BizTimes Milwaukee | May 2, 2016

Locally Owned Since 1995

BizTimes MILWAUKEE

w w w.biztimes.com MAY 2 - 15, 2016 n $3.25

BUILDING

BOOM boosts Milwaukee area construction industry ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Acuity expansion will double size of its Sheboygan headquarters Apartment development boom hits the suburbs, too Entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders to be honored at BizExpo

inside

May 2 - 15, 2016 S P E C I A L R E P O R T:

BUILDINGS & CON S TR U C TION

18

In addition to the cover story, coverage includes an update on Acuity’s massive Sheboygan headquarters expansion and an analysis of what’s driving suburban apartment developments.

HIGHLIGHT S Social Media Strategies

4

Think your clients aren’t on Facebook? Here’s an easy way to find out.

Coffee Break

5

Catching up with IBC Engineering Services’ Fieena Zvenyach.

Book Review

6

#AskGaryVee: One Entrepreneur’s Take on Leadership, Social Media, and Self-Awareness.

The Good Life

7

ibMilwaukee’s Tony Creapeau bowls over the competition.

Nonprofit News

7

Near West Side Partners launches $5 million development fund.

18

S TR ATE GIE S Change Joan Lloyd 29 Coaching Jo Gorrissen 30 Family business Dave Borst 31 Culture Phil Hauck 32

Building Boom

BIZ CONNECTIONS Biz Notes 33 Calendar 33 Personnel File 34 Glance at Yesteryear 36 BizTimes Around Town 37

COV E R S T ORY

boosts Milwaukee area construction industry

ON THE COVER: Construction crews work on the River House Apartments project in Milwaukee.

— photo by Troy Freund Photography

V I S I T B I Z T I M E S . C O M F O R A D D I T I O N A L S T O R I E S , D A I LY U P D AT E S & E - N E W S L E T T E R S Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . 414-336-7120 Advertising . . . . . . . . . 414-336-7112 Subscriptions . . . . . . . 414-277-8181 Reprints . . . . . . . . . . . . 414-277-8181

Founded in 1995, BizTimes Milwaukee provides news and operational insights for CEOs, presidents, owners and other top level executives at companies in southeastern Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth and Sheboygan counties).

Subscription Customer Service: BizTimes Milwaukee, 126 N. Jefferson St., Suite 403, Milwaukee, WI 53202-6120, USA, Phone (414) 277-8181, Fax (414) 277-8191, circulation@biztimes.com, www.biztimes.com

BizTimes Milwaukee (ISSN 1095-936X & USPS # 017813) Volume 22, Number 3, May 2 - 15, 2016. BizTimes Milwaukee is published bi-weekly, except two consecutive weeks in December (the third and fourth weeks of December) by BizTimes Media LLC at 126 N. Jefferson St., Suite 403, Milwaukee, WI 53202-6120, USA. Basic annual subscription rate is $42.00. Single copy price is $3.25. Back issues are $5.00 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 2016 by BizTimes Media LLC. All rights reserved.

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS - COMMERCIAL LOANS - LINE OF CREDIT - OWNER OCCUPIED REAL ESTATE - BUSINESS CHECKING & SAVINGS

- INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE - CASH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS - EQUIPMENT FINANCING - FLEET FINANCING Learn more about North Shore Bank’s Business Products at NorthShoreBank.com/business

w w w.biztimes.com

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

3

leading edge NOW

State offers Milwaukee Tool up to $18 million for HQ expansion

M

ilwaukee Tool will receive up to $18 million in state income tax credits over the next six years as an incentive tied to its $35 million headquarters expansion in Brookfield.

Gov. Scott Walker announced the incentives at the recent groundbreaking ceremony for the project. The earned credits are being granted under the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.’s Enterprise Zone program for the retention and creation of full-time jobs and capital investment.

Milwaukee Tool will build a 200,000square-foot, four-story office building on its campus at 13135 W. Lisbon Road.

The project is also funded in part by a $6 million tax incremental financing district through the city of Brookfield.

The company has more than tripled its workforce in Brookfield since 2009 and now plans to add another 500 jobs in five years with the expansion. Milwaukee Tool could receive tax credits for up to 592 jobs created and retained over the

next six years at its headquarters and its Empire Level facilities in Mukwonago.

After years of stagnation, the company refocused on its core users in the mid2000s and has gone from $500 million to more than $2 billion in annual sales.

Steve Richman, group president for Milwaukee Tool, said the company has a number of positions to fill and hinted at possible future expansion at its headquarters site.

“We hope this is the first of many buildings we add on in the future,” Richman said.

Milwaukee 7 co-chair Gale Klappa said Milwaukee Tool’s decision to keep its expansion at its headquarters was an important step for the region.

“As you know, the global competition for jobs is literally relentless,” Klappa said. “The Milwaukee Tool project is among our region’s most significant economic development wins.”

Hong Kong-based Techtronic Industries, Milwaukee Tool’s parent company,

The northern entrance of Milwaukee Tool’s headquarters expansion is shown in this rendering.

reported record earnings and revenue in 2015, but Walker said that isn’t a reason for the state to refuse to offer incentives for a local expansion.

“You’ve got a company taking dollars,

not just Milwaukee Electric Tool being here, but their parent company looking potentially anywhere in the world to make this investment,” he said.

——Arthur Thomas

SOCI AL M E D I A S T R AT E GI ES

Think your clients aren’t on Facebook? Here’s an easy way to find out I’ve worked with mostly B2B clients my entire career in digital marketing. When I feel comfortable enough to recommend testing paid social ads, the response I get the most is something along the lines of, “No thanks.

We know our audience isn’t on Facebook.”

The best way to test this line of thinking is simple. First, you should find your current customers on Facebook; I like to do this with Custom Audiences.

If you have a large email or phone number database of your clients stored in a CRM system, you can upload a CSV file of that list in your Audience tab in Facebook’s Ad Manager.

If any of the email addresses or phone numbers you upload match any profiles on Facebook, they will be added to the new custom audience. The best part is that the finished audience needs to have just 20 people to work, so you don’t need a huge database of contacts to test this out.

4

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

Testing out custom audiences on Facebook serves two great benefits.

First is lead nurturing. If you have a longer sales cycle, you can upload specific lists of users in the same phase of the buying cycle. Then, show highly-targeted ads to only those people you’ve defined as qualified leads.

Second, if you find a lot of your current customers engage on Facebook, you can have the confidence to expand your reach on social. You might want to test brand new audiences completely. Or you might want to create “lookalike” audiences from your current customer lists to help reach new users who are similar to your current customer base.

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

w w w.biztimes.com

Before you rule out Facebook (and its 1.5 billion active users), try marketing to your current customers first.

——Joe Martinez is senior manager, paid media & community at Milwaukee-based Granular.

leading edge COFF E E B R E A K

POLITIC AL BEAT

Ryan on prez speculation: ‘Count me out’ WISPOLITICS.COM, special to BizTimes

What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?

“We believe that our employees are our company’s greatest asset and in step with this belief, we have started the process of transitioning the company into in an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). The process will take several years to complete, but will be very positive for both our company and employees.”

What’s new at your company?

“Our Washington, D.C., office is developing a new market segment focusing on energy planning and energy analysis. Rapid changes in policies, industry standards and tools available present a need for independent analysis and creative solutions both in design and utilization of buildings. This analysis will enable us to bring additional financial resources to clients and projects nationwide.”

Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?

“We increased our staff by 10 percent last year and are planning to add another 5 to 7 percent in 2016. Additionally, we are continuously recruiting, developing and retaining the best talent. In terms of capital improvements, we are constantly upgrading software and hardware; it’s imperative in our industry to stay current.”

What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?

“Our industry is very competitive and demanding, so maintaining a high level of employee engagement while maintaining our high quality standards will be one

of our main challenges.”

What’s the hottest trend in your industry?

“Resilience. Essentially, it’s the capacity of a high-performance building to adapt to changing conditions and to maintain or regain functionality and vitality in the face of stress or disturbance (such as storms and other natural disasters that have grown more severe recently). Resilience is just as important a consideration for existing buildings as it is when designing new. More and more, our clients are thinking about managing the impact of a changing environment on our buildings and the functions they support.”

Do you have a business mantra?

“No surprises! The last job I held before starting my own firm was with GE Consulting Services, and one of the lessons I had learned at GE became my personal mantra of ‘no surprises,’ meaning you can deal with any issue if you are prepared.”

From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?

“For a number of years, I have been a member of both MMAC CEO Roundtable and TEC. Working with a group of CEOs from a variety of industries has given me a broader view on the business world, both personally and professionally.

These confidential forums of experienced executives have provided wisdom and counsel, which has been invaluable from a business standpoint.”

Fieena Zvenyach

What was the best advice you ever received?

President/CEO IBC Engineering Services Inc. N8 W22195 Johnson Drive, Suite 180, Waukesha www.ibcengineering.com Industry: Mechanical, electrical and plumbing design engineering Employees: 30 Family: Husband, Lev; an adult son, David; and two grandchildren. w w w.biztimes.com

“The best advice I ever received was to live by the Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’” n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

House Speaker Paul Ryan recently sought to put to rest any more speculation he could become the GOP nominee for president.

Conjecture has ramped up that the Janesville Republican could be tapped as the party nominee if none of the current candidates collects the delegates needed Paul Ryan to win the nomination outright, which appears to be a distinct possibility. But Ryan said at a Washington, D.C., news conference there is too much work to do in the House to allow speculation to continue.

“Let me clear,” Ryan said. “I do not want, nor will I accept the nomination of our party.”

Ryan also had a message for party delegates, who will select the nominee. If no candidate has a majority of the delegates needed to clinch the nomination on the first ballot, they should choose someone who is already in the race as the nominee.

“Count me out,” Ryan said.

Meanwhile, Ryan’s fundraising operation pulled in $17.2 million during the first quarter of 2016, his campaign said. The bulk of that money—about $11.1 million—was transferred to the House GOP campaign arm.

Ryan’s campaign noted he is outpacing the fundraising operation of his predecessor, John Boehner (R-Ohio).

Ryan’s personal campaign raised $4.6 million over the three-month period, which he finished with $7.6 million in the bank. Ryan’s campaign operation—dubbed “Team Ryan”—said that was the biggest war chest for any member of Congress. Ryan has drawn a primary challenge from businessman Paul Nehlen.

Wispolitics.com is a media partner of BizTimes Milwaukee.

BY TH E NU MBERS

38

th

Wisconsin ranks 38th nationally in the number of women-owned businesses.

The state has about 142,400 women-owned businesses, up from 112,418 in 2007.

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

5

leading edge ON TH E C ALEN D AR

MA DE I N M I LWA U K E E

Understanding customers’ needs guides Cornerstone Composites

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

(414) 336-7123 | Twitter: @arthur8823 arthur.thomas@biztimes.com

“We’re trying to really help people change what they’re offering their market,” Miller said.

Cornerstone does that by combining engineering services with precision molding of composite materials.

The company dates back to the 1940s when German immigrants Erich Dickten and Alfred Masch formed the Dickten & Masch tool company. They eventually sold the business to longtime employee Duane Kreske in the 1980s, when it became known as Wisconsin Thermoset Molding.

“I bought it in 2008 and the sales promptly dropped in half in 2009 because of the economic conditions,” Miller said. “We struggled up the curve and recovered.”

In 2015, Wisconsin Thermoset merged with Rose Polymer Composite to create Cornerstone Composites, which is based in a 35,000-square-foot facility at 900 E. Vienna St. in Milwaukee. Cornerstone also has a 7,500-square-foot facility on Silver Spring Drive and a 10,000-square-foot warehouse.

The company’s finished products are designed to work well in situations where components need to be high-strength or withstand high-heat or high-dielectric applications.

The process does have its downsides. Unlike metal or plastic, which can be melted or ground up for reuse, it is a one-way process for the composites Cornerstone uses. Similar to a two-part epoxy glue found at the hardware store, Cornerstone uses temperature and pressure to activate a chemical process that changes the material into something completely new. Because the material can’t be reused, Cornerstone has to keep an eye on how much scrap is generated, aiming for just 1 percent.

The thermoset process used by Cornerstone comes with higher material and labor costs than thermoplastics.

As a result, there aren’t a lot of firms in the industry.

“They’re unique, special applications,” Miller said Sometimes, people come to Cornerstone looking for something soft or flexible produced at high-volume and low-cost.

“It’s not us and it’s not what the product is,” Miller said.

And Cornerstone doesn’t compete on cost alone.

“We don’t want to come across as the lowest cost supplier in the world because that’s not us; that’s not what we’re doing,” Miller said.

Instead, Cornerstone offers engineering services, which can be tricky because customers don’t always know what

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

2016 BizExpo

ABOVE: Andy Stroh, vice president of sales, and Boyd Miller, president, with a new commercial construction product.

ARTHUR THOMAS

6

MAY

Cornerstone Composites Inc. president Boyd Miller puts his faith in his product.

He says that every year a Milwaukee School of Engineering plastics class comes for a tour. Miller picks out a student and offers to buy him a steak dinner if he can break one of the company’s composite pieces. Try as they might, Miller has never had to pay up.

Miller knows his products won’t be a perfect fit for every situation and likely won’t be the cheapest either, but it’s those customers looking for an alternative to plastic or metal that he’s interested in.

BELOW: Cornerstone runs 30 presses, one of which still uses a tool built in 1942 by Allis Chalmers.

The 2016 BizExpo will be held on Wednesday, May 18, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, 1721 W. Canal St. in Milwaukee. The event will include networking with thousands of business professionals, exhibitor booths, business strategy seminars, the annual BizTimes Women in Business breakfast, the annual BizTimes Bravo!

Entrepreneur & I.Q. Awards luncheon and a new after hours event, “From the Locker Room to the Boardroom.” The BizExpo is free with advanced registration, with additional pricing for main stage events. For more information or to register, visit www.biztimes.com/bizexpo.

For a complete listing of all area events, visit the event section of our website.

www.biztimes.com/events

BOOK REVIEW

#AskGaryVee:

One Entrepreneur’s Take on Leadership, Social Media, and Self-Awareness Cornerstone Composites Inc. 900 E. Vienna St., Milwaukee Industry: Composite molding Employees: 75 www.cornerstonecomposites.com

is possible with the composite materials. The goal becomes understanding what a customer is after, said Andy Stroh, vice president of sales. Some want to reduce the product’s weight ; others are looking for improved strength; and some want a combination of those two.

The company serves end markets including commercial construction, oil and gas, mass transit and food service. Products include manhole covers that are lighter yet durable; a product that centers oil and gas pipes in a hole but slides better than steel against rock; and a wall tie that improves building efficiency.

Get the latest manufacturing news delivered to your inbox every Monday. Sign up for BizTimes’ Manufacturing Weekly at biztimes.com/subscribe.

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

w w w.biztimes.com

Gary Vaynerchuk is loud, obnoxious, swears — a lot — and is a New York Times best-selling author who offers his readers honest answers about business.

His latest book, “#AskGaryVee: One Entrepreneur’s Take on Leadership, Social Media, and Self-Awareness,” draws from his popular YouTube show #AskGaryVee. Vaynerchuk presents practical, timely and timeless advice on marketing, social media and entrepreneurship. He gives insights and information on everything from effectively using Twitter to launching a small business, hiring superstars to creating a personal brand, launching products effectively to staying healthy, and even buying wine. “#AskGaryVee” is available on www.800ceoread. com for $23.99.

——Corrinne Hess

leading edge NON P RO F IT N E W S

THE GOOD LIFE

Near West Side Partners launches $5 million development fund

Bowling over the competition At West Allis-based ibMilwaukee (Industries for the Blind), senior network technician Tony Creapeau keeps the Internet up and running. But outside of work, when he’s not setting up network systems, he’s knocking down bowling pins.

Creapeau has been legally blind for 19 years. He lost his vision as a result of diabetes when he was 20 years old. He eventually found work with Industries for the Blind, a company dedicated to employing people Tony Creapeau (second from the right) stands with his teamwith severe vision problems. More than 80 mates on the Brew City Blind Bowlers. percent of the company’s direct workforce is visually impaired or legally blind. tors toward the lane, but the bowling itself is unassisted.

“Working all day, all week, I wanted to get out “When I started off, I was not a great bowler,” Creaand hang out with co-workers and people outside peau laughed. “Over time, I got progressively better.” of work,” Creapeau said. “I found out through a For the past three years, he’s been competing in co-worker that there was a bowling league (for the tournaments. blind) in the area.”

“Initially, it was for stress relief,” Creapeau said.

Before he lost his vision, Creapeau was a hock“If you have a stressful day at work, you can go out ey fanatic and also played football and baseball. He and release that frustration at the bowling alley. But missed competitive sports. it actually leads into bowling with your co-workers “When you lose your sight, you really can’t get out and other sighted people in the community. It leads to there and skate and smash into people,” he said. competitiveness. It’s just all-around fun hanging out He thought he’d give bowling a shot. In bowling with good people.” leagues for the blind, a long metal rail guides competi-

Near West Side Partners has established a multi-million-dollar fund it will use to renovate distressed homes and commercial properties in seven historic neighborhoods on Milwaukee’s near west side.

The organization plans to raise $5 million over the next three years for what it calls its “Challenge Fund.” Already, $2 million has been committed.

NWSP received an $800,000 grant from Milwaukee County last fall and an additional $1.2 million has been committed by Milwaukee Urban Strategic Investment Corp. and the Harley-Davidson Foundation.

NWSP executive director Keith Stanley called the Challenge Fund a critical resource.

“We applaud the leadership and tremendous support from our initial investors,” Stanley said.

Near West Side Partners is a nonprofit led by representatives from Aurora Health Care, Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Marquette University, MillerCoors and Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. The area it serves includes the Avenues West, Cold Spring Park, Historic Concordia, Martin Drive, Merrill Park, Miller Valley and Piggsville neighborhoods.

Stanley said the group plans to use the money to purchase properties, fix them up, and then sell them to families or business owners. Proceeds from the sales will go back into the Challenge Fund for use on future projects. The fund may also provide revolving loans to small businesses.

——Ben Stanley

——Ben Stanley

Effectively Manage Your Cash Flow Keep your business heading in the right direction with Treasury Management Services.

When John talked to FirstMerit Bank’s Treasury Management team, his goal was to increase his company’s working capital. Together, they came up with a plan to help John effectively manage receivables and control payments to improve his company’s cash flow. Now John has all the tools he needs to keep his business moving in the right direction—forward.

TO L E A R N MOR E, C O N T A C T :

Kevin Leissring, President and CEO, FirstMerit Wisconsin Region, at 414-335-7037 or kevin.leissring@firstmerit.com.

Follow the latest market trends @firstmerit_mkt John reflects a composite of clients with whom we’ve worked; he does not represent any one person.

w w w.biztimes.com

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

firstmerit.com Member FDIC

5370_FM16

7

leading edge O N T HE M ON E Y

BR EA KING G ROUN D

The winning financial advice team Most business owners have a “trusted” advisor. This could be an accountant, banker, lawyer, financial advisor or anyone that, over the years, the owner has felt comfortable calling for advice which he or she has generally followed. For certain major events, like selling a business, the skills of the trusted advisor should be complemented with other specialists. Let’s look at the “starting five” for a good team.

1. A financial advisor can answer the question of how much is enough money for the owner to live the lifestyle he or she desires and/or meet his or her gifting goals.

With a financial plan in place, the mergers & acquisitions advisor, the financial advisor and your accountant can determine which is the best type of sale (asset or stock or ESOP), and what payment and deal terms are most advantageous.

2. An accountant knows the business and personal wealth of the client and the tax impact of the decisions he or she is contemplating.

3. A transaction attorney has specific expertise in drafting documents and explaining in understandable words to the client what the legal documents say and mean with regard to a purchase or sale.

4. An estate attorney can identify the best planning option based on legacy goals and the financial plan.

5. The M&A advisor typically drives the transaction. He or she handles the entire process from beginning to end—confidentially finding the right buyer or seller and working with all the other advisors as a team to create the best outcome. This person does not provide investment advice, legal counsel or financial planning, and that is why the team of advisors is so important.

A good team of advisors can speak efficiently and effectively to each other and all

HARAMBEE REDEVELOPMENT

A $1.1 million redevelopment project near Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood is currently under construction. Developers hope it will transform the long-blighted commercial stretch into a retail shopping center for the neighborhood. Project plans include renovating an existing 12,400-square-foot building at 528 E. Concordia Ave. and constructing a 14,600-square-foot building at 3334 N. Holton St.

——Corrinne Hess will have the same goal: to do their best to meet the client’s needs.

——LeAnne Foster is a consultant for Water Street Advisors LLC in Milwaukee.

Strong leaders build strong companies a benefit for SHARP Literacy Thursday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m.

La Casa de Esperanza, Waukesha Join us for an evening of food and festivities challenging chefs to create new dishes using McDonald's ingredients.

Participating chefs include: Bruce Badke, Distil * Dane Baldwin & Amber Dorszynski, Mr. B's * Andrew Koser & James Ko, Joey Gerard's * Kurt Fogle, Bass Bay Brewery * Steve Perlstein, Hom Wood Fired Grill * Richard Sweed, Artisan 179 * Marco Pollo Global Cluck Truck

Organizations that invest in training and development see returns in higher revenue and stronger employee engagement.

The Center for Business Performance Solutions can help you create an effective leadership development plan for your business.

Visit https://mcdonaldsunwrapped.eventbrite.com for tickets or call 414-410-3203 for more information

Visioning & Strategic Planning | Team Performance | Continuous Improvement

For more information on maximizing your organization’s bottom line, contact CBPS at 262-695-7828 or cbps.info@wctc.edu.

8

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

w w w.biztimes.com

leading edge News

Magazine

Events

The Bubbler

BizInsights

Special Pubs

BIZT I ME S ARO UND T O W N

Subscribe

Advertise

BES T OF THE BIZ BLOG

Multimedia

About

Submit

ON LIN E POLL

Re: Milwaukee’s diversity “I believe the diversity of our city should be celebrated and cherished. Gaining recognition for its incredible ethnic make-up – in a positive rather than negative light – is imperative to thwart the divisiveness that may otherwise continue to emerge.”

- Dave Wendland, Hamacher Resource Group Inc.

Re: The promise of research “Experts predict that within 10 years, every child in America will have his or her genome sequenced at birth.”

-Tom Still, Wisconsin Technology Council

25.2% 74.8%

Yes: No:

Re: Congress Palermo’s Easter Baskets for the Hungry Employee volunteers from Palermo’s Pizza and the Hunger Task Force celebrated Palermo’s Easter Baskets for the Hungry. The ninth annual pre-holiday event provided 1,500 Milwaukee-area families with fresh ham, vegetables and frozen pizzas.

Do you agree with the Madison judge who ruled that Wisconsin’s right-towork law is unconstitutional?

“Americans are fed up with partisan gridlock and the dysfunctional political process.”

- Kurt Bauer, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce

For additional stories and daily updates, visit our website at...

www.biztimes.com

2016 Top 10

&

Businesses of the Year Best Version Media, LLC Bruno Independent Living Aids, lnc.

Century Fence Company Felss Rotaform, LLC ITU AbsorbTech, Inc. KS Energy Services, LLC Lakeland Supply, Inc. Landmark Credit Union Price Engineering Wisconsin Oven Corporation

Present the 2016

Community Distinction Award Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County, Inc.

Awards Luncheon

Thursday, June 23, 2016 • 11:30a.m.-1:30p.m.

S P O N S O R E D BY

Country Springs Hotel & Conference Center - 2810 Golf Road, Pewaukee

Reserve your seat today by visiting waukesha.org.

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

General Admission: $75 per person/$750 for Corporate Table of 10 Alliance Member Discount: $60 per person/$550 for Corporate Table of 10

w w w.biztimes.com

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

9

biz news

ABOVE: Paula Penebaker will receive the BizTimes Woman Executive of the Year Award.

LEFT: Julie and George Mosher will receive the BizTimes Lifetimes Achievement Award.

Entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders to be honored at BizExpo

S

ome of the top entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders in southeastern Wisconsin will be honored at the annual BizExpo conference, presented by BizTimes Media, on Thursday, May 18, at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee.

George and Julie Mosher, who founded Milwaukee-based National Business Furniture and later became major venture investors, will receive the 2016 BizTimes Lifetime Achievement Award.

George Mosher grew up in the Boston area. He moved to Milwaukee to become the president of Business and Institutional Furniture Company, a small cata10

log specializing in the church and school market. He held that position for 10 years.

George and Julie were married in 1965. In 1975, they founded National Business Furniture, a catalog distributor of office furniture. Julie was responsible for the company’s catalog. They subsequently purchased Alfax Wholesale Furniture, a distributor of church and school furniture; Office Furniture Center, located in Boston and Chicago; Factory Direct Furniture in Milwaukee; and OfficeFurniture.com, an Internet office furniture company, among others.

The Moshers sold National Business Furniture and the related companies in B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

2006 to German company Takkt. The company’s annual sales were $130 million when the Moshers sold it.

Since selling the company, the Moshers have focused on venture investments and making philanthropic contributions.

Julie has focused her philanthropic efforts on pulmonary lung research.

In 2013, George was inducted into the Wisconsin Investor Hall of Fame. The Moshers have invested millions of dollars into dozens of young companies.

The Moshers will be presented with the BizTimes Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Bravo! Entrepreneur/ I.Q. (Innovation Quotient) Awards lun-

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

w w w.biztimes.com

BY ANDREW WEILAND, staff writer

cheon at BizExpo.

The Bravo! Entrepreneur Awards will be presented to: »» Dale Helgeson, DP Electronic Recycling »» Mark Irgens, Irgens Partners LLC »» Juli Kaufmann, Fix Development »» William Mortimore, Keystone Insights Inc. »» Tom & Jim Palzewicz, ActionCOACH »» Cory Passineau, C&D Automated Systems

»» Andrew Seter, Sensia Wellness »» John West, BomBoard LLC

The I.Q. Awards for innovation in business will be presented to: »» Agro Biosciences Inc. »» Astronautics Corp. of America »» Brew City Brand »» Briggs & Stratton Corp. »» Connected Technology Solutions »» Fiserv Inc. »» Millennium Forms LLC »» PKWARE »» Seiva Technologies »» Wellntel Inc.

Also at the Bravo/I.Q. Awards lunch, Milwaukee-based Gener8tor LLC will be presented with the Regional Spirit Award.

Gener8tor co-founder Joe Kirgues will be part of a panel discussion at the luncheon with leaders of young, rapidly-growing area companies. Those panelists will also include: Dominic Anzalone, founder and chief executive officer of RentCollegePads.com, Joe Scanlin, co-founder and CEO of Scanalytics and Richard Yau, CEO and co-founder of Bright Cellars.

The BizExpo conference begins with the Women in Business breakfast. At the breakfast, Paula Penebaker, president and CEO of YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin, will receive the 2016 BizTimes Woman Executive of the Year Award. Penebaker began her career at YWCA in 1999 as the chief human resources and facilities officer. She advanced at the agency and was appointed executive director in 2005 and later, president and CEO. In addition, she has served as chair of the YWCA USA board of directors.

The Women in Business breakfast will also include a panel discussion moderated by Kimberly Kane, president and founder of Kane Communications Group. The panelists will include: Kathryn Campbell, director of investor relations at Johnson Controls Inc.; Linda Gorens-Levey, partner at General Capital Group; Debra Kessler, chief financial officer at TJ Hale and Impact 100; Shontra Powell, chief operating officer at ASQ; and Mary Lou Young, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County. n For more information, or to register for BizExpo, visit www.biztimes.com/bizexpo.

The first step to growing your business is believing you can.

Whether you’re looking to expand around the block or around the country, a business loan from U.S. Bank could be just the help you need to take your business even further. Get growing by contacting a business banker today.

3.49

Quick Loan interest rates as low as

%*

Lenore Sprague, Business Banking, 262.388.7234

Zach TeWinkel, Business Banking, 414.765.5498 usbank.com/quickloan *The 3.49% interest rate applies to new or used equipment Quick Loan up to 80% LTV for loan terms up to 36 months for credit qualified applicants. Disclosed rate reflects 0.50% discount based on automatic monthly payments from a U.S. Bank Business Checking account. A $75 origination fee applies to all loans and will impact final APR. Higher rates may apply based on a lower credit score, a higher LTV, or not having automatic monthly payments taken from a U.S. Bank Business Checking account. Advertised rate is as of 04/15/2016 and subject to change without notice based on market conditions.

Credit products offered by U.S. Bank National Association and are subject to normal credit approval and program guidelines. Some restrictions and fees may apply. Financing maximums and terms are determined by borrower qualifications and use of funds. See a banker for details. Deposit products offered by U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC. ©2016 U.S. Bank.

w w w.biztimes.com

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

11

innovations UWM professor’s startup takes aim at fire blight T3 BioScience product would cut back antibiotic use

T

he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates at least 2 million people in the United States become infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria each year and 23,000 die as a direct result of the infection.

ARTHUR THOMAS (414) 336-7123 arthur.thomas@biztimes.com Twitter: @arthur8823

Ching-Hong Yang, professor of biological sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, knows the dangers of antibiotic resistant bacteria all too well.

Not only is it his field of study, but also his father almost died from it two years ago.

Problems with antibiotic resistant bacteria have been attributed by some scientists to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics.

The product Yang is developing as chief scientific officer of Milwaukeebased T3 BioScience LLC aims to limit the use of antibiotics and come up with another way to protect pear and apple trees from fire blight.

The fire blight disease is caused by Erwinia amylovora, a pathogen that causes a light tan bacterial ooze from portions of dead bark. Eventually, dead leaves and fruit turn black, making portions of the tree appear scorched.

It can do massive damage. In 1998, Pacific Northwest growers experienced $68 million in losses from blight-damaged

pear trees. In 2000, an outbreak in western Michigan resulted in $42 million in losses and 10 percent of the area’s trees were killed.

In Wisconsin, fire blight has the potential to damage an apple crop that produced more than 40 million pounds of fruit in 2014, according to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The danger is to the point that when Yang approached an orchard about doing field tests, the farmer wanted to pay him to do it.

The problem isn’t just the disease, but also the antibiotics used to prevent its spread. The two commercially available antibiotics will soon be prohibited in the United States, since spraying them on

E A S T E R

S E A L S

MIS

2222 S. 11 West 4th Str Allis, WI 53 eet (414) 449-4 227 444 easte rseals wise.co faceb m ook.c om/ea sterse alswis astWI e

@ESS

outhe

Support a nonprofit in the 2017

GIVING GUIDE

S O U T H E A S T

T3 BioScience LLC Milwaukee Innovation: Compound to prevent fire blight www.t3biosci.com

crops contributes to antibiotic resistance.

“My idea is that we can find some alternative way that can control the disease without using traditional, conventional antibiotics,” Yang said.

To do that, Yang looks for the weak points in pathogens. His approach involves targeting the pathogen’s type III secretion system (T3SS), which Yang described as a needlelike structure the

W

I S SION C O Easte N S r I N disabi Seals So ut and lities or sp heast Wi play in th ecial ne sconsin pr eir co ed mmun s and th ovides ex eir fa ce ities. milies ptional servi have ce s equa l oppo to ensure rtuni ties to that all pe op live, learn le with , work

TOTA L EM PLOY REVE EES: NUE: $10,4 220 YEAR ESTA 12,37 BLISH 9 ED: 19

GOAL S To ch an disab ge the wa iliti y poten es so tha the world tia t all pe l. To pro every perso defines, vie vid op familie le with dis e exceptio n can ac ws and tre hieve ats their and en s have eq abilities or nal servic full ual es sp gage in the opportunit ecial need to ensure Live: ir co Ha mmun ies to live s and the that port to nds-on, , learn, ir ities. co work, of ch help peop mprehen play alleng siv le es, ne reach the e, vital ser Learn FUND eds or ir vic es an : disab full poten ING d su learn— Programs tial— ilities.

SOUR de regard pCES need and often signed less to he ed re-lea lp as the to devel op an rn—basic children y age. an d thr ive, an functions, d adults Work: FUND d be maste A RAIS sharp that he range of r ING/ and ac skills We ho traini EVEN mean lp people ng, pla ld tive ingful prepa tunitie two annu TS ceme lenge re for work s for nt an al s and is oft the d rel • Wa individua fundraisin wo en ate havin g lk Wi ls an Play: g a go the key rkforce— d servic d corpo events tha Fu es to ove beca Milwa th Me – od life t off us careg n, healthy rat rco We uk . e ming ivers  Pro togeth ee Coun dnesda ions to ge er opporchalto rel programs gra cons y, Ju ty Zo t co er to  Gov m Fees ..... ax, co tructi ind for rai se fun o. A fam ne 29th at nnected: ern ivid ve child nn life po  Com ment Con ............... ily ev ds an the ssible activities— ect with frie ren and spon uals with en so . dis ad  Don mercial Sal tracts ......................... all nd r ult abilit d awarene t to walk or so ne Act: Ou es ations in Ja .......... . 62% cessa s and enga s and ss  Oth nuary form a wa ies. Be .......... ............... ry to er Inc stand r vibrant a corpo for ge in .......... .... 18% lk tea .......... at • ome livi ww co s ..... m.

Autis .......... ng the w.walk rat .......... advoc with those mmunity m Aw .......... .. 9% .......... best withm Registratio e ating of frie arene caus ... 7% who .......... e.o n , ins e be fac nd ss do rg/mi ........ pire us s an na e ch Month busin marketin lwauk gins 4% all an ting and pa allenges d support – Ap g es ee ril. Th d susta by vol ers rticipa and rai s with Ea campaign, rou un in ou VOLU ste r caus ting in eve teering, to fam se needed r Seals you can ali gh this NTEE nts tha to he e. ilies tha gn funds R OP Our de early t to pro lp sprea your t are PORT interv d the on vid positi dicated vol UNIT entio word GIVI vely im untee n supp the therap e scholar IES NG OP have rs pacti y waitin ships ort se a ng the play an PORT Easte rvice g list week variety of essen lives s. r UNIT for en op tia is of Seals know EXEC IES you ca d to fit you portunit of those tha l role in great UTIV s the ies thr n r t im ma ava ma we pe po E LE ou www.e ke a ke ilab serve.

ADER differ rtance to rsonal im asters a differen ility and ghout the level; ence pact you.

SHIP ealsw week We intere ce thr co : your There rporat Volun ise.co an sts ough ships gifts e vo teer are m. volun . Learn ho d ; BOAR teerin Unite individua lunteer da or leade many wa make w D OF l gif rsh g at d ys to DIRE to co Way Giving ts; in-kin ys; tailored ip at the Dale Van CTOR mbine Board d gifts; even Camp Dam (Ch M3 Insu chari S rance table your perso aign. A or throu t sponsorSolution air) ★ giving gh na be Peggy s goals l financial quest gif your Kenwoo Niemer t to es Frank d & Wel (Vice Cha tablish objectives allows yo ls, LLC ir) ★ Schenc Windt u Robert Jim Mc a las wit k Busines Glowa ting leg h your CEO s Solu PNC Ban Mullen (Se cki Robert acy. tions cretary) ★ k Ran Michel Retired, us Sue Pie Nancy le Sch Roundy COO aefer ’s Pierman rman Manpow Creuziger David Commun erGroup (Treasu David Glazer rer) ★ ications Daniel ★ DEN Roger Glazer OTES O’Calla Real Esta Har EXE Retired, Schaus ley-Dav Jeff Squ Bill Hug CUTIVE ghan te, LLC Generac 52 idson LEADER ProHealt ire Motor Patina hes Tom Gag SHIP Co. Solution h Care 20 16 s Morgan liano GIV ING Tom Kel Sara Wa Stanley GU IDE Kelmann ly Associa lker Jean Sch | ww ted Ban Restora w.b izt k tion Massag ramka im 34 Easte SERV r serve Seals South ICE AREA s Wauk six countie east Wisc es on Keno ha, Wash s: Milwauk sin sha an ington ee, d Ra cine. , Ozauke e,

es. co

m/ giv

ing

Don’t wait! Shine a spotlight on your favorite nonprofit in the 2017 Giving Guide today!

Con nect ing Ind with ividuals Disa bilitie to a s W Poss orld of ibilitie s

e Envy

Tari Em

Charter erson Steel

A SU PP LEM

EN T

OF BIZ TIM

ES MIL WA UK

EE

www .eas te

For more information call or email 414.336.7112 or advertise@biztimes.com

View last year’s edition at www.biztimes.com/giving

A supplement of

rsea lsw

ise.c om

Leaves on an apple tree “scorched” by fire blight.

pathogen uses as a weapon.

Yang has worked with colleagues to develop a compound that blocks the T3SS to prevent the infection of a plant.

“Instead of killing the bacteria, we just disarm it,” he said.

2016 GIVING GUIDE

FEATURED NONPROFIT

T3Bioscience is conducting its last field test on apple and pear trees this spring.

The past two field tests have proven that the product is comparable with commercialized antibiotics. The next step is to get U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

approval, with the goal of having a market-ready product in two to three years.

“Our immediate objective is to help reduce excessive use of antibiotics in agriculture,” said Daniel Burgin, chief executive officer of T3 BioScience.

The compound Yang created doesn’t face a possible ban, like current antibiotics. It is sprayed on crops and could help farmers fight fire blight But Yang also sees opportunity for his work to potentially treat human infections. The T3SS is a part of a number of animal, human and plant pathogens.

T3 BioScience is one of 10 to 12 faculty-based startups that have formed from the work of the UWM Research Foundation, which was started a decade ago.

“It’s a growing number,” said Brian Thompson, foundation president.

Yang said he appreciates how the foundation has worked with him. It holds the patent on his work and licenses it to T3 BioScience. Thompson and senior licensing manager Jessica Silvaggi helped him take the work from idea to product.

“Number one, you have to start with a great researcher,” Thompson said.

Yang received one of the foundation’s catalyst grants, which are funded by the Bradley Foundation and support research with the potential for commercialization.

Roughly $4 million has been award to 74 recipients over the past eight years.

The UWM Research Foundation now has about 40 patents in its portfolio, about half of which are subject to license or option agreements like Yang’s.

Thompson said it is important for researchers to connect with someone with a business background. That’s the case for Yang and Burgin. From there, the foundation can work with a company in an ongoing partnership.

“We have to make sure they’re progressing. Until they start making sales they’re sending us yearly reports,” Silvaggi said. n Get news headlines from around the state delivered to your inbox first thing Monday through Friday. Sign up for BizTimes’ Morning Headlines at biztimes.com/subscribe.

CONGRATULATIONS

TEC 2016 Inspirational Leadership Award Winners LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Tim Schierl Team Schierl Companies

RISING STAR AWARD Laura Henderson Epiphany Learning

Lad Lake

TEC FOR SMALL COMPANIES AWARD

(262) 965-2131 ladlake.org

PHONE: WEB:

Guiding Growth. Reaching Potential.

Living Responsibly.

Tim O’Brien Image: Scott Paulus

Tim O’Brien Homes

TEC WISCONSIN AWARD Kurt Voss AmeriLux International LLC

To learn more, visit biztimes.com/giving

tecmidwest.com 262.821.3340

TEC MICHIGAN AWARD

13105 W. Bluemound Road Suite 250 Brookfield, WI 53005

John “Chip” Keough Joyworks, Inc.

PRODUCED BY

w w w.biztimes.com

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

13

FREE REGISTRATION IN ADVANCE

1 D AY | 3 E V E N T S | 1 8 S E M I N A R S

[$20 AT THE DOOR] WEDNESDAY MAY 18, 2016 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM POTAWATOMI HOTEL & CASINO

REGISTER TODAY!

BIZTIMES.COM/BIZEXPO

BIZEXPO PROUDLY PRESENTED BY

Event Sponsors:

Supporting Sponsor:

Event Partners:

Lounge Sponsor:

Partners:

Meet your future customers at Wisconsin’s largest one-day business event.

LIMITED BOOTHS REMAIN! 88Nine Radio Milwaukee Abacus Architects ABR Employment Services ActionCOACH - Business Coaching Aflac Insurance Allô! Chocolat Alverno College Anderson Ashton Applied Tech ARCOA Group Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin Badger Tag & Label BELFOR Property Restoration BizTimes Media Business Service Inc. Butters Fetting CarePlus Dental Plans Central Office Systems Charles Schwab CJ & Associates, Inc. Class 1 Air Commerce State Bank Concordia University Wisconsin Creative Business Interiors CTaccess, Inc.

Darren Fisher Consulting Emmons Business Interiors Epic Color EverDry Waterproofing EVOLUTION Milwaukee Glorious Malone’s Fine Sausage Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce Herzing University HR Value Partners, LLC Innovative Signs, Inc. Kelley Communications, Inc. Lakeview Networks LLC Lamers Bus Lines, Inc. LauberCFOs, Inc. Leeward Business Advisors Life Navigators Majic Productions Marquette University High School Max Health Chiropractic MC Services Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) Midwest IT Solutions Milwaukee Athletic Club Milwaukee Bucks Milwaukee Screen and Stitch

Network Health New Horizons of Wisconsin News/Talk 1130 WISN North Star Catering Office Furniture Resources Pavlic Vending Promotional Marketing Concepts Prudential RDS Print-Promo Solutions River Run Computers Sam’s Club SC Aviation SCORE SE Wisconsin Sign-A-Rama Downtown Milwaukee Snapdragon Flowers of Elm Grove Southeastern Wisconsin Educational Consortium Spindletop Investigations Stamm Technologies Summit Credit Union SWICKtech TEC - The Executive Committee The Colerget Conference Center The Equitable Bank The Office Technology Group The Rauser Agency

* As of 04.22.16

Time Warner Business Class Tobin Solutions TOTAL Mechanical Tower Energy International Town Bank Tri City National Bank TSR Solutions United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County Upper Iowa University UW-Whitewater College of Business & Economics V&F Roof Consulting & Service VPC Innovations Waukesha County Business Alliance WBON/WWE Women Business Owners and Entrepreneurs WCTC - Center for Business Performance Solutions Wisconsin Aviation Wisconsin Document Imaging Wisconsin Institute of CPAs WorkWise, LLC Yahara Software

To become an exhibitor, contact Linda Crawford at 414-336-7112 or linda.crawford@biztimes.com

: Seminars

9:30 - 10:15

A The ROI from Executive Coaching John Howman

managing consultant and advisor, Allied Consulting Group, Inc.

Maureen McAvoy

B Why Your Website Isn’t Converting

Content Marketing & Native Advertising - What Are They and How Do They Work Together?

Joe Martinez

Chuck Frey

senior manager of paid media, Granular

1:45 - 2:30

12:00 - 12:45

10:45 - 11:30

executive leadership coach, professor Marquette University

The Secret to Cold Calling Success Paul Neuberger

The Cold Call Coach

Talent Management Strategies for Small Business Beth Mathison

director of employment services, MRA

The Market’s View of Your Business... Believe it or Not Ann Hanna

managing director, Schenck M&A Solutions

Corey Vanderpoel

3:45 - 4:30

2:45 - 3:30

managing director, Schenck M&A Solutions

Taking Your Business from Good to Great with EOS Jim Palzewicz

C

director of content marketing, Cultivate Communications

Jon Anne Willow

director of strategic initiatives, BizTimes Media

Why should I work here?

Taking Family Out of the Family Business

Christine McMahon

Moderator: David Borst

McMahon and Associates

Family Business Legacy Institute

Develop the WOW within you

The Confidence Quadrant™

Robert Grede

Darren Fisher

Competing in the Talent Game: Practical Approaches to Attracting the Right Employee

Winning Negotiation Strategies

president and founder, The Grede Company

Joe Weitzer

Dean, Center for Business Performance Solutions, WCTC

Darren Fisher Consulting LLC

Tom Myers

Reinhart Boerner Van Duren S.C.

Tim Nettesheim

Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.

There’s an App for that... but do you need it?

Suburban hot spots

Tim Knautz

Moderator: Andrew Weiland

ActionCOACH

senior lecturer, UW-Parkside computer science department, UW Parkside App Factory

I’ve Got People Skills

Establishing Credibility As A Leader

Real Estate Showcase CARW

Steve Riege

Derek Duprey

Developers, commercial real estate brokers and municipal officials will showcase some of their projects on easels to prospective tenants.

motivational speaker, general manager, Wisconsin Athletic Club

To register and view expanded seminar descriptions visit biztimes.com/seminar

BIZEXPO PROUDLY PRESENTED BY

executive editor, BizTimes Milwaukee

All seminars are included with your BizExpo Pass FREE advanced registration, $20 at the door

: REGISTER TODAY!

Featured Main Stage Events at

Mission-motivated leadership: It’s about the Why Wednesday May 18, 2016 | 7:30AM - 9:30AM | Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Mission-motivated leaders are centered around why their enterprises exist, and why they do what they do. Guess what? It’s not primarily about the bottom line – it just happens to improve it.

To kick off BizExpo 2016, join BizTimes for a breakfast and conversation with these dynamic executives as they share how they inspire their teams to get beyond the What and connect with the Why. Moderated by Kimberly Kane, President and founder, Kane Communications Group Panelists include: Kathryn Campbell, director of investor relations – Johnson Controls, Inc (1) Linda Gorens-Levey, partner – General Capital Group (2)

(1)

Debra Kessler, CFO – TJ Hale and Impact 100 (3)

(3)

(2)

Shontra Powell, COO – ASQ (4) Mary Lou Young, president & CEO – United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County (5) Woman Executive of the Year BizTimes Media will present its 2016 Woman Executive of the Year to Paula Penebaker, president and CEO for YWCA Southeast Wisconsin.

(4)

Register Today! biztimes.com/women Sponsors:

Supporting Sponsor:

(5)

$45/person | $360/table of 8

Partners:

Presented By:

WEDNESDAY MAY 18, 2016 | 5:00PM - 7:00PM | POTAWATOMI HOTEL & CASINO REGISTER TODAY! BIZTIMES.COM/LOCKER $30/person Cap off your day at BizExpo with a reception and an insightful and entertaining panel of former athletes who have successfully transitioned from sports to business.

Learn how they’ve applied what they learned on the field or court to their professional lives.

Panelists: Lou Banach (1) National Wrestling Hall of Famer Lou Banach won two NCAA championships and a gold medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics. He’s a published author and community leader. Today he leads Financial Institutions and Government Banking for Associated Bank.

Jim Popp (2) Vanderbilt University tight end Jim Popp was drafted out of college by the San Francisco 49ers and also played for the Chicago Bears. Today he is the managing director, region head at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

(1)

Rick Barrett (3) Rick Barrett played college baseball at California State University, Fullerton and for the minor leagues in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Today he heads Barrett Lo Visionary Development, the firm behind the Moderne in downtown Milwaukee.

Following the program enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar while mingling with the panelists and your friends after a great day at BizExpo.

Presented By:

(2)

(3)

: REGISTER TODAY!

Featured Main Stage Events at

Bold Leaders.

Bright Ideas.

WEDNESDAY MAY 18, 2016 | 11:30AM - 1:30PM | POTAWATOMI HOTEL & CASINO It’s a fact. New companies create new jobs. They’re the lifeblood of our economy and on May 18th, BizTimes will recognize 20 of our region’s best and brightest as recommended by our readers.

Ready, fire, aim! Entrepreneurial tales of ambition and tenacity Prior to the awards program, join us for a luncheon and robust dialogue among four young entrepreneurs and innovators who share their stories – and lessons learned along the way.

Moderator: Andrew Weiland, editor, BizTimes Media Dominic Anzalone (1) founder & CEO – RentCollegePads.com (founded 2011) Joe Kirgues (2) co-founder – gener8tor (founded 2011) Joe Scanlin (3) co-founder & CEO – Scanalytics (founded 2012) Richard Yau (4) co-founder & CEO – Bright Cellars (founded 2014)

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(6)

(7)

Meet our 2016 winners!

Bravo! Entrepreneur Awards winners:

I.Q. Awards for Innovation winners:

Dale Helgeson, DP Electronic Recycling

Agro Biosciences Inc.

Mark Irgens, Irgens Partners LLC

Astronautics Corp. of America

Juli Kaufmann, Fix Development

Brew City Brand

William Mortimore, Keystone Insights, Inc.

Briggs & Stratton

Tom & Jim Palzewicz, ActionCOACH

Connected Technology Solutions

Cory Passineau, C&D Automated Systems

Fiserv Inc.

Andrew Seter, Sensia Wellness

Millennium Forms LLC

John West, BomBoard LLC

PKWARE Seiva Technologies

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Wellntel Inc.

George & Julie Mosher (5) Regional Spirit Award: gener8tor LLC

(5)

The event will be emceed by WISN-12 anchors Melinda Davenport (6) and Ben Wagner (7).

REGISTER TODAY! BIZTIMES.COM/BRAVO Sponsors:

Presented By:

$55/person | $440/table of 8

special report

buildings&construction

BUILDING

BOOM

boosts Milwaukee area construction industry

BY CORRINNE HESS, staff writer

I

n 2008, James Phelps was faced with two choices: either hope to not get laid off from the construction firm he worked for, or start his own business.

In the middle of the Great Recession, he chose the latter.

Phelps, now 40, left his job at KBS Construction Inc., which is now part of C.D. Smith Construction Inc., and started JCP Construction LLC with his brothers, Jalin and Clifton.

The company’s first job was installing solid surface tops at Cambridge Commons residence hall at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Phelps alma mater. The job paid $80,000.

There were some months of steady work and several months of drought for the new business.

Phelps, who completed the 26-week Associates in Commercial Real Estate program run by Marquette University and the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 2005, kept bidding on projects.

“We were able to get into Century City – Talgo was coming to town and we did a lot of the carpentry work there,” Phelps said. “It was tough. We had to get our name out there and show people we were nimble and capable.”

And then the bottom fell out of the industry.

18

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

w w w.biztimes.com

cover story

TROY FREUND PHOTOGRAPHY

â?ą

James Phelps, president of JCP Construction, at a renovation project for Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Milwaukee. w w w.biztimes.com

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

19

The Great Recession hit the construction industry especially hard. The Wisconsin construction sector lost nearly 44,000 jobs between 2006 and 2012, according to the most recent report from the Associated General Contractors of America.

The Phelps brothers were among the lucky ones. From 2008 to 2015, JCP has seen annual double-digit revenue growth—with the exception of 2013.

Once a three-man firm, JCP Construction now consists of a steady team of 25 people working in the field and another five working in the office on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in Milwaukee.

JCP has been named the general contractor for the 13,700-square-foot Pete’s Fruit Market grocery store that will be built on the city’s north side.

The company also is a subcontractor on the $450 million Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. office tower project in downtown Milwaukee. Construction of the 1.1 million-squarefoot, 32-story building is expected to be complete in 2017.

In addition, JCP will partner with Mortenson Construction as part of the construction team on the $524 million Milwaukee Bucks arena.

“I feel like now the margins are starting to come back,” Phelps said. “You always second-guess yourself; that’s part of being an entrepreneur. But seeing the margins come back made us reassured that this was the right decision.”

Today, with multi-million dollar projects planned or under construction throughout southeastern Wisconsin, there is no question that shovels are back in the ground.

“Northwestern Mutual has really triggered something within our city,” said Dan Bukiewicz, president of the Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, which represents Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties. “The Park East is moving and getting that property going after 14 years was an incredible opportunity. I think we’re in for another strong five to seven years.”

During a press conference in March, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele announced 98 percent of the Park East corridor’s land is either being developed or under option for sale to a developer.

Milwaukee County owns the last remaining parcel in the Park East, a onethird acre piece known as “Block 12, Lot 20

TROY FREUND PHOTOGRAPHY

buildings & construction

Construction of a $450 million, 32-story office tower at Northwestern Mutual’s headquarters campus towers over downtown Milwaukee.

B,” and has issued a request for proposal for the property. Marcus Corp. and Hammes Co. each submitted proposals to purchase and develop the land in February. County officials will not comment on the process.

Bukiewicz also credits the increase in construction in the area to the leadership at the state, county and city levels.

“Millennials are asking for things and leadership is following through,” he said.

“If you want to retain talent in this state, you are going to have to offer exciting, innovative places for people to live, work and play.”

Like manufacturing, a strong construction industry can lead to a more robust state economy. The construction sector directly produced $9 billion of Wisconsin’s gross domestic product in 2013 – 3.4 percent of the state’s total $264.1 billion GDP, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.

The average wage and salary payment per construction employee in 2012 was $52,772, which is 22.4 percent above the B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

state average of $43,105, according to the AGC of America report.

“The excitement right now in Milwaukee is wonderful for us – there is billions of dollars worth of work,” said Ken Kraemer, executive director of Building Advantage, the Construction Labor Management Council of Southeast Wisconsin.

“We want to make sure we are not just providing jobs for people, but careers.”

According to an analysis by the AGC of America, 43 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between February 2015 and February 2016, with California adding the most jobs (53,800, a 7.6 percent increase).

Wisconsin ranks 20th in the country, with 5,500 new construction jobs added between February 2015 and February 2016, a 5.1 percent increase.

“In most of the country, construction continues to outpace other industries in adding jobs,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America. “Contractors remain upbeat about demand for many

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

w w w.biztimes.com

types of projects, but they are having difficulty finding enough qualified workers.”

Richard Schmidt, Jr., president and CEO of Milwaukee-based CG Schmidt Inc., who has worked in construction since 1980 and is a fourth generation contractor, said he never considered getting out of the business – even during the Great Recession, which was the worst downturn he has seen in his career.

During the slowdown, his company had to lay off some employees but was able to keep its core base of people by doing some smaller projects and reaching out to geographic areas in which it hadn’t previously been active.

About 18 months ago, Schmidt says he started to notice a turnaround. This year will be the first that CG Schmidt will surpass its pre-recession annual revenue.

“We’ve been blessed with a lot of work,” Schmidt said.

CG Schmidt recently completed the 833 East Michigan office tower in downtown Milwaukee and is currently working on: the Northwestern Mutual tower

with Gilbane Building Co.; the expansion of the Uline corporate headquarters complex in Pleasant Prairie; the Medical College of Wisconsin professional office building in Wauwatosa; the Moorland Reserve Health Center in New Berlin; and several other projects.

In the past 12 months, CG Schmidt has added 56 employees—24 office staff and 32 field staff.

Despite the construction boom, Schmidt said his firm has not had any trouble getting enough materials or subcontractors for its projects. The biggest challenge, he said, is finding qualified people both in the trades and for his professional staff.

In Wisconsin, there has been a focus on getting people back to work and enrolled in apprentice programs so there is not a shortage of skilled workers, Kraemer said.

In 2015, the local union construction industry worked 15.5 million man hours and spent upward of $10 million on training apprentices. This year will likely top that, Kraemer said.

In 2010, the unemployment rate in the construction industry was 30 percent and there were zero people in the local electrician apprentice program. Two years ago, 47 people were enrolled; today, there are 60. Six years ago, 10 people were enrolled in the plumbing apprentice program; today, there are 37 people enrolled, Kraemer said.

The average age of an apprentice in a construction-related field is 26 to 28 years old.

“We’re back to 2010 numbers in our apprentice program, and focusing on doing a better job making sure this is not a second career choice for people,” Krae-

mer said.

The increase in construction crosses all sectors of the building industry.

The $1.7 billion Zoo Interchange Project to rebuild the aging interchange at the intersection of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa and West Allis began in 2013 and will last until 2018. For the past three years, the orange barrels have caused headaches for drivers but created hundreds of construction jobs.

In April, voters in Muskego, Mukwonago and Menomonee Falls approved significant building project referendums, providing even more construction work in those communities. The Muskego school district will build a new middle school and expand two existing elementary schools. In Mukwonago, the high school will be renovated and expanded and in Menomonee Falls, numerous facilities will be upgraded and two buildings will be demolished.

On the residential side, there is an apartment development boom in downtown Milwaukee and the suburbs, with thousands of units planned, under construction or recently completed. For the single-family and duplex home market, southeastern Wisconsin had 299 housing starts in the first quarter of 2016, which is the best performance since 2007. The average value of the homes being built is $328,000 and the average home is 2,890 square feet, according to MTD Marketing Services, which tracks home start information. Although home starts have dramatically improved since the Great Recession, single family home construction is still nowhere near its 2004 peak, when 691 new homes were built in the first quarter of 2004. At that time, the average home value was $256,235.

cover story

TROY FREUND PHOTOGRAPHY

❱

Construction continues for the River House Apartments development in Milwaukee.

You Design.....We Deliver.....

For over 30 years Acoustech Supply has been delivering Commercial Interior Products and Outstanding Customer Service.

COUSTECH S U P P LY

I N C.

We specialize in: Acoustical Ceilings & Walls · Specialty Wood & Metal Ceilings · Installation training Acoustical & Drywall Suspension Systems · Acoustical Clouds & Canopies · Products seminars Job: Orthopedic Association of Wisconsin | Developer: HSI Properties | General Contractor: DG Beyer Inc. Architect: Eppstein Uhen Architects | Acoustical Contractor: Quality Ceilings Inc. | Products: Armstrong Cala,

COUSTECH

and Axiom Transisions S U P P LUltima, Y I NFormations, C. We invite you to experience the Acoustech difference.

COUSTECH S U P P LY

I N C.

800-259-6929 WWW.ACOUSTECHSUPPLY.COM

Locations: Milwaukee (headquarters) 1710 S. 106th St., Milwaukee, WI 53214 | Also with locations in: Fox Valley, Madison & Wausau

PHOTO CREDIT: CURT WALTZ, AERIALSCAPES, WWW.AERIALSCAPES.COM

buildings & construction

An aerial view of The Corners, a $200 million retail, restaurant and apartment development in Brookfield.

For projects getting subsidies from the city of Milwaukee, city officials have tried to ensure local residents and businesses are benefitting through its Residents Preference Program, Small Business Enterprise Program and Local Business Enterprise Program.

For example, at least 25 percent of construction spending and between 17 and 18 percent of professional service spend-

ing on the new Bucks arena in downtown Milwaukee must be with a disadvantaged business enterprise, small business enterprise or small disadvantaged business.

Forty percent of on-site arena construction hours must meet Milwaukee’s Residents Preference Program requirements.

Like the arena project, Northwestern Mutual has had to meet similar requirements for its headquarters project be-

cause both projects are being financed, in part, by tax incremental financing.

The city has committed $47 million in TIF financing for the $524 million arena project and $54 million in TIF financing for the Northwestern Mutual office tower.

As of February, Northwestern Mutual had hired 355 people from Milwaukee’s poorest neighborhoods to help build the office tower, exceeding the city’s expectations.

JCP Construction, a minority-owned firm, has benefited from those programs.

JCP is a subcontractor on both the arena and Northwestern Mutual projects. While Phelps is grateful, he said the Residents Preference Program is a double-edged sword. As a Milwaukee homeowner, Phelps appreciates the city getting a return on its investment in wage supporting jobs for people who live in the city.

Veterans in the Workplace

Family Business Advertise in these upcoming special reports and get your message in front of area business executives.

May 30, 2016 Space Reservation: May 11, 2016

Contact Linda Crawford today! p: 414.336.7112 e: advertise@biztimes.com

May 30, 2016 Space Reservation: May 11, 2016

❱

And as a business owner, being awarded contracts through the various preference programs allows JCP to meet contractors and get additional work it might not have otherwise gotten.

But still, the programs sometimes have the bad connotation that they are the only reason minority-owned firms are getting the work, Phelps said. “(That perception by some) is what it is,” Phelps said. “Historically, different races have used different things to their advantage. At first, it did bother me but I’ve come to embrace it. I see it as a good way to get people through the trades.”

Phelps also believes putting minorities to work on projects, pushing them to do excellent work and then rewarding them for the work is beneficial for everyone involved.

“People are now used to seeing people of color on projects who are not doing mediocre work,” Phelps said. “Everyone wants to be pushed and when they know they will be rewarded for it, there is a loyalty that goes along with it.”

Regardless of the minority hiring requirements, JCP would be getting work, Bukiewicz said.

“I believe James and JCP would be successful with or without those requirements,” Bukiewicz said. “JCP is a very wellrun business.”

The Great Recession officially ended in mid-2009, but in southeastern Wisconsin, the construction industry did not start to rebound until Northwestern Mutual announced at the end of 2012 it would expand its corporate headquarters in downtown Milwaukee.

The announcement reaffirmed Northwestern Mutual’s commitment to Milwaukee, which in 2003 had opened a second major campus on 75 acres in Franklin. The new office tower will preserve 1,100 downtown jobs while creating space for the company to add 1,900 new ones at it headquarters campus.

Northwestern Mutual also recently began construction work for a 33-story, mixed-use tower on the block bounded

by North Van Buren, North Jackson, East Mason and East Wells streets. The $100 million development will feature 308 high-end residential apartments and 16 penthouse units, as well as 1,100 parking spaces and retail space. Fond du Lacbased C.D. Smith is the general contractor for that project.

“Northwestern Mutual was really

cover story

the bellwether,” Phelps said. “Once (the headquarters) project came out, it really primed the pump and a lot of other projects started getting talked about. We saw a lot of projects move from tentative to go.”

Northwestern Mutual’ s headquarters expansion may have been the catalyst for the recent downtown Milwaukee development boom, but the decision by the Milwaukee Bucks to build a new arena has definitely stoked the flames.

When the Bucks break ground on the arena on June 18, Minneapolis-based Mortenson, which has an office in Brookfield, will manage the project.

Ben Goetter, director of project development for Mortenson, said being named construction manager of a 714,000-squarefoot facility was game-changing for the firm’s Milwaukee-area operations.

“We spent almost three years pursuing and positioning ourselves for this project,” Goetter said. “It was a long road, but it paid off. To be able to be building a catalytic project like this in downtown Milwaukee is great, and we are absolutely ready.”

Mortenson predicted an uptick was coming and began recruiting talent and hiring a year ago. Today, the company has 265 employees living and working in southeastern Wisconsin.

Goetter believes the timing of the major projects in downtown Milwaukee will keep work in the pipeline for years to come.

“There are awesome, high-profile projects planned, beginning with Northwestern Mutual, then the arena, followed

by The Couture,” Goetter said. “They are spaced out pretty well to keep people excited, engaged and working.”

During his 19 years at Mortenson, Goetter has witnessed different booms – from the dot-com boom of the mid-1990s to the health care boom of the 2000s, when his firm was building 200,000-squarefoot hospitals.

Now, he is seeing the resurgence of downtown Milwaukee, which he said is exciting for the entire state.

“I hope it lasts for a while,” Goetter said. “If our leadership and our prominent Fortune 500 companies are smart with what they do downtown, this wave could be unique because of how well they have spaced out these projects. After the arena comes the future of the Bradley Center site next. If we play our cards right, we can keep this energy high for a long time.” n w w w.biztimes.com

n

Technology

Contractors • Developers

Institutional

Serving Diverse Business Needs

DISTRIBUTION MANUFACTURING INSTITUTIONAL TECHNOLOGY OFFICE SERVICE CENTER

www.geraldnell.com

Office

262-513-3750

What does

success

look like to you?

The Josephs – Park Bank customers since 1993 Bonnie, Leon, Robert and Jake in the lobby of the Overlook on Prospect

Member FDIC

For the Joseph family, success is leaving a legacy for generations to come.

Robert Joseph passionately set out to revive an iconic development he watched his grandfather build decades ago – Prospect Mall. He looked to his mentor and father, Leon, for advice, and he looked to Park Bank to stand behind him with the steadfast dependence he has relied on for over 20 years. The Overlook on Prospect now stands as a tribute to those who came before him. Learn more about their story at ParkBankOnline.com/success.

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

414.466.8000 ParkBankOnline.com

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

23

buildings & construction

A rendering of Wimmer Communities’ proposed Brookfield apartments.

Apartment development uptick impacts the suburbs, too

H

ales Corners developer Wimmer Communities is planning to build two apartment communities in Brookfield – one north of Brookfield Square, one south of the mall.

When the developments are finished, nearly 300 units will be added to Brookfield, which city officials say still isn’t nearly enough. In fact, a study released in January found up to 700 new CORRINNE HESS P: (414) 336-7116 E: corri.hess@biztimes.com Twitter: @CorriHess

apartments would be needed in Brookfield within five years.

Much attention has been paid to downtown Milwaukee’s apartment de24

velopment boom, but the inner-ring suburbs and beyond have also seen the same demand, which is driving an uptick in suburban apartment development.

Baby boomers who are ready to downsize but do not want to leave the suburban communities in which they raised their families are looking for high-quality rental options, and millennials who work in the suburbs are also looking for dwelling options close to the office.

“This is really part of the evolution of the suburbs,” said Dan Ertl, Brookfield’s director of community development.

“Most of us start out converting agriculture to single-family subdivisions. Then we follow with retail and some industrial.

Apartments were not an early part of the formation of the suburbs. Now that we’ve been incorporated for 62 years, we’ve B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

come to the full evolution.”

Brookfield currently has 1,200 apartments. A report presented by a consultant to the city’s plan commission in January showed the total demand for apartment housing was 500 to 700 units over the next five years. Estimated future supply is 400 units.

Ertl believes three groups will fill the apartments planned in Brookfield: Empty nesters who want an option other than Florida or Arizona; people whose family situation has changed and they are either suddenly single or need to rent; and people with the means to have a home in a warmer climate and an apartment in Brookfield.

Prior to the Great Recession, home ownership saw historic highs between 64 and 70 percent. Today, it is down to 60 percent, as preferences have changed,

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

w w w.biztimes.com

said Blair Williams, president of Milwaukee-based WiRED Properties, which specializes in mixed-use suburban apartment developments.

“People learned a hard lesson about owning real estate after the Great Recession,” Williams said. “We’re not building for millennials. Boomers have an increasing propensity to rent.”

Williams was the developer behind Mequon Town Center, a mixed-use development that includes 40 apartments. He has also developed apartment buildings on both sides of Oakland Avenue in Shorewood and is part of the team proposing the mixed-use Ballpark Commons project in Franklin, which includes 300 apartments.

WiRED also is the developer of the Main Street portion of Drexel Town Square in Oak Creek, which includes 62 luxury apartments and more than 33,000 square feet of retail space. In addition to Williams’ apartments at Drexel Town Square, a 510-unit luxury apartment development is being built there by Barrett Lo Visionary Development.

Mixed-used suburban projects like Drexel Town Square and Mequon Town Center create environments similar to downtown areas or urban neighborhoods and are approached by developers and civic leaders with a “circle of life” mentality. Empty nesters are attracted to the apartments because they can stay close to their grown children, their friends and their places of worship but no longer have to worry about their large homes, yards and tax bills. Young families from the city can move to the suburbs and into the homes being vacated by older generations.

Millennials that like to live in a pedestrian-oriented environment are also being catered to by these mixed-use suburban developments – all of their needs are within walking distance: restaurants, dry cleaning, shopping. And of course, when they are ready to start a family, look no further: an empty nester has just put his or her house on the market.

“We think our role of apartments in the suburban community is to create market churn,” Williams said. “To compete with a neighboring municipality, you identify your competitive advantage. And one thing you know is millennials have urban preferences, but the reality is, you go to the suburbs for the schools once you want to grow a family. We believe by urbanizing the suburbs, you can attract

❱

real estate spotlight

buildings & construction briefs Region’s commercial real estate market starts year strong The delivery of several large new buildings to the market during the first quarter has boosted absorption numbers and vacancy rates are remaining steady, according to the most recent southeastern Wisconsin commercial real estate data from the Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin and Xceligent.

Through the first quarter of 2016, the Milwaukee office market absorbed 338,237 square feet and the total vacancy rate fell 0.1 percent the from fourth quarter, to 17.8 percent.

Average asking rates are at $19.40 per square foot, up 96 cents per square foot over last year and 17 cents per square foot over last quarter.

The largest office space absorption created in the first quarter of 2016 comes from the new 833 East Michigan office building in downtown Milwaukee, which was 64 percent leased at the time of completion.

more people.”

The formula appears to be working.

Wangard Partners has proposed 182 units of townhomes and apartments in Elm Grove. Wangard is also building The Reef, a 180-unit multifamily housing development in Wauwatosa. In Oconomowoc, the Wauwatosa-based developer is working on phase two of The Preserve at Prairie Creek, which will include 160 units. Phase one, which is 228 units, is already fully leased.

Milwaukee-based Mandel Group, which has focused on apartment development since the Great Recession, has about a dozen apartment developments in the suburbs. Robert Monnat, partner and chief operating officer of Mandel Group, said there is demand for the units from both millennials and baby boomers.

Millennials are attracted to suburban living for a number of reasons, Monnat said. In many cases, they cannot afford to live downtown, where rents are $2 a square foot, compared to $1.50 to $1.75 in the suburbs.

“Milwaukee is also one of the few areas of the country where job growth is not limited to the central business district and is still occurring in the suburbs,” Monnat said. “There are still desirable employment options in the suburbs.”

Older baby boomers who have re-

Through the first quarter of 2016, the Milwaukee industrial real estate market absorbed 2,027,746 square feet. The total vacancy rate climbed slightly, 0.1 percent from last quarter, to 4.1 percent

in Wauwatosa and the Bluemound Road Power Center in Brookfield.

The average asking rate remains relatively steady at $4.36 per square foot, up 11 cents per square foot over last year’s first quarter and down 1 cent per square foot from the fourth quarter.

A Florida-based real estate investment company purchased the 78,000-square-foot Federal Manufacturing Co. building in RidgeView Corporate Park in Pewaukee for $8.2 million, according to state records.

Uline’s warehouse-distribution center in Kenosha brought 1.2 million square feet to the market.

Through the first quarter of 2016, the Milwaukee area retail real estate market absorbed 65,108 square feet. The total vacancy rate climbed 0.2 percent from last quarter to 7.8 percent.

The average asking rate fell slightly to $10.59 per square foot, down 32 cents per square foot from last quarter, but up 17 cents per square foot over the first quarter of 2015.

The two largest retail projects completed in the region during the first quarter were the second phase of the Mayfair Collection project

tired also desire to live in high-end luxury apartments, Monnat said. Mandel Group has built apartment complexes in Shorewood and Whitefish Bay that have catered almost exclusively to this group and is planning a similar community in Fox Point. Monnat said while concrete plans on the Fox Point development have not even been released, people are already asking to reserve their space in the community.

“Active seniors are not moving into senior housing developments until a much older age, so this fills the gap between single-family housing and senior housing,” Monnat said.

There was a time, he said, when Mandel Group was the only developer in a municipality building apartments. Now, two or three developers have projects going because the demographics have changed.

Condominiums are no longer being built and single-family housing is not a priority for many individuals. Despite the increased competition, Monnat is confident the new apartment units being built—both in the suburbs and in downtown Milwaukee—will be leased.

“I’m not a bit worried,” he said. n

Federal Manufacturing building in Pewaukee sold

An affiliate of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based Noble Properties purchased the building at N15 W23500 Stone Ridge Drive from Milwaukeebased Zilber Ltd. Interstate Partners LLC and Zilber Property Group developed the site for Federal Manufacturing in 2013.

The property is assessed at $6.06 million, according to Waukesha County records.

The manufacturing company moved to the building from Milwaukee and currently leases the space. A company official said Federal Manufacturing doesn’t plan on leaving.

n

More Wisconsin homes were sold in the first quarter of 2016 than in any first quarter since 2007, according to the most recent analysis of residential housing by the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

First quarter sales were up 4.2 percent compared to the first quarter of 2015 and the median price rose 6 percent to $150,000 over the same period.

March sales slipped 1.4 percent, according to the association. In the metropolitan Milwaukee area, March sales were down 4 percent, which was attributed to low inventory.

Median prices continued their upward trend, increasing 6 percent in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same quarter last year.

New listings fell 9.7 percent in March compared to March last year.

Design/Build Matters.

Your single source for the best outcome balancing budget, timeline and aesthetics.

MILWA U K E E MA D IS O N

Get the latest real estate news delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign up for BizTimes’ Real Estate Weekly at biztimes.com/subscribe. w w w.biztimes.com

State housing market has strongest first quarter since Great Recession

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

design + build + furnish creativebusinessinteriors.com

25

buildings & construction

Acuity expansion will double size of its Sheboygan headquarters

B

y the end of the year, Acuity will have completed a massive expansion project that will give the property and casualty insurance company more than 1 million square feet of office space at its Sheboygan headquarters.

The $170 million project will more than double the size of the company’s 450,000-square-foot headquarters building and is significantly larger than the originally-planned 260,000-square-foot expansion project that was first announced in 2013.

Once complete, Acuity’s headquarters will be about as large as Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.’s $450 million, 1.1-million-square-foot office tower that is under construction in downtown Mil-

waukee.

When the project is finished, Acuity’s headquarters and parking structures will encompass about 30 of the 100 acres the company owns along I-43 in Sheboygan.

“The scope (of the expansion project) has increased based on our growth,” said Ben Salzmann, Acuity president and chief executive officer. “Our focus has been on the policy holder, which has created more goodwill and in turn, more references. We have earned this growth by being respectful to every one of our policy holders and the good word is spreading.”

Acuity operates in 24 states and has self-reported annual revenue of more than $1.2 billion. The company manages more than $3.5 billion in assets.

The insurer has begun selling insurance in 15 new states over the past 13 years.

Acuity is planning to spread into another nine states over the Salzmann next seven years, including Texas, New York, California and Virginia. This growth has prompted 700 new hires over the past five years, bringing its total employment to 1,250.

The new office space includes a training complex, a 2,000-seat theater in the round and a 1,280-space parking structure, said Sheri Murphy, the company’s vice president of services and administration.

The Acuity headquarters is also home

BY CORRINNE HESS, staff writer

to the world’s largest free-flying American flag. In November, the company increased the size of its American flag by 36 percent.

The now 140-foot by 70-foot flag is supported by a 400-foot flagpole.

Within the next seven years, Acuity would like to build a 10-story office tower at its headquarters. Seven years after that tower is completed, a second 10-story office tower will be built, Salzmann said.

The expansion project demonstrates that Acuity is deepening its roots in Sheboygan and Wisconsin.

“A few years ago, the state of Illinois offered us incredible deals to leave this state.

We didn’t go,” Salzmann said. “This is a huge commitment to the state of Wisconsin.”

For its part, the state has also invested

Corporate Building Available for Sale or Lease Park Avenue - Beloit Wisconsin

Local Projects • Local Decisions • Local Bankers

Class A facility, 60,000 Sq. Ft. • • • •

Fully air conditioned Campus setting, 10 acres Fully secured and landscaped Ample parking

• Minutes to major interstates • 95 miles from Chicago • Aerospace, medical, food, high tech, warehouse

Contact: James Athans: 815-341-4236 or Dean Athans: 262-812-6781

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

$6,000,000

$5,600,000

SBA Hotel Purchase and Remodel

NMTC Apartment Construction

Class A Retail Center Refinance

$5,000,000

$5,000,000

$3,800,000

Multi-Family Refinance

Industrial Building Refinance

Single Family Development

$3,000,000

$3,000,000

$3,000,000

Industrial Refinance

Apartment Complex Purchase

NMTC Hotel Construction

$2,000,000

$2,000,000

$300,000 ea.

Religious Facility Construction

Working Capital Line of Credit

Local restaurants in Wauwatosa, Bayview, and Walker’s Point

Recently closed deals.

Specializing in Customized Loan Solutions.

Contact Ivan Gamboa today.

414-425-3200 • i.gamboa@tcnb.com

Call Now for More Information

26

$8,000,000

Our Mission is to be the Community Bank that defines our success by yours.

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

w w w.biztimes.com

faster than the industry.” n

heavily in Acuity. The company received at least $7 million in incentives from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce toward its various expansions from 2000 through 2006. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., which formed in 2011 as the successor to the Department of Commerce, was unable to provide any further information on incentives after 2007.

Acuity is a mutual insurance company owned by its members. Currently, the insurer has 300,000 policy holders.

“We grow 250 percent faster than the typical insurance company because we aren’t beholden to shareholders and we don’t set artificial goals,” Salzmann said.

“The goal is consistency. Ironically, because we are so consistent, we are growing

Construction of the north parking structure and Acuity’s American flag, which is the world’s largest free-flying American flag.

2016 GIVING GUIDE

FEATURED NONPROFIT

THE CHARLES E. KUBLY FOUNDATION

Where Adaptability Lives

The Charles E. Kubly Foundation

The variety of configurations and customizable storage solutions puts users in control of their own environment, surrounding them with the tools they need to get the job done. Abode is more than capable of standing on its own, but it also creates a consistent aesthetic when integrated with other HON workstations.

ABODE™ Desking

(414) 477-8901 charlesekublyfoundation.org

PHONE: WEB:

The Charles E. Kubly Foundation seeks to better the lives of those affected by depression by increasing public awareness of the disease and its devastating effects, eliminating the stigma associated with it, supporting suicide prevention programs and promoting improved access to quality mental health resources within communities.

To learn more, visit biztimes.com/giving

N115 W18500 Edison Drive Germantown, WI 53022

PRODUCED BY

w w w.biztimes.com

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

27

June 2, 2016 7:00 - 11:30AM Italian Conference Center PRESENTED BY:

GROWTH LEADERSHIP & CULTURE NEXT GENERATION LEGACY DE AN S

"When Willia m sits besid e a str anger on Fl ight 3 71 to B arbad os, he shares 12 qu estion s that have guided the fi nancia l fortu nes of his family for th ree ge nerati ons...i nsight ful, th ought provo king a nd power ful, De ans w rites w hat ot hers h ave on ly dar ed thi nk..."

"Every Family committed to the continuity of its business should challenge its convictions with candid cons ideration of Deans' powerful and proactive philosophies of wealth, family and human nature."

Dr. Joh n Ward , Chica go Profes sor, Sc hool o f Busin ess, K ellogg Unive rsity "Once in a while you read a book that you just have to re commend to others.

My father and I have both fin ished reading the book and it has already shaped our thinking about our busine ss in the future. Highly recom mended."

Martin Bamfo rd, UK Author of The Mone y Tree "Every Family's Business am plifies the imperative for aw areness, difficult conversations and clean ag reements in multi-­generation al enterprises.

Tom Deans' poignant (and hu morous) modern-­day fable is a must read for anyone navigating the difficul t transitions of wealth, owne rship and leadership."

Jim W arner, Colora do Author of Asp iration s of G reatne ss "Deans convinces readers th at businesses are temporary economic organizations always movin g toward obsolescence;; that the key to preserving generational wealth means a bandoning the longevity of a business as a fundamental goal. With his e ntertaining style he leaves yo u questioning everything you thought you k new about succession planni ng."

Sandy Cardy, Toron to Author of The Cotta ge, Th e Spid er Bro och an d the S econd Wife "In thirty years Deans won't j ust be remembered as a bes t selling author, but as the person who remin ded every entrepreneur that gifting a business will destroy wealth and famil ies with blinding speed -­ a cl assic in the making."

Don S chwerz ler, Atl anta Found er of th e Fam ily Bus iness I nstitut e Inc.

The morning starts with an inspirational keynote from Tom Deans, New York Times best-selling author of Every Family’s Business, followed by a panel discussion featuring family and closely-held business owners.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: TOM DEANS

All attendees will receive Tom’s New York Times best-selling book “Every Family’s Business”

PANELISTS:

Scott Larson – President/COO, Gustave A. Larson Deborah Anguil – COO, Anguil Environmental Eric Olesen – Owner & President, O&H Danish Bakery Theodore Perlick Molinari, Component Assembly & Brewery Fittings Supervisor, Perlick Corporation

Ev ery Fa mi ly' s Bu sin ess

Having successfully run his father’s business and helping to sell it at peak value before the 2007 crash, Tom has emerged as a leading global expert on family business dynamics.

Author of #1 Best Seller Willi ng Wisdom

:

10 Books Business Owners Should Read

Every Family's Business 12 Common Sense Questions to Protect Your Wealth

$22.95 US

"This book is a must read for anyone serious about prote cting their wealth, securing their retirement and building an inspiring legacy ...."

THOMAS WILLIAM DEANS Ph.D.

LARSON

ANGUIL

OLESON

PERLICK MOLINARI

Then it’s time to roll up your sleeves. Choose four of 20 roundtables on the themes of the day.

ROUNDTABLE PRESENTATIONS: - Successful Habits of Family Business Successors.

- Eight key areas that drive value in your business.

- Family dynamics: The Parent/Child relationship in the Family Business.

- Leadership Development in the Family and Closely-Held Business.

- Current State of the Merger and Acquisition Market.

- Does the Next Generation love your business enough to buy it?

- Innovation Strategies and Next Generation Entrepreneurs.

- Re-thinking Sales & Marketing to Scale Your Business now.

- Dividing The Family Cake. What’s “Fair”?

- Preparing the Next Generation: What do they really need to know?

- FLSA Overtime Changes. Is Your Business Ready?

- Family & Corporate Philanthropy: How you can make a difference?

- Whether by acquisition or organically, how do I fund & finance my growth?”

- The Changing Landscape of Cyber Security.

- How informed, involved, and invested are your strategic advisors in your business?”

- The role private equity can play in your business.

- Maximize your tax planning before you sell – there are more strategies than you think.

REGISTER TODAY! BIZTIMES.COM/FAMILY SPONSORS:

SUPPORTING:

PARTNERS::

strategies

Resistance to change is often subtle Leadership is key Dear Joan: “Having worked for state and local governments for more than 16 years, I was just wondering how you get past the unstated resistance of group leaders or members who may feel they have the most to gain by keeping things the same, and therefore undermine change. Is this a problem specific to government managers? What has been your experience?

What suggestions do you have?”

Answer: You have put your finger on why organizational change is so difficult. It’s hard enough convincing someone to change when the reasons are clearly in that person’s best interest (like losing weight, for example), but when the person thinks he or she will be hurt by the change, that person can really dig his or her heels in.

Resistance takes many forms, but in organizations it’s often unspoken and subtle because to be seen as “resistant” is risky.

Often, a resistant person will say the right things but make no changes in behavior or subtly undermine anyone who does.

Much of my consulting work is in the area of organizational change and over the years I’ve begun to identify the key factors that make the difference in a transformation effort.

The leader is the most important factor. If the leader has a clear vision of where he or she wants to take the organization and he or she communicates that vision in every action, people will fall into line easier and faster.

I have found that leaders frequently underestimate the power and influence they carry. One president said to me, “I’m just a nice guy. I don’t throw my weight around or act like a big shot. I’m just one of the team.” Not quite. Whether he wants to acknowledge it or not, every person who comes in contact with him studies his moves. A leader’s actions speak so w w w.biztimes.com

n

JOAN LLOYD CHANGE loudly, people can’t hear a word he says.

The senior team can’t delegate the change to someone else. Teamwork and empowerment must start at the top. Typically, senior managers each run a different part of the organization and only share information on a need-to-know basis with their peers. The top management group needs to work together to define the changes and their new roles.

The incentives and consequences must change. In government, like many other bureaucratic organizations, the game was played by keeping out of the line of fire, telling superiors what they want to hear, building an empire of many employees and not rocking the boat. The

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

people who played the game won promotions. Today, the organizations that are serious about change must change the rules and the prizes.

Government jobs are narrowly defined, pay scales are locked in and promotions are often determined by rigid rules and tests. If you’re an ambitious, bright employee with many innovative ideas, where’s the incentive? As a result, government can’t change as fast as private industry. It needs to start “reinventing” these systems to create the freedom to compete against privatization.

The structure must change. They say that “form follows function,” so it’s often necessary to change the structure to match the changing functions in the transforming organization. If you leave all the supervisors in place, for example, with the same number of employees and the same policies and procedures, why in the world would they suddenly embrace (or understand) the change just because the CEO said to do it?

On the other hand, some companies make the mistake of only changing structure, in the hopes that it alone will force the changes to happen. For example, in some companies where middle layers have been removed and all other bureaucratic rules and administration have stayed the same, the net effect is a lot of burned out people. You simply can’t “do more with less” unless the system is rewired for fewer people.

The process is everything. Most organizations approach organizational change the way they design a new product or switch suppliers. They figure it looks logical on paper, so it should all go according to schedule. They overlook the complications that occur because the changes are affecting people’s lives. That takes longer. That takes endless face-toface communication. That takes more employee involvement.

You don’t build trust via email and you can’t change an organization via memos and speeches. n

Joan Lloyd is a Milwaukee-based executive coach and organizational and leadership development strategist.

She has a proven track record spanning more than 20 years, and is known for her ability to help leaders and their teams achieve measurable, lasting improvements. Email your question to Joan at info@joanlloyd.com and visit www.JoanLloyd.com to search an archive of more than 1,600 of Joan’s articles. Contact Joan Lloyd & Associates at (414) 354-9500.

29

strategies

A workbook for workplace happiness Find joy in the place you spend much of your life

N

ot too long ago, when I was do- smiles, lost the focus on other people, ing executive coaching in Milwau- and assumed serious, even stern looks, kee, I often met with clients on one of the especially as the doors opened and they top floors of the tallest building in town.

Many of my appointments were early in the morning, so I shared an elevator with people just reporting to work. It was amazing how many faces went through a transformation as we neared their 140120 destinations. They would get in the el- stepped into their respective workplaces.

MAC Ad 3 evator all jovial, trading stories about It seemed they put on masks—and not 4.6875” 5.5”looking ones, either. the weekend or last night’s game.

On xhappy The change I observed aroused my cuthe trip up, their faces gradually lost the

riosity and still does. I don’t know if I was seeing unhappy, disgruntled employees.

There could be many explanations. But my experience there spiked my interest in the subject of happiness in the workplace.

The topic is important because we spend so much of our time at work, and the amount of time we spend on the job is increasing. Globalization is shrinking the world and growing the amount of stress in the workplace. Employees feeling undue pressure are more likely to have health problems, are less productive and can drag down morale in the organization.

There is hope! Many psychologists and business gurus have been studying and writing about happiness in the workplace. I’m drawn to Dr. Srikumar Rao (www.theraoinstitute.com), whose latest book is “Happiness at Work: Be Resilient, Motivated, and Successful—No Matter What.” Rao teaches at Columbia Business School, London Business School and elsewhere. His celebrated MBA course, “Creativity and Personal Mastery,” has its own alumni association!

“ Globalization is shrinking the world and growing the amount of stress in the workplace.”

Network:

NET-work, v., to cultivate productive relationships, as in

The Milwaukee Athletic Club Imagine talking to one of the titans of Wisconsin industry on the next treadmill. Or playing basketball with professionals who can help you advance your career.

The MAC Mentor Program fosters relationships between those who have made it, and those who will. Round Table Groups put you at the same table with decision makers, the kind of people you want to know.

Build your body while you build your career.

Michael Cleary, CEO, Cleary Gull Member since 1979

To learn more about membership, take a tour today:

414-273-5080 macwi.org

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

COACHING Dr. Rao’s book is more of a workbook than something to read through in an hour. He strongly encourages readers to take it a couple of chapters at a time and do all the included exercises. It is aimed at the individual rather than the organization, though he recognizes that when individual employees do the inner work he recommends, they will be happier as a byproduct and can lift the atmosphere in the organization. (This is especially likely when the leaders practice the exercises and transform how they view the world.)

I like that he eschews positive thinking and time management in favor of deeper concepts more likely to work—for a lifetime. Some of these (reduced to sound bites) are: »» Practice extreme resilience. »» Let go (as babies do). »» Invest in the process—not the outcome. »» How big is your pile of stuff? »» What to do when fear strikes.

There are many more, and each is presented with exercises that, with committed practice, will provide you with a new model of the world.

Here is why Dr. Rao believes the topic of workplace happiness is so important: “I believe that if you don’t derive a deep sense of purpose from what you do, if you don’t come radiantly alive several times a day, if you don’t feel deeply grateful at the tremendous good fortune that has been bestowed on you, then you are wasting your life. And life is too short to waste.”

Moments of joy are nutritious and delicious. Go after your share. I believe you will not strike out. n Jo Gorissen is a certified transition coach and a former Milwaukee area resident. She can be reached at jgorissen1@gmail.com.

WORKOUT. NETWORK. HAVE FUN. 30

JO GO R IS S EN

n

w w w.biztimes.com

strategies

Bridge the political divide Look for areas of agreement

M

any business owners I speak to dream early on of passing the business to their children.

Even if their children are not even born yet, they think about and often plan for the hope that is to come. After all, part of owning a family business is the desire to pass it to the next generation—the legacy.

right in morals, right in everything. Since this is a political piece, perhaps the word “correct” should be inserted for “right” so as not to bias the writing.

As the child matures, there is point where you begin to look to that spawn of yours as your equal—your friend. If that does not happen, if the parent-child roles are maintained, a disagreement over poli-

“ Education and learning, truly listening to the position of the other, is what breaks down barriers—not silence and obfuscation.”

So what gets in the way, assuming the owners have children, of the children coming into the business? Interest in the business or lack thereof is the common theme. Family dynamics are often cited as a secondary cause.

But when you break down that dynamic, another common theme is politics.

At a time when our nation—maybe the whole world—seems to be in political upheaval, what with the Arab Spring, the wars in Syria and Libya, the refugee crisis, etc., the world appears to be at a precipice.

And family businesses, too, can be at a crucial stage when the politics in the family are allowed to divide rather than be a point of discussion.

A reporter recently exclaimed that she had never seen the vitriol in past elections that we are seeing today, and not just in the presidential race. Perhaps the issue is that election reporting has never been like it is today, with comments being reported asynchronously. But what if the venom spills over into family? And what if that family owns a business? And if it does, what can be done?

For parents, there is a natural tendency to think you are right—right in business,

tics will divide the family. The owner must also remember that it is natural for the child to protest and want to go in a different direction than the parent. Remember when you were that age? And part of the role of the parent in our culture is to let that child become independent, part of which is financial and part of which is philosophical.

So how do you bridge the great chasm known as the political divide? It starts with looking for commonalities rather than things we can’t agree on. Without giving away my political leanings, let me choose a topic: the environment. Does either side really want to breathe in polluted air, drink toxic water or have our natural beauty destroyed? Certainly not. With that as a starting point, work on the things you can agree on. Work to discuss the end game, the preferred status you each wish to achieve, and then work backwards from there. Another topic: religion. This is a tough one because many religions are tied to the belief that they are the one true faith. Going into an argument with the mind made up that your position is right because it is ordained by God is a tough line to draw in the sand. Are any of our opinions that infallible? w w w.biztimes.com

n

The position most take is to not discuss the matter. This is the wrong approach. Education and learning, truly listening to the position of the other, is what breaks down barriers— not silence and obfuscation. If a mother business owner has a strong political stance, does that need to get in the way of a daughter who has a differing opinion? At the core of running a family business is respect for the others in the business. If that core is not there, there is nothing quite like politics to bring that out. If there is respect, at some point there must be an agreement to disagree.

Keeping the conversation civil and refraining from ultimatums is crucial to

DAVID B O R S T FAMILY BUSINESS

surviving the political litmus test. Besides, there is nothing like getting into business to help foment the opinions of a person. Especially when he or she starts paying taxes. n David Borst, Ed.D., is executive director and chief operating officer of the Family Business Legacy Institute, a regional resource hub for family business. He can be reached at davidb@fbli-usa.com.

BizTimes Salutes our Veterans Memorial Day 2016

B I Z T I M E S M I LWA U K E E • S P E C I A L C O V E R A G E

Honor our service members and recognize the companies that go above and beyond to support them by advertising your logo on the front cover of BizTimes Milwaukee or within the Special Report.

Space reservation:

May 11, 2016

Publication date:

May 30, 2016

If your company actively recruits veterans, ask about the 3 exclusive cover wrap ad placements opportunities available.

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

Please contact Linda Crawford directly at 414.336.7112 for more information on those positions.

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

31

strategies to your type of business. They’re different for different types of companies.

Often, one of the differentiators is to “be ‘bleeding’ edge regarding new information and research, so that we can be ‘cutting edge’ in what and how we deliver.”

So you take time to understand the new literature in your field.

3. Who we are These are core values, described as behaviors. Explain them as “what we do.”

For example, if your company is responsive, you might say, “We get back to customers that day, even if we don’t have an answer, to let them know what we’re doing.” If the value is integrity, “We do what we commit to do.”

4. How we work with each other

Your company’s culture It’s not just about values, but also behaviors

H

ere’s how this conversation with a CEO usually goes: “You’ve been successful,” I say. “What’s been making that happen?”

“Oh, for sure it’s our culture. We have a great work ethic. And we’re customerfocused. And … we’re very employee-oriented. We reward them quite well.”

That’s it? The CEO doesn’t really understand company culture. It overrides everything else.

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” is attributed to Peter Drucker.

One of my TEC members said, “The greatest thing I can leave behind is a unified culture that has aligned people flexible enough to adapt to changing strategic conditions.”

That’s what Jack Welch said when he took over General Electric, not knowing beans about such divisions as nuclear submarines, jet engines or financing. The first thing he did was establish GE’s Crotonville management campus, where every leader was indoctrinated into “The GE 32

Way.” It included not pursuing any business in which the company couldn’t be first or second. That’s a strategic behavior.

PHIL HAUCK

So, what is culture?

Culture is the valued behaviors that best assure the organization can differentiate itself and be successful. TEC resource David Friedman says there are anywhere from 20 to 30 truly valued behaviors.

They helped grow his New Jersey insurance brokerage from 20 employees to more than 100.

You can also call your valued behaviors “The ABC Company Way,” much like the West Point Way, which begins with behaviors that assure allegiance to its mission of “Duty, Honor, Country.”

When you articulate those 20 to 30 behaviors and they’re combined as “The ABC Company Way,” employees’ energy and commitment rise substantially, assuring higher performance.

The key is to describe values as behaviors, something that’s easy for employees B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

CULTURE to understand. “It’s what I must do.”

How do you determine the behaviors?

My TEC members have discovered effective ways to develop the culture list of behaviors. Think of it as a document you’re giving to a new employee: “This is what we do, and what you must do, if we are to differentiate ourselves and be successful.”

1. The lead-in.

Briefly describe your business – the product or service you provide and how you differentiate yourself.

2. What we do to differentiate ourselves and be successful.

These are three to five behaviors tied

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

w w w.biztimes.com

Here you’ll have 10 to 15 behaviors that fall under the category of “What pisses you off.” It explains how people need to work together. This takes a few weeks of observation, but it will work. Examples: Attitude – We will bring a positive attitude to work each day. “Bad days” infect others and their performance.

Vulnerability and Openness – It’s OK to fail, but let your team know what happened so everyone can learn from it.

Continuous Improvement – You must always be developing your skills and contribution. As an organization, we are committed to helping you do that. From Friedman: Practice blameless problemsolving. Rather than pointing fingers and dwelling on problems, identify lessons learned and use them to improve.

Then what?

When you’ve written your list, set it aside. Call a meeting of your senior people, and put the headlines for categories 2, 3 and 4 above on a flip chart. Ask your team to assign behaviors to a category or clarify them.

It gets harder. Now, you must present it to employees and make it work. Each boss must discuss each item with each person who reports to him or her and explain how each behavior is part of the employee’s job. When behavior is contrary to what’s expected, the boss explains what the employee must do to correct it.

Your employees have been yearning for this for a long time. n Phil Hauck coordinates three TEC CEO groups in northeastern Wisconsin. He can be reached at phauck1@gmail.com.

biz connections CA L E NDAR

NONPROFIT DIRECTORY

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce will host MMAC’s Madison Night in Milwaukee on Wednesday, May 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Milwaukee County Zoo-Peck Center, 10001 W. Bluemound Road in Milwaukee. The reception, which typically draws more than 300 people, highlights the contributions of the Milwaukee region to the economic strength and vitality of the state. It also provides the opportunity to mingle with elected officials and other MMAC members. Cost is $10. For more information or to register, visit web.mmac.org/events/.

SPOTLIGHT

Walcheske & Luzi will host Avoid Making a Mountain Out of a Molehill Employment Law Seminar on Thursday, May 5, from 7 a.m. to noon at Country Springs Hotel, 2810 Golf Road in Pewaukee. The event will cover topics such as advanced issues with medical leave; avoiding and addressing workplace injuries using Wisconsin’s new workers’ compensation law; restrictive covenants; and privacy and social media in the workplace. Cost is $25 and includes breakfast. For more information or to register, visit http://bit.ly/1NjzqO6.

Living As A Leader will host Leadership Breakfast: Groom Your Emerging Leaders on Friday, May 20, from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at Milwaukee Athletic Club, Grand Ballroom, 758 N. Broadway in Milwaukee.

The event will review best practices that can help businesses increase their ability to attract and retain key talent. Cost is $65 and includes breakfast. For more information or to register, visit www.livingasaleader. com/lb-052016-registration.

BizTimes Media will host the Family and Closely Held Business Summit on Thursday, June 2, from 7 to 11:30 a.m. at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St. in Milwaukee. Successful family business owners will share their strategies for navigating many of the complex issues related to growing a successful and sustainable family and closely held business.

Tom Deans, New York Times best-selling author of “Every Family’s Business,” will give the keynote address. Cost is $50. For See the complete calendar of more information or to register, visit www.biztimes.com/family. upcoming events & meetings.

BIZ NO T ES

www.biztimes.com

Bader Rutter

Sprecher Brewing Co.

Brookfield-based Bader Rutter recently won six first place awards in the Best of NAMA awards presented by the National Agri-Marketing Association. The annual honors recognize the best work in agricultural communications, including advertising, public relations and digital. Four of the first place awards were for Bader Rutter’s work for New Jersey company Zoetis and two were for its work on behalf of Indiana company Dow AgroSciences.

For the second consecutive year, Bader Rutter took home the most first place awards from Best of NAMA.

Five Sprecher Brewing Co. beers won medals at the 2015 Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition. The Glendale craft brewery’s beers were among more than 1,000 entries judged by 100 judges in this prestigious competition. Its Dopple Bock won a gold in the German-style Dopplebock category; its Mai Bock won a silver in the Bock category; its XII won a bronze in the Belgian-style Abbey Ale category; its Shakparo won a bronze in the gluten-free category; its Special Amber won a bronze in the Vienna-style Lager category; and its Irish Stout earned an honorable mention in the Classic Irish-style Dry Stout category.

Paragon Development Systems Brookfield-based Paragon Development Systems was recognized recently in The Channel Network’s “Tech Elite 250.” CRN’s annual Tech Elite 250 list honors an exclusive group of IT solution providers that have earned the highest number of advanced technical certifications from leading technology vendors. To compile the annual list, The Channel Company’s research group and CRN editors work together to identify the most customer-beneficial technical certifications in the North American IT channel. Companies that have obtained these elite designations—which enable solution providers to deliver premium products, services and customer support—are then selected from a pool of candidates.

Sign Effectz Inc. Milwaukee-based custom sign design and build firm Sign Effectz Inc. has received first place in ST Media’s 2016 International Sign Contest for the electronic sign it built and installed for Oscar’s Custard & Sandwiches. The first place award was in the Free Standing Sign category of the Signs of the Times annual design competition. The sign includes an Electronic Message Unit which spells out the custard flavor of the day. The upper part of the sign, which resembles frozen custard, changes color to match the flavor of the day or holiday events. Color changes are controlled by the owners of the restaurant via a wireless remote.

The award-winning sign can be found at several Oscar’s locations throughout the Milwaukee area.

Northwest Side Community Development Corp.

4201 N. 27th St., seventh floor, Milwaukee 414-444-8200 | www.nwscdc.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/NWSCDC LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/northwestside-community-development-corporation Twitter: @nwscdc Year founded: 1983 Mission statement: To enhance the standard of living on the northwest side by improving the business environment for our low-income communities through community economic development.

Primary focus of your nonprofit organization: Community economic development through business lending, community outreach and housing programs.

Other focuses of your nonprofit organization: Green infrastructure (rain barrels and rain gardens), community organizing and neighborhood strategic planning, workforce development and strategic partnerships.

Number of employees at this location: Eight Key donors: Local and national banks and philanthropic funds, community individuals.

Executive leadership: Howard Snyder, founder and executive director Board of directors: »» Rebecca Mitich, attorney at Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. »» Charles Webb, project manager at CH2M Hill »» Robin Van Harpen, vice chancellor of finance and administrative affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee »» Kirsten Thompson, director of humanities department at the Milwaukee Public Library

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

Is your organization actively seeking board members for the upcoming term? Yes What roles are you looking to fill?

We are seeking community residents and interested supporters, especially professionals with expertise in housing issues, business lending, and economic development.

Ways the business community can help your nonprofit: Attend our events (2016 schedule TBA); refer business lending opportunities for the northwest side area; give grants or donations to support our programs; help with volunteer opportunities like neighborhood cleanups and other events.

Key fundraising events: Annual Forum on Community Economic Development and Annual Gala celebration.

Get the latest nonprofit news delivered to your inbox every Friday.

Sign up for BizTimes’ Nonprofit Weekly at biztimes.com/subscribe.

To have your business briefs published in a future issue of BizTimes Milwaukee, send announcements to briefs@biztimes.com. w w w.biztimes.com

»» Felita Daniels Ashley, program services administrator at Metro Milwaukee Fair Housing Council »» Geoffrey Cooper, vice president of product development at MGIC »» Ashanti Hamilton, Milwaukee alderman »» Bernadette Karanja, Compete Milwaukee liaison, MAWIB »» Yvonne McCaskill, community activist »» William Richards, community advocate »» Steven SaLoutos, executive vice president of U.S. Bank »» Karen Sands, sustainability manager at MMSD »» Ronald Williamson, information security officer

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

33

biz connections PER SO NNE L F I L E

■ Accounting Wipfli LLP, Wauwatosa, recently announced that litigation support and claim preparation expert Allen Jacque has joined the firm.

Drawing from more than 19 years of experience, Jacque strengthens the firm’s litigation support offering as a senior manager in the firm’s Valuation, Litigation and Transaction Services Practice.

■ Banking & Finance Keith Kuzera has been awarded the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies. The AIF designation signifies specialized knowledge of fiduciary responsibility and the ability to implement policies and procedures that meet a defined standard of care. Kuzera is a wealth manager with SVA Plumb Financial, Brookfield. He has more than nine years of experience in the financial industry.

Joel Barnes has been hired as vice president, solutions architect with Associated Bank in Milwaukee, where he is responsible for driving the enterprise’s standards for high-quality, innovative development solutions.

Looking Glass Investments, Milwaukee, has hired Michael Weinand as director of software engineering.

Weinand most recently was a developer, scrum master and consultant at a leading software and technology development firm with offices in Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison.

Prairie Financial Group, a division of Waukesha State Bank, promoted Kelly Savatski to senior portfolio manager.

In her new role, Savatski will continue to lead the investment team in all investment aspects of the organization.

Brown Deer-based Bank Mutual announced

34

Submit new hire and promotion announcements to www.biztimes.com/submit/the-bubbler

that several of its mortgage professionals are recipients of the 2016 Five Star Award. They include: residential loan officers Bonnie Bergeson, Franklin; Bob Bonan, West Allis; Thomas Wendt, Brookfield; Doug Winquist, Mequon; and residential regional sales manager Randy Lucka, West Bend.

■ Building & Construction Michael Cockroft has been named project manager in Wauwatosa-based Wangard Partners’ Construction Division. Cockroft has more than 10 years and $20 million of construction management and supervisory experience on a variety of projects.

Health Care Integrated Health Network of Wisconsin, a Brookfield-based statewide network of major health systems and health care providers, named Vince Grzetich vice president of business development. Grzetich joins IHN with more than 25 years of business development experience.

■ Insurance Michael Allen was named associate at Brookfield-based Diversified Insurance Co. As a sales consultant, Allen will be responsible for building strong relationships with potential clients, strengthening existing relationships and creating strategic solutions with the bottom line objective of closing business deals to meet or exceed quotas.

■ Legal Services

Carr

Fletcher

The law firm of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Milwaukee, added David Carr to its Litigation Practice Group and Cynthia Fletcher to its Corporate & Finance Practice Group. Carr is a member of the Business & Commercial Litigation Team, and Fletcher is a member of the Commercial Finance and Public Finance teams. Both are based in the B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

Milwaukee office.

Sorrentino Burkert Risch Kalter LLC, Waukesha, named Sean Conor Leedom an associate attorney. Leedom’s primary focus is general corporate and real estate law. He earned his undergraduate degree from Colorado State University, his MBA from San Diego State University and graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Everson

leading professional services firm in Milwaukee and Chicago.

■ Real Estate Nicole McConkey

■ Manufacturing St. Francis-based Wixon, a manufacturer of seasonings, flavors and technologies for the food and beverage industry, named Megan Nelson its purchasing manager.

In this role, Nelson will oversee the management and execution of Wixon’s Supply Chain Procurement Group.

Moseley

joined the Waukeshabased Belman Homes team as a new home consultant and designer.

■ Retail

■ Marketing & PR Zizzo Group, Milwaukee, hired Josh Arter as a social media account executive. Arter oversees the creative social media work completed for ZG’s clients. Together with the social team at ZG, he assists in the content creation, content planning strategy and social media analytics conducted for ZG’s clients.

■ Media WISN-TV Channel 12, Milwaukee, added a 10th account executive to its local sales team, Eric Hamme. Hamme comes to WISN 12 from Fox Sports Wisconsin, where he also served as account executive, selling advertising for Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, WIAA and outdoor sports programming.

■ Nonprofit Wisconsin Parkinson Association, Milwaukee, named Kristine Everson and Fred Moseley to its board of directors. Everson is the catering sales manager for Marcus Hotels & Resorts in Milwaukee, a division of Marcus Corp. Moseley is audit partner and professional practice director for Deloitte LLP, a

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

w w w.biztimes.com

Zarzecki Jenks Creative Business Interiors, Milwaukee, hired Heather Zarzecki as a furniture project Manager and Eric Jenks as an accountant for Accounts Payable in Creative’s Milwaukee office/showroom.

■ Technology Ethoplex, Germantown, a locally-owned Internet service provider, hired Dan Charpentier, business development executive, to the company’s sales team.

Charpentier was hired to meet the needs of the company’s growing client base and to focus on customer satisfaction and retention initiatives.

Superior Support Resources Inc., Brookfield, added Rebecca Hitchcock as an account executive. Hitchcock has several years of experience in sales and customer service. She joins SSR’s sales team and will work with new and existing clients to align their technology needs with their overall business goals.

biz marketplace PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

• Lobby furniture • Office chairs • Cubicle panels • Carpeting

Maintain Your Office Environment!

Contact Mark today: 414.610.9507 | meyercarpetcleaning.com

HERE’S MY CARD GALLERY RESTORING MORE THAN PROPERTY 24/7 Emergency Disaster Services Residential | Commercial | Industrial

BELFOR Milwaukee 2929 N 114th St, Wauwatosa, WI 53222 Phone: 414.476.3720 www.belfor.com

Leaders in Environmental, Safety and Resource Recovery Services.

• Full Service Provider • Award Winning Services

• Recycling Alternatives • New Recycling Center

Dennis Pells Director of Emergency Services

(262) 790-2500

0310-0815

www.enviro-safe.com

Signature Landscaping

Do you have recurrent problems with clogs and blockages in your main sewer lines?

We have the solution!

High Pressure Water Jetting (Hydro-Jetting) • Commercial, industrial and residential • Licensed, bonded, and insured • Service in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Racine counties • True 24 hour emergency service • Service, repair and remodeling

Residential and Commercial for Waukesha County

4 Seasons Color is Our Specialty Design, Installation and Maintenance!

For an Expert Quote Call

414.745.6829

414.213.9617 | www.MIP4U.com | Mike@MIP4U.com

Design - Site Surveys - Permitting - Production - Installation

262.432.1330 - Innovative-Signs.com

S HA RE YOUR P RO D U CT / S ER VICE O R AD D Y O U R B U S IN E SS CARD.

ADVERTISE IN THE BIZ MARKETPLACE TODAY! Contact Kevin Gaschk for rates and specs. kevin.gaschk@biztimes.com or 414-336-7132 w w w.biztimes.com

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

35

biz connections

n GLANCE AT YESTERYEAR VOLUME 22, NUMBER 3 MAY 2 - 15, 2016 126 N. Jefferson St., Suite 403, Milwaukee, WI 53202-6120 PHONE: 414-277-8181 FAX: 414-277-8191 WEBSITE: www.biztimes.com CIRCULATION E-MAIL: circulation@biztimes.com ADVERTISING E-MAIL: ads@biztimes.com EDITORIAL E-MAIL: andrew.weiland@biztimes.com REPRINTS: reprints@biztimes.com PUBLISHER / OWNER

Dan Meyer dan.meyer@biztimes.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Mary Ernst mary.ernst@biztimes.com DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Jon Anne Willow jonanne.willow@biztimes.com ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Sarah Sinsky sarah.sinsky@biztimes.com

EDITORIAL EDITOR

Andrew Weiland andrew.weiland@biztimes.com MANAGING EDITOR

Molly Dill molly.dill@biztimes.com REPORTER

Corrinne Hess corri.hess@biztimes.com REPORTER

Arthur Thomas arthur.thomas@biztimes.com REPORTER

Ben Stanley ben.stanley@biztimes.com

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR OF SALES

Linda Crawford linda.crawford@biztimes.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE

Maribeth Lynch mb.lynch@biztimes.com SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Amber Stancer amber.stancer@biztimes.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Kevin Gaschk kevin.gaschk@biztimes.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Maggie Pinnt maggie.pinnt@biztimes.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Christie Ubl christie.ubl@biztimes.com

PRODUCTION & DESIGN GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Alex Schneider alex.schneider@biztimes.com ART DIRECTOR

Shelly Tabor shelly.tabor@biztimes.com

INTERN REPORTER

Kilbourn Junior Trade School

Maredithe Meyer maredithe.meyer@biztimes.com

This photo, taken in May 1937, shows the Kilbourn Junior Trade School at the corner of North Humboldt Boulevard and East Auer Avenue in Milwaukee. The neighborhood is now residential.

— This photo is from the Milwaukee Public Museum’s Photo Archives collection.

Additional images can be viewed online at www.mpm.edu.

Independent & Locally Owned — Founded 1995 —

COMME NTA R Y

Good news, bad news for city’s low-income neighborhoods

W

hile downtown Milwaukee booms, the city’s low-income neighborhoods are still struggling with high levels of poverty and crime.

There are a number of important efforts ongoing to try to revitalize Milwaukee’s low-income neighborhoods. Recently, there was good news and bad news related to some of those initiatives.

First, the bad news: Construction of Century City I, a new 53,160-square-foot industrial building in the Century City Business Park near North 31st Street and West Capitol Drive is complete. That’s good, but developer General Capital Group has not yet secured any tenants for the building.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Department of City Development commissioner Rocky Marcoux spoke at a recent open house event for the building attended by commercial real estate brokers.

“We all recognize that this neighbor36

hood needs more family-supporting jobs,” Barrett said.

Absolutely, but it will not be easy to convince businesses to come to a highcrime area, especially after homicides spiked in the city last year.

“Crime’s an issue anywhere you go.

It’s no more an issue here than it is in the Menomonee Valley or anywhere else you go in the city of Milwaukee,” Marcoux said. “There are strategies around dealing with issues.”

Now, the good news: The latest plans were unveiled recently for St. Augustine Preparatory Academy, a recently approved voucher school at 2607 S. Fifth St. on the south side of Milwaukee. The school is the passion project of Gus Ramirez, executive chairman of Waukesha-based Husco International. Ramirez said he and his family will commit $70 million toward construction and operating costs for the school over the next 10 years.

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

That is a tremendous investment.

“Milwaukee’s children need additional educational options, and we will continue working intensely to create what we believe will be one of Wisconsin’s best educational institutions, which will serve as a model for others in Milwaukee and around the country,” Ramirez said.

The voucher school program has been controversial and, of course, not every voucher school is a good school. But Milwaukee needs as many high-performing schools as possible to educate as many children as possible, be they public, private, choice (voucher) or charter schools.

One size need not fit all to improve education in the city.

The city also needs top notch educational leaders and it appears St. Augustine will have one. Alfonso Carmona, currently the principal of Robert Healy Elementary School, a high-performing public school on Chicago’s south side,

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

w w w.biztimes.com

ANDREW WEILAND Editor BizTimes Milwaukee

has been selected to become superintendent of St. Augustine.

“We decided on our way back to Chicago to drive by the site, to drive through the neighborhood,” Carmona said. “That was it. That was the end of the conversation for us. Driving through the neighborhood; looking at the needs of the neighborhood. I honestly didn’t know how low performance was among students in Milwaukee. It is my time to dedicate the next several years to a neighborhood that certainly needs better schools.” n

BIZTIMES AROUND TOWN n

1

2

3

4

5

6

biz connections

ABLE South The South Suburban Chamber of Commerce recently hosted an Active Business Leads Exchange South Luncheon at the Hampton Inn & Suites hotel in West Allis. Members of seven chambers introduced themselves and their companies to the group, shared success stories and networked over lunch.

1

Guy McMurray and Kevin Ford, both of Valpak.

2 Leslie Sauer of Associated Bank, Rhonda Pallagi of Costco and Tracy Reese of Costco.

7

8

3

Toomas Mitt of TBG Networks LLC and Nicholas Robinson of PNC Bank.

4

Linda Gruichich of Small Business Accounting Solutions LLC.

5

E.C. Goggio of The Corked Canvas, Kristy Goggio of The Corked Canvas and Laura Langreder of Cookies

by Design.

6 Judy Baxter, Greenfield Chamber president and Abbie Miller of Stories Framed Photography.

7

Michael Allen of Diversified Insurance Solutions, Al Hagopian of Reliv International Ambassadors and Jon Roob of Jonathan’s Portraits.

8

Kurt Waltenberger of Inlanta Mortgage and Jody Smith of Forge Marketing Consultants LLC.

9

Adrianna D’Angelo of Home2 Suites by Hilton and Rindy Hart of Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport.

Photos by Maredithe Meyer

9 w w w.biztimes.com

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

37

ERICH SCHROEDER PHOTOGRAPHY

the last word

Leverage the window of opportunity Vicki Fox is a managing director at Eisen Fox & Co. LLC, an M&A advisory firm in downtown Milwaukee.

For almost 25 years, she has advised business owners in the sale of their businesses during strong and weak economies, and through a variety of personal situations. “‘Is it time to sell my company?’ This is a question we are frequently asked by business owners who are trying to decide if they should sell now or hold out. Many owners are not quite ready to sell, but also don’t want to miss the window of opportunity that currently exists to sell at an attractive value.

“Being emotionally ready to sell is key. Undoubtedly, you have devoted considerable resources to building your 38

business and the thought of selling may be tough.

“If you feel ready or have received unsolicited interest from a strategic or financial buyer that intrigues you, educating yourself on the M&A process is one of the most valuable things you can do to maximize your company’s value. This will also help you confidently decide if now is truly the right time.

“Your attorney, accountant and banker will happily share their perspectives on the market and most M&A advisors are happy to provide a market analysis outlining a valuation range and thoughts on potential buyers. It always amazes me how few business owners take advantage of these resources, especially since the sale of their company is often the big event they are depending on to fund

B i zT i m e s M i l w a u k e e

n

M ay 2 - 15, 2 016

n

Vicki Fox Eisen Fox & Co. LLC 735 N. Water St., Suite 702, Milwaukee Industry: Investment banking Employees: Four www.eisenfox.com

their next stage in life.

“Today, the M&A market is strong, with many wellfunded buyers looking for deals, so the more you know about the process, the better prepared you will be when you are ready to sell.” n

w w w.biztimes.com

It’s never too early to get involved.

Everything you need to know about doing bizness in Wisconsin – all in one place.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | RESEARCH & INNOVATION | BUSINESS GROWTH

We trust you’ve found this publication to be a valuable resource and encourage you to be a part of the 2017 edition. We look forward to continuing our mission of fostering economic development and growth in Wisconsin.

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities contact Media Sales at 414.336.7112 or advertise@biztimes.com

2017 EDITION

You see endless possibilities.

We do too.

At BMO Harris Commercial Bank, we understand the complexities of commercial real estate. We make it our business to know you and your goals, and we bring the strength and stability you need to execute your next move. That’s how we help make your vision a reality. bmoharris.com/realestate

Banking products and services subject to bank and credit approval.

BMO Harris Commercial Bank is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC