December 2013 by New North B2B

Pioneers

2013

Innovative people, organizations and ideas making northeast Wisconsin a better place

Muscle Smart Workplaces

Health Care

Googleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s algorithm updates

Guest Advice

December 2013 $3.95

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Intelligent Business Reporting for the New North

new north b2b December 2013

Pioneers

2013

26 20

Features

20 COVER STORY ❘ Pioneers of 2013 ❘ Innovative people, organizations and ideas making NE Wisconsin a better place 26 HUMAN RESOURCES ❘ Learning to Manage ❘ Local training programs help ascending supervisors in managing others 32 HEALTH CARE ❘ Muscle Smart Workplaces ❘ Simple measures reduce injuries, work comp claims and lost productivity

Departments

On our Cover

4 From the Publisher 5 Professionally Speaking 6 Since We Last Met 10 Corporate Earnings 14 Build Up Pages 36 Guest Advice 38 Who’s News 44 Business Calendar 45 Advertiser Index 46 Key Statistics

An 1881 photo of Captain Jack Crawford, a pioneer of the west. Photo by Bennet and Brown Photographers, Santa Fe, N.M.

NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 3

FROM THE PUBLISHER

What made news to you in 2013?

Seeking input for annual nod to top business news developments across the region

Sean Fitzgerald New North B2B Publisher

The holidays and the coming of the new year are routinely a time to reflect on the year gone by, and in that spirit, our next edition in January 2014 will once again include the 10th installment of B2B’s annual Top Ten list tradition. We’ll give credit to David Letterman for popularizing the concept of Top Ten lists, though we’ll accept some recognition for bringing readers the only source of leading headlines from the northeast Wisconsin business community during the previous 12-month period. Our list covering 2013 promises to provide much of the same quality retrospective readers have come to enjoy each January. Typically each year myself and the staff here at New North B2B review our Since We Last Met department within each issue from the past year to identify the more poignant stories that capture the attention of fellow business professionals. We recognize such a strategy doesn’t always cover all of the important stories that make a difference in our readers’ own businesses, particularly in regard to trends that occur over time as opposed to breaking news events. In that regard, I’m asking readers to chime in as well and submit business news developments you felt were among the most important in our region during 2013. I’m anxious to hear about those business news items which may be a bit more out of the ordinary. Bear in mind, certain storylines are bound to make the list. The closure of the Leo Frigo Bridge in Green Bay and its impact on transportation logistics is one. The sale of the former Thilmany paper mills to Wisconsin-based investors is another. And volleying ownership of the former Clarion Hotel in downtown Green Bay and its connection to the KI Convention Center expansion is sure to make an appearance as well. If you have some thoughts about business news developments from 2013 that are a bit more off the grid than these mentioned above, I’d be delighted to hear about them and give them consideration for our Top Ten of 2013 list next month. To submit an idea for consideration, simply drop me a line at sean@newnorthb2b.com by Dec. 17. Your email doesn’t need to be too in-depth or even well written – just a sentence or two on

4 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

what you believe to be a leading business development or trend from the region during 2013. I genuinely do enjoy putting this list together each year. We hope you’re looking forward to reading our Top Ten of 2013 list as much as we are to compiling and writing it.

More reader input

Speaking of soliciting input from our readers, B2B aims to freshen up its editorial personality a bit in 2014 with a slight modification to our strategy that will enable us to highlight many more people and organizations making waves across the New North business community. Highlighted in our 2014 editorial calendar, which is now updated on our website at newnorthb2b.com, various articles on tap for the coming year will feature innovative trends, people and places across northeast Wisconsin. Take, for example, the 8 Great Places to Get Your Business Started slated for our January issue. Or the 3 Overachievers Under 30 for our May edition. Or the 3 Employers Changing Workplace Norms in northeast Wisconsin scheduled for August. And of course, we’ll have our ever popular Alla tua Salute! 9th Annual Corporate Wellness Awards once again this coming June. Many of these articles will only be at their best if we receive thoughtful feedback from readers about individuals or businesses with which they’re familiar that fit the bill of these future cover stories. A usual, but particularly in those instances, B2B is eager to hear from readers anxious to help us provide the best content possible. In coming months, we’ll scatter solicitations across the pages of B2B seeking input from readers on subjects for these articles. If one happens to catch your attention, I invite you to send me an email with your suggestions for our consideration. Lastly, I’d genuinely like to extend my wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our readers. Thank you for your generous support and warm feedback throughout the year. We look forward to another year of sharing even more successful best practices from northeast Wisconsin businesses with you in 2014. www.newnorthb2b.com

PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING

What will 2014 bring? by Davis & Kuelthau, s.c.

Tony Renning

920.232.4842

If you have a particular labor/employment law question, forward it to Mr. Renning at info@newnorthb2b.com. If he responds to your email in a future issue, your name and company will be withheld to preserve your privacy.

Reader Question: What labor and employment law issues should I be concerned about in 2014? Tony Renning: Staying up to date on current issues in labor and employment law can be a challenge. And with the start of 2014, there are even more issues to consider: Comply with new “Facebook” laws. Wisconsin will soon have a law limiting employers’ access to their employees’ social media accounts and penalizing employers that require employees to provide log in information. Make sure you are aware of and follow these rules. Make sure your policies comply with federal labor laws. The National Labor Relations Board has increased its focus on non-union employer policies that could be read to “chill” employees’ right to engage in concerted activity. Review policies with an eye toward whether they could be interpreted as discouraging

Sean Fitzgerald

Publisher & President

sean@newnorthb2b.com

Carrie Rule

Sales Manager

carrie@newnorthb2b.com

Kate Erbach Production

Contributing writers

Jeffrey Decker Lee Marie Reinsch

Chief Financial Officer

Vicky Fitzgerald, CPA

employees from working together to change employment conditions. Audit compensation practices. Expect continued focus on minimum wage, overtime and wage payment laws in 2014. The same goes for pay discrimination claims – which the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission continues to target. Be deliberate in requesting and acting on background checks. The restrictions on when employers may conduct background checks and how they use the information continues to tighten. Tailor background check requests to the particular position and consider criminal history on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the offense, how recent it is, and its relevance to the position. Finally, carefully consider accommodation requests. The scope of accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act continues to expand.

Consider all accommodation requests on a case-by-case basis in light of the evolving standards and make sure you engage fully in the interactive process. For advice and counsel concerning labor and employment law issues and, specifically, the issues addressed here, contact Tony Renning at (920) 2324842 or trenning@dkattorneys.com or any other member of the Davis & Kuelthau Labor and Employment Team. Tony Renning is a shareholder with Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. Mr. Renning provides counsel to private and public sector employers on a wide variety of labor and employment law matters. This article is intended to provide information only, not legal advice. For advice regarding a particular employment situation, please contact a member of the Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. Labor and Employment Team.

Green Bay

NEW NORTH B2B is published monthly by WINNEBAGO B2B LLC for $20 per year or $3.95 for a single issue. POSTMASTER: send address changes to: WINNEBAGO B2B LLC 923 S. Main St., Oshkosh, WI 54902. Bulk-rate postage paid at La Crosse, WI. Reproduction of any contents of NEW NORTH B2B without express written permission of its publishers is strictly forbidden. The appearance of any advertisement or product information does not constitute endorsement of any product or service by WINNEBAGO B2B LLC. Copyright 2013.

Fox Cities

Oshkosh

Fond du Lac NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 5

SINCE WE LAST MET

Since we last met Since We Last Met is a digest of business related news occurring in the greater Green Bay, Fox Cities, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac areas in the one month since the previous issue of New North B2B.

October 22

2003 December 8 – Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law a measure that will provide an income tax credit to Wisconsin manufacturers equal to the sales tax they pay on energy used in the manufacturing process.

2005 December 13 – The Federal Reserve Board raised its target for the federal funds rate another quarter point to 4.25 percent, marking the 13th straight meeting the committee recommended a quarter-point bump since the rate stood at 1 percent in early 2004.

2006 December 6 – WPS Resources Corp. shareholders formally approved the sales of the company to Chicago-based Peoples Energy Corp., and approved a name change of the merged company to Integrys Energy Group, Inc.

2006 December 20 – WE Energies said it will sell its Point Beach Nuclear Plant to FPL Energy, part of a group which operates nuclear power plants in Florida, Iowa and New England. FPL Energy will agree to sell 100 percent of the plant output to WE Energies, and will offer employment to all current employees at the 1,033-megawatt facility on Lake Michigan.

2012 December 7 – The Profitable Sustainability Initiative, managed by the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership, admitted 30 manufacturers across the state into its program, including MCL Industries of Pulaski, Oshkosh Door Co., Oshkosh Plating Services, Resource One International of Little Chute, and The C.A. Lawton Company of De Pere. The sustainability initiative is designed to help small and mid-size manufactures in Wisconsin develop sustainable practices that save money and improve competitiveness.

The Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors approved a $6 million low-interest loan for Alliance Laundry Systems of Ripon to help it with a proposed $46 million expansion that could create 150 additional jobs. Alliance can additionally earn $1,000 job credits from the county for each new job the company creates and maintains on its payroll for a period of at least three years. The job credits will be funded through proceeds from the county’s half-percent sales tax established in 2009 to assist Mercury Marine with its expansion in Fond du Lac.

October 22 The U.S. Department of Labor reported 148,000 new jobs were created in September, keeping the national unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 7.2 percent. Employment increased in construction, wholesale trade and transportation and warehousing.

October 29 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation awarded Zenith Tech of Waukesha a $7.7 million contract to repair the Interstate 43 Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge in Green Bay which has been closed to traffic since late September. Zenith submitted the low bid among two other firms vying to replace pilings at the bases of two piers supporting the bridge which sunk into the ground on the east side of the Fox River, causing a segment of the bridge to noticeably sag. Transportation officials plan to have the bridge repaired and reopen to vehicular traffic by Jan. 17. Most of the cost of the repairs is expected to be covered by federal transportation funding.

October 29 Agnesian HealthCare announced plans for a $21 million expansion at its Fond du Lac Regional Clinic South, including a 50,000-sq. ft. expansion of the existing clinic and construction of a new building which will also provide nearly 50,000 square feet. The expanded building will allow for the consolidation of all Fond du Lac-based podiatry services; additional space for Sports, Spine & Work Center and orthopedic care; centralized pain medicine services; and a prescription center and wound care clinic. The second, new building will house the Agnesian Health Shoppe and home oxygen services, as well as the Fond du Lac Dialysis Center. Both construction projects are expected to be complete by late fall of 2014.

October 29 The Fox Cities officially were designated a Well City USA by Wellness Council of America, indicating at least 20 percent

6 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

www.newnorthb2b.com

SINCE WE LAST MET of the Fox Cities workforce is employed by a company that has been accredited by WELCOA as a Well Workplace. A concerted three-year effort from a variety of Fox Cities health care, human resource and insurance professionals helped a total of 36 employers achieve accreditation as Well Workplaces, implementing worksite wellness programs to promote healthy lifestyles in the workplace and ultimately trim health care use and associated costs.

November 1 Ripon College received a $565,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to help fund four new faculty positions in the humanities enabling the liberal arts college to incorporate non-Western subject matter into its curriculum. The grant is intended to provide funding for the faculty positions for two years.

November 4 APAC Customer Service Inc. in downtown Green Bay indicated it will cut 282 positions from its call center operations by the end of the year due to the loss of business from a major wireless communications provider. APAC officials indicated the cuts include 224 customer service representatives, as well as a variety of advisors, analysts and managers.

November 5 The Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors failed to approve a $10 million loan to Mercury Marine to help the

outboard engine manufacturer with a proposed $30 million investment which could create an additional 300 jobs at its Fond du Lac operations. Mercury officials plan to go ahead with expansion plans – which include an additional 35,000 square feet of manufacturing space for die casting and machining as well as $12 million in new equipment – but will have to borrow the necessary capital on its own at a higher interest rate than it could have through the county.

November 6 The Brown County Board of Supervisors approved the 2014 budget plan which includes $2.8 million in funding for the development of a more than 200-acre research and business park on county-owned property in Green Bay near the former county mental health center.

November 6 The state Public Service Commission turned down an application from Wisconsin Public Service Corp. to increase electrical rates in 2014 by 6 percent, for a total of about $60 million in additional revenue, and to increase natural gas rates by 4 percent, or about $14 million in additional revenue. Instead, the commission froze rates for large industrial customers and decreased rates for residential customers and many business customers by up to 2 percent. The regulatory decision marked the second year in a row that rates for Wisconsin Public Service Corp. have remained the same or have been reduced.

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SINCE WE LAST MET November 7 The state Board of Commissioners of Public Lands approved a $657,990 State Trust Fund Loan to the Village of North Fond du Lac to purchase the remaining 53 acres of land near U.S. Highway 41 to expand its existing Northgate Business Park. An estimated $50,000 from the loan proceeds will be used to clean up the vacant land the village plans to acquire.

November 8 The U.S. Department of Labor reported 204,000 new jobs were created during October, leaving the national unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 7.3 percent. Employment increased in leisure and hospitality, retail trade, professional and technical services, manufacturing and health care.

6 Wisconsinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rank among the 50 states for manufacturing job growth creation between October 2012 and October 2013. Production jobs increased by 9,700, or 2.1 percent, during the period. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

November 12 The City of Green Bay Redevelopment Authority approved $400,000 in tax incremental finance assistance to Broadway Automotive for an expansion and renovation project on South Military Avenue and another $500,000 in TIF assistance to Titletown Brewing Co. and Smet Construction to renovate a portion of the Larsen Green property in the On Broadway district. Broadway is planning to invest $9.6 million to renovate its Ford, Hyundai and used car dealerships in a project expected to provide an additional $4 million in property value to the city. The Titletown project intends to renovate a portion of the former industrial facility a block away from its restaurant and move and expand its brewing operations to the refurbished space.

November 19 Rol-Tec in Green Bay was approved for $80,000 in tax credits from Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to help with a nearly $1 million project to acquire new laser engraving equipment for its facility. The capital improvement is expected to help the manufacturer of precision rubber-covered rollers create as many as 24 new jobs at its Green Bay plant. The new laser technology will allow Rol-Tec to expand its product

offering to customers in the flexographic printing industry. The state tax credits will be distributed to Rol-Tec annually based upon the number of new fulltime positions created over a three-year period.

November 19 The state Department of Transportation approved a $2,251,705 construction project at Outagamie County Regional Airport in Greenville to expand the general aviation ramp. The ramp expansion will provide additional tiedown parking for aircraft and access to more hangar space at the airport. The project is funded by more than $1.9 million from the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as $159,020 apiece from both the state and from Outagamie County. The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of December.

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NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 9

CORPORATE EARNINGS

Once each quarter, New North B2B runs a digest of quarterly financial reports from local publicly traded companies, or from out-of-the-area parent companies with significant operations in our northeast Wisconsin coverage area.

VF Corp.

Associated Banc Corp. Income EPS

3Q 2013 $44.4 million 27 cents

3Q 2012 $45.1 million t 2% 26 cents s 4%

The Green Bay-based financial institution reported 1 percent growth in commercial and industrial loans from the previous quarter, though its mortgage banking income declined 82 percent compared with second quarter, leaving average loans relatively flat from the second quarter 2013. The bank indicated it has continued to improve its credit quality with net charge offs, nonaccrual loans, past due loans and potential problem loans all declining during the quarter.

3Q 2013 $5.3 Billion $546 million $1.42

3Q 2012 $5.2 Billion s <1% $517 million s 6% $1.30 s 9%

The manufacturer of consumer paper and tissue products with significant operations in the Fox Cities reported organic sales increased 5 percent during the quarter reflecting progress with its growth initiatives and innovation programs. During the quarter Kimberly-Clark reported a 1 percent sales increase in its consumer tissue segment to $1.6 billion which was offset by a 1 percent decrease in revenues in its personal care segment to $2.4 billion.

Bank First Income EPS

3Q 2013 $2.5 million 39 cents

3Q 2012 $2.3 million s 9% 34 cents s 15%

The Manitowoc-based financial institution with significant operations across northeast Wisconsin reported 11 percent loan growth and a 12 percent increase in deposits on a year-over-year basis. The bank noted gains on the sales of its mortgage loans were down 30 percent to $935,000 during the first nine months of 2013. 10 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

3Q 2013 $3.3 Billion $434 million $3.89

3Q 2012 $3.1 Billion s 5% $381 million s 14% $3.42 s 14%

The parent company of Jansport operations in the Fox Cities announced a four-for-one split of its common stock and a 21 percent increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.05 per share. The company’s outdoor and action sports coalition, which includes Jansport operations, reported revenue growth of 6 percent on the quarter to $2 billion.

Illinois Tool Works Inc. Revenue Income EPS

Kimberly-Clark Corp. Revenue Income EPS

Revenue Income EPS

3Q 2013 $3.6 Billion $452 million $1.01

3Q 2012 $3.7 Billion t 4% $524 million t 14% $1.12 t 10%

The parent company of Miller Electric Manufacturing operations across the Fox Cities reported earnings for the third quarter came in at the top end of management’s forecast, leading ITW officials to increase full fiscal year earnings projections to a range of $3.56 to $3.64 per share. The Company’s welding segment, which includes Miller Electric operations, grew its operating margin to more than 25 percent despite a 1 percent decline in sales.

First Business Financial Services Inc. Income EPS

3Q 2013 $3.6 million 91 cents

3Q 2012 $2.6 million s 38% 99 cents t 8%

The commercial-oriented financial institution serving Madison, Milwaukee and northeast Wisconsin reported record net income for the third quarter. Bank officials indicated nonperforming assets of $10.3 million at the end of the third quarter decreased by 31 percent from a year earlier and represent just 0.82 percent of total assets.

www.newnorthb2b.com

CORPORATE EARNINGS

Plexus Corp. Revenue Income EPS

Brunswick Corp.

4Q 2013 $568 million $24.5 million 71 cents

4Q 2012 $595 million t 5% $728,000 s3,269% 2 cents s3,450%

The Neenah-based contract electronics manufacturer reported full fiscal year 2013 revenues of $2.23 billion, down 3 percent from 2012 sales, though full fiscal year income grew 33 percent to $82.3 million, or $2.36 per share, compared to fiscal 2012 earnings of $62.1 million, or $1.75 per share. Plexus earned 34 new manufacturing deals during the recent fourth quarter worth an estimated $155 million annually.

Bemis Company Inc. Revenue Income EPS

3Q 2013 $1.3 Billion $54.0 million 52 cents

3Q 2012 $1.3 Billion t 2% $47.4 million s 14% 45 cents s 16%

The Neenah-based supplier of flexible packaging and pressure sensitive materials reported gross margin improved to its highest level since 2009, despite a slight decrease in revenues from its packaging segments. During the quarter Bemis acquired a film extrusion plant in China to support both its food packaging plant in China and other specialty film product customers in southeast Asia.

Revenue Income EPS

3Q 2013 $892 Billion $57.8 million 61 cents

3Q 2012 $874 Billion s 2% $2.0 million s2,790% 2 cents s2,950%

The parent company of Mercury Marine operations in Fond du Lac indicated its third quarter 2012 earnings suffered as a result of restructuring, exit and impairment charges, as well as losses related to early debt retirement. During the recent quarter the company’s marine engine segment, which includes Mercury operations, experienced revenue growth of 2 percent to $511 million, driven primarily by sales growth in the segment’s parts and accessories business.

Humana Inc. Revenue Income EPS

3Q 2013 $9.7 Billion $368 million $2.31

3Q 2012 $9.1 Billion s 7% $426 million t 14% $2.62 t 12%

The health and benefits company with extensive operations in the Green Bay area reported improved year-over-year results for both its employer group and healthcare services segments were more than offset by lower results from its retail segment and other businesses. Humana projected its Medicare Advantage membership to grow in 2014 by 260,000 to 305,000 total members.

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NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 11

CORPORATE EARNINGS

Oshkosh Corp. Revenue Income EPS

4Q 2013 $1.7 Billion $35.5 million 41 cents

4Q 2012 $2.1 Billion t 16% $83.4 million t 57% 86 cents t 52%

The manufacturer of specialty vehicles indicated it finished its fiscal year 2013 with total sales of $7.67 billion – down about 6 percent from fiscal 2012 receipts – but still managed to increase earnings from $2.67 to $3.53 per share as a result of focused operating efficiencies. Company officials offered a less favorable outlook for fiscal year 2014, projecting revenues in the range of $6.6 to $6.9 billion and full-year earnings in the range of $3.10 to $3.40 per share. In comparing yearover-year fourth quarter income, company officials indicated fourth quarter fiscal 2012 earnings were boosted by discrete tax benefits totaling $31.0 million.

3Q 2013 $2.20 Billion $415 million $4.35

3Q 2012 $2.24 Billion t 11% $36.4 million s1,050% 39 cents s1,015%

The dairy-based foods company with extensive operations in Wisconsin, including the Green Bay area, reported its fluid milk volumes dropped 10 percent on a year-over-year basis due to the loss of business at a large retailer. Raw milk costs during the third quarter 2013 climbed to nearly $19 per hundred-weight, up 15 percent from the third quarter a year ago.

Neenah Paper Revenue Income EPS

3Q 2013 $214 million $11.4 million 68 cents

Revenue Income EPS

3Q 2013 $1.13 Billion $38.1 million 47 cents

3Q 2012 $928 million s 22% $65.7 million t 42% 83 cents t 43%

The parent company of Wisconsin Public Service Corp. operations across northeast and northcentral Wisconsin reported lower earnings on the quarter resulted from increased costs in both utility segments that won’t be recovered until future reporting periods. In particular, its electric utility segment recorded higher maintenance costs due to a planned outage at its Weston 3 generating unit.

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.

Dean Foods Revenue Income EPS

Integrys Energy Group Inc.

3Q 2012 $206 million s 4% $9.1 million s 25% 55 cents s 24%

The papermaker with significant operations in the Fox Cities reported revenues in its technical products segment increased 6 percent on the quarter to $105 million behind strong filtration and specialty tape growth. Neenah’s fine paper segment grew sales by 6 percent as a result of an improved product mix and higher selling prices.

12 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

Revenue Income EPS

3Q 2013 $2.6 Billion $14.7 million 8 cents

3Q 2012 $2.5 Billion s 4% $71.4 million t 79% 39 cents t 79%

The printing company with significant operations in the Fox Cities reported third quarter earnings would have otherwise been relatively even if not for $85.5 million in pre-tax charges and expenses during 2013 in addition to the benefit of an $11.0 million income tax adjustment during 2012.

Appvion Revenue Income

3Q 2013 $203 million $6.5 million

3Q 2012 $211 million t 4% $516,000 s1,400%

The employee-owned producer of thermal papers – formerly known as Appleton Papers – reported sales volumes of its thermal papers increased 2 percent on the quarter despite a slightly less than 1 percent decline in revenue from the segment as a result of some price erosion for tag, ticket and entertainment products. Receipts from its carbonless papers segment were down nearly 7 percent during the quarter to $88.8 million.

www.newnorthb2b.com

CORPORATE EARNINGS

Alliance Laundry Systems

Blyth Inc.

Revenue Income

Revenue Income EPS

3Q 2013 $143 million $8.8 million

3Q 2012 $127 million s 13% $11.4 million t 22%

The Ripon-based manufacturer of commercial and residential laundry equipment reported revenues from its United States and Canada markets grew by nearly $32 million on the quarter based upon high demand for its small chassis products. Company officials also cited international growth in vended laundry as a contributing factor toward its sales growth.

3Q 2013 $179 million ($11.2 million) (70 cents)

3Q 2012 $269 million t 33% $745,000 t1,622% 4 cents t1,850%

The parent company of Silver Star Brands operations in Oshkosh – formerly known as Miles Kimball Company – reported lower revenues as the result of a 52 percent decline in sales from its health and wellness segment, which encompasses its ViSalus brand. The company’s catalog and Internet segment, which includes Silver Star, reported third quarter sales of $29.5 million were relatively even with the same quarter a year ago.

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BUILD UP FOND DU LAC 1

4 6 5

Build Up Fond du Lac 1

manufacturing and fabrication plants. Project completion expected in December.

- 790 Eastgate Dr., Ripon, Ripon Medical Center, a 120,000-sq. ft. hospital and medical office building. Project completion expected in January.

2 - 800 Block W. Johnson St., Fond du Lac, Panda Express, a new restaurant building.

5 - 1674 Fox Ridge Dr., Fond du Lac,

- 545 & 560 W. Pioneer Road, Fond du Lac, Mercury Marine, an addition to the product development and engineering facility and separate additions to its

100 Camelot Dr., Fond du Lac, Excel Engineering, an addition to the existing office building.

Con-way Freight, a 47,000-sq. ft. freight terminal and service center. Project completion expected in March.

6 - 321 Camelot Dr., Fond du Lac, C Fond du Lac Regional Clinic South, a 50,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing medical

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BUILD UP OSHKOSH

9 8

C - Indicates a new listing clinic to expand podiatry services, therapy and orthopedic care, and to centralize pain medicine services. Completion expected in late 2014.

Build Up Oshkosh 7

- 1090 N. Washburn St., Oshkosh, Kwik Trip, a new convenience store, fuel canopy and car wash.

- 625 Pearl Ave., Oshkosh, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Alumni Welcome and Conference Center, a twostory, 40,000-sq. ft. welcome center and meeting facility. Project completion expected in December. Projects completed since our November issue: â&#x20AC;˘ Immanuel Trinity Lutheran Church, 20 Wisconsin-American Dr., Fond du Lac.

8 - 639 Witzel Ave., Oshkosh, City of Oshkosh Public Works Building, a municipal operations facility and yard.

NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 15

BUILD UP FOX CITIES Build Up Fox Cities The Build Up department of New North B2B includes a monthly two-page spread identifying significant commercial and industrial construction projects ongoing in the Fox Cities area. C - Indicates a new listing

1 - W6400 County Road BB, town of Greenville, Fox Valley Technical College Public Safety Training Center, a 93,000sq. ft. training facility for fire protection and law enforcement personnel. Project completion expected in December 2014. 2

- 1900 Prospect Ct., town of Grand Chute, WaterRight, a two-story, 33,044-sq. ft. addition to and alterations of the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected in December.

- 3600 W. Prospect Ave., Appleton, Butte des Morts Country Club, a new swimming pool with a 4,774-sq. ft. attached bar and restaurant. Project completion expected in March. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

- 301 N. Bluemound Dr., town of Grand Chute, Gordon Food Service (GFS) Marketplace, a 15,757-sq. ft. grocery store building.

5 - 1825 N. Bluemound Dr., town of Grand Chute, Fox Valley Technical College Transportation Center, a 43,486-sq. ft. addition to the existing transportation education center. Project completion expected this spring.

11 - N2749 French Road, Freedom, St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church & School, a 34,655-sq. ft. addition to the existing church and school for new classrooms, kitchen, cafeteria and offices. Project completion expected in January. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna. 12 - 2700 Northridge Dr., Kaukauna, Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 400, a two-story, 30,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing training center to include a weld shop and plumbing lab. Project completion expected in January. 13 - 3601 Electric City Blvd., Kaukauna, Albany International, an addition to the existing industrial facility. 14 - 2937 Lawe St., Kaukauna, Bergstrom Fiat, automotive dealership building. Project completion expected in January. 15 - 1506 S. Oneida St., Appleton, St. Elizabeth Hospital, a five-story, 90-bed patient tower, as well as renovations to the cancer center and behavioral health. 16 - 601 S. Commercial St., Neenah, Galloway Company, a 29,077-sq. ft. addition to the existing dairy processing facility. Project completion expected in early 2014.

6 - 1825 N. Bluemound Dr., town of Grand Chute, Fox Valley Technical College Student Success Center, a two-story, 96,750-sq. ft. academic building. Project completion expected in the fall.

17 - 906 S. Green Bay Road, Neenah, GoodwillNeenah, a 24,936-sq. ft. retail building. General contractor is R.J. Albright Construction Inc. of Oshkosh.

18 - 2437 Progress Ct., Neenah, Kundinger Fluid Power, a 10,000-sq. ft. addition to the company’s technology center. Project completion expected in December.

- 734 W. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton, C Pura Vida Ventures, a new commercial building.

8 - 1718 E. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton, C NEW Printing, an addition to the existing industrial facility. 9 - 2505 E. Evergreen Dr., Appleton, C Brycon LLC, a 4,388-sq. ft. addition to the existing multi-tenant commercial office building for additional lease space. Project completion expected in December. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna. 10 - 2120 E. Edgewood Dr., Appleton, Kwik Trip, a 9,821-sq. ft. convenience store, fuel station canopy and a 2,790-sq. ft. car wash.

16 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

19 - W647 Knight Dr., Sherwood, Dick’s Family Foods, a 20,598-sq. ft. grocery store building. Project completion expected in March. General contractor is Bayland Buildings Inc. of Green Bay. Projects completed since our November issue: • Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2600 E. Philip Lane, Appleton, • United Paper Corp., 1330 University Dr., Menasha. • Community Clothes Closet, 1465 Opportunity Way, Menasha. • First National Bank Fox Valley, 550 S. Green Bay Road, Neenah.

www.newnorthb2b.com

BUILD UP FOX CITIES 10 & 11 9 12 thru 14 5&6 7

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BUILD UP GREATER GREEN BAY Build Up Greater Green Bay The Build Up department of New North B2B includes a monthly two-page spread identifying significant commercial and industrial construction projects ongoing in the greater Green Bay area. C - Indicates a new listing

1 - 5201 Glendale Ave., Howard, Cellcom/Nsight Teleservices, a 32,000-sq. ft. logistical operations center. 2 - 2641 Packerland Dr., Howard, Hattiesburg Paper Company, an addition to the existing industrial facility. 3 - 2325 Hutson Road, Green Bay,

Fairchild Trust, a 21,000-sq. ft. warehouse, offices and mezzanine. Project completion expected in December. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

4 - 2522 W. Mason St., Green Bay, Oneida Mason Street Casino, an 8,000-sq. ft. expansion of the existing facility to accommodate an on-site restaurant. Project completion expected in May. 5

- 1616 W. Mason St., Green Bay, C Michaels Arts & Crafts, an addition to the existing retail center for a new store.

6 - 411 S. Military Ave., Green Bay, Fox Communities Credit Union, a 4,400-sq. ft. credit union branch office. Project completion expected in late winter. 7 - 400 N. Washington St., Green Bay, Schreiber Foods Inc., a five-story, 250,000-sq. ft. corporate headquarters building. Project completion expected in early 2014. 8 - 1830 Cofrin Dr., Green Bay, C

Frehse Transportation, an addition to the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected this spring. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay.

9 - 2530 S. Hemlock Road, Green Bay, C Handling & Conveying Systems, a 33,000sq. ft. manufacturing facility including 6,000 square feet of office space. Project completion expected in May. General contractor is Bayland Buildings. 10 - 1001 Auto Plaza Dr., Green Bay, C Gandrud Nissan/Collision Center, a 4,155-sq. ft. addition to the existing collision center. Project completion expected in January. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. 11 - 2014 Lime Kiln Road, Bellevue, C a multi-tenant commercial building including retail and clinic space. 12 - 2618 Monroe Road, Bellevue, C Kwik Trip, an addition to the existing convenience store. 13 - 2020 Airport Dr., Ashwaubenon, Oneida Main Casino, an expansion and renovation of the existing casino to accommodate another on-site restaurant and additional gaming. Project completion expected in April. 14 - 1921 Airport Dr., Ashwaubenon, Jet Air Group, a 34,000-sq. ft. storage hangar with additional office space and a repair center. Project completion expected this spring. General contractor is Bayland Buildings Inc. of Green Bay.

- 1951 Airport Dr., Ashwaubenon, C Longhorn Investments, a 9,000-sq. ft. aviation hangar.

18 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

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BUILD UP GREATER GREEN BAY 1

3 4

13 14 & 15 10

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- 3355 Commodity Lane, Ashwaubenon, C Vibrant Impressions, a 13,400-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility.

17 - Label Drive, Ashwaubenon, Green Bay Packaging Inc., a 240,000-sq. ft. coated products manufacturing facility. Project completion expected in late 2014. 18 - 100 Grant St., De Pere, St. Norbert College Gehl-Mulva Science Center, a 150,000-sq. ft. education and research facility to house the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Green Bay campus. Project completion expected in spring 2015.

19 - 3101 French Road, town of Lawrence, Kelbe Brothers Equipment, a 6,600-sq. ft. warehouse building and offices. Project completion expected in January. General contractor is Bayland Buildings Inc. of Green Bay. 20 - 2249 American Blvd., De Pere, Infinity Machine, a 39,060-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility. Projects completed since our November issue: • Kwik Trip Stores, 1871 Shawano Ave., Green Bay. • L.P. Mooradian Flooring Co., 620 Potts Ave., Ashwaubenon. • RGL Holdings, 2121 American Blvd., De Pere. • Fox River Fiber, 1751 Matthew Dr., De Pere. • Belmark, 600 Heritage Road, De Pere. NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 19

COVER STORY

Pioneers

2013

Innovative people, organizations and ideas making northeast Wisconsin a better place

The year thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nearly past provided a good deal of innovation in northeast Wisconsin. While some were more impactful than others on the world and on the region, all provided some vision to help pave the way to a better future in northeast Wisconsin. As weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done twice in the past, New North B2B magazine recognized and profiled four instigators of change during the past year as our Pioneers of 2013. Each of these people, organizations and ideas have shifted conventional paradigms, working outside of the box of traditional day-to-day activity to bring a new manner of thinking to northeast Wisconsin.

Story by Sean Fitzgerald, New North B2B publisher 20 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 20 NEW NORTH B2B DECEMBER 2013

www.newnorthb2b.com

COVER STORY Capital Pioneer Credit Union merger

In recent years, public relations professionals have been able to spin the word “merger” to explain what diehard capitalists may have more traditionally referred to as an acquisition or takeover. In the not-for-profit sector, it’s been used more frequently to describe situations in which one organization with a healthy balance sheet absorbs another weaker organization struggling to survive.

What: Capital Pioneer Credit Union merger Combined Totals: est. $1.03 billion in assets and 89,000 members Web: www.capitalcu.com www.pioneercu.org

That’s why the announcement this past June that Kimberlybased Capital Credit Union and Green-Bay-based Pioneer Credit Union planned to merge together into a mega financial institution of equals was so noteworthy, earning a spot on our Pioneers of 2013 list. Once fully consummated in the fall of 2014, the partnership of the two credit unions will form the eighth largest credit union in the state and the second largest based in northeast Wisconsin with total assets exceeding $1 billion and a customer base of nearly 90,000 members. The merger is unique because both organizations are relatively equal is size, equal in strength and equal in cultural values. The financial institution marriage is hardly a case of one absorbing the other – each appears to complement the other’s strengths and areas in need of improvement. Both have 12 branch locations, though the geographic markets each currently serves barely overlaps, although it’s contiguous. “We both had our sights set on expanding into each other’s markets, and it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense,” said Alan Zierler, president and CEO of Capital Credit Union. His partner expressed much the same sentiment. “We wanted to grow to the Valley, Capital wanted to grow into the Green Zierler Bay area, and if we both did that we’d just be stumbling upon one another as so many credit unions already are,” said Tom Young, president at Pioneer Credit Union, who will serve as president of the merged organization once all aspects of the merger process are complete next fall. Zierler will serve as CEO. The merger isn’t expected to involve any layoffs of current staff. All current branch Young

offices are planned to remain open. While there may exist some duplication of roles at each respective corporate office, some employees may be reassigned to new positions being created as the merged organization looks to establish a fullfledged audit department, Zierler explained. The advantages to members are numerous, both Zierler and Young explained, while the downside risk is virtually nonexistent. Economies of scale will be achieved in marketing, back-end computer services and a doubling of branch locations. Both credit unions already spend marketing dollars in advertising channels that reach both the Fox Cities and Greater Green Bay markets, Young explained. The partnership will allow for more efficient use of those budgets. Pioneer was also on the verge of needing to upgrade its technology in the next year or two, Young said, a capital investment that would likely exceed $1 million. Young said Capital’s current system should accommodate the entire needs of the merged organization. Perhaps most importantly, the merger means no investments will be needed on constructing new branch locations for quite some time. Zierler explained each new location costs an estimated $1.5 million to build and get up and running – that doesn’t even include continuing operational costs once the location is established. Couple that with the increased marketing costs of entering a new market and having to compete against incumbent credit unions which have already fortified their position in the market, and the value of combining existing locations is obvious. “We’ve just added for our members 12 new offices,” Young said. “It’s a win-win for the credit union, for our employees, and for our members.”

Dick Resch, philanthropist

We generally expect those considered titans of industry to step forward and provide some meaningful philanthropy to our communities in a manner that most of us simply aren’t financially able. But it’s unusual in this day and age – and rather remarkable – that one individual could make so many substantial contributions to such a broad and diverse cross-section of the community. This past year has been extraordinary for Green Bay area nonprofits which have benefitted from the philanthropic generosity of Dick Resch, CEO of Green Bay-based contract furniture manufacturer KI. Resch has made a variety of six- and seven-figure donations during 2013 to support health care, recreation, education and arts and culture in the Greater Green Bay area. Other contributions supported innumerable other charities across the community.

Who: Dick Resch Job: CEO of KI in Green Bay Web: www.ki.com

NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 21

COVER STORY While casual observers might want to characterize many of the donations as legacy building, Resch said it’s genuinely an appreciation for the good fortune he’s found since moving to the community in 1964 to take a job with what was then called Krueger Metal Products Inc. “My family and I had many opportunities to support Green Bay in a community that’s been so good to us over the years,” Resch said. Resch moved to buy the company from the estate of its founder in 1980 and has made intelligent decisions since to grow the company into a global leader in contract furniture manufacturing with nearly 3,000 employees and annual sales approaching $700 million. Earlier this year Resch re-upped the $2 million commitment he initially made during the 1990s to the 10,500-seat arena that bears his name, which will continue to be referred to as Resch Center for at least the next two decades. In September, his company separately recommitted another $2 million for another 20-year extension to its naming rights for downtown Green Bay’s KI Convention Center. The benefactor noted his favorite philanthropic targets are programs helping youth, wellness, education and community recreational endeavors. One recent donation of $100,000 to the Green Bay School District supported scholarships for arts programs in a unique collaboration between East High School and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Yet another contribution of $100,000 in late October to

Training with Fox Valley Tech has helped us improve the entire manufacturing process. Gordy Barth Manager of Employee Development and Training, Waupaca Foundry

Submitted photo

Dick Resch recently presented a check for $100,000 to support improvements to the East River Trail in Allouez. the Village of Allouez for the East River Trail will enable a 2014 capital improvement project to widen and resurface the recreational trail. An avid bicyclist, Resch rides the trail four to five times each week, he said. “Improving the health and wellness of our community has always been incredibly important to me,” Resch said. Supporting that principle, Resch and his wife, Sharon, also provided $1 million to Bellin Health to create the Resch Medical Unit on the fourth floor of Bellin Hospital in Green Bay.

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COVER STORY Resch has served on the health care organization’s board of directors for three decades. Collectively over the years, Resch’s routine gifts have added up to substantial continuing support for many of the amenities which make Green Bay an attractive place to live and visit, including an estimated $1 million to Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary; about $1 million to the Greater Green Bay YMCA, including a $500,000 gift for the East Side Aquatic Center; $500,000 for the Resch Olympic Pavilion at Cornerstone Community Ice Center in De Pere; and a majority of the proceeds for the Resch Family Auditorium at Preble High School in Green Bay. “We have a lot of employees here, and most of them use these facilities,” Resch said.

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Compiling 107 musical artists across 42 different venues in a four-day period is a robust cultural attraction anywhere. Compact such an event into the most electric 1-mile stretch of Appleton’s thriving central business district along College Avenue during the summer, and such an event has epic potential. Downtown Appleton’s Mile of Music festival did just that for the first time ever this past August, presenting more than 180 live performances – a majority of which were no cost to attend and enjoy – to an audience estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 attendees. What’s even more impressive is that the inaugural Mile of Music came together in less than five months between March and August after only being conceived by organizers during the holiday season late last year. “We struck a chord with a high quality event that people were really thirsting for,” said Dave Willems, co-founder of Mile of Music and president and CEO of Willems Marketing, an agency located in downtown Appleton. Willems and Appleton-based national recording artist Cory Chisel hatched the idea less than 12 months ago, modeling it after the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin that attracts a diverse array of up-and-coming musical acts. Willems attended an early South By Southwest event during the 1980s, and felt Appleton was just as well suited to present a similar offering.

What: Where: Dates: Artists: Venues: Performances: Web:

Mile of Music Festival College Avenue, Downtown Appleton Aug. 6 to 10, 2014 200 projected for 2014 55 lined up for 2014 More than 300 www.mileofmusic.com

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COVER STORY

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As part of the Wild Rovers Tour, Cory Chisel and Norah Jones performed at the inaugural Mile of Music Festival, taking the stage at Lawrence University’s Memorial Chapel. “I thought, what a great way to sample excellent live music, and come and go and discover whether you like blues or zydeco or whatever,” explained Willems. Mile of Music stretched from Spats on the west end of the downtown all the way to the iconic Memorial Chapel at Lawrence University. This handcrafted artisan festival, as it was billed, brought droves of patrons into College Avenue restaurants, coffee shops and taverns hosting musical performances for four days straight. While music lovers didn’t even have to shell out a dollar at those free performances, Willems noted most did,

getting a meal and a few beers or a couple cups of latte. “We did this because we wanted to create a boost for all those small businesses who are scratching and clawing in order to remain successful,” he said. Beyond such a short-term economic impact, the event helps sturdy Appleton’s position on the global music map, a reputation already earned with the presence of Lawrence University. Willems acknowledges the event couldn’t have been as successful without the influence of his partner Cory Chisel, who attracted much of the talent to the event, including Norah Jones. Chisel and his band, The Wandering Sons, were touring in New Zealand and Australia during November and unavailable for an interview with B2B. Success last year is encouraging an even bigger and better event for 2014. Willems said he and other volunteer organizers are targeting 200 artists conducting more than 300 performances at 55 different venues in downtown Appleton between Aug. 6 to 10, 2014. Willems reported sponsorship fundraising for 2014 has already surpassed sponsorship commitments for the past year, which when coupled with other revenues, fell about $20,000 short of total expenses. Getting the event’s finances in the black not only will help it thrive year after year, but also helps the Appleton School District’s Music Education Fund as well as the Creative Downtown Fund, the designated beneficiaries of the event’s proceeds. “With 12 months of lead time (for the 2014 event), it’s amazing to think what we might be able to do,” Willems said.

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24 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

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COVER STORY

Photo by Randy Korwin

Crowds gather at downtown Appleton’s Houdini Plaza to take in Mile of Music outdoor performances this past August.

Growing Oshkosh

Urban farming isn’t a completely new concept in the United States, but it’s a relatively recent phenomenon in northeast Wisconsin. Late last year another sustainable community-based urban farm initiative started in Oshkosh, and after a successful first growing season during the past year, the endeavor is turning its attention to aquaponic systems to grow leafy greens and raise perch as well as sustainability education at area schools. For these and other groundbreaking developments, Growing Oshkosh rounds out B2B’s list of Pioneers of 2013. The organization was more than just a dream and vision for Dani Stolley, founder and CEO. Stolley previously worked at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where she helped drive its sustainability initiatives, and she also chaired the Sustainability Advisory Board for the City of Oshkosh. Her master’s degree

Photo by Stolley Studio, Oshkosh

Hoop houses and raised gardens decorate the landscape at Growing Oshkosh’s one acre of urban farmland near the Fox River.

thesis on growing local community food and urban farming lead her to enroll in the Commercial Urban Agriculture program through Growing Power, a 20-year-old urban farming institution in Milwaukee. Upon completion of that program in 2012, Stolley drafted a business plan for a start-up urban farm near downtown Oshkosh. Stolley was given the opportunity to lease an acre of near-blighted property near the Fox River which would be rejuvenated into a sustainable farm growing “a full assortment of nutritionally-dense foods,” Stolley said. Through year-round sales of its shoots and microgreens at local farmer’s markets and wholesale agreements with local restaurants, Growing Oshkosh was able to analyze its revenue stream and adjust its business model for the coming year. “We planted a lot of experimental things this year, allowing us to learn what we could sell, what we couldn’t sell, and what we couldn’t give away,” Stolley said. The organization receives nearly 3,000 pounds of old, outdated produce from area grocery stores each month that would normally be landfilled to support its vermiculture activities to generate worm castings and enrich the soils used for growing. This coming year Growing Oshkosh has planted hybrid limequats – a cross between a lime and a kumquat – as well as specialty beans, garlic and mushrooms.

Who: What it is: Founder: Web:

Growing Oshkosh Sustainable urban agriculture Dani Stolley, CEO and farmer www.growingoshkosh.com

It’s also established an aquaponic system to farm-raise fish, and while urban farm operations typically use such systems for tilapia because they’re easier to raise, Stolley plans to support area Friday night fish fries with locally-raised perch. Stolley and her board of directors acknowledge there’s a tremendous educational aspect to the work Growing Oshkosh is performing, and to that end, they’ve established gardens at three public schools in Oshkosh this past year, affording students an opportunity for an outdoor education in agriculture and sustainability. The group hopes to establish 20 school gardens by 2020. Ultimately the goal of Growing Oshkosh is to educate the community about good healthy food and to deliver local economic impact. And with the Americana tradition of rural family farms falling by the wayside in favor of large corporate agricultural interests, urban farming is destined to fill a growing gap in a community’s food chain. “This is the way food is going to be grown in the future, and we wanted to get in on the ground floor,” Stolley said.

NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 25

HUMAN RESOURCES

Learning to

manage All too often supervisors ascend to their role from the front lines without any real experience managing others. Local training programs can help.

Story by Lee Marie Reinsch

26 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

www.newnorthb2b.com

HUMAN RESOURCES

Experienced managers know how to identify bad ideas… Bad ideas come from other people. Now, go work smarter, not harder. – Pointy-haired Boss in “Dilbert” by Scott Adams “Meet our new vice-president of engineering. We’re delighted to have him, despite his utter lack of experience in our industry. Some might call him unqualified, but I call him exotic.” – Pointy-haired Boss in “Dilbert” Imagine that you’re in a room, and the door is closed and you don’t know where the light switch is. That’s how nurse Peggy McArdle felt in 2006 when she got promoted to a managerial position with Agnesian HealthCare in Fond du Lac. “It’s a feeling like none other – like you know it’s there, you know you can do it, you know you can find it, but you just got to get there,” said McArdle, Agnesian’s staff and organizational development director. Twenty years of working as an emergency room nurse and staff nurse prepped her for many things. Heading a department wasn’t among them. “I was able to make snap decisions, I decided who needed what care and when, and I decided criticality of patients,” McArdle said. “This was something really different – it involved looking at things long term (instead of minute by minute) and a lot of different variables than I had run into as a charge nurse.” Then Agnesian sent her to the Supervisory Skills Series program held through the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce. The 13-month employer-sponsored program meets monthly and encourages new managers to put lessons into real-life practice the rest of the month. Once McArdle got into the supervisory series, light began to crack through the bottom of the door. “I had the light switch on, and I began to feel a little more comfortable with what I was doing,” McArdle said.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire

McArdle is far from the first to arrive at a new job with no experience. “Even at the managerial, director and executive level, a lot of these organizations are struggling with the concept of leadership,” said Ken Hostetler, instructor with Northeast Wisconsin Technical College’s Leadership Academy and Leadership Series. Many managers are people who once excelled at nonleadership jobs but were poached from the front lines. “Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean

you’re going to be a good leader or manager,” said Dean Stewart, NWTC’s dean of corporate training and economic development. The worst thing a boss can do is to promote an employee based solely on technical skills, Stewart said. “You run the risk of hurting yourself in two ways. Say you promote your best forklift driver to be manager and he’s a bad manager. You end up losing your best forklift driver… and you end up with a bad manager,” he said. Oftentimes, the very technical skills and task focus that made an employee stand out as a front-end worker supersede the interpersonal skills that would have helped him or her be more effective as a leader, according to Stewart. Along with attitude and efficiency, leaders need to communicate well, Stewart said. “Not only peer-to-peer but peer-to-leader and peer-to-employee.” That means communication via writing, speech, email or phone, as well as between generations, Stewart said.

Leadership Academy and Leadership Series from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College The six-session Leadership Academy begins the last week of January and runs through April. It’s designed mainly for front-line supervisors, team leaders and first-time leaders who haven’t had a lot of leadership skills development and is somewhat geared toward manufacturing. The six-session Leadership Series begins the second week of April and runs through the end of May. It’s designed for supervisors, managers and directors that have some leadership experience and are looking to give a significant boost to their current skill sets. The series leans toward overall leadership skills. You don’t have to take the Leadership Academy to participate in the series. Cost for the Leadership Academy is $695. For more information about NWTC’s professional development series, contact Holly at 920.498.6971 or holly.valentine@nwtc.edu. NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 27

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NWTC’s Leadership Academy mostly targets new leaders in the manufacturing industry. “These organizations have said we’re going to invest in these people to give them the right skills so that when we do promote them… they’re getting a good base of knowledge underneath them,” Stewart said. The six-session program combines online with in-person learning and provides mentorship and help tailored to a student’s employer. NWTC’s Leadership Series follows the Academy and probes topics of management more in-depth. It covers a broader reach than manufacturing, according to Hostetler.

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“Alice, I need you to be less productive. I’ll get an automatic promotion if I can justify hiring one more direct report.” – Pointy-haired Boss in “Dilbert”

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If you’ve ever had a less-than-eloquent supervisor (or been one yourself), you’ve probably experienced their lovely effect on morale. Over time such managers lose effectiveness because they don’t get buy-in from employees, NWTC’s Dean Stewart said. “Communication and collaboration with your peers and getting input before making decisions is incredibly important, and that’s really one of the things we try and teach (through) critical thinking and problem solving,” Stewart said. Dave Podeszwa, implementer of the Supervisory Skills Series in Fond du Lac, isn’t offering a compliment when he calls that leadership style the ‘heroic’ style. It’s the kind of leader who says, “I’m the boss, I’m in charge; if you’ve got an issue, if you’ve got a concern, you come to me – I make allllll the decisions,” Podeszwa said. “That kind of leadership drives people crazy these days. You aren’t going to work for that kind of person that long.” Lousy supervisors cost companies money, especially when they’re driving people out. Then you’ve got to search for replacements and embark on all the interview hassles. “You’ve got to hope you choose the right person; then when they join the organization, you’ve got to get them on-boarded correctly because they’re not going to know all they need to know,” Podeszwa said. Time is money; it can take months and years to get a new hire up to speed. www.newnorthb2b.com

HUMAN RESOURCES “Then suppose you’ve invested a year or two into a new employee and you’ve got this autocratic, old-style of manager sitting there,” Podeszwa said. “All of a sudden, they (the new employee) realizes ‘Hey, I don’t like this supervisor. I’m going to start looking for a supervisor I like, be it internally or externally to some other organization.”

Supervisory Skills Series from Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce The next Supervisory Skills Series starts Dec. 13 and delves into several topics such as: role of the leader; style awareness and versatility; conflict, communications and collaboration; business performance measurement; and employee coaching, among others. Participants go through the series as a cohort, and new cohorts usually begin every three to four months. Cost for the 13-month program is $3,900. Contact the Association of Commerce at 920.921.9500 or gerriea@fdlac.com for more information and enrollment forms.

Boss, not bossy

McArdle found communication to be among the hardest things about her transition, even though she’d had people-experience aplenty as a nurse. “The whole dynamic of how you interact with people (as a manager) changes,” McArdle said. “Now I wasn’t a peer; I was the boss. So you have to look at how you communicate.” “You are under a lot more scrutiny to say and do the right things,” Stewart said. Both the Supervisory Skills Series and NWTC’s programs delve into peer leadership, interpersonal skills and conflict resolution. Supervisory Skills takes it a few steps further by categorizing people into four social personality styles. “We help you identify who you are dealing with, especially your boss,” Podeszwa said. “If you’re analytical and I’m expressive, I don’t like a lot of details and you do, you can lower the relationship tensions in the work world” with this method of categorizing, which comes from Tracom Group’s Social Style protocol.

Participants survey coworkers and themselves about their own personalities to see how aligned they are with people’s perceptions of them. According to Podeszwa and Social Style: n Analytic people love details and examining problems from all angles.

The Faces of Keller Customers

Our Valued Customers. Without them we would be nothing. These are the faces of our company we treasure most. The big smile on the face of someone we just helped to expand their business, remodel their office or build them a new facility where they can be more productive, effective and happy. People like Kevin and Sherry from Lamers Bus Lines, who have chosen Keller for over 19 building projects across Wisconsin. The Lamers have faces that we love, not only because they have a big smile, but because three generations trust the Keller Design/Build Experts to put those smiles on their faces time and time again. We are Employee-Owned, Design/Build Experts. But don’t just take us at face value, call today and experience for yourself the difference that is Keller, Inc.

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FACES of Keller NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 29

HUMAN RESOURCES n Drivers are driven to profit and bottom line, quick decisions – the fast-track, fast-paced kind of people. n Amiables find relationships to be most important, and try to get along with everyone. n Expressives express themselves, oftentimes before thinking, Podeszwa said. “Those are the dreamers and the great brainstormers we need when we get into meetings.” Now when Kristine Louden meets someone new in her job at Grande Cheese in Fond du Lac, she can categorize them within 30 seconds and adjust her behavior for a more harmonious interaction. She took Podeszwa’s program in 2011-12 as a scientist aspiring to move into more people-oriented work. She found a position as a quality manager within six months. “The transition going from scientist to manager has been so smooth,” she said. The Social Styles philosophy can even help prevent conflict. “If somebody says something to me that maybe I could take as a personal attack, I can think ‘Oh no, no, they’re a ‘Driver,’ they’re not attacking me, that’s just the way they are,’” Louden said. It’s not meant to excuse rudeness, but rather help interpret people’s individuality. “It helps you understand why they react the way they do and how you can adapt, because you are powerful at that point,” Louden said. “You can understand people better.”

Principles in Leadership Excellence from Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce We bet you’ve always wondered what makes one leader great and another just sort of, well, meh. In early 2014, the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce will present Principles of Leadership Excellence, a five-month program designed for first- and secondlevel managers. It’s divided into seven parts ranging from newschool leadership and productivity to leading change and aligning goals. In the seven parts, the program zeroes in on what it calls 18 competencies of a good leader. Principles of Leadership Excellence starts Feb. 18 and runs through July. The cost is $3,600 for chamber members and $4,015 for non-member organizations. For more information on this new program, contact the chamber at 920.303.2266 or go online to www. oshkoshchamber.com.

Knowing when to ease the reins

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In many ways, being a manager means loosening rather than tightening one’s grip on things. “We talk about what’s it like to let go of some of your own personal technologies and what got you where you are, (and) to now have to deal with… getting work done through others,” Podeszwa said. Team input is important, Stewart said. “To me, the best ideas come from the people that are actually doing the work. If you want to improve a process – if you want to make an important decision – you need input,” Stewart said. “It’s hard to make decisions when you’re in a vacuum. When you involve those that you lead, and they feel like they have a vested interest in and the ability to influence decision-making, I think you’ll get a stronger team as a result.” That was the takeaway message for Louden, too. “I learned a lot about brainstorming and the power of the team,” Louden said. “Coming up with solutions together was so powerful - rather than just sitting in your office and coming up with your own solutions.” Collaboration and communication also figure prominently into other leadership skills, including negotiation and conflict management. At the end of the day, there’s a difference between manager and leader, according to Stewart: “A leader is someone people want to follow because of the way they communicate, the image they project, and the example they set. A manager just tells people what to do.” Lee Marie Reinsch writes and edits from Green Bay.

30 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

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HEALTH CARE

Smart Workplaces Simple proactive measures can reduce muscular injuries, work comp claims and lost productivity

Story by Jeffrey Decker

32 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

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HEALTH CARE No one likes to get hurt. The cost of getting injured on the job hits both the company and the worker, and the value of prevention has led to growing demand for the on-site advice from physical therapists. Significant savings add up from fewer doctor visits and fewer missed work days. Last year JBS USA in Green Bay joined the growing ranks of employers to enhance prevention programs with on-site physical therapy from Green Bay-based Bellin Health. “In direct costs they are on target to save us $80,000 this year,” said Brad Bothun, health and safety manager. “They have also helped lower indirect costs by keeping employees in the plant, they are away from work for a much shorter time, and they are happier because they are getting results,” he added. Processing beef at JBS is strenuous for the upper body, as is working at paper producer and converter Georgia-Pacific in Green Bay. Safety Manager Chris Gobin said of every 100 people seen by Bellin therapists on-site, 91 are resolved without needing outside care. Those savings have added up substantially in recent years. Adam Artel is the Bellin therapist contracted by both employers, helping tweak just how workers can do their jobs more safely. “Whether it’s sitting or assembly or painting, they’re using the same muscles, but they’re also causing the same inflexibilities,” Artel said. “Doing stretching and different exercises helps get people out of those patterns and create better flexibility and strength to prevent an injury from occurring.” Artel frequently gives “lunch-n-learn” presentations about proper muscle movements, along with functional movement screenings based on nationally-standardized criteria. Thirty years ago prevention plans were rare.

“Fifteen years ago the whole concept of it was really basic,” he recalls, “It was way more reactive. So the shift is becoming more proactive. It’s even starting to change a bit further, to how we can improve overall health, and not just how can we prevent injuries. A company is going to save many more dollars if they have someone who exercises regularly and doesn’t have pain, but also if they have low cholesterol and eat right.”

Savings through prevention

HAVING A HEALTHIER WORKFORCE today can generally lead to fewer insurance claims in the future. In 2005 Miller Electric Mfg. Co. in Appleton partnered with ThedaCare to establish a small on-site clinic with a physician, health coach and a registered nurse. The return on that investment has been on average $4.50 for every dollar Miller spends on those services, according to Michele Skoglund, ThedaCare’s registered nurse who works exclusively with Miller. “It’s a pretty powerful number, but it’s certainly not the only number they look at,” Skoglund explained. “Are we caring and compassionate? That’s just as important.” Getting the flu can send an employee home for seven to ten days. “I do 800 flu vaccines every year,” she said. That’s a substantial portion of the Miller workforce that won’t get the flu, and all for a total cost of $12,000. In August 2012 the small clinic at Miller added a physician trained in sports medicine and physical therapy. He’s only there for four hours every week, but has helped drive a dramatic reduction in injuries that result in worker’s compensation claims. Half of Skoglund’s job is talking about prevention, beginning with each employee’s first day on the job and covering everything from cholesterol to stretching. A basic principle she

Simple

stretching exercises to do

when in the office to relieve stress, reduce injuries and help employees achieve relaxation.

NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 33

HEALTH CARE emphasizes is using leg muscles for lifting while keeping the back straight. “It’s teaching them to lift even a small box or a printed circuit board and keeping it close to the body so you’re not outstretching your arms, and not doing repetitive lifting overhead,” she said. Those who sit at a desk all day should get up and move at least every hour, Skoglund recommended. Proper posture matters a lot, as does proper chair height and computer placement. “If you’re constantly straining the muscles in your neck or keeping your wrist in a hyper-flexed position, that’s putting you at risk for carpal tunnel and shoulder and neck-type issues,” Skoglund explained.

Simple changes in the office

Positioning the computer monitor too high or too low on one’s desktop affects a worker’s posture, said Molly Bouressa, physical therapist with Peak Performance Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine in Appleton. “We see a lot of neck injuries, muscle strain, just from having the neck in that position eight hours a day,” she said. Even the simple act of clicking a mouse adds up, and Bouressa often recommends switching between left and right hands, “because it’s always on the same side, they oftentimes have the right shoulder more in an elevated position,” she explained, “or putting a mousepad under the wrist so it’s in a neutral position and not in an extended position.”

WHY STRETCH? J J J J

Stretching increases flexibility. Flexible muscles can improve your daily performance. Tasks such as lifting packages, bending to tie your shoes or hurrying to catch a bus become easier and less tiring. Stretching improves range of motion of your joints. Good range of motion keeps you in better balance, which will help keep you mobile and less prone to falls – and the related injuries – especially as you age. Stretching improves circulation. Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles. Improved circulation can speed recovery after muscle injuries. Stretching can relieve stress. Stretching relaxes the tense muscles that often accompany stress.

No matter what the job calls for, Bouressa said the human body needs to be stretched a little further. “Any time you have a lack of range of motion or a tightness of the shoulder musculature, that predisposes you to developing shoulder impingement and pain, so even if you don’t have pain

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HEALTH CARE yet, you’re at higher risk than someone who doesn’t have the same flexibility limitations.” Bouressa noted how workers who take extra effort to stretch are surprised by their new range of motion. “They recognize now, how, ‘It used to be a struggle to reach behind my back and tuck in my shirt or put on my jacket, and now all of a sudden those things are easy,’” she pointed out. Most of the workers Bellin reaches out to are receptive, Artel said. “More people are starting to ask for recommendations on problems before they get really bad,” he said, “where in the past they might have waited until it got really bad.” Only a very small group are not receptive to prevention, and that group is shrinking. “Certain people are never going to stretch because they’ve never done it before and they’ve never had a problem and they don’t see a reason why.” Sadly, the convincing argument can sometimes be an injury. “The average muscular skeletal injury costs somewhere between $12,000 and $20,000,” Artel said.

The bigger wellness picture

Sadoff & Rudoy Industries has come a long way in the ten years since its human resources department launched a grassroots health and prevention program, said Bradford Lasky, senior vice president for operations. In 2011 the Fond du Lac-based scrap metal processor received a Well Workplace Award from the Wellness Council of America. “We have an aging workforce so there are a lot of things we

were seeing and wanted to get in front of. Weight being a big one. Smoking being a big one,” said Lasky. “Employee wellness has become part of the overall business strategy,” and the message is echoed across its six locations in Wisconsin and two in Nebraska. The percent of employees who feel strongly about the wellness program has increased from below 70 percent in 2009 to above 95 percent as of 2011, Lasky said. “The awareness is there and people are responding to it. It’s just like anything. It takes time to create changed behaviors,” he added. Basic flexibility is promoted with major incentives. “We require stretching as part of a quarterly bonus program,” he explained. “For the employee to be eligible, they have to have 100 percent stretching participation before their shift and they also have to have no safety violations. And they have to submit a safety suggestion at least once per year.” The injuries Lasky and his safety team at Sadoff & Rudoy see are often based on the time of year. “We see a lot of slips, trips and falls in the wintertime. Definitely back strains, wrist strains, things of that nature,” he said. “(These programs promote being) healthy and safe. They go hand-in-hand,” Lasky added. “It’s trying to get employees to be aware of their well-being, which will, in turn, make them feel better, work better, and ultimately should lower our health insurance costs.” Jeffrey Decker is a business journalist and father based in Oshkosh.

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GUEST ADVICE

Google’s latest algorithm updates

Rethink your search engine marketing strategy using Google’s newest search criteria

Search engine optimization has changed – again. In the last few months, Google has released two major search algorithm changes: Hummingbird and Penguin 2.1. Any algorithm change is a big deal because a “search algorithm” is a formula that figures out what rank websites deserve in an online search. Companies’ positions on search engine results can be the difference between profit and loss. Since there are hundreds of articles on these new updates, let’s just look at the highlights and what you can do.

like “dental exam,” “fillings,” “root canal,” “flossing,” and so on because those terms contribute to the general idea of dentistry. When optimizing content with supporting terms, make sure to include local information if you’re targeting a certain region. Add your company name, address and phone number to your site’s footer. Include mention of your local office in your content. Give directions on your contact page. These additions are useful for people and search engines.

Deciphering long queries

Penguin 2.1 is Google’s fourth Penguin algorithm update designed to devalue spammy links. When it hit in October, innumerable sites worldwide suddenly went from Google’s first page to oblivion. For years, it was normal SEO practice to build as many links as possible to a site. The sources of those links never mattered until the Penguin updates. Now those links could harm your site’s rank. If your site gets links from foreign sites that don’t have anything to do with your company, those links are probably hurting. If you have links from “resource” pages alongside dozens of other links from unrelated companies, those links are also probably hurting. To see the links affecting your site, download a list of links from your Google Webmaster Tools account, or use tools from Moz, Raven, Ahrefs, and others. Using this data, look at the sites linking to you. Mark the questionable sites and contact their webmasters to remove the link. If they refuse, demand payment, or don’t reply, disavow their entire domain using Google’s disavow file. The next time Google updates its algorithm, that disavow file should take effect. In the mean time, focus on building strong, relevant links with link-worthy content. These updates aren’t the last. Search engines will constantly refine themselves. Companies have to be aware and flexible to spot changes and quickly adapt to protect their online presence.

The Hummingbird update is Google’s attempt to better answer complex, longtail search queries like, “What is the best Asian restaurant in Appleton?” It also helps Google return better local results for such queries. Before Hummingbird, if you wanted your site to appear on the first page for that kind of search, you would have to use such a phrase on your site. That’s because search engines used to match searches with sites using exact search terms. The problem is everyone doesn’t ask similar questions the same way. As you can imagine, it becomes impossible to optimize a site for every possible question variation. Some try, and their sites are full of similar pages asking similar questions, existing only to manipulate search engines instead of helping people. Hummingbird simplifies this mess by looking at what each query is about. That’s called “semantic search,” or the meaning behind what people are searching. Google is now looking at search intent, and Hummingbird helps match long-question searches with the best result.

How this changes marketing

Erik Kielisch, SEO Analyst Optimal Web Consultants, Inc.

Since Google is getting better at matching long, conversational queries to pages about that query, you don’t have to waste time and money creating pages awkwardly using such longtail phrases. However, since Hummingbird makes use of Google’s Knowledge Graph to understand queries instead of simply matching them to sites, you have to start creating pages targeting concepts instead of keywords. Instead of writing a webpage about family dentistry and using that phrase over and over, you need supporting terms that naturally appear with that concept

36 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

Penguin punishes spam

Erik Kielisch is the content strategist and an SEO analyst at Optimal Web Consultants, Inc. in Appleton. Optimal’s inhouse SEO team keeps a watchful eye on algorithm changes to help clients succeed online. Learn more online at optimalweb.biz, or by stopping by their office in downtown Appleton. www.newnorthb2b.com

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WHO’S NEWS Incorporations New North B2B publishes monthly new business incorporations filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.

Brown County

Zeta Group Manufacturing LLC, Kevin Marrick, 1165 Scheuring Road, De Pere 54115. Assisted Living By HillCrest LLC, Veronica A. Trofka, 2986 County Road PP, De Pere 54115. The Musky Inn LLC, James H. Constine, Jr., 508 N. Huron, De Pere 54115. Credo Design Architects Studio LLC, Dawn M.O. Rolling, 301 Main Ave., De Pere 54115. Metal Technology & Service INC., Robert J. Paul, 4014 Garrett St., De Pere 54115. Bankruptcy Lawyer LLC, Joseph M. Recka, 211 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay 54301. D & E Logistics INC., Doug Foth, 808 Packerland Dr., Green Bay 54303. Erica’s Blooming Inspirations LLC, Erica S. Falk Meyers, 1637 Woodland Dr., Green Bay 54313. Bare Barre Fitness LLC, Darcie R. Secor, 1541 Bellevue St., Ste. 4, Green Bay 54311. Keebler Tax, Financial And Wealth Software INC., Robert Keebler, 420 S. Washington St., Green Bay 54301. Ken’s Auto Glass LLC, Ken Walker, 822 Irvington St., Green Bay 54304. Goerz Engineering Solutions LLC, David Allen Goerz, 4995 Lost Creek Lane, Green Bay 54313. Toonen Aviation LLC, Robert Toonen, 2830 Curry Ct., Green Bay 54311. Prosperity Bookkeeping LLC, Kristie Van Pay, 2993 Brighton Pl., Green Bay 54311. WI Metal Works LLC, Leif R. Thompson, 1344 Russett Ct., Green Bay 54313. Creative Maintenance Services LLC, James Mathys, 3850 Leanna Lane, Green Bay 54311. Best N.E.W. Homes LLC, Tracy M. Kusik, 1936 Greenfield Ave., Green Bay 54313. Simple Sophistication Soap LLC, Jessica Hunt, 870 Athens Dr., Green Bay 54311. Kobes Auto Body LLC, Yakov Krief, 1617 Cass, Green Bay 54302. Treehaus Studio LLC, Amanda Campbell, 703 Fredrick Ct., #6, Green Bay 54313. Weninger Media & Marketing LLC, John D. Weninger, 2920 S. Webster Ave., Green Bay 54301. GT Mobility & Services Oshkosh LLC, Todd Nault, 844 Ontario Road, Green Bay 54311. Blissweddingboutique.Com LLC, Patrick Joseph Fasulo, 1600 Kalahari Dr., Green Bay 54313. Indelible Ink LLC, Steve Wickert, 1157 Grignon St., Green Bay 54301. McQueen Law Office LLC, Dominique McQueen, 1039 W. Mason St., Green Bay 54303. T.H.I.N.K. Educational Consulting LLC, Tynisha D. Meidl, Ph.D., 1028 Harwood Ave., Green Bay 54313. Effective Pathogen Solutions LLC, Jeff Davis Hitzler, 1749 Chateau Dr., Green Bay 54304. Promaintenance & Packaging Supply LLC, Douglas C. Storhoff, 301 Bridge St., Green Bay 54303. Xcite Nutrition LLC, Tracy L. Musil, 1513 Traeger St., Green Bay 54304. Clark W. Stevens, Jr. M.D LLC, Clark W. Stevens, Jr. M.D., 4535 38 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

Algonquin Tr., Green Bay 54313. Phoenix8webdesign Group LLC, Russell A. Wendt, Jr., 609 Rothe St., Green Bay 54302. Jareco Appraisals LLC, Jared Tetzner, 3123 Manitowoc Road, Green Bay 54311. IMart Pub & Grill LLC, Nhia Vang Kong, 1583 Main St., Green Bay 54302. Brockman Trucking LLC, Gregory Brockman, 3304 Nicolet Dr., Green Bay 54311. Car Crash Lawyer LLC, Joseph M. Recka, 211 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay 54301. DeCleene’s Custom Graphics LLC, Joseph A. DeCleene, 500 Arrowhead Dr., Green Bay 54301. Huebner Retirement & Insurance Advisors LLC, Scott Allin Huebner, 1830 W. Mason St., Green Bay 54303. Hinnendael Piano LLC, Barbara Hinnendael, 3127 Squire Ct., Green Bay 54313. Lux Spa LLC, Bryanna Leigh Jaro, 2100 Riverside Dr., Green Bay 54301. Famous Way Foods LLC, Chau Ping Shek, 1520 Ashley Ct., Green Bay 54313. E&B School Security LLC, Edward Leonard Dorff, 3375 Pebble Beach Ct., Green Bay 54311. Pronails LLC, Brian Weinberg, 550 N. Military Road, Green Bay 54303. Greenleaf Metal Design LLC, Sarah Anne Hock, 2279 School Road, Greenleaf 54126. Myers Maintenance Services LLC, Anthony M. Myers, 3745 Algoma Road, New Franken 54229. Green Bay Area Carpet Cleaning LLC, Scott Manlick, 2083 Meadow Heights Tr., Suamico 54313.

Fond du Lac County

Seibel Transport LLC, Robert Seibel, W1432 Sunrise Dr., Campbellsport 53010. Ten Twelve Restaurant Group LLC, Steven J. Ahrens, 45 Elm Acres Dr., Fond du Lac 54935. Wamo Farms LLC, Todd Andrew Huempfner, N8129 Sunset Dr., Fond du Lac 54937. Draiochta Labs LLC, Jeremiah Smith, 581 S. Main St., Fond du Lac 54935. Mesmerizing Body Massage LLC, Esmeralda Torres, 146 E. Arndt St., Fond du Lac 54935. Goebel Group Benefits LLC, Anthony Goebel, 76 Western Ave., Fond du Lac 54935. Empire Concreteworks LLC, Jason Rohlfs, W4410 Empire Dr., Fond du Lac 54935. Evans Fire Alarm Inspection Service LLC, Robert J. Evans, 753 Estate Dr., Fond du Lac 54935. Lakeside Wealth Management LLC, Patrick M. Broeske, 1080 S. Main St., Fond du Lac 54935. Roffers Landscaping LLC, Luke Ryan Roffers, W6918 Riverview Ct., Fond du Lac 54937. Wisconsin Storm Chasers LLC, Todd M. Selenka, 254 Morris St., Fond du Lac 54935. Countryside Bar LLC, Shelly Mae Hellman, 1686 Cedarview Dr., St. Cloud 53079. Fond du Lac Christian Broadcasting INC., Robert Tschech, N9572 Van Dyne Road, Van Dyne 54979.

Green Lake County

Hobart Construction and Preservation LLC, Ryan Carter Hobart, W3401 County Road F, Berlin 54923. Rogue Cosmetics LLC, Allison Mae Haase, 9329 Caswell Road, Berlin 54923. www.newnorthb2b.com

WHO’S NEWS Oconto County

Cheese And Produce Transport INC., Nick Badendick, 5027 U.S. Hwy. 41, Abrams 54101.

Outagamie County

Linkware Tech LLC, Gurucharan Angisetty, 101 E. Water St., Appleton 54911. Victree Construction LLC, Wayne Marvin Hietpas, 1339 W. Lawrence St., Appleton 54914. Steve Kratzer, Woodworker LLC, Steve Kratzer, 416 E. Olde Paltzer Ct., Appleton 54915. A Plus Eyecare LLC, Katie Abata, 3109 E. Lake Park Crossing, Appleton 54915. Kocken Chiropractic LLC, Alex E. Kocken, 2329 Twin Willows Dr., Appleton 54914. Scheer’s Sugar Shack LLC, Scott D. Scheer, 2201 E. Enterprise Ave., Ste. 10, Appleton 54913. RJT Design & Marketing Services LLC, John Frederick Turner, 1325 N. Linwood Ave., Appleton 54914. Pageturner LLC, Christopher D. Jossart, N3029 State Road 47, Appleton 54913. Creative Inspirations & Design LLC, Laurie A. Thern, 1516 N. Leona St., Appleton 54911. Accounting Unlimited LLC, Susan Newby, W3167 Cornell Ct., Appleton 54915. Amazing Grace Lutheran Church INC., Steven M. Buelow, 3117 Tri Park Ct., #7, Appleton 54914. Vosters Maintenance Service LLC, Kenneth Vosters, W2927 Evergreen Dr., Appleton 54913. Valley Yardworks LLC, Mary Ellen Simeth, 800 S. Westhaven Pl.,

Appleton 54914. A2B Taxi LLC, Bradley Charles Pingel, 1348 W. Summer St., Appleton 54914. Brighter Days Dance LLC, Teresa J. Strenn, 573 Trudell Ct., Combined Locks 54113. JD’s Handyman Services LLC, James D. Dorn, W6585 Emerald Lane, Greenville 54952. Country Villa Assisted Living INC., Chad Reader, W2015 Industrial Dr., Kaukauna 54130. Sleepy Time Anesthesia LLC, Deanna L. Lindner, 216 Newton Le Ct., Kaukauna 54130. Infini-Tech Engineering LLC, Tracie Hang, 816 Schelfhout Lane, Kimberly 54136. Olde Plow Shoppe LLC, Dennis R. Dickman, 325 Cherry Lane, Little Chute 54140. 3-D Wall Finishes LLC, Judith L. Beck, 307 Fulton St., Seymour 54165.

Winnebago County

Salm’s Hickory Hill Farm INC., Mick Salm, 3931 W. Larsen Road, Larsen 54947. Copperstill Bourbon Bar LLC, Anthony Kuhr, 1047 Tayco St., Menasha 54952. Seaborne Environmental Action Vast Area Cleanup INC., Kurt R. Schumacher, 410 E. Forest Ave., Neenah 54956. Sliver-Shea Holsteins LLC, Allen L. Silverthorn, 4620 Broderick Road, Omro 54963. Niehans Insurance Agency LLC, John Andrew Niehans, 1018 South Park Ave., Oshkosh 54901. Chiro Life Clinic LLC, Kham Sing Xiong, 2028 W. 9th St., Oshkosh 54904.

NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 39

WHOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS Eiler Twin Painting LLC, Shelly Ann Eiler, 767 S. Washburn St., Apt. 2, Oshkosh 54904. Felix Auto And Tire LLC, Eric Alan Felix, 4809 Ripon Pl., Oshkosh 54904. Dream Quilts & Creations LLC, Deborah Anne Plaisance, 6460 W. Decorah Ave., Oshkosh 54902. John A. Boyle Orthopedic Solutions LLC, John A. Boyle, 901 Anchorage Ct., Oshkosh 54901. Scherer Law LLC, Catherine Best Scherer, 319 Pearl Ave., Oshkosh 54901. Springborn Farms LLC, Duane Springborn, W10534 Olden Road, Pickett 54964. Dream Diamond Design Studio LLC, Kimberly Gordon, 6533 Rustic Oaks Dr., Winneconne 54986.

Building permits B2B includes a monthly list of building permits (not to include residential projects) in excess of $400,000. Enzymatic Therapy Inc., 825 Challenger Dr., Green Bay. $680,000 for dust collector enclosures to the existing industrial facility. General contractor is The Boldt Company of Appleton. October 7. Michaels Arts & Crafts, 1616 W. Mason St., Green Bay. $1,800,000 for an interior remodel and an addition to the existing retail building. General contractor is Miron Construction Company of Neenah. October 10. Nsight Teleservices, 5201 Glendale Ave., Howard. $2,200,000 for a 32,000-sq. ft. logistical operations center. Contractor listed as Schuh Development. October 10. Vibrant Impresions, 3355 Commodity Lane, Ashwaubenon. $450,000 for a 13,400-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility. General contractor is Smet Construction of Green Bay. October 15. Kwik Trip, 2618 Monroe Road, Bellevue. $1,000,000 for an addition to the existing convenience store. General contractor is Gerald Nell Inc. of Milwaukee. October 17. Pura Vida Ventures, 734 W. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton. $400,000 for a new commercial building. General contractor is Badgerland Buildings Inc. of Black Creek. October 21. Longhorn Investments, 1951 Airport Dr., Ashwaubenon. $830,000 for a 9,000-sq. ft. aviation hangar. General contractor is Schuh Construction Inc. of Seymour. October 23. No owner listed, 2014 Lime Kiln Road, Bellevue. $900,000 for a 5,800sq. ft. new multi-tenant retail and clinic building. General contractor is Ghidorzi Companies of Wausau. October 23.

New businesses Oleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pepperoni & Cannoli was opened by Ali and Rebecca Afshar at 586 Redbird Cir. in De Pere. Additional information about the restaurant is available online at www.opcpizza.com.

New locations Waterstone Mortgage moved to new offices at 812 Cormier Road in Ashwaubenon. Harbor Community Psychological Associates moved into new offices at 40 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

www.newnorthb2b.com

WHO’S NEWS the Advance Business & Manufacturing Center at 2701 Larsen Road in Green Bay. The office can be reached by calling 920.606.8734.

Business honors The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. recognized the following downtown revitalization projects with its 2013 Wisconsin Main Street Awards: honorable mention for Best Public-Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization to the City of De Pere and Definitely De Pere; honorable mention for Best Façade Rehabilitation Over $7,500 to House of Homebrew, located in the On Broadway district in Green Bay; honorable mention for Best Downtown Business Development Program/ Project to Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership’s Financial Assistance program; Best Downtown Public Improvement: Built Environment Award to the City of De Pere for its Riverwalk and Wildlife Viewing Pier; honorable mention for Best Downtown Retail Event to On Broadway, Inc. for its Gingerbread Home Tour; honorable mention for Best New Downtown Business to Chateau De Pere and Café Chanson in De Pere; Best New Building Project Award to Commonwealth Companies of Fond du Lac for its Trinity Artists’ Lofts & D’anlann Art Gallery in Fond du Lac; Best Upper Story Development Award to Vibe Dance Center, located in the On Broadway district in Green Bay; Best Adaptive Reuse Project Award to Commonwealth Companies of Fond du Lac for its Trinity Hall and Restaurant in Fond du Lac; and Connect Communities Award: Best Downtown Development Success Story-Under 8,000 Population to the City of Berlin and Berlin Chamber of Commerce for its Building Up Berlin Campaign. J. F. Ahern Co. of Fond du Lac received a Build Wisconsin Award from Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin in the specialty contractor category for the mechanical work performed on its facility in Milwaukee. Appleton-based Great Northern Corp.’s StrataGraph brand won the following four awards from the Paperboard Packaging Council: gold award for its Wells Blue Bunny Premium Ice Cream Cake box; an excellence award for its Idahoan Baby Reds package; an excellence award for its Jack Link’s Original Beef Steak, 12-count package; and an excellence award for its Purina Beneful Baked Delights package. The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce presented its Enterprise of the Year Award to Bemis Company of Neenah and its Small Business of the Year Award to Jay Manufacturing Inc. of Oshkosh.

Advance and the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce presented 2013 Manufacturing Awards of Distinction to the following companies: Workforce Development Award to Lindquist Machine Corp. of Ashwaubenon; Environmental Sustainability Award to The Solberg Company of Howard; Small Company Award to Precision Machine Inc. of Algoma; Medium Company Award to N.E.W. Plastics Corp. of Luxemburg; and Large Company Award to Ariens Company of Brillion. The Northeast Wisconsin Chapter for Association of Fundraising Professionals recognized the following businesses for their support of community philanthropy and volunteerism: Outstanding Corporate Award to Secura Insurance Companies of Appleton; and Outstanding Media/ Marketing Partner Award to Red Shoes PR of Appleton and 101WIXX of Green Bay.

New hires American Animal Hospital in Neenah hired Dr. Dane Jespersen as a veterinarian. Jespersen practiced in the Stevens Point area for the last 10 years. Miron Construction Co., Inc. of Neenah hired Jonathan Stevens as a project manager and Andrea Krause as a conceptual estimating coordinator. Stevens has 13 years experience in the construction industry, most recently serving as a superintendent for a nationally-ranked general contractor. Krause most recently worked as an estimator for an Oshkosh restoration company. Rebuilding Together Fox Valley hired Mary Beth Leopold as its executive director. Leopold has more than 20 years of management experience, having most recently served as executive director at Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce. She previously worked with PBJ Holdings/ Commercial Horizons for 12 years in business development and turnaround as the manager at Wingate by Wyndham Hotel in Green Bay and Red & White in Appleton. Cypress Benefit Administrators in Appleton hired Patti Haupt as a claims analyst and Carri Moberg as a corporate trainer. Affinity Medical Group added Don Martin, M.D. as a family practice physician at its North Richmond Street clinic in Appleton.

NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 41

WHO’S NEWS Hoffman Inc. of Appleton hired Matt McGregor as a project manager. McGregor has six years of industry experience.

25 years experience in branding, packaging, ad campaigns, broadcast and websites.

Agnesian HealthCare in Fond du Lac added Randall Kuhlmann, M.D. as a maternal fetal medicine physician.

Hurckman Mechanical Industries, Inc. in Green Bay hired Kerry Kaderabek as a service manager and Aubrey Byers as an estimator. Kaderabek has a background in manufacturing as a sales professional and in management.

The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce hired Patti AndresenShew as its education and workforce coordinator. McGregor

Kuhlmann

Promotions

Green Bay-based Immel Construction hired the following new employees: Joe Graney as a senior estimator, Cory Bialcik as director of field operations, Joel Doxtator as a building information modeling specialist and drafter, and Phil Voss as a project manager. Graney has more than 30 years experience in the construction industry. Bialcik previously worked at Immel from 1996 to 2010 as a superintendent, and recently served as a business representative for North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters. Doxtator has more than 10 years experience, most recently working with Berners-Schober Associates.

McMahon in Neenah named Craig Sachs and Sam Pociask as associates with the firm. Sachs is a senior architect with 22 years experience in planning and design. Pociask is the head of the geographic information systems department and a senior GIS analyst. Ministry Health Care promoted Mark Kehrberg, MD to chief medical officer and Tom Veeser to chief nursing officer. Kehrberg previously served as the senior vice president and chief medical officer of Menasha-based Affinity Health System for the past six years. Veeser has 29 years of nursing experience, having worked with Affinity Health System for the past 12 years, most recently as vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer.

Virtualtech Website Design and Promotion, Inc. in Appleton hired Matt Chiolino as its lead website designer. Master Fleet LLC of De Pere hired Gerri Krueger as director of commercial fleet management. Krueger worked the past 36 years with Schneider National in Ashwaubenon, having served most recently in the role of business integration manager.

Individual awards

Fond du Lac-based wisnet.com LLC hired Scott Kirkpatrick as creative director and Kelsey McDermott as a customer service representative. Kirkpatrick has more than

The Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry presented the following awards during its recent The Event Celebrating Business Success: Young Professional of the Year to John Weyenberg of Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity;

Andresen-Shew

Doxtator

Kirkpatrick

42 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

McDermott

Pociask

Sachs

Schetter

www.newnorthb2b.com

WHO’S NEWS Champion of the Chamber Award to Ron Zahn of Coldwell Banker-The Real Estate Group; Exceptional Mentor Award to Kathy Westover of Softspan LLC; Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Debra Michiels of Fox Banquets Rivertyme Catering; Athena Award – Business Woman of the Year to Beth Davis of Community First Credit Union; Gus A. Zuehlke Distinguished Service Award to John Bykowski of Secura Insurance; and inducted Oscar J. Boldt of The Boldt Group and Catherine Tierney of Community First Credit Union into its Business Hall of Fame. The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce presented the following awards during its recent annual awards event: Alberta Kimball Community Service Award to Glenn Curran, vice president of commercial banking at Associated Bank; Horizon Award to David Albrecht, chairman of the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors; Lynne Webster Leadership Award to Stew Rieckman, retired general manager of the Oshkosh Northwestern; Stephen Mosling Commitment to Education Award to Beth Wyman, volunteer and board president for the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation; Outstanding Chamber Volunteer Award to Nick Behnke, co-owner of Schaefer Behnke Group; Ambassador of the Year Award to John Rubino, owner of Stitch on Time Custom Embroidery and Premium Promotions; Propel Young Professional Award to Zack Pawlosky, owner of Candeo Creative; and Woman of Achievement Award to Petra Roter, vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Appleton-based Fox Valley Technical College recognized the following individuals from the region with its 2013 Outstanding Advisory Committee Member Awards: Steve Farwell, Quality Truck Care Center; Wes Fietzer, Presto Products Co.; Mike Gerner, Ducommun LaBarge Technologies, Inc.; Greg Lingenfelter, Bergstrom Automotive; Carl Nelson, retired from Chain O’Lakes Marine; Bill Niemuth, Kimberly Clark Corp.; Sue Panek, Oshkosh Area United Way; Paul Samerdyke, Wisconsin Department

of Natural Resources; Patrick Stephani, Schneider National; Bruce Stroik, Quad Graphics; and Mark VanderLinden, Professional Financial Management, Inc. The Young Professionals of Fond du Lac recognized the following recipients of its 2013 Future 5 Award: Amy Collett of Society Insurance; Dr. David Hammes of Family Focus Eye Care; Sam McClone of McClone Insurance Group; Steve Leaman of Horicon Bank; and Michael Schumacher of Eden Stone Company and Valders Stone & Marble. The Northeast Wisconsin Chapter for Association of Fundraising Professionals recognized the following businesses for their support of community philanthropy and volunteerism: Outstanding Lifetime Philanthropy Award to the late Joyce Bytof, and Otto Bytof, of Coldwell Banker-The Real Estate Group; Outstanding Philanthropist Award to John and Lynn Pfefferle of Appleton and to Paul Renard of Green Bay; Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer Award, to Jay Fulkerson from The National Alliance on Mental Illness “Flight Crew;” and Youth in Philanthropy Award to Evan and Noah Roubal of Green Bay. The Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association presented its 2013 Innkeeper of the Year Award to Daniel Schetter, general manager of Best

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BUSINESS CALENDAR Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Conference Center in Oshkosh. The award recognizes one individual each year for outstanding leadership in Wisconsin’s lodging industry.

Business calendar

December 6 New North Summit, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 2040 Airport Dr. in Green Bay. Keynote speaker is Ed Gordon, a human capital expert discussing talent discovery, career planning and training. Cost to attend is $90 in advance or $100 at the door. For more information or to register, go online to www.newnorthsummit.com.

New North B2B encourages businesses and organizations looking to attract interested persons to upcoming events to send an announcement to: New North B2B, Attn: Who’s News, P.O. Box 559, Oshkosh, WI 54903.

December 10 Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce Sales Club, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the chamber building, 120 Jackson St. in Oshkosh. No cost to attend for chamber members. For information, call 920.303.2266 or go online to www.oshkoshchamber.com.

For more events, log on to www.thenewnorthevents.com.

December 10 Imagination Network of Wisconsin, 5 to 7 p.m. at Elks Club, 33 Sheboygan St. in Fond du Lac. No cost to attend. For more information visit www. fcedc.com.

December 3 Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Power Networking Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the chamber offices, 300 N. Broadway in Green Bay. No cost to attend for chamber members. For information, call 920.437.8704 or email members@titletown.org. December 3 Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Business Connection, 5 to 7 p.m. at Bergstrom Automotive on Victory Lane in Appleton. For more information or to register, call 920.734.7101 or visit www.foxcitieschamber.com. December 4 Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Coffee Connection, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Wisnet.com., 987 S. Main St. in Fond du Lac. Cost to attend is $5. For more information or to register, go online to www.fdlac.com or call 920.921.9500.

December 11 Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 to 6:30 p.m. at National Railroad Museum, 2285 S. Broadway in Green Bay. No cost to attend for chamber members. For information, call 920.437.8704 or email members@titletown.org. December 11 A.M. Oshkosh, a morning networking opportunity from the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, 7:45 to 9 a.m. at Brayton B&B, 143 Church Ave. in Oshkosh. Cost to attend is $2. Registration is required by going online to www.oshkoshchamber.com or calling 920.303.2266.

014 2 Business Expo Convention Center

10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

what’s rockin’ with your business? Tell Us! Booths still available...

$475 Chamber Members $525 non Chamber Members

More Info? Contact the Chamber at 920.303.2266, info@oshkoshchamber.com

Educational Seminars held through out the day Check online for more information! www.OshkoshChamber.com/businessexpo

44 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

www.newnorthb2b.com

BUSINESS CALENDAR December 11 Women in Management – Fox Cities Chapter holiday networking social, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fox Banquets & Rivertyme Catering, 111 E. Kimball St. in Appleton. For more information or to register, go online to www.wimiwi.org or email foxcitiesprogram@wimiwi.org. December 12 Women in Management – Oshkosh Chapter holiday networking social, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at La Sure’s Banquet Hall, 3125 S. Washburn St. in Oshkosh. For more information or to register, go online to www.wimiwi. org or email Patty at pshea@sheaelectricllc.com. December 17 Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Business Connection, 5 to 7 p.m. at Wells Vehicle Electronics, 385 W. Rolling Meadows Dr. in Fond du Lac. Cost to attend is $5. For more information or to register, go online to www.fdlac.com or call 920.921.9500. December 19 “App Happy! Mobile Applications for Your Busy Lifestyle,” a Business & Breakfast series presentation from the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the F.K. Bemis Center on the St. Norbert College campus, 299 Third St. in De Pere. Presenter is Chris Lukes from Cellcom. Cost to attend is $18 for chamber members, $30 for prospective members, and includes breakfast. To register, go online to events.titletown.org. January 7 Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Power Networking Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the chamber offices, 300 N. Broadway in Green Bay. No cost to attend for chamber members. For information, call 920.437.8704 or email members@titletown.org.

Better Business Bureau New Members

Businesses accredited through the Northeast Wisconsin office during October 2013

Best Exteriors & Home Improvements, Kimberly Central Waters Distributing, Green Bay Custom Renovations, Green Bay Door County Glass & Mirror, Sturgeon Bay Furniture Row, Grand Chute & Ashwaubenon Hickey Roofing, Oshkosh M & B Global Solutions, Green Bay MHI Construction, Waupaca N.E.W. Contracting, Manitowoc OCBT, New London Wrenching Weasel, Neshkoro

Advertiser Index Bank First National www.bankfirstnational.com.................................. 28 Bayland Buildings www.baylandbuildings.com................................... 18 Borsche Roofing Professionals www.wiroofer.com............................. 7 Bouwer Printing & Mailing www.bouwerprinting.com.......................... 28 Builders Exchange of Wisconsin www.bxwi.com............................ 17 Capital Credit Union www.capitalcu.com........................................ 43 CitizensFirst Credit Union www.citizensfirst.com . ............................ 13 Clean Image Janitorial www.cijanitorial.com................................... 34 Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative www.CommonGroundHealthcare.org.11 Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. www.dkattorneys.com..................................... 5 Downtown Oshkosh www.downtownoshkosh.com.............................. 15 Fast Signs www.fastsigns.com....................................................... 34 First Business Bank www.firstbusiness.com. ...................................... 2 First National Bank ~ Fox Valley www.fnbfoxvalley.com. ................... 46 Fox Valley Savings Bank www.FVSBank.com................................... 44 Fox Valley Technical College www.fvtc.edu. .................................. 22 Guident Business Solutions www.guidentbusinesssolutions.com............ 24 J. F. Ahern Co. www.jfahern.com. ................................................. 22 Keller Inc. www.kellerbuilds.com. ................................................... 29 Marian University www.marianuniversity.edu..................................... 35 Netsonic www.netsonic.net........................................................... 30 Network Health Plan www.networkhealth.com . ................................ 47 NEW Building & Construction Trades Council www.newbt.org............ 8 NWTC Corporate Training & Economic Development www.corporatetraining.nwtc.edu......................................................... 40 Optivision www.optivision.com....................................................... 24 Oshkosh Business Expo www.oshkoshchamber.com.......................... 44 Outagamie County Regional Airport www.atwairport.com. .................. 9 Pioneer Credit Union www.pioneercu.org........................................ 42 R&R Steel Construction Company Inc. www.rrsteelconstruction.com..... 23 Sadoff & Rudoy Industries www.sadoff.com................................... 14 Security Luebke Roofing www.securityluebkeroofing.com. .................... 41 Skyline Technologies www.skylinetechnologies.com............................ 23 Stop Selling Vanilla Ice Cream www.stopsellingvanillaicecream.com....... 39 TEC www.tecmidwest.com. .............................................................. 9 The Avenue www.theavenue91.com................................................ 31 Thomas James Real Estate www.tjsite.com................................... 48 Tri City Glass & Door www.tricityglass-door.com................................ 45 Winnebago County Solid Waste Management www.co.winnebago.wi.us/solid-waste/container-rental-program. ....................... 7 Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.www.Succeed.InWisconsin.com.37 NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013 l 45

KEY STATISTICS Per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline.

November 24 $3.17

November 17 $3.17 November 10 $3.19

$3.26 Nov. 24, 2012 $3.39 November 3

Source: New North B2B observations

October

This data was not provided as a result of the federal government shutdown in October.

October

$1.196 billion

8.1%

from October 2012

October

$428.1 billion

0.4%

from September

3.9%

from October 2012 (2007 = 100)

October

100.0

0.1%

from September

3.2%

from October 2012 (Manufacturers and trade)

September

$1,679 billion

0.6 %

from August

3.1%

Appleton Fond du Lac Green Bay Neenah Oshkosh Wisconsin

September

7.6% 8.4% 8.1% 7.3% 7.9% was not7.6% This data 7.7% 8.6% provided as a result8.6% of 7.3% 8.3% 8.5% the federal government 6.9% 7.4% 7.4% shutdown in 6.2% 6.8% October. 6.8%

Prices for small businesses using less than 20,000 therms. Listed price is per therm.

November $0.761

$0.628 Nov. 2012 $0.817 October

Source: Integrys Energy (Numbers above 50 mean expansion. Numbers below 50 mean contraction.)

October

September

56.4 56.2

from September 2012

3.05 + Nationwide % APY*

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46 l NEW NORTH B2B l DECEMBER 2013

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TOM SCHARPF (920-379-0744) (tjr2216@aol.com) (www.tjrsite.com) LAND FOR SALE – Oshkosh – Starting at $79,900 Stillman Drive (Just minutes from Hwy 41 & 45) Jackson Street (South of Snell Road) – Jackson Street (3 Parcels - Corner of Jackson Street & Smith Ave.) Washburn Street (Off 20th Avenue) – Washburn Street (Off Hwy 41 & State Road 44) State Road 44 – State Road 44 & 91 – Universal Business Park (Off State Road 44)

D L O

2308 Jackson Street, Oshkosh For Sale or Lease 3,900 SF Retail/Office Nice Corner Location

D L O

136 High Avenue, Oshkosh 16 Unit Apartment Building

1315-1335-1375 Moreland St., Oshkosh For Sale 3 - Four Plexes with Garages Many Improvements Have Been Made

POSSIBLE SELLER FINANCING

2850 Universal Street, Oshkosh For Sale Or Lease 6,370 SF Office Building W/Basement & Heated Garage w/Bathroom

755 W 5th Avenue, Oshkosh For Sale or Lease 2,050 SF Retail/Office Building

101 W. Waukau Avenue, Oshkosh For Lease 14,000 SF in 73,000 SF Building

POSSIBLE SELLER FINANCING

236 W 23rd Avenue, Oshkosh

200 Tower Road, Winneconne

For Sale 18,000 SF Industrial Building Exterior Was Recently Painted

For Sale 22,200 SF Warehouse-Distribution-Office

3483-3475 Jackson Street, Oshkosh For Sale 25,000 SF Bldg and 6,000 SF Bldg-6 acres of excess land zoned R-1 Lease-4,875 SF to 19,000 SF-Collect income on 12,000 SF of leased space

110 Washington Street, Winneconne 200 Ingersoll Road, Winneconne For Sale 90,000 SF Industrial Building

3434-3444-3454 Jackson St., Oshkosh For Sale 2,500 SF Building - Building w/6 Shop Spaces - Building w/54 Mini Warehouses