Business Leader Summer 2016 by Leader Telegram

SUMMER 2016

Under attack! Is your business safe from cybercrime?

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COVER STORY

SUMMER 2016 Local firms deal with growing online threats.

Andrew.Dowd@ecpc.com

Eau Claire engineer earns award from business group.

Catie.Carlson@ecpc.com

Editor ~

FEATURE STORY

Graphic Design & Layout ~ John Balgaard _________ Sales Director ~ Kathy.Hayden@ecpc.com ________________ Magazine Advertising & Distribution Coordinator ~

Chippewa Falls businesses surpass 100 years.

Millennial workers inspire regional transit discussion.

COMMUNITY PROFILES

➤ Guest Columns �� Pages 10, 11 ➤ Book Review �� Page 12 ➤ Business Directory �� Page 17 ➤ Briefcase �� Pages 18-24 ➤ Crossword �� Page 26 ➤ Calendar �� Pages 27-30 ➤ By The Numbers �� Page 31

715-833-9204, @ADowd_LT Allow me to introduce myself. For the past decade, I’ve been reporting primarily on local government for the Leader-Telegram. This winter I was asked to cover the business beat instead. The offer was a bit surprising at first because my work so far had squarely focused on public affairs ... or so I thought. After filing through a few articles I’d recently written on Eau Claire’s redevelopment efforts, new construction and loan programs for businesses, it dawned on me that many of the stories I’d done were connected to both the public and private sectors. I’d also sat through meetings that praised collaborations between government and business, seeing them as a way to improve public sector efficiency and promote continued economic recovery from the recession. And I’d often filled in for the old Leader-Telegram business editor, Liam Marlaire, on day-to-day stuff when he was on vacation. One of the most frequent questions I’ve gotten since heading up our business coverage in March has been “Where’s Liam?” He’s still in the office but has moved onto serving as the Leader-Telegram’s editorial editor. His days are now spent cobbling together the newspaper’s opinion

pages, writing editorials, reading political columns and taking letters to the editor. His unofficial duties have included forwarding emails and phone calls to me, answering my occasional questions on local businesses and giving advice on coverage for the paper and this publication. I helped Liam out with some of the work in the spring issue of Business Leader, but is my first one as editor. It did bring back memories of when I previously worked on other seasonal special publications of the Leader-Telegram. My inaugural issue of Business Leader turned into a pretty diverse slate. It’s highlighted by a story on the growing problem of cybercrime, including ways that data thieves target local businesses and how to protect against online thievery. Another story is on the longevity of 21 businesses in Chippewa Falls that all have more than 100 years in the community. Changing workforce demographics are making Dunn County consider how millennial-age workers will impact commuting. And an engineer involved in several prominent projects in the Eau Claire area talks about how she became interested in the field and wants others to consider it too. Between those stories and more in this issue, I hope you find something that relates to your business, gives added insight into our region or simply helps you unwind between appointments.

Published four times per year by the Leader-Telegram advertising department. Copyright 2016 Eau Claire Press Co., 701 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire, WI 54701. All rights reserved. 800-236-7077. leadertelegram.com

COVER STORY

Under attack

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t t u Pete Nohelty, RCU’s chief information officer, stands next to servers at the credit union’s corporate data center. Financial institutions are major targets of cyberattacks not only because of the financial data kept there, but also the wealth of personal information on their systems. RCU not only uses software to fend off these attacks, but also tests employees to make sure they aren’t inadvertently letting hackers into the credit union’s computer system. Staff photo by Steve Kinderman

Businesses fend off growing threat of online crime By Eric Lindquist, Leader-Telegram staff

o avoid becoming a crime victim, it used to be that businesses only had to worry about crooks breaking in the front door, sneaking in the back door or hiding merchandise under their coat. But in today’s digital age, the greater concern is often hackers trying to gain access to money, confidential data or trade secrets via the wires that connect companies’ computers to the Internet. “As a bank, we are under attack all the time,” said Mark Oldenberg, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Citizens Community Federal Bank in Eau Claire. “Every single day there are cyberattacks, ranging from pretty basic to quite sophisticated.” Oldenberg recently attended a business roundtable event in Eau Claire with U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and asked about the possibility of businesses getting some government help to ward off this increasingly serious threat. “It’s like you’re out there fending for

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yourself. The government doesn’t help at all,” Oldenberg said. “The government provides police to help stop bank robbers but does nothing to help against cybercriminals. And frankly, that’s more of a threat right now than somebody walking into CCF Bank with a gun.” Dane Deutsch, president of DCS Netlink, a Rice Lake-based IT company providing cybersecurity, network and cloud services to clients across Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota, couldn’t agree more and believes the threat from cyberattacks is widely underestimated. “Most people think the greatest threats facing our nation are chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, but that’s not true anymore,” said Deutsch, who has conducted several cybersecurity seminars in recent years. “Our greatest threat is cyber, and this is the first time in our history where our military and our government can’t protect us. We must protect ourselves.”

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Testing security

target for hackers, who recognize that banks have treasure in the form of valuable data as well as cash. “We have been able to keep our data protected,” Oldenberg said, noting that the bank still has had to pay a price to issue new debit cards to customers whose information got out through data breaches at other companies.

That’s why many companies take cybersecurity so seriously. Eau Claire-based credit union RCU, for instance, has taken several steps to limit the potential for it to become a victim of cybercrime. In addition to deploying the usual firewalls, malware scanners and anti-virus software, the financial institution sends out fake phishing emails to Despite all the training, the human factor is still see if any employees click on suspicious attachments, the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain for many said Pete Nohelty, RCU’s chief information officer. companies, experts said. The company also works with trade associations The reason is that and government people tend to be regulators to ensure it is trusting, and scammers If you want to be safe, the secret following the industry’s take advantage of that best cybersecurity is not to click on anything. trust by using social practices. engineering to trick Jack Tan “People are always out unsuspecting employees there poking around, into clicking on an attachment that launches a virus trying to see if any door is left open or if any door is or allows hackers to steal data or even take over unlocked,” Nohelty said. a company’s computer network, said Jack Tan, a So far, he said, RCU has been successful at avoiding professor and interim chairman of UW-Eau Claire’s any serious breach of its cybersecurity defenses. computer science department. “We’ve had early stage things happen, but we’ve been able to stop them very quickly,” Nohelty See page 6 said. “We have all kinds of notifications and alerts and people on guard. It’s not like we can’t be compromised, but we certainly have plenty of things STAY A NIGHT, A WEEK, we do to stop that from happening.” A MONTH, OR A YEAR CCF Bank also tries to be proactive in preventing successful attacks on its database, which lately even have included forms of ransomware in which hackers attempt to gain access to an entity’s computer system, encrypt the data and then demand a payment by a certain deadline to get the data back. Some U.S. health care organizations and school districts have acknowledged making such payments in recent months, according to media reports, but the Eau Claire Police Department indicated it hasn’t had any reports yet of local organizations falling victim to ransomware heists. Fully-Equipped Kitchen • Complimentary Buffet Style Breakfast and CCF Bank attempts to avoid such a fate by hiring Self-Service Laundry Room • Pet Friendly • “The Social” Evening Reception • The Pantry • Fitness Center • Pool and Whirlpool • third-party experts to test its defenses, having IT staff Courtyard with Backyard Seating Area, Fireplace and Fire Pit remain vigilant about keeping protective software up-to-date and training staff throughout the bank on good cybersecurity protocol, Oldenberg said. The bank also sends fake phishing emails to employees and conducts “social engineering” testing in which 1515 Bluestem Blvd, Altoona, WI 54720 individuals call employees pretending to be customers staybridgesuites.com/altoonawi (715) 830-0800 in an attempt to access personal data. The efforts are necessary because banks are a big

Weak link

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COVER STORY

from Page 5

“If you want to be safe, the secret is not to click on anything,” unless you call the person who appears to have sent the email and ask if they really sent it, Tan said. “Always assume that anything that’s clickable could be very dangerous.” Tan, who teaches courses on computer security, has heard about enough damage from successful phishing expeditions over the years that he said he won’t even open an attachment sent by his wife. Hackers know a lot of people are wise to their ways but also recognize that if they send their sham emails to enough people, they still can make a lot of money even if only 1 percent of recipients click on the corrupt attachments, Tan said.

Faked out

should extend to offers claiming the computer user has just won something such as a free cup of coffee, Nohelty said, pulling out this classic bit of consumer advice: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Still, Deutsch said people fall for such scams all the time. A particularly common one that routinely snags people involves a Microsoft logo popping up on a computer screen with a message asking users to call a number on the screen to solve a problem. “The problem is Microsoft doesn’t do that,” Deutsch said, so it’s really just another way for cybercriminals to trick people into giving out personal information. “We’re all potentially vulnerable,” he said, “because when you connect to the Internet, anyone in the world can connect to you.”

Even a sophisticated, professional organization such as the Milwaukee Bucks can be caught in a clever phishing scam. The Deutsch advised CEOs to take ownership of National Basketball Association franchise cybersecurity and not rely exclusively on IT staff revealed in mid-May that it was the victim to take care of the problem. of a serious financial data breach in which While Deutsch said companies are well players’ Social Security numbers, compensation advised to rely on the best anti-virus programs figures, dates of birth and home addresses were and IT protocols possible, he stressed that those disclosed to an unknown party. steps won’t protect an organization 100 percent The scammer requested the data from the if a single employee clicks on the wrong link. Bucks via email through a spoof email address Social engineering emails can be quite wellimpersonating team president Peter Feigin, and crafted, he said, mentioning a recent one he an employee provided the information without received from someone who addressed him realizing by his correct the request name and title, came from a made reference When you connect to the Internet, to a legitimate fraudulent anyone in the world can connect to you. job opening at his source, the team said in a firm and provided Dane Deutsch statement. a tainted link Bob McCoy, purporting to be a president of résumé. the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Some scammers even take their phishing to said his staff also learned the hard way about another level by following up with phone calls the vigilance necessary after the organization’s to add validity to their email claims, he said. email was hacked last fall when an employee This practice is sometimes known as vishing, or clicked on a phishing email. voice phishing. “It created all sorts of problems for that In a completely different form of electronic computer and we had to do some work to fully scam attempt, RCU recently learned a suspect was using social media to pose as an recover,” McCoy said. “We are very sensitive to intermediary between members who might that now, and we don’t open a lot of things.” A ban on clicking on unexpected email links be seeking loans and the credit union. While

Vigilance urged

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RCU officials aren’t aware of any financial or data losses incurred as a result of the plot, they worked with the FBI and Secret Service to try to catch the person but haven’t heard if any arrests were made in the case, Nohelty said. At UW-Eau Claire, Tan said, officials recently found out an unauthorized user essentially stole computer time on the campus system in an attempt to generate the virtual currency known as Bitcoin. While the action didn’t appear to be malicious, it did slow the system down right before spring final exams enough to generate several student complaints. With a lot of people around the world making their living off stealing money and data through cybercrime and constantly changing their codes and methods, it’s almost impossible for ethical companies and individuals to stay ahead of the attackers, Deutsch said. “The problem is the bad guys are getting badder faster than the good guys are getting gooder,” Deutsch quipped. “If you haven’t been a victim of anything bad on the Internet yet, it’s only a matter of time.” An official from one Chippewa Valley high-tech organization said cybersecurity is a huge issue but declined to comment on the record out of fear of becoming a target for hackers. “Just being mentioned in an article about cybersecurity could put a bull’s-eye on your back and be like a challenge to hackers to try to shut your network down,” the official said. Unfortunately, all of the precautions companies must take today to guard against hackers cost money. But local executives consider it a necessary cost of doing business in the digital age. “It is costly. There is no question about it,” Nohelty said. “But the cost of what it would be if we let our members down is far higher than what we would ever spend to build good quality security and to put a shield as best we can in front of those cyberthreats. We think it’s a good investment.” Contact: 715-833-9209, eric.lindquist@ecpc.com, @ealscoop on Twitter

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FEATURE STORY

League of her own Staff photo by Marisa Wojcik Disa Wahlstrand, Ayres Associates vice president of engineering services for its Wisconsin offices, stands in front of the brick plaza on Riverfront Terrace in Phoenix Park. She’d worked on the downtown Eau Claire park, one of several prominent projects seen around the city that not only showcased her engineering talents, but also an ability to address needs of the public, local government and businesses. Wahlstrand was recognized this year with the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce’s Woman of Achievement award.

Ayres employee recognized for achievements in her field, community By Andrew Dowd, Leader-Telegram staff

isa Wahlstrand’s high school career aptitude test suggested she become a teacher, minister or psychologist. So she opted to become an engineer. “One of the biggest reasons was a lot of people said ‘women don’t do engineering,’” she said. That suggestion was not always made outright, she recalls, but subtly when her teachers wouldn’t challenge girls in classes such as math and science as much as they did the boys. But those just happened to be her favorite subjects. “I always liked math and science,” she said. After graduating from Eau Claire Memorial High, Wahlstrand got her bachelor’s degree in physics from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Paul. “It helps me look at the big picture instead of only being caught up in the details,” she said of her liberal arts education. In some of her college classes, she recalls being the only female student in the room. The gender mix did improve somewhat as she went for her master’s in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Iowa. Since graduating, she’s distinguished herself as a civil engineer — a career field that’s 22 percent female — rising in the ranks of a local firm and becoming a prominent member of the Eau Claire community. Earlier this year, she was honored as the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce’s Woman of Achievement for 2016. “Disa not only has made a name for herself in the field but has also excelled in it,” a co-worker wrote when nominating her for the award.

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Familiar face

Wahlstrand began working in 1995 for Ayres Associates in Eau Claire, spending 10 years as project engineer, followed by a decade managing the local municipal services group in the company’s Eau Claire offices. Engineering usually deals with problem solving, Wahlstrand said, but she found her career has increasingly involved working with people — clients, local government and the general public. “It’s fun, I like it a lot,” she said. She became a familiar face to Eau Claire officials, often representing Ayres Associates at meetings on the county’s new jail or downtown revitalization projects that the company had a hand in. “I’ve always been impressed with her knowledge, level of detail and promptness in getting details through,” said Mike Schatz, Eau Claire’s economic development administrator and executive director of Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. Like Schatz, Wahlstrand also worked on high-profile projects that required a balance Schatz of the general public’s needs with those of businesses. She was a leader in the design of Phoenix Park — once a blighted piece of industrial land in Eau Claire’s downtown, which was completely transformed about a decade ago into a popular riverfront spot. The project had a lot of people offering their ideas on how the land should be laid out between a city park and land for private development, including RCU’s corporate headquarters. Late in the planning, there were even public debates that moved the credit union office building farther back from the waterfront to provide for more parkland and a road. “Most people are very pleased with how Phoenix Park worked out,” Schatz said. The park itself has won four awards and attracted more neighboring developments, including JAMF Software, numerous apartment buildings and storefronts.

Along the river

Mayo Clinic Health System, which has expanded its Chippewa Valley facilities in recent years, is among longterm Ayres clients that Wahlstrand has worked with. “She’s got a really solid knowledge of how things get done and can help us through the process,” said Gordon Howie, Mayo Clinic Health System’s regional director of facilities and construction in northwest Wisconsin. Wahlstrand does civil engineering — laying the groundwork for buildings. The job includes coordinating projects, handling zoning issues, addressing environmental concerns, developing site plans and setting sections of clients’ land for stormwater retention. Among her talents is taking the complicated engineering lingo and explaining projects in general terms for laypeople, but having the technical details available for those who want them.

“She knows her audience and communicates very well,” Howie said. Challenges involved in growing Mayo’s Eau Claire campus a few years ago included rerouting a street and managing runoff on land right along Half Moon Lake. Wahlstrand was up to the task and the five-story Luther Building completed in 2010 has a picturesque view of the lake and Carson Park.

Changing role

Since her promotion last year to vice president of Ayres’ engineering services in Wisconsin, she found herself working less on projects, but more as a team leader — overseeing a growing number of employees spread across the state in Eau Claire, Green Bay, Waukesha and Madison. “It keeps changing,” she said of the new job. Outside of the office, she advocates for more students — boys and girls — to consider jobs in science, technology, engineering and math — aka STEM careers. There’s a shortage of those students in the workforce, she said, which is an issue exacerbated by the country’s need to improve its infrastructure. Walshtrand also is a volunteer in the community, currently involved in Junior Achievement, Bob’s House For Dogs and occasionally helping out at the Eau Claire Montessori school that her daughter attends. Contact: 715-833-9204, andrew.dowd@ecpc.com, @ADowd_ LT on Twitter

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CEO SPEAK

Leadership thinking Challenge inherent biases to improve, innovate your business

Jeff West is the owner of Bear Down (beardowninc.com), an executive and executive team coaching company based in Eau Claire. He was a founder and CEO of Silicon Logic Engineering. He also currently chairs the local chapter of TEC (The Executive Committee) and Business Partners, a forum for small-business leaders. West can be reached at 715-559-2195 or jeffatbeardown@gmail.com.

“Great men are they who see ... that thoughts rule the world.” RALPH WALDO EMERSON, essayist, poet By Jeff West

t the end of my previous column I asked you to give some thought to what the common theme was among the leadership qualities that were discussed. The answer was not so subtly hidden in the question: thought. If you think about it you’ll realize everything we do initially begins with a thought. As a matter of fact we can’t have an emotional response about anything unless we’ve first had a thought. It happens so frequently during our day and so quickly we rarely give it the attention it deserves. Great leaders have this figured out. They know the difference between being a puppet to their thoughts, being controlled by them, versus being the master of their mind. When we let our thoughts rule us we typically spend our day in reactionary mode. We let ourselves be offended by our customers, our employees, our vendors or our competition. We often make mountains out of molehills, play the victim and walk around like emotional time bombs. Great leaders are proactive in their thoughts. Instead of letting their thoughts and emotions control them they take charge of their thinking to create the reality they want. Great leaders are mindful of their thoughts and every action they take because of them. By doing so they achieve significant results within their organization and within their lives. They know the actions they take based on their thoughts are a matter of choice, not some predestined process they have no control over. If you’re a little skeptical think about this: How many times have you and someone else witnessed the exact same situation but came away with a completely different interpretation of what happened? How can that be? Researchers call it cognitive bias. Cognitive biases are predictable patterns of thought and behavior that lead you to draw incorrect conclusions. This doesn’t mean we’re always wrong in our interpretation of what happened. It just means it’s highly likely we’ve only processed part of it with our personal biases filtering out a lot of things we end up missing. We all have these biases yet rarely notice them. Confirmation bias is when we tend to look for information that 10 |

♦ June 13, 2016

confirms our beliefs and ignore information that challenges them. I know, our tendency is to look at the other person with astonishment and wonder how they could have missed something so obvious. The point is, we all create our own reality based on our background, upbringing, education, culture, etc. You have the option to challenge your thinking at any time, to become more self-aware. Spend some time and think about what you would like your company to be like. What’s your purpose? Then start paying attention to your thoughts. Do they bring you closer to your vision of the company you want or do they send you down the wrong path? Do your thoughts inspire you or do they leave you in a state of self-doubt, fear and worry? Great leaders know they don’t have all the answers. They don’t let their ego drive their thoughts. Instead they realize the value of others’ perceptions and experiences. Great leaders know the people closest to the front lines of their business often know way more about what’s really going on than they do. Great leaders challenge everything! They especially challenge conventional wisdom and false truths that have been held as real within their organization. They know that anything can be improved, everything can be reimagined and many things can be eliminated. To do these things they willingly subject their business logic to brutal assault. In doing so they often find what they thought was running well was in fact flawed, with room for improvement. Great leaders surround themselves with the smartest people they can and ask them to poke holes in their theories or beliefs. They’re constantly challenging their thoughts! You have a choice. You can limit your viewpoints, your knowledge, your thoughts, or you can expand them. You can accept the status quo, or you can demolish it. You can follow other companies’ best practices, or you can lead, innovate and use your team’s immense ability to devise creative solutions that will be the best practices others will look to follow. Real leaders don’t limit themselves, but more importantly they refuse to let their thoughts control them and refuse to limit those they lead.

GUEST COLUMN

Don’t keep family in the dark about your plans By Andrew Cooper Edward Jones Investments

ou might work diligently at building a financial roadmap for your retirement years and a comprehensive estate plan. But you can’t just create these strategies — you also have to communicate them. Specifically, you need to inform your spouse and your grown children what you have in mind for the future — because the more they know, the fewer surprises they will get down the road. Let’s start with your spouse. Ideally, of course, you and your spouse should have already communicated about your respective ideas for retirement and have come to an agreement on the big issues, such as when you both plan to retire, where you’ll live during retirement, and what you want to do as retirees (volunteer, travel, work part time and so on). But what you both might have let slip through the cracks are some important specifics related to financing your retirement. You’ll need to answer several questions, including these: • When will you each start taking Social Security? • Are there strategies for maximizing both of your Social Security payments? • When will you need to start tapping into your respective retirement accounts, such as your IRA and 401(k)? And, once you do start withdrawing from these accounts, how much should you take out each year? You may want to work with a financial professional to address these issues, but however you proceed, you and your spouse need to be on the same page regarding the key financial components of your retirement. Now, consider your grown children. You need to clearly communicate your estate plans to them, not only for the sake of openness and honesty, but also because they may well play active roles within those plans. So when talking to your children, make sure you cover these areas: • Durable power of attorney: You may well decide to give one of your grown children the durable power of attorney to pay bills and make financial choices on

Andrew Cooper is a financial adviser with Edward Jones Investments in Eau Claire. He can be reached at 715-833-3986 or andy.cooper@edwardjones.com.

your behalf if you are unable to do so. • Estate executor: An executor is the person or entity you name in your will to carry out your wishes. An executor has a variety of responsibilities, so you’ll want to choose someone who is honest and capable of dealing with legal and financial matters. Again, you could ask a grown child to serve as your executor, but, to avoid potential conflict of interests among your children, you might want to go outside the family. Talk with an attorney about how best to name your executor. • Status of will and living trust: Assuming you have already drawn up a will, share it with your grown children. The same is true with a living trust, a popular estate-planning tool that may allow your survivors to avoid going through the time-consuming, public and expensive process of probate. A will and a living trust will obviously contain a great deal of information your children should know about — so take the time to explain your thinking when you created these documents. You want to enjoy a comfortable retirement, and you want to leave a meaningful legacy through your estate plans. To help accomplish both these goals, you need to include your loved ones in your arrangements — so open those lines of communication.

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BOOK REVIEW

Top of your game Advice for honing job skills works at all levels By Terri Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm

ometimes, your job is everything you want it to be. At other times, your workweek feels like it’s ballooned-to-bursting — especially when you’re overloaded, overly-irritated and overwrought, which seems to be happening more and more lately. So how do you deal with thorny workplace situations without making things worse? “Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO” by Beverly E. Jones might help. Sixty years ago, back when your grandfather brought home the bacon, the way to get ahead was to be loyal to The Company. Working at the same job your whole life was common then, but now, says Jones, it “seems quaint.” Today’s employees can expect to have a very nonlinear career that could take them to multiple cities and workplace cultures. For that, you don’t need loyalty as much as you need adaptability and resilience. The good news is you can learn both. Take, for instance, your first day on the job: Jones says not to assume anything. Instead, plan for that first-day-worstday and be prepared to “work like crazy” to establish and nurture a good impression on your boss and co-workers. The Bookworm is Terri Since “every organization Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been of any significant size is reading since she was 3 years a collection of smaller old and never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a operations,” cultivate the hill in Wisconsin with two dogs attitude of a CEO. and 12,000 books. Act as though you’re 12 |

♦ June 13, 2016

Title: “Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO.” Author: Beverly E. Jones. Pages: 224. Publisher: Career Press (c. 2016).

running your “own little enterprise.” Prepare for becoming an entrepreneur by first becoming an “intrapreneur.” Learn to listen; it’s the number-one “super career skill.” Ask your boss about expectations. Ask your co-workers for work tips. Resist the urge to talk about yourself and just listen. Know your personal brand and add “leadership” to it. Learn how to network the proper way and do it everywhere you go. Practice accepting compliments graciously, know when to give kudos and say “thank you,” and learn how to smart-brag. Get rid of “up-talking” and complaining about your physical ailments. Pay attention to the things you say to avoid unfair ageism or sounding too immature. Learn how to manage your manager and handle impossible co-workers. And know when to move on because you can love work again – even if it’s at a different job. When you’re having problems at work, there’s a short list of things you can do: you can grit your teeth, take antacids, bonk your head on your desk … or read “Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO.” For mind and body, that last tip is probably best because Jones really does offer soothingly civil, workable ideas that can make your life and your career better, both in the short and long term. What’s in this book are things you can do today, whether you sit in a cubicle or corner office — though you may be surprised to note that many of Jones’ recommendations are habits you already have, but just need to refine. There’s no reason you must read things in order in this helpful, can-do book, so feel free to bounce around the chapters. Read a little here, absorb some there and “Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO” might be everything you need it to be.

- Guest Article -

Attorney Kevin Wolf, Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C.

WINNING LITIGATION THROUGH GOOD DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT By Attorney Kevin Wolf & Attorney Steve Anderson – Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C.

Attorney Steve Anderson, Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C.

The winner in a business dispute isn’t always the party with the best case. Sometimes, who can win depends on which party has the better pre-litigation document management policy. In today’s litigious world, every business is at risk for being sued (or having to sue). At the point a business can reasonably anticipate it may become involved in litigation, the law requires it to suspend its routine document retention/destruction policy and put in place a ‘litigation hold’ to ensure the preservation of relevant documents. In the litigation context, this raises some questions. •

Does the business have a document retention/ destruction policy?

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Has the business thought about what kind of records the business generates? This includes hard and electronic copies of work files, reports, invoices, financial records, contracts, correspondence, e-mails, text messages, and other electronic records.

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Are the electronic records stored on a server, or individual laptops, cell phones, or other electronic devices?

•

Do company employees know how long they should keep records? Should they permanently delete records? Which records? And, how often should they permanently delete those records?

If a business doesn’t know the answers to these questions, then it is not prepared to contest a business dispute. A business owner may know in his/her heart of hearts that his/her employees did everything

exactly right. But, if the e-mails documenting what was done were permanently deleted, they may be left with “he said/she said” as the only hope of proof. In addition, once it is known that a business dispute may be headed to litigation, the law requires the business take action to make sure documents relating to the dispute are preserved - they cannot be actively or accidently destroyed. This means making sure that employees who may have documents related to the dispute know they cannot throw away or permanently delete documents until the dispute is over. This means making sure backup systems don’t automatically overwrite potentially relevant documents. And, it also means making sure if laptops crash or are repurposed within an organization, potentially relevant information from those laptops is preserved. The need to preserve isn’t just because the business may need the documents to prove its case. In litigation, the other side has a right to examine

all potentially relevant hard copy and electronic documents. If those documents are no longer available and if they became unavailable AFTER a company had a reasonable expectation that the dispute might go to litigation, the company could be sanctioned by the Court. In litigation, this is called spoliation of evidence and the sanctions for spoliation can obliterate an otherwise winnable case. Sanctions can include fines or orders to pay the other side’s costs in trying to find the non-preserved evidence. Or, the Judge can order that the jury will be told they can assume the missing evidence would have been damaging to the company that cannot retrieve the evidence and that it would have been favorable to the opposition. The Judge can even go so far as to prevent a party from presenting portions of its case or even order judgment in favor of the other side! In other words, a case can be lost, not because the business wasn’t right, but solely because it didn’t take appropriate action to preserve evidence. Two simple steps can make sure this won’t happen. First, every business should develop a document management/destruction policy that is tailored to the business. Second, businesses must make sure that if they are contemplating initiating litigation or anticipate being sued, they take steps to prevent hard copy and electronic documents from being destroyed, and all of the people in the organization who have the ability to destroy what could be vital evidence, are made aware of the need to preserve.

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| 13

COMMUNITY PROFILE 14 |

100

Century club

List of 100-year-old businesses in Chippewa Falls keeps growing By Chris Vetter, Leader-Telegram staff

CHIPPEWA FALLS

Pete Sokup proudly displays a plaque on the outside wall of his business that announces Sokup’s Market was founded in 1891. Sokup said it means a lot to him that the business has been in the community for more than 100 years. “It’s great — it our fourth Photo by Chris Vetter Pete Sokup, owner of Sokup's Market, stands by a plaque on the generation,” said outside wall of the store that proclaims the business was founded in 56-year-old Sokup, 1891. It is one of 21 businesses in the Chippewa Falls area that have been in existence for at least 100 years. who is now owner of the store. “People in this community really support us well, not just in Chippewa, but the whole area.” In July, Sokup will have owned the business for 21 years. It was founded in 1891 on Bay Street and moved in 1894 to its present location at 624 N. Bridge St. He takes pride in how the business has lasted. “We know all our customers — so many by their first names,” Sokup said. “So, there is a camaraderie when they come in.” Jim Schuh, vice president of the Chippewa County Historical Society, created a list of 21 businesses that have been in operation continuously in the city for at least 100 years. He researched old directories and newspaper clippings to compile the master list. Schuh “It’s been a real variety of ways we came up with this information,” Schuh said. “I think 100-year anniversaries are important and should be celebrated. Their longevity should be recognized.” ♦ June 13, 2016

He acknowledges it is possible there are others out there. He also says some of the origin dates could be wrong – Chippewa County Abstract and Title Co. is listed as being founded in 1904, but Schuh suspects it is even older than that. “The one thing about history is you can dig a little deeper and find you didn’t have all the information the first time around,” he said. Schuh had the plaques ordered in 2012, and he’s pleased to see so many of the businesses have them displayed prominently. “It’s a big milestone,” he said. “I think it’s pretty rare for a town our size to have this many.” Tim Mower is now co-owner of Mower Insurance, which formed in 1871, and was originally known as the Frank Hughes Agency. “We’re on our fourth generation now,” Mower said. “My grandfather became a partner for a dollar, then he bought the business when the original owner left to become postmaster general.” Mower said he doubts many people realize the business — which provides insurance for commercial, personal and agricultural customers and is licensed in 28 states — has reached a century in existence. “We’re proud of being around that long,” Mower said. “It’s neat, with the history of the community. We’re lucky — once we gain a customer, we’ve kept them a long time.” Mower said the business, which has 13 employees, started in downtown Chippewa Falls in the Empire Building, at the corner of North Bridge and Spring streets. It is now located on Highway 124 at the south end of city limits. Schuh said that when he compiled the list, he purposely left out government entities, churches and independent farms. His list does include Klinger Farms, but he explained he added them because they have a retail business in addition to farming. Other companies on the list include the Chippewa Falls YMCA. Schuh said the organization began in a

Centennial businesses in the Chippewa Falls area

Mower Insurance Agency originally was known as the Frank Hughes Agency when it formed in 1871 in Chippewa Falls. Contributed photo.

building downtown, above where Foreign 5 is located now, long before it built its facility near the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds. The list will be expanding soon — Johnson Monument was founded in 1917, and Connell’s Orchard was founded in 1924, Schuh said. Contact: 715-723-0303, chris.vetter@ecpc.com

1. Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. (1867) 2. Chippewa Herald (1870) 3. Mower Insurance (1871) 4. Eagle Point Mutual Insurance (1879) 5. Chippewa Falls YMCA (1883) 6. St. Joseph’s Hospital (1888) 7. Sokup’s Market (1891) 8. Premium Waters (1893) 9. Northern Wisconsin State Fair (1897) 10. Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel (1902) 11. Chippewa County Abstract and Title Co. (1904) 12. Klinger Farms (1904) 13. Mason Shoe Company (1904) 14. Northwestern Bank (1904) 15. James Sheeley House (1905) 16. Wiley Law (1907) 17. Xcel Energy (1910) 18. Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce (1911) 19. Phalen & Popple Plumbing & Heating (1911) 20. Edward Rutledge Charities (1912) 21. Hanna Rutledge Home for the Aged (1913) Source: Chippewa County Historical Society

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COMMUNITY PROFILE

Getting to the job Growing millennial workforce prompts deeper look into public transit By Pamela Powers, Leader-Telegram staff

Staff photo by Pamela Powers Dunn County Transit manager Kent Conklin believes that partnerships are needed to create an intracity bus route connecting Eau Claire, Menomonie and River Falls. College campuses and the millennial generation are driving up interest in public transit.

MENOMONIE

Instead of a lonely commute, a growing part of the U.S. workforce has more interest in letting someone else do the driving. Public transportation is definitely something millennials want, said Nick Amundson, director of research for JAMF Software, which has an office building in downtown Eau Claire. “They value experiences versus possessions; they value being able to get to a Twins game or to a concert in Madison,” he said. Millennials would prefer not to drive, Amundson said, they would rather be a passenger and work or engage on social media while traveling. Millennials — people born in the ’80s and ’90s — are a growing presence in the workforce, filling in gaps left behind as baby boomers retire. By 2025, millennials will make up about 44 percent of the U.S. workforce, based on a Wall Street Journal review of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The generation’s growing prominence and their views on transportation have inspired talks about intercity public transit in the Chippewa Valley. Dunn County Transit manager Kent Conklin said it may take up to 10 years, but he thinks a bus will connect Eau Claire, Menomonie and River Falls, due in large part to those communities all having university campuses that contribute to ridership. With UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout and UW-River Falls in the area, he said there eventually will be a drive for an intercity transit connection. Conklin said for an intercity route to work, it would require planning, a connection to the Twin Cities metro area and local partnerships between counties, cities and college campuses in the Chippewa Valley. There would also need to be regular service — probably hourly service — to make it work, he said. He figured there would need to be 10 to 20 service hours daily on weekdays at an estimated cost of $167,890 to $335,780. The state and federal government would pick up about 57 percent of those costs with the rest coming from fares and support from cities on the route. A route connecting Menomonie and Eau Claire had been tried a few years ago, but didn’t see enough demand to continue. Conklin attributed the demise of that intercity route — which began in fall 2013 and ended in early 2015 — to not enough local support and limited availability. 16 |

♦ June 13, 2016

Conklin said he sees intercity routes growing, but it will take financial partnerships to make it happen. Conklin and Amundson recently spoke at a forum sponsored by Momentum West on transportation challenges the Chippewa Valley faces, including the maintenance of roads.

Road disrepair

Craig Thompson, executive director of the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin, who spoke at the forum, said the Wisconsin Taxpayer’s Alliance rated the state’s roads at a D grade. The U.S. Department of Transportation fact sheet by the American Society of Civil Engineers rated the state’s roads as the third worst in the nation for roughness, he said. And the average replacement cycle for county roadways is 200 years, according to a survey by the County Highway Association — far less than the average road lifespan of 30 to Thompson 40 years. “That’s a problem,” Thompson said. Yet the main funding for maintenance through user fees and gas tax is not keeping up with the funds needed for roads. The state vehicle registration fee is $75 annually per car. Wisconsin’s gas tax is 32.9 cents per gallon, but more fuel efficient cars on the road means less of that will be collected. The average Wisconsin driver is spending about $28 a month in gas tax and registration fees toward roads, far less than our neighbors, Thompson said. On average Minnesota drivers pay $43 a month, Iowa $41 and Illinois $34, excluding highway tolls. Increasing user fees and gas taxes will have to be looked at to improve roads over the next budget cycle, he noted. Every penny of gas tax generates about $32 million a year, Thompson said. For every $10 increase in registration fees it generates $32 million. Many companies who rely on the roads support increases in user fees and fuel taxes but not tolls, said Todd Gilbert, president of Valley Cartage of Lake Elmo, Minn., a familyowned trucking firm. “User fee and fuel tax increase is a major part of the solution,” he said at the forum. “We need the roads repaired.” Contact: 715-556-9018, pamela.powers@ecpc.com, @MenomonieBureau on Twitter

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BRIEFCASE The 112-room hotel is affiliated with DoubleTree by Hilton and features a coffee shop, restaurant and bar. • Next up will be the Staybridge Suites hotel in Altoona’s River Prairie development, which is scheduled to open soon. The extended-stay hotel features 135 rooms, each including a full kitchen. • The Oxbow Hotel is scheduled to open later this summer in downtown Eau Claire. Formerly the Green Tree Hotel & Suites, this complete renovation of the property will have 30 guest rooms, a restaurant and amenities intended to complement the area’s arts, entertainment and outdoors recreation. • And in Chippewa Falls, that city’s downtown will get a 45-room Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, which is slated to open in August. The Lismore hotel opened in early May in downtown Eau Claire. Staff photo by Marisa Wojcik

Five hotels opening in Chippewa Valley The Chippewa Valley is gaining five hotels this year — adding 412 guest rooms to the local market. • The first to open was Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, a 90-room hotel located near the North Crossing and U.S. 53 interchange on Eau Claire’s northeast corner. That hotel, which includes an indoor pool, fitness room and meeting rooms, opened in late April. • Second was The Lismore hotel — a complete overhaul of the former downtown Ramada Convention Center — which opened in early May.

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Two financial institutions are preparing to build at the River Prairie development located on U.S. 53 in Altoona. • Chippewa Falls-based Northwestern Bank held a groundbreaking last month at the site of its new location at 1430 Rivers Edge Trail. When it opens, this Altoona branch will replace an existing location at 2901 Mall Drive in Eau Claire. • WESTconsin Credit Union got its site building plan recently approved by the Altoona City Council. The Menomonie-based credit union plans to break ground this summer and open the new Altoona branch in April, according to a company news release. This will be WESTconsin’s 15th office providing full financial services.

Citizens Community Federal seeks new CEO After seven years leading Altoona-based Citizens Community Federal, Edward Schaefer is leaving this summer for another career opportunity. The bank’s parent company, Citizens Community Bancorp, announced in a news release that Schaefer is resigning as CEO on July 29.

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BRIEFCASE From page 18 Schaefer will aid the bank in the transition to a new CEO. A committee already has been formed to find a new CEO and Jon Bruss, CEO of Fortress Partners Capital Management, is assisting with the identification of an interim CEO and finding candidates to succeed Schaefer. Schaefer declined to discuss his new job until his new employer makes a public announcement on his hiring. The bank’s executive management team formed Schaefer during Schaefer’s tenure is expected to continue the strategic plan developed by the departing CEO and the bank board. “The board is confident that this plan will be executed without interruption,” the news release stated. In the past two years, the bank posted record high earnings, Schaefer said, adding that there’s still room to grow. After a couple of months as a hired consultant in the wake of CCF parting with former CEO James Cooley, the bank appointed Schaefer as its leader in January 2010. Schaefer has been a company president or CEO in Eau Claire for the last 21 years, starting with Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo Bank) and then serving as leader of Silver Spring Foods from 2000 to ’09.

Mondovi trucking company wins lawsuit

KANSAS CITY — A U.S. District Court judge in Kansas awarded Marten Transport $2.5 million in damages last week in a case where an advertising firm used the Mondovi-based trucking company’s name and trademarks. “Trademark infringement awards of this size are not an everyday occurrence,” stated Marten’s attorney, Harry Van Camp of the Wisconsin law firm DeWitt Ross & Stevens. A jury decided in Marten’s favor against PlattForm Advertising, a business that had once done online advertising for the trucking company’s jobs. After Marten ended its relationship with PlattForm, the advertising firm kept using the trucking company’s name and trademarks on websites without its authorization, even after a 2013 cease-and-desist letter, according to a news release from DeWitt Ross & Stevens. Even after Judge John W. Lungstrom approved the award to Marten, the news release stated that both plaintiff and defendant are expected to still present motions on the case.

Xcel holds annual meeting in Eau Claire

Xcel Energy outlined its future with dwindling use of coal power plants as the utility has increased its use of natural gas, windmills and other “carbon-free” sources of electricity. About 100 people gathered for the annual shareholders meeting on May 18 at The Florian Gardens in Eau Claire. “We all know the energy industry is changing,” Xcel CEO, President and board Chairman Ben Fowke said, Fowke “and we’re embracing it.” Coal still is a big part of Xcel’s power — it was used in 43 percent of the electricity bought last year by its customers in the Midwest and Southwest U.S. — but Fowke said that will shrink down to about 20 percent or less by 2030. Building more wind farms, solar arrays and expanding use of natural gas were among the ways he mentioned that the company is reducing its use of coal. An old Xcel coal plant in Colorado recently was 20 |

♦ June 13, 2016

converted to run on natural gas, which the utility is looking to do in the Midwest as well. The Minneapolis-based company has been rotating its annual meeting around its territory in recent years. Xcel last held its annual meeting in Eau Claire — the company’s headquarters for its Wisconsin operations — in 2013. About 86 percent of the company’s nearly 508 million shares of common stock were represented at this year’s meeting. An election at the meeting rejected a proposal from Gerald Armstrong, a shareholder from Denver, who wanted an independent company board chairman, as opposed to the current practice of the CEO, president and chairman all being one person.

Ayres Associates expands in Florida

TAMPA, Fla. — Engineering and architecture firm Ayres Associates, which is headquartered in Eau Claire, announced recently that it is acquiring The Ash Group. The Ash Group’s Tampa location becomes Ayres’ 13th office nationwide and its fourth in Florida, according to a news release. Janice Sands Ash started the The Ash Group in 1993 and positioned the firm strongly in the Gulf Coast area, providing subsurface utility engineering, site civil engineering, utility design and coordination. Ayres will provide services from its existing office at 8875 Hidden River Parkway, Suite 200, in north Tampa as well as from the former Ash Group office, 5802 Benjamin Center Drive. Ayres also has offices in Jacksonville and Titusville.

Airport shuttle sells to Virginia firm

A Virginia company bought Chippewa Valley Airport Service in late May, according to a news release from Wipfli Corporate Finance Advisors. The Eau Claire-based shuttle service with transportation to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is now owned by Goome Transportation, a family firm from Richmond, Va. Bob and Dan Pekol had owned the shuttle business, which started in 2007, according to the news release. The shuttle has service from Eau Claire, Menomonie, Baldwin and Hudson to the airport.

Certification signals growth for company

Adhesive products developed and made in Eau Claire recently gained independent certification for use in drinking water systems, which prompted the manufacturer to announce it is entering a growth phase. NSF International’s certification of the RubberMAX Thread Beast and Thread Devil products in March are an important part of growth plans for Adhesive R&D, 4603 Anderson Drive, according to a company news release. “It is a very important designation for our company, and especially our customers with products in drinking water applications,” Adhesive R&D president and founder Kevin Rosenberg stated in the release. The company, founded in 2002, develops, manufactures and markets anaerobic adhesives and other products for industrial uses including pumps, motors, fire protection equipment, air compressors, valves, engines and appliances.

Rice Lake firm joins Project SEARCH

RICE LAKE — Rice Lake Weighing Systems is the first manufacturing business in Wisconsin to take part in Project SEARCH, a program that provides workplace training for local young adults with disabilities.

BRIEFCASE Venture Unlimited of Shell Lake will lead the local program in conjunction with local school districts and the state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Cincinnati, Ohio-based Project SEARCH has more than 400 worksites across the U.S. and five internationally. Project SEARCH’S website lists 14 other Wisconsin businesses that host the program, including the Wal-Mart distribution center in Menomonie.

Gordy’s buys Cabin Stop in Hayward store

CHIPPEWA FALLS — Gordy’s Market recently bought the Cabin Stop building in Hayward from Northern Lakes Cooperative. The sale closed March 31 and Gordy’s is in the process of turning it into one of its stores, with that transition expected to be complete by mid-June. “We will offer fresh produce, meat, bakery and deli products at low prices with family-friendly service, in addition to the great variety of beer, wine and spirits that the Cabin Stop currently carries,” Jeff Schafer, president of Gordy’s Market, stated in a news release. “We look forward to getting to know our customers and surrounding organizations, and playing an active role in the Hayward community.” Gordy’s Market will partner with Northern Lakes Cenex Fuel Station for its gas rewards program that awards fuel discounts for buying certain groceries. Hayward Family Restaurant, Beauty Nook and Coop Pharmacy — tenants of the Cabin Stop building — will not be affected by the transition.

Brewers to meet in August at UW-Stout MENOMONIE — The second annual Midwest Craft Brewers Conference will be Aug. 1 and 2 at UW-Stout. The conference will include speeches from prominent craft brewers, sessions on industry trends and a contest challenging participants to make a beer that includes cucumber as an ingredient. Home and craft brewers as well as beer industry representatives from Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Nebraska will gather at the Menomonie campus. Tours of Rush River Brewing in River Falls and Lazy Monk Brewing in Eau Claire will be part of the conference. Menomonie businesses Log Jam Bar and Eatery, Lucette Brewing Company and Raw Deal Brewing will be locations for conference socials. For more information on the conference, go to uwstout.edu/profed/ mcbc, call Anna McCabe at 715-232-2793 or email her at mccabea@ uwstout.edu.

Monk’s opens in Oakwood Mall area

Monk’s Bar & Grill, 3560 Oakwood Mall Drive, held its grand opening in early May. The Wisconsin-based restaurant chain has four other locations, including two in Wisconsin Dells and one each in Sun Prairie and Middleton. Monk’s Eau Claire restaurant opened in the remodeled building that previously housed Northwoods Brew Pub & Grill, which moved to Osseo.

See page 22

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BRIEFCASE From page 21

Downtown deli changes hands Smiling Moose Deli, 329 Riverfront Terrace, is now under new ownership by a couple who run three North Dakota locations of the franchise. Liza McLean and Nathan Everson also hope to open additional locations of the deli in coming years throughout the Midwest, according to a news release. A grand re-opening celebration for the Eau Claire restaurant — which changed some decor and expanded its menu — happened in May.

Charitable pizzeria wants to sell business

An Eau Claire wood-fired pizzeria that opened in 2012 with the philosophy of donating 51 percent of its profits to charity is for sale. Started by a group of more than 20 investors, Fired Up Pizza, 4653 Keystone Crossing, is looking to sell the business to a family or group interested in keeping it going. The pizzeria has a lease that expires April 30, 2017, but there are options to extend through building owner Commonweal Development.

EC’s RCU plans to expand across border

Eau Claire-based RCU recently announced it has entered into an agreement to buy Capital Bank’s St. Paul location. “We are pleased to announce the planned acquisition of Capital Bank which will provide more convenient access to our values-driven company in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area,” Rudy Pereira, RCU’s president and CEO, stated in a news release.

Under the terms of the agreement, Royal will assume about $35 million in total assets. Pending customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval, the acquisition is expected to occur in the second half of 2016. Once the agreement is finalized, RCU plans to service the acquired assets and liabilities out of Capital Bank’s existing branch at 1020 Rice St. in St. Paul. Capital Bank will retain ownership of its 14 other bank locations in rural Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota.

Presto subsidiary inks contract

Eau Claire-based National Presto Industries announced its wholly owned subsidiary, AMTEC Corp., signed a supply agreement with Chemring Ordnance to provide 40mm high-velocity cartridges and certain components for a Chemring commercial foreign military contract. The value of the agreement is about $99 million, with deliveries beginning this month and extending through March 2018. Work in support of the supply agreement will be performed at AMTEC’s facility in Janesville. National Presto operates in three business segments: housewares/ small appliance, defense and absorbent products. Visit gopresto.com for more information.

Financial experts merge practices

ALTOONA — Area financial advisers are merging practices in Altoona, adopting the new name of River Prairie Wealth Partners, 2423 Rivers Edge Drive. The name change recognizes the merger of Mohr, Kolinski, Noe &

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BRIEFCASE Associates in Altoona with Minton Financial Services of Eau Claire. The firm can be found online at riverprairiewealthpartners.com. One of the firm’s partners, Adam Mohr, has attained the status of Ameriprise Financial private wealth adviser, which is only given to the top 12 percent of advisors affiliated with Ameriprise.

Women’s magazine sold in Eau Claire

Eau Claire-based women’s magazine Queen of the Castle recently changed hands. Chris Herzog and Sarah Stokes sold the business to former real estate agent and local businesswoman Kathleen Walton. A news release from the Stokes+HERZOG advertising agency stated that the staff and operations of the magazine will remain the same under its new ownership.

In other news

• A health care industry publication included OakLeaf Surgical Hospital in Altoona among its list of “150 Great Places to Work in Health Care.” The editorial team at Becker’s Healthcare decided the list based on nominations and recognition of hospitals, health systems, surgery centers, physician practices, medical groups, consultants, health care staffing companies and other businesses tied to the health care industry. Criteria included workplace excellence, employee benefits, wellness initiatives, professional development, diversity, fostering a work-life balance and creating a sense of community among workers, according to a Becker’s Healthcare news release. • Eau Claire-based Charter Bank ranked among the top 100 performing banks in the U.S., according to industry research firm SNL Financial. Competing with banks with assets below $1 billion, Charter won the distinction based on profitability, asset quality and growth during 2015. • Eau Claire-based SDS Architects recently announced it has been awarded contracts to work on a couple government building projects in Wisconsin. An addition and remodeling to UW-La Crosse’s Recreational Eagle Center and remodeling of a municipal center in the Adams County town of Rome are both being designed by SDS. SDS also completed its design work with Valley Vineyard Church of Chippewa Falls, which has begun building a new church since its last building was ruined by fire in 2015. • A storage company with locations in Eau Claire and Menomonie has become home to the largest rooftop solar project in the state. SunPeak installed the solar panels — expected to offset 16 percent of the company’s annual electricity — atop Central Storage & Warehouse’s facility on Madison’s east side, according to a news release. • A Dunn County store has added U-Haul moving vehicles and supplies to its offerings. Brothers County Mart of Downing, 517 Main St., now offers U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, rental moving items and in-store box pickup. • BROOKFIELD — A telecommunications company with an Eau Claire branch is growing through a recent acquisition of three other Wisconsin firms. OwnersEdge, a holding company based out of Brookfield, bought Green Bay-based BAYCOM, TourGuide Solutions and BAYCOM Cellular. OwnersEdge is the parent company of CC&N, which has an Eau Claire office in Banbury Place, 800 Wisconsin St. • MENOMONIE — Auth Consulting & Associates has opened a new location at 36353 Main St. in Whitehall. Ron Jasperson, a professional land surveyor, will lead the new office. He has more than 25 years of surveying experience. Visit authconsulting.com for more information about the business. • Hope Gospel Mission is opening a new Bargain Center this summer in Mondovi.

Work already has begun to convert the former Farmer’s Store building into the thrift shop that will sell household items, clothing and other supplies, according to the Eau Claire-based charity. • Eau Claire attorney Michelle F. Achterberg, a former associate at Guelzow Law Offices, has opened her own law practice. Achterberg Welch Law Office, 310 Pinnacle Way, Suite 100, focuses exclusively on civil litigation, including family, employment, personal injury and small business law. Her practice will remain affiliated with Guelzow to do co-counsel on complex personal injury and product liability cases.

Hiring updates

• Eau Claire-based MEP Associates, an engineering, commissioning and consulting firm, continued boosting its ranks and reach with new employees in its Madison and Eagan, Minn., offices. The company recently announced the hiring of CAD/Revit technician Kyle Ramsden, mechanical engineer Bill Talbert and campus energy market leader Mike Walters to the Madison office. Electrical designer Ibsa Ali, mechanical designer Ashley Roggeman and mechanical engineer Hang Thao joined the Eagan office. MEP grew its workforce by 50 percent — rising from 60 employees to 90 — in the past year. • The founder of Eau Claire-based carpet cleaning and restoration company Chem Master, 3407 E. Hamilton Ave., is returning to the business. Jeff Rye, who founded the business in 1981 and sold it in 1995 when he moved to Florida, has returned to the Eau Claire area to own and run the business. • Xcel Energy in Wisconsin named BJ Rauckman as its senior director for distribution operations, making him responsible for Xcel’s gas and electric

See page 24

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BRIEFCASE From page 22 distribution design, construction, operations, maintenance and emergency repairs in Wisconsin and Michigan. Rauckman is a professional engineer with 26 years of experience in the utility industry, including 18 years with Xcel. • HUDSON — Phillips-Medisize appointed Richard Even as general manager of BioPharma and its medical campus in Menomonie. Even previously worked at Nypro Healthcare, a Rauckman division of Jabil, and has 32 years of experience in medical and biopharma device markets, according to a company news release. • MENOMONIE — WESTconsin Credit Union named Pennie Peterson as vice president of WESTconsin Realty. Peterson, who has been a WESTconsin Realty agent since 2011, replaces recently retired Dalene Crandall. • OSSEO — United Bank added Jennifer Moen to its business banking team, which serves all six bank locations in western Wisconsin. Moen has more than 20 years financial experience, primarily in retail, businesses and trusts. Based in Osseo, United Bank has locations in Eau Peterson Claire, Strum, Eleva, Ettrick and Mondovi. • Patty Johnson, an Eau Claire native, joined Hall Realty Group, 4319 Jeffers Road. Johnson’s career had been in nursing education, but she recently launched into real estate and works alongside broker and realty company owner Robin Hall.

Leadership roles

• An employee of Eau Claire-based Realityworks will be part of a 10-person team reviewing the National Johnson Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences Education. Realityworks senior field account manager Diane Ross, who holds a master’s degree in secondary education, began serving in late April on the expert panel tasked to review, revise and set new U.S. standards for parenting, human development and early childhood education. • Bob McCoy executed an option to extend his employment as Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce president to Dec. 31, 2017. Other employment announcements made during the chamber’s April board meeting included the hiring of Chelsea Erickson as the organization’s new graphic designer/staff assistant and Peter Hienz, a UW-Eau Claire student, will serve as the legislative intern during the next school year. • Eau Claire-based credit union RCU re-elected three board members to new three-year terms during its annual meeting on April 26. Jennifer McDonough, Doug Olson and Stuart Schaefer were re-elected. Olson was elected board chairman at the same meeting. • John Sackett, director at RCU in Eau Claire, was elected to a full threeyear term on the Credit Union National Association’s board of directors. Sackett had been serving as CUNA’s District 4, Class C board member since June 30 after the previous person representing credit unions in the Midwest retired. • Kevin Renley, a vice president at Eau Claire construction firm Market & Johnson, has been named to the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Wisconsin’s Northwest District. Junior Achievement is a nonprofit organization that educates schoolchildren about entrepreneurship, financial literacy and workreadiness through hands-on programs. • CHIPPEWA FALLS — Northwestern Bank recently named two new members to its board of directors. Bradford J. Colbert III, a Chippewa Falls native and financial consultant, and Jerry Bauer, founder of Eau Claire website design company JB Systems, joined the board. 24 |

♦ June 13, 2016

The bank has locations in Chippewa Falls, Cornell, Thorp, Boyd and Eau Claire. • MENOMONIE — WESTconsin Credit Union’s board of directors and its officers are staying the same after recent elections. Board members Lynn Brantner and Colleen Mensing were re-elected to three-year terms at the annual membership meeting on April 14. At a recent board meeting, leadership positions were elected with all officers, including Chairman Dave Maves, staying in their positions.

Accolades

• Chippewa Valley Technical College recognized a Bloomer business, the president of a butter company and a nurse during an April 7 alumni gathering. Processed Metal Innovators of Bloomer won CVTC’s proven business partner award for several programs it runs in conjunction with the technical college. Greenwood-based Grassland Dairy’s president, Trevor Wuethrich, received the CVTC Alumni Association’s distinguished alumnus award. Stephanie Roth, a surgical nurse at OakLeaf Surgical Hospital in Altoona, was honored with the title of outstanding recent alumni. • An Eau Claire-based electrical contractor won recognition for its exemplary workplace safety record from a state trade association. B & B Electric, 1303 Western Ave., was among 15 companies to get the gold award from Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin for performing at least 10 percent better than average industry safety statistics. • Natasha Plank-Ottum, CEO of Plank Enterprises of Eau Claire, was recognized for a program she helped create that aids employers in choosing health care plans, managing costs and complying with mandates. The Alliance, a cooperative of employers that selffund their health plans, gave Health Transformation Awards to Plank-Ottum and four other business leaders on May 12 at its annual seminar in Madison. • MINNEAPOLIS — Xcel Energy won it’s 12th consecutive annual recognition as the top wind energy producer in the U.S. from a clean energy group. The American Wind Energy Association awarded Xcel with the distinction on April 12. • WAUSAU — EO Johnson Business Technologies, which has an Eau Claire office at 1505 Prairie Lane, won an ethics award from the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau. The Wausau-based company won the Torch Award on May 17 in the category for businesses that employ 51 to 500 people. • Phillips-Medisize facilities in Menomonie and Phillips won 2015 Wisconsin Corporate Safety Awards. Matt Jennings, company chairman and CEO, noted that one or more of Phillips-Medisize’s facilities have received the award for the past 11 out of 14 years. Phillips-Medisize was among 15 companies to get the award in mid-May at the Wisconsin Safety and Health Conference in Wisconsin Dells. The awards are co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Safety Council and the state Department of Workforce Development. • MENOMONIE — Two truck drivers based out of the Walmart Distribution Center, 6100 3M Drive, recently were recognized for traveling three million accident-free miles on the road. The company presented Carl Ziehlke and Dave Bonjour each with keys to the newest truck in Walmart’s fleet — the 2017 Western Star — during a ceremony on May 25 in Menomonie. Ziehlke has driven for Walmart since Bonjour Ziehlke April 1993 and Bonjour since June 1992. Both men achieved the safe driving milestone in September.

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3. CF provider of implements for building log furniture. 5. Subject of new online certification course at CVTC. 6. Tess Oral Health specialty. 10. Verizon Wireless slogan that’s among the best ever, according to BusinessInsider.com. 15. Current top-selling Steve Case book. 17. Boyceville ethanol producer. 18. No. 4 recipient of Wisconsin exports last year. 21. App developed in Middleton to help clear driveways. 22. New local airport eatery. 23. Red and white beverage logo recognized by about 94 percent of the world’s population. 25. Local plan commission chair. 27. Menomonie H.S. business and marketing teacher. 28. Wisconsin BBB Ethics Award finalist. 29. Menomonie container provider. 30. Longtime CF retirement campus. 26 |

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1. Wisconsin ranks eighth in this area, according to Forbes. 2. Touted biz magazine. 4. Interim UW-Eau Claire College of Business dean. 7. Osseo cable TV channel installer. 8. About 90 percent of these Fourth of July items originate in China. 9. Employers of 1.2 million Wisconsin workers in 2010, according to SBA. 11. Award-winning Facebook film. 12. GGP on stock ticker. 13. “Timing, perseverance and 10 years of trying will eventually make you look like an __ __,” Biz Stone, Twitter co-founder. 14. Elk Mound vehicle seller. 16. Banbury Place online book seller. 19. MIS in long form. 20. West Central Workforce Development Board executive director. 24. RANWW president. 26. The M and O in Spring Valley-based MOSES.

CALENDAR June 21: ALTOONA — A luncheon will honor 2016 inductees into the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Hall of Fame from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Eau Claire Golf & Country Club, 828 Clubview Lane. The new inductees are Gustav Lange, founder of the Lange Canning Company; Virgil Dufeck of Eau Claire Energy Cooperative; Charlie Grossklaus of RCU; and Raymond Theisen of Consumers Co-op. The luncheon costs $25 to attend. Register online by June 21 at eauclairechamber.org. June 16: An introductory class on Microsoft Excel will be from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room 222 of the Chippewa Valley Technical College Business Education Center, 630 W. Clairemont Ave. Attendees will learn about the basics of the spreadsheet program. The cost is $104. Register online at cvtc.edu/continuing-education/seminars-training/businesstraining.aspx. June 28: Challenges of having an aging workforce will be the subject of a noon Lunch & Learn presentation at the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, 101 N. Farwell St. Presenters will discuss an anticipated 75 percent increase in workers 65 or older in the labor force by 2050. The luncheon costs $20 for chamber members or $40 for nonmembers. Register online at eauclairechamber.org or call 715-834-1204. June 28: The first in a series on creative problem solving and innovative thinking will be taught at UW-Eau Claire. Entrepreneurship instructor Ann Rupnow will teach “Adding Value to Your Organization with an Entrepreneurial Mindset” from 8 a.m. to noon on campus. Following classes in this series will be on July 20, Aug. 24, Sept. 21 and Oct. 26. The entire fivepart series of classes costs $300. For more information on the classes, including registration, go to uwec.edu/CE/programs/ innovation-series.htm. June 29: The first of three sessions of the “Leadership Beyond Management” course will be 8 a.m. to noon in room 3314 of Centennial Hall at UW-Eau Claire. The following sessions will be at the same time and place on July 20 and Aug. 24. Check-in and breakfast is at 7:30 a.m. prior to each session. Jean Davidson, a coaching and consulting professional from the Twin Cities, Davidson will be teaching the course intended for midlevel managers, supervisors, small business owners, team leaders, human resources managers and training supervisors. Prior to the course, registrants will need to complete the Insights Discovery self-awareness assessment. Participants also are expected to do an hour each week of online discussions and readings throughout the course. The course costs $999 per person, which includes all materials. The registration deadline is June 15. June 29-30: Improving your financial skills with better planning and analysis will be taught during this two-day See page 28

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CALENDAR From page 27 workshop in Eau Claire. David Steenstra, professor of management at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., will teach “Improve Your Business Financial Savvy” from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court. The workshop is intended for key decision makers, senior accountants, human resources directors, financial officers and Steenstra upper management. The fee is $850 per person. Register online at uwec.edu/CE/programs/ improve_your_business_financial_savvy.htm. July 12: “Business Plan Basics” for small businesses, entrepreneurs and aspiring business people will be taught from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Western Dairyland Business Center, 418 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire. The cost is $29, with materials included. Register online at SuccessfulBusiness.org or call 715-836-7511, ext. 1171. July 12: Skills to use the computer program QuickBooks for business merchandising will be taught over two evenings. “QuickBooks for Merchandising” will be 5 to 9 p.m. on July 12 and July 19, both nights in room 239 of the Chippewa Valley Technical College Business Education Center, 620 W. Clairemont Ave. During the two-day course, attendees will learn to chart accounts, prepare inventory, establish payroll, analyze records and transactions, and prepare financial statements. Cost: $125. Register online at cvtc.edu/continuingeducation/seminars-training/business-training.aspx. Prior basic knowledge of QuickBooks is recommended. July 19: CHIPPEWA FALLS — An intermediate class on Microsoft Excel will be 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room 103 of Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Chippewa Falls Campus, 770 Scheidler Road. Cost: $104. Register online at cvtc.edu/ continuing-education/seminars-training/business-training. aspx July 20: The annual Business Community Downtown Wellness Walk will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Eau Claire. The free event will feature three walking routes with highlights including the Eau Claire River, Phoenix Park and Sculpture Tour Eau Claire. Chamber members who register are eligible for door prizes. Registered attendees also will receive a commemorative button that makes them eligible for deals at participating downtown businesses. Register online at eauclairechamber.org. The rain date will be July 27. July 20: The second class in a series on creative problem solving and innovative thinking will focus on turning ideas into reality. Jessica Carter, founder of Greater Than Creative, will present “Creativity: Finding the Balance between Originality and Value” from 2 to 4 p.m. at the UW-Eau Claire campus. For more information in the five-part series of classes, go to uwec.edu/CE/programs/innovation-series.htm. July 27: Managers, supervisors and business owners can learn how to create mentoring programs for their workplaces 28 |

♦ June 13, 2016

July - August during a daylong seminar in Eau Claire. Scott Lester, a management professor at UW-Eau Claire, will teach “Mentoring for Professional Impact” from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court. There is a $300 fee for the workshop, which includes materials and lunch. This seminar is an elective Lester in the supervisory management certificate program. To register, go to uwec.edu/CE/ programs/mentoring-professional-impact.htm. Aug. 9: BLACK RIVER FALLS — Entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners can learn to “Start a Small Business in Eight Steps” in a 1 to 4 p.m. class at the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce, 120 N. Water St. The cost is $29, which includes class materials. Register online at SuccessfulBusiness.org or call 715-836-7511, ext. 1171. Aug. 12: Applications are due for Downtown Eau Claire Inc.’s annual Jump-Start Downtown Business Competition. Businesses planning to open in downtown Eau Claire or relocate there can compete for awards by submitting a 30-page business plan and application. The top prize is $5,000 cash to be used as start-up capital, a DECI media package, brand development strategy session with JB Systems and a free year of Web hosting. Submit plans and applications to Downtown Eau Claire, Inc., P.O. Box 5148, Eau Claire, WI 54702. For more information, go online to downtowneauclaire.org. Aug. 15: The 28th annual United Way golf tournament starts at 7:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at Lake Wissota Golf. The tournament’s format is a five-person scramble. There will be an 11 a.m. buffet luncheon. Following the tournament, there will be a cocktail party, silent auction and awards dinner at the golf course’s clubhouse. Register online at uwgcv.org/golf or call 715-834-5043. Aug. 17: Managing the differences within a multigenerational workforce will be the subject of a daylong seminar in Eau Claire. Nicole Schultz, associate professor at UW-Eau Claire, will teach “Finding Strengths in Generational Differences” from 8:30 to 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court. There is a $300 fee for the workshop, which includes materials and lunch. This seminar is an elective in the supervisory Schultz management certificate program. To register, go to uwec.edu/CE/programs/strengths-in-generationaldifferences.htm. Aug. 18: Junior Achievement of Wisconsin will hold its 20th annual golf outing for the Northwest District at 11 a.m. at Wild Ridge and Mill Run golf courses in Eau Claire. Golfers can play nine holes at Mill Run or 18 holes at Wild Ridge. Former Green Bay Packers player Frank Winters is scheduled to attend. After golf, there will be a dinner at 5 p.m. It costs $175 to golf at Wild Ridge, $85 for Mill Run or $50 to just attend the dinner. There also are business sponsorship opportunities for the holes. To

CALENDAR register, call 715-835-5566 or email lbarrie@jawis.org. Aug. 18: An advanced class on Microsoft Excel will be taught from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room 222 of the Chippewa Valley Technical College Business Education Center, 620 W. Clairemont Ave. Cost: $104. Register online at cvtc.edu/ continuing-education/seminars-training/business-training. aspx. Aug. 24: The third class in a series on creative problem solving and innovative thinking will focus on improving communication and strategic risk taking. Ben Richgruber, executive director of the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center, will present “What Parachute? Jump!” from 2 to 4 p.m. at the arts center, 316 Richgruber Eau Claire St. For more information in the five-part series of classes, go to uwec.edu/CE/ programs/innovation-series.htm. Aug. 24: A dinner accompanied by live music will be served on the Grand Avenue footbridge, which overlooks the Chippewa River in downtown Eau Claire. “A Grand Evening on the Bridge” is sponsored by Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. For more information, go online to downtowneauclaire.org. Sept. 7: MENOMONIE — Area businesses will introduce themselves to incoming UW-Stout students from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Johnson Fieldhouse. “Meet Menomonie” is a chance for area businesses to connect with freshman and transfer students. The event includes prizes, food and games. For more information, visit menomoniechamber.org or email marketing@menomoniechamber.org. Sept. 8-9: Supervisor training will be taught in this two-day seminar in Eau Claire. UW-Eau Claire professor Scott Lester and professional effectiveness consultant Bob Pecor will lead “Supervisor Training: Learning to Lead.” The class will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days at the Holiday Inn South, Pecor 4751 Owen Ayres Court. This is a core seminar in UW-Eau Claire’s supervisory management certificate program. There is a $600 fee for this seminar, which includes materials and lunch. Register online at uwec.edu/CE/ programs/supervisor-training-leadership.htm. This seminar also will be taught on Sept. 22 and 23 at Citizens State Bank, 375 Stageline Road, Hudson. Sept. 13: An eight-hour introductory course on QuickBooks will be taught from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 13 and Sept. 20 in room 149 of the Chippewa Valley Technical College Business Education Center, 620 W. Clairemont Ave. Attendees of the two-day course will learn how to set up the program for use at a startup company. Cost: $125. Register online at cvtc.edu/continuing-education/seminarstraining/business-training.aspx. See page 30

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September

CALENDAR From page 29

solving and innovative thinking will be hosted by an Eau Claire-based business. Scott Jameson, vice president of sales and marketing for Realityworks, will teach “Fostering a Culture of Creativity and Innovation in the Workplace” at the company’s offices, 2709 Mondovi Road. For more information in the five-part series of classes, go to uwec.edu/ CE/programs/innovation-series.htm. The final class will be on Oct. 26. Sept. 28-29: MENOMONIE — The Manufacturing Advantage Conference & Technology Showcase begins at 8 a.m. at UW-Stout. The two-day conference is a forum for manufacturers from across the region to learn best practices and participate in hands-on breakout sessions. James McIntyre, CEO of Greenheck Group, and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch are the keynote speakers of the conference. For more information, go to www. Kleefisch uwstout.edu/profed/mfg/.

Sept. 15-16: HUDSON — Meaningful self-appraisal, emotional intelligence and the art of delegation will be taught at a seminar that counts toward UW-Eau Claire’s supervisory management certificate program. Stacy Shapiro, president of her own consulting and training firm, will teach “Emotional Intelligence and Empowerment” from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Citizens State Bank, 375 Stageline Road, Hudson. This seminar costs $600, which includes course materials and lunch. To register, go to uwec.edu/CE/programs/supervisor-trainingemotional-intelligence.htm. Sept. 20: Entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners can learn to “Start a Small Business in Eight Steps” in a 6 to 9 p.m. class at the Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center, 418 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire. The cost is $29, which includes class materials. Register online at SuccessfulBusiness.org or call 715836-7511, ext. 1171. Sept. 21: The fourth class in a series on creative problem

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11th

63%

Wisconsin’s ranking out of 50 states in the 2016 “Best and Worst States for Business” survey of CEOs published in Chief Executive Magazine.

Xcel Energy’s target for its electricity generated by carbon-free electricity sources in its Upper Midwest service territory by 2030, up from last year’s 51 percent. The utility held its annual shareholder’s meeting on May 18 in Eau Claire.

15,179 New businesses formed in Wisconsin through the end of April. That’s 3½ percent more than the first four months of 2015, according to state Department of Financial Institutions data.

$10.8

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Typical compensation package last year for CEOs at companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, according to a study by executive data firm Equilar for The Associated Press.

$346.4

million

Combined value of construction projects that developers and builders got building permits for last year from Eau Claire, Altoona and Eau Claire County offices — a 137 percent increase on 2014. While some projects may not happen, get delayed or won’t be assessed at the value on their permits, Lance Gurney, director of county Planning and Development, said the figure shows that development is rising in our area.

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