200,000. Pre-pandemic, the highest total was 164,000 in late 2018.

More flexibility and a tight labor market have given workers leverage as they consider where they’ll work, something that’s showing up in wages.

The average hourly wage in Wisconsin was $28.96 in November, a $2.10 increase from the same month in 2019 and a 4.1% increase from the same time in 2020, according to BLS data. Production workers in Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector are seeing slightly slower gains. The average hourly wage of $22.64 in November was up 3.2% from 2020.

There are also other factors employees will consider beyond wages.

“Skilled talent is going to be and continue to be the competitive advantage for many organizations, but people are going to choose organizations that promise them progress and a skills portfolio that gives them the freedom to choose where they can work,” Prising said.

Where does Wisconsin stand in that competition?

With a 2.8% drop in private-sector employment compared to February 2020, Wisconsin ranks 21st in the country in recovering from pandemic job losses, according to BLS data. With an already low unemployment rate and record numbers of job openings, the state needs more people, but Wisconsin’s population growth has been lagging behind the rest of the country. In 2021, the state ranked 31st in population growth, adding 3,585 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That slow growth came after the state’s population grew 3.6% in the past decade and the city of Milwaukee’s dropped nearly 3%. The U.S. population grew 7.4% over the same period.

“Here in Wisconsin, we need to be pioneers in showcasing bold, disruptive ideas and collaborating across business, government and education to

build a better future of work,” Prising said. “Now the focus should be moving even further towards outcome-focused training that results in real connections to meaningful work, and mobilizing people in the labor market to show them that they have a path to move up, earn more and develop in their careers.”

Of course, Wisconsin is not alone in dealing with workforce challenges.

“Our general approach to training and workforce development in the U.S. is when I need the person and talent, I will go into the market and I will find them,” Prising said. “What organizations are seeing now is that they’re not able to just find people because the talent is not there at scale. And looking ahead it won’t be there at scale.”

Instead, companies should look at what skill levels are needed at what levels for certain roles.

In some cases, they may need someone with a fouryear degree; in others, they will need someone with a two-year degree or perhaps a series of certificates.

“Most organizations today understand that having access to skilled talent is what’s going to make or break their business strategy,” Prising said.

“That’s true for large organizations, medium-sized organizations and smaller organizations.” n

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Helping CEOs survive and thrive in challenging times

Vistage is the one source you can trust for the latest, most helpful resources for leading in challenging times.

Learn more at: vistage.com

Right now, it must feel like your leadership is being tested in ways you couldn’t have imagined. We understand. For 60+ years we’ve been coaching CEOs and business owners through the best and worst of times. And through it all, our proven-approach to decision-making has helped leaders excel.

It’s the same time-honored approach that our members used during the Great Recession to grow their companies while other small and midsize businesses struggled to stay afloat.

Consider what it would mean to you to have this kind of support right now.

*Vistage CEO member companies who joined in 2006-2008 and were active members in Feb, 2010. CAGR for Vistage member companies calculated for period covering year prior to joining Vistage through 2009. CAGR for D&B U.S. companies based on 2005-2009 revenues, weighted to match Vistage company distribution per year during same period. All companies had >=$1M annual revenue, >=5 employees.

Vistage: 1,265 companies. D&B: approximately 1M U.S. companies.

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY

SPONSORED CONTENT

CONSTRUCTION Campbell Construction

DESPITE INFLATION, supply chain issues and labor shortages, many local construction companies have a healthy backlog of business and a positive outlook for 2022. For anyone contemplating a construction project, there are best practices to support a successful endresult amidst the 2022 state of the industry.

Start with all key partners at the table While architects, contractors, engineers, and interior designers all have valid reasons to be brought into a project from day one. The more expertise, perspectives, and eyes on the details from the beginning, the better off a project will be.

The value of the contractor perspective Having the contractor involved from the project start helps ensure the feasibility of a project, confirm project scope, monitor the budget, and troubleshoot the schedule.

Feasibility: The contractor’s due diligence

process, including reviewing existing site conditions, addresses structural, utility, accessibility, and overall constructability issues.

Scope: The contractor can assist the developer or end user to confirm the intent of the architectural drawings and firm up scope details.

Budget: It is very important for the true project budget to be known and adhered to from the concept phase. The contractor can monitor and perform budget checks along the way to alleviate bid surprises.

Schedule: Due to supply chain issues, it is more critical than ever for contractors to be involved in the materials and equipment selections to help manage the project schedule from the beginning.

Seamless communication, responsiveness and quick decision making are critical to a project’s success.

The risks and rewards With all of the factors influencing construction, one of the biggest changes is the need for clients to

be prepared for more risk. To maintain schedule, contractors need to order materials earlier to guarantee proper delivery.

While teams have had to adjust the construction process, the reward can still be a successfully completed, high quality project delivered on time and within budget.

Visit campbellconstructionbbg.com/ to learn more about Campbell Construction’s portfolio of work.

461 River Crest Ct., Mukwonago, WI. 53149 (262) 436-4760 • campbellconstructionbbg.com

biztimes.com / 31

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY

SPONSORED CONTENT

SOLAR ENERGY Current Electric Company

SAVVY BUSINESS OWNERS and c-suite executives are always looking for strategic and innovative ways to leverage their financial position. Solar energy can be considered a prime investment opportunity.

As businesses contemplate their financial position for 2022, solar energy can be a profit and loss (P&L) game changer. There are on-balance and off-balance sheet benefits for commercial businesses to invest in solar energy.

On-balance sheet benefits Business owners are often surprised as they learn more about the on-balance sheet benefits of a solar project. An investment in solar energy can increase the value of a business, create cashflow and EBITDA improvements. It also: » Lowers current rates, and locks rates in for 30+ years » Produces annual dividends between 10% and 20+% » Yields an increased value for a business for sale “Solar energy is a great opportunity for portfolio diversification with a significant and steady return on

investment,” says Ray Hoffman, marketing manager for Current Electric Company.

Off-balance sheet benefits While sustainability-minded business owners have been first adopters of solar energy, all business owners are becoming aware of the off-balance sheet benefits as well. Implementing sustainable practices, such as solar energy investments, is more than an environmentally conscious corporate value. It is a best practices tool for marketing, sales, and recruitment.

From a marketing perspective, it provides messaging to support community building. It makes a business, such as a manufacturing facility, a promotable good neighbor. This also supports sales.

Businesses committed to environmental responsibility also have an edge with potential employees. It serves as a beneficial recruitment tool.

What’s the catch?

An investment in solar energy is like selecting the right stock option, it has to be a good fit for the balance sheet.

Solar energy investments are usually a longer, smarter play for businesses in a harvesting cash mode with solid balance sheets and predictable results.

The solar industry is growing and businesses looking for a smart investment in 2022 will find solar projects offer a broad range of on and off-balance sheet benefits.

Visit currentelectricco.com/solar/commercial-solar to learn more about Current Electric’s commercial solar services.

Contact Jim Sullivan for a no fee investment proforma tailored to your unique needs.

2942 N 117th St., Wauwatosa, WI 53222 (262) 214-5598 • currentelectricco.com

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY

SPONSORED CONTENT

EDUCATION

Meeting employer needs today

Milwaukee Area Technical College

FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, Milwaukee Area Technical College has delivered highly skilled workers and highly prepared professionals to area employers.

To sustain and strengthen that mission, MATC has developed its first Academic Multiyear Plan (AMP), a comprehensive, long-range educational blueprint that incorporates labor market trends from our region and data to ensure the college’s programs align with what area businesses need during the next three years.

“The world around us changes rapidly, and our faculty and staff are approaching the institutional academic vision from a ‘jobs of the future’ perspective while embracing education that leads to jobs through innovative technical, hands-on, and/or transfer pathways,” said Dr. Naydeen Gonzalez-De Jesus, MATC’s executive vice president, student success.

MATC leaders, administrators and faculty developed the AMP using population demographics, enrollment forecasts, industry data, labor trends, economic analytics and employer demand analyses.

“Using business insights and trends is key for an institution like ours,” said Barbara Cannell, MATC’s dean of academic services. “Being responsive, flexible and agile with our programs is key to our success. We need to be able to pivot quickly and decisively. This plan will help us do that and to meet the needs of our area employers.”

According to the AMP, programs expected to see strong enrollment growth are in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), such as IT support technicians, service center technicians and programmers. Programs expected to

have high employment demand include culinary arts, home health, medical informatics, nursing, education, and energy systems management.

“The vision and guidance provided through this plan positions MATC to continually transform lives as we strive to be the best choice in the region for education, lift up our individual students and meet the workforce needs of regional employers,” Gonzalez-De Jesus said.

700 W. State Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233 (414) 297-MATC (6282) • matc.edu

LYDIA CHARTRE PARTNER

HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP

BizTimes Milwaukee is proud to

Lydia Chartre, a partner at Husch Blackwell LLP, represents condominium and homeowners associations (HOAs) throughout Wisconsin. She is one of two Wisconsin attorneys admitted to the College of Community Association Lawyers, which recognizes excellence in the practice.

present its second showcase of Notable Women in Law spotlighting accomplished professionals throughout the region. The leaders profiled in the following pag-

Chartre has more than 15 years of experience advising condominium association boards of directors on the issues facing them, including declaration and bylaw amendments, assessment collection and foreclosure rule-making, voting and governance issues, and HUD and fair housing issues.

es were nominated by their peers at work and in the community and showcase the diversity of talent in

She regularly speaks on legal issues affecting associations at conferences and seminars put on locally by the Community Associations Institute-Wisconsin Chapter and the State Bar of Wisconsin and nationally at conferences put on by the College of Community Association Lawyers.

our market. The leadership shown by the individuals profiled here is setting an example to shape a better future for our region.

METHODOLOGY: The honorees did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from nomination materials. This list features only individuals for whom nominations were submitted and accepted after a review by our editorial team. To qualify for the list, nominees must be based in southeastern Wisconsin. They must be currently employed as an attorney, practice law in the southeastern Wisconsin area and have impacted the region in significant ways through their professional, civic and philanthropic involvement.

Chartre and her team organize multiple legal seminars for property managers and association board members each year, held in various parts of Wisconsin. Topics have included development and management of condominium associations, interpretation and amendment of governing documents, collections and post-foreclosure considerations.

MARGARET DAUN

ALEXANDRA DON

LYNDA TEMPLEN

CHIEF CORPORATION COUNSEL

ATTORNEY

SENIOR COUNSEL

MALLERY S.C.

HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP

MILWAUKEE COUNTY As Milwaukee County’s chief legal officer, Margaret Daun is responsible for the provision of civil legal services to all departments and elected officials in the county, as well as various community-facing legal services including guardianship and psychological commitment proceedings.

Daun recently led a Wisconsin delegation in lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors — work that resulted in a settlement providing the state approximately $402 million.

Before moving to her county role, Daun helped oversee the City of Milwaukee’s $1 billion 457(b) Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan. After serving for nearly four years as a plan trustee, Daun became the executive director. First as a trustee and then as executive director, Daun led a restructuring of the plan based on operational, investment and fiduciary best practices, as well as state-ofthe-art behavioral finance innovations.

In addition to her current work in the public sector, Daun maintains a small private practice and is a frequent public speaker on a variety of topics, including change management, diversity and inclusion, fiduciary duties, politics and economics.

Alexandra Don is an attorney with Milwaukee-based Mallery S.C., where she represents a wide variety of clients in all facets of the real estate industry ranging from purchasing, selling, leasing and development in both the Milwaukee area and nationally.

Don is a graduate of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate program, a member of CREW Network’s Wisconsin chapter and the winner of the Developing All-Star Award from NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. She is also a 2020 CARW Champion, a CARW NextGen Program Grad and is active in the Junior League of Milwaukee.

“What makes Ali unique is that she is not only brilliant, thorough and successful within her law practice, she is a true asset to the Milwaukee community. It’s uncommon to find someone who is so willing to put themselves out there to help others better themselves alongside her,” said friend and former client Kelly Sullivan, who leads project strategy and development for Gardner Builders.

Don’s involvement in her professional associations takes many forms, including planning golf outings, charity events and networking opportunities.

“She’s only a phone call away with legal advice or a referral made with a smile — she’s an all-around go-to girl,” said Sullivan. “I can only imagine where her continued career advancement will drive her.”

34 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

Lynda Templen, senior counsel at Husch Blackwell LLP’s Milwaukee office, focuses her legal practice on public finance. Known affectionately as “The Bond Queen of Wisconsin,” she’s led a 30-year legal career in handling bond issuances for public and private clients, according to chief executive officer Paul Eberle.

Templen specializes in assisting growing companies in identifying and securing local and state incentives that can help bridge the “equity gap.”

She served as bond counsel on behalf of Bug Tussel Wireless in a collaborative broadband project designed to help narrow the digital divide in Wisconsin. As part of the project, Bug Tussel is issuing taxable bonds in three tranches, where six to eight counties, pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement, agree that a single county will be the conduit issuer and each of the other counties will be a participating county.

In addition, Templen is the firm’s lead attorney for numerous general obligation bond issues, as well as municipal and school district bond counsel engagements.

LISA LAWLESS

ANN MAHER

JENNIFER OLK

SENIOR COUNSEL

PARTNER

PARTNER

HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP

HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP

HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP

Lisa Lawless, senior counsel at the Milwaukee office of Husch Blackwell LLP, is a “lawyer’s lawyer,” often sought out by colleagues with thorny cases and appellate issues, according to chief executive officer Paul Eberle.

During her 29-year career, Lawless has handled more than 100 cases in Wisconsin state and federal appeals courts and has argued in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court five times in the past 11 years.

Among her successes is a ground-breaking decision in 2019 interpreting the Wisconsin Consumer Act, Eberle said.

Lawless’s practice focuses on defending consumer litigation in courts and arbitration and handling appeals on a variety of subjects, including land use regulation and property disputes, as well as constitutional law, election law and administrative law.

She has served on the State Bar Board of Governors for 12 of the past 17 years, chairing committees and winning two President’s Awards for her service. She is an attorney-mentor for Wauwatosa West High’s “We the People” program and serves on the boards of directors of Wild Space Dance Company and Tosa Kickers.

For the past 30 years, Ann Maher, a partner in Husch Blackwell’s Milwaukee office, has helped employers and employees alike on a range of commercial disputes.

Maher’s specialties include contract disputes, franchise agreements, professional malpractice, dealership terminations and construction and commercial lease disputes.

Jennifer Olk is a partner at the Milwaukee office of Husch Blackwell LLP with more than two decades of experience in estate planning and administration. She specializes in the preparation and administration of tailored estate plans to protect clients’ assets and provide a suitable structure for transferring wealth to future generations.

“She understands that litigation is expensive and distracting for clients, whether it involves contract disputes, dealership termination, lease quarrels, contested noncompete agreements or intellectual property issues. She looks to resolve disputes in a practical way to keep the wheels of commerce turning smoothly for her technology, manufacturing and transportation clients,” said Paul Eberle, chief executive officer of Husch Blackwell LLP.

Olk advises clients on techniques to preserve, enhance and extend their wealth, including estate plans to minimize transfer taxes and maximize protection from creditors. She also advises owners of closely held businesses in succession planning and ownership structures and is adept at developing sophisticated estate planning vehicles tailored to the distinct needs of her clients, according to chief executive officer Paul Eberle.

“Ann is more than a litigator; she’s a trusted advisor to company presidents, general counsels and other organizational leaders on a variety of business and legal issues,” he added.

She has experience in organizing and developing succession plans for corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships. Her broader private wealth practice addresses challenges that clients face with respect to estate planning and administration, including marital and community property, private foundations, charitable giving and tax planning.

Maher is also involved in organizations throughout the Milwaukee area, including Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, St. Thomas More’s Lawyer Society, Clement Manor and Ascension Wisconsin.

She is a member of Husch Blackwell’s executive board and a lecturer on litigation-related topics.

Lydia Chartre

Lisa Lawless

Ann Maher

Jennifer Olk

Lynda Templen

Bold in vision. Confident in action.

At Husch Blackwell, we believe the talent, knowledge and perspectives of our people move clients forward. We celebrate our 2021 BizTimes Notable Women in Law: Lydia Chartre, Lisa Lawless, Ann Maher, Jennifer Olk, and Lynda Templen. These five attorneys exemplify client service, professionalism, mentorship, and community involvement. Congratulations to all 2022 Notable Women in Law honorees!

huschblackwell.com

511 North Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202 414.273.2100

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

biztimes.com / 35

MICHELLE EBBEN PARTNER

MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP Michelle Ebben provides strategic counsel and representation to clients involved in a range of construction, real estate and project development matters.

With more than 12 years of experience, Ebben has grown her practice in the areas of real estate and construction to represent clients in real estate purchase, sale, leasing, sale-leaseback transactions; entitlement processes and resolving zoning and land use issues; developing and implementing best practices on large-scale, high-ticket construction and development projects; and construction-related disputes, such as contractor and design defect cases, lien claims, insurance coverage claims and other alternative dispute resolution.

As practice group chair of Milwaukee-based Michael Best & Friedrich’s real estate team, Ebben also provides support and guidance to attorneys under the umbrella of real estate, construction and project development and financing.

Beyond her work with Michael Best, Ebben is involved in several professional organizations, serving as a member of the board of directors for the Milwaukee Bar Association and Wisconsin Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women.

DENISE GREATHOUSE

MOLLY LAWSON

PARTNER

MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP

MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP Denise Greathouse, a partner in Michael Best & Friedrich’s Milwaukee office, brings her experience as a former assistant district attorney in the Waukesha County District Attorney’s office to her labor and employment practice.

With more than 16 years of experience, Greathouse serves clients in sectors including construction, transportation, manufacturing, health care and education. Clients turn to her for guidance on matters ranging from Occupational Safety and Health Administration issues and workplace investigations to labor arbitration and employee health and safety issues.

Greathouse also represents Michael Best as its assistant general counsel, with responsibility for the firm’s 12 offices across seven states.

In addition to her legal work, she is involved in the community and has served on the boards of America’s Black Holocaust Museum, Waukesha Dental Clinic and Pearls for Teen Girls, an organization that provides self-development, skill-development and self-esteem programs for young girls living in the central city.

PARTNER

Molly Lawson, a partner in Michael Best & Friedrich LLP’s Milwaukee office, is experienced in the patent protection area, both in the United States and internationally. Her patent prosecution and patent clearance practice is focused on computer software and hardware technologies.

With more than 11 years of experience as an attorney, Lawson helps companies protect and commercialize technologies including artificial intelligence, wireless networks and communication protocols, vehicle and industrial machinery control systems and cryptographic and security applications. She also drafts contracts for nondisclosure, joint development, hosting service, privacy and license agreements. Lawson also serves as sub-group leader for the firm’s electrical engineering and computer science technologies section.

During her time with the firm, Larson has expanded her practice to represent clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies in the software, automotive, aerospace, mining and medical sectors.

Lawson also volunteered her time with the Marquette Legal Clinic for many years.

SUSAN HANSEN

KIMBERLY HURTADO

SUSAN LOVERN

CO-FOUNDER, FAMILY

FOUNDING PARTNER

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

MEDIATION CENTER PARTNER, HANSEN & HILDEBRAND S.C.

Over her 40-year career, attorney Susan Hansen has focused her practice on working with Wisconsin families. In her family law practice at Milwaukee-based Hansen & Hildebrand, she works with families separating or divorcing. At the Family Mediation Center, which she co-founded, she brings the additional option of mediation to self-represented parties.

The Family Mediation Center works to help couples navigate their divorce and other family issues in a cooperative, private and problem-solving manner while reducing family conflict. An interdisciplinary team including a lawyer mediator, child specialist and neutral financial specialist work as a team to help families reach resolutions that meet the needs of each person.

“What is most striking about Susan’s approach to the practice of law, particularly her focus on family law, is her appreciation that the legal profession is a service profession,” said Eric Steele, a retired attorney who worked in the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s juvenile division.

HURTADO & ZIMMERMAN SC Attorney Kimberly Hurtado, founding partner of Wauwatosa-based Hurtado Zimmerman SC, is widely recognized for her expertise in the construction and real estate industries, according to client and colleague Kim Marotta, vice president of global sustainability for Beam Suntory.

Hurtado’s expertise includes complex construction disputes, particularly structural design and construction defects, bond and lien foreclosure, critical path delay, insurance coverage and contract interpretation claims.

Hurtado wrote the construction contracts for the Santiago Calatrava-designed expansion at the Milwaukee Art Museum and has helped the United Community Center and Meta House with construction contracts for building projects and related bond issuance, all on a pro bono basis. Hurtado also serves on the board of directors for Travaux, Inc., the real estate development arm of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee.

Hurtado has also served as a mentor to young women lawyers.

“I met Kim as my mentor through the State Bar of Wisconsin,” said Yu Ha Kim, associate attorney at Hurtado Zimmerman. “Kim gave me valuable advice and after mentoring me over a year, she offered me a position at her own law firm.”

36 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

VON BRIESEN & ROPER, S.C.

Susan Lovern is the president and chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based von Briesen & Roper, s.c., a position she has held since January 2020. Lovern joined the firm in 1994 as a summer associate and has served on the firm’s board of directors for nine years.

Her work focuses on areas ranging from complex business disputes to class action defense to environmental litigation. She has been recognized on the Top 50 Wisconsin, Top 25 Milwaukee and Top 25 Women lists by Super Lawyers and as a “Woman in the Law” by the Wisconsin Law Journal.

She is also a founding member of the Milwaukee Vistage group, a peer mentoring membership organization for CEOs, business owners and executives of small- to mid-market businesses.

Lovern has held leadership positions in the Thomas E. Fairchild American Inns of Court, Association for Women Lawyers, Milwaukee Bar Association and Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association.

She serves as a board member of the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation and Trustees of Funds and Endowments.

ERIN STROHBEHN

MAUREEN O’LEARYGUTH

PARTNER

GIMBEL, REILLY, GUERIN & BROWN, LLP Attorney Erin Strohbehn started with Milwaukee-based Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown while still a college student. She is now the sole female partner in the firm. Today, her litigation practice includes clients in probate, trust, insurance, employment, business and other civil disputes.

Strohbehn has been recognized as a “Leader in the Law” by the Wisconsin Law Journal and a “Best Lawyer” by the Best Lawyers in America. She has also been named a “Rising Star” and “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine, was recognized as one of National Trial Lawyers of America’s “Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Lawyers” and included in the Best Lawyer’s “Women in the Law” spring edition.

Strohbehn is a frequent public speaker on probate, estate planning and employment litigation topics, a member of the Association for Women Lawyers, the Milwaukee Bar Association and the Wisconsin Association for Justice. She teaches a mock trial camp for middle school girls through her alma mater, Divine Savior Holy Angels High School.

PRESIDENT

CO-PARTNER-IN-CHARGE, MILWAUKEE OFFICE

O’LEARY-GUTH LAW OFFICES, S.C.

HINSHAW & CULBERTSON LLP

Maureen O’Leary-Guth, president of Thiensville-based O’Leary-Guth Law Offices, S.C., was recently elected by her peers to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. ACTEC Fellows must have more than 10 years of experience in the active practice of probate and trust law or estate planning. Lawyers and law professors are elected to be fellows based on their reputation, skill and contributions to the field through lecturing, writing, teaching and participating in bar activities. O’Leary-Guth is one of seven female lawyers in Wisconsin to be recognized by ACTEC. Beyond her legal practice, O’Leary-Guth is an entrepreneur. In the past year, she has doubled her staff and opened a second location, in Mequon.

After her daughter, who is now 6, was born four months early, O’Leary-Guth became involved in Graham’s Foundation as a parent mentor to help other parents of micropreemies. She is also active in the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club, serving as incoming club president. O’Leary-Guth is also an officer, programming chair and director of the Milwaukee Estate Planning Forum.

Congratulations to Erin Strohbehn and all of the leaders being recognized. Continue to take down walls and break through ceilings!

JILL MUNSON

Jill Munson, co-partner-in-charge of the Milwaukee office of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, has more than 25 years of experience as a trial lawyer. She represents health care providers — including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, home health care agencies and assisted living facilities — in successfully resolving malpractice claims and disciplinary actions.

Munson has handled litigation matters in state and federal courts.

She also represents attorneys in a wide range of legal malpractice matters and claims resulting from litigation, trusts and estates, and eminent domain issues.

In addition to her practice and acting as the co-partner-in-charge of the firm’s Milwaukee office, she also serves as the Milwaukee office mentor coordinator.

“Jill has guided multiple young attorneys, offering support and encouragement as they advanced from junior associate to the partner ranks,” said colleague David Hanus, Hinshaw & Culbertson Milwaukee office’s co-partner-in-charge.

Munson also volunteers with Literacy Services of Wisconsin, tutoring students online to help them obtain a high school equivalency diploma.

Congratulations to our partner, Jill Munson, recognized on the list of 2022 Notable Women in Law.

hinshawlaw.com | 414.276.6464 330 East Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 1170, Milwaukee, WI 53202

414-271-1440 | grgblaw.com 38 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

©2022 Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP | Attorney Advertising

DIANE MARCHIK

LECIA JOHNSON

SHANNON BRAUN

SHAREHOLDER

SHAREHOLDER

SHAREHOLDER

GODFREY & KAHN S.C.

GODFREY & KAHN, S.C.

GODFREY & KAHN, S.C.

Diane Marchik, a shareholder for Milwaukee-based Godfrey & Kahn, has made her mark as one of Wisconsin’s top transactional environmental law attorneys by not only helping clients navigate their issues, but also by how she has mentored Wisconsin’s next generation of transactional attorneys, according to colleague Sarah Schenck.

“What makes Diane so successful is not just her keen intellect and tireless grit, but also her commitment to understanding each client’s needs, enabling our environmental team to compete with larger, national firms in complex transactions,” said Schenck, an environmental attorney at Godfrey & Kahn.

The time Marchik invests in the associates she mentors benefits her clients as well, according to Schenck.

“In the most stressful and demanding moments, Diane is consistently a positive presence on our team and vigorous advocate for her clients. She is a force to be reckoned with, and I feel lucky — even in the nadir of challenging transactions — each day I get to work with and learn from her,” Schenck said.

Lecia Johnson is a tax attorney at Milwaukee-based Godfrey & Kahn. Her practice has two areas of focus: helping clients develop tax-efficient executive compensation strategies and working with nonprofits to solve their tax challenges.

“In my view, Lecia is so successful in her legal practice because she empowers clients to make the best possible decisions for their organizations by making complex concepts easy to understand,” said Doug Patch, shareholder at Godfrey & Kahn. “But Lecia’s impact on our firm and our community goes beyond her legal expertise.”

Throughout her career, Johnson has focused on mentoring young attorneys. Currently, she serves in a formal mentorship capacity for several of the junior- and mid-level associates and informally mentors others.

Outside of Godfrey & Kahn, Johnson serves as the board chair of Forest Home Cemetery and serves on the board of Forest Home Historic Preservation Association. She is also a member of TEMPO Milwaukee, the Women’s Affinity Alliance and Milwaukee Women inc.

As a new law school graduate, Braun volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters. The experience motivated her to focus on mentoring, both personally and professionally.

Today, Braun, an estate planning attorney at Milwaukee-based Godfrey & Kahn, serves as a formal mentor to two associate attorneys and is active on multiple firm committees that help attract, retain and advance young professionals. Outside the office, she promotes the advancement of women in law through her involvement in the Association for Women Lawyers.

Beyond mentorship, Braun works with law students to offer free legal aid through the Marquette Legal Clinic and previously served as an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Through her involvement with Wills for Heroes, she helps first responders put their affairs in order.

Braun also serves the community through board service and other involvement with organizations such as the Wisconsin Humane Society, Susan G. Komen, Greater Milwaukee Young Professional Advisor Council and others.

Strong women lead the way It’s remarkable women like Diane Marchik, Lecia Johnson and Shannon Braun who deserve to be celebrated. We are proud of the mentorship they provide to future Godfrey & Kahn leaders and also of the excellent service they provide clients.

We think business. biztimes.com / 39

SALLY PIEFER

LIBBY SOBIC

KATHY NUSSLOCK

EMPLOYMENT LAWYER

DIRECTOR AND LEGAL COUNSEL OF EDUCATION POLICY

SHAREHOLDER

LINDNER & MARSACK, S.C. Sally Piefer, an employment lawyer at Milwaukee-based Lindner & Marsack, S.C., defends employers on the state and federal level. She provides counseling and training and offers expertise related to HR and workplace issues.

Prior to joining Lindner & Marsack in 2016, Piefer led the employment law team at The Schroeder Group, S.C. for more than 17 years, representing employers in a variety of employment-law matters. Shortly after joining the firm, Piefer was named a shareholder and within two years was added to the firm’s governing board of directors.

WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY As director and legal counsel of education policy for the Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, Libby Sobic works with stakeholders and clients on legal and policy issues related to K-12 education in the state.

She has been involved in litigation relating to transportation rights of private school children, promoting school choice for children with special needs and fighting on behalf of students to access in-person learning during the pandemic.

In addition to management-side labor and employment law practice, Piefer has spent much of the past two years assisting the firm’s clients in navigating COVID-19 legal compliance issues, including tele-commuting, ADA and FMLA compliance, masking mandates, COVID-19 testing policies and mandates.

She has authored several policy reports and works with legislators in Madison to advance bill proposals to empower families and promote educational freedom. Her op-eds and commentary have been published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, Forbes, The Hill and the Wall Street Journal.

Piefer is also involved with Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin. She will begin a two-year term as the board chair of FAEW in July 2022.

Additionally, Sobic recently helped craft legislation to create transparency about public school funding. The legislation was recently signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers.

DAVIS|KUELTHAU, S.C. Veteran trial attorney Kathy Nusslock balances a litigation practice with mentoring other professionals.

Her personal approach to mentoring makes a significant difference in her mentees’ success as practicing legal professionals as well as their ability to individually market their skills, said Sara Reynolds, a colleague with Milwaukee-based Davis|Kuelthau, s.c.

Nusslock previously served as chief operating officer for three years and firm president for two years before returning to an active litigation practice focused on civil litigation, employment law and trust and estate litigation.

She has been recognized annually as a Wisconsin Super Lawyer since 2005 and as one of the Best Lawyers in America since 2015.

Nusslock is a fellow in the American Bar Foundation and the Wisconsin Law Foundation. She has served on the faculty of the National Trial Advocacy College at the University of Virginia School of Law since 1996 and is a frequent speaker on litigation topics.

Congratulations to the 2022 NOTABLE WOMEN IN THE LAW!

Congratulations Sally A. Piefer 2022 BizTimes Notable Women in the Law

Winning strategies for empoyers since 1908

Kathy Nusslock 2022 BizTimes Notable Woman in the Law Honoree

Davis|Kuelthau proudly encourages the celebration of those who go above and beyond in the legal industry. Together, we extend a special congratulations to our colleague, Kathy Nusslock. Kathy exemplifies great skill and leadership as a mentor, and as an attorney within commercial litigation, and trust and estate disputes.

APPLETON | BROOKFIELD | GREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE

www.dkattorneys.com 40 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

Strategies

Tip Sheet Attracting investors with a strong executive summary

F

or businesses and entrepreneurs looking to draw potential investors, drafting an effective executive summary is crucial. SCORE recently asked business leaders from across the country for tips

on succinctly summarizing a business plan for investors. Here are several of their suggestions: 1. Tell a story You can capture investors’ attention with a narrative-driven executive summary that highlights your passion and journey of starting the business.

Weave in who the business serves and what need it fills.

“How you envision the business hitting the market is vital, along with why the founder(s) will be an integral part of the company’s success,” one business leader said.

2. State your goals Do you have plans to take the company public?

Is there an exit strategy in place? Investors are looking for information like that, as well as details on the potential return on investment and how your company has handled the payback process with previous investors.

3. Define the category Pinpoint where your company fits among its competitors so investors “can adequately evaluate the industry and your company’s potential.” Then, describe how your company has differentiated and plans to top its category.

4. Language matters Research your potential investors ahead of time to learn about their backgrounds and personalities.

Consider that information in the selection of your word choice. As one business leader recommends, “Find out whether they have a sense of humor or not, which can help you determine what tone to use in your executive summary.”

5. Sell your team Tout the talents and experience of your executives. The collective strength of your executive team can be a major draw to investors who want to know they will be working with the right people. n

Investing in What Matters To You | To Your Business | To Your Employees For over 50 years, we have been invested in the success of your family, your business and your life. Because what matters most is doing what’s right – for our customers, our associates, and our Wisconsin communities.

Visit us at our new Cathedral Place location or learn more at JohnsonFinancialGroup.com.

Products and services offered by these Johnson Financial Group companies: Johnson Bank, Johnson Wealth Inc. and Johnson Insurance Services, LLC. biztimes.com / 41

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42 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

BizConnections BIZ PEOPLE

Advertising Section: New Hires, Promotions and Board Appointments

BANKING

BANKING Andrew Narr Promoted to SVP of Credit Administration at First Federal Bank

First Federal Bank of Wisconsin is proud to announce that Andrew Narr, a 25-year banking industry veteran and most recently Vice President, Senior Commercial Loan Officer, has been promoted to Senior Vice President (SVP) of Credit Administration. In his role as SVP of Credit Administration and part of the Bank’s leadership team, Andy is responsible for providing management and leadership to the Bank’s loan administration and underwriting teams. Additionally, Andy will continue to manage the syndicated loan portfolio as well as many of the significant relationships within the Bank.

BANKING

Christie Gutknecht Promoted at Cornerstone Community Bank

FINANCIAL SERVICES RitzHolman CPAs names Brian Wilson, CPA as new partner

With over 20 years of public accounting experience, Brian’s natural transition into the partner team will help expand the firm’s resources while enhancing our ability to serve the complexities of individual, trust and estate income tax clients.

CJ & ASSOCIATES, INC. ACQUIRES SCHROEDER SOLUTIONS INTERIORS

Wintrust Private Client Announces Crystal Kenitzer Promotion

Crystal, recently promoted to Senior Vice President, has 14 years of experience with Town Bank. N.A., a Wintrust Community Bank. She provides business owners, executives, professionals, and high net worth individuals, with top-tier client service regarding lending, liquidity management, and other private banking solutions. Crystal holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Winona State University.

BANKING

Christie Gutknecht has been promoted to Vice President – Loan Operations. With the bank 22 years, she has contributed much to Cornerstone’s lending success, and has been a key player in documenting, processing and administering thousands of loans.

BIZ UPDATE

That is precisely what is happening with CJ & Associates, Inc.’s acquisition of Schroeder Solutions’ interiors division, effective January 1, 2022. After spending decades serving southeastern Wisconsin separately, the organizations will fuse their unique strengths, staff, and best practices within the CJ & Associates, Inc. brand

CONSTRUCTION

Peter Koleske Named New Senior Vice President at Wintrust Private Client. Pete is a lead advisor and relationship manager to high net worth individuals, families, and organizations, including closely held and family-owned businesses.

His 30 years of financial services experience include banking, investments, and trusts.

INSURANCE

It is an extraordinary thing when two businesses that used to be formidable competitors in the marketplace join forces to create a powerhouse organization.

Eric Culp Named Peter Schwabe, Inc. Superintendent of Field Operations.

Eric Culp has been promoted to Superintendent of Field Operations and will oversee the work and scheduling of Peter Schwabe, Inc.’s entire team of superintendents. Culp has 30 years’ construction experience, including 12 with Peter Schwabe, Inc.

INSURANCE Badger Mutual Insurance Names Andy Thiede New VP of IT

Badger Mutual Insurance has promoted Andy Thiede to vice president of information technology (IT). Thiede previously served as director of IT for Badger Mutual. He has worked in information technology for Badger Mutual since 2007.

and location. As a long time Teknion dealer partner, this acquisition positions CJ & Associates, Inc. to strengthen and grow the Teknion family of brands in the markets it serves. Schroeder Solutions will continue to provide best-in-class labor and logistics services to the local market and nationwide.

2022 will be a pivotal year for both organizations as they are poised for tremendous success!

ENERGY

Symbiont Welcomes John Dinneen, Waste-toEnergy Project Developer. John Dinneen brings seven years of technical director experience in waste treatment to Symbiont. He will drive growth for Symbiont’s EPC waste-to-energy solutions.

John is passionate about natural resource protection and the waste-to-energy field.

INSURANCE Derek Tyus promoted at West Bend Mutual Insurance

West Bend Mutual Insurance is excited to announce the promotion of Derek Tyus to senior vice president - chief investment officer. Tyus joined West Bend in 2016 as vice president and chief investment officer.

Christopher Zwygart promoted at West Bend Mutual Insurance

Christopher Zwygart has been promoted to senior vice president - chief legal officer.

With West Bend for 26 years, Zwygart has served in a variety of roles, including VP of Finance, VP of Legal and Corporate Compliance, and chief risk officer.

To place your listing, or for more information, please visit biztimes.com/bizconnect biztimes.com / 43

BizConnections BIZ PEOPLE

Advertising Section: New Hires, Promotions, Accolades and Board Appointments

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Shawna Alt Promoted to Chief Executive Officer at First Weber Realtors

Maddente brings more than 30 years of experience to her new role as president, stepping up from senior vice president and regional manager. Maddente brings passion and energy to her role and works diligently to drive innovation and progress. She has served as a Director of the Wisconsin Realtors® Association, as well as the past president of the Metro Multiple Listing Service where she remains a current member of the executive committee. She also serves as president of the First Weber Foundation.

With 28 years of experience within the industry, Alt has held diverse roles in the company rising from personal assistant and sales agent to regional sales manager and president. As CEO, Shawna is focused on cementing First Weber’s position as an industry leader in identifying and meeting consumer and agent needs. With a degree in psychology from the College of Charleston, Shawna serves on the board of directors for the First Weber Foundation, the South-Central Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service, and the Wisconsin Realtors® Association.

F E B R U A R Y FA M I LY

2 1 ,

Tammy Maddente Promoted to President of First Weber Realtors

I S S U E

FACES of FAMILY BUSINESS SPONSORED CONTENT

Clockwise from top left: Founder William Lemberg taken April 1, 1939; ESOP Members; Lemberg’s current location on 128th Street in Brookfield; Lemberg’s historic building on State Street

FAMILY VALUES TRANSCEND TIME, CHANGE, AND THE LEMBERG NAME Lemberg began in 1928 as a family-owned electrical service company in Milwaukee. The Lemberg family sold the company to its employees in 1992 under the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Since then it has grown to be one of the region’s largest employee-owned companies, offering five service areas including electrical construction, service, data communications, business signs and energy technologies.

WHAT VALUES OR PRINCIPLES GUIDE YOUR BUSINESS? Despite our growth, Lemberg is still guided by the values established by the Lemberg family years ago.

Some of those include accountability, community, customer service, leadership, safety, and teamwork.

personal service and quality that has kept the company in business for nearly 100 years.We do this through continuous improvement, real-time evaluation of project delivery, and actively seeking feedback from customers.

WHAT FAMILY MEMBERS ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS? Though none of the Lemberg family members are active in the company today, we have several founding ESOP family members – and some of their children – still with the company. As ESOP members, we are motivated to carry out the mission of the company, be accountable to one another, and employ the entrepreneurial spirit to all aspects of our business.

HOW HAS YOUR MISSION CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS? Our mission to serve the customer hasn’t changed, but how we serve them has. Our goal is to be forwardthinking, helping customers find the most effective, future-proof solutions for today and tomorrow.

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS STAYED TRUE TO THE FOUNDING FAMILY’S ORIGINAL MISSION? We continue to serve customers with the same

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION THE LEADERSHIP FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT? Lemberg is currently adapting to a change in leadership. Long-time President and CEO David Washebek has stepped into regional and national roles with the National Electrical Contractors Association.

16-27 JUN 21 Fam Biz Cover Story.indd 27

LEGAL SERVICES

Aaron J. Foley has been promoted to Shareholder at von Briesen & Roper, s.c.

Aaron is a member of the firm’s Trusts and Estates Section. He focuses his practice on estate planning, probate and trust administration, business law, real estate and adult guardianship.

Chris is a member of the firm’s Restructuring and Insolvency Section. He focuses his practice on business litigation, creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, Chapter 128 receiverships and business restructurings.

LEGAL SERVICES

Christopher T. Koehnke has been promoted to Shareholder at von Briesen & Roper, s.c.

TECHNOLOGY

Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. Welcomes Jeffrey T. Wilson as an Attorney

Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. (MTFN) is pleased to welcome Jeffrey T. Wilson as an attorney.

At MTFN, Jeffrey’s practice will focus on complex commercial and insurance coverage litigation.

CCB Technology Promotes Kyle Jolly to Vice President of Operations.

As Vice President of operations, Jolly will grow the department to focus unifying workflows and improving company processes to ensure the highest-quality delivery of IT solutions and services. Jolly has been with CCB Technology for 14 years.

2 0 2 2

B U S I N E S S

FACES OF FAMILY BUSINESS

LEGAL SERVICES

Lemberg hired industry leader Mark Chappel as President. Tim Scheid, formerly Lemberg’s COO and Executive Vice President, has moved into the CEO position to provide a smooth transition for Mark and the rest of the employees. This combination provides stability while ushering in new ideas and a fresh perspective.

4085 N. 128th Street • Brookfield, WI 53005 (262) 781-1500 • LembergElectric.com

6/14/21 7:31 PM

DEADLINES: Space: February 2, 2022 Materials: February 4, 2022 44 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

FAMILY BUSINESSES play an enormous role in the southeastern Wisconsin economy. Most family businesses have a longer-term view of investment, they’re more stable, and inspire more trust and commitment in their employees.

Highlight the business you’ve grown in “Faces of Family Business” pages.

We invite you to showcase your family business in the February 21st issue of BizTimes Milwaukee.

Positions are limited.

For more information contact Linda Crawford at 414-336-7112 or advertise@biztimes.com

Advertise in these upcoming special reports to get your message in front of area business executives.

Wealth Management & Estate Planning February 21, 2022

Space Reservation: February 2, 2022

M&A: Big Deals March 21, 2022

Space Reservation: March 2, 2022 Contact Linda Crawford today!

(414) 336-7112 or advertise@biztimes.com

NONPROFIT WELLPOINT CARE NETWORK, FORMERLY SAINTA, PLANS TO RENOVATE NORTHWEST SIDE CAMPUS Wellpoint Care Network, the Milwaukee-based human services agency formerly known as SaintA, recently unveiled plans for a multi-phased renovation of its northwest side headquarters.

The nonprofit, which provides services related to foster care, child welfare and mental health, plans to renovate office space to consolidate its employees at its main campus, at 8901 W. Capitol Drive. Currently, 100 of its 320 employees are assigned to the Capitol Drive building; all of them will move to the main campus by March 2023.

The organization currently operates an additional office at the Summit Place office complex in West Allis, which it will close

when its lease expires in February 2023.

Other phases of the main campus renovation will include creating dedicated spaces for public use, such as a coffee shop and conference rooms available for reservation, the organization said. The full project is expected to be completed by late 2023.

The new name aligns with its mission, said president and CEO Ann Leinfelder Grove.

“Wellness is the point of all we do. The new name reflects our commitment to the community and those we serve, and we’re excited to continue to broaden our reach and increase the number of community members in our care,” she said.

—Lauren Anderson, staff writer

nonprofit

SPOTLIGHT

BLUE LOTUS FARM & RETREAT CENTER 5501 County Road M, West Bend 262-675-2473 | bluelotusfarm.org Facebook.com/bluelotusfarm.org | Twitter: @Bluelotusfarm_retreat

Year founded: 2003

c alendar St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care will host its third annual Indaba African

Ball on Saturday, Feb. 5, at its Bucyrus Campus, 2450 W. North Ave., Milwaukee.

The ball is a fundraiser for the Indaba Band Shell, a popular entertainment venue located on the Bucyrus Campus grounds. More information is available at StAnnCenter.org/IndabaBall.

The Real Estate Alliance for Charity will host its Winter Gala on Saturday, Feb. 5, at

The Gage, 1139 S. 70th St., West Allis. Hosted cocktails will begin at 7 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:45 p.m. More information is available at reach-wi.org.

Historic Milwaukee will host its annual Remarkable Milwaukee gala on Thursday,

Feb. 24, at the Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee.

Tours of the center will begin at 5:30 p.m., with dinner and program to follow at 7 p.m. More information is available at historicmilwaukee.org/remarkablemilwaukee-2022.

D O N AT I O N R O U N D U P Catholic Memorial High School received a $750,000 donation from the Fotsch

Family to establish the Fr. John G. Yockey endowment, which will provide three fully paid scholarships each year. | Entrepreneur and philanthropist Jerry Jendusa and his family matched all donations made to the Mukwonago Basketball Free Throw-A-Thon up to $30,000 through Jan. 14 to benefit Make-A-Wish Wisconsin. | SHARP Literacy, Carroll University, Quad/Graphics and Kohl’s partnered to provide 40 students at Whittier Elementary School in Waukesha with a $200 shopping spree at Kohl’s. | The Little Warrior Foundation, founded by the Spada family in Brookfield, awarded a $200,000 grant to Cleveland Clinic to support immunotherapy research and treatment development. | Marquette University alumni couple Louis and Suzanne Bouquet Andrew committed $5 million to establish the Andrew Center for Restorative Justice at Marquette Law School. | Eppstein Uhen Architects awarded the more than $40,350 raised through the Beyond Design Bike Tour to Camp One Step and Shining Stars Foundation. | Northwestern Mutual awarded $500,000 in scholarships this year for students affected by childhood cancer.

Mission statement: Blue Lotus Farm

& Retreat Center assists those with profound life challenges of any age by providing accessible outdoor recreational and therapeutic opportunities in a caring, accepting and inspiring 64-acre day camp setting. Our main mission focuses on serving many populations: » Those with physical, developmental, cognitive, emotional or mental health challenges. » At-risk individuals due to abuse, neglect, low income or trauma. » People coping with terminal illness, chronic disease or memory loss.

Primary focus of your nonprofit organization: Everyone should have

access to nature and the benefits it provides; BLFRC is committed to finding ways for all individuals to enjoy the outdoors. We do this by offering our own programming and also offering our center to nonprofit groups to use our property as a stunning backdrop to their programming.

Other focuses of your nonprofit organization: We allow a number of

days each year for businesses and other organizations to book work or wellness retreats/workshops.

The grounds and facilities provide a gorgeous atmosphere for many day

events from employee team building to yoga/other wellness programs.

Number of employees at this location: Two full-time, one part-time

and two seasonal part-time Key donors: Sharon and Bill La Macchia, Sallie and Don Davis, Jr., Thomas Bliffert Foundation Executive leadership: Jacqueline

Janz, executive director Board of directors: Fred Bliffert

(president), Susan Bliffert (vice president), Sam Mitchell (secretary), Roger Dickson (treasurer), David Lemke, David Slinde, Todd Leichtle and Patricia Fabian.

Is your organization actively seeking board members for the upcoming term? Yes.

Ways the business community can help your nonprofit:

» Volunteer as a team or individually. » Building Blue Lotus awareness. » Booking your work retreats at Blue Lotus. » Host your own fundraiser. » Donate new or slightly used gardening/yard items such as pots, tools, plants and flowers.

Key fundraising events:

» May 4: Annual Dinner » June 12: Open House » July 11: Annual Goal Outing at Hidden Glen

biztimes.com / 45

BizConnections VOLUME 27, NUMBER 16 | JAN 24, 2022

GLANCE AT YESTERYEAR

126 N. Jefferson St., Suite 403, Milwaukee, WI 53202-6120 PHONE: 414-277-8181 FAX: 414-277-8191 WEBSITE: www.biztimes.com CIRCULATION: 414-336-7100 | circulation@biztimes.com ADVERTISING: 414-336-7112 | advertising@biztimes.com EDITORIAL: 414-336-7120 | andrew.weiland@biztimes.com REPRINTS: 414-336-7100 | reprints@biztimes.com

PUBLISHER / OWNER Dan Meyer dan.meyer@biztimes.com

SALES & MARKETING

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Mary Ernst mary.ernst@biztimes.com COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT / OWNER Kate Meyer kate.meyer@biztimes.com

EDITORIAL EDITOR Andrew Weiland andrew.weiland@biztimes.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lauren Anderson lauren.anderson@biztimes.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Arthur Thomas arthur.thomas@biztimes.com REPORTER Maredithe Meyer maredithe.meyer@biztimes.com

Leases signed for Capitol Court This rendering shows stores with leases signed for the future Capitol Court Shopping Center as of Jan. 6, 1955, including Bitker Gerner, Fields, Kohl’s, Kroger, Penney’s, Schuster’s, Walgreen’s and F.W. Woolworth Co. The mall opened in 1956 and closed in 2001 before being replaced by Midtown Center.

— Image courtesy Milwaukee Public Library/Historic Photo Collection

COMMENTARY

Indoor venue complex will be great addition to Third Ward THE FIRST LOCAL CONTROVERSY of 2022 has arrived, as some Third Ward residents, businesses and Milwaukee concert venue operators are raising objections to Madison-based FPC Live’s plans to build a complex with two indoor music venues near the Summerfest grounds.

The complex would have two venues, one with a capacity for 800 people and the other with a capacity of 4,000. FPC Live says the facility is expected to host 135 events annually including concerts and private functions like weddings and corporate events.

This will be an exciting addition to Milwaukee’s entertainment scene. The parent company of FPC Live is Frank Productions, Inc., and the majority owner of Frank Productions is national concert company Live Nation, which would be able to use its connections to bring additional 46 / BizTimes Milwaukee JANUARY 24, 2022

acts to Milwaukee.

However, some Third Ward residents are concerned about the proposal, particularly residents of the nearby Harbor Front and Hansen’s Landing condominium buildings. Issues raised by residents at a recent public information meeting include traffic, parking, noise, litter, views of the back of the building and impact on property values.

These are pretty typical “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) concerns. Yes, some of these issues will need to be managed by FPC Live. But there is an abundance of parking in that area of the Third Ward, far more than is needed on a typical day.

People who live in one of the most exciting neighborhoods of the largest city in Wisconsin, near the home of the world’s largest music festival (plus several ethnic festivals and host of additional concerts), need to realize that traffic and crowds are part of big-city living. But, yes, the people who attend concerts at the indoor venues should respect the neighborhood and behave themselves, and the operator must take responsibility for that.

Some have also raised questions about the need for another concert venue in Milwaukee and the impact it will have on existing venues.

“It’s certainly not needed,” said Peter Jest, own-

REPORTER Alex Zank alex.zank@biztimes.com

DIRECTOR OF SALES Linda Crawford linda.crawford@biztimes.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Paddy Kieckhefer paddy.kieckhefer@biztimes.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Christie Ubl christie.ubl@biztimes.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Dylan Dobson dylan.dobson@biztimes.com SALES ADMIN Gracie Schneble gracie.schneble@biztimes.com

ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR Sue Herzog sue.herzog@biztimes.com

PRODUCTION & DESIGN GRAPHIC DESIGNER Alex Schneider alex.schneider@biztimes.com ART DIRECTOR Shelly Tabor shelly.tabor@biztimes.com

Independent & Locally Owned — Founded 1995 —

er of Shank Hall, even though his 300-capicity venue likely won’t compete directly with the proposed facility.

The Rave/Eagles Club may be the most affected by the proposed facility because it has similar-sized concert halls and may compete for the same shows.

Whenever someone asks how many apartments, condos, banks, fast-food restaurants, concert venues (or whatever) we need, the answer is always that the marketplace will determine it.

So, existing concert venues and theaters in Milwaukee will have to step up their game to compete with the new complex and industry giant Live Nation. That’s a good thing for Milwaukee and its entertainment scene.

And it’s going to be great for the Third Ward, too. Another attraction will make it a more desirable neighborhood to live and do business in. n

ANDREW WEILAND EDITOR

P / 414-336-7120 E / andrew.weiland@biztimes.com T / @AndrewWeiland

CONTRIBUTED

5 MINUTES WITH…

KARIM DONNEZ Senior vice president – marine, BRP

IN MAY 2020, BRP announced it would end production of its Evinrude outboard engines. It was a decision that eliminated hundreds of jobs in Sturtevant and meant the end of an iconic Wisconsin brand. But less than two years later, the company’s Sturtevant plant is ramping up again with production of a new BRP product, the Sea-Doo Switch. It is a pontoon boat with the engine of a personal watercraft. Demand has been strong, and the company is accelerating hiring plans that called for 175 new employees in late 2021 and early 2022, on top of the 315 people already working in Sturtevant. Karim Donnez, senior vice president – marine at BRP, spoke with BizTimes Media associate editor Arthur Thomas about why the Sturtevant plant was picked for the Switch, how the company invested in the facility, and hiring in a tight labor market.

PICKING STURTEVANT FOR INVESTMENT “You wouldn’t recognize the plant today. It’s a complete revamping.

Essentially, we took everything to the ground, and we just restarted from scratch. It’s a beautiful factory, state-of-the-art …”

“We do own the place, so for us ... it’s an investment, it’s an asset we have in hand right now. … What we really like about Sturtevant being in the Racine area, it’s in the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, so we can tap into a pool of resources of up to 12 million people. For us, in terms of just being able to attract talent ... it’s a very attractive place to be. ... The product itself, we expect the Midwest to be a big pool of customers, so in terms of freight, in terms of logistics, transportation, (it) makes a lot of sense for us to be in the middle of the market.”

RE-HIRING EVINRUDE EMPLOYEES “For the first shift, a significant part of the employees … were employees that decided to come back and work with us. We’re super happy with that. That’s probably actually the best news. When we did discontinue Evinrude, we had to let go of hundreds of employees. That was heartbreaking for all of us, so being able to rehire some of them was really, really nice …”

DEALING WITH A TIGHT LABOR MARKET “… The market itself is very competitive right now, so to be able to attract, you need to be a better employer, so we need to treat our employees as customers and make sure that we have the best value proposition we can. It’s not only in salary – it is, obviously, but it’s not only in salary – it is working conditions, it is in relationship with management, it is in making sure people see the value of what they’re doing, the purpose of their work.” n biztimes.com / 47

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