July 2017

Business Intelligence for the New North

Riding the Current The banks of the Fox River get a facelift in several northeast Wisconsin communities, altering once blighted industrial land into the region’s most attractive real estate

Global Impact

Exporting

Wisconsin start-up culture Guest Commentary

July 2017 | $3.95

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Business Intelligence for the New North

16

July Features 16 COVER STORY

Riding the Current

The Fox River gets a facelift in several communities, altering once blighted industrial land into the region’s most attractive real estate

26 EXPORTING

Global Impact

Northeast Wisconsin companies get strategic in international markets

26

32 VOICES & VISIONS

Bulldog Landscaping

Finance major turned entrepreneur finds success with evolving business models

Departments 32

4

From the Publisher

6

Since We Last Met

10 Build Up Pages 30 Tourism 31 Guest Commentary 35 Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin 36

Professionally Speaking

38

Who’s News

44 Business Calendar 45 Advertising Index 46 Key Statistics Cover design Candeo Creative of Oshkosh www.newnorthb2b.com

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

NNB2B | July 2017 | 3

From the Publisher

Crystal social media presents On our 15-year anniversary, B2B extends even more content to readers through our social media sites

by Sean Fitzgerald, New North B2B publisher

Astute readers may have noticed B2B is celebrating its 15-year anniversary this month. We’re doing so rather quietly, at least not as boisterously as we observed our 5- and 10-year anniversaries.

Although it’s another half-decade since our last milestone, we decided to not make too big a deal of this anniversary. No crystal, as is the traditional gift for 15 years. No 8-page spread in the center of the magazine highlighting our best work since 2002, the awards won, the commendations received from local CEOs and political leaders. No parties, no streamers, no confetti.

But all of us at B2B do recognize that we couldn’t have experienced 15 years of success since our inaugural edition in July 2002 without the loyal following of our readers and the ardent support of our advertisers. For that, I do want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for making B2B an important part of your business intelligence routine. It’s personally meaningful, and significant to everyone that’s ever been a part of our team as well.

Like most other 15-year-olds, B2B is carving out a place for itself in the social media realm, establishing our first Facebook page, Twitter account and LinkedIn page. I encourage you to visit these sites and like, follow and link to them for updates on northeast Wisconsin’s business community in between issues of B2B. Each update on these social media sites link to a current post from our blog – which isn’t in itself new to B2B – but a refreshed commitment on past efforts to communicate with readers between issues of the magazine. And while B2B has never boasted about being a “breaking news” media entity, recent blog posts have been the first in northeast Wisconsin to share developments such as the sale of West Corp. in Appleton and Ashwaubenon, or the decision from Anthem BlueCross BlueShield to discontinue individual health insurance plans in Wisconsin beginning in 2018.

Other social media posts include links to articles and other content within B2B, as well as solicitation of reader input on upcoming coverage in the magazine.

If you follow social media yourself, please take a moment to connect with our sites on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. I know loyal readers will appreciate the additional updates B2B provides online.

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Business friendliness Chief Executive Magazine’s 2017 rankings of the Best/Worst States for Business pitted Wisconsin among the top 10 for the first time ever in the 12 years the publication has conducted its annual CEO opinion survey.

The Dairy State made the cut in the No. 10 spot, up one notch from 2016 and up a staggering 31 spots since 2010 when the state ranked No. 41 on the list, placing it among the 10 worst states in the country in which to do business. In fact, the publication’s editorial team cited Wisconsin with having the most steadfast improvement of any state in the nation during the past decade.

Of course, it should be noted that these rankings are based solely on a survey of random CEOs – there’s no empirical formula weighing corporate tax structure, regulatory reform, strength of labor unions or workforce readiness. But the rankings have become an important barometer – if even just cosmetically – within economic development and site selection spheres across the country.

While politicians serving under various administrations for the past several decades have often boasted about state government’s culture to respond in a friendly manner to business, such comments are often received as the kind of rhetorical lip service that’s supposed to be heard at any business function. Few business owners actually experience such a congenial relationship with state government.

That’s why I’ll admit to being impressed in the aftermath of one such experience. Following some confusion filing quarterly documents with the state’s Division of Unemployment Insurance, I was frustrated to receive a notice about a rather substantial financial penalty assessed to B2B. The notice spelled out a process for appealing the penalty, conveniently providing an email address in addition to the mailing address often provided as the only way to respond to any request from many government regulatory agencies.

I quickly composed a letter explaining the matter and requesting the agency set aside the onerous penalty. I sent the letter off by email later that afternoon – at 4 p.m. on a Friday – thinking I might hopefully receive a phone call or other outreach from the agency the Monday morning following the weekend.

To my surprise, I had a response by email four minutes later from a kind soul at the state department of Workforce Development granting my appeal and confirming that we had no outstanding balance of funds due to the state. What a wonderful start to my weekend.

I’d enjoy that level of service from government officials any day. n

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

www.newnorthb2b.com

Sean Fitzgerald Publisher & President x sean@newnorthb2b.com Lee Marie Reinsch Editor x editor@newnorthb2b.com Kate Erbach Production x graphics@newnorthb2b.com Rachel Yelk Sales and Marketing Intern x intern@newnorthb2b.com Contributing writers Rick Berg Chief Financial Officer Vicky Fitzgerald, CPA

Werner Electric Appleton, WI

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 LaCrosse, 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 2017.

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Contact us: P.O. Box 559 Oshkosh, WI 54903-0559 920.237.0254 www.newnorthb2b.com

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15 Years v 2002 to 2017

ARCHITECTURE I FUNDING I CONSTRUCTION I SERVICE

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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. May 23 The City of Oshkosh Common Council approved a $710,000 tax incremental finance package for a development group renovating the 130-year-old Granary building near the Fox River for a marketing firm and a new restaurant. The $1.2 million project – proposed to be complete in September – would revitalize the historic property which has sat vacant for more than 10 years.

Pickett and Ripon in northwest Fond du Lac County. The $4.7 million project closes the highway to traffic throughout the duration of construction. The project involves removing and replacing pavement for the entire stretch; adding two passing lanes; adding rumble strips; and widening shoulders.

Construction is expected to be complete by this fall.

May 26 Jordan Mather and his business, Health Connection of Appleton, was named one of 13 finalists in the 2017 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest. Health Connection, which is a mobile application to enable physical therapists to create and send instructional videos to patients, emerged from three rounds of judging that narrowed down a field of more than 170 business plan applications statewide.

May 31 Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton agreed to pay nearly $5.1 million to roughly 1,000 employees after a class action lawsuit filed against Pierce in 2016 claimed the company inaccurately recorded the amount of time employees were “on the clock” when taking paid breaks during a work shift. The emergency vehicle manufacturer, which is a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corp., indicated the settlement was fair and that it has since modified its payroll recordkeeping practices to ensure a similar situation doesn’t occur again.

May 30 The state Department of Transportation began road improvement on five miles of State Road 44 between

June 1 The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh unveiled a new information technology pilot program for high school students

2002 July 12 – Quad/Graphics new 10-story warehouse facility in Lomira collapsed and burned down, killing Keith Freiberg, 22, of Fond du Lac. Other Quad/Graphics plants will work overtime to make up for the printed materials lost in the fire.

2011 July 15 – Affinity Medical Group announced plans to build a two-story, 30,000-sq. ft. medical clinic on 1.5 acres of the former Glatfelter paper mill site in downtown Neenah. The $9 million clinic would replace Affinity’s existing clinic on Lincoln Street in Neenah.

2008 July 2 – United Way Fox Cities began promoting and distributing the FamilyWize prescription drug discount card to anyone in the community, predicting it could save area residents an average of 35 percent on the cost of their prescription drug purchases.

2012 July 12 – Prevea Health in Green Bay announced an agreement with Madison-based Dean Health Plan to offer health insurance products beginning this fall. Called Prevea 360 Health Plan, the insurance products will feature a network of hospitals, Prevea’s physicians group and ancillary providers.

2010 July 5 – The statewide cigarette smoking ban went into effect, disallowing smoking inside any Wisconsin workplace, including all bars and restaurants. Individuals violating the law can be fined $100 to $250, while businesses violating the law will be given a warning and then be subject to a maximum daily fine of $100, regardless of the number of violations.

2013 July 30 – The Green Bay Common Council approved selling the Clarion Hotel it owns downtown on Main Street for $2.7 million to American Hospitality Management, the firm currently operating the property.

American Hospitality plans to invest $5.3 million in upgrades to the 146room hotel, which will be connected to an expanded KI Convention Center.

6 | July 2017 | NNB2B

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

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interested in technology careers that will start this fall. The UW System committed $900,000 over three years to the program, which enables students to finish their first year of college while still in high school. The program provides general education and in-major classes in information systems, computer science, engineering technology and secondary education in coordination with several area high schools.

June 2 Neenah-based Winnebago Seed Fund closed its initial round of funding, announcing it raised $11 million from 30 individual and institutional investors from Wisconsin, surpassing its goal of $10 million. The Fund intends to invest in Wisconsin entrepreneurs to create and grow new startups in the Fox Valley. The Winnebago Seed Fund was established in 2016 by managing director David Trotter and received a $4 million investment commitment from the Badger Fund of Funds as its chief investor.

www.newnorthb2b.com

June 2 The U.S. Department of Labor reported 138,000 new jobs were created in May, leaving the national unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.3 percent. Job gains occurred in health care and mining.

June 6 Georgia-Pacific donated a 1,000-foot containment boom and $5,000 toward the purchase of a covered trailer for transporting the equipment to Green Bay Metro Fire Department.

The containment boom will be used as a temporary floating barrier for containing any spills occurring on area waterways to reduce potential pollution of shorelines.

June 7 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation began work on a $3 million project to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Richmond Street and Northland Avenue in Appleton. Vehicle traffic

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

through the intersection will be closed for the duration of the project, which is expected to be complete by Sept. 1.

June 7 The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development awarded $3.9 million in Youth Apprenticeship grants across the state, including $90,000 to Fond du Lac School-to-Work for schools across Fond du Lac County, $103,500 to Greater Green Bay Chamber for its Partners in Education program for most Brown County pubic school districts, and $463,500 to CESA 6, which encompasses several school districts across Winnebago and Outagamie counties. The grants will enable high school juniors and seniors to connect with local employers who offer registered apprenticeships during the 2017-18 school year.

June 8 The annual Fortune 500 list of the nation’s largest publicly-traded companies ranked Oshkosh Corp. at

NNB2B | July 2017 | 7

Since We Last Met #425 with $6.28 billion in fiscal 2016 revenues, down just a spot from its ranking of #424 on the 2016 list. The expanded list from Fortune also included Bemis Company of Neenah at #587 on 2016 revenues of $4.00 billion, also down one spot from its ranking of #586 a year ago, and Plexus Corp. of Neenah at #795 on fiscal 2016 receipts of $2.56 billion, up from its 2016 ranking at #805.

Leach Amphitheater • Oshkosh, WI

July 12

Huey Lewis and The News Copperbox Jamie Kent

July 13

Here Come the Mummies

Sly Joe and the Smooth Operators Kyle Megna and the Monsoons

July 20

Greg Rolie

founding member & lead vocalist of Santana & Journey

Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound Steely Dane Tickets available at the door or online.

Veterans are admitted FREE at any time to any Waterfest event.

Kids under 12 are admitted free with responsible adult.

(FREE offers apply to general admission areas only.)

General Admission prices will vary.

“VIP” Area is standing room only, no chairs, no umbrellas

Visit www.waterfest.org for all concert information. info@waterfest.org ❘ 920.303.2265 ext. 22

Advertising Executive

New North B2B magazine is searching for a motivated, independent salesperson to fill an advertising executive position within the growing publishing firm.

Flexible work schedule. Base salary plus commission and benefits. This position includes at least 50 percent outside sales and requires the ability to drive to appointments and events. This position reports to the publisher.

Two-plus years of sales or marketing experience preferred, as well as an associates degree or higher in marketing or related field.

June 12 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a $300,000 brownfields assessment grant to the City of Green Bay to investigate environmental conditions at various properties with redevelopment potential. The city will focus on properties within the Broadway, Velp and University Avenue corridors, where more than 150 brownfield sites have been identified.

June 12 Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. awarded the City of Oshkosh a $250,000 grant to help finance nearly $2.5 million in necessary public infrastructure at Oshkosh Arena, which will house the Wisconsin Herd, a development league basketball team affiliated with the Milwaukee Bucks. The grant will help fund improvements such as street and sidewalk work, installation of traffic lights and street lights, and other infrastructure needs for the 3,500-seat, $20 million arena.

Construction is underway on an 8-acre parcel which formerly housed a wooden furniture manufacture, and is expected to be complete by November.

Wisconsin Technology Council reported at least 136 earlystage companies raised investment capital during 2016, a 6 percent jump from 2015 and nearly double the 74 investment deals reported in the state during 2012. The annual Wisconsin Portfolio report indicated about $276.2 million was raised by those 136 companies in 2016, up from $209 million in 2015. Average deal size increased to $2 million, up from an average of $1.6 million during the prior year.

June 13 Port of Green Bay reported 137,112 tons of cargo went through the port in May, a 23 percent decrease from 176,767 tons during the same month a year ago. Despite the decline

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to sean@newnorthb2b.com or mail to:

8 | July 2017 | NNB2B

Harry

June 12

The successful job candidate will network within business and community organizations across northeast Wisconsin to develop trusting relationships with prospective advertisers and increase B2B’s visibility in the market.

New North B2B magazine P.O. Box 559 Oshkosh, WI 54903-0559

June 8 Envision Greater Fond du Lac, the new name for the merged Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce and Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corp., named Cecilia Harry as its new CEO. Harry formerly worked as executive director for Greater Fremont Development Council in Nebraska since 2013. She also previously worked in economic development roles in Leavenworth, Kan.

Business Intelligence for the New North

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

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in May, overall cargo shipments for fiscal 2017 are up 6 percent compared with 2016 through the end of May. Lower petroleum and salt shipments during May contributed to the monthly decrease in cargo.

June 19 Appleton Housing Authority received two grants totaling $250,000 from the Wisconsin Department of Administration to help first-time homebuyers in Outagamie and Calumet counties, including a $150,000 Homebuyer and Homeowner Rehabilitation Program award and a separate $100,000 Housing Cost Reduction Initiative Program grant, which provides down payment and closing-cost assistance. The rehabilitation program provides qualifying homeowners with funds for projects including energy efficiency and weatherization improvements, remediation of code violations, and repair of major building components.

Our team helps businesses large and small to achieve their goals with financial solutions customized to fit their current and future needs.

Mike Dempsey

June 20 The City of Green Bay Common Council approved a plan which will allow Brown County officials to use the 10 percent room tax collected for hotel stays within the city to help fund a proposed $93 million exposition hall in Ashwaubenon. The plan extends an existing agreement by 14 years which uses a portion of room tax revenues collected by the city and other neighboring municipalities in Brown County to help pay off the debts associated with the Resch Center. Local governance from six other municipalities around the Greater Green Bay area will have to sign off on the plan before county officials can designate the room tax funds toward the expo hall.

June 21 Anthem BlueCross BlueShield announced it would discontinue offering individual health insurance plans in Wisconsin beginning in 2018. It will continue to serve its members on individual or family plans through the remainder of 2017. In a statement, the company indicated the Wisconsin market for individual health insurance plans remains volatile, challenging the company’s ability to plan and set pricing for Affordable Care Act-compliant health plans. The volatility comes as the market for individual health insurance plans declines across the state and the nation resulting from fallout of the federal ACA. Anthem also cited additional challenges associated with continual changes and uncertainty in federal health care conversations, rules and guidance, including cost sharing reduction subsidies and the restoration of taxes on fully insured coverage.

Meghann Kasper

Bill Bradley

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June 25 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation began work on the $3.5 million project to improve College Avenue in Appleton between Interstate 41 and Linwood Avenue. The project includes repairing concrete and asphalt pavement; replacing traffic signals at five intersections; and improving the bridge over the railroad. College Avenue will remain open during construction. The project is scheduled to be complete by late September. n www.newnorthb2b.com

Joan Woldt

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

425 W Wisconsin Ave. • Appleton 920.882.8700 millenniumconstructionwi.com NNB2B | July 2017 | 9

Build Up Fond du Lac 1

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Fond du Lac

Relax.

We’ve got you covered.

For all your commercial, industrial, and institutional roofing needs.

Indicates a new listing

1 - 300 Seward St., Ripon Ripon College J.M. Storzer Center, an 88,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing athletic facility to include a fieldhouse with an indoor track, atrium, classrooms, locker rooms, fitness center and offices. Project completion expected in July.

2 - 90 Trowbridge Dr., Fond du Lac ACH Foam Technologies, an addition to the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected in August. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

3 - 100 Camelot Dr., Fond du Lac Excel Engineering, a 3,400-sq. ft. addition to the existing office building. Project completion expected in October.

4 - 1739 Fox Ridge Dr., Fond du Lac ACH Foam Technologies, an addition to the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected in August. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

866-799-0530 | N2971 Hwy. 15, Hortonville

www.wiroofer.com

10 | July 2017 | NNB2B

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

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Build Up Oshkosh

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Indicates a new listing

5 - 2211 Westowne Ave., Oshkosh Dream Jewelers, a commercial retail building. Project completion expected in July.

6 - 5725 Green Valley Road, Oshkosh Quality Truck Care Center, an addition to the existing vehicle maintenance facility.

7 - 3200 N. Main St., Oshkosh Muza Sheet Metal Co., an addition to the existing industrial building.

8 - 215 W. Murdock Ave., Oshkosh Verve, a Credit Union, a new financial institution branch office. Project completion expected in July.

9 - 324 Washington Ave., Oshkosh Oshkosh Community YMCA, a 53,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing community center and various interior renovations.

Project completion expected in November.

10 - 1212 S. Main St., Oshkosh Fox Valley Pro Basketball, an 80,000-sq. ft., 3,500-seat sports arena. Project completion expected in November. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. Projects completed since our June issue: • Sanctuary Aquatics, 2923 Jackson St., Oshkosh.

• StrataGraph/Great Northern Corp., 3465 Moser St., Oshkosh.

Coming to B2B in August 2017 Young Professionals

4th Annual 3 Overachievers Under 30

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15 Years v 2002 to 2017

NNB2B | July 2017 | 11

Build Up Fox Cities

Build Up

Fox Cities

Indicates a new listing

1 - W6396 Specialty Dr., town of Greenville Wiscolift, an addition to the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected in July. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

2 - 4815 N. Lynndale Dr., town of Grand Chute Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve, a two-story, 18,200-sq. ft. nature center and offices.

3 - 3801 N. Richmond St., town of Grand Chute Meijer, a 200,206-sq. ft. department and grocery superstore and a separate 3,366-sq. ft. convenience store. Project completion expected in early 2018.

4 - 5402 W. Integrity Way, town of Grand Chute Habitat ReStore, a 20,000-sq. ft. home improvement retail store. Project completion expected in late 2017. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

5 - 3225 W. College Ave., town of Grand Chute Stumpf Value Center, a 9,050-sq. ft. automotive dealership.

6 - 355 W. Lawrence St., Appleton Fox Cities Exhibition Center, a 65,000-sq. ft. convention and meeting facility. Project completion expected in fall.

7 - 3900 Freedom Road, Little Chute Nestle, a 313,153-sq. ft. cold storage warehouse and offices.

Project completion expected in July.

8 - 140 Allegiance Ct., Little Chute All-Star Cutting & Coring, a 10,160-sq. ft. industrial facility.

9 - 1401 E. Elm Dr., Little Chute Village of Little Chute, a 55,000-sq. ft. municipal services building. Project completion expected in September.

10 - N2061 Vandenbroek Road, Kaukauna Van’s Waste, a service bay addition to the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected in October. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

11 - 201 Reaume Ave., Kaukauna City of Kaukauna Fire Department, a 29,174-sq. ft. fire station.

Project completion expected in fall.

12 - 1662 E. Kennedy Ave., Kimberly Kimberly High School, a 54,000-sq. ft. addition to the school for an indoor athletic training facility. Project completion expected in July.

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13 - W797 County Road K, Brillion Custom Plating Specialist, a 3,360-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility for offices and warehouse space.

Project completion expected in August. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. 14 - 2515 S. Eisenhower Dr., Appleton Encapsys, a 37,000-sq. ft. new corporate office building and research facility. Project completion expected in late summer.

15 - 2830 E. John St., Appleton Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group, a 4,511-sq. ft. addition to the existing commercial office building. Project completion expected in late summer. General contractor is CR Structures Group of Kimberly.

16 - 101 S. Riverheath Way, Appleton Courtyard by Marriott, a 67,200-sq. ft., 95-room hotel. Project completion expected in late summer.

17 - 829 Appleton Road, Menasha Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, a 4,400-sq. ft. addition to and remodel of the existing church building. Project completion expected in October. General contractor is Millennium Construction of Appleton.

18 - 1395 W. American Dr., Fox Crossing Holiday’s Pub & Grill, a 1,120-sq. ft. addition to the kitchen of the existing restaurant in the multi-tenant commercial building. Project completion expected in July. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

19 - 1265 W. American Dr., Fox Crossing Wisconsin Institute of Urology, a 34,837-sq. ft. medical clinic.

20 - 1450 McMahon Dr., Fox Crossing WOW Logistics, a 24,000-sq. ft. corporate office building.

Project completion expected in July.

21 - 1050 Zephyr Dr., Fox Crossing St. Mary Catholic Central High School, a 6,500-sq. ft. addition to the existing school building for a fitness and training facility. Project completion expected in September.

Projects completed since our June issue: • Aldi, 116 N. Linwood Ave., Appleton.

• Erb Park pool facility, 1800 N. Morrison St., Appleton.

• Little Chute Diamond Club, 625 E. Elm Dr., Little Chute.

• Heartland Business Systems, 1700 Stephen St., Little Chute.

• Van Dyn Hoven, 1100 Lawe St., Kaukauna.

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Education Religious Government Assisted Living Meeting the needs of your business future

baylandbuildings.com - 920.498.9300 www.newnorthb2b.com

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

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Greater Green Bay area 1 - 4975 Glendale Ave., Howard Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, a 17,780-sq. ft. driving facility with vehicle storage, office and classroom space. Project completion expected in July.

2 - 4589 Shawano Ave., Howard McAllister Landscape Supplies, an 8,000-sq. ft. retail building and warehouse. Project completion expected in August.

General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. 3 - 2780 Howard Commons Dr., Howard Fusion Dance, a dance studio and office. Project completion expected in September. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

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Indicates a new listing

4 - 1521 Brookfield Ave., Howard Winona Foods, a 157,210-sq. ft. warehouse facility. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

5 - 2740 W. Mason St., Green Bay Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, a 62,000-sq. ft. transportation center and a two-story Great Lakes Energy Education Center. Project completion expected in early 2018.

6 - 2231 N. Quincy St., Green Bay NEW Water/Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, a wastewater treatment facility. Completion expected in 2018.

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

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7 - 1010 University Ave., Green Bay American Foods Group, a commercial office building.

8 - 1638 University Ave., Green Bay El Tapatio, an addition to the existing commercial bakery.

General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

9 - 1330 Bellevue Dr., Bellevue KI, a 60,000-sq. ft. expansion of the existing manufacturing facility. Project completion expected in August. General contractor is Consolidated Construction Co. of Appleton.

10 - 3059 Voyager Dr., Green Bay NEW Dermatology, a new medical clinic facility.

11 - 1160 Kepler Dr., Green Bay Aurora Baycare Medical Center, a two-story, 11,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing hospital for cancer care. Project completion expected in July.

12 - 2605 Development Dr., Bellevue Plastic Surgery & Skin Specialists by BayCare Clinic, a 12,000sq. ft. surgery center. Project completion expected in October.

13 - 2801 S. Webster Ave., Allouez Cerebral Palsy Inc., an addition to the existing human services center office. Project completion expected in August. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

14 - 2833 Riverside Dr., Allouez Green Bay Correctional Institution, an 8,000-sq. ft. addition to the visitor center at the existing correctional facility. Project completion expected in November.

22 - 2275 American Blvd., De Pere Green Bay Packaging, a 30,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing manufacturing facility.

23 - 1751 Matthew Dr. West, De Pere Fox River Fiber, an office addition to the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected in August. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

24 - 102 N. Broadway, De Pere The 102 On Broadway, a five-story mixed-use building with first floor commercial space and an attached parking garage.

Project completion expected in July.

25 - 633 Heritage Road, De Pere Belmark, a three-story, 41,000-sq ft. addition to the existing Plant #3 for an office building, as well as a skywalk connecting to another building on the industrial campus. Project completion expected in July.

26 - 1212 Enterprise Dr., De Pere Amerilux International, an addition to the existing industrial facility for warehouse space. Project completion expected in July. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

Projects completed since our June issue: • Aldi, 1560 Western Ave., Green Bay. • Mr. Brews Taphouse, 2665 Monroe Road, Bellevue.

• Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, 2817 S. Oneida St., Ashwaubenon.

• Kwik Trip, 940 Waube Lane, Ashwaubenon.

• GB Packaging/Jet Air, 1801 Airport Dr., Ashwaubenon.

15 - 1950 S. Ridge Road, Ashwaubenon Lodge Kohler, a five-story, 150-room hotel, restaurant and spa. Project completion expected in July.

16 - 1930 S. Ridge Road, Ashwaubenon Bellin Health Sports Medicine Clinic, a 52,268-sq. ft. health care clinic. Project completion expected in July.

17 - 1265 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay Green Bay Packers Johnsonville Tailgate Village at Lambeau Field, a 22,000-sq. ft. kitchen, bar and banquet facility. Project completion expected in July.

18 - 810 Morris Ave., Ashwaubenon Home2 Suites, a four-story, 92-suite hotel. Project completion expected in late summer.

19 - 2800 Ashland Ave., Ashwaubenon Wisconsin Public Service, a 32,000-sq. ft. regional employee training center. Project completion expected in March 2018.

20 - 3377 Packerland Dr., Ashwaubenon Ashwood Centre, an addition to the existing multi-tenant office building. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

21 - 600 High St., Wrightstown Wrightstown Community Wellness Center, a 8,564-sq. ft. addition to the existing high school for a civic facility. Project completion expected in December.

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Cover Story

Riding the Current The banks of the Fox River get a facelift in several northeast Wisconsin communities, altering once blighted industrial land into the region’s most attractive real estate

Story by Lee Marie Reinsch, New North B2B editor

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The first paper mills on the Fox River in the 1850s probably jarred the landscape with their looming structures and billowing smokestacks. More than 160 years later, most of those mills have been abandoned, razed, or repurposed as the riverscape undergoes a renaissance.

The face of the river has changed mostly for the better over the last few years. Blighted factory sites and brownfields are being restored and repurposed for the benefit of the communities and the people who live there. The river has been cleaned up after decades of dumped waste and chemical sludge from ancient papermaking processes. Creative community leaders see the riverfront as a place to gather, recreate and escape from the day-to-day grind.

“The water’s always been a draw, and it continues to be a draw,” said Karen Harkness, director of community and economic development with the City of Appleton.

In some cases, plans for the riverfront are still only a proposal on paper, but in a few cases, the rebirth has taken tangible form. Throughout the Fox River Valley, the spirit of renewal is alive and well.

RiverHeath - Appleton

Ten years in the making, the living-working-leisuring community of RiverHeath on the east side of the Fox River near downtown Appleton is taking shape. The third of its four buildings opens later this summer, as does its river trail.

Built from the ground up on the site the former Consolidated Paper and MI Drilling plants, the mixed-use commercial/ residential complex sits on 15 acres of riverbank between Telulah Park and College Avenue.

RiverHeath opened its second building, The Prairie, last October, consisting of 40 apartments and a sprinkling of first-floor commercial spaces. Residents can have a mocha at Tempest Coffee before heading over to work at Menlo Park coworking space, an office-away-from-home for those who work remotely. Later they can pop over to Salon Elan for a haircut, rent a kayak from Recyclist, and cap off the day at Mr. Brews Taphouse for a craft beer.

The third building, Courtyard By Marriott, is on track to open in August. It will offer 97 hotel rooms, event spaces and a bistro lunch spot with river views.

Submitted photos

Images from The Prairie at RiverHeath in Appleton.

“The hotel is elevated a little bit because we’re up on a hill,” said Mark Geall, principle with Tanesay Development, the firm developing RiverHeath. “It’s a very neat place to check out the riverfront.”

The Recyclist, a sports rental shop, rents bicycles and kayaks, and a boat launch nearby garners river access for boats. There’s one more 4- or 5-acre parcel left, and Tanesay will wait until 2018 to start building on that.

“We’re going to take a little pause and let the hotel open this summer and start the next phase next year,” Geall said.

It’s to be another residential/commercial combo. Geall says he hopes it could offer a space for special events as well as an ice-skating rink.

“We’ve always dreamed of an ice-skating rink,” he said. “We couldn’t be more happy with the way the riverfront has come alive.”

Eagle Point - Appleton

At the former Foremost Dairy site off of John Street on the river’s west side, Madison-based firms Alexander Company and Iconica plan an 8-acre development called Eagle Point.

Not to be confused with the Landing at Eagle Flats across the river off South Lawe Street, Eagle Point is a three-phase project that includes a $17.8 million, 99-room senior-living facility in its first phase. Phase II is a housing option, and the third phase has yet to be determined, according to Harkness.

“We just broke ground on the senior living facility at the end of May, so a year from now, next June, we’ll be ready for a ribbon cutting,” Harkness said. She described plans for a state-of-theart senior living community that include a salon, recreation, greenspace and other amenities. Alexander Company also developed the Historic Fox River Mills apartments.

Meanwhile at the Eagle Flats development site where the former Riverside Paper mill stood, the Fox River Navigational System Authority plans an interactive visitors center at Lock No. 3, according to FRNSA and Harkness.

And a new agreement with the Canadian National railway will more or less tie these three areas – Eagle Point, Eagle Flats and RiverHeath – together via Newberry Trail. The agreement lets Appleton control three railroad trestles on the river that are no longer used.

“Our desire is to make those into pedestrian trails and be able to increase our connectivity,” Harkness said.

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Cover Story Little Chute

Some 25,000 people run, walk, bike and Rollerblade the Heritage Parkway Trail in Little Chute, according to Village Administrator James Fenlon. That’s twice the population of Little Chute.

“Whether you go out there on a weekend or a weeknight or even in the winter, you’ll see a lot of wildlife and people and some natural places that would make you think you’re not in the Fox Cities,” Fenlon said.

It’s clear that the Fox River is drawing area residents outside to rove its trail system.

A big part of what’s new on the Little Chute river trail is the replacement for the old Mill Street bridge.

“It was a vehicular bridge that was no longer safe for passenger vehicles and had been closed for years,” Fenlon said.

It’s now a spiffy new pedestrian lift bridge which crosses the river’s navigational channel.

“That whole area has gotten kind of a little breath of fresh air and some new amenities with the trail and the new bridge and the locktender’s house being refurbished to its original state,” he said.

Nicolet National Bank never loses sight of providing our customers the basics of banking. It’s on these qualities that our bank was founded and continues to grow.

“It’s not that far removed from the river, and it feels like it is part of the river.”

James Fenlon, Little Chute village administrator, discussing plans to connect downtown to the riverfront.

As of last year, overnight guests can rent the locktender’s house at Mill Street through AirBnB.com, and reviews have been positive.

Little Chute actually has three locktender houses, one for each of its locks. Only one, the 1909 Little Chute Lock House on Mill Street, was refurbished by volunteers with the Fox River Heritage Parkway organization and is open for overnight stays.

In 1984, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that they would abandon the Fox River’s 17 locks. Shortly after, the Fox River Navigational System Authority was established with the intent of refurbishing the locks.

Village of Little Chute staff have been working with regional partners and other stakeholders along the canal system to look at expanding that area with more recreational opportunities and amenities, Fenlon said. Boat slips or a boat launch might be future options.

800.369.0226 Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender

“It’s really driven the conversation around here and given us an idea on things to come,” he said.

Fenlon said the village is considering extending the boardwalk from where the 1.25-mile trail ends at Heesakker Park across the river to Kaukauna. He said the earliest that would happen would be 2019.

Village officials are working on a downtown plan which includes finding ways to connect the river to the downtown

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winning grants from various sources rather than placing the entire cost on the shoulders of taxpayers, Davis said.

“We did that successfully with the hotel project on the north side where we built the docks along the hotel and over to Becket’s restaurant, and we got more grants to build more docks to the west for future development of the (adjacent) Marion Road area,” he said.

Photo by Don Stolley of Stolley Studio

Dusk along the riverfront in downtown Oshkosh.

not only from a pedestrian and transportation perspective, but visually as well, Fenlon said.

“It’s not that far removed from the river, and it feels like it is part of the river,” Fenlon said. “With a few connections, it could be easily seen as part of the river.”

Oshkosh

With the completion of the riverwalk on the north side of the Fox River in downtown Oshkosh, plans are afoot to continue the promenade on the south side.

“The plan is for 1½ to 2 miles worth of riverwalk, and we’ve done about 40, maybe 50 percent of it,” said Allen Davis, director of community development with the City of Oshkosh.

Continuation involves getting easements or land from property owners, as well as obtaining permits from the state Department of Natural Resources, Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard. Financing the project also includes

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This summer the city is extending riverwalk in the Morgan District on south riverbank near the site of the former Morgan Door Co. “We have had to get permission and acquisitions from property owners, and almost all of them have donated it because they believe in the project and see it as an improvement for their property on the water,” Davis said.

Morgan Partners, the developers behind the Morgan District, are among those property owners that have donated land for the river walk. The Morgan District extends to about a quarter mile of river frontage some 1,500 feet deep on the Fox River.

Five years ago, the Morgan Partners bought the 27-acre Morgan Door Co. site and demolished its century-old structures. Currently, Oshkosh Corp. has been leasing part of the site to park its military trucks.

The development group is planning a mix of residential and commercial, to include a grocery store, with residential closer to the river and commercial closer to nearby Oregon Street.

“Our first phase would be 120 apartment units and a 25,000-square-foot grocery store,” said Grant Schwab, one of the principles with Morgan Partners.

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Cover Story Over the last few years, the city’s downtown groups have worked hard to emphasize the river as an asset to the city.

Lofts, condos, restaurants and even a children’s museum have sprung up there, and a few years ago, the city reconstructed its downtown riverwalk, adding The CityDeck boardwalk as a place for dining, music events and even outdoor yoga.

“We’ve been focusing on revitalizing our downtown and on making sure the river is a strong part of that,” said Kevin Vonck, director of economic development for the City of Green Bay. Submitted image

A view of the Metreau Apartments from the west side of the Fox River in downtown Green Bay.

Schwab said he hopes that they can move forward within the next six to 12 months.

“Right now with the economy the way it is, it’s so tough to get anything done and trying to get builders to bid things out,” he said. “You can’t get people to bid out contracts, and when you do, you can’t get them to hold their price for 90 or 120 days.”

Davis estimates the city has two more years worth of construction to go on the river walk. “We’ve submitted another grant application for construction for 2018,” he said.

“We’re hoping that’ll be enough to finish the construction in the Morgan District.”

Davis said the city has historically done about $1.5 million worth of construction per year because after that, grant funds usually max out.

If all goes well, the riverwalk could eventually wrap around the former Pioneer Resort property.

“We’re working on a design for the riverwalk to go around that island, around the marina and the breakwater in that area,” Davis said.

Downtown Green Bay

The Fox River runs through downtown Green Bay, separating the east from the west side of the city. The Broadway District anchors the dining and shopping area on the west side of the river, while Washington Street is the dining and shopping anchor on the east.

On the east side, at the intersection of Walnut and Washington streets, the Metreau Apartments opened late last year. Featuring river views and lots of steel and glass, the $15 million project included about 100 market-rate and higherrent apartments. Most are filled already. The ground level has several commercial spaces, none of which have been leased yet, Vonck said.

The Shipyard – Green Bay

Across the river from the south end of downtown, plans for an entertainment complex called The Shipyard are stirring excitement. A boat slip divides the 13-acre mostly brownfield site on South Broadway.

On the south side, plans call for a $9 million outdoor stadium to be leased to the Green Bay Bullfrogs baseball team and used for high school games, concerts, festivals and community events. Big Top Baseball, which owns the Bullfrogs, has agreed to bring in a minor league soccer team to use the field as well, according to Vonck.

Mark Skogen, owner of De Pere-based Festival Foods, has proposed a $2.5 million indoor concert venue at The Shipyard with capacity to hold 2,000 people. Additionally, Anduzzi’s Sports Club, a local bar and restaurant, is planning to build and operate a bar with waterfront access.

“We’re working with those parties to get agreements wrapped up soon,” Vonck said. “(The city) will also be putting $1 million into that neighborhood over the next few years.”

Plans aren’t cemented yet, but Vonck said multifamily housing and office space are considerations. Vonck said he hopes the project can begin this fall, pending financing.

“The Shipyard is our last big riverfront piece in the downtown,” he said.

Submitted image

An artist rendering of the proposed Shipyard development along the Fox River on the south side of the Broadway District in Green Bay.

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70%

of businesses FAIL to transition sucessfully Williams and Preisser, 2003

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Cover Story Neenah: From trash to trails

“It’s been viewed as a diamond in the rough for many, many years … and now we’re at a point where it’s ready to be cut and polished.”

The biggest change to Neenah’s downtown is the building housing Plexus Corp.’s new design center. Crews put the finishing touches on the $9 million, four-story Gateway building at Wisconsin and Main streets this spring, and its 200-plus employees moved into their new home in June.

“It has fantastic views of Little Lake Butte des Morts, and even if it isn’t on the river, it certainly benefits from the river,” said Chris Haese, Neenah’s community development director.

The influx of professionals positively impacts the downtown’s restaurants and shops, he said.

“They’re engineers, so their disposable income is probably higher than some other types of employment,” Haese said.

Between that building and the south edge of the lakefront, demolition of the former waste incinerating Fox Valley Energy Center finished this spring. It clears the way, some hope, for developing Arrowhead Park. The site sits near the former Glatfelter Paper Mill, which now houses the corporate headquarters for Plexus.

The 20-acre site boasts a half-mile of shoreline on Little Lake Butte des Morts. An ad hoc citizens advisory panel led by the parks director is helping determine the community’s desires, such as trails, boat slips, fishing piers and a community-use building.

“With the removal of the facilities, accessibility to the park has

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Chris Haese, City of Neenah community development director, discussing prospects for Arrowhead Park. improved, and we’re now at a point where we have a site we can manicure into a community asset,” Haese said. “It’s been viewed as a diamond in the rough for many, many years … and now we’re at a point where it’s ready to be cut and polished.”

Kimberly

The Fox River shed another unattractive blemish this year as Kimberly gets closer to sculpting a new landscape.

Plans are in place to develop a small part – about 8.5 acres – of the nearly 100-acre former NewPage paper mill site along the south shore of the river.

Area closer to North Main and Maes Avenue was recently

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approved for mostly single-family attached dwellings, or condo-duplexes. The area closer to the river is known as Cedars West, and is proposed to consist of high-end singlefamily homes, with nearly a third of them on river frontage, according to Rick Hermus, former village administrator for Kimberly.

“We’re working behind the scenes on some concept plans and a potential developer’s agreement, with those plans to be presented at some point in the next couple months to the planning commission and board for consideration,” he said.

Like many other Fox River cities, Kimberly puts a high priority on park spaces and areas to walk and run. The citizens’ advisory committee came up with a plan for trails and greenspace alongside the residential developments.

“We’ll be incorporating some open space at points along the river, along with a trail that will go from our Sunset Park to our community bridge, weaving through the development along the riverfront,” Hermus said.

“The water’s always been a draw, and it continues to be a draw.”

Karen Harkness, director of community and economic development, City of Appleton NewPage sold the closed mill site to a demolition company in 2010. The demolition company wanted to play a role in developing it along with the village, but those good intentions didn’t work out, Hermus said. Eventually the village bought the site for $5 million, closing the sale this year. The village created a tax incremental finance district for the area and received a $500,000 Idle Industrial Sites grant from Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to assist with redevelopment.

“Since the village acquired this property January 1, interest has been very high, including a lot of interest from potential developers,” Hermus said. “Our biggest challenge right now is making sure we do this appropriately and do it in a sustainable manner, according to the vision that was created in the community back in 2013.”

Hermus said the development’s eventual value could be between $25 to $35 million. n

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NNB2B | July 2017 | 23

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When you’re considering a new health insurance plan, not only should you take the hard costs into account, you should also think about how the system that supports your insurance program can impact the rest of the company.

When you pick a carrier that offers a user-friendly online experience for workers as well as the human resources department, the process of getting everyone enrolled and managing employee benefits can become streamlined.

Enrolling in an employer-provided health insurance plan gets easier when you can log on to a well-designed website, pick the right plan and fill out all the necessary information.

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NNB2B branded content / Security Health Plan | July 2017 | 25

Exporting

Northeast Wisconsin companies get strategic in international markets Story by Rick Berg

In the best of all global trade worlds, strategy meets opportunity to create sustained success for Wisconsin companies that want to expand their market presence beyond the United States borders.

“We see all kinds of exporters, including what I call accidental exporters, who maybe get occasional one-off requests for products and just send them off,” said Katy Sinnott, vice president of international business development at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. “The difference between those companies and those who are successful is that successful exporters are very proactive, and that has a lot to do with planning and the way they implement their global strategy.”

Sinnott described the five P’s of exporting as planning, products, people, process and partners.

“All of those are important, but it starts with planning,” she 26 | July 2017 | NNB2B

said. “It’s extremely important for executive leadership to develop and implement an export strategy.”

Even successful exporters may have started out opportunistically. The key factor is that they evolved strategically. Case in point is Appleton-based CMD Corp., which recently won the 2017 Governor’s Export Achievement Award for “businesses that have achieved significant growth or implemented innovative strategies in exporting.”

CMD President Steve Sakai said his company had, prior to 2009, sometimes dabbled in exports, “but I always considered that as an opportunistic endeavor as opposed to a sustained element of an overall strategy.”

Beginning in 2009, he said, the designer and manufacturer of converting machinery to produce plastic bags, pouches, and flexible packaging recognized it would need to become strategic and aggressive in global trade. The company already

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owned nearly 90 percent of the domestic market share for its packaging equipment, so there was little room for growth, especially as the U.S. market overall continued to slow immediately following the recession.

“For us to achieve our growth aspirations, looking at (foreign) markets became an imperative,” Sakai said.

Combine slow domestic growth with increased international competition in the U.S. market and you have a compelling motivation to expand globally, said Paul Rauscher, CEO of Hobart-based EMT International.

“If you’re just trying to defend your domestic market share, you’re fighting a losing battle,” Rauscher said. “It’s like in sports. If you’re only going to play defense, you’re only playing half the game and you’re going to lose.”

Defining success in global trade

International trade professionals and successful exporters alike note there are common characteristics that tend to define companies who do well in global trade.

Success usually starts with companies connecting with resources available to them and understanding that doing business globally is a far different experience than doing so domestically, said Greg Miller, international trade consultant at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s Small Business Development Center.

Companies that want to succeed globally “have to be willing to take risks,” said Dean Stewart, dean of corporate training and economic development at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay, which hosts the Northeast Wisconsin International Business Network.

“It’s generally important to be more proactive than reactive.

However, when a business first enters global trade, there are going to be lessons learned along the way and it’s important to be reactive to those lessons,” Stewart said. “What went right and what went wrong? What would we do differently? Then you can be more proactive the second time around.”

The elements in Sinnott’s “5 Ps” of exporting – planning, products, people, process and partners – often surface in discussions about global trade.

Be strategic and understand the market differences.

Successful exporters start out by assessing the best international markets for their products and understanding how those markets may be different from the domestic market, Sinnott said.

“That’s probably what takes the longest, because you have to do a lot of market research,” Sinnott said. “You have to find out what countries are a good fit for your products, and you can do that by leveraging the resources of the WEDC, for example. You need to understand how your products might be used differently in those markets. Sometimes the packaging needs to be different and you wouldn’t know that if you haven’t done your research.”

Local Global Resources Northeast Wisconsin companies have a variety of resources available to help step up their international trade game.

WEDC Global Business Development Assistance

In addition to twice-annual international trade missions, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Global Business Development Program offers training, consultation and funding to Wisconsin companies interested in increasing their global trade footprint.

ExporTech is an export acceleration program delivered by WEDC and the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity to help state companies expand their global market reach through targeted export strategy development and execution. WEDC reports ExporTech graduates achieved international sales increases averaging $600,000 to $900,000 within 12 months of completing the program.

International Market Access Grant program can reimburse companies up to $10,000 for specific expenses associated with executing new or expanded international market access strategies. Among the possible uses for IMAG funds are WEDC-approved trade shows, conferences or business meetings; translation of web/printed materials for a targeted foreign market; export education and competency building; and consulting services.

Global Trade Ventures are designed to connect Wisconsin companies with potential buyers, distributors and other partners in key international markets.

Northeast Wisconsin International Business Network

NEWIBN, for short, is a partnership between Northeast Wisconsin and Fox Valley technical colleges. NEWIBN offers a speaker featuring global thought leaders and networking opportunities that include discussions on current and emerging issues in global trade.

Global Marketplace Seminars at NWTC teach skills needed to enter the global business world or increase business leaders’ understanding of international trade concepts.

Global Education Seminars at FVTC train in more than 10 foreign languages for organizations that do business internationally.

SBDC International Trade Consultant

The U.S. Small Business Development Center at UW Oshkosh offers export consultation services. Greg Miller joined the SBDC staff last fall as an international trade consultant, providing a no-cost assessment of companies’ export readiness. For more information, contact Miller at millerg@uwosh.edu or call 920.424.4631.

Sakai noted CMD quickly learned that in some markets the company’s equipment had to be able to function effectively in conditions where power generation was sometimes inconsistent. www.newnorthb2b.com

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Exporting “That was somewhat surprising to us at first to discover that the consistent availability of electric power was not something to be taken for granted in some places and so you have to adjust for the fact that the machines might be taken down suddenly due to a loss of power,” Sakai said. “That just doesn’t happen in the U.S., of course, or very rarely. So that’s something our machines were not designed for initially, when we were doing business mostly in the United States.”

Create a global culture. Having been both an occasional and a strategic exporter, Sakai said he sees a difference between companies that do business internationally and companies that are intrinsically international.

“To be a truly international company requires a different philosophical perspective – a global view,” Sakai said.

“You really have to internationalize your operations,” Sinnott said. “Companies that export well are organizations in which everyone understands why global business is important, regardless of whether they’re involved in the export process. It becomes a key element of your growth strategy and everyone buys into it.”

“We have invested a lot of time and effort in terms of engaging our employees in creating a culture that allows us to adapt quickly and respond to the needs of the markets,” Sakai said. “I really give our employees a lot of credit, because the vast majority of them have been with us for a very long time and most grew up in this area. So, it was challenging at first to think about doing business in countries far away, with business practices that we didn’t always understand at first.”

Develop global partners. Creating a support system of experienced transactional partners is one critical key to doing business globally, Sinnott said. That includes legal, financial and logistical support, as well as distribution and service partners in the regions where a company is doing business.

One of the hardest business operations to manage internationally is sales and service, according to Rauscher.

When EMT International recently acquired Germany-based RotoControl Gmbh., Rauscher did so primarily to strengthen EMT’s label-finishing equipment production. Much of that company’s manufacturing capacity will locate to Hobart, but Rauscher said an important side benefit to the deal is that EMT now has sales and service capacity in Europe.

“To do business well in Europe, we needed to have a footprint there,” Rauscher said. “You need that in sales and service for sure, to support your products. We didn’t have that before.

We had a small service team that we did through another company. RotoControl is very good at that and has a good global presence, so that will help us not only in the EU, but internationally as a whole.”

Similarly, CMD recently acquired Flex4 of Switzerland, which specializes in servicing packaging equipment.

“As our business overseas has grown, the demand for service and support for our products has increased, and I can tell you that providing service and support to Europe efficiently is not the easiest thing to do from Appleton,” said Sakai.

“We saw that a necessary component for us to be successful internationally is to be able to service our customers effectively and provide timely technical support.”

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State exports down slightly but still strong Wisconsin exports totaled an estimated $21 billion in 2016, according to data from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and the U.S. Department of Commerce. That’s down 6.4 percent from 2015, but still double the value of Wisconsin exports in 2000.

Northeast Wisconsin companies accounted for about $3.8 billion in 2015, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration.

The Milwaukee MSA tops the list at $8 billion, followed by the Madison MSA at $2.3 billion and the Oshkosh-Neenah MSA at $1.36 billion. The Green Bay and Appleton MSAs accounted for $968 million and $838 million, respectively.

$21.0 billion

Wisconsin’s Top 5 Export Markets (Millions of U.S. Dollars)

6,591

Wisconsin goods exports in 2016

Wisconsin’s Top 5 Export Categories (Millions of U.S. Dollars) Machinery

3,050 1,424 Canada

Mexico

China

865 Japan

813 UK

Source: the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration

Reaching global critical mass

Miller said as more companies in the New North turn their attention globally, a kind of critical mass will gradually be achieved, with organizations discovering best practices from one another.

“We still have a lot of work to do in terms of global trade,” Miller said.

“We’ve been too fragmented and not very cohesive or collaborative until recently, but we are beginning to do better at engaging the resources that are available.”

Stewart expects that more companies in the New North will gravitate toward global trade as market imperatives compel them.

“What they’re going to recognize is that there is only so much business they can capture in the United States or even in North America,” Stewart said. “It’s a big world out there and it’s going to be increasingly important to be aggressive in terms of how they view their business footprint and how they define their marketplace.”

Colleges like NWTC can help by developing a workforce better able to work globally, Stewart said.

www.newnorthb2b.com

4,079

Computer & Electronic Products

2,870

Transportation Equipment Chemicals Processed Foods

2,335 1,964 1,850

“We are creating a lot more international awareness here,” Stewart said. “We have intentionally increased the number of international students here and exponentially increased the number of study-abroad opportunities for our students and faculty. We’re trying intentionally to build a global culture here and in the region.”

“If you want to be a global player, you need to think globally,” said Rauscher.

“You have to expand your thinking about what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it.”

For Sakai, thinking and acting globally has benefits that transcend the profits made from global trade.

“We’ve certainly learned a lot through our experience internationally and I think it’s made us a better company overall in a lot of different ways,” Sakai said. “It’s sharpened us as a company and improved our ability to service our domestic customers, as well as our international customers.” n Rick Berg is a freelance writer and editor from Green Bay.

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

NNB2B | July 2017 | 29

Tourism

Traveler spending nears $20B in 2016 For the millions of travelers visiting Wisconsin, it’s all about the fun and memories, but for state residents, those memories translate into jobs, paychecks and tax revenue for local government.

by New North B2B staff

A 3.5 percent growth in visitor spending statewide during 2016 pushed the economic impact of Wisconsin’s tourism industry to a record $19.97 billion and equated to an increase in tourism-related employment and personal income, according to a statewide economic impact study conducted by Tourism Economics, a research firm commissioned by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

Tourism’s total economic impact of nearly $20 billion on Wisconsin last year compared to $19.3 billion during 2015.

Since 2010, the state’s tourism economy has experienced a 35 percent rate of growth from the $14.8 billion in tourism economic impact recorded at that time.

Overall, direct visitor spending increased from $11.9 billion a year ago to more than $12.3 billion in 2016.

Another industry indicator includes visitor growth in 2016 reaching almost 108 million, up 3 percent from a year ago and an increase of 15 million visitors since the 2011 estimated volume of 92.7 million visitors.

Officials from the Department of Tourism said lower gasoline prices during the past year meant transportation costs took a smaller share of the travel budget, allowing for strong growth in all non-transportation segments, led by growth in spending on lodging. Overall, lodging revenues increased by 5.8 percent during the past year to more than $3.3 billion statewide.

According to the economic impact study released in May, tourism supported nearly 193,500 jobs and more than $5.2 billion in personal income across the state.

In total, visitor spending generated more than $1.5 billion in state and local tax revenue during 2016.

Closer to home

Local tourism figures continue to increase across northeast Wisconsin as well. The recent economic impact report from Tourism Economics unveiled the following: z Visitor spending in Outagamie County increased 1 percent to $340 million in 2016. This direct spending is 30 | July 2017 | NNB2B

estimated to have sustained 6,433 jobs in the tourism industry and provided almost $167 million in income for Outagamie County residents. Visitor spending also generated an estimated $43.1 million in state and local taxes during 2016.

Reports from the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau indicated visitor spending in its Fox Cities service region – which aggregates tourism impact figures from portions of Outagamie, Winnebago and Calumet counties – increased 2 percent to $463 million in total visitor spending during 2016.

The CVB reported visitor spending in the Fox Cities was led by $137 million in spending in the food and beverage sector, followed by spending on lodging of $107 million and retail revenues of $98 million. z In Brown County, visitor spending climbed 4 percent to nearly $638 million in 2016, ultimately supporting an estimated 11,588 jobs in the tourism industry and providing $429 million in income for local residents. Total visitor spending generated an estimated $90.9 million in state and local taxes last year. z Visitor spending in Winnebago County jumped nearly 4 percent to $243 million during 2016. This direct spending supported an estimated 4,879 jobs across the county and provided an estimate $134 million in paychecks for Winnebago County residents. Visitor spending generated an estimated $30.9 million in state and local taxes in 2016. z Rounding out the region with the highest year-over-year rate of growth, visitor spending in Fond du Lac County increased nearly 7 percent to $141 million in 2016, sustaining an estimated 2,653 jobs in the tourism industry and provided $62 million in payroll for Fond du Lac County residents. Total visitor spending generated $17.8 million in state and local taxes in Fond du Lac County last year. n

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

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Guest Commentary

Wisconsin start-up culture Why the state continually ranks as a bottom-feeder in startup index – and how it can improve

by Tom Still There are some specific steps Wisconsin policymakers can – and should – take to improve its business startup rate, which once again anchored the bottom of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s annual index in 2017.

The real reasons for Wisconsin’s quasi-permanent status as a Kauffman bottom-feeder, however, likely have more to do with who we are as a people versus what state or local government can do.

The latest Kauffman Startup Index has unleashed the usual amount of hand wringing about Wisconsin’s startup production, even though other national studies have cast the state in a more favorable light. Investments in Wisconsin early stage companies have nearly doubled in five years, and high-growth companies are popping up well outside the confines of the Dane County startup zone.

Here are reasons why Wisconsin may not escape Kauffman’s startup cellar for quite some time: We’re older than most states: Reports from 2016 rank Wisconsin’s population as the 15th oldest among the 50 states with a median age of 38.7, about a year and a half older than the U.S. median. Entrepreneurs are statistically more likely to be younger, although there has been a trend toward more “gray ‘treps” of late.

We have fewer immigrants than most states: While the share of foreign-born Wisconsin residents has grown and nearly doubled since 1990, it stood at 4.8 percent in 2015. The U.S. percentage of foreign-born residents was 13.5 percent for the same year. Immigrants are statistically twice as likely to start a business as a native-born American. The “glory days” of Wisconsin business creation in the early 20th century came at a time when about 25 percent of the state’s population was born overseas.

We’re more “inbred” than other states: In 2012, 72 percent of the people who lived in Wisconsin were born in Wisconsin, a rate exceeded by only five states. About 15 percent of the people who live in Wisconsin come from Illinois, Minnesota or other Midwest states. That reflects well on the state’s ability to retain its natives and neighbors but also suggests we’re not reaping the benefit of a more diverse talent pool. No West Coast, Rocky Mountain or Great Plains state stood higher than 66 percent state-born, and most were around the 50 percent mark. States west of the Mississippi are among those with the highest startup rates.

Most of us already have jobs: Wisconsin’s estimated unemployment rate for April dropped to a 17-year low of 3.2 percent, down from 3.4 percent in March and well below the 9.2 percent peak during the darkest days of the Great Recession.

The U.S. jobless rate is 4.4 percent. Historically, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate is lower than the national average – good times and bad. While some entrepreneurs pursue opportunity regardless of whether they currently hold a job or not (a fact measured by Kauffman), many people are too risk-averse to do so. That may be imbedded in Wisconsin’s culture.

Those demographic and cultural factors are baked into Wisconsin’s startup cake, but the flavors can vary by community.

The Madison area is a prime example of a younger, more diverse economy. Milwaukee continues to struggle in some ways but has a growing cadre of entrepreneurs. The Chippewa Valley in western Wisconsin and the Fox Valley in northeast Wisconsin are producing more young companies, as well.

What can be done to help? Whether you believe the Kauffman Index or more favorable figures from Cyberstates or the Milken Institute, there’s plenty of room for improvement. Some examples from the Wisconsin Technology Council’s policy papers: X Continue to improve the state’s infrastructure to support entrepreneurs, which most observers agree is far stronger than five, 10 or 15 years ago.

X Accelerate investments in broadband deployment, which will dramatically improve the startup and business climate in rural Wisconsin.

X Make strategic changes in the state’s early stage investment tax credit laws and remove other investment barriers, such as the state tax on investments in Wisconsin companies organized in other states.

X Re-invest in higher education, which is the source of most young talent.

X Make it easier to succeed as an entrepreneur in Wisconsin.

Barriers to success include employment non-compete agreements; certain professional and occupational licensing requirements; local or state rules that “fence in” older economic models; and a lack of flexibility regarding new types of corporate structures.

In time, progress on those points will help attract and retain risk-takers who start companies. Don’t expect Wisconsin to crack the top 10 or even the top 45 next year, but the time to lay the groundwork is now.

Still is president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. He is the former associate editor of the Wisconsin State Journal.

www.newnorthb2b.com

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

NNB2B | July 2017 | 31

Entrepreneurship

V V

oices isions & A native of Milwaukee, Allan Dreblow earned his University of Wisconsin Oshkosh degree in finance with hard work in the classroom and on construction and excavating jobs during summer.

In 2002, he was initially hired by M&I Bank in downtown Appleton, but switched to cell phone sales and performed well. A competitor recruited him to work exclusively on its business accounts and the future seemed solid. But he wasn’t his own master, though, yearning for more control over decisions and feeling worn down by corporate life.

Allan Dreblow Bulldog Landscaping Appleton

Pet cleanup offered a new career path for Dreblow in 2006 – he created his own company cleaning pet waste from residential properties. Before long, Bulldog changed its business model to landscaping and snow removal, with a team and ambition that’s grown steadily ever since.

Today he lives at work, with gear and tools neatly arrayed in an oversized garage next to a modest ranch home. From a cozy highchair next to the patio door, 1-year old Miriam watches daddy prepare his heavy equipment to literally shape the world.

thebulldoglandscaping.com

32 | July 2017 | NNB2B

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

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Why did you leave cell phone sales?

When I did cell phone sales, it was a steady paycheck and paid very well if we hit our target numbers. Both companies I worked with had their pros and cons, however both became overbearing with their salespeople.

I knew I wanted something different. I knew I wanted to be out on my own and build something.

Suttner ACCOUNTING

How did you save to launch your business?

We bootstrapped, meaning we took money that we made and kept investing back into the business. I tried to stay out of taking on too much debt to begin with. I wanted our business to prove that we could provide enough cash flow to survive.

Did you always want to be a landscaper?

I really enjoy working in the green industry. You have to know so many different things to compete in this business. We take a lot of pride in bringing value to people one yard at a time. Every day is different. Now I do the office and customer service work, so I’m in the office more than the field.

However, I handle the sales calls and that is always very exciting. In springtime I sometimes have five to six appointments in one day and am working on four to five new estimates every day during our spring time rush.

How did you grow your service offerings?

Our former business started with pet cleanup, lawn mowing, shrub trimming and snow plowing. We dropped pet cleanup and decided to transition to landscape maintenance services. We added install work as customers began requesting services from planting bushes, plants or trees, to renovating landscaping beds of mulch or decorative rock. We also do paver patios and retaining walls.

How do you deploy your teams?

We have a maintenance crew and an installation crew.

There is some overlap. For example, a mulch job could be done by either crew. Patios, retaining walls, new lawns, sodding, tree planting would be done by our install crew.

Mowing, trimming, pruning bushes, weeding, lawn repairs/ renovations are done by our maintenance crew. We crosstrain everyone so that any employee can do any job but we like to focus each day’s jobs with a specific crew.

David Lewis, CPA

Account Director david.lewis@suttnercpa.com 920.235.6789

Tax Planning & Preparation Financial Statements Bookkeeping/Write Up Payroll Services Visit suttnercpa.com/client services for a more complete list of services

We are now hiring one fulltime and one part-time laborer position. We currently have four fulltime employees, two part-time mechanics, and two fulltime sub-contractors in the winter for snow-plowing operations.

Quality ❘ Value ❘ Timeliness www.newnorthb2b.com

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

NNB2B | July 2017 | 33

Entrepreneurship Our growth has been slow and steady. I prefer to be the tortoise and not the hare. I’ve also learned that every opportunity for new business does not necessarily mean they are a good fit for our company. Every year we have grown, and I think we have become much more strategic in how we grow.

What does strategic growth mean for you?

We have a lot of opportunities that come in front of us that we look at to determine if we would like to pursue.

Not all business is created equal. In lawn maintenance, we look for customers that are looking to hire a company for the entire year. We turn down one-time mowing service work as I have found it difficult to be profitable without servicing the location for an entire season. This being said, if someone wants a spring cleanup of the yard or fall cleanup we set a minimum we need to make to be able to send out a crew.

Another way to look at it would be 30 percent snow, 50 percent lawn maintenance and 20 percent installation.

Snow and lawn maintenance is 85 to 90 percent repeat business.

Is equipment used for multiple job types?

Yes. We have three 4-wheel drive, diesel lawn tractors that are equipped with 54-inch snow blowers. They handle snow plowing for all of our sidewalks and tight areas at commercial locations. In the summertime, two of them are set up to mow and one is set up for install work with a front loader and rear tiller.

We do a lot of metal custom fabricating in our shop during the winter. For example, we took a 1.5-yard snow bucket and increased its size to 2.5-yard capacity so when we have to move or stack snow it makes us more efficient.

How do you find new clients?

How does climate affect your business?

Most of our prospects contact us through referrals or marketing campaigns we do through email and billboards.

It’s roughly 60 percent commercial and 40 percent residential.

We basically have two to three transition months: November and March/April. This is where we have plows on the trucks but we are still doing landscaping work. n

Building Trust Since 1960

featuring BP Hi-Way Hop

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15 Years v 2002 to 2017

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Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin

Update 5 of 6

Zeroing in on cost New student created software will help Fond du Lac company evaluate its estimating process

Fond du Lac-based AMC of Wisconsin has come a long way during the past few months from putting out proverbial fires in its business operations to laying the groundwork for profitability.

Axel and Carmina Mendez, owners of the 35-employee decorative stone countertop fabricator, have spent a good portion of 2017 working with Gary Vaughan of Guident Business Solutions in Appleton to improve the performance and profitability of their business as part of New North B2B magazine’s Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin initiative.

by Sean Fitzgerald, New North B2B publisher

“This program will speed up their process for evaluating jobs after they have been completed, comparing their estimates to their actual expenses for each job,” Vaughan said.

Heading into the final stretch of our Firefighters initiative in the month ahead, Vaughan indicated he and the Mendezes are developing a strategic plan that will look out the next three years for AMC of Wisconsin. It will be accompanied by an annual operating budget which Axel and Carmina will use as a sales and expense target as they evaluate their monthly performance going forward.

“We want to set in place a plan to accomplish their goals and allow them to have a perpetual three year outlook going forward,” Vaughan said.

Vaughan said the end goals for the Mendezes are to increase top line sales for AMC of Wisconsin and grow the couple’s equity line on their balance sheet. The strategy Vaughan will help them implement in the month ahead should lead them down the path to achieve their goals.

COMPANY: AMC of Wisconsin OWNERS: Axel and Carmina Mendez LOCATION: Fond du Lac FOUNDED: 2002 EMPLOYEES: About 40 WHAT IS DOES: Fabricator of decorative stone countertops for the home improvement industry.

Now more focused on opportunities to cut costs and operate more efficiently, the Mendezes received a parting gift from the three Lawrence University seniors who’ve been assisting them this past spring. As the students prepared to graduate in early June, they created a custom Excel program to help the company with its job costing function. The software is expected to help AMC better determine which jobs are profitable and which are less than break even, said Vaughan, who also taught and advised the students this past semester through his role on Lawrence’s business and entrepreneurship faculty.

B2B will return with a final capstone article wrapping up our 6th Annual Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin initiative in our August 2017 edition. n Gary Vaughan Guident Business Solutions, Appleton www.guidentbusinesssolutions.com Vaughan launched Guident in 2009 after spending his entire career teaching – both in the classroom and in business. Vaughan has professional experience in a variety of industries, including retail, petroleum, manufacturing and academics. He is a senior adjunct instructor in the MBA program at Concordia University of Wisconsin, and a lecturer in economics and entrepreneurship at Lawrence University in Appleton.

Methodology New North B2B magazine began seeking entries for its 6th annual Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin initiative late last year, with a goal of assisting those northeast Wisconsin small business owners who feel as if they’re constantly burning the candle at both ends, putting out fires, spinning their wheels, but intent on finding a way to improve.

www.newnorthb2b.com

Through the generous help of Gary Vaughan of Guident Business Solutions in Appleton, AMC of Wisconsin’s owners Axel and Carmina Mendez will receive five month’s worth of consulting at no cost to help them work on the strategy of improving their business profitability.

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

B2B will provide a monthly update on the progress of the Mendezes efforts in each issue leading up to a capstone article in the August 2017 issue of New North B2B magazine.

NNB2B | July 2017 | 35

Professionally Speaking

Professionally Speaking is a paid promotional spot in B2B.

Commercial Lenders: Leveraging a Crucial Business Asset

by John Hill of Verve, a Credit Union 920.230.3021 As an entrepreneur, maintaining a close relationship with your commercial lender is important throughout the life of your business.

Companies go through lifecycle stages – each with its own unique challenges – and your commercial lender can help you recognize shifts and identify ways to navigate those changes.

Think beyond lending at every lifecycle stage of your business.

1. Ideation/Development – At the initial planning stage of your business, a commercial lender can provide valuable resources and give ideas on ways to prepare for your new business venture.

2. Startup/Survival – Decisions you make on day one can have a lasting impact on your business – consider your financial institution a partner in your business,

even if you don’t need financing right away. Your financial institution should provide a team of experts to help in the good times and bad, which could mean the difference between survival and defeat.

3. Success/Growth – Cash flow is one of the leading reasons for the high failure rate of new businesses. Consider the timing of the funds you receive, and prepare your business for financing during the development stages by staying in close communication with your commercial lender.

4. Expansion – There may be times in your business where you need to decide if you will expand or not, and preparation is critical. Sharing your plans with your commercial lender can help them provide better recommendations to assist you with important business decisions.

5. Maturity/Exit Strategy – Make sure there is a succession plan in place and set your successor up for the best chance of

financing by connecting them with the commercial lender you’ve been working with throughout your career.

Stay connected for long-term business success.

Whether you have a current financial need or not, communicating with your commercial lender can help you prepare for all stages of your business and can even mean the difference between success and failure.

John Hill (jhill@verveacu.com) is the Vice President of Business Lending at Verve with more than 15 years of experience in the lending industry and a passion for helping entrepreneurs meet their goals. Founded in 1937, Verve, a Credit Union, is a memberowned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $800 million in assets and serving over 56,000 members at 15 locations.

Learn more at www.verveacu.com. Federally insured by NCUA.

THANKS

To the judges at the international Hermes Creative Awards for recognizing our product branding work with a gold award. To our team for the outstanding work you do every day. To our current and past clients for supporting us throughout our five years in business. And to our future clients for trusting us with your brand. We’re ready to make your project our next award winner.

920.252.8128 | MEETCANDEO.COM

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15 Years v 2002 to 2017

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Professionally Speaking

Professionally Speaking is a paid promotional spot in B2B.

Protecting profitable ideas under America’s new patent system

by John Schuster of Caliber Law, S.C. 920.292.0000 In 2011, Congress fundamentally changed the basis of the patent filing system in America from a “First to Invent” to a “First to File” system by passing the “America Invents Act,” completely shifting the way that patents and patent protections work.

Under the old “First to Invent” system, the actual and earliest inventor of a patentable idea was protected, which meant an inventor in his basement was protected so long as he was moving to take the product to market. Under the new “First to File” system, it is the person who first files a patent that is given patent protection for the idea, regardless of who actually invented it, shifting the advantage from independent inventors and small business entrepreneurs, to large corporations who

have the money necessary to rush to the patent office, and worse yet, have the outright opportunity to steal the ideas of small inventors if small inventors are not careful in the way they talk about and disclose their ideas to the public.

There is a very short grace period for inventors to disclose and then patent their ideas – right now less than 12 months from the time of disclosure and subject to a stack of rules – which essentially provides no protection for small inventors who often have to disclose the idea of their inventions to do minimum market reception tests to make sure the product is something close to what can go to market.

disclose the idea until they are ready to file a patent, in order to reduce the risks of someone taking, and patenting, their idea first. I think this does nothing but stunt the innovation in the marketplace and prevents some great and early ideas – which just need time to develop – from ever hitting the market. But until this changes, be sure to speak with an attorney who is experienced in these topics before you start disclosing any of your ideas, or you could be at risk of inadvertently losing your ideas to a well-funded corporation.

Reluctantly, the recommendation I have to give to my clients who have a patentable idea under the current system is that they should simply not publicly

John W. Schuster, JD MBA is the owner and an attorney at Caliber Law, S.C., a law firm located in Oshkosh. He specializes in helping business owners start, protect, buy, sell and grow their businesses.

Supply-chain & manufacturing.

Health care. Business.

THE DONALD J. SCHNEIDER

Info sessions snc.edu/go/mbaevent

June 20, Sept. 19, Oct. 5, Nov. 14

School of Business & Economics

Enroll now. snc.edu/mba www.newnorthb2b.com

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

NNB2B | July 2017 | 37

Who’s News

Incorporations

New North B2B publishes monthly new business incorporations filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.

Brown County

PRIME COMMUNICATIONS LLC, Jeremy Reichwald, 4160 Oak Ridge Cir., De Pere 54115.

GREEN FOX WOODWORKING LLC, Daniel Winski, 202 Fort Howard Ave., De Pere 54115.

CORNERSTONE FINANCIAL CONSULTING LLC, Walter Kowalczyk, 416 George St., De Pere 54115.

HB CATTLE SOLUTIONS LLC, Scott H. Blevins, 1147 Pisces Pl., De Pere 54115.

BK’S TRACTOR SERVICE LLC, Jennifer Bergevin, 2531 E. Crais Ct., De Pere 54115.

DELAHAUT CUSTOM CONCRETE LLC, Mark Nicholas Delahaut, 5954 S. County Road T, Denmark 54208.

RAY’S SAND & GRAVEL LLC, Raymond Mencheski, 4904 Denmark Road, Denmark 54208.

PROFESSIONAL INSPECTIONS LLC, Robert Lynett, 2085 Gadwall Lane, Green Bay 54311.

WISCONSIN FAMILY DOULAS LLC, Nakita Junee Tepolt, 966 School Pl., Green Bay 54303.

COMMUNITY TECHNICAL RESOURCES COMPANY, Francis McConnell, 231 Rosemont Dr., Green Bay 54301.

KODASHORE TRUCKING LLC, Clint Evan Lusich, 1584 Cardinal Lane, Green Bay 54313.

RK MEDICAL PHYSICS LLC, Rebecca Heather Kitchen, 4006 St. Francis Park Dr., Green Bay 54313.

FRESH DIGITAL MARKETING LLC, Erin Noonan, 2169 White Oak Ter., Green Bay 54304.

LOCAL CLEANUP SPECIALISTS LLC, Nicholas Cricks, 101 S. Military Ave., #115, Green Bay 54303.

FORWARD DIGITAL MARKETING LLC, Jason Smith, 2149 Cumberland Dr., Green Bay 54311.

BELLEVUE JANITORIAL SERVICES LLC, Graciela Castaneda, Sr., 2777 Blue Spruce Dr., Green Bay 54311.

JOE BERCEAU SIDING LLC, Joseph Timothy Berceau, 2754 Finger Road, Green Bay 54302.

KUSTARD KART LLC, Matthew J. Virtues, 1352 Sunray Lane, Green Bay 54313.

TRIXIES BAR AND GRILLE LLC, Vanessa Ring, 2556 School Lane, Green Bay 54313.

DEFINING78 PHOTOGRAPHY LLC, Catherine Rosecase Lesage, 265 Glacier Dr., Green Bay 54302.

ALWAYS GREEN LAWNCARE LLC, Jeremy James Zeutzius-Anderson, 4430 Glendale Ave., Green Bay 54313.

CORD CUTTERS MARKETING INC., Tye Hartwell, 2245 Main St., Green Bay 54302.

VILMARIE CLEANING LLC, Vilmarie Montalvo Colon, 1951 Manitowoc Road, Green Bay 54302.

IN A BLINK PHOTOGRAPHY LLC, Elizabeth Anne Erdmann, 3203 Olde Hickory Tr., Green Bay 54313.

GRORICH GEAR INDUSTRIES LLC, Ernest Justin Grorich, 1157 Stuart St., Green Bay 54301.

CUSTODIO CLEANING LLC, Maritza Hernandez, 2108 Gadwall Lane, Green Bay 54311.

ALL SEASONS LAWN CARE LLC, Brian J. Reeves, 2221 S. Webster Ave., Green Bay 54301.

HOVE PHOTOGRAPHY LLC, Krista Dephane Treml, 1256 Lawe St., Green Bay 54301.

OPEN ARMS CHILD CARE LLC, Trenell Webb, 1651 Cass St., Green Bay 54302.

HOMEMADE SOUTHERN CUISINE LLC, Sarai Nicole Buie, 522 N. Ashland Ave., Green Bay 54303.

MARTINEZ ROOFING LLC, Carlos Martinez Martinez, 1680 Western Ave., Green Bay 54302.

CORNER BISTRO CORP., Tyler Baenen, 1409 S. Oneida St., Green Bay 54304.

MAJESTIC JANITORIAL SERVICES LLC, Edgar R. Molina, 1300 Crooks St., Green Bay 54301.

SPREAD CREATIVE LLC, Joseph Lee Bergner, 2522 Sheridan Dr., Green Bay 54302.

RACHEL LYNN BOUTIQUE LLC, Rachel Lynn McGraw, 4820 Adriana Ct., Hobart 54155.

Calumet County

AESTHETIC INTERIORS FOX VALLEY LLC, Dawn Marie Green, W4797 Nature Lane, Sherwood 54169.

Fond du Lac County

SALON NINE:SIXTEEN LLC, Timothy Roltgen, N4944 State Road 49, Brandon 53919.

CLOVER AND OAK DESIGN LLC, Erin Tucker, N3486 Red Oak Dr., Campbellsport 53010.

KENNY’S SMOKEHOUSE LLC, Elizabeth Augustyn, 143 E. Main St., Eden 53019.

RABBIT HOLE DISTILLING, Badger Liquors, 850 Morris St., Fond du Lac 54935.

JACOBS DRYWALL LLC, Darwin James Jacobs, 36 15th St., Fond du Lac 54935.

DAN’S LAWN SERVICE LLC, Daniel John Dobogai, N8107 U.S. Hwy. 151, Fond du Lac 54937.

G&E CUSTOM LURES LLC, Mitchell Petersen, 847 Forest Cir., Fond du Lac 54935.

Save the Date!

Charity Golf Classic Monday, July 17, 2017 High Cliff Golf Course • Sherwood, WI x $60 per golfer, $240 per foursome Registration and sponsorships begin May 19 at www.birdeasepro.com/EECharityGolf.

For more details, call Dave at 920.810.4617.

Fight cancer with a 9-iron.

38 | July 2017 | NNB2B

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

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KOONCES’ BODY BUTTER LLC, Gina Seranne Koonce, 534 Sarah Dr., Fond du Lac 54935.

B.C. CUSTOM JIGS LLC, Brian Lee Tetzlaff, 147 Putnam St., Oakfield 53065.

MORRISSEY ROAD GUERNSEYS LLC, Robert R. Stone, 2139 Morrissey Road, Ripon 54971.

JOYSONG PHOTOGRAPHY LLC, Jenna Rengo, 518 Liberty St., Ripon 54971.

HELIX YARD AND SNOW SERVICES LLC, Clay Weston Nemitz-Stautz, W8662 W. Lone Elm Road, Van Dyne 54979.

T&C YOUNG PETROLEUM HAULERS LLC, Tim Young, 643 Pioneer Ave., Waupun 53963.

ATTITUDE RC RACEWAY & HOBBIES LLC, Aaron T. Streblow, N3461 Guenther Road, Waupun 53963.

EVERY PINT IS A POSSIBILITY

Green Lake County

KLAWITTER TRANSIT LLC, Tammy Domke, N2399 State Road 49, Berlin 54923.

FRANK’S HOMETOWN MEATS LLC, Frank Boeck, W2110 Puchyan Road, Berlin 54923.

Outagamie County

NEW COSY FEET SPA INC., Yaguan Dai, 347 N. Casaloma Dr., Appleton 54913.

SELECT PAINTERS LLC, Stephen Behnke, N9403 Dusty Dr., Appleton 54915.

NORTH APPLETON DENTISTRY LLC, Dale M. Scharine, 315 W. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton 54911.

ELECTRIC PIPE AND IRON STUDIO LLC, Joel Anderson, 5705 Long Ct., Appleton 54914.

S&R RENOVATIONS LLC, Roy Jeronimo Jaramillo, N96434 Clover Ridge Tr., Appleton 54915.

DREAMSCAPES LADIES FITNESS LLC, Jean Marie Pierce, 101 W. Edison Ave., Appleton 54915.

DAIRYLAND FITNESS LLC, Marie A McCarthy, 1000 S. Westland Dr., Appleton 54914.

TNT CONCRETE DESIGNS LLC, Jose Trinidad Vargas, 500 E. South River St., Appleton 54915.

APPLE VALLEY PANCAKE HOUSE INC., Memedali Useini, 500 E. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton 54911.

DC WELDING SOLUTIONS LLC, David Crawford, 4830 N. Thistle Lane, Grand Chute 54913.

FROZEN RIVER FILMS LLC, Curtis William Zabel, W6580 Cedar Lane, Greenville 54942.

FOX CITIES QUILT CO. LLC, Judith D. Sommerfeld-Fox, W9264 Lamise Way, Hortonville 54944.

KING STORAGE LLC, Chad A. Karpf, N3213 State Road 15, Hortonville 54944.

DESIGNERZ INK LLC, Michael Bray, 103 E. 2nd St., Kaukauna 54130.

ELITE LAWN CARE & SERVICES LLC, Jared Stephen Baughman, N922 Haas Road, Kaukauna 54130.

GRACE UNDER FIRE YOGA LLC, Lauren Quella, W2248 Hickory View Ct., Kaukauna 54130.

UNIQUE PAINTING SOLUTIONS LLC, Trask M. Lenoble, 804 Grand Ave., Little Chute 54140.

HIETPAS BUSINESS CONSULTING GROUP LLC, Patrick J. Hietpas, 2429 W. Main St., Little Chute 54140.

MARY ANN WEDDINGS AND EVENTS LLC, Mary Hartjes, 1725 Meadowview Lane, Little Chute 54140.

POND PEOPLE MANUFACTURING INC., Scott F. Schara, N4833 Misty Meadow Road, Seymour 54165.

MORGAN BONNIN HOME DESIGN LLC, Morgan Lee Bonnin, W3630 Kropp Road, Seymour 54165.

SEYMOUR FAMILY SERVICES LLC, Joel Derek Walters, 358 S. Main St., Seymour 54165.

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HERE TO HELP HEARING CARE LLC, Casey Jost, 5795 County Road S, Butte des Morts 54927.

BAGOLAND BUILDERS LLC, Tyler Patrick Otto, 6924 County Road II, Larsen 54947. www.newnorthb2b.com

(800) 280-4102

communityblood.org

Appleton | Little Chute | Oshkosh | Woodruff | A Blood Drive Near You

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

NNB2B | July 2017 | 39

Who’s News METRO CAB LLC, Shawn Hewitt, 911 1/2 London St., Menasha 54952.

[IN]POWERED LIFE COACHING LLC, Heidi Jo Gossen, N8540 County Road N, Menasha 54952.

PROTECH FINISHERS LLC, Peter A. Schmidt, 879 Marquette St., Menasha 54952.

920 PARTY RENTALS LLC, Mason A. Martochko, 1330 Lucerne Dr., Menasha 54952.

ALL HOME AND PROPERTY CARE LLC, Richard Marthaler, 1213 Deerfield Ave., Menasha 54952.

EMPRIZE BREWING LLC, Craig Eugene Zoltowski, 335 Lake Road, Menasha 54952.

DENALI PAPER SERVICE LLC, Paula Ann Heimerman, 314 Kenwod Dr., Neenah 54956.

YOHE’S KEBABS LLC, Edward Nene Olongo, 745 Margeo Dr., Neenah 54956.

ARMOR METAL FINISHING LLC, Tara Ness, 3140 Fairview Road, Neenah 54956.

ENDEAVOR ANESTHESIA LLC, Michael Pierson, 7985 Tribute Dr., Neenah 54956.

BIRD ZONE TAXIDERMY LLC, Jeffrey Lee Herrick, 1034 Green Acres Lane, Neenah 54956.

KEEPERS ROOFING AND SIDING LLC, Ethan Keepers, 933 Riverlawn St., Neenah 54956.

YARRINGTON TRUCKING LLC, Jeremy Yarrington, 782 S. Commerical St., Neenah 54956.

PARAGON MEDICARE ADVOCATES LLC, Rebekah Sell, 8253 County Road E, Omro 54963.

MIDWEST WATER TREATMENT INC., Nicholas David Dahlke, 1167 County Road I, Oshkosh 54902.

ALL SEASONS WIREFRAMES LLC, Norman L. Reichenberger, 1649 Old Knapp Road, Oshkosh 54902.

ADORE WEDDING FILMS LLC, Garrett Kamark, 2400 Wisconsin St., Oshkosh 54901.

LUNCH BOX LLC, Clark Muller, 1312 Winnebago Ave., Oshkosh 54901.

PURA VITA AQUAPONICS LLC, Jonathan Bedell, 840B Jackson St., Oshkosh 54901.

WE MEAN

BUSINESS

DAZZLED DETAILING LLC, Derek C. Dahlke, 145 S. Westhaven Dr., Oshkosh 54904.

ON TIME TRUCKING LLC, Minire Ahmeti, 2080 W. 9th Ave., Oshkosh 54904.

BURNING SOUL STUDIO LLC, Michael Dean Kaiser, 549 Washington Ave., Oshkosh 54901.

PET CARE PLUS LLC, Cheryl Hentz, 407 Dove St., Oshkosh 54902.

Building permits

B2B includes a monthly list of building permits (not to include residential projects) in excess of $400,000.

J. F. AHERN CO., 855 Morris St., Fond du Lac. $1,135,000 for interior renovations to the third floor of the existing corporate office building. General contractor is C.D. Smith Construction of Fond du Lac. May 3.

HOME2 SUITES, 810 Morris Ave., Ashwaubenon. $6,232,970 for a four-story, 92-suite hotel. General contractor is Immel Construction of Green Bay. May 4.

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE, 2740 W. Mason St., Green Bay. $1,200,000 for an interior renovation to the existing educational institution. General contractor is SMA Construction Services of Green Bay. May. BETHEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 829 Appleton Road, Menasha. $800,000 for a 4,400-sq. ft. addition to and remodel of the existing church building.

General contractor is Millennium Construction of Appleton. May 5.

EXCHANGE@104, 104 S. Main St., Fond du Lac. $5,018,200 for a substantial overhaul of the existing six-story office building for mixed-use residential and first floor commercial space. General contractor is Commonwealth Construction Corp. of Fond du Lac. May 11.

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40 | July 2017 | NNB2B

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

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BOB’S DISCOUNT FURNITURE, 690 N. Casaloma Dr., town of Grand Chute. $677,743 for an interior alteration to the existing commercial retail building. General contractor is Horizon Retail Construction of Sturtevant. May 15.

GREEN BAY PACKAGING, 2275 American Blvd., De Pere. $33,000,000 for a 30,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing manufacturing facility. General contractor is C.D. Smith Construction of Fond du Lac. May 16.

MORAINE PARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE, 235 N. National Ave., Fond du Lac. $788,803 for an interior renovation to the existing educational institution. General contractor is Capelle Bros. & Diedrich Inc. of Fond du Lac. May 19.

ST. ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, 1506 S. Oneida St., Appleton. $550,000 for an interior renovation to the existing hospital facility. General contractor is Boldt Construction Co. of Appleton. May 25.

FUSION DANCE, 2680 Howard Commons Dr., Howard. $1,392,893 for a dance studio and office. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna. May 25.

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, 3030 E. Goodland Dr., Appleton. $723,175 for an interior remodel of the existing commercial building for a law enforcement evidence storage facility. General contractor is Miron Construction of Fox Crossing. May 26.

New businesses COPPER STATE BREWING COMPANY opened at 313 Dousman St. in Green Bay, the building formerly occupied by Hinterland Brewery. More information can be found online at copperstate.beer.

New names SCA Group’s health and hygiene division – which has its North American headquarters in Fox Crossing – changed its name and branding to ESSITY and is now listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. The company employs hundreds at its papermaking operations in Menasha and a separate paper converting location in Neenah.

under thirty Is there a 20-something you know who just

knocks your socks off?

Do you know an entrepreneur or elite business professional under 30 years old with uncanny leadership maturity for their age? Nominate them for B2B’s 4th Annual 3 Under 30 recognition, coming in August.

For the fourth year, New North B2B will recognize three of northeast Wisconsin’s most impressive young professionals across the region.

Mergers/acquisitions

To make a nomination, email sean@newnorthb2b.com with the nominee’s age, profession and brief paragraph outlining their career and community accomplishments.

Dr. Cassandra Asmondy acquired FIRST CARE CHIROPRACTIC in Oshkosh from Dr. Paul Reidinger, who is retiring.

Nominations will be accepted until July 7.

La Crosse-based accounting firm HAWKINS ASH CPAs acquired the tax and accounting practice of Brian R. Mudd and Michael D. Willis in Green Bay. The acquisition follows the retirement of Mudd, while Willis will continue to serve the firm’s clients as an independent contractor of Hawkins Ash CPAs.

New products/services De Pere-based NOVO HEALTH began offering a workers’ compensation program which provides employers with bundled payments.

A partnership between Menasha-based Network Health and Fond du Lac-based Agnesian HealthCare created ASSURE ELITE, a new health insurance option for employer groups of two to 100 enrolled employees in Fond du Lac, Green Lake and Dodge counties. Assure Elite is a hybrid level-funded health insurance plan. Coverage under Assure Elite plans will begin Aug. 1.

www.newnorthb2b.com

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NNB2B | July 2017 | 41

Who’s News

Christiansen

Salzsieder

McCarthy

Smit

Sheahan

Arquilla

Business honors

New hires

CANDEO CREATIVE of Oshkosh received a gold Hermes Creative Award from Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals for the branding campaign it put together for Alchemyst, a WordPress website plugin.

ST. NORBERT COLLEGE in De Pere hired Jennifer Christiansen as executive director of communications and marketing. Christiansen most recently served as vice president of global strategy and marketing at Oshkosh Defense. She previously worked in marketing and communications roles for GE Healthcare and CUNA Mutual Group.

Engineering News-Record’s annual Top 400 Contractors list for 2017 includes the following firms from northeast Wisconsin: MICHELS CORP. of Brownsville at #36, BOLDT COMPANY of Appleton at #80, MIRON CONSTRUCTION CO. of Fox Crossing at #87, C.D. SMITH CONSTRUCTION of Fond du Lac at #170 and CR MEYER of Oshkosh at #251.

Contractor Magazine’s 2017 Book of Giants annual ranking of the nation’s largest mechanical contractors includes J. F. AHERN CO. of Fond du Lac at #18 and AZCO INC. of Appleton at #19.

Greater Green Bay Chamber presented the following awards during its recent annual recognition event: Entrepreneurial Award to CENTERPIECE LLC of Howard; Growth Award to CARNIVORE MEAT COMPANY of Bellevue; Cornerstone Award to N.E.W. PLASTICS CORP. of Luxemburg; and its Special Accomplishments Award to GREATER GREEN BAY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. Pass rates for the national licensing exam in the nursing field among FOX VALLEY TECHNICAL COLLEGE’S associate degree nursing program graduates during 2016 ranked No. 2 in the state among the 36 college and university registered nurse training programs offered across Wisconsin. A total of 83 out of 87 graduates taking the exam passed on their first attempt for a rate of 95.4 percent, which also ranked the school among the top 11 percent on a national scale.

St. Norbert College’s KRESS INN hotel in De Pere received a 2017 Platinum Hospitality Award from Choice Hotels International, Inc. as one of the top franchised hotels operating under the Ascend Collection brand.

LODGE KOHLER in Ashwaubenon hired Lindsey Salzsieder as manager for its Kohler Waters Spa. Salzsieder previously worked for the past five years as senior manager of community events for the American Cancer Society.

EVERGREEN CREDIT UNION in Fox Crossing hired Veronica Kasperek as its sustainability manager.

Neenah-based LAKESIDE PACKAGING PLUS hired Angie McCarthy as a job developer. McCarthy has more than 20 years experience working in the nonprofit sector, including management roles with Boys & Girls Club, Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin and Day by Day Warming Shelter in Oshkosh.

Kaukauna-based KELLER, INC. hired Brandon Collins as a carpenter, Doug Zahn as a concrete craftsman, Katie Broehm as an administrative assistant, Devin Flanigan as a construction manager, and Steve VanZeeland, Paul Hagglund and Don O’Leary as building craftsmen.

CHOICE BANK in Oshkosh hired George Thada as an assistant vice president of residential lending. Thada has more than 25 years of lending experience.

BROWNBOOTS INTERACTIVE INC. in Fond du Lac hired Danelle Smit as business development manager and Becca Sheahan as a graphic designer. Smit previously worked as an interactive marketing specialist at Agnesian HealthCare in Fond du Lac and has 10 years experience in the financial services industry.

Appleton-based THEDACARE hired Thomas Arquilla as its chief strategy and business development officer. Arquilla has more than 30 years of health care industry experience, having worked the past six years as chief strategy officer for Mercy Health in Ohio.

Meier

42 | July 2017 | NNB2B

Gretzinger

Moats

Miller-Campbell

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

Richardson

A. Bloechl

www.newnorthb2b.com

Jardine

Schreiber

Schultz

FIRST BUSINESS BANK hired Jessica Meier as vice president of commercial banking in its Appleton office. Meier has 12 years of commercial banking experience.

De Pere-based ELEMENT hired Ava Gretzinger as a graphic designer. She previously worked as a graphic designer for a packaging design agency in Colorado.

SADOFF IRON AND METAL COMPANY in Fond du Lac hired Andrew Staebell as its senior executive for ferrous trading. Staebell has 33 years of experience in the scrap industry, including previously serving as president of Great Western Recycling in St. Paul, Minn.

HORICON BANK hired Tracey Moats as vice president and mortgage loan originator for its Oshkosh office. Moats has 20 years experience in lending and previously owned a mortgage broker firm in Oshkosh.

Kaukauna-based ST. PAUL ELDER SERVICES hired Michele Miller-Campbell as chief financial officer. Miller-Campbell has an 18-year career in health care and most recently served as the finance director at St. Clare Community Hospital in Oconto Falls.

H.J. MARTIN AND SON in Green Bay hired Dallas Richardson as accounts payable administrator, Alyssa Bloechl as a marketing specialist and Pam Jardine as a project coordinator. Richardson worked the past three years as an accountant/ bookkeeper at Compass Accounting Group in Green Bay. Bloechl worked the past three years for USA Today Network newspapers in northeast Wisconsin. Jardine worked the past 30 years as a project coordinator at The Stiegler Company in Green Bay. MARTENSON & EISELE, INC. of Menasha hired Abby Schreiber as a project engineer.

EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION in Oshkosh hired the following new employees: Mike DiFrisco, senior marketing director; Lisa Kidd, senior marketing account manager; John Egan, manager of chapters; Loyal Mehnert, marketing account manager; Melanie Robinson, business development manager; Chris Cassinelli, mobile marketing tour manager; Cassie Bruss, human resources business partner; Mike Stern, marketing associate; Lukas Wagner and Tamra Harrington, print mail assistants; Jarlin Hackett, mechanic; and Miranda LaBrec, administrative assistant.

Bradley

www.newnorthb2b.com

Kasper

M. Bloechl

Warzinik

O’Brien

Faulkner

The Allergy and Asthma Center of EAR, NOSE AND THROAT SPECIALISTS OF WISCONSIN in Neenah hired Traci Schultz as a certified medical assistant/certified pharmacy technician and Elizabeth Warzinik as a certified medical assistant. Schultz previously worked the past 12 years for an allergy practice.

Fond du Lac-based J. F. AHERN CO. hired Glen and Neil Groeschel to do industrial ventilation work for the mechanical and plumbing contractor.

Promotions SECURA INSURANCE in Appleton promoted Tim O’Brien from assistant controller to controller. O’Brien joined Secura in 2002 as accounting manager.

MIRAVIDA LIVING in Oshkosh promoted Jason Meyer to business operations manager and Josh Borland to facilities operations manager. Meyer has worked at Miravida Living for eight years, previously serving as its logistics supervisor. Borland previously served as maintenance supervisor at Miravida’s Eden Meadow property.

BANK FIRST promoted the following new employees: Aaron Faulkner to senior vice president and market manager of its Green Bay territory and Fox Valley region; Bill Bradley to senior vice president and market manager of its Appleton territory; Meghann Kasper to senior vice president and market manager of its Oshkosh territory; and Mei Bloechl to vice president and retail market manager of its Appleton and Oshkosh territories. Faulkner joined the bank in 2014 and has 12 years of banking experience.

Bradley joined Bank First in 2013 and has 18 years of banking background. Kasper joined Bank First in 2010 and has 14 years of banking experience, while Bloechl joined the bank in 2010 and has more than 35 years of banking experience.

ELEMENT in De Pere promoted account executive Katie Bramschreiber to account services manager. Bramschreiber joined Element in 2015 and previously worked as the marketing director for a health care organization in Green Bay.

Bramschreiber

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Business Calendar

Individual awards PAM UTPADEL, president of Universal Insurance Advisors in Appleton, was named Employee Benefits Agent of the Year for 2017 by Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin.

Greater Green Bay Chamber presented its 2017 Business Person of the Year Award to KURT VOSS, CEO of AmeriLux International in De Pere.

Elections/appointments New North Inc. appointed DOUG PAGE, president and COO of Performa, Inc. in De Pere, to a term on its board of directors.

Business calendar

New North B2B encourages businesses and organizations looking to attract interested persons to upcoming events to email sean@newnorthb2b.com.

JULY 11 Greater Green Bay Chamber Power Networking Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the chamber offices, 300 N. Broadway, Ste. 3A in Green Bay. No cost to attend for chamber members or $35 for nonmembers. For more information, call 920.437.8704 or email members@titletown.org.

Advertising Executive

The successful job candidate will network within business and community organizations across northeast Wisconsin to develop trusting relationships with prospective advertisers and increase B2B’s visibility in the market.

Flexible work schedule. Base salary plus commission and benefits. This position includes at least 50 percent outside sales and requires the ability to drive to appointments and events. This position reports to the publisher.

Two-plus years of sales or marketing experience preferred, as well as an associates degree or higher in marketing or related field.

JULY 13 Women in Management – Fox Cities Community Volunteer Networking Event, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pullmans Restaurant, 619 S. Olde Oneida St. in Appleton. No cost to attend for prepaid members, or $20 for nonmembers. To register or for more information, go online to www.wimiwi.org.

JULY 19 A.M. Oshkosh, a morning networking event from the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, 7:45 to 9 a.m. at 4imprint’s distribution center, 2875 Atlas Ave. in Oshkosh. Cost to attend is $2. For more information or to register, call 920.303.2266 or go online to www.oshkoshchamber.com.

JULY 19 Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Young Professionals of Fond du Lac program: paddle boarding and kayaking, 5 to 7 p.m. at Wind Power and Surf Shop, N7351 Winnebago Dr. in Fond du Lac. Cost to attend is $20 for members and $25 for

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to sean@newnorthb2b.com or mail to:

44 | July 2017 | NNB2B

JULY 11 Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce Connection Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the chamber building, 120 Jackson St. in Oshkosh. No cost to attend for chamber members. For more information or to register, call 920.303.2266 or go online to www. oshkoshchamber.com.

JULY 11 Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m. at La Sure’s Hall Ceremony Gardens, 3125 S. Washburn St. in Oshkosh. Cost to attend for members is $6 or $20 for nonmembers. For more information or to register, call 920.303.2266 or go online to www.oshkoshchamber.com.

New North B2B magazine is searching for a motivated, independent salesperson to fill an advertising executive position within the growing publishing firm.

New North B2B magazine P.O. Box 559 Oshkosh, WI 54903-0559

JULY 11 Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Before Hours, 8 to 9 a.m. at the chamber offices, 101 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Kaukauna. Event topic is social media for business. No cost to attend for members. For more information or to register, go online to www.heartofthevalleychamber.com.

Business Intelligence for the New North

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

www.newnorthb2b.com

nonmembers. For more information or to register, go online to www.fdlac.com.

JULY 19 Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kamps Bar, 303 William St. in Combined Locks. No charge for members. For more information or to register, go online to www.heartofthevalleychamber.com.

JULY 25 Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Young Professionals of Fond du Lac program, 12 noon to 1 p.m. at Hampton Inn, 77 N. Pioneer Road in Fond du Lac. Program is “Using Core Values to Understand People, Communicate Better and Increase Motivation.” Cost to attend is $10 for YPF members and $20 for nonmembers.

For more information or to register, go online to www.fdlac.com.

AUGUST 8 Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Between Hours: Money Matters, 8 to 9 a.m. at the chamber office, 101 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Kaukauna. No cost to attend for members. For more information, go online to www.heartofthevalleychamber.com.

AUGUST 8 Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce Connection Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the chamber building, 120 Jackson St. in Oshkosh. No cost to attend for chamber members.

For more information or to register, call 920.303.2266 or go online to www.oshkoshchamber.com. n

JULY 25 Greater Green Bay Chamber Membership ROI Orientation, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the chamber office, 300 N. Broadway, Ste. 3A in Green Bay. For more information or to register, call 920.437.8704 or visit www.greatergbc.org.

AUGUST 1 Greater Green Bay Chamber Power Networking Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the chamber office, 300 N. Broadway, Ste. 3A in Green Bay. No cost to attend for chamber members or $35 for nonmembers. For more information, call 920.437.8704 or email members@titletown.org.

AUGUST 2 Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Coffee Connection, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Fond du Lac Senior Center, 151 E. 1st St. in Fond du Lac. Cost to attend is $5. For more information, call 920.921.9500 or email info@fdlac.com.

CURDS. CUSTARD. ’CREDITATION?

Grow your Wisconsin business with BBB Accreditation. bbb.org/wisconsin/startwithus

Thank you

to the advertisers who made the July 2017 issue of New North B2B possible.

Appleton International Airport ⎮atwairport.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Kaldas Center for Fertility, Surgery & Pregnancy, S.C. ⎮

Bank First National ⎮bankfirstnational.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

kaldascenter.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Bayland Buildings ⎮baylandbuildings.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Keller Inc. ⎮kellerbuilds.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Borsche Roofing Professionals ⎮wiroofer.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Millennium Construction Inc. ⎮millenniumconstructionwi.com. . . . . . . 9

Caliber Law ⎮caliberlaw.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

National Exchange Bank & Trust ⎮nebat.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Candeo Creative ⎮candeocreative.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Network Health ⎮networkhealth.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Community Blood Center ⎮communityblood.org . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Nicolet National Bank ⎮nicoletbank.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Consolidated Construction Company ⎮1call2build.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

NWTC Corporate Training & Economic Development ⎮

CR Structures ⎮crstructures.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

corporatetraining.nwtc.edu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Dynamic Designs ⎮dynamicdesignspulaski.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

St. Norbert College MBA program ⎮snc.edu/mba. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Excalibur Edge Golf Classic ⎮birdeasepro.com/EECharityGolf. . . . . . . 38

Security Health Plan ⎮securityhealth.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Fox Valley Savings Bank ⎮fvsbank.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Strang, Patteson, Renning, Lewis & Lacy ⎮strangpatteson.com. . . . . 40

Frontier Builders & Consultants ⎮frontierbuilders.com. . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Suttner Accounting ⎮suttnercpa.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

The Grand Meridian ⎮thegrandmeridian.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh ⎮uwosh.edu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Guident Business Solutions ⎮guidentbusinesssolutions.com. . . . . . . 23

Verve, a Credit Union ⎮verveacu.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Investors Community Bank ⎮investorscommunitybank.com. . . . . . . . . 7

Waterfest ⎮waterfest.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Windward Wealth Strategies ⎮windwardwealthstrategies.com. . . . . . 28

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NNB2B | July 2017 | 45

Key Statistics

If there are indicators you’d like to see in this space, contact our office at 920.237.0254 or email sean@newnorthb2b.com.

LOCAL GASOLINE PRICES Per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline.

JUNE 18 . . . . . . . . . . . $2.26 JUNE 11 . . . . . . . . . . . $2.30 JUNE 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . $2.31 MAY 28. . . . . . . . . . . . $2.34 JUNE 18, 2016 . . . . . . $2.47

U.S. RETAIL SALES

MAY

$473.8 BILLION 0.3% from March 3.8% from April 2016

Source: New North B2B observations

EXISTING HOME SALES

MAY

HOMES SOLD MEDIAN PRICE BROWN County .................322.......................$174,000 FOND du LAC County .......166 ......................$136,750 OUTAGAMIE County .........237 ......................$165,000 WINNEBAGO County ........266.......................$150,000 WI DEPT. REVENUE COLLECTIONS

APRIL 2017

$1.539 BILLION 1.4% from April 2016

U.S. INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION (2012 = 100)

MAY

105.0

Unch. from April 2.2% from May 2016 AIR PASSENGER TRAFFIC (Local enplanements)

MAY 2017 MAY 2016 Appleton Int’l ATW..................... 22,714......... 22,080 Austin Straubel GRB.....................23,542 ........ 23,495

LOCAL UNEMPLOYMENT

APRIL MARCH APR ‘16 APPLETON ........2.8% ...... 3.2% ........ 3.8% FOND du LAC ....2.6% ...... 3.0% ........ 3.8% GREEN BAY........3.0% .......3.7% .........4.1% NEENAH .............2.7% ...... 3.2%......... 3.8% OSHKOSH ..........2.7% .......3.1% .........3.7% WISCONSIN .......3.0% .......3.7% .........4.1%

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

JUNE.............................$0.379 MAY............................. $0.334 JUNE 2016................... $0.285 Source: Wisconsin Public Service

ISM INDEX Numbers above 50 mean expansion.

Numbers below 50 mean contraction.

MAY. . . . . . . . . . . . . 54.9 APRIL. . . . . . . . . . . . 54.8

Get the quality you expect and the flexibility you need with UW Oshkosh online programs.

Division of Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement (800) 633-1442

oce.uwosh.edu

U N D E R G R A D U AT E | G R A D U AT E | C E R T I F I C AT E S 46 | July 2017 | NNB2B

15 Years v 2002 to 2017

www.newnorthb2b.com

WISCONSIN EMPLOYERS—ENJOY A NEW, AFFORDABLE HEALTH PLAN WITH FIXED MONTHLY COSTS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Network Health is making it easier for Wisconsin employers to provide comprehensive health coverage at a cost-effective rate.

Our Assure level-funded plan is a hybrid, combining the best features of two types of plans. Employers with as few as five enrolled employees benefit from the fixed monthly costs of a fully insured plan, with the advantages of a self-funded plan.

Plus, if your company’s health care claims are low, you have the opportunity to get money back.

Ask your agent about Network Health’s Assure level-funded plan today.

Self-funded plans administered by Network Health Administrative Services, LLC.

SAL-295-01-3/17

networkhealth.com/assure 844-281-8411

TRAIN WITH THE EXPERTS AT NWTC Our certified instructors utilize the Standard Timing Model, and other assessment tools, to help area industries qualify 100’s of job candidates and current employees.

Sign up for a class or schedule a complimentary consultation for customized training today.

CORPORATETRAINING.NWTC.EDU

920-498-6373