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Walmart and Sam’s Club are coming to Pabst Farms
May 17, 2013 01:00 PM
The Pabst Farms development, once envisioned as a Midwestern upscale retail jewel destination in Oconomowoc, will soon be the home of a 151,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter store and a 136,000-square-foot Sam’s Club store.
Walmart and Pabst Farms Development Inc. announced their plans for the two stores today.

The stores are planned to be built northeast of Interstate 94 and Highway 67 in the Pabst Farms Town Centre area of the development.
Prior to the Great Recession, Pabst Farms developer Peter Bell planned to create an upscale regional mall in the Pabst Farms Town Centre. However, that project has not moved forward, and attempts by Pabst Farms to attract upscale national retail tenants have been unsuccessful so far.
The Walmart Supercenter and the Sam’s Club stores would be the first significant development at Pabst Farms in several years.
“The city is excited to see the long anticipated Town Centre project at Pabst Farms get under way,” said Bob Duffy, economic development director for the City of Oconomowoc. “The new Walmart and Sam’s Club will not only provide approximately 400 new jobs, but since the Pabst Farms tax incremental district is in the process of closing early, this will mean a substantial direct increase in Oconomowoc’s tax base from day one.”
The Pabst Farms Town Centre is still planned to be a 1 million-square-foot, open-air retail shopping center. The Walmart Supercenter stores and the Sam’s Club store will anchor the western portion of that site.
“We remain committed to an upscale, regional shopping destination, and look forward to working with retailers like Walmart and Sam’s Club that are economically strong, weathered the recession, and are well-positioned to succeed in this new economic environment,” said Bell, president of Pabst Farms Development Inc.  “As consumer spending continues to bounce back, there is more optimism in the retail sector than there has been in years. With Walmart and Sam’s Club committed, we are now actively working on retailers and a movie theater to fill out the rest of the development.”
 

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The Couture might include hall for MSO
May 17, 2013 11:00 AM
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is in early stages of considering plans to move its performances to a concert hall that could be built for the MSO in The Couture, the 44-story residential and hotel tower planned by Barrett Visionary Development near the lakefront.
 
Barrett Visionary Development owner Rick Barrett approached the MSO about the idea a few months ago, said MSO president and executive director Mark Niehaus, who emphasized that the discussions are extremely preliminary.

“It’s so early (in the planning process),” Niehaus said. “We have not agreed to anything. We’re simply studying what a project like this would be for us.”

Currently, most MSO performances are held at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Milwaukee. But numerous scheduling conflicts at the Marcus Center force the MSO to play at various other venues for about 16 of its 39-week season, Niehaus said. Scheduling at the Marcus Center is particularly tough during December when the MSO is playing popular Christmas shows, but the Marcus Center is booked for the Milwaukee Ballet’s Nutcracker performances.

The MSO’s revenue drops significantly when it plays at venues other than the Marcus Center, Niehaus said.

“It’s not ideal to have to move your product all over town and expect your audience to follow you,” he said. “I have to pursue every opportunity to allow us to play more concerts for more people.”

Ideally the MSO would have its own venue to maximize its scheduling opportunities, Niehaus said. Other appropriate performances, such as jazz concerts, could also be held in the venue, he said.

“It would solve a major problem for their future,” Barrett said. “For us it would have an allure that is cutting-edge and would be something Milwaukee could be extremely proud of.”

No other existing facility in Milwaukee could be an adequate home for the MSO, Niehaus said. The Milwaukee Theater, for example, has a seating capacity of about 4,000 and is too large of a space for a symphony orchestra performance, he said.

A venue at The Couture likely would not replace the Marcus Center, Neihaus said. It would just become the new site for the MSO’s shows. Other groups would remain at the Marcus Center.

The MSO is the second major Milwaukee cultural institution that Barrett has approached for The Couture project. Barrett is also in talks with the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, currently located at O’Donnell Park, about moving to a larger space in The Couture.

The Couture would be built southwest of Lincoln Memorial Drive and Michigan Street, at the site currently occupied by the Milwaukee County Downtown Transit Center. However, parks advocacy group Preserve Our Parks has objected to those plans saying private development at that site would violate the state’s public trust doctrine. Milwaukee County officials are planning legal action to establish development rights for the site.

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Aldi to expand Oak Creek distribution center
May 17, 2013 11:00 AM
Aldi will add more than 100,000 square feet to its Oak Creek distribution center at 9342 S. 13th St.
 
Construction could begin this summer on the expansion, which includes about 40,000 square feet for dry goods storage, 63,000 feet for cold storage and about 3,100 square feet of office space.

The project will add to what is now a 500,000-square-foot facility on about 74 acres of land north of Ryan Road. The distribution center serves Aldi stores in Wisconsin and Lake County, Ill.

The Oak Creek Plan Commission gave the plans final approval in its meeting Tuesday.

For more, read the Oak Creek Patch, a media partner of BizTimes. 

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Kohl’s outsources contact center to the cloud
May 17, 2013 12:00 PM
Menomonee Falls-based Kohl's Department Stores has entered into a long-term, multi-year contract to migrate its contact center to the Interactive Intelligence Communications-as-a-Service solution.
 
Kohl's has been a customer of Indianapolis-based Interactive Intelligence Group Inc. since 1999.
Kohl's decided that a move to the cloud would enable it to continue to focus on its core business and effectively meet peak seasonal demands. The Interactive Intelligence cloud solution includes a service level agreement that ensures Kohl's will get optimal maintenance and support.

"Kohl's is well known for its world-class customer service," said Interactive Intelligence founder and chief executive officer Donald Brown. "We're honored that they've chosen us as their partner as they move a part of their business to the cloud. We take that responsibility seriously and want to help them offer the best possible experience to each and every Kohl's customer."

The Interactive Intelligence CaaS solution will support Kohl's offices in San Antonio, Texas and Menomonee Falls. The migration will begin immediately and is planned for completion by the end of 2014.

Interactive Intelligence Group is a global provider of contact center, unified communications and business process automation software and services.

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Neale to retire as Modine’s chairman
May 17, 2013 12:00 PM
Racine-based Modine Manufacturing Company today announced plans for Gary Neale to retire as chairman of its board of directors following the company’s annual meeting of shareholders on July 18.
 
Neale has been a member of Modine's board since 1977 and became its chair in 2008 after serving as independent lead director for five years.

In addition, at its regular meeting on May 15, Modine's board appointed Marsha Williams as independent lead director, effective upon Neale's retirement. Williams has been a member of Modine's board since 1999 and is the current chair of its officer nomination and compensation committee.

Williams retired as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Orbitz Worldwide, an online travel company, in 2010. Prior to joining Orbitz, Williams held senior executive positions at Equity Office Properties Trust, Crate and Barrel, Amoco Corporation, Carson Pirie Scott & Company and The First National Bank of Chicago. She currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V., Fifth Third Bancorp and Davis Funds.

"We are extremely grateful to Gary for his many years of service to Modine," said Thomas Burke, Modine's president and chief executive officer. "He has served our shareholders very well and has been an effective leader for our board and resource for our management team. We look forward to making further announcements and wishing him well upon his retirement in July. We are also quite pleased with the board's appointment of Marsha to the independent lead director position and look forward to working with her in this new role."

The board also approved amendments to Modine's guidelines on corporate governance to address the specific duties of the independent lead director. 

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BizTimes Morning Headlines: Wisconsin sees biggest monthly job loss since 2009
May 17, 2013 12:00 PM
One measure shows Wisconsin's employment picture improving since Gov. Scott Walker took office in January 2011, but the most recent jobs numbers tell a different story.
 
On the same day it cheered data showing Wisconsin has gained some 62,000 private-sector jobs over the past two years, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development on Thursday quietly released the latest federal figures showing the state losing 22,000 jobs in April.

The monthly jobs loss — indicated in preliminary, seasonally adjusted Current Employment Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, was the biggest monthly decline since April 2009, near the end of the Great Recession.

The state lost 22,600 private-sector jobs between March and April and another 1,500 public jobs according to the Current Employment Statistics, which samples around 3.5 percent of Wisconsin employers monthly.

But state officials were quick to direct attention away from the April numbers toward figures from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, which showed that Wisconsin gained more than 62,000 private-sector jobs in 2011 and 2012.
For more, read BizTimes Morning Headlines.

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BizTimes Nonprofit Weekly: 'Milwaukee's Finest' Campaign in final stretch of fundraising
May 17, 2013 12:00 PM
The 2013 “Milwaukee's Finest" Campaign, presented by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) Milwaukee Chapter, is nearing the end of its 10-week run with a final push to fundraise dollars toward research of cystic fibrosis and a cure.
 
The campaign consists of eight young professionals who were selected in March for their dedication to community involvement on top of their professional success. Each selected honoree has been challenged to raise a minimum of $2,500.

For more, read the BizTimes Nonprofit Weekly.

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Weekend preview
May 17, 2013 12:00 PM
Busy readers of the BizTimes Daily can get a jumpstart on the weekend ahead by reading the OnMilwaukee.com Weekend Preview.
 
A hint: Comedian Bill Cosby and country singer Kenny Chesney are coming to Milwaukee. For a roundup of activities, click here. OnMilwaukee.com is a media partner of BizTimes.

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State added 62,072 private sector jobs in 2011-12
May 16, 2013 11:00 AM
Wisconsin added 62,072 private sector jobs in 2011 and 2012, according to a new report released today from the state Department of Workforce Development.

The report from the DWD said the state lost 134,000 jobs during Gov. Jim Doyle's last term. The report also says that the 2011-12 private sector job gain is the best two-year job gain "under any governor in over a decade."

The state added 32,000 jobs during 2012, the report said.

The data is based on reports from nearly 160,000 Wisconsin employers, the DWD said.

"In the past two years, more than 62,000 Wisconsinites have found jobs and their families can now put food on the table and provide for their children. Under Governor (Scott) Walker's leadership, we are working together to help the private sector create jobs and get our people back to work, and this actual job count shows we're moving forward in the right direction," DWD Secretary Reggie Newson said.

"We are not surprised that we are seeing job creation and economic expansion in the state," State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said. "Last week we added over $500 million in additional revenues and saw that income tax collection was up. Now we are seeing data that we created over 62,000 private sector jobs, which are the best two year gains under any Wisconsin Governor in over a decade. Unemployment Insurance claims are down, revenue collections are up, and wages are up. All of these economic indicators are proof that are reforms are working and people are going back to work in Wisconsin. We made the tough decisions and now we are seeing the results."

When Walker ran for governor he said his policies would help the private sector create 250,000 jobs in his first four-year term in office. Based on the DWD report today the private sector needs to create another 188,000 jobs in the state by the end of 2014 for Walker to reach that goal.

“Despite the spin, even their selective numbers confirm that Wisconsin has failed to capture the nationwide economic recovery, leaving us stalled at 44th in the nation in job growth, and last in the Midwest," said State Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee. "The nationally accepted measure of job performance shows we’re back of the pack and heading in the wrong direction. As we just discovered, Wisconsin’s agency with the sole purpose of creating jobs is wasting taxpayer dollars with no tangible results, it’s no wonder we’re falling behind. We can do better. Our neighbors are counting on us.”

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Kohl's earnings dip again
May 16, 2013 10:00 AM
Profit levels continue to decline for Menomonee Falls-based Kohl's Corp., which today reported first quarter net income of $147 million, down 4.5 percent from net income of $154 million in the first quarter of 2012.

That comes after the company reported early this year that its net income for the entire 2012 fiscal year was down 15.5 percent.

However diluted earnings per share for the first quarter were up five percent to 66 cents.

Net sales for the quarter were down 1 percent to $4.2 billion, the company said.

"After a slow start, sales improved considerably in April as the weather finally improved in our most weather-sensitive regions," said Kevin Mansell, Kohl's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Despite the lower than expected sales, we outperformed our earnings guidance as gross margin results and expense management were better than expected. Our inventory levels are consistent with our expectations."

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Brady to sell Asia die-cut business, Q1 sales rise
May 16, 2013 10:00 AM
Milwaukee-based Brady Corp. today said that it plans to sell its Asia-based Die-Cut business.

“Our Die-Cut business has shown many signs of improvement and has recently secured several meaningful new orders,” said president and chief executive officer, Frank M. Jaehnert. “However, we no longer consider this business core to our strategy and believe that our Die-Cut customers and our employees will be better served by being with a company where Die-Cut is a core product offering.”

The company also reported that its third quarter sales were up 11 percent to $305.73 million.

Net income for the quarter fell from $27.65 million, or 53 cents per share, in 2012 to $4.23 million, or 42 cents per share. But this year’s third quarter results included a $17.6 million loss from discontinued operations.

“In the face of a challenging economy, we continue to position Brady for long-term success by optimizing our portfolio of businesses, aligning our organization with growth opportunities and reducing our infrastructure costs,” Jaehnert said. “(The company) will continue the process of portfolio realignment as we have already divested three businesses and acquired Precision Dynamics Corporation, a business serving the health care space. We are changing our organizational structure from geographically-based to an organization structured around global business platforms. We are also targeting expansion in faster-growing geographies such as Central Europe, the Middle East, Africa and selected markets in Asia; and focusing on industries such as food and beverage, chemical, oil, and gas and health care.”

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Foundations Bank completes capital raise
May 16, 2013 10:45 AM
The boards of directors of Generations Bancorp Inc. and Pewaukee-based Foundations Bank announced that they have raised new capital of more than $5 million.

The capital raised at the holding company was injected into the bank this month.

“The additional capital increases the bank’s capital ratios well above the regulatory requirement and positions the company to move forward as an organization,” said John Hazod, interim president.

Generations Bancorp plans to keep the stock offering open until July 1, 2013, which will enable other shareholders and new investors to augment the capital already raised. The bank has begun a new marketing campaign in the second quarter to attract new customers.

“This capital is another step in moving Foundations Bank in a positive direction. The board, management and the entire bank staff have concentrated its efforts on improving the bank’s loan portfolio over the past couple years. The bank has made tremendous progress in reducing the level of nonperforming assets. The new capital will provide the support to begin building the asset base again through prudent underwriting of new loans,” Hazod said.

Foundations Bank, which has total assets of $126 million, primarily serves the Lake Country and Waukesha County markets.

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Green Bay company acquires Milwaukee 2-Way Inc.
May 16, 2013 10:00 AM
Green Bay-based Baycom Inc., a provider of wireless voice, video and data solutions, announced it has completed the acquisition of Milwaukee 2-Way Inc., a Motorola Solutions Radio Channel partner based in West Allis.

The acquisition of Milwaukee 2-Way will complement and expand Baycom and Motorola Solutions’ strategy to provide public safety and commercial organizations in southeastern Wisconsin with best-in-class products and unmatched customer service and support.

The acquired business, which serves public safety and commercial customers in southeastern Wisconsin, will operate as Baycom Inc. and will continue to run as a full sales, service, rental and support operation.

“We see this acquisition as an opportunity to best serve our existing and new customers,” said Steve Elias, president of Baycom. “This was a strategic decision that supports our company’s mission and vision to be dedicated to total customer satisfaction and provide best-in-class products and services as a trusted partner. In our decision to acquire Milwaukee 2-Way, we saw an opportunity to, not only provide a local service location to our existing customers, but also provide new customers in the area with continued service and extended product lines of mission critical technologies for public safety and commercial organizations.”

“We take mission critical communications very seriously,” said Elias. “Our team has made it our highest priority to ensure that our public safety and commercial customers are covered with our best-in-class service and support during this transition and moving forward.”

The acquisition and transition plans are effective immediately. Baycom plans to employ a majority of the current Milwaukee 2-Way staff and start Baycom employee training this week.

"We are excited about joining forces with such a growing and progressive company like Baycom," said David Brooks, a former Milwaukee 2-Way vice president who will be assuming a position at Baycom as vice president of business development. "With our two companies merging, we can best deliver the utmost service and support to our customers.”

Baycom will maintain headquarters in Green Bay, with certified service centers in Marinette, Green Bay, Neenah and West Allis. 

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Supervisors’ petition for new County Board chair falls short on signatures
May 16, 2013 11:00 AM
Milwaukee County Board Supervisors Mark Borkowski, Steve Taylor, Deanna Alexander, John Weishan and Jim “Luigi” Schmitt today said they have fallen short in their efforts to replace County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic.

They needed to obtain the signatures of 12 supervisors on a petition to call a special meeting of the County Board to replace Dimitrijevic as board chair, but only had five signatures.

“We aim to continue to fight for this cause as we believe that the current County Board leadership should be held accountable for well-documented wrong-doings it allowed to take place under its watch,” the five supervisors said in a statement. “It is somewhat disappointing to see that the rest of our colleagues do not share this opinion.”

Displeased with the Milwaukee County Board's performance, the state Legislature this week approved a bill to significantly cut the County Board’s budget. If signed by Gov. Scott Walker, the bill will curb the powers of the Milwaukee County Board and will clear the way for a binding referendum that could cut the salaries of board members
 

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Walker declares state of emergency for Bayfield and Douglas Counties
May 16, 2013 11:00 AM
Gov. Scott Walker has declared a state of emergency in response to a northern Wisconsin forest fire, which has destroyed more than 9,000 acres in Bayfield and Douglas Counties.

“Tonette and I send our prayers and concern to the people who have lost property and those who have been evacuated because of this forest fire,” Walker said.

Thus far, 47 structures have been lost, including 17 homes, 15 garages, 9 outbuildings, and 6 others. Firefighters from 37 fire departments have saved 77 structures, including 42 homes. 

No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

The forest fire, known as “The Germann Road Fire,” is the largest in Wisconsin since the Oak Lake Fire that burned over 11,400 acres in Washburn County on April 22, 1980.

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Cudahy receives Lifetime Achievement AwardMichael Cudahy receives BizTimes Lifetime Achievement Award
Aside from city founders Solomon Juneau, Byron Kilbourn and George Walker, few people, if any, have had more impact on Milwaukee than entrepreneur, community advocate and philanthropist Michael J. Cudahy.
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