March 2014

Business Intelligence for the New North

Rebirth of Fox River waterways New North communities finding continued development success on the banks of the river

Collaborative Spirit, made to endure

Education Comparing costs across the region

Health Care

March 2014 | $3.95

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NNB2B | March 2014 | 1

Financing Growth Grow your business with the help of Tom Belter!.

National Exchange Bank & Trust is pleased to welcome Tom Belter to the commercial loan team.

With more than 30 years of experience, Tom is looking forward to helping businesses with their financial needs by combining his knowledge of the business community and financing options with the flexibility of an independent bank that has a lending limit of more than $30 million.

“Businesses looking to grow will find a great financial partner with National Exchange.” ~ T. Belter | March 2014 | NNB2B www.newnorthb2b.com Member FDIC Tom2Belter • (920) 906-6862 • 130 S. Main Street, Fond du Lac • www.nebat.com

Business Intelligence for the New North

20

March Features 20 COVER STORY

Rebirth of Fox River waterways

New North communities find continued development on the river’s banks

28 EDUCATION

Collaborative spirit, made to endure

Retiring chancellors from UW Oshkosh, UW Green Bay hailed for guiding region to think as one

28

32 HEALTH CARE

Comparing health care costs Our annual comparison of average costs in the region

Richard

Wells

Departments

Thomas

Harden

4

From the Publisher

5, 36 Professionally Speaking

32

6

Since We Last Met

10 Corporate Earnings 14 Build Up Pages 38 Who’s News 44 Business Calendar 44 Advertiser Index 45 New North Business Plan Competition 46 Key Statistics

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NNB2B | March 2014 | 3

From the Publisher

A fresh look, a fresh approach

by Sean Fitzgerald, New North B2B Publisher

You noticed it immediately when you pulled B2B from your stack of mail this month.

Wellness awards upcoming

Anyone who had an opportunity to see economist Brian Beaulieu speak to the Oshkosh and Fox Cities chambers of commerce in early February heard his message about the pending failure of health care financing in the United States in coming years.

The U.S. currently leads the world in the average amount per person spent each year on health care by a rather sizable margin – a total of $8,233 per person in 2013 according to the World Health Organization, compared with Luxemburg in second at $6,712 per person and Norway third at $5,391. The U.S. total is more than eight times higher than the world average of $1,017 per person of health care expenditures.

A different look, a different feel, a different tone to the regional business magazine to which you rely upon each month. B2B is excited to reveal this newly redesigned appearance, the third such design refresh in our 12-year history serving business professionals in northeast Wisconsin.

What’s more, a report from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services projects health care expenditures in 2020 at $13,700 per person, accounting for 20 percent of the national gross domestic product. All of these factors reflect the impact of the federal Affordable Care Act driving these statistics upwards even further in years to come.

The artistic credit is due to Neenah-based creative marketing agency Spark, which collaborated with B2B to design a more professional ambience in your monthly magazine. The new look and readability should enable greater ease in accessing and identifying the information you find most valuable in each edition.

We all know by now that Americans missed a real opportunity for meaningful health care reform with the Affordable Care Act. Rather than placing emphasis on programs and institutional systems to make Americans healthier, Congress and the President established a system which simply pays for health care costs without any measure to control those costs or provide any disincentive to individuals for repeated poor choices when it comes to managing their health.

Such an investment in improving B2B isn’t taken lightly by our team here, and I welcome comments from readers about which aspects of the redesign they like, as well as any changes that don’t quite suit your needs to enjoy and use B2B as effectively as in the past. Please feel free to send me an email at sean@newnorthb2b.com.

I’m also delighted to tell readers we’ve added Larry Avila to help complement our editorial prowess. Avila is particularly well known to readers in the Fox Cities from the seven years he spent as business editor for the Appleton Post Crescent.

His work with B2B will enable him to get to know businesses in the Greater Green Bay area, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac as well. Please take a moment to read his introduction in the From the Editor department on page 13 of this issue.

Along with these changes, we’ve reinvigorated our efforts to communicate more timely news with our readers through our blog. We’ll be using this communications vehicle - along with a more adept focus on social media - to provide readers with breaking business news developments occurring in northeast Wisconsin, as well as other appropriate midmonth comunications that can’t wait or the next published issue of B2B. To ensure you’re positioned to receive our blog updates as soon as they’re released, please take 30 seconds to visit and subscribe at newnorthb2b.com/blog. I promise we won’t waste your time by inundating you with meaningless drivel.

4 | March 2014 | NNB2B

With the opportunity of making Americans healthier in mind, B2B has been pleased to recognize exceptional employerbased wellness programming among northeast Wisconsin companies for the past eight years, and our 9th Annual Alla tua Salute Awards sponsored in 2014 by Network Health will be no exception. Arriving once again this year in our June edition, B2B’s well established and highly regarded corporate wellness awards have illustrated the best practices of more than dozen leading employers across northeast Wisconsin to improve employee health, mitigate instances of chronic illness, minimize use of health care service and ultimately drive down employer health care costs.

As in past years, B2B is soliciting nominations from employers who’ve actively implemented workplace wellness initiatives and have demonstrated year-over-year improvements in the health of their workforce. If you think your company has achieved exceptional results in its wellness programming, we encourage you to apply for this year’s awards. Recognition will be presented in three different company size categories, as well as a separate recognition given to employers who are just getting started on their wellness journey and implemented a wellness program within the past two years.

You can download the nomination form from the home page on our website at newnorthb2b.com. Nominations will be taken through the next couple on months until May 9.

www.newnorthb2b.com

Professionally Speaking

Password Protection

by Tony Renning of Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. 920.232.4842 Reader Question: Where is Wisconsin at concerning the protection of “access information” associated with Internetbased accounts?

Tony Renning: Both the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate recently passed legislation prohibiting employers, schools and landlords from requesting the passwords for applicant, student or potential tentants’ Facebook and other Internet-based accounts. Gov. Walker is expected to sign the bill into law soon, joining Wisconsin to a number of states with laws protecting people from being penalized or discriminated against for refusing to turn over personal Internetbased information.

The legislation prohibits an employer from: (1) requesting or requiring an employee or applicant for employment to disclose their user name and password or any other security information that protects access to an Internet-based account created and used exclusively for purposes of personal communications or

Sean Fitzgerald Publisher & President sean@newnorthb2b.com Larry Avila Editor larry@newnorthb2b.com Carrie Rule Sales Manager carrie@newnorthb2b.com Kate Erbach Production Contributing writers Jeffrey Decker

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

Professionally Speaking is a paid promotional spot in B2B.

to otherwise grant access to that account; (2) discharging, expelling, suspending, disciplining or otherwise penalizing or discriminating against an employee for exercising the right to refuse to disclose access information; and (3) refusing to hire an applicant for employment because the applicant refused to disclose access information or otherwise grant that access or allow that observation.

The legislation permits an employer to view, access or use information about an employee or applicant for employment that can be obtained without access information or that is available from the public domain (e.g., employers still have the right to “friend” employees on various social media platforms). The legislation also permits an employer to request or require an applicant to disclose access information to the employer in order for the employer to gain access to operate an electronic-communication device supplied or paid for, in whole or in part, by the employer or in order for the employer to gain access to an account or service provided by the employer by virtue of the employment relationship or used for

business purposes.

While Internet-based accounts may contain interesting and informative information about an employee or applicant, given the potential exposure to liability, a prudent employer should tread carefully to ensure that their hiring and retention practices do not unlawfully discriminate based on information available through such accounts.

For advice and counsel concerning the legal pitfalls associated with accessing and using Internet-based account information, contact Tony Renning at (920) 232-4842 or trenning@dkattorneys.com or any other member of the Davis & Kuelthau Labor and Employment Team.

Tony Renning is a shareholder with Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. Mr. Renning provides counsel to private and public sector employers on a wide variety of labor and employment law matters. This article is intended to provide information only, not legal advice. For advice regarding a particular employment situation, please contact a member of the Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. Labor and Employment Team.

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Fond du Lac NNB2B | March 2014 | 5

Since We Last Met

Since We Last Met

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

January 23

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Chancellor Richard Wells announced plans to retire Aug. 31 after 14 years at northeast Wisconsin’s largest four-year post-secondary academic institution and the third largest in the state with 13,900 students. The third longest-serving chancellor of UWOshkosh, Wells presided over a 19 percent increase in student enrollment and oversaw more than $320 million in campus improvements during his tenure.

January 27

The City of Green Bay Plan Commission approved changing the zoning of the former Larsen Canning factory on North Broadway from industrial to downtown at the recommendation of city planning staff, essentially denying a request from Walmart for a change to commercial to allow for its proposed 154,000-sq. ft. Supercenter on the site in the city’s eclectic Broadway district. A group of city leaders and On Broadway business owners have opposed the development altogether, or at least on the grounds that the proposed store is too large for the location. The city’s common council will take up the matter in early March following a 30-day public comment period on the plan commission’s recommendation.

January 27

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. board of directors authorized an emergency program issuing up to $5 million in loan guarantees to financial institutions for new or expanded lines of credit to propane distributors in Wisconsin. The action was taken in response to problems caused by the growing propane shortage across the Midwest

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6 | March 2014 | NNB2B

this winter. Under the terms of the program, WEDC will guarantee up to 80 percent of a new or expanded lines of credit up to $100,000 per propane distributor.

January 29

Lawrence University received a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor to support faculty research in the name of former Lawrence President Rik Warch, who passed away in 2013 after leading the college for 25 years from 1979 to 2004.

The Richard and Margot Warch Fund for Scholarly Research will fund faculty scholarship, travel expenses, student research support and research materials beginning with the 2014-15 academic year.

February 4

The Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership unveiled a Building Improvement Grant Program to incent downtown property owners to undertake improvements to their buildings. The minimum grant award is $2,500, with no maximum ceiling on an award. Grant applications will be accepted four times a year and will be awarded based upon the impact the project will have on the overall downtown district.

February 5

Conveyor systems designer and manufacturer Nercon Engineering & Manufacturing announced plans to close its Oshkosh production facility later this year and move those operations to a more modern plant in Oconto, which will be undergoing a 30,000-sq. ft. expansion later this year. Nercon also plans to move its corporate offices further north to the Fox Cities, though no date is scheduled for that move.

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February 7

The U.S. Department of Labor reported 113,000 new jobs were created in January, leaving the national unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 6.6 percent. Employment grew in construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade and mining.

February 11

Wisconsin’s state Senate approved a bill allowing the creation of regional transit authorities, an effort expected to financially benefit the Fox Cities and Greater Green Bay communities. Such authorities would allow residents to vote on establishing a 0.25 percent sales tax to help fund public transit systems, and also require a governing board composed of local elected officials from participating municipalities.

The bill was written to help growing metropolitan regions fund public transit in the face of declining state and federal subsidies to support transportation operations. The bill isn’t expected to make it to the floor of the state Assembly though, due to objections from Speaker Rep. Robin Vos (R-Burlington).

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February 12

The Fox Cities Regional Partnership released the results of its annual economic survey revealing 41 percent of employers indicated 2013 employment levels were ahead of 2012 and 47 percent of employers expect local employment to increase during 2014. The survey also found 52 percent of companies indicated 2013 gross revenues were ahead of 2012 sales, while 41 percent indicated 2013 profits were ahead of 2012 income. A total of 64 percent of respondents expected profits to increase during 2014. The annual initiative surveyed 213 companies in Outagamie, Calumet and northern Winnebago counties in January.

February 13

The University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. established a $2 million seed fund to commercialize technology and ideas developed at UW campuses statewide. The Ideadvance Seed Fund will provide up to $75,000 in two stages to support entrepreneurs as they evaluate product or service ideas, explore key markets, validate demand and develop strategies for investment sources. UW-Extension will administer the fund and will accept applications three times a year. Grants are available to UW System staff, faculty and students, as well as young companies with technologies affiliated with the WiSys Technology Foundation or UW-Milwaukee Research Foundation. The Ideadvance Seed Fund received $1 million from a UW System Economic Development Incentive Grant and $1 million from WEDC’s Capital Catalyst program.

February 14

The board of directors for The Meyer Theatre in downtown Green Bay announced a $3 million project to renovate the former Daily Planet building next to the theater for banquet space, an additional stage and offices for lease. The nearly 12,000 square feet of space will be known as Backstage at The Meyer. The board announced plans for a $4.5 million capital campaign to support the project, which includes an additional $1 million for the organization’s endowment fund and $500,000 for additional maintenance in the existing theater. www.newnorthb2b.com

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NNB2B | March 2014 | 7

Since We Last Met February 17

The City of Green Bay Common Council approved a development agreement with Iowa-based Frantz Community Investors LLC for a $35 million project to purchase and restore the historic Hotel Northland in the city’s downtown.

Renovations to the eight-story building are expected to begin this summer and be completed sometime during 2015, reopening the property as a high-end hotel. The former hotel discontinued its operations during the 1970s and then served as public housing for more than 30 years until the Wisconsin Historic Preservation Corp. acquired the property in 2011.

February 18

The state Department of Transportation approved the $4.2 million project to improve the U.S. Highway 41 interchange with State Road 47/Richmond Street in Appleton. The work includes raising both the height and width of the overpass, adding separated bike and pedestrian lanes, as well as lengthening turn lanes. The project is expected to begin in early March and is expected to be completed by October.

Traffic will remain open on Richmond Street with some lane closures during construction, but the interchange ramps will be closed for the entire project.

February 18

Voters in the Appleton Area School District approved two referenda, allowing school officials to borrow $25 million for capital improvements across the district and will allow the board of education to tax property owners by $5 million

beyond the state revenue limit next year. The package of improvements includes renovations and additions to various schools in the district for enhanced science and technical education space; reconfigured building entrances and classroom space for improved building security and function; mobile technology devices for all high school students as well as shared devices for middle and elementary students; and replacement of school building windows, generators and electrical service to improve function and energy efficiency.

The additional annual operating revenue will support $3 million to replace basic technology and infrastructure, $1.5 million for building maintenance, and $500,000 to hire five positions to help teachers integrate technology into the classroom. The annual tax impact of all of these improvements will add 79 cents for every $1,000 of equalized property value, or an additional $79 on a home valued at $100,000.

February 18

Walworth-based PolyFlex announced it will construct a 59,000-sq. ft. plastic blow-molding facility in Kaukauna’s NEW Prosperity Center industrial park. The company – which produces large plastic parts for a variety of industries, including transportation and waste collection – intends to hire nearly 40 workers during its first year of operation. Company officials plan to begin construction in March and have the facility operating by fall. ■

Hindsight 2003 March 10 – Miles Kimball Co. in Oshkosh was acquired by Connecticut-based direct marketing company Blyth Inc. for $65 million in an all cash deal. Miles Kimball had been privately held since its founding in 1934.

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2004 March 18 – Alliance Laundry Systems of Ripon announced it will add 400 jobs to its local operations as part of a plan to re-enter the consumer market for washer and dryer equipment with its Speed Queen brand.

2010 March 2 – Kaukauna Utilities announced plans to purchase NewPage Corp.’s hydroelectric plant in Kimberly for $6.5 million, making it the sole owner of the eight hydroelectric generating stations along the Fox River between Appleton and Wrightstown.

The plant in Kimberly has a total capacity of 2,160 kilowatts, and is estimated to produce 10.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power 1,000 homes.

2011 March 2 – Recall papers were taken out on nine state senators, including Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac), Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay), Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon). Overall, recall papers were taken out for five Democrats and four Republicans.

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Corporate Earnings

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

Associated Banc Corp.

Income EPS

4Q 2013 $46.5 million 28 cents

4Q 2012 $45.3 million s 3% 26 cents s 8%

$11.4 billion, up 5 percent from $10.9 billion a year ago. The company said its The North Face brand surpassed $2 billion in revenues for the year.

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Revenue Income EPS

4Q 2013 $3.6 Billion $408 million 93 cents

4Q 2012 $3.5 Billion s 3% $979 million t 58% $2.11 t 56%

The Green Bay-based financial institution reported its full year revenues for its fiscal year ending Dec. 31 at $959 million, up 2 percent from a year ago. The bank reported its average loan balances grew by 6 percent for the year to $921 million.

The parent company of Miller Electric Manufacturing operations across the Fox Cities reported revenues for its full year ending Dec. 31 of $14.1 billion, down from $14.8 billion a year ago. The sharp decline in profits reflects the impact of the company’s divestiture of its decorative surfaces segment earlier in 2013.

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Plexus Corp.

Revenue Income EPS

4Q 2013 $5.3 Billion $558 million $1.40

4Q 2012 $5.3 Billion t <1% $286 million s 95% 68 cents s106%

The manufacturer of consumer paper and tissue products with significant operations in the Fox Cities reported sales for its fiscal year ending Dec. 31 at $21.2 billion, up 4 percent from a year ago. The company announced plans to spin off its health care business during the second quarter of this year, creating a stand-alone business with estimated revenues of $1.6 billion.

1Q 2014 $534 million $17.7 million 51 cents

1Q 2013 $531 million s <1% $16.6 million s 7% 47 cents s 9%

The Neenah-based contract electronics manufacturer reported its first quarter revenues ending Dec. 28 of $534 million were 6 percent below revenues from its fiscal year 2013 fourth quarter of $567 million. The company identified the revenue decline on the loss of the Juniper Networks contract.

Bemis Company Inc.

VF Corp.

Revenue Income EPS

Revenue Income EPS

4Q 2013 $3.3 Billion $508 million 82 cents

4Q 2012 $3.0 Billion s 10% $450 million s 13% 75 cents s 9%

The parent company of Jansport operations in the Fox Cities reported full-year revenues for its fiscal year ending Dec. 31 at 10 | March 2014 | NNB2B

Revenue Income EPS

4Q 2013 $1.22 Billion $103 million 54 cents

4Q 2012 $1.23 Billion t 1% $84.3 million s 22% 38 cents s 42%

The Neenah-based supplier of flexible packaging and pressure sensitive materials reported full-year revenues for its year ending Dec. 31 at $5.03 billion, down from $5.1 billion a year www.newnorthb2b.com

ago. The company reported gross profits of $972.1 million, up from $947.5 million a year ago.

First Business Financial Services Inc.

Brunswick Corp.

Revenue Income EPS

4Q 2013 $902 million $584 million $6.18

4Q 2012 $830 million s 9% ($16.1 million) s3,726% (18 cents) s3,533%

The parent company of Mercury Marine operations in Fond du Lac indicated sales for its full fiscal year ended Dec. 31 totaled $3.9 billion, up 5.4 percent from $3.7 billion recorded a year ago.

Income EPS

4Q 2013 $3.8 million 95 cents

4Q 2012 $2.5 million s 49% 86 cents s 11%

The commercial-oriented financial institution serving Madison, Milwaukee and northeast Wisconsin reported fullyear net income for its fiscal year ending Dec. 31 was $13.7 million, or $3.49 per share, compared to net income of $8.9 million, or $3.29 per share a year ago.

Oshkosh Corp.

Humana Inc.

Revenue Income EPS

4Q 2013 $10.2 Billion ($30 million) (19 cents)

4Q 2012 $9.6 Billion s 5% $192 million t115% $1.19 t116%

The health and benefits company with extensive operations in the Green Bay area reported it had received 202,000 applications for health insurance through the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act.

www.newnorthb2b.com

Revenue Income EPS

1Q 2014 $1.5 Billion $96.5 million 63 cents

1Q 2013 $1.7 Billion t 12% $80.3 million s 20% 51 cents s 24%

The manufacturer of specialty vehicles indicated net sales for its first quarter dropped 42 percent when compared to its previous year because of an expected decline in Department of Defense sales. Its fire and emergency business saw an 8.7 percent increase during its first quarter when compared to a year ago.

NNB2B | March 2014 | 11

Corporate Earnings

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Revenue Income EPS

4Q 2013 $2.3 Billion ($37.7 million) (40 cents)

4Q 2012 $2.5 Billion t 11% $28.1 million t 234% 30 cents t 233%

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The dairy-based foods company with extensive operations in Wisconsin, including the Green Bay area, reported progress on its cost-savings initiatives, which will include closure of between eight and 12 facilities by mid-2014.

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Bank First

Income EPS

4Q 2013 $2.9 million 45 cents

4Q 2012 $2.0 million s 45% 30 cents s 50%

The Manitowoc-based financial institution with significant operations across northeast Wisconsin reported 13 percent loan growth and a 6 percent increase in deposits on a yearover-year basis. For its fiscal year ending Dec. 31, the bank reported net income of $11.6 million, or $1.79 per share, compared to $10.4 million, or $1.58 per share a year ago.

Neenah Paper

Revenue Income EPS

4Q 2013 $205 million $13.1 million 78 cents

4Q 2012 $193 million s 6% $13.6 million t 4% 82 cents t 5%

The papermaker with significant operations in the Fox Cities reported full-year net sales for its fiscal year ending Dec. 31 at $844.5 million, up 4 percent from $808.8 million reported in 2012. The company credited an 8 percent growth in fine paper sales for its increased revenues. ■

12 | March 2014 | NNB2B

www.newnorthb2b.com

From the Editor

Fresh start means no looking back Larry Avila, New North B2B Editor

To borrow an overused phrase, “it’s good to be back.”

Fox Valley professionals and executives likely will know me best as the business editor of The Post-Crescent, the Gannett Co.-owned daily newspaper in Appleton, a role I served for seven years. Economic reasons played a role in the company eliminating my job, but I’m happy to say after a short time searching for new employment, I landed here at New North B2B. As a journalist, I’ve found it hard to determine whether I truly made an impact on people or the community through the work I did, sharing news – good and bad – of the people I interacted with around the region. Turns out the impact of what I did, mostly was positive as several people recommended and referred me as someone New North B2B should reach out to. Those were unsolicited recommendations, which says to me, the work I did was meaningful, useful, informative and another media outlet saw value in me and gave me the opportunity to continue what I started since moving to the area in June 2006.

Covering business news has become my specialty the past several years. My interest in it revolves around the simple concept that money makes the world go around. People need money to live and for the majority of us who aren’t personally wealthy or are successfully self-employed, we seek out work doing what we enjoy doing through someone else.

Businesses are under constant pressure to keep revenues generating. There are many factors that influence business decision making including regularly changing laws and regulations, state of the economy and a constantly evolving marketplace.

Part of my role will look at issues that impact business decision making but also will examine best practices of businesses and share those stories, so that other companies can learn from it and ultimately drive growth.

I’ve heard several people say through the years that the strength of a community is built on employers who can remain profitable and competitive. Successful businesses often lure talent to a region and as businesses continue to flourish across northeast Wisconsin, the region will remain strong.

It’s not to say that there won’t be challenges ahead. Since the recession ended in mid-2009, the nation’s economic growth has been tepid and according to government estimates, the country’s economy only grew at an annual rate of about 2.5 percent in 2013, which is below the historic average of between 3 percent and 3.5 percent.

The outlook for this year is about the same as last. The Federal Reserve projected in January that the economy likely will grow between 2.5 and 3 percent.

It may not be at the historical growth numbers, but it at least appears stable.

But the time wondering whether I’d be able to continue doing what I enjoy is over and it’s time to look ahead.

I’ve always believed it’s important to enjoy what you do for a living. Why report to a location Monday through Friday if you dread going there? Storytelling is just something I’ve always enjoyed doing and when that opportunity was taken away, it hurt – a lot.

But the time wondering whether I’d be able to continue doing what I enjoy is over and it’s time to look ahead.

The great thing about this new role is being able to meet business professionals outside the Fox Cities, but also means I will be able to continue working with and writing about the people I came to know in my previous job. The area covered

by New North B2B spans from Fond du Lac to Green Bay, so there certainly is great opportunity for me to get better acquainted with the rest of the Fox Valley. www.newnorthb2b.com

Sustainable growth is a good thing. The Fed expects employment growth will continue this year, so long as growth patterns hold. If businesses feel good about the economy, that means jobs for people either on the search, or someone looking to upgrade their situation.

Again, it’s good to be back and I’m grateful for this new opportunity to continue writing about northeast Wisconsin’s business community.

If you have a story idea or just want to chat, send me an email at larry@newnorthb2b.com or call 920-237-0254. Follow me on Twitter @LarryAvila.

NNB2B | March 2014 | 13

Build Up Fond du Lac

2

1

3

4 Build Up

6

Fond du Lac

5

1 - 755 W. Johnson St., Fond du Lac Hardee’s, a new restaurant building.

2 - 1315 S. Main St., Fond du Lac Roberts Homes, a new office building. Project completion expected in June.

3 - 1060 E. Johnson St., Fond du Lac Walgreens, a new retail building and pharmacy.

5 - 1674 Fox Ridge Dr., Fond du Lac Con-way Freight, a 47,000-sq. ft. freight terminal and service center. Project completion expected in March.

6 - 321 Camelot Dr., Fond du Lac Fond du Lac Regional Clinic South, a 50,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing medical clinic. Completion expected in late fall.

4 - 100 W. Larsen Dr., Fond du Lac Marchant Schmidt Inc., an addition to the existing manufacturing facility.

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Build Up Oshkosh

7

8

Indicates a new listing

Build Up

Oshkosh

7 - 3321 County Road A, Oshkosh A.P. Nonweiler, a 16,100-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial facility.

Projects completed since our February issue: â&#x20AC;˘ None

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

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NNB2B | March 2014 | 15

Build Up Fox Cities

Indicates a new listing

Build Up

Fox Cities

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

2 - 2380 Holly Road, Neenah Aerial Work Platforms, a 12,500-sq. ft. office and warehouse.

Project completion expected in April. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

3 - 3600 W. Prospect Ave., Appleton Butte des Morts Country Club, a new swimming pool with a 4,774-sq. ft. attached bar and restaurant. Project completion expected in March. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

4 - 120 N. Mall Dr., town of Grand Chute Kwik Trip, an addition to the existing building for a new convenience store and fuel station.

5 - 3000 W. College Ave., Appleton Kolosso Automotive, a 49,000-sq. ft. dealership facility. Project completion expected in June. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

6 - 1825 N. Bluemound Dr., town of Grand Chute Fox Valley Technical College Transportation Center, a 43,486sq. ft. addition to the existing transportation education center.

Project completion expected this spring.

7 - 1825 N. Bluemound Dr., town of Grand Chute Fox Valley Technical College Student Success Center, a twostory, 96,750-sq. ft. academic building. Project completion expected in the fall.

8 - 734 W. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton The Free Market, a new retail/commercial building. Project completion expected in March.

9 - 900 Randolph Dr., Little Chute Reinders Inc., a 14,340-sq. ft. retail and warehouse building.

Project completion expected in May. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

10 - 3600 Electric City Blvd., Kaukauna Holland Cold Storage, a 42,615-sq. ft. addition to the existing warehousing facility for more cold storage. Project completion expected in April. General contractor is Keller Inc. of Kaukauna.

11 - 100 County Road KK, Kaukauna Piping Service Inc., a 10,800-sq. ft. addition to the existing industrial building. Project completion expected in spring.

General contractor is Frontier Builders & Consultants of Kaukauna.

12 - 1506 S. Oneida St., Appleton St. Elizabeth Hospital, a five-story, 90-bed patient tower, as well as renovations to the cancer center and behavioral health.

13 - W647 Knight Dr., Sherwood Dick’s Family Foods, a 20,598-sq. ft. grocery store building.

Project completion expected in March. General contractor is Bayland Buildings Inc. of Green Bay. Projects completed since our February issue: • Gordon Food Service (GFS) Marketplace, 301 N. Bluemound Dr., town of Grand Chute.

• Kwik Trip, 2120 E. Edgewood Dr., Appleton.

• Ken’s Sports, W2520 County Road JJ, town of Vandenbroek.

• Albany International, 3601 Electric City Blvd., Kaukauna.

Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin Coming April 2014

We’re not just blowin’ smoke.

Looking for help putting out the fires in your business? Do you know a business owner who is? Get help from a professional consultant at no cost in our 4th Annual Firefighters initiative. For consideration send an email to the publisher at sean@newnorthb2b.com or call 920.237.0254 16 | March 2014 | NNB2B

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NNB2B | March 2014 | 17

Build Up Greater Green Bay area 1

2

3 8

7 4 thru 6 11 12

13 & 14

10

9

18 15 &16

17

19 Indicates a new listing

Build Up

Greater Green Bay area 1 - 5501 Glendale Ave., Howard Cellcom/Nsight Teleservices, a 32,000-sq. ft. logistical operations center. Project completion expected in March.

2 - 2522 W. Mason St., Green Bay Oneida Mason Street Casino, an 8,000-sq. ft. expansion of the existing facility to accommodate an on-site restaurant. Project completion expected in May. 3 - 411 S. Military Ave., Green Bay Fox Communities Credit Union, a 4,400-sq. ft. credit union branch office. Project completion expected in March.

18 | March 2014 | NNB2B

4 - 301 E. Main St., Green Bay KI Convention Center, a 30,000-sq. ft. addition to the existing convention center facility. Project completion expected in spring 2015.

5 - 100 E. Main St., Green Bay CityDeck Landing, a six-story, mixed-use development to include 76 residential units and 7,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor.

6 - 400 N. Washington St., Green Bay Schreiber Foods Inc., a five-story, 250,000-sq. ft. corporate headquarters building. Project completion expected in the summer. www.newnorthb2b.com

7 - 1830 Cofrin Dr., Green Bay Frehse Transportation, an addition to the existing industrial facility. Project completion expected this spring. General contractor is Bayland Buildings of Green Bay. 8 - 2530 S. Hemlock Road, Green Bay Handling & Conveying Systems, a 33,000-sq. ft. manufacturing facility including 6,000 square feet of office space. Project completion expected in May. General contractor is Bayland Buildings.

9 - 3282 Eaton Road, Bellevue Community First Credit Union, a 6,705-sq. ft. financial institution office.

10 - 2014 Lime Kiln Road, Bellevue A multi-tenant commercial building including retail space and a dental clinic.

11 - 2020 Airport Dr., Ashwaubenon Oneida Main Casino, an expansion and renovation of the existing casino to accommodate another on-site restaurant and additional gaming. Project completion expected in April.

12 - 1921 Airport Dr., Ashwaubenon Jet Air Group, a 32,375-sq. ft. storage hangar with additional office space and a repair center. Project completion expected this spring. General contractor is Bayland Buildings Inc. of Green Bay. 13 - 3355 Commodity Lane, Ashwaubenon Vibrant Impressions, a 13,400-sq. ft. addition to the industrial facility.

14 - Label Drive, Ashwaubenon Green Bay Packaging Inc., a 240,000-sq. ft. coated products manufacturing facility.

Project completion expected in late fall.

15 - 2246 Mid Valley Dr., town of Lawrence Tytler’s Cycle, a 12,000-sq. ft. addition and renovation of the motorcycle dealership.

Project completion expected in June.

16 - 3101 French Road, town of Lawrence Kelbe Brothers Equipment, a 6,600-sq. ft. warehouse building and offices. Project completion expected in March. General contractor is Bayland Buildings Inc. of Green Bay. 17 - 100 Grant St., De Pere St. Norbert College Gehl-Mulva Science Center, a 150,000-sq. ft. education and research facility to house the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Green Bay campus. Project completion expected in spring 2015.

18 - 150 Wisconsin Ave. South, De Pere Walgreens, a new retail store.

19 - 1891 Commerce Dr., De Pere Straubel Company, an addition to the existing manufacturing facility.

Projects completed since our February issue: • Michael’s Arts & Crafts, 1616 W. Mason St., Green Bay.

www.newnorthb2b.com

NNB2B | March 2014 | 19

Cover Story

Dusk along the riverfront in downtown Oshkosh.

Photo by Don Stolley of Stolley Studio

Rebirth of Fox River waterways New North communities finding continued development success on the banks of the Fox River

Story by Jeffrey Decker

The Fox River’s value to the region cannot be understated.

Its ecology, beauty and history are embraced by development teams that depend on public support and promote public access. The river is cleaner and healthier than it’s been in generations. What was industry’s footprint can be luscious waterfront that doesn’t stay vacant very long. Railroad tracks become regional trails as riverwalks and park improvements from Oshkosh to Green Bay enhance local pride and appreciation of the entire watershed.

By 2017 the last of the river’s locks will be open to allow boats to traverse the lower Fox River in one trip. Today, a boater could charter a course from Lake Butte des Morts upriver as far as Little Chute.

Oshkosh

New docks decorate much of the river’s north shore through the city as one feature of the Riverwalk, which in 2013 connected the Leach Amphitheater at the mouth of the river to the 44-mile long Wiouwash trail.

Just west of Wisconsin Avenue a former industrial site next to Carl Steiger Park now celebrates architecture as the new University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Alumni Welcome and Conference Center. The facility features a patio, outdoor firepit and more than 16,000 square feet, including a 500-person ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows.

To the east on the Riverwalk is the 2-year-old Rivers Apartments senior housing facility and the start of a new 80unit upscale apartment building by Alliance Development.

Development of several vacant lots along the riverfront’s Marion Road corridor are part of a development plan, and City of Oshkosh Community Development Director Allen Davis has asked the city’s Redevelopment Authority and others to help draft a detailed long-term vision for the entire riverfront.

“If we’re going to show people what the future of the riverfront

20 | March 2014 | NNB2B

www.newnorthb2b.com

is, we have to show them a future that’s a lot more detailed than what we have today,” Davis explained. Land use and building design are just some of the targets for East Central Regional Planning, which granted 40 hours of consulting work to the city to develop a formal plan.

Development of the south shore is on a slower pace. A Riverwalk trail, lights and signs were installed in 2013 at William Steiger Park. The existing trail extends this summer, “with the pedestrian bridge extending from the west shore to the island and then to the east shore of the property,” explained Darlene Brandt, community development grant manager for the city. That small island will be part of the park and become accessible with new bathrooms being built this summer. But the entire south shore of the Riverwalk may take 10 years to complete.

Cleanup grants and development agreements are part of doing business along the Fox. The next downriver neighbor is a former door and window factory’s 27-acre site that was remediated in late 2013 before it sold for $800,000. A group of five private investors plan to start with four sets of condos near the island and its new bridge, and follow with mixed residential and commercial buildings on 6th Avenue away from the shore. In ten years or more, said co-developer Grant Schwab, at least 20 buildings with 528 living units could be built there.

“It’s a long-term project,” he notes.

The parcel across Oregon Street at the foot of the bridge across the Fox River will see groundbreaking this spring for the first of two three-story office buildings.

“We’re hoping to open by fall of this year,” Schwab said.

Several banks have expressed interest in a location on 6th Avenue and the first to sign up will have it quickly, he adds.

Oshkosh is on the upswing, as Schwab sees it.

“There’s nowhere in downtown Appleton where they can get 27 acres downtown and then put it on a river,” he cheers.

Momentum is strong, Schwab adds, since the renovation and 2013 grand re-opening of the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel and Convention Center. Its Ground Round restaurant’s patio features a large gas fire pit within arm’s reach of the Riverwalk.

At the mouth of the river is 21-acre Pioneer Island with a vacant restaurant and an outline of a demolished hotel.

Out-of-state owners have no immediate plans for any development.

Menasha

In Menasha, the city’s Community Development Director Greg Keil is glad for a state Department of Natural Resources Stewardship Grant that will help fund construction this year on a trail through a new waterfront park. It will be 15-ft. wide strip along more than 1,000 feet of frontage of the former Gilbert Paper mill site.

“I expect we’ll be putting out for bids in May,” Keil said. www.newnorthb2b.com

NNB2B | March 2014 | 21

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rate residential units.

“We’ve had a couple of town homes out there over the past few years,” said Mark Geall, principal for Tanesay Development. “The Evergreen building will be ready for occupancy in June.” Those 32 units and 10,000 square feet of retail space are already almost booked. “We’re still looking for a cafe,” he notes.

The 54-unit Landing at Eagle Flats opened in 2012.

Submitted photo.

Developer Randy Stadtmueller of Stadtmueller & Associates said the two five-acre sites where Gilbert Paper formerly resided will see momentum from the new park. A 12,000-sq. ft. office building was built and occupied and then, “In late 2008 when the crash occurred, it really stopped development on that site,” Stadtmueller explained.

The plan remains mixed-use.

If all goes well, Tanesay will start on another 32 apartment units and 10,000 square feet of retail.

“We’ve got 16 acres out there and about a half mile of riverfront,” Geall said,

and it’ all adjacent to 28-acre Telulah Park.

From his Chicago office, Appleton native Geall explained why he toured sites to develop in Green Bay but settled on Appleton. “The City of Appleton was very eager to create a (tax incremental finance district) and, with their rezoning, that probably tipped the scales.”

Appleton Community Development Director Karen Harkness sees synergy among developers. “They want to make sure their projects are complementary but they’re unique as well,” she said.

Harkness hopes for see growth on eight acres across the College Avenue Bridge where a Foremost Farms dairy processing plant closed in 2003.

Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway improving access to the river Renting out a former lock-tender’s house in Little Chute and installing kayak landings for the disabled are just the latest surprises along the Fox River.

Appleton

Chartering a boat further downriver into the canyon of Appleton, another former mill site on 10 acres between Lawe Street and Old Oneida Street includes the first of two completed projects: the 54-unit Landing at Eagle Flats apartment complex and the 70-unit Riverwalk Place, housing for seniors operated by the Appleton Housing Authority.

Stadtmueller indicated there are plans for several more buildings on that site and several locations nearby. He’s uncertain at this point when any will break ground.

“Its likely that they’ll tend to be residential but we’re hoping to get a mixed-use commercial and residential use for those sites,” he said, inviting public input at meetings scheduled for May. The site borders two river locks.

As the Fox flows northeast it soon passes under the College Avenue Bridge and by RiverHeath’s construction of what could eventually be a towering waterfront cluster offering 200 market-

www.newnorthb2b.com

Improving river access, celebrating history and promoting economic development are the main goals of the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway, and since its beginning in 2009 the nonprofit group has leapt into the center of many discussions and brought major public and private interests to the same table.

By mid-2015 Little Chute’s three-bedroom Lock House at the end of Mill Street will invite locals and tourists alike.

“We’re rehabbing it back to its 1930s character,” said Parkway Board President Candace Mortara.

“We figure that whole project is going to take about $200,000 before it’s done.” A new windmill built in Holland is being installed to grind grain. Two more lock houses in Little Chute could be leased next.

The group set a goal of raising $650,000 to install ADA-compliant kayak landings throughout the Fox Cities and Oshkosh. They’ve already raised $64,000, which will fund the first landing at Little Chute and half the cost of one in Neenah.

“We are working with the communities who have the most interest first,” Mortara said.

This summer, Mortara said the new “On the Loos” 60-ft. paddlewheel boat will come to the Fox Cities for several weeks. The Heritage Parkway will help promote special group tours and sell individual tickets to tour the river and its communities.

A long list of municipalities along the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers have pledged to support the Parkway’s mission of responsible development, education and preservation.

“We’re a connector,” Mortara explained, “figuring out which organizations are doing what and how they can collaborate.”

- by Jeffrey Decker

NNB2B | March 2014 | 23

Cover Story Heart of the Valley

The first step at the former NewPage mill in Kimberly is demolition. Stadtmueller – also involved with what’s now known as The Cedars at Kimberly – said they’ve completed the master plan for the property and will have specific project proposals in 2015. His team is serving as consultants on the 90-acre site and its 1.5 miles of river frontage.

“Changing the habits of using the river is a long-term proposition,” he said.

Yet another former paper mill – the Eagle Mill in Kaukauna – is on Stadtmueller’s list of projects in development, but this one keeps the historic 88,000-sq. ft. building intact and is poised to remake downtown. The city library is moving into the mill as the centerpiece of the Grand KaKalin project.

Programming Librarian Ashley Thiem-Menning said it just took one spark. “Ever since Randy Stadtmueller expressed interest in renovating that mill a lot of other companies have expressed interest in coming to that area.”

The second floor will be private offices, but all 23,000 square feet of the mill’s first floor will be the library, a welcome growth from Kaukauna Library’s current 10,000 square feet.

The new library will include an outdoor reading garden, two scenic overlooks, and gaping skylights over limestone arches and massive wooden beams.

A special viewing balcony on Grand KaKalin will allow library

patrons to see across the river to the eagle nesting area at 1,000 Islands State Conservancy.

A new trail will connect that conservancy to the new HydroPark, which takes its name from the hydroelectric power produced nearby. City of Kaukauna Community Development Director Bob Jakel said the park will be ready before the year ends.

“It’s a park that’s going to celebrate the history of the Fox Cities region, the history of the whole river system from Green Bay to Prairie du Chien,” he explained.

Just north of Veteran’s Bridge in Kaukauna, Stadtmueller is also developing a 5-acre site for mixed-use commercial and residential.

De Pere

Continuing by boat through the locks at Little Chute and De Pere will be possible later this year for the first time in two decades, but an invasive species cleaning station needs to open near Wrightstown in 2017 before anyone can boat the entire system.

Just before the Fox River Trail enters De Pere’s Voyageur Park, it runs into the new Riverwalk and Wildlife Viewing Pier. City of De Pere Parks Director Marty Kosobucki said the $3.5 million project finished in 2013 and has been a complete success.

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A lock house on the island is finding new life as a coffee house after overcoming unforeseen plumbing concerns, said Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway Interim Executive Director Candace Mortara.

of the Meyer Theatre. The northeast corner is now seeing Prevea Health develop a clinic in commercial space at the ground level of the parking garage there.

The northwest corner of that busy intersection is back on the water, where developer Dermond Holdings of Milwaukee has an agreement with the city to build 107 market rate apartments, called the Metreau Apartments.

“It should begin in April this year,” said Filsram. “They’re hoping to be open in late spring 2015.”

The lock tender’s house in De Pere is set to become a coffee shop later this year.

Submitted photo.

“They had to go underneath the channel and connect it to city sewer and water.” The tenants haven’t determined a date when the coffee shop will open at this point.

Green Bay

As the Fox River Trail continues on that eastern shore past Heritage Hill and the Village of Allouez, City of Green Bay Economic Development Director Greg Filsram points just across Washington Street downtown to a $3 million expansion

It will border the City Deck, a wide walkway with 700 lineal feet of floating docks that finished construction last year and have made the downtown waterfront a celebrated destination.

It passes right by the Children’s Museum of Green Bay and Hagemeister Park restaurant. Outdoor fire pits and live music keep it lively in summer, and in the winter there’s an ice skating rink.

Just downstream, right before the Main Street Bridge, City Deck Landing is under construction to offer 76 high-end apartments by March 2015, with 7,000 square feet of groundlevel retail and one more fire pit.

From his Madison office, Tyler Warner of T. Wall Enterprises explained why they chose Green Bay for their development.

It’s the city’s size, he said, and “it’s the amount of jobs coming downtown.”

Warner pointed to the 500 jobs expected at Schreiber

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NNB2B | March 2014 | 25

Cover Story Just north of the City Deck, The Clarion Hotel is transforming into a Hampton that will face the river. It will connect to the new 30,000-sq. ft. addition to the KI Convention Center which began late in 2013.

The Foxy Lady yacht is docked near the bridge and offers tours up the river or out into the bay. Constant dredging keeps a channel clear through the shallow bay, and the last fill is just now being added to an island made of dredgings.

An artist’s rendering of the City Deck Landing currently under construction in downtown Green Bay. Submitted image.

Foods’ new headquarters just across Washington Street. The market supports 80 more units across the river and north a bit, Warner added, where portions of the former Bird’s Eye Cannery will see construction in 2015 of Larsen Green Residences.

Titletown Brewery, just behind Leicht Memorial Park from the river, is converting another former cannery building into a brewery capable of producing 40,000 barrels annually.

“We’re currently only doing a little under 2,000,” said president and founder Brent Weycker. Production is scheduled to ramp up to 5,000 barrels later this year, and eventually a rooftop beer garden will follow, Weycker said.

Renard Isle is being rounded off and just may become a park, if the Brown County Board of Supervisors decides to take ownership of an 850-ft. long stone causeway built to let trucks carry over fill. The kidney-shaped island has always been rather barren, but it could get a complete makeover as a park with a causeway that already cost $2.7 million to build. Director of Port and Resource Recovery Dean Haen is hoping it stays.

“We’re in the process of talking with the DNR about what would need to happen if that causeway stayed permanently,” Haen said.

Sitting just offshore from Bay Beach Amusement Park, Renard Isle is the last waterfront property right at the end of the Fox River. Like all waterfront real estate, it’s in a really great location. ■

Jeffrey Decker is a business journalist and father based in Oshkosh.

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Firefighters of NE Wisconsin

Firefighters back to aid struggling small businesses There’s still time to involve your business in our 4th Annual Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin initiative

Are you a business owner struggling to make decisions to keep your company afloat?

Do you feel as if you’re always putting out fires in your business as opposed to focusing your attention and resources on helping your company grow?

There’s no shame in admitting it. Nearly all of us have been there at one point in the evolution of our business. The good news is that B2B can help, and this opportunity could be just the catalyst to help turn your business around.

For the past four years, B2B has been proud to present its Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin initiative, a program in which voluntary business owners in search of solutions to help put out the fires and improve their operations partner with some of the leading business consultants in northeast Wisconsin at no cost. In exchange, these business owners share with B2B readers what lessons they’ve learned and how they’ve implemented those lessons into improving their operations.

All of this sharing means a substantial amount of no-cost publicity for your company during the next six months, an added value to the already worthwhile benefit of free business consulting to turn one’s business around.

B2B’s veteran firefighter emeritus Gary Vaughan of Appleton-based Guident Business Solutions has helped three Fox Valley businesses improve their standing during the past three years of B2B’s Firefighter’s initiative, helping one to streamline its operations and two others to reverse their fortunes from previously downward trending profit and loss statements. He’s anxious to be back this year to help lead our effort to extinguish the fires area small business owners spend so much time putting out each day.

We’re in the final stretch of soliciting nominations for interested business owners to participate in this year’s Firefighters initiative, which will begin with our April issue. If you’re interested in involving your own business in our Firefighters initiative for this coming year – or perhaps know of a business owner who would benefit from such assistance – please drop me an email at sean@newnorthb2b.com at your earliest convenience. Briefly explain what challenges your business is facing and why you’d like to be involved with one of our esteemed business firefighters.

I’ll only accept nominations up until Friday, March 14, so please act quickly if you’re interested in possibly participating this coming year.

Gary Vaughan of Guident Business Solutions in Appleton has been a consultant since the beginning of B2B’s Firefighters of Northeast Wisconsin initiative.

www.newnorthb2b.com

NNB2B | March 2014 | 27

Education

Richard

Wells

Thomas

Harden

Collaborative spirit

made to endure

Retiring chancellors from UW Oshkosh, UW Green Bay hailed for guiding region to think as one

Story by Larry Avila, New North B2B Editor

28 | March 2014 | NNB2B

www.newnorthb2b.com

The concept of pooling resources to overcome an obstacle for the betterment of a community sounds simple, but often it’s easier said than done.

Political and philosophical clashing can hinder forward motion though eventually, differences are set aside and the collaborative spirit takes over.

This way of thinking and the know-how to get it done are traits shared by University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Chancellor Thomas Harden and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Chancellor Richard Wells, who both recently announced retirements and plans to step down by the end of August.

Harden and Wells say their accomplishments were only possible with the help of others. Both men have been hailed for their efforts to grow enrollment at their respective colleges and establish stronger relations between the universities and communities around the region.

“I think there always will be many things to do and there always will be opportunities to improve and expand the impact the universities make in a positive way,” Harden said.

Marinette or UW Sheboygan and complete it at UW Oshkosh or UW Green Bay. It’s not just a simple transfer of credits, a common practice for years, college officials say. Students have the flexibility to tap the resources of the participating colleges, so if an engineering student from NWTC needs access to the industrial labs and equipment at FVTC for a project, the doors will be open to them.

Thomas Harden Position: Chancellor, University of Wisconsin Green Bay Appointed: 2009 (retiring August 2014) Career highlights: president, Clayton State University, Georgia; dean, college of technology, Eastern Michigan University; chair, department of technology at Northern Kentucky University

Overtime, these partnerships can save money by eliminating duplicate investment in infrastructure and help students achieve education goals faster. The initiative emerged through the Northeast Wisconsin Educational Resource Alliance, which Wells helped launch and currently is chaired by Harden.

Wells said a strong collaborative foundation has been established for new leaders to build upon.

Susan May, FVTC president, said getting the colleges to work together initially through the alliance was an important first step.

“Change brings about new opportunities,” he said. “What we hope we’ve done, to use an athletic metaphor, we built a program of enduring shared values of how we do things, collaboration, diversity and respect.”

“(Chancellor) Wells was among the first leaders to bring our institutions to the table to start working together,” May said.

“He saw so much potential and now the alliance has existed for more than 10 years.”

More engineering graduates

One of the alliance’s first collaborative efforts created a library resource sharing system, which allowed students from the participating colleges to borrow books from other campus libraries using one library card.

Three new four-year engineering degrees, which can be earned either through UW Green Bay or UW Oshkosh, are now available for students from across northeast Wisconsin to pursue.

Richard Wells Position: Chancellor, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Appointed: 2000 (retiring August 2014) Career highlights: provost and vice president of academic affairs, Indiana State University; dean of college of arts and sciences, West Chester University, Pennsylvania; chair, department of sociology and anthropology at University of South Alabama www.newnorthb2b.com

Unique about this effort is students who choose to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or environmental engineering, can begin their academic journey at either the College of the Menominee Nation, Fox Valley Technical College, Lakeshore Technical College, Moraine Park Technical College, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, UW Fond du Lac, UW Fox Valley, UW Manitowoc, UW

Jeff Rafn, NWTC president, praised Wells for his forward thinking, adding the leadership roles which will be vacated by Wells and Harden, will “be big shoes to fill.”

“The technical colleges for instance, today have strong relations with UWGB and UWO,” he said. “I think those gentlemen recognized the importance of working together as a region.”

Rafn said getting the region to see how higher education can be an economic force can be credited to Wells and Harden.

“By focusing on economic development, we have been able to bring these new engineering degree programs to the region,” Rafn said. “Northeast Wisconsin is so rich in manufacturing, but we didn’t have any kind of engineering programs.”

Rafn said the engineering programs would not have happened if it weren’t for the partnerships established through the alliance.

The benefits seen with the education alliance provided one of the catalysts for what became The New North Inc., an 18-county regional economic development organization based in De Pere.

NNB2B | March 2014 | 29

Epiphany Law Welcomes Attorney

Daniel Hurst

Epiphany Law is pleased to add Attorney Daniel Hurst. Dan comes to Epiphany with 20 years of experience. He will lead the firm’s litigation practice, representing businesses and individuals who must resort to the courts to enforce or defend their legal rights.

Dan currently resides in De Pere with his wife and three daughters.

He has been recognized

by Wisconsin Super Lawyers as one of the top lawyers in Wisconsin.

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4211 N. Lightning Dr., Appleton, WI

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A view inside the Great Hall at the brand new UW Oshkosh Alumni Welcome & Conference Center, one of the more than $320 million in campus improvements made during Wells’ tenure.

Photo courtesy of UW Oshkosh.

Jerry Murphy, executive director of The New North, said the education alliance remains one of the best representations of collaboration in the region.

“Chancellor Wells will leave a legacy of some really unique and creative things of doing business in higher education,” he said. “Chancellor Harden has equally had a deep hand in the development of the three new engineering degrees for the region and both leaders showed by working together, challenging situations can work.”

Strengthening community roots

Enrollment has steadily grown in recent years both at UW Oshkosh and UW Green Bay. Wells said UW Oshkosh has worked to enhance the college experience for students. This thinking led the college to invest more than $320 million since 2000 in facility enhancement and expansion projects.

“We’ve looked at what does it mean to be a good critical thinker, a good writer, communicator, these basic skills you want students to master more deeply,” he said. “It’s not just sufficient enough to master knowledge, but it’s important to be able to do something with it.”

Wells said about 75 percent of UW Oshkosh graduates are career ready, earning degrees in well-established fields including accounting and teaching.

Harden said expanding UW Green Bay’s curriculum always would be a priority.

“We’re working toward offering a greater number of options for students,” he said.

UW Green Bay has gained national notoriety for its athletic programs, specifically women’s and men’s basketball.

Harden said it’s typical for UW Green Bay to draw between 4,000 and 5,000 spectators to a men’s basketball game. When 30 | March 2014 | NNB2B

www.newnorthb2b.com

both the men’s and women’s teams compete in the NCAA basketball tournament in March, it reflects positively on the university and gives the college national exposure.

“There’s always been great community support for Phoenix athletics,” Harden said. “But as we recruit student athletes, the positive publicity (from national tournaments) aids in that effort.”

Harden said UW Green Bay’s student athletes carry a 3.2 grade point average, which is slightly higher than the general student population.

“We want our athletes to be successful in their sport but we also want to prepare them for a life after sports,” he said.

“It’s not just sufficient enough to master knowledge, but it’s important to be able to do something with it.”

Richard Wells, chancellor, UW Oshkosh The colleges recognize they represent more to the region than just being a higher learning institution.

Harden said his campus is one with Green Bay. “It really goes back to the founding of the university with Edward Weidner, who worked hard with volunteers to start this college,” he said. “Our greatest strength is our relationship with the people in the community.”

Wells referred to UW Oshkosh as a public-centric institution, meaning he recognizes the college has a responsibility to be a good corporate citizen. That mission also benefits students who often are tapped for volunteer projects around the region, whether it’s for research or to develop a training manual for a business through a paid internship.

“Whenever we do a service mission, we try to do it in a way that enhances the experience for our students,” Wells said.

He pointed to UW Oshkosh’s involvement in the development of the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel and Convention Center in downtown Oshkosh and the biodigester renewable energy facility at Rosendale Dairy near Pickett.

Wendy Hielsberg, executive director of the Oshkosh Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, said Wells was a visionary leader, who helped northeast Wisconsin see the benefits of regionalism. Wells long held a role on the board of directors for her organization. “(Chancellor Wells) always looked at the bigger picture and made the bigger picture happen,” she said. “With regard to the Oshkosh convention center, he recognized the need for that kind of facility and it took a community leader to make that project happen, and it has been a great success for Oshkosh.”

What’s next?

In a letter to UW Oshkosh staff announcing his retirement, Wells said he planned to relocate to Florida after his retirement and then ponder his next career move.

Wells said he’s not ready to fully retire but was considering different part-time and full-time opportunities.

“In higher education, you earn a sabbatical every seven years, but I never had one, so I’d expect to do something like that and then just see what’s next for me,” Wells said.

Harden said he also planned to scale back his work schedule and take time off to consider his next move. He wants to remain active with UW Green Bay, possibly returning to teach at the college as well as help with fundraising.

“I’ll for certain take a two-semester leave, then I may decide to teach again,” he said. ■

Words to Profit by:

“

It’s apparent to us that BBB gains stature each year. We get quite a few internet search inquiries; when we do we always ask what prompted the call. More and more often the answer is ‘BBB Accreditation’.

Larry Elton, President Advantage Leasing Corporation Accredited Business since 2000

”

Both projects represent significant investment but provided an economic boost to the region as well as created permanent jobs and learning opportunities for UW Oshkosh students, Wells said. ®

“When people ask us why did we get involved in the (Oshkosh) hotel and convention center, we can say ‘because it can provide jobs and training opportunities for between 70 and 80 students,’” Wells said. “The same can be said for the biodigesters, because we can give students hands-on learning in the real world.”

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920.734.4353 Better Business Bureau

With Accreditation Comes Trust…With Trust Comes Customers

accreditmybusiness.wisconsin.bbb.org NNB2B | March 2014 | 31

Health Care

Comparing health care costs The Wisconsin Hospital Association Information Center regularly collects and publishes data about charges and services provided by Wisconsin hospitals and outpatient surgery centers. Providing this cost and quality data was part of a state government and WHA initiative to make health care more transparent to Wisconsin patients.

Each year since 2002, New North B2B magazine has published average charges from each facility in our readership area for sample services and procedures common to employers. To compare cost figures from other health care facilities or for other procedures, visit Wisconsin’s PricePoint System online at www. wipricepoint.org. ~ Research conducted by New North B2B Normal Newborn* St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton New London Family Medical Center Theda Clark Medical Center, Neenah Appleton Medical Center Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh Agnesian Healthcare, Fond du Lac Bellin Health, Green Bay St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay Aurora Baycare, Green Bay St. Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay Aurora Medical Center, Oshkosh State Average * Birthweight of 2,500 grams or more

Discharges .......................... Median 2013 ........................ Median 2012 978 . ......................................$891 ...................................... $865 111 . ......................................$1,620 ................................... $1,594 1,003 ....................................$1,630 ................................... $1,591 1,172 .....................................$1,566 ................................... $1,526 599 .......................................$1,623 ................................... $1,532 794 .......................................$2,141 ................................... $2,029 1,121 . ...................................$2,053 ................................... $2,017 735 . ......................................$2,408 . ................................. $2,321 1,578 . ...................................$2,900 . ................................. $2,549 678 . ......................................$3,032 ................................... $2,922 569 .......................................$3,675 ................................... $3,371 ...............................................$2,925 ................................... $2,740

Knee Replacement Theda Clark Medical Center, Neenah Appleton Medical Center Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh New London Family Medical Center St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton Bellin Health, Green Bay Aurora Baycare, Green Bay Aurora Medical Center, Oshkosh Ripon Medical Center St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay Agnesian Healthcare, Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay State Average

Discharges .......................... Median 2013 ........................ Median 2012 146 . ......................................$23,244 . ............................... $23,216 470 . ......................................$23,624 ................................. $24,224 379 . ......................................$27,460 ................................. $27,393 36 .........................................$26,387 ................................. $26,236 221 . ......................................$29,666 ................................. $27,426 916 . ......................................$26,877 ................................. $27,869 245 . ......................................$34,396 . ............................... $32,039 199 . ......................................$35,461 ................................. $34,024 15 . ........................................$44,118 ................................. $45,659 184 .......................................$31,550 ................................. $33,894 162 . ......................................$40,973 ................................. $40,190 246 . ......................................$41,466 ................................. $41,150 ...............................................$39,040 . ............................... $38,022

32 | March 2014 | NNB2B

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Theda Clark Medical Center, Neenah Appleton Medical Center New London Family Medical Center Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton Bellin Health, Green Bay Ripon Medical Center Aurora Medical Center, Oshkosh St. Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay Aurora Baycare, Green Bay St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay Agnesian Healthcare, Fond du Lac State Average

Discharges ...........................Median 2013 ......................... Median 2012 86............................................$6,907 .................................. $7,145 101..........................................$7,724 . ................................. $7,598 26 ...............................$8,750.................................... $8,210 121 . ......................................$9,300 . ................................. $9,300 146 . .....................................$9,118.................................... $8,788 81 . ........................................$12,700 ................................. $11,459 28............................................$12,114 . ............................... $9,931 67 . ........................................$17,415 .................................. $14,013 57 . ........................................$11,688 ................................. $12,090 114 . ......................................$13,384 ................................. $13,215 66 .........................................$12,710 ................................. $10,408 97 . .........................................$15,725 ................................. $19,204 ...............................................$14,454 ................................. $13,619

Major Bowel Procedure Appleton Medical Center Theda Clark Medical Center St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton Ripon Medical Center Aurora Medical Center, Oshkosh Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh Aurora Baycare, Green Bay Bellin Health, Green Bay Agnesian Healthcare, Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay St. Vincent Hospital State Average

Discharges .......................... Median 2013 ........................ Median 2012 145 . .......................................$22,123 ................................. $23,262 76............................................$21,389 ................................ $20,463 126 . ......................................$26,536 . ............................... $23,745 12 . ........................................$46,503 . ............................... $47,257 49 . ........................................$28,819 ................................. $28,277 52 . ........................................ $29,191................................. $30,719 114 . ......................................$41,778 ................................. $44,009 187 . ......................................$51,385 ................................. $42,416 83 ......................................... $46,630................................. $41,546 67 . ........................................$45,284 . ............................... $47,792 122 . ......................................$46,292 . ............................... $47,611 ...............................................$45,686 . ............................... $43,254

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Angioplasty w/o heart attack Theda Clark Medical Center, Neenah Appleton Medical Center Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh Aurora Medical Center, Oshkosh Aurora Baycare, Green Bay Bellin Health, Green Bay St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay Agnesian Healthcare, Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay State Average

Discharges ......................... Median 2013 ..........................Median 2012 20 ........................................$26,648 . .................................$26,463 65 ........................................$29,650 ...................................$28,927 40 ........................................$42,375 ...................................$36,358 26 ........................................$49,926 ...................................$39,944 22 ........................................$65,182 ...................................$48,256 73 . .......................................$42,547 ...................................$32,464 33 ........................................$43,889 . .................................$40,614 253 ......................................$50,735 ...................................$47,938 42 . .......................................$46,220 . .................................$50,650 179 . .....................................$51,455 ...................................$51,097 ..............................................$56,418 ...................................$50,329

Vaginal Delivery Appleton Medical Center New London Family Medical Center Theda Clark Medical Center, Neenah St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh Aurora Medical Center, Oshkosh Bellin Health, Green Bay St. Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay Aurora Baycare, Green Bay St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay Agnesian Healthcare, Fond du Lac State Average

Discharges ......................... Median 2013 ..........................Median 2012 934 ......................................$3,399 .....................................$3,325 85 ........................................$3,788 .....................................$3,560 780 ......................................$3,503 .....................................$3,480 801 . .....................................$4,028 .....................................$3,811 496 ......................................$3,966 .....................................$3,764 413 . .....................................$4,022 .....................................$3,924 856 ...................................... $5,603.....................................$4,144 556 ......................................$6,533 . ...................................$5,807 1,241 . ..................................$5,389 .....................................$5,119 620 ......................................$6,621 .....................................$6,424 636 ......................................$6,642 . ...................................$6,469 ..............................................$7,740 . ....................................$7,421

Cesarean Delivery Appleton Medical Center Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton Theda Clark Medical Center, Neenah Aurora Medical Center, Oshkosh New London Family Medical Center Bellin Health, Green Bay St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay Aurora Baycare, Green Bay St. Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay Agnesian Healthcare, Fond du Lac State Average

Discharges ......................... Median 2013 ..........................Median 2012 314 . .....................................$7,264 .....................................$7,411 159 . .....................................$8,311 .....................................$7,619 263 ......................................$8,343 . ...................................$7,782 410 .......................................$7,937 . ....................................$7,836 187 . .....................................$9,539 .....................................$9,124 28 ........................................$9,003 .....................................$8,281 317 . .....................................$13,280 ...................................$10,968 197 . .....................................$11,723 ...................................$11,497 448 ......................................$13,907 ...................................$13,096 139 . .....................................$14,146 . ..................................$13,107 217 . .....................................$14,575 ...................................$15,009 ..............................................$15,294 ...................................$14,629

34 | March 2014 | NNB2B

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Professionally Speaking Professionally Speaking is a paid promotional spot in B2B.

Knowledge Powers Wisconsin Students and Communities

by Martin D. Rudd of UW Fox Valley 920.832.2600

For more than 80 years, the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley has served the citizens of the greater Fox Cities area through affordable, accessible educational programming. “Knowledge Powers Wisconsin” has been a meaningful motto for UWFox: we develop support for local businesses and industry, strengthen these local communities that we call home and workplace, and strive to improve our human capital.

To succeed in this, and in future economies, post-secondary education across a breadth of disciplines and skills is an extraordinarily valuable asset.

During 2013, UWFox expanded our high school concurrent enrollment program that allows students to complete college classes, for credit, in their high school. Those credits are guaranteed to transfer, thus enabling

in our credit or non-credit classes. Our student-centered approach, small class sizes, and top notch advising ensures that career goals can be met and transferability of credits assured.

We are proud to be THE University of Wisconsin in our community.

students to save on tuition costs down the road and build up college credentials. An assessment of local needs has also led us to new bachelor degrees that, in collaboration with our partners from the UW System comprehensive universities, can be completed right here at UWFox. Our facilities are proudly supported by Outagamie and Winnebago counties and by the community in multiple ways, from high school graduates and adult students making an informed decision to attend UWFox, to numerous art, music, theatre and discussion events that intentionally celebrate our student body’s growing talent alongside those of community and regional experts.

We constantly hear how our faculty and staff provide inspiration to students, and how incredibly valuable the world-class University of Wisconsin education is to those who are enrolled

Martin D. Rudd Ph.D. CChem FRSC is Campus Executive Officer and Dean, University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley. Rudd earned his B.Sc. degree (Hons, First Class) in chemistry and a Ph.D. degree in inorganic chemistry from the University of Warwick, England. He came to the UW-Fox Valley campus in 2003. Rudd is a former Wisconsin Teaching Fellow and recipient of the UW Colleges “BarringtonMusolf Research Award” for published research. He is an active member of the American Chemical Society, serving as the Northeast Wisconsin Local Section’s councilor, and was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2011.

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36 | March 2014 | NNB2B

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Dare to be Different

by Michael G. Whitehouse of Navigator Planning Group I overheard a conversation several years ago. It was something you wouldn’t expect to hear…it was something different!

A gentleman hadn’t seen a doctor in many years and thought perhaps he should get a physical. Within minutes of entering the exam room, the doctor basically said, “Get out of my office.”

Stunned, the gentlemen asked for an explanation. The doctor commented that his initial observations of him were that he smoked, he was a heavy drinker, he did not eat well, and he did not exercise. He then said, “I do not have a miracle pill I can prescribe!” Continuing, he recommended that he quit smoking, drink less, pay attention to what he eats, and exercise a few days a week.

Six months later, the gentleman returned to the same doctor for his

Professionally Speaking is a paid promotional spot in B2B.

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physical, and he was 60 lbs. lighter and in much better health.

I believe this gentleman will remember his visit to this doctor, and he will be forever grateful for the doctor’s candor and professionalism. It made a positive impact on his life.

In the financial services industry, we have the ability to make positive impacts on people’s lives! Frank discussions with clients and potential clients are necessary to help them understand they may be spending too much, saving too little, or not putting enough away for retirement. When there are circumstances such as these, we need to be able to say, “No, you are unable to retire at age 60.”

We also encourage clients and potential clients to ask difficult questions of us, such as: ➊ What makes your service model different than the others?

➋ Do you offer a complimentary “Second Opinion Service” in order to learn more about your expertise/ experience before making a commitment? ➌ Do you have a “one-fee-fitsall platform?” Or, describe your commissions or fee structure. ➍ Do you have a Business Succession Plan? If something happens to you, how will my plan be managed?

Like any other service industry, we need to provide “value.” And that value includes candor, even if it is something they do not expect to hear.

They will appreciate you being different!

Michael G. Whitehouse is an Investment Advisor Representative/Registered Principal with Navigator Planning Group.

Mike can be reached by email whitehouse@navigatorpg.com or phone 920.406.8500.

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NNB2B | March 2014 | 37

Who’s News

Incorporations

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

Brown County

The Shepherd’s Kids Preschool Inc., Jennifer K. Trudell, 2282 Red Tail Glen, De Pere 54115.

Hardin Towing And Recovery LLC, Mary Haas, 1926 Dallas Lane, De Pere 54115.

Good Work Engineering LLC, Michael Robert Janda, 265 N. 10th St., Unit 3, De Pere 54115.

VIP Fan Experiences LLC, David C. Van Straten II, 3955 Wright Cir., De Pere 54115.

Sturgeon Bay Charter Fishing LLC, Kyle David Wogsland, 1994 Sandy Springs Road, De Pere 54115.

N.E.W. Advanced Geothermal Technology LLC, Thomas F. Vankauwenberg, W1002 Fish Creek Road, De Pere 54115.

RJL Trucking LLC, Russell John LaCrosse, 1286 S. 7th St., De Pere 54115.

Mad Wrench Motor Werks LLC, John P. Stiles, 3067 County Road ZZ, De Pere 54115.

Rueth Tax & Accounting LLC, Timothy Rueth, 5472 Glenmore Road, Denmark 54208.

Deterville Lumber & Supply LLC, Jesse Vangroll, 3749 S. County Road T, Denmark 54208.

Environmental Engineering Resources LLC, Daniel David Kuhn, 1932 Sagebrush Way, Green Bay 54311.

Madina Restaurant And Grocery LLC, Mariam Magtayn, 991 N. Military Ave., Suite 2, Green Bay 54303.

Global Research Solutions LLC, Joseph L. Hickman, 1008 Coggins Ct., Green Bay 54313.

Bad Boys Scenic Design LLC, Kristin Rucinski, 711 S. Taylor St., Green Bay 54303.

Evans Cabinet Installation LLC, Timothy Stephen Evans, 1816 Spence St., Green Bay 54304.

Alpha Asset Strategies LLC, Richard J. Stockheimer, 110 Packerland Dr., Green Bay 54303.

Loch Drywall LLC, Jerry Loch, 1180 Cottage Grove Ave., Green Bay 54313.

The Academy For The Art Of Metal Shaping LLC, Mark Edward Gerisch, 2012 Memorial Drive, #210, Green Bay 54303.

Absolute Business Konsulting Inc., Angela B. Kornowski, 2225 Warm

38 | March 2014 | NNB2B

Springs Ct., Green Bay 54311.

Advantage Bookkeeping LLC, Christine J. Pulchin, 1266 Bond St., Green Bay 54303.

Pure-Line Plumbing LLC, William S. Woodward, 318 S. Washington St., Ste. 300, Green Bay 54301.

Alliance Appraisal Group Ltd., Terry J. Gerbers, 480 Pilgrim Way, Green Bay 54304.

Stage Right Visual & Performing Arts Ltd., Ben Lamb, 2780 School Lane, Green Bay 54313.

Direct Welding & Fabrication LLC, Jeremy Jahnke, 2772 Bay Settlement Road, Green Bay 54311.

Assistive Care Management LLC, Payao Yang, 2420 Sycamore Dr., Green Bay 54311.

Vanderleest Dental LLC, Marcus J. Vanderleest, 2913 Glendale Ave., Green Bay 54313.

White Cultural Consulting & Travel Services LLC, Jill Suzanne White, Ph.D., 823 Elmore St., Green Bay 54303.

Quality Asphalt and Maintenance LLC, Matthew L. Ledvina, 1354 Ken Dr., Green Bay 54313.

Susan’s Elder Care & Cleaning LLC, Susan Kay Robinson, 1310 Emilie St., Green Bay 54301.

Northern Pipe Cleaning & TV Inc., Timothy J. Potts, 4218 Allen Road, Green Bay 54311.

Quad Optical Services LLC, Wyatt Wisnefske, 2255 Brick Dr., Green Bay 54303.

Cristo La Roca De Green Bay Inc., Erasmo Banegas, 1460 Shawano Ave., Green Bay 54303.

GRB On Demand Delivery LLC, Thomas Joseph Piskor, 731 Savoie Ct., Green Bay 54301.

Dais Design LLC, William Dais, 3621 Glenhaven Ct., Green Bay 54301.

World Nail & Spa LLC, Thao Pham, 2064 Lime Kiln Road, Green Bay 54311.

Gasoline Bar LLC, Reza Nikkhakian, 709-711 S. Broadway St., Green Bay 54301.

Distinction Photo LLC, Matthew D. Koller, 1648 Main St., Green Bay 54302.

Mongin Archery LLC, Luke J. Mongin, 1526 Langlade Ave., Green Bay 54304.

North American Manure Expo Inc., Kevin Erb, 1150 Bellevue St., Green Bay 54302.

B&N Automotive Service and Repair LLC, Brad Waldhuetter, 2727 Woodale Ave., Howard 54313.

Geoanalytics LLC, Alexandru Vasiliev, 1411 Spartan Road, New Franken 54229.

Just Pickled Foods LLC, Kyle C. Alsteen, 5854 Clover Valley Dr., New Franken 54229.

JRD Automation LLC, John R. Doll, 2346 Forest Meadows Ct., Suamico 54313.

Lemonaide Design & Art Co. LLC, Rebecca S. Kafka, 104 High St., Wrightstown 54180.

www.newnorthb2b.com

Fond du Lac County

VZ Custom Trucking LLC, Darrin L. Vande Zande, 135 N. Prairie St., Brandon 53919.

Ferguson Farms LLC, Francis Ferguson, 936 Kings Dr., Brownsville 53006.

Shear Connection LLC, Mike Taylor, 170 W. Pioneer Road, Fond du Lac 54935.

Homes Sold Now LLC, Heath Perry, 357 18th St., Fond du Lac 54935.

Walk The Talk Communications LLC, Monica Mary Walk, 165 15th St., Fond du Lac 54935.

Fox Valley Propane LLC, Matthew Daniel Collies, 180 W. Sibley St., Fond du Lac 54935.

Petrie Mechanical LLC, Thomas R. Petrie, 208 Fond du Lac St., Mt. Calvary 53057.

Mean Clean LLC, Amanda Elizabeth Lagios, 704 Michigan Ave., North Fond du Lac 54937.

Fondy Sewer And Drain LLC, Joshua J. Krueger, N4790 Thill Road, Oakfield 53065.

Natasha Novak Agency LLC, Natasha H. Ing, 120 Watson St., Ripon 54971.

Poco Pizza LLC, Shawn M. Pollack, N9017 Van Dyne Road, Van Dyne 54979.

International Imports LLC, Kris Disbrow, 332 Fond du Lac St., Waupun 53963.

Cal’s Painting & Repair LLC, Calvin Lee Greenfield, W9882 Oak Center Road, Waupun 53963.

Front to back, we understand recent changes in tax laws, IRS procedures, investment strategies, compliance,

and health care laws. Let us put our knowledge to work for you. Call Alberts & Heling today.

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Green Lake County

CSW Logging LLC, Clayton Webb, 111 West Huron, Berlin 54923.

taxes

Oconto County

investments

consulting

Alberts & Heling CPA’s, LLC

Cleaner Carpet & Janitorial Of Wisconsin LLC, Jeffrey S. Sutrick, 5966 Timber Haven Dr., Little Suamico 54141.

Tenderheart Learning Center II LLC, Jean Mercier, 5202 Brown Road, Little Suamico 54141.

www.alberts-heling-cpas.com Green Bay:

Fox VAlley:

Securities offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC. PO Box 64284, St. Paul MN 55164-0284, (800) 800-2638. Alberts & Heling CPAs and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. are not affiliated entities.

Outagamie County

Mic & Willy’s Coffee Co. LLC, Michelle Ann Van Nuland, W2529 Valley Wood Lane, Appleton 54915.

Next Steps Consulting Inc., Karen M. Dorn, 915 Cambridge Ct., Appleton 54915.

Greenview Materials Inc., Jordan Vincent Banda, 1800 W. Rogers Ave., Appleton 54914.

Smart Computing LLC, Seth Reid, 2999 W. Spencer St., Appleton 54914.

Power Sports Rental Network Inc., Eric Eickhoff, N206 Hank Dr., Appleton 54915.

Circle Union Farm LLC, Robert William Zahn, 2501 E. Forest Ave., Appleton 54915.

RLS Business Solutions LLC, Robert L. Sawall, 1237 W. Taylor St., Appleton 54914.

Elite Sales And Commerce LLC, Chris Draper, 720A W. Appleton Ave., Appleton 54911.

Paint Pro Guys LLC, Joshua Reuss, W5395 Amy Ave., Appleton 54915.

Badger Creek Painting & Design LLC, John Schuh, 814 S. Story St., Appleton 54914.

Archer Hotels LLC, Bakul Sanghvi, 3033 W. College Ave., Appleton 54914.

Dock Systems USA LLC, Roger Alfred Trovato, 2805 E. Greenleaf Dr., Appleton 54913.

Dancing Pen Publications LLC, Victoria E. S. Skye, 2700 W. College Ave., Appleton 54914.

Red Dino Technology Inc., Craig Herrell, 206 W. Seymour St., Appleton 54915.

Referee Assigning Services Of Wisconsin LLC, Patrick Latour, 3301 E. Parkside Blvd., Appleton 54915.

Sports Scrawls LLC, Margaret Murphy Ward, 211 E. Carrington Lane, Appleton 54913. @Home Realty LLC, David Berghuis, W5944 Blazing Star Dr., Appleton 54915.

Latinos Express Travel Agency LLC, Luis F. Garcia, 2440 W. College Ave., Appleton 54914.

JB Lightning Inc., Ben Boldt, 1520 W. Rogers Ave., Appleton 54914. www.newnorthb2b.com

EC00-1113 B2B Ad_Qtr_Tax_Final.indd 1

11/27/13 8:18 AM

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NNB2B | March 2014 | 39

Class A Office Building

For Sale by Owner

501 S. Nicolet Road, Appleton $900,000

12,000 SF: 8,000 SF on main level and 4,000 SF. of

finished off and furnished lower level offices & storage space.

Prime location: 2 blocks from Hwy #41 & the Fox River Mall, & 6 blocks from the Airport.

Built in 1991. Brick & Stucco.

Includes: Reception & Conf. rooms furnished plus 70% of the 30 offices. Comes with large copy machine, office equipment, 30 Phones, & Internet System.

Building on 1 beautifully landscaped Acre.

Plenty of parking.

Call Pam at 920-968-4600 40 | March 2014 | NNB2B

BTN Crematory LLC, Scott Nickel, 606 N. Oneida St., Appleton 54911.

Westfinity Financial Solutions LLC, Norbert C. West, Jr., 32 Thistle Down Ct., Appleton 54915.

Glamour Nails Inc., Minh Vo, 3429 W. College Ave., Appleton 54914.

Kates Coffee Limited Liability Co., Jesse Matthew Smits, Sr., 2919 W. Glenpark Dr., Appleton 54914.

Community Learning Solutions LLC, Thomas F. Martin, 2801 E. Enterprise Ave., Appleton 54913.

Valley Sealcoat II Inc., Shawn Walter, W6265 Contractor Dr., Appleton 54914.

Community Caregivers LLC, Ong Chang Xiong, 1612 N. Elinor St., Appleton 54914.

Re-Mix Concrete LLC, Dale P. Laurin, 2002 N. Lynndale Dr., Appleton 54914.

Apollon II LLC, Craig A. Persha, 207 N. Appleton St., Appleton 54911.

American Welding Concepts Inc., James Howard, N2920 Steeple Dr., Appleton 54913.

The Legal Notice Group LLC, Kevin Evers, 205 Williams St., Combined Locks 54113.

Velocity Images LLC, Stephen Kornacki, 4026 Towne Lakes Cir., Grande Chute 54913.

Heat Volleyball Club Inc., Patty Blum, W6501 Design Dr., Unit D, Greenville 54942.

Bakery On Terrace LLC, Brenda Walby, N1799 Terrace Dr., Greenville 54942.

Blessed Assurance Senior Care Services LLC, Jennifer Anne Honeycutt, W6846 Marrihill Ct., Greenville 54942.

Fox Valley Snow & Ice Solutions Inc., Stacy D. Spaulding, W6971 Hillview Road, Greenville 54942.

Appleton Pet Spa LLC, Tara Ann Carew-Puetz, W6258 Everglade Road, Greenville 54942.

Wolf River Machine LLC, Benjamin D. Romenesko, W8943 Thorson Road, Hortonville 54944.

J.S.V. Construction Services LLC, Carrie Krause, W9017 R and D Road, Hortonville 54944.

Complete Network Solutions LLC, Alan John Massart, 458 Windmill Dr., Kaukauna 54130.

Finish Line Carpentry LLC, Edward J. Reid, 3024 Loderbauer Road, Kaukauna 54130.

Pagonis Pizza Inc., Ernesto G. Morales, 320 E. Ann St., Kaukauna 54130.

Ana Powersports Repair LLC, Russell James Alsteen, 704 County Road KK, Kaukauna 54130.

American Modern Exteriors LLC, Troy Kugel, 1715 Buchanan St., Little Chute 54140.

Kory Knaack Auto And Frame Repair LLC, Kory Knaack, N5269 Mullen Road, Seymour 54165.

Lighting Technologies LLC, John Eric Goldsmith, N5162 Whitetail Dr., Seymour 54165.

Black Diamond Builders LLC, Kevin Verhagen, 205 Remington Dr., Seymour 54165.

Winnebago County

The College Bound Resource Center Inc., Robert Schoelzel, 1427 Province Terr., Ste. B, Menasha 54952.

Keep Cool Thermography Appleton LLC, Tanya Reinke, 1147 Morgan Taylor Ct., Menasha 54952.

Waters Edge Bar & Grill LLC, Joseph P. Yulga, W5786 Turnberry Dr., Menasha 54952.

Growth Solutions Consultants LLC, Andrew Joseph Smiltneek, 768 Millbrook Dr., Neenah 54956.

The Basketcase Gifts LLC, Linda Gomez, 116 Andrew Ave., Neenah 54956.

Wisconsin Tattoo Company LLC, Shawn Daniel Buss, 303 N. Commerical St., Neenah 54956.

Breakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Concrete Services LLC, Todd Breaker, 710 Ravenswood Ct., Neenah 54956.

Best Bet Towing LLC, Chad Jones, 3800 Potratz Hill Road, Apt. E, Omro 54963.

Mechanical Services Inc., Brian Seaman, 3569 Sand Pit Road, Oshkosh 54904. www.newnorthb2b.com

Lake And Wetland Ecosystems LLC, Andrew Jason Sabai, 333 Saratoga Ave., Oshkosh 54901.

Hmong-American Community Center Inc., Bee Freedom Lee, 1340 Liberty St., Oshkosh 54901.

Fox Valley Wealth LLC, Jani Picard, 978 Trillium Tr., Oshkosh 54904.

Metz Clinical Research Consulting LLC, Becky Metz, 985 Nicolet Ave., Oshkosh 54901.

D & J Drywall LLC, Cynthia Kasper, 3762 Glenbrook Lane, Oshkosh 54904.

Sound & Light Solutions LLC, Jeffrey Scott Mayer, 529 Central St., Oshkosh 54901.

A+ Automotive Tire & Brake LLC, William Fritz, 640 N. Main St., Oshkosh 54901.

Cherryland Construction LLC, Jeffrey A. Jahnke, 1107 Twin Harbor Dr., Winneconne 54986.

Building permits

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

Kwik Trip, 120 N. Mall Dr., town of Grand Chute. $780,000 for an alteration and addition to the former fuel station for a new convenience store and fuel station.

Contractor listed as self. January 3.

St. Mary’s Hospital, 1726 Shawano Ave., Green Bay. $8,900,000 for various interior alterations to the existing medical complex. General contractor is IEI General Contractors of De Pere. January.

Relax.

Mercy Medical Center, 500 S. Oakwood Road, Oshkosh. $506,578 for alterations to surgical lighting throughout the existing medical complex. General contractor is Boldt Construction Company of Appleton. January 8.

Enzymatic Therapy, 825 Challenger Dr., Green Bay. $432,700 for electrical work for the existing warehouse and office facility. Contractor is Suburban Electric of Appleton. January.

Mergers/acquisitions NPS Corp. of Green Bay, a maker of towel, tissue and spill control products, acquired National Tissue Co., a Cudahy-based maker of tissue, towel and napkins.

The deal also includes a National Tissue operation in North Carolina.

SVA Certified Public Accountants S.C. of Appleton merged with the accounting practice of William P. Merrick CPA in Appleton. Merrick has operated his practice for more than 20 years.

Metals Engineering, a Green Bay-based certified commercial heat treater, acquired Omega Metal Treating Inc., a De Pere-based metal heat treating company.

Metals Engineering said the acquisition will help the company expand its customer base as well as expand its capacity and production space.

The Docking Station of Green Bay and The Avenue HQ of Appleton, both membership-based shared office spaces, signed an agreement allowing members access to either facility. For more information, go online to www.thedockingstation. net or www.theavenuehq.com.

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NNB2B | March 2014 | 41

Who’s News Affinity Medical Group in Menasha hired nurse practitioner Laura Davis. She treats patients at the Affinity Medical Group clinic on St. Elizabeth Hospital’s campus in Appleton.

New locations Belter

Advanced Professional Services LLC moved from Menasha to 3305A N. Ballard Road in Appleton.

Newmark Grubb Pfefferle hired Greg Landwehr as a broker in its Appleton office. He previously was president and owner of PrintX Printing Solutions and a commercial property inspector for Strategic Asset Services.

Business honors

The Schaefer Behnke Financial Group in Oshkosh hired Jenny Oakley as business development coordinator.

The Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy presented its 2013 Wisconsin Financial Literacy Award to 13 organizations statewide, including iOme Challenge of Green Bay and Menasha-based Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin, Inc.

St. Paul Elder Services Inc. in Kaukauna announced the following hires: Jennifer Olmsted, clinical director of community living services and hospice administrator; Brian Herman, CPA, chief financial officer; and Ian Krause, manager for St. Paul Villa.

The Military Avenue Business Association in Green Bay named Dan Perron as its executive director.

New hires Pennings

Promotions

National Exchange Bank & Trust of Fond du Lac hired Tom Belter to its commercial lending team. He brings more than 30 years banking experience.

Directions Marketing in Neenah promoted Lisa Gaupp to director of strategic business development. Gaupp served as an account executive with the firm and has more than 14 years experience in account management.

Cherney Microbiological Services Ltd. in Green Bay hired Kathy Knutson as a project manager and Todd Robertson as a senior sales consultant. Knutson has more than 30 years of industry experience and Robertson has 24 years of sales and sales management experience.

Jacques

Menn Law Firm in Appleton named Brenton Teeling a shareholder. He has been practicing at Menn since 2007 and is a member of the firm’s litigation group.

Stellar Blue Technologies in Appleton hired Dalton Spranger as website developer.

Schenck, s.c. named CPAs Bryan Grunewald, Brian Gunderson and Andy Mugerauer as shareholders in the organization. Grunewald serves on the firm’s Government and Not-for-Profit team and has more than 15 years experience. Gunderson has more than 20 years experience in tax planning and research for closely-held businesses.

Mugerauer has been with Schenck since 1997 and has a strong background in audit and tax preparation in the manufacturing, agricultural and construction industries.

Miron Construction Co. Inc. in Neenah hired Brian Wheeler as a conceptual estimator; Sara Johnson as virtual construction specialist; Craig Bieri as graphic designer; and Todd Ashauer as a paint shop specialist.

The Business Bank hired Tom Pennings as vice president of business banking at its Appleton office. He brings 23 years of banking experience.

Davis

FNB-Fox Valley promoted Trisha Lembcke to teller supervisor at its Appleton branch. She has been with the bank since 2012.

Advance Professional Services LLC in Appleton hired Jenny Overstreet as an executive search consultant. She has six years accounting experience as well as six years of experience in the recruiting industry.

Ministry Health Care named Cheryl Schmidt vice president of quality. She has been with Menasha-based Affinity Health System and Ministry Health Care since 2001.

The Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce hired Debbie Jacques as an account executive on its member services team.

St. Paul Elder Services Inc. in Kauakuna promoted Sondra Norder to president and CEO. She had served as chief operating officer since 2010. Other promotions included Becky Reichelt to

Landwehr

Oakley

42 | March 2014 | NNB2B

Olmsted

Herman

Gaupp

Grunewald

Gunderson

www.newnorthb2b.com

chief operating officer and Corey Tienor to senior director of support services. Kay Fitzgerald, corporate integrity officer and director of human resources, will also lead volunteer services.

Kaukauna, secretary-treasurer; and board members, James Beno, Beno Plumbing, Green Bay; Richard Bushey, Mechanical Technologies Inc., Green Bay; Mark Eimmerman, August Winter & Sons Inc., Appleton; James Jarvis, J. F. Ahern Co., Fond du Lac; Joseph Lauer, E.G.I. Mechanical, Seymour; Michael Sturdivant, Tweet/Garot Mechanical Inc., Green Bay; and John Trottier, Azco In., Appleton.

J. F. Ahern Co. of Fond du Lac promoted Tim Schneider to manager of its northeast Wisconsin region operations.

Choice Bank in Oshkosh promoted Janeen Wagner to deposit operations officer and Maggie Doyle to human resources officer.

Business calendar

Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh promoted Kelly Fitzpatrick to administrator of its Eden Meadows Rehabilitation Suites and Green House Homes. Fitzpatrick has 14 years industry experience, recently serving as administrator of Gabriel’s Villa, part of Lutheran Homes.

Hansen

New North B2B encourages businesses and organizations looking to attract interested persons to upcoming events to email sean@newnorthb2b.com. For more events, log on to www.thenewnorthevents.com.

Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton promoted Maria Van Laanen from executive vice president to president effective July 1, succeeding retiring president Susan Stockton.

March 4 Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce 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. For information, call 920.437.8704 or email members@titletown.org.

Individual honors Jeremy Hansen, an instructor in Fox Valley Technical College’s fire protection technician program, received Executive Fire Officer certification from the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy, a branch of the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

Doyle

March 5 Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Coffee Connection, 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at Hoppers Silk Screening and All Star Trophy, 77 N. Main St. in Fond du Lac. To register, go online to www.fdlac.com.

Jill Halverson, assistant professor of business at the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley in Menasha, was named a fellow in the Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars program for the 2014-15 academic year.

March 6 Bagels and Brains, a semi-annual social event from Stellar Blue Technologies, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Stellar Blue training studio, 1580 Lyon Drive in Neenah. Enjoy learning about and discussing ways to use technology in your business. No cost to attend. For more information or to register visit www.stellarworkshops.com.

Dr. Michael Krueger with Affinity Medical Group in Appleton was presented with a Summit Award for providing exemplary care and clinical excellence to Managed Health Services members throughout Wisconsin.

Wagner

March 10 Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce presents “Let’s Wrap: Get Lean and Mean,” a workshop on business lean strategies, noon to 1 p.m. at Riverside Ballroom, 1560 Main St., Green Bay. Cost is $15 and available to members only. Register by going online to events. titletown.org or calling 920.437.8704.

The Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy presented its 2013 Wisconsin Financial Literacy Award to seven individuals statewide, including Kristi Cutts, a family living educator with Winnebago County UW Extension in Oshkosh and Jeff Kemp of Oshkosh.

Schneider

Appointments

March 11 Imagination Network of Wisconsin, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Elks Club, 33 Sheboygan St. in Fond du Lac. No cost to attend. For more information, visit www.fcedc.com.

THE MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN elected the following officers for the coming year: David Aldag, Aldag Honold Mechanical Inc., Sheboygan, president; Dean Reinke, Hurckman Mechanical Industries Inc., Green Bay, vice president; Kim Bassett-Heitzmann, Basset Mechanical,

March 11 Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce Sales Club, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the chamber building, 120 Jackson St. in Oshkosh. No cost to attend

Fitzgerald

Mugerauer

www.newnorthb2b.com

Lembcke

Schmidt

Norder

Reichelt

Tienor

NNB2B | March 2014 | 43

Business Calendar for chamber members. For information, call 920.303.2266 or go online to www. oshkoshchamber.com.

March 18 Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Business Connection, 5 to 7 p.m. at Appleton Beer Factory, 603 W. College Ave. in Appleton. For more information or to register, call 920.734.7101 or go online to www.foxcitieschamber.com.

March 12 Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Rasmussen College, 904 S. Taylor St., in Green Bay. No cost to attend for chamber members. For information, call 920.437.8704 or email members@titletown.org.

March 20 “2014 M&A Forum: Composing Your Future,” a no-cost forum on mergers and acquisitions presented by Schenck, s.c., 2 to 4:30 p.m. at The Bemis Center at St. Norbert College in De Pere. To register, contact Karie at 800.236.2246, ext. 1261.

March 12 Women in Management – Fox Cities Chapter monthly meeting, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fox Banquets & Rivertyme Catering, 111 E. Kimball St. in Appleton. Program is “Heart Healthy Cooking Made Easy & Yummy.” Cost is $15 for members and $17 for nonmembers. To register, visit wimiwi.org or email foxcitiesprogram@wimiwi.org.

March 26 A.M. Oshkosh, a morning networking event from Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, 7:45 to 9 a.m. at EAA, 3000 Poberezny Road in Oshkosh. Cost to attend is $2.

To register or for more information, call 920.303.2266 or go online to www. oshkoshchamber.com. ■

March 13 Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m. at Prime Steer Supper Club, 704 Hyland Ave. in Kaukauna. For more information or to register, go online to www.heartofthevalleychamber.com.

March 13 Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce Business Connection, 5 to 7 p.m. at Moraine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac. Cost to attend is $5. For more information or to register, go online to www.fdlac.com or call 920.921.9500.

March 13 Women in Management – Oshkosh Chapter monthly meeting, 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at La Sure’s Banquet Hall, 3125 S. Washburn St. in Oshkosh. Program is “International Women’s Day Celebration.” For more information or to register, go online to www. wimiwi.org or email Patty at pshea@sheaelectricllc.com.

Advertiser Index ASB Fragmental Projects ⎮www.fragmentalart.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Alberts & Heling CPAs ⎮www.alberts-heling-cpas.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Bank First National ⎮www.bankfirstnational.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Bayland Buildings ⎮www.baylandbuildings.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Better Business Bureau ⎮ www.wisconsin.bbb.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Borsche Roofing Professionals ⎮www.wiroofer.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Builders Exchange of Wisconsin ⎮www.bxwi.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Capital Credit Union ⎮www.capitalcu.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 CitizensFirst Credit Union ⎮www.citizensfirst.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Clean Image Janitorial ⎮www.cijanitorial.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative ⎮ www.CommonGroundHealthcare.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Competitive Strategies ⎮www.wemakesoftwarework.com. . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. ⎮www.dkattorneys.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Epiphany Law ⎮www.epiphanylaw.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Fast Signs ⎮www.fastsigns.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 First Business Bank ⎮www.firstbusiness.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 First National Bank ~ Fox Valley ⎮www.fnbfoxvalley.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Fox Valley Savings Bank ⎮www.FVSBank.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Frontier Builders and Consultants ⎮ www.frontierbuildersandconsultants.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 44 | March 2014 | NNB2B

Better Business Bureau New Members Businesses accredited through the Northeast Wisconsin office during January 2014 Bath Renewal, Appleton Cypress Benefit Administrators, Appleton First Chrysler, Manitowoc Frog Force Web Development, Greenville Gerondale Heating, Green Bay Graese Electric, Crivitz Granite Auto Sales, Redgranite MSE Automation, Denmark Northern Builders and Homes, Crivitz Office Furniture Outlet, Green Bay SB Janitorial Cleaning, Black Creek Schoenecker Steel Roofing, Waupaca Wisneski Auto Sales, Green Bay

Guident Business Solutions ⎮www.guidentbusinesssolutions.com. . . . . 36 Horicon Bank ⎮www.horiconbank.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 J. F. Ahern Co. ⎮www.jfahern.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Keller Inc. ⎮www.kellerbuilds.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Moraine Park Technical College ⎮www.morainepark.edu. . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 National Exchange Bank & Trust ⎮www.nebat.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Navigator Planning Group ⎮www.navigatorpg.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Network Health Plan ⎮www.networkhealth.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 NEW Building & Construction Trades Council ⎮www.newbt.org . . . . . . . 17 NWTC Corporate Training & Economic Development ⎮ www.corporatetraining.nwtc.edu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Oshkosh Public Museum ⎮www.oshkoshmuseum.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Outagamie County Regional Airport ⎮www.atwairport.com. . . . . . . . . . . 35 Pamco Executive Suites ⎮ www.pamcosuites.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Pioneer Credit Union ⎮www.pioneercu.org. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 R&R Steel Construction Company Inc. ⎮www.rrsteelconstruction.com. . 24 Sadoff & Rudoy Industries ⎮www.sadoff.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Security Luebke Roofing ⎮www.securityluebkeroofing.com. . . . . . . . . . . 38 Spark ⎮www.startaspark.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Stellar Blue Technologies ⎮www.stellarbluetechnologies.com. . . . . . . . . 21 UW Fox Valley ⎮www.uwfox.uwc.edu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 UW Oshkosh College of Business ⎮www.mba.uwosh.edu . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Winnebago County Solid Waste Management ⎮ www.co.winnebago.wi.us/solid-waste/container-rental-program . . . . . . 40 www.newnorthb2b.com

New North Business Plan Competition

Biz plan winners recognized across New North The 8th Annual Northeast Wisconsin Business Plan competition recognized four start ups in the region during late January.

The goal of the business plan competition is to encourage the preparation of business plans for start-up businesses, for those making significant changes to existing businesses, or those launching new products in northeast Wisconsin.

1

2

Judges for the competition – coordinated by the Northeast Wisconsin Regional Economic Partnership – selected the four finalists who will share $10,000 in prize money, which is to be used to put the business plan into action within the next year. Here are the 2013 winners:

1st Place - $5,000 prize

Change Management Communications Center, Oshkosh owner Tina Schuelke

After more than 20 years in corporate environments, Schuelke launched her consulting firm in March 2013 offering business and change management support.

3

2nd Place - $2,500 prize

CUBES, Fond du Lac owner Mike McKee

McKee developed this modular furniture/ cabinetry system that allows users to customize the size and style of furniture they want. CUBES come in multiple standard size cubes, which can be connected together in multiple ways through use of connection strips and grooves around each cube.

4

3rd Place - $1,500 prize

Nelves by Joni, Oshkosh owner Joni Denecke

Nature Loving Elves, or “Nelves,” are small handsewn fabric dolls created from 85 percent recycled materials. Denecke sells Nelves at farmers markets across the region, as well as a range of starter accessories for the dolls such as vests, tutus and scarves.

4th Place - $1,000 prize

Angela Lensch Gallery, Egg Harbor owner Angela Lensch

Jewelry artist Lensch opened her gallery in a Door County log cabin. In addition to her own handmade jewelry, the gallery also features a collection of hand-blown glass, mosaics, sculpture, painting and photography.

3 Overachievers Under 30 Is there a 20-something you know of who just knocks your socks off? An entrepreneur or elite business professional under 30 years old with uncanny leadership maturity for their age? Nominate them for B2B’s inaugural 30 Overachievers Under 30, coming in our May 2014 edition.

B2B will recognize three of northeast Wisconsin’s most impressive young professionals still in their 20s. To make a nomination, send an email to sean@newnorthb2b.com with the nominee’s age, profession and brief paragraph outlining their accomplishments. Nominations will be accepted until April 9.

Coming in May www.newnorthb2b.com

NNB2B | March 2014 | 45

Key Statistics local gasoline prices Per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline.

FEBRUARY 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.38 FEBRUARY 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.34 FEBRUARY 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.29 FEBRUARY 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.27 FEB. 23, 2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.75

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

u.s. retail sales

local unemployment

january

$427.8 billion 0.4% from December 2.6% from January 2013

Source: New North B2B observations

housing starts

u.s. industrial production

JANUARY

(2007 = 100) january

880,000

16.0% from December 2.0% from January 2013

101.0

inventories

JANUARY 2014

(Manufacturers and trade) December

January 2014 revenue collections from the state Department of Revenue were not released prior to B2B’s print deadline in late February.

Source: Integrys Energy

ism index Numbers above 50 mean expansion.

Numbers below 50 mean contraction.

$1,708 billion 0.5 % from November 3.8% from December 2012

natural gas prices Prices for small businesses using less than 20,000 therms. Listed price is per therm. february. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.957 january. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.840 february 2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.759

0.3% from December 2.9% from January 2013

WI Dept. Revenue Collections

december nov. nov. ‘12 Appleton . . . . . 6.7% . . . . . 6.7% . ....... 7.7% Fond du Lac . . . 6.6% . . . . . . 6.5% . ....... 7.2% Green Bay. . . . . 7.5% . . . . . . 7.5% . ....... 8.7% Neenah . . . . . . . 6.4% . . . . . . 6.8% .......... 8.0% Oshkosh . . . . . . 5.9% . . . . . . 6.1% . ......... 6.5% Wisconsin . . . . 5.8% . . . . . 5.8% .......... 6.6%

january. . . . . . . . . . . . . 51.3 december . . . . . . . . . . . 56.5

One Master of Business Administration Degree.

Two Paths.

Professional: Part-time, evening or online classes Executive: Saturday-only classes, 16-month completion Choose the path that fits your level of experience, career goals and time commitment.

Visit uwosh.edu/cob/graduate or call us at (800) 633-1430 for more information.

Stephen Nunn, MBA Student, Graduating ‘14 Operations Manager, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis.

46 | March 2014 | NNB2B

www.newnorthb2b.com

OUR POLICY, NO HEALTH INSURANCE JARGON.

AT NETWORK HEALTH, WE SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE. More and more people everywhere are intimidated with coordinating their health care. This leads to frustration, surprises and bad experiences. Meet Network Health, a different kind of health plan. We understand it requires more than just words and language, but also a commitment to customer service to break through industry clutter and confusion. Let us help you today.

networkhealth.com

800-826-0940

HMO plans underwritten by Network Health Plan. POS plans underwritten by Network Health Insurance Corporation, or Network Health Insurance Corporation and Network Health Plan. Self-funded HMO and POS plans administered by Network Health Plan.

R E D A E L a Be

g n i w o l l o f h t r wo

!

Leadership Development CERTIFICATE SERIES

at NWTC!

Six Wednesdays • •

April 9, 16, 23, 30 May 21 & 28

8 a.m. - 12 Noon Cost: $725

has no t u b , s d a e l e ks h “ He who thin only taking a walk .” followers, is ell ~ John Maxw

Register online today: http://www.nwtc.edu/leadership-series (920) 498-6971 • email corporatetraining@nwtc.edu

Skills You Need for Results You Deserve!