SEPTEMBER 2013 SEPTEMBER 20TH MEETING: Speaker: Richard Chandler Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Revenue PLUS: Tammie Clendenning, Small Business Association INSIDE: IBAW Survey: Should WI have a 70 MPH speed limit?
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
LASEE: ANSWER NOT BLOWING IN THE WIND
WENDT: 5 EASY STEPS FOR LEAD GENERATION
KEATING: AN IMPROVEMENT IN LEADING INDICATORS
no business is small At AT&T a storefront is as important as a skyscraper. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are the engines of new opportunity and growth. Having access to innovative technologies drives success. And we’re here to make sure you’re connected. Always. AT&T is proud to support the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin.
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IBA MEDIA LINKS Executive Director Steve Kohlmann Heritage Printing / Cultivate Communications President Steve Van Lieshout K & S Technologies . President Elect 2014 Membership / Sponsorship John Weber Hypneumat
Governor Walker weekly radio address discusses building Wisconsin’s credit rating.
To listen, click here.
VP. State & National Programs Jeff Hoffman Judson & Assoc. Secretary Christine McMahon Treasurer Casey Malek SIKICH
Directors Bart Adams SIKICH Ann Barry Hanneman Simandl Law Group S.C Heather Baylor Park Bank Richard Blomquist Blomquist Benefits As you surf the Web, information is being collected about you. Web tracking is not 100% evil -- personal data can make your browsing more efficient; cookies can help your favorite websites stay in business. But, says Gary Kovacs, it's your right to know what data is being collected about you and how it affects your online life. He unveils a Firefox add-on to do just that.
Click here to view.
Jason Kuwayama Godfrey & Kahn Tom Boelkow BSI Design, Build, Furnish Dave Drumel Staff Electric
We can’t be responsible how you feel after attending our meetings. IBAW’s Business Presentation Series offers high level speakers on timely business topics keeping you informed and exhilarated.
Quality programming every month. That’s IBAW.
Political Advocacy • Education • Networking www.ibaw.com / 262-844-0333 / IBAWOffice@gmail.com
Business Presentation Series September 20th Richard Chandler Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Revenue Wisconsin has taken steps to dramatically improve the state's tax and business climate. Secretary Chandler will highlight the middle-class income tax reductions adopted in the 2013 budget and the state's pro-jobs tax incentives, including the new manufacturing and agriculture tax credit and expanded incentives for investments in Wisconsin companies. Secretary Chandler will also discuss property tax relief and describe the state's ongoing job creation initiatives.
PLUS... Click here to register.
Tammie Clendenning SBA - Milwaukee Office
An overview of the products offered through the SBA including access to capital, business counseling and federal government contracting.
LOCATION! !
THE WISCONSIN CLUB ! 900 W. WISCONSIN AVE. MILWAUKEE
7:00 AM !
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REGISTRATION & NETWORKING
7:30 AM !
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BREAKFAST & PROGRAM
9:00 AM !
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PROGRAM ENDS
October 18th Meeting “Taking a Small Wisconsin Business to the National Spotlight”
November 15th Meeting “Affordable Care Act & Small Business”
Baly Ambegaoker
Small Business Administration of Wisconsin
President & CEO IDL Solutions
Eric Ness
Godzilla shown actual size.
Event Sponsor: Media Sponsor:
The Irony of AB 245 Steve Kohlmann, IBAW Executive Director
This afternoon I received a call from the Wisconsin State Journal looking for comment on Assembly Bill 245. AB 245 wasn’t on my radar screen at all so my response was “I’m not familiar with this so I don’t feel it’s appropriate for me to comment at this time.” Of course, this didn’t stop the reporter from pressing me for details. But I stuck to my guns and kept to the no comment line. I’ve had problems in the past where my mouth begins operation before consulting my brain first. Not that my brain is always operating at peak performance mind you. At any rate, AB 245 was introduced by Democratic representatives POPE, HESSELBEIN, SARGENT, HEBL, BERCEAU, BARNES, OHNSTAD, C.TAYLOR and WRIGHT. It was cosponsored by State Senator Lena Taylor. Simply put, AB 245 gives employees the right to sue their employer for a having a “hostile or abusive work environment”. You can read the entire bill at this link. But I got to thinking about this bill which deals with hostile working environments. It originated in Madison. At the Capitol. You know the Capitol, the big white domed building near Lake Monona. It’s the place where protestors, demonstrators and a lot of Democrats yelled at the Governor and Republicans on a daily basis during the Act 10 debate. Taunting, heckling and even spitting was also part of a the daily ritual for protestors. Democrats did little - if anything - to slow it down or try and stop it. You may recall them pointing their fingers at their fellow legislators yelling ‘SHAME, SHAME, SHAME’ at the top of their lungs while in session in the voting chamber. During the Act 10 debate , Rep. Glenn Grothman was accidentally locked out of the Capitol and cornered by protestors. Only after it looked like physical harm would come to him did Rep. Brett Hulsey come to his rescue. And then there was Governor Walker’s state of the state address. Where he was interrupted by hecklers in the gallery that had to be cleared. State troopers also confronted a protester who apparently put a bike lock around her neck on the railing in the gallery of the State Senate at the beginning of the state budget deliberation. Democrats sat idly by. Uncomfortable with the situation but saying nothing. There’s also the never ending antics of Jeremy Ryan (aka Segway boy) as he stood outside the Capitol Press Room taunting Gwyn Guenther on the death of her father, Dick Wheeler. Remember when Madison liberals openly advocated the assassination of Gov. Walker on Twitter and in email threats? If you dress in business attire at the Capitol, you’ll almost certainly be verbally accosted as a money hungry business owner out to screw your employees. Something I experienced first hand during Business Day in Madison. And of course the best example of irony is State Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh). After the Assembly voted to on the Budget Repair Bill, Hintz turned to a female colleague, Rep. Michelle Litjens and said: "You are (EXPLETIVE) dead!". There’s more examples of course but you get the point. If Democrats are concerned about hostile workplaces, they can start at their own workplace - the Capitol.
The Answer Is Not Blowing In The Wind Frank Lasee, State Senator for the 1st District
Environmentalists, Democrats, and corporate wind interests see wind power as the future. They are committed to it because they believe it will protect the environment by magically replacing the use of fossil fuels (and make some wealthy). Such deluded notions have no basis in fact. The truth is wind energy isn't very efficient and can’t come close to powering the American economy. Low cost energy is one of the keys to a vibrant, growing economy. One critical problem with wind energy is that the wind doesn’t blow all the time. This means there always needs to be backup generation fueled by something other than gusts of air. When someone flips a switch to turn on the light he or she expects the light to work whether or not the wind is blowing. A recent study by the Civitas Institute, a think tank based in England, finds “There is no economic case for wind-power.” In England, there has been a significant movement against onshore wind turbines following concern about the health effects and unsightly appearance of gigantic industrial turbines covering the countryside. The Civitas Institute study also warns that mandating certain targets for the percentage of electricity generated by renewable sources increases electric rates for families. In Wisconsin, we already have excess electric generation capacity without any new power sources. So why are we building more generation capacity? Pro-wind advocates are always trumpeting the fact that wind energy (and all green energy) is good for the environment and good for consumers. Unfortunately, such statements aren’t the truth. In addition to people’s health and pocketbooks, wind is taking a toll on wildlife. In California alone, it is estimated that wind turbines kill 80 golden eagles per year. Golden Eagles are protected under federal law. If an oil company was doing this, they would be sued. In fact, utilities in all sectors of the energy industry have been held accountable for environmental damage, all except the wind industry. Under Wisconsin law, ten percent of the state’s electricity must come from renewable energy by the end of 2015. As we near that goal, some in Madison are pushing for a higher renewable energy mandate. This is a bad idea. Imposing a higher renewable energy mandate will increase electric costs for hardworking families and businesses that employ them. This doesn’t make economic sense. An analysis of the renewable energy mandate currently in place estimates it will cost Wisconsin households almost $800 million in higher electricity bills between 2013 and 2016 - this is money that could be spent or invested on other things. This shows that the only way wind energy can compete with less-expensive methods of generating electricity is through costly government regulations, government and electric user subsidies.
In the free market, if wind energy could not pay for itself no company would be willing to supply it. But because the government has stepped in at the behest of an idealistic agenda to promote wind energy, we all are paying more than we should for the electricity that we use. The federal government says you can no longer tour the White House because it costs too much (even though the tours are given by volunteers), yet they have no problem spending billions of taxpayer dollars to extend green energy tax credits for another year, really. If wind energy is as good as the advocates claim, it should be on the same playing field as other energy generation. It should pay taxes instead of receiving tax subsidies and grants, instead of costing electric users more, it should cost less or the same. According to pro-wind groups, the industry couldn’t survive without government subsidies. Free market economics, not crony capitalism of the left or right, what a common sense idea.
New Member Spotlight: Craig “Stitch” Hauser, CJ & Associates CJ & Associates, a Nationally Certified WBE, is a full service office design, office furnishings and remodeling firm. They provide the highest level of design, installation and remodeling services to businesses, healthcare facilities, government entities, schools and non profit organizations. CJ & Associates has certified interior designers that enhance productivity in the workplace through effective space planning, sustainable furniture solutions and finish selections.
262-786-1772
cjassociatesinc.com
Email: chauser@cjassociatesinc.com
Sikich, Kolb+Co. Merger Benefits Clients Brookfield-based public accounting and consulting firm Kolb+Co. has merged with Naperville, Ill.-based Sikich LLP, a leading professional services firm. The merger, which was effective August 1, has resulted in Sikich operating its first Wisconsin-based office, which is now the firm’s second-largest office throughout the country. “We are very excited to join the Sikich team,” said Tom Luken, partner-in-charge of the Milwaukee office. “Through this union, we will be able to offer our clients expanded industry capabilities and a full suite of advisory and technology services, as well as access to additional talented and experienced professionals. Sikich’s commitment to service excellence will be a perfect complement to what we have built during the past 53 years. We look forward to utilizing these resources to benefit our clients and grow our presence in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.” As a result of this merger, Sikich has been able to enrich its public accounting and advisory services with new resources and top talent. The firm now boasts more than 500 employees, including 87 partners, with expertise in auditing and accounting, advisory services and technology. Additionally, the added growth will diversify the firm’s breadth of services, enhance its capability to service more markets, and provide expanded client opportunities in industries such as manufacturing, distribution, non-profit and government. “Merging with Kolb+Co. was a seamless process, and we are confident that the transition has and will be just as positive and comfortable for clients,” said Jim Sikich, CEO and managing partner of Sikich. “As one firm, we have already begun collaborating on client projects, giving the Milwaukee team the opportunity to fully integrate into our existing accounting and advisory teams. This joint endeavor will ultimately allow us to not only continue our rapid growth, but also help our clients reach their long-term goals.” The Milwaukee team will remain in its current location at 13400 Bishops Lane, Suite 300 in Brookfield.
Take the IBAW survey: SHOULD WISCONSIN HAVE A 70 MPH SPEED LIMIT? CLICK HERE TO TAKE SURVEY.
960 Timber Pass Brookfield, WI 53045 414.844.0333 www.IBAW.com August 12, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF WISCONSIN OPPOSES MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE ----------The Independent Business Association of Wisconsin (IBAW) opposes the proposed increase of the minimum wage by the federal government. IBAW believes that in a free market society wage increases need to be established by supply and demand rather than government mandates. Increasing the minimum wage sounds good to many people because “big corporations can afford it”. This assumption ignores the fact that the skill level of a minimum wage job is not intended to produce income levels sufficient enough to support a family. A mandated increase in the minimum wage for lower skill jobs will simply price many employers out of the marketplace in creating and sustaining these essential jobs that are necessary for a healthy economy. IBAW would like to draw attention to the following points of why it is appropriate to maintain the minimum wage at its’ established level:
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Minimum Wage Jobs are essential for developing employability skills necessary for career development.
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The vast majority of Minimum Wage Jobs are targeted for young adults (teenagers) , semi –retired, or people that need a second chance (lack of a high school diploma/criminal record).
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The majority of minimum wage jobs are not in Big Corporations but rather in Small Business. Small Businesses cannot afford to shoulder the additional expense when already operating on razor thin revenue margins. The proven result of an increased minimum wage will lead to less job opportunities for a segment of society that most needs a stepping stone for employability skills.
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Without the opportunity to prove employability skills that a worker earns through a minimum wage job, it will become increasingly more difficult for job seekers to match the skill sets that are necessary to transition into full time, family supporting careers.
Raising the cost to do business on employers because of an increased minimum wage will serve as a job creation hurdle to a segment of the population that can least afford fewer job opportunities. Given the choice to stay in business, or cut hours and staff to compensate for additional expenses, a small business will be faced with little choice. Minimum wage jobs are essential for the development of the future work force and reducing opportunities for workers to obtain these jobs will severely impact their future ability to transition into family supporting, career opportunities. END
The Independent Business Association of Wisconsin is a statewide, member driven organization dedicated to advancing public policy, education and networking for small business in the state of Wisconsin. For more information regarding IBAW visit the website at www.ibaw.com, contact Steve Kohlmann, Executive Director at 262-844-0333 or by email at ibawoffice@gmail.com
Office of Business Development Can Help Your Business Nancy Mistele, Director, Office of Business Development, State of Wisconsin To provide ongoing support for regulatory reform, Governor Scott Walker created the Office of Business Development. We serve as a liaison between business owners, the Legislature and state agencies to take a common sense approach to addressing state laws, rules and red tape that affect your business. Laws are passed in the Legislature – and the rules that interpret and apply state law are written in state agencies. These laws are often based on requests from industry, trade associations or advisory boards. Their input leads to requirement such as licensing, continuing education, or environmental regulations. At times, laws and rules don’t properly align or create confusion. Some rules are simply outdated because of new technology or advancements. While the Governor requires agency leaders to review the laws they oversee and make recommendations for change, our office would like to get your feedback about the current laws that affect your business. We can serve as the liaison between your business, state agencies and legislature make the right changes that are good for business and Wisconsin residents. To do this, we need to hear from business owners to know precisely what that means and to gather your recommendation for reforms. We meet regularly with business owners, Chambers of Commerce, economic development groups and industry trade associations to get input on which laws or rules should be rewritten, replaced or removed. We welcome your call, your suggestions and the opportunity to meet with you and hear your concerns firsthand. We work with the Small Business Regulatory Board, and we are empowered to review all existing rules and propose changes to lessen the impact of government on business. In addition to regulatory reform, feel free to use us as a resource to interact with agency officials to resolve problems, advance ideas and seek solutions to sticky situations. On a daily basis, we help business owners and state agencies connect to resolve regulatory questions or issues. Let us be a resource for you and provide us with clear, common sense solutions to effective – and less – regulation."This is your opportunity to reduce the weight of government red tape and we hope you will accept this invitation to provide us with your input on what is wrong with regulation and how to fix it. Together, we will move Wisconsin forward! Nancy Mistele, Director, Office of Business Development , nancy.mistele@wisconsin.gov 608-267- 7873.
August Meeting: Dan Vrakas, Waukesha County Executive Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas was the guest speaker at the IBAW meeting in August. Mr. Vrakas gave the group an overview on the latest developments in Waukesha County and a economic overview on why the county is so economically viable and friendly towards business. “We have a culture of frugality at the county level and it’s a mindset that permeates the entire workforce.”
5 Steps to Easy Lead Generations Robert Wendt, Cultivate Communications
I’m sure you’re a very smart person. To be in business, you have to be. As a business owner, you have to know a lot about your customers, your product, and your industry. Even so, sometimes I bet even YOU don’t have all the answers. So why not tap into the smart folks working all around you for help? One of the best ways to generate leads, grow your business, and establish your credibility nowadays is to SHARE. In today’s fast-changing world of search, subject matter experts (SMEs) get a lot of attention. So draw on your — and your team’s — specialized knowledge to establish your company as a subject matter expert. Why? Google LOVES original content [See Google's latest update: In-depth Articles 8/6/13]. When deciding how your company should rank in its search engine, Google rewards websites that offer consistent and relevant content with a higher page rank. The key to making your business more visible is to push your company’s story and collective expertise out there and then sit back and watch the leads pile up. Booyah!
OK. It’s not that easy . . . but it IS a lot easier than you might think.
Here are 5 easy steps to generate leads:
1.
Develop a culture of sharing within your business — All successful businesses have a group of technical, support, and sales people that have tips and insights that are valuable to your customers. Tap into those resources and ask EVERYBODY at your company what they could share that your prospects might be interested in. There are many resources that can inspire your content creation. You or your marketing staff can then transform your employees’ tips and ideas into blog posts, FAQs, links to industry news articles, etc. — and SHARE AWAY.
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Create a process for developing (news or blog) articles and eBooks that organize what you know; then communicate that value — in detail — to your customers. You probably know a lot more than you think you do. Once you start brainstorming tips you can share with others, don’t recreate the wheel for each article or eBook. Streamline the process, so you can quickly get your great ideas out of your head and into the world. Learn why having a content strategy is important in . 5 Reasons Your Business Needs Content Marketing
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Be consistent in your voice — All your content should be developed with the intention of helping your customers become smarter about how to use and benefit from your products or services. The tone should be how-to not hard-sell.
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Find the right channels to distribute your ideas — Learn where your customers go to get information about your industry. Think beyond search engine optimization (SEO) and traditional social marketing. Discussion groups and forums are also great places to share your content to make your business name and services more visible.
5.
Track and learn what works — Analytics tools are critical to a successful lead-generation program. They allow you to identify who is interested and what they are interested in. Learn more about email tracking in Demystifying Email Open and Clickthrough Tracking.
Once you get sharing, it’s easy to keep it going. People love talking about what they do or how they do it. Creating a process to take what you know and using it to develop a content marketing strategy around lead generation can be highly beneficial to your top line.
So embrace the new rules for search — Use content (i.e.., tell your company’s story, share your expertise, and offer lots of engaging and useful content) if you want to move up in organic searches. Focus your marketing efforts on lead generation if you want to increase your sales
Fall Kickoff Business Expo GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND CONNECTIONS Low-cost event; get an exhibit space now!
September 11, 2013 - Wednesday Jerry Kramer Kickoff Event Wednesday Eve, Joey Gerard's - Greendale.
September 12, 2013 - Thursday 7am – 9am " Networking, 9:00 – 4:00"
B2B Expo/Success Speakers Forum
4:05 pm "
Milwaukee's Premier Tailgate Networking Event
For more details and registration see: MKEB2BEXPO.EVENTBRITE.COM
Quote of the Month When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. – Henry Ford
An Improvement In Leading Indicators Raymond Keating, Chief Economist, Small Business Entrepreneurship Council
Let’s be perfectly clear: economic growth during the first half of 2013 was abysmal. Real GDP growth of 1.1 percent in the first quarter and 1.8 percent in the second rate quite poor. And, as a reminder, real GDP growth came in at a mere 0.1 percent during the fourth quarter of last year. So, unless we’re heading into another recession, some kind of improvement in the second half of 2013 would not be out of the question. And that’s what the latest tally of The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index points to, as released on August 22. It was reported that the index increased by “0.6 percent in July to 96.0 (2004 = 100), following no change in June, and a 0.3 percent increase in May.” Ken Goldstein, economist at The Conference Board, noted: “The improvement in the LEI, and pick up in the six-month growth rate, suggest better economic and job growth in the second half of 2013.” That’s good. Goldstein added, “However, the biggest uncertainties remain the pace of business spending and the impact of slower global growth on U.S. exports.” That’s reason to be cautious as to how strong this improvement in growth – if it materializes – promises to be, and its staying power given the uncertainties about exports and, especially, business spending. It’s important to keep in mind that it’s business – namely, entrepreneurship and investment – that drives economic growth, while consumers take their cue from and follow the lead put forth by business. Raymond J. Keating, Chief Economist, Small Business Entrepreneurship Council, Washington D.C..
Welcome A New IBAW Member!
You Can Make a Difference In Wisconsin! Spread the word of IBA to your business associates pass on the IBA brochure!
Craig Hauser CJ & Associates
Download it in PDF format or pass the link on. Available at www.ibaw.com
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Join Wisconsin’s premier business association! Contact IBAW by clicking here.
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS... ATT Industrial Towel & Uniform Blomquist Benefits Associated Bank SIKICH Godfrey & Kahn Park Bank Lauber CFO’s von Briesen Vrakas / Blum Advantage Leasing
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IBAW 960 Timber Pass Brookfield, WI 53045 Office: 262-‐844-‐0333 WWW.IBAW.COM
Membership Application
Name____________________________________________________________________________________ Company_________________________________________________________________________________ Type of Business___________________________________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip_____________________________________________________________________________ Phone____________________________________Fax_____________________________________________ Email______________________________________Website________________________________________ PLEASE CHOOSE THE APPROPRATE CATEGORY FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE GROWTH AND STABILITY OF SMALL BUSINESS
AMOUNT
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN COMPANY ANNUAL DUES
1 ʹ 5 $215
6 ʹ 15 $275
16 ʹ 25 $375
26 ʹ 49 $470
50 or more $600
Sustaining Member $700
Special! ʹ Pre pay breakfast meetings ʹ 12 for the price of 10 $300
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PAYING BY CHECK ? Make checks payable to IBA ʹ and mail to: IBA 960 Timber Pass Brookfield, WI 53045 WANT TO PAY ONLINE? You can also pay by Mastercard / Visa at the IBA Membership page. www.ibaw.com ________________________________________________________________________ The Independent Business Association of Wisconsin is a not-for-profit entity filed with the IRS under 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. As a not-for-profit association, the members of The Independent Business Association, Inc. are allowed to deduct a percentage of dues that are not used for lobbying purposes. For the year 2013 based on the total income of the association and the lobbying expenses as reported on the Wisconsin State Ethics Board Lobbying reports for 2011 the percent of dues that were used for lobbing purposes is 10%. Therefore, the percent of dues that would be tax deductible is 90%.