October 2015 ibaw magazine

OCTOBER 2015 October 12th

October 16th Cathy Stepp, Secretary, Wisconsin DNR

IBAW SALES ROUNDTABLE Are you asking effective questions to close the sale?

"Managing and Protecting Wisconsin Resources"

Inside This Issue:

COFFEY: A LEVERAGED LENDING OVERVIEW FROM A LENDER’S PERSPECTIVE

KEATING: 4 POINTS ON HOW AMERICAN VIEW REGULATIONS

SEROKA: INTRODUCING A NEW PRODUCT? CONSIDER THIS...

Networking matters

At AT&T, we know that making connections is critical to success. In Wisconsin and across the nation, we link businesses with their customers and the world through our wireless network with access to the nation’s largest Wi-fi network. It’s just another way we help our customers stay connected.

AT&T is proud to support the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin.

© 2014 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.

IBAW thanks AT&T for it’s continued sponsorship.

IBAW MEDIA LINK Executive Director Steve Kohlmann

Forum on Global Leadership: What’s at Stake for Wisconsin _________________________________________________________

Fox News Security Analyst, KT McFarland leads a panel discussion with Senator Ron Johnson, General James Conway (Ret.), and Bill Lane on the positive impact of U.S. international affairs programs in Wisconsin.

President Jim Leef ITU AbsorbTech Secretary Charles Fry Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc President Elect 2015-16 Craig Coursin MSI General VP. State & National Programs Jeff Hoffman Boerke Treasurer Casey Malek Sikich Directors

To watch the panel discussion, click here.

LakeView Technical Academy _________________________________________________________

This past June, IBAW toured this unique high school.

Here’s a supplemental video and see the story in this issue.

Bart Adams Sikich Ann Barry Hanneman Simandl Law Group S.C John Weber Hypneumat Dan Hansen Park Bank Richard Blomquist Blomquist Benefits Lisa Mauer Rickert Industries Tom Boelkow BSI Design, Build, Furnish Robert Gross Gross Automation

To watch the video, click here.

IBAW Mission: To advance business prosperity through insightful programming, executive networking and member-driven public policy and advocacy.

Friday, October 16, 2015

C a t h y

S t e p p

Secretary, Wisconsin DNR

"Managing and Protecting Wisconsin Resources"Â Secretary Cathy Stepp was chosen by Governor Scott Walker in 2011 to lead the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Cathy served as Racine's state senator from 2002 to 2006, but much of her experience has been in the private sector, including managing a small family owned and operated business. As a former homebuilder, she became aware of Wisconsin's regulatory climate and how it affected small business owners.

Under Secretary Stepp's leadership, the DNR was the first state agency to apply Lean Government efforts to its organization. With a priority to make the DNR more transparent, Secretary Stepp guided efforts to create greater public input for internal processes, holds Stakeholder Roundtable meetings on a semiannual basis, implemented social media tools and an improved customer-based DNR web site.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity for you to give insight and feedback directly to the Secretary on how the DNR interacts on both recreation and business issues.

LOCATION

THE WISCONSIN CLUB 900 W. WISCONSIN AVE. MILWAUKEE

7:00 AM

REGISTRATION & NETWORKING

7:30 AM

BREAKFAST & PROGRAM

9:00 AM

PROGRAM ENDS

Registration now open! Click here.

Cost: $32.00 IBAW Members

$42.00 Guests

Cutting Gov.Walker Some Slack Steve Kohlmann, IBAW Executive Director Well, Governor Scott Walker is out of the presidential race. Frankly, I don’t know how he could maintain the grueling schedule of campaigning. To call Scott Walker a workaholic would be an understatement.

Even when he’s “just being Governor,” he’s on the move all the time. All the time.

Does this guy ever sleep? Is he ever able to relax? Can he take an afternoon off, put his feet up, don some sweat pants, fuzzy slippers and kick back to watch a Brewer’s game? I doubt it. He has that “I’ll rest when I’m dead” mentality.

As if being Governor isn’t enough, he added in a presidential campaign schedule; up at 4:00 a.m., have breakfast at some small town cafe with the locals, a mid-morning Chamber of Commerce appearance, then lunch (complete with rubber chicken on the menu) followed by afternoon meetings with numerous organizations, media press conferences, a bus ride to the next town, followed by two dinner events, a late evening fund raiser, an appearance on CNN, Fox News or the local news and to cap off the day, a black tie event. Finally, you can collapse in a bed at 1:00 am and start the whole thing over again at 4:00 am. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. It takes a lot of tolerance to withstand the riggers of a schedule of that nature.

Then there’s the debates. Ah, the glamour of standing at a podium for three hours in a 95 degree auditorium to be asked just three questions. I can see why he would want to drop out of the race just based on that alone.

No sooner had he announced he was suspending his campaign, I began hearing “Well, he’s got to come back to Wisconsin and rebuild some goodwill since he’s ignored us for the past year.” photo credit: JSOnline

Seriously? He has to build back goodwill? Walker and the Republican legislature have accomplishments most governors can only dream about: A balanced budget after elimination of a $3 billion dollar deficit, property tax cuts, Act 10, Voter ID, Conceal Carry, a 70 MPH speed limit, a “rainy day fund” that’s 165 times bigger than when he started, eliminations of taxes on HSA’s, restoration of the G.I. Bill, Right-to-Work legislation, a two year freeze on UW Tuition, increased investment in Wisconsin Fast Forward program, creation of the Better Bottom Line program which helps disabled find employment, and the list goes on and on and on and on and on. And he just started his second term.

Wisconsin is in much better shape than when he came into office, although his opponents would argue that point. All you have to do is look at the trouble other are in. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel just announced a property tax increase of $450 to $550 million as a temporary fix for a fire and police pension fund deficit. At the state level, the Illinois state comptroller can finally pay some bills, however, he still has $5 billion in outstanding bills for this fiscal year.

So really, can we just cut Walker a bit of slack? He is only 46. What were you doing - or will be doing - when you’re 46? My guess is it didn’t or won’t include running for president of the most powerful country on earth.

So my message to the Governor is this: We’re glad to have you back in Wisconsin (well, most of us are.) Catch your breath.

Call up some of your riding buddies and climb on your Harley. Enjoy some “me time” before you get back to the business of Wisconsin. You’ve earned some time off.

A Leveraged Lending Overview from a Lender’s Perspective Nicole Coffey, Vice President of Commercial Lending at Bank Mutual Over the last few years we continue to see growth in the leveraged lending market both in the U.S. and in Europe. In fact during 2013 and 2014 the leveraged lending market was either in line or above the levels we recognized during 2006 and 2007.

Standard & Poors has compiled data to reflect the leveraged loan volume in the United States from 2003 to 2014. As illustrated in the enclosed table, leveraged loan volume was approximately $528 billion in 2014 and $600 billion in 2013, respectively, compared to about $535 billion and $490 billion in 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The growth over the last few years has been fueled by excess liquidity in the market. Senior debt is accounting for a majority of the middle-market financing, with senior leverage averaging 4x against a 4.6x total multiple, according to Forbes. This compares to a more challenging market in May 2010, where senior lenders were extending just 3x leverage, on average, against a multiple of 3.6x.

Additionally mezzanine players are encountering heavy competition from banks due to the surplus of liquidity as banks are underwriting senior stretch once again. In fact, lenders say mezzanine spreads have fallen to below 14% all-in, primarily due to the heightened competition, leaving little room for writeoffs or principal loss. This is similar to the levels seen in 2007. However prior to the senior lending boom in 2006-2007, mezzanine rates hovered closer to 18-20% all-in. Whether this growth will continue and return to pre-recession levels is still unknown, but what is known is that there is increased sensitivity on the leveraged loan market today versus eight to nine years ago. This is something that affects all parties including buyers, sellers, equity sponsors, and lenders.

As mentioned earlier, in 2006-2007 the deal level was up and the market was hungry which led to many deals getting done in a very aggressive manner. This basically meant covenant-lite, minimal reporting, and overall loosely structured deals. At that time it became common for deals to be structured with very long amortizations and often without the ability to de-lever in a realistic timeframe. This aggressiveness assisted in the financial crisis we faced not too long ago and unfortunately appears to be occurring again as seen in the chart below. However, guidance has been provided by regulators to specifically identify appropriate leverage levels and appropriate timeframes for which the borrower needs to de-lever and as a result closely monitors banks.

When anyone hears the word ‘guidance’ immediately one may quickly jump to negative conclusions as to how this is going to impact the overall M&A market coupled with how is this going to impact the ability to get leveraged loans approved. But before anyone does that, it’s important to think through the rationale behind this ‘guidance’ and at the same time fully understand the hot points with regulators, which will be the same for your lender. Understanding this upfront will assist in minimizing any surprises down the line and at the same time allow

you to properly structure a solid deal at the onset of a new opportunity. This is something everyone can appreciate especially when it comes to advising clients on how to successfully borrow funds.

Now let’s breakdown what this additional guidance is: 1. Completion of an Overall Comprehensive Analysis Every borrower must go through a thorough analysis upfront, this is nothing new. But to what extent the level of thoroughness that was being done prior to the recession is still debatable. Either way the analysis being done today includes reasonable levels of historical cash flow to support pro forma debt, liquidity analysis, and review of a reasonable expectation of forecasted results. While it was common to see aggressive forecasts prior to the recession, it is recommended today to provide a more realistic forecast as this will be used as a benchmark in measuring the borrower’s future performance. This could mean that any significant variance to plan would need to be explained and if not done so sufficiently could restrict the borrower’s ability to locate future sources of funds if needed.

2. Adequate Leverage Leveraged lending assists in providing funding for a buyout, acquisition, or capital distributions. With that said, it is also fair to assume that leverage ratios are also higher when it comes to these loans but what are the parameters? In a majority of industries, leveraged loans to borrowers would often have a total leverage ratio of greater than 4.0x (total debt to EBITDA), senior leverage greater than 3.0x (senior debt to EBITDA), or also other leverage ratios such as total liabilities to total assets that significantly exceed industry norms or historical levels. This is a good indicator of what is typically classified as a leveraged loan but there is also an unspoken limit as to what one would consider to be ‘adequate leverage’. For most industries a rule of thumb is that total leverage (total debt to EBITDA) of 6.0x or less would be adequate for a leveraged loan. Any ratio above this may raise additional concern and potentially require a different deal structure at the onset. It is important to note though that while these may be general guidelines, specific industries such as food and energy, may result in higher accepted ratios.

3. Do The Borrowers Have The Capacity To Repay and De-Lever In A Reasonable Period Of Time?

Everyone understands that it’s essential and the number one rule for future cash flow to support pro forma deb requirements; however under the ’guidance’, leveraged loan transactions must take this a step further. As new deals are structured, it is important to understand and be able to demonstrate the borrower’s ability to de-lever within a reasonable amount of time. Again one may ask what is considered a reasonable amount of time. For most ;borrower’s, this would be their ability to payoff senior debt completely or 50% of total debt over five to seven years. If the borrower is incapable of accomplishing that at the onset the deal may be difficult to obtain.

As mentioned earlier, in 2006-2007, loans with overly extended amortizations were getting done which has become a hot topic for regulators in today’s market. As you can see, there are many items that have changed in the leveraged lending arena from where we were pre-2008.

Despite these changes and the additional attention on leveraged lending market, financing is readily available for new opportunities. In fact, most lenders in the market are looking for more and more deals due to excess liquidity at some of their institutions. However, at the same time it’s essential to have a lender or other M&A advisor that fully understands the market and the ‘guidance’ surrounding it so that you have the ability to achieve success today and in the future.

Nicole Coffey is Vice President of Commercial Lending at Bank Mutual. Nicole can be reached by email here.

Monday, October 12, 2015

CRITICAL QUESTIONS IBAW Sales Roundtable Topic

Are you asking the right questions for a successful sale?

Time: 7:30 am - 9:00 am Location: CTAccess, 740 Pilgrim Parkway, Elm Grove Cost: Free - A benefit of IBAW membership (Registration required)

REGISTER HERE

AT&T Completes Acquisition of DIRECTV This summer, AT&T Inc. completed its acquisition of DIRECTV. The newly combined company – the largest pay TV provider in the United States and the world – will offer millions of people more choices for video entertainment on any screen from almost anywhere, any time.

“Combining DIRECTV with AT&T is all about giving customers more choices for great video entertainment integrated with mobile and high-speed Internet service,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and CEO. “We’ll now be able to meet consumers’ future entertainment preferences, whether they want traditional TV service with premier programming, their favorite content on a mobile device, or video streamed over the Internet to any screen.

“This transaction allows us to significantly expand our high-speed Internet service to reach millions more households, which is a perfect complement to our coast-to-coast TV and mobile coverage,” Stephenson said. “We’re now a fundamentally different company with a diversified set of capabilities and businesses that set us apart from the competition.”

AT&T now is the largest pay TV provider in the U.S. and the world, providing service to more than 26 million customers in the United States and more than 191 million customers in Latin America, including Mexico and the Caribbean.

Additionally, AT&T has more than 132 million wireless subscribers and connections in the U.S. and Mexico; offers 4G LTE mobile coverage to nearly 310 million people in the U.S.; covers 57 million U.S. customer locations with high-speed Internet; and has nearly 16 million subscribers to its high-speed Internet service.

Current customers of AT&T and DIRECTV do not need to do anything as a result of the merger. They’ll continue to receive their same services, channel lineups, and customer care. Customer account information, online access and billing arrangements remain the same. The integration of AT&T and DIRECTV will occur over the coming months. In the coming weeks, AT&T will launch new integrated TV, mobile and high-speed Internet offers that give customers greater value and convenience.

As a result of this transaction, AT&T leads the industry in offering consumers premier content, particularly live sports programming, such as the exclusive rights to NFL SUNDAY TICKET, which gives customers every out-of-market NFL game, every Sunday afternoon, on any screen – TV, mobile devices or PCs. Additionally, the company owns ROOT SPORTS, one of the nation’s premier regional sports networks, and has stakes in The Tennis Channel, MLB Network, NHL Network, and GSN (Game Show Network).

AT&T is also developing unique video offerings for consumers and businesses through, among other initiatives, its Otter Media joint venture with The Chernin Group. The joint venture was established to invest in, acquire and launch over-thetop (OTT) video services. This includes its purchase of a majority stake in Fullscreen, a global online media company that works with more than 50,000 content creators who engage 450 million subscribers and generate 4 billion monthly views.

Learn more by visiting: http://about.att.com/newsroom/2015_dtv.html.

Includes DIRECTV Latin America pay TV subscribers as of March 31, 2015, including subscribers of Sky Mexico, in which DIRECTV holds a minority stake.

1

The IBAW Manufacturing Summit was a great success! Special thank you to our meeting sponsors Bank Mutual and SIkich for their support.

Part of the summit included a “mini expo” of twelve organizations hand picked to help you with your toughest workforce issues right now and in the future.

Below is a reprinted listing of those organizations from the Summit hand out booklet.

We hope you’ll investigate these organizations to help solve your workforce challenges and get Wisconsin back to work and moving forward.

1 - Center for Business Performance Solutions (CBPS) Jon Koeller, Director of Business Development 262.695.7820 • Jkoeller1@wctc.edu.

REPRINT OF WORKFORCE RESOURCE GUIDE

CBPS has supported business growth in southeastern Wisconsin for more than 30 years.

Its approach provides for in-depth discovery of root cause challenges leading to a shared understanding of not only “why” it is worth solving, but the “how” to resolve and control for future disruption. CBPS utilizes its extensive resources and capabilities to provide customized solutions unique to the business at hand.

Fitted to your business success from concept to globalization Guides in the development of visioning and strategic planning, succession planning, and successful deployment of initiatives.

Provides leadership and support in building human capacity through core and technical skill enhancement.

Supports leadership development from front line through supervisory/mid- management to executive coaching.

Facilitates connections between business needs and WCTC graduates with career- ready skills.

Specializes in process assessment and improvement resulting in enhanced efficiency, reduction in waste, and improved bottom line.

2 - The Good Jobs George Blomgren, Culture Strategy Director 414.301.3636 • george@thegoodjobs.com • www.thegoodjobs.com Employment Branding – Culture Marketing – Candidate Engagement Your employment brand is not the same as your company brand.

Leverage your employee culture to attract and retain the “right fit” for your company!

Culture strategists work with senior leaders to assess current employee culture, identify opportunities for improvement, define goals and find ways to attract and retain the workforce you want and need. Currently working with M7, FaB

3 - Goodwill TalentBridge Katie Skudlarczyk, Recruiting Manager, 5400 S. 60th Street, Greendale, WI 53129 414-847-4994 • Katie.Skudlarczyk@goodwillsew.com Goodwill TalentBridge, a full service staffing and recruitment firm, is part of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago, the largest of the 165 Goodwill territories in North America. With more than 90 years of experience in Workforce Development and job training, Goodwill is helping thousands of people find work in the communities we serve, including 13 counties in Wisconsin and 10 counties in Illinois.

4 - GPS Education Partners Eric Decker, Partnership Development Manager 13000 Silver Spring Drive, Butler, WI 53007 (262) 226-2233 • edecker@gpsed.org -High Schools students ready to work part time in manufacturing business across SE Wis as they complete their HS careers -Promoting awareness of the opportunities in manufacturing professions in high schools in Wisconsin -Graduates are a source of full time employees -GPS promotes working relationships between employers and high school districts

5 - Inspire of Southeast Wisconsin Karin Gratz-Smith, President/CEO, CommUNITY Connections 414-456-1733 • kgratz@communityconnectionsconsulting.com http://inspirewisconsin.org/regional-offices/inspire-southeast-wisconsin/ Part of a statewide program, developed regionally as a workforce and economic development strategy.

Builds a bridge between employers in Southeast Wisconsin and the emerging workforce (i.e. high school students).

Both a community network and a web based platform.

Provides exposure to your company, your culture, and who you hire.

Supports and extends corporate volunteer and community outreach programs.

Supports companies that would like to provide student mentorship and work based learning opportunities to generate interest in manufacturing and related careers.

6 - Office of Veteran Services, State of Wisconsin Michael James, Local Veteran Employment Rep 2701 Chase Ave, Milwaukee WI 53207 (414) 389-6293 • Michael.James@dwd.wisconsin.gov Our responsibility is helping veterans find employment and help employers to understand what veterans bring to the table. Our goal is to make the match a WIN-WIN for both the company and the veteran. Giving back to those who have served their country.

7 - The Paranet Group, Inc. Kelly Rudy, Vice President 10000 Innovation Drive / Milwaukee, WI 53226 262-796-2560 • krudy@paranetgroup.com • www.paranetgroup.com The Paranet Group is the leading manufacturing development network specifically for manufacturing executives committed to improving their overall company's culture and performance.

Through a series of a continuous learning process, confidential roundtables and leadership development programs, Paranet aids leaders in developing a business culture where employees want to work and to build a reputation which will attract workers.

Manufacturing Executives who have entered our programs obtain high levels of leadership performance with shared ideas and insights, building a foundation for a successful business.

8 - Southeast Regional Carpentry Training Center Joe Weisling, Education Administrator Southeast WI Carpentry Training Center 262-574-6995 • joew@sewctc.org • www.sewctc.org/ Single source of matrix training, instructing and preparing those to be employed as carpenters, interior systems carpenters, cabinetmakers, floor coverers, millwrights, and pile drivers. Trains apprentices before they are assigned to work site. Provides advancement opportunities for journey workers Partnership of unionized building contractors and the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters to operate the center and administer apprentices according to State guidelines.

9 - TRN Technical Matt Basquez 11575 Theo Trecker Way, Milwaukee, 53214 414-921-3158 • mbasquez@trnstaffing.com TRN Technical, an affiliate of The Reserves Network, specializes in the Contract, Contract to Hire and Direct Hire placement of professionals working in Skilled Trades and Engineering throughout the Greater Milwaukee area and Southeastern

What separates us from other firms? Not only does our team have over 50 years of experience, but many of us have worked in the specialized positions we source – offering a unique perspective that is beneficial to the candidates we work with and the customers we serve.

TRN Technical takes great pride in our candidates, and we are committed to their success. “We are professionals placing professionals!”

10 - UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations Nicholas Pasquarello, University Business Liaison 455 Science Drive, Suite 230, Madison, WI 53711 608-890-4727 • npasquarello@ocr.wisc.edu] - Source for all higher level degreed positions - Tremendous increase in STEM related graduates in recent years - Source for skilled and motivated interns - Training and development of current workforce and management teams.

11 - Waukesha County K12 “Career and Technical Education”: Laura Schmidt, Strategic Advisor to the Superintendent, School District of New Berlin 414-732-9668 • Laura.Schmidt@nbexcellence.org Plays a significant role in the future economic health of Waukesha County and Wisconsin overall.

Provides exposure to the manufacturing industry through tours and access to professional mentors Develops employability and technical skills through secondary and post-secondary coursework, advisory support and work based learning opportunities.

Provides specialized programming designed to support students with a stated interest in pursuing a career in manufacturing, construction, etc.

Creates informed consumers of post-secondary education and training options through the Academic and Career Planning process.

Works with employers on student placement and oversight for mentorships (unpaid), internships (paid/unpaid), and youth apprenticeships.

Provides transition services for students with special needs (supports Wisconsin’s Blueprint to Prosperity) 12 - WRTP / Big Step Rhandi Berth 3841 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53208 414- 573-1918 • rberth@wrtp.org • www.wrtp.org WRTP/BIG STEP is a non-profit 501(c)3 workforce development intermediary based in Milwaukee, WI with offices in Madison, WI and the Twin Cities, MN. Our mission is to enhance the ability of private sector organizations to recruit and develop a more diverse, qualified workforce in construction, manufacturing and emerging sectors of the regional economy. Our services are employer and industry driven and include Industrial Workforce Needs Assessments, Structured On-the-Job Training Systems, Train the Trainer, Workplace Mentoring Networks, Employee Recruitment Strategies, Employee Assessment Techniques, and Industry-Specific/Designed Essential Skills Trainings for both new and incumbent workforces.

WAUKESHA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Transformational Sales Information Breakfast Event

Sales success requires a combination of business knowledge, talent, sales planning and disciplined execution. Most sales people possess desire and determination, but few have mastered the complex set of skills needed to be truly effective. A gap in any area jeopardizes sales potential resulting in longer sales cycles, lower revenues, and frustrated sales people who pursue opportunities, but can’t advance them into signed contracts.

Join us for a free informational event highlighting how to empower your sales professionals to be successful in today’s changing marketplace.

October 9, 2015 7:30–8:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00–9:20 a.m. Presentation 9:20–9:30 a.m. Q&A Waukesha County Technical College Center for Business Performance Solutions Harry V. Quadracci Center Q Building 800 Main St., Pewaukee, WI RegistRation To attend this free breakfast, register online at www.wctc.edu/cbpsworkshops no later than October 7, 2015.

Committed to your business success from concept to globalization

Creating a Direct Pipeline from High School to Tech Jobs Betsy Thatcher

Story reprinted with permission from WRPI. Photos courtesy of IBAW

High-schoolers at a Kenosha County school are building underwater robots, viewing life up-close through an electron microscope and running world-class industrial robots.

A lot of businesses and educators are looking to them to lead the way to a better-prepared and larger technical workforce.

LakeView Technology Academy in Pleasant Prairie, a Kenosha Unified School District specialty high school, has been garnering the attention of regional industry leaders and educators from other parts of the country for its unique partnership with manufacturers and Gateway Technical College in Kenosha.

Many of LakeView’s graduates are leaving high school with half of an associate’s degree in their pockets. Others are entering four-year universities as second-semester freshmen.

That’s a growing trend in a lot of Wisconsin high schools, but what sets LakeView apart is its unique environment and the unprecedented access its students have to state-of-the-art, real-world equipment and knowledge. A good number of them can program and set up the same robots that are the gold standard in manufacturing plants all over the world.

This is not your father’s shop class.

LakeView is housed in a former warehouse in LakeView Corporate Park in the shadow of the massive We Energies Pleasant Prairie power plant.

It looks like a business, runs like a business and is preparing high school kids to gain the confidence and knowledge to fill the growing need for American workers in highly technical manufacturing and engineering jobs.

In addition to its close relationship with Gateway, LakeView is part of an effort that includes the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, WISPARK Corp., the Marquette University Opus College of Engineering and Milwaukee School of Engineering, as well as 44 other colleges of engineering throughout the United States.

While many Wisconsin school districts have implemented high-level curriculums in their applied engineering and technology programs, LakeView operates in many ways like a high-tech manufacturing facility with highly skilled employees at the controls. Some of the students plan, design, manufacture and market products.

Employers are clamoring for the skills these students are acquiring.

“The skilled workforce shortage is real throughout southeastern Wisconsin,” says Bryan D. Albrecht, president and chief executive officer of Gateway. “Our response has been swift. Our efforts are critical to the manufacturing base of the communities we serve.”

Gateway serves Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties.

The college’s partnership with the Kenosha Unified School District has been a key component in the response to area employers, Albrecht says.

He also credits the Kenosha Area Business Alliance and its financial and scholarship support of the school as well as its advocacy of the manufacturing and engineering programs offered at the school. “We’ve got a voice in the community of manufacturers saying, ‘This is the type of education that we’re striving for,’ ” Albrecht says.

Steve Kohlmann, executive director of the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin, agrees that more facilities like that are needed.

“There’s a lot of dismay among employers with finding good, quality workers,” Kohlmann says. “One of business owners’ concerns is that everybody wants the kids to go to (four-year) college, as opposed to skilled trades training.

“LakeView is doing things we would have never thought of back in the days of just shop class. They’re really pushing the envelope with the kinds of courses they’re offering in engineering and biomedical engineering.”

Members of IBAW toured the facility earlier this year.

“This is a really hands-on school,” says Kohlmann. “They’re building underwater robots. They have a club that builds high-efficiency electric race cars. They designed and built their own sprocket because they couldn’t find what they needed.”

The students are learning on equipment that no other high school in Wisconsin has, he says.

“It’s an important facility that really needs to be replicated elsewhere,” Kohlmann adds.

The key, says LakeView director and principal William R. Hittman, is that the partnership with Gateway allows for college instructors to work with the academy’s teachers and students, and the cost of buying expensive, up-to-date equipment is shared by both institutions.

By pooling resources, students in both schools are learning on the same FANUC robots that large manufacturers have on their factory floors. FANUC Corp., based in Japan, is one of the largest makers of industrial robots in the world. The school has a pair of FANUC robots.

In June, a $77,000 electron microscope was delivered to the facility, and LakeView and Gateway teachers began learning how to use it for implementation in classes this semester.

Students also can learn how to use the schools’ 3D printer, which prints three-dimensional objects from digital files. The use of 3D printers is expected to transform almost every major industry by 2020, according to Wohlers Associates. The firm provides annual trend and forecast data for the 3D printing — or additive manufacturing — industry, as it is also known.

Worldwide, additive manufacturing is expected to grow from $3.07 billion in revenue in 2013 to more than $21 billion by 2020, according to the 2015 Wohlers Report.

Doug Landwer, manufacturing manager at R+D Custom Automation in Lake Villa, Ill., visits the career fair at Gateway each spring. R+D has had a relationship with Gateway for several years. Landwer knows that R+D, which builds automated assembly systems, can find qualified workers and interns there.

Of R+D’s 36 employees, two are Gateway graduates. Gateway and LakeView students have been interns and in skilled positions such as electrical assemblers and draftsmen at R+D. “Those kids are being exposed to the latest and greatest equipment, the same equipment we have on our floor,” Landwer says. “Wisconsin puts money into their programs like that.”

The schools also are investing in a computer-controlled lathe and a computer-controlled milling machine. The purchase of that kind of equipment would not be possible for the Kenosha district without the partnership with Gateway, Hittman says.

“Those new machines will be used day and night,” says Hittman, whose career in education has spanned 49 years, several of them as school superintendent for the Whitnall and Sheboygan Area school districts.

“We get a really good bang for the taxpayer’s buck,” says John Nelson, instructor of automated manufacturing at Gateway, “because all of the equipment we use during the day is used not only by the high school, but we’re also a Gateway campus in the evening.”

Gateway has its automated manufacturing systems technology and electro-mechanical technology courses based at the facility, according to Nelson. “We buy a $40,000 robot, and it’s being used from 8 in the morning until 10 at night,” Nelson says. He is among the Gateway instructors who teach college classes to the high-schoolers.

In addition to ensuring the students are learning to use state-of-the-art equipment, Hittman reviews national and regional labor trends every year as he plans the next year’s course offerings.

Several of the jobs on the U.S. Department of Labor’s annual list of top 10 occupations in recent years involve information technology. The U.S. job market needs “1.3 million people to go into IT jobs each year, and only about 40% of people (needed) are in the pipeline,” Hittman says.

This school year, LakeView has begun offering advanced placement computer science, which Hittman describes as “advanced Java,” referring to the general purpose computer programming language.

“We need 109,000 engineers a year to enter into our economy,” Hittman says. “For the 26th year in a row, we are putting out only 60-somethousand engineers.”

LakeView concentrates on automated manufacturing systems and IT systems under the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum program.

PLTW is the nation’s leading provider of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs for K-12 students.

Lakeview offers courses in engineering and biomedical science using the PLTW curriculum.

The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that STEM jobs will grow 17% by 2018 — nearly double the growth for nonSTEM fields. By that year, the nation will have more than 1.2 million unfilled STEM positions due to a lack of qualified workers, the agency estimates.

In 2014, the average wage for all STEM occupations was $85,570, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were more than 8.3 million STEM jobs as of May 2014, representing about 6.2% of total U.S. employment. While that’s a small percentage of American jobs, the openings for STEM jobs are growing more rapidly than for non-STEM jobs.

LakeView students can take classes in computer-aided design, digital electronics, computer-integrated manufacturing, robotics, principles of biomedical science, medical interventions, networking and web design, and programming and database, as well as several others.

The school, which was ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s list of America’s Best High Schools three times, also offers required high school courses, including those in math, history, science and language. Through a partnership with the district’s fine arts charter school, Harborside Academy, LakeView students can be bused there for band, orchestra, choir, art and drama.

LakeView students also can participate in extracurricular activities and Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association sports at their “neighborhood” high schools, such as Bradford and Tremper. After-school programming at LakeView includes bowling, “Super Mileage Vehicle Club” and even sailing.

LakeView was not always a bright and shining gem, according to Hittman.

When it opened in 1997, he says, “the concept was that they would work with businesses and industries in the business park and study manufacturing and industry.”

“It didn’t really work out that way,” he says.

In its first few years, the student body was made up largely of teenagers who weren’t “doing very well academically,” Hittman says. The school had the lowest Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE) scores among all high schools in Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties.

During the 1999-2000 school year, Gateway paid for a study that looked at ways to improve LakeView, Hittman says. A curriculum was developed that focused on automated manufacturing systems.

“When I came here in 2002, the school was faltering,” Hittman says. “I was supposed to have 217 kids, but when the fall came, only 161 showed up. “I looked at the school and the school didn’t function very well, and I suggested to the Board of Education that we close LakeView.”

The acting superintendent at the time said, “ ‘Mr. Hittman, we didn’t hire you to close the school; we hired you to change the school,’ ” Hittman recalls.

Hittman met with Gateway leaders, and they “agreed that the school had to get into the 21st century and had to focus on the needs of business and industry,” he says. “We really focused on engineering and technology.”

Hittman and Gateway revamped the school’s curriculum. “I told the kids that in three years I wanted LakeView to have the best test results of any school in (Kenosha) County,” Hittman recalls. “We went from the worst to second-best in the school district in one year.” The year after that, LakeView’s WKCE results were the highest in the district.

“The third year, we beat every school in Kenosha County and in the Gateway attendance area, with the exception of Williams Bay High School in Walworth County. After the fourth year, we beat Williams Bay, and we beat them in every area, not just science.”

The school continued to improve, including partnering with Marquette in a program that allows LakeView students to earn up to 13 credits toward an engineering degree there through Project Lead the Way. LakeView has been Wisconsin’s Project Lead the Way School of the Year twice.

“Slowly, but surely,” Hittman says, “people saw that, gee, the kids are doing super academically, almost all of the preengineering students go off to college as second-semester freshmen, the kids who are going for an associate’s degree are starting as sophomores.”

The program evolved to the point that going into this school year LakeView had a waiting list of more than 80 students.

With close to 450 students this year, the building is overcrowded (its capacity is 365), and leaders are looking to expand.

“When you’re a junior in this high school, you have marketable skills already,” Hittman says. “You can do 3D CAD (computer-aided design) drawings, you can program software, you can program robots, you can operate CNC (computer numerical control) machines.”

Leaders of area school districts have invited Hittman to share with them the story of LakeView Technology Academy.

It’s the wave of the future, he says.

Betsy Thatcher is a freelance writer in West Bend and a former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter.

Click here to watch video #1 Click here to watch video #2

Chemical Industry Update Each quarter, Grace Matthews publishes a newsletter that features articles about trends in the chemical industry. The Fall 2015 edition of Chemical Insights is focused on the paints and coatings market and the advantages of scale in mergers and acquisitions.

The publication also includes a list of recent M&A transactions in the market, as well as the Grace Matthews Coatings Index. Grace Matthews chemical investment banking group is recognized globally as a leader in transaction advisory services for manufacturers and distributors of specialty, commodity, and formulated chemicals.

Their clients include privately-held businesses, private equity firms, and large multinational corporations.

Click here to read publication.

IBAW Around Wisconsin...

IBAW executive director, Steve Kohlmann shares a moment with Fox News Security Analyst, KT McFarland at the Global Leadership Summit held at the Pfister Hotel September 18th.

Ms. McFarland led a panel discussion with Senator Ron Johnson, General James Conway (Ret.), and Bill Lane (Caterpillar) on the positive impact of U.S. international affairs programs in Wisconsin.

Networking opportunities abound at the Manufacturing Summit.

The ballroom at the Wisconsin Club was filled with business owners eager to find solutions to their workforce issues.

The keynote speaker for the Manufacturing Summit was Christine McMahon with her presentation of “Why Should I Work Here?”

Ms. McMahon’s presentation included key takeaways on how to attract and maintain a company’s workforce.

Attendees were able to visit a ‘mini expo’ of table top presenters who can assist with workforce issues.

The contact information of the presenters is in this magazine.

September 18th was marked as Manufacturing Summit Day by special proclamation from Gov. Scott Walker.

A Certificate of Special Senatorial Recognition was presented to the IBAW from Senator Ron Johnson’s office.

4 Points on how Americans View Regulation Ray Keating, Chief Economist, SBE Council, Washington D.C.

The American people are far more concerned that government regulates business too much than being worried that business is not regulated enough. Indeed, according to a new Gallup poll, by a better than 2-to-1 margin, Americans see government as regulating business too much rather than regulating too little.

Consider 4 key points from the Gallup survey:

Regulating Too Much, Not Too Little.

As Gallup reported: “While a sturdy 49% of Americans say the government regulates business too much, a near-low percentage instead say it regulates too little (21%). The latter response has experienced a six-percentage-point drop from 2010, while the former has remained virtually unchanged since 2009. Another 27% of Americans judge the current regulatory approach as about right.”

Too Much Regulation Under Obama.

Gallup noted that “the presidency of Democrat Barack Obama has seen a marked rise in the percentage saying ‘too much,’ with the figure typically hovering around 50%. By contrast, the average rate of Americans choosing this response was 36% over the eight years of Republican George W. Bush’s administration.”

The Notion That Government Regulates Too Little is Shrinking.

Gallup pointed out, “The share of Americans saying government regulates business too little is at a near low, and has fallen six points since 2010 — with that percentage shifting to the ‘about right’ category, which has, in turn, also risen six points since 2010. While not a dramatic movement, there does appear to be less support for the notion that government regulates business too little.”

Party Breakdown Varies Widely.

The views of regulation vary widely by party, with Republicans overwhelmingly pointing to too much regulation. It was noted: “As Gallup showed last year, the exponential-like increase in Republicans saying government regulates business too much — climbing from 40% in 2006 to a peak of 84% in 2011 — is clearly a major factor in the overall rise in this response rate. This year, about eight in 10 Republicans are in the ‘too much’ camp, far exceeding the percentage of independents (46%) or Democrats (26%) who are similarly aligned.”

Regulatory burdens have risen dramatically in recent years, with entrepreneurship, small business growth, job creation and overall economic growth suffering accordingly. Small business owners obviously understand this harsh policy reality. After all, regulation inflicts the greatest costs and damage on small businesses.

For example, as reported in “The Cost of Federal Regulation to the U.S. Economy, Manufacturing and Small Business,” published in September 2014 by the National Association of Manufacturers, economists Nicole V. Crain and W. Mark Crain reported, “U.S. federal government regulations cost an estimated $2.028 trillion in 2012 (in 2014 dollars), an amount equal to 12 percent of GDP… Small firms with fewer than 50 employees incur regulatory costs ($11,724 per employee per year) that are 17 percent greater than the average firm. The cost per employee is $10,664 for medium-sized firms and $9,083 for large firms.”

Let’s hope that candidates for president, Congress, and state and local offices understand that government is regulating too much as well, and that they act to provide substantive regulatory proposals and actual reforms that would help unleash entrepreneurship, business investment and development, and economic growth.

Presents:

October 7, 2015 | 7:30AM - 10:30AM

Wisconsin Manufacturing & Technology Show at Wisconsin State Fair Park

Riding the Ups and Downs of the “New Normal” Top executives of the region’s leading manufacturers will share their strategies to manage the ebb and flow of business given shortened lead times, increased customer expectations, staff shortages and the balance of having to “do more with less.”

You’ll learn best practices for improving morale, driving innovation and increasing your bottom line.

Moderated Panel (8AM - 9AM): Moderator - Joseph Weitzer, Ph.D., Dean - Center for Business Performance Solutions, Waukesha County Technical College 1. Aaron Jagdfeld, President and CEO, Generac Power Systems, Inc. 2. Dan Cahalane, President, American Roller Company 3. Bob Porsche, President, General Plastics, Inc. 4. Jeff Giffin President & CEO, Masters Gallery Foods, Inc.

Weitzer

Jagdfeld

Cahalane

Porsche

Giffin

Roundtable Forum (9AM - 10:30AM): Information in the Roundtable Forum are on the next page.

BIZTIMES.COM/MFG Sponsors:

Manufacturing Summit is a featured event at the WI Manufacturing & Technology Show www.epishows.com/wmts

The IBAW Legislative Team

Mike Kuhn G r e g Ly o n s

Jeff Hoffman

The IBAW Legislative Team keeps our members up to date and informed on business issues coming out of Madison and Washington D.C..

Charles Fry

Ann Barry Hanneman

SALES ROUNDTABLE "The ninety minutes we spend together is very valuable. It is a confidential environment where fellow business professionals discuss ideas and insights into effective sales and business-building techniques. I would encourage anyone who is in sales to participate in this program."

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- Scott Seroka, Seroka Branding

Even if you're seasoned in sales, learn what other professionals are doing and some new techniques and skills you might be missing.

This is open to anyone at an IBAW member company who would like to share their real world challenges and most successful strategies for growing business. This Roundtable is meant to serve as a confidential means to learn from your peers in other industries and to help others learn from your experience – good and bad.

Click here to register for the next roundtable.

Introducing a New Product? Consider this...

Scott Seroka, Seroka Brand Management

For the innovation-driven company, introducing a new product or category should be a very exciting time. But doing so also comes with two challenges: educating potential investors on what exactly the new product or service is, and defining the new product in a way that can be easily understood by consumers. If a company misses the mark in either of these areas, the chances of the product’s success will be grim.

Consumers attempt to understand new products and services by fitting them into familiar categories that are easily understood. When smartphones were just entering the market, the association was an easy one to make – all of them were still fundamentally phones, but they also offered users many additional features. However, when the iPad debuted in 2010, it wasn’t quite as simple. It wasn’t quite a laptop, and it appeared to be a gigantic iPhone. It couldn’t make calls, and it wasn’t powerful enough to replace a laptop. Apple had created the tablet category, and if they failed to define its relevant value and purpose in ways that were easy to understand, the iPad would have flopped. Today, with the popularity of the cloud and an infinite amount of available apps, tablets are smoking laptops in both sales and use.

New products and categories also risk failure when introduced ahead of their time. If smartphones and laptops didn’t exist prior to 2010, the iPad would have been much too foreign and confusing to comprehend. It is both dangerous and risky to skip over next logical generation innovations with the hopes of changing how games in an industry are played. It’s the reason that part of the winning strategy with innovation is introducing products that “make sense” while at the same time ones that will sweep consumers off their feet. This strategy also makes it easier for investors to understand and trust claims of uniqueness and distinction.

Additionally, if a new innovation needs to be explained feature by feature, the company will likely confuse people even more and lose their attention. Attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, (thank you, technology) and if the new innovation seems too complex, most will retreat back to which is most familiar, which is also perceived as much less risky.

The other part of the winning strategy of innovation is establishing credibility. This is a vital step for the startup company that has little or no brand awareness. People have a hard enough time trusting companies that open their doors selling familiar, or even commoditized products and services similar to competitors’. For example, if a new manufacturer of dehumidification systems entered the indoor waterpark market, they could differentiate their brand through efficiency, cost of ownership, build quality, price, service, and a variety of other variables. However, if that brand new manufacturer introduced a non-traditional, revolutionary way of extracting humidity from the air and chose to differentiate itself by NOT defining its products as dehumidifiers, they would likely have a steeper hill to climb to build trust, establish credibility and win business. For the company blessed with a reputable brand, selling a new concept to investors and product to buyers will go much smoother as trust already exists.

As companies strive to differentiate their brands from the competition to win new business and grow, they should be cautious to not venture too far off the beaten path of recognition and familiarity. Consumers may be intrigued to explore, but once they start to feel a little lost, most will trace their steps back to safety, and on their way back, they may dismiss the new innovation altogether

IBAW is on an upward trend of growth and we are actively recruiting businesses just like yours to join!

When you join IBAW your entire company is a member - anyone from your team can attend our fine educational and networking events.

Help yourself, your business AND your Team Members.

Come on in...we’re open for business!

Join o

nline!

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2015 Membership Committee

Steve Kohlmann IBAW

Scott Seroka Seroka Branding

Charles Fry Robert W. Baird

Mary Stark Waddell & Reed

Get involved with IBAW. Consider joining a committee!

Contact Steve Kohlmann for more information.

Legislative Fix Moving Ahead for Wisconsin’s New Manufacturing & Agricultural Credit Jim Brandenburg, CPA, MST - Sikich LLP

In IBAW meetings and publications in recent years we have introduced you to Wisconsin’s new tax incentive - the Wisconsin Manufacturing and Agriculture Credit (referred to as the “MAC”). The MAC came about in 2011 to provide an incentive for Wisconsin manufacturers and agricultural companies to remain and grow here, and also perhaps to have out-of-state companies move here. It was scheduled to begin in 2013, and when fully phased-in by 2016 it would essentially exempt any Wisconsin manufacturing and agricultural income from Wisconsin income tax. The MAC was championed by Representative Dale Kooyenga and Senator Glenn Grothman in the legislature.

Magazine Content Needed Consider Submitting an Article!

The MAC, however, had some problems for individual taxpayers when it was drafted and this glitch was recently identified. Here is the issue in a nutshell: the MAC would reduce a taxpayer’s Wisconsin individual income tax, but then would trigger a Wisconsin minimum tax for nearly the same amount. Thus, there may be little, if any, net savings for the MAC in 2013 (a “MAC Attack?”). The legislature is trying to remedy this situation now so that taxpayers can realize the proper tax savings with the MAC on their 2013 Wisconsin individual tax returns.

The IBAW magazine is in need of content, we rely on our members and sponsors to supply us informative articles. The digital magazine is sent out to over 650 contacts statewide and the magazine is parked on the web where, on average, it gets over 1100 views.

Legislative Update: It seems that all key legislative leaders are now on board to correct this issue. It was approved by the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee last week. The Senate and Assembly will be in session in March and voting on final passage for several bills, one of which is this tax bill with the MAC correction. It looks like the legislative timetable will have the bill passed near the middle of the March, before going to the Governor.

Thus, a best guess now is that the bill would be enacted into law somewhere in the latter half of March, 2014.

MAC Attack Options: For any of our individual taxpayers taking advantage of the MAC, this may present some filings logistics. Here are the possibilities:

1. Best case scenario - in some cases the taxpayer’s share of the MAC for 2013 will be used and not result in a Wisconsin Minimum Tax. A taxpayer in this situation could go ahead and claim the MAC and file their 2013 Wisconsin individual return. There would be no need to wait for the legislation to pass.

Consider writing an article on a timely business related topic to your particular field of business. This is an outstanding opportunity for you and your company to gain exposure and increase your brand awareness to a statewide audience. There is no cost to submitting an article.

2. Next, a taxpayer has generated a MAC for 2013, but it will trigger a Wisconsin Minimum Tax. The taxpayer in this case could wait until the law is changed (and then wait a little for the WDR to update its computer processing systems) and then file their Wisconsin tax return and claim the MAC, and not incur the Wisconsin Minimum Tax. This could present a tight timeline for the April 15 deadline, and you may need to file for an extension.

3. Similar case as #2, but this taxpayer could file their Wisconsin individual return with the MAC, but also incur and pay a Wisconsin Minimum Tax for 2013. Then, once the corrective law is enacted go back and file an amended 2013 Wisconsin tax return to obtain the proper tax benefit of the MAC. You would not need extend, but you would need to amend.

We’ll keep you posted as this legislation moves forward.

If you have any questions, please contact Jim Brandenburg or Brian Kelley at Sikich, LLP in Brookfield (262)754-9400.

Contact Steve Kohlmann for details.

Articles submitted by our members & sponsors.

Welcome New IBAW Members!

Meeting Recaps 2014 Wisconsin Manufacturing Knowledge Summit

Power Test

On June 20, 2014 the IBAW partnered with the Tool, Die & Machining Association of Wisconsin (TDMAW) to offer Wisconsin manufacturers and their suppliers a unique look at trends within the industry and to also report on some of the challenges the industry faces in the next 5 years.

Power Test, Inc. is an industry leader in the design, manufacture and implementation of dynamometers and control systems.

Special thanks to the event sponsor, First Business Bank for their efforts in helping organize this event.

For more than 37 years, Power Test has provided specialized test equipment to manufacturers, rebuilding facilities and distributors globally. Our products can be found in use at these facilities in nearly 100 countries on six continents.

Chris Halaska

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Our headquarters and manufacturing operations are located in Sussex, WI with sales representatives worldwide. Our unparalleled customer service is well known throughout the industry.

Power Test employs a dedicated staff of talented machinists, fabricators, electronic technicians, assemblers, designers, engineers, software developers, and administrative and customer service personnel.

Our exceptional product life and excellent customer service is well known throughout the industry and has made us one of the industryleading dynamometer manufacturers. Our dedication to the customer and to the advances in powertrain component testing keep us there.

Power Test N60 W22700 Silver Spring Drive Sussex, WI 53089 Phone: 262-252-4301

4 Advanced Waste Services Advanced Waste Services is an environmental services company that provides wastewater recycling and other waste and risk elimination services to manufacturers in all industries. Each day, AWS helps hundreds of businesses, both large and small, meet their community and environmental obligations. Annually, we collect, treat and recycle more than 50 million gallons of contaminated wastewater into clean, reusable water and other valuable resources like fuel, steam and electricity.

AWS is constantly helping our clients manage, reinvent and improve their sustainability successes. For example, we recently partnered with Forest County Advanced Waste Services Potawatomi Community to help Wisconsin food and beverage manufacturers convert 1126 South 76th Street food waste into clean, green renewable energy.

Suite N408B

West Allis, WI 53214 Founded in 1993, AWS employs 55 people in the Milwaukee area and a total of 150

people companywide in 5 states.

414-847-7100

Photo Key 1: A full house in the main ballroom of the Wisconsin Club as IBAW & TDMAW members prepare to hear about the state of manufacturing and the challenges the industry faces in the workforce.

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2: David Vetta of First Business Bank delivers opening remarks and highlights the importance of a strong relationship between banking and manufacturing working together for success.

3: New IBAW President, John Weber of Hypneumat addresses the change in IBAW Bylaws and calls for voting in new board officers.

4: Kent Lorenz of Acieta gives the main presentation on “Manufacturing Matters” pointing out the trends on manufacturing now and what to expect in the future.

5: Outgoing IBAW President, Steve Van Lieshout receives his award for his efforts as 2013 - 2014.

6 Photos courtesy of Tim Townsend.

6: IBAW Executive Director, Steve Kohlmann (Left) presents David Drumel with an award for his service on the IBAW board.

Spotlight on new members

2015 IBAW Legislative Priorities Now Online!

State Legislative Priorities - Tax Reform - WI DOT Funding and Strategic Visioning - Establishing RIGHT TO WORK in Wisconsin - Joining the Lawsuit against the EPA - Advancing WI Education & Workforce Development Reform

National Legislative Priorities - Pro Growth - A National Energy Policy Capitalizing on our Strengths - Limitations on Executive Action and Administrative Regulations - Sustainable Healthcare Reform - Supporting a Free Market Internet

Click here to view.

Get Connected. Get Inspired. Get Informed.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS.

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AT&T ITU AbsorbTech Park Bank Blomquist Benefits HNI Advantage + Bank Mutual Sikich Lauber CFO’s RW Baird von Briesen HRS Associated Bank Vrakas / Blum Advanced Waste Services Simandl Law Group, S.C.

Boerke Co. Hansen Reynolds Dickinson Crueger Rickert Industries BSI - Design, Build, Furnish Letterhead Press Consolidated Construction MSI General Contractors BMO Harris Powertest Red Elephant Chocolate Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, S.C. Hypneumat Mfg Staff Electric Sponsor support helps IBAW continue to bring insightful programming to small business owners.

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THERE’S ROOM AT THE TABLE

As an advocate for small business, the IBAW offers intimate meetings on relevant topics such as Leadership, HR, Sales, and Political Issues.

Business Leaders...Leading Business

Join us. “...the sales round table was very informative, Judson will be renewing our membership in the IBAW. Thank you and I look forward to more roundtables!”

Dominic Misasi, Judson and Associates s.c.

“ I almost always come away from an IBAW meeting with useable material that helps me with my business. Many times, a speaker will give me something that applies to ITU AbsorbTech. Other times, it is a conversation over breakfast that gives me value.”

Jim Leef, President & CEO, ITU AbsorbTech

“Being involved with a business organization like the IBAW is critical for small business owners in Wisconsin for growth and to have a voice with government.”

Rich Meeusen, CEO, Badger Meter.

Education • Networking • Political Advocacy BUSINESS LEADERS...LEADING BUSINESS

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AMOUNT

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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS apply to your entire team.

• Monthly Sales Roundtable - free with membership • Monthly 5 Star Breakfast Program • C Level Peer to Peer Networking • Monthly Digital Statewide Magazine - free with membership • Informative workshops • Business Behind the Scenes Tour • Legislative Updates & Representation from Madison & Washington, D.C. ...AND MORE!

Paying By Check? Please make check payable to IBAW. Want to pay credit card? If you would like to pay by Visa, MasterCard or American Express, you can pay online at IBAW.com or by calling the IBAW office at 262-844-0333.