SBC Foundation
The SBC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of SBC Communications, Inc., Milwaukee, has awarded $285,500 in SBC Excelerator technology grants to 24 nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin, including $145,360 to 10 organizations in the greater Milwaukee area. The 2004 SBC Excelerator grants were awarded to organizations that connect people with little or no access to technology, including at-risk youth and underserved urban families. The program provides access to resources in the community, including Internet access, hands-on computer training, math and reading classes and job skills programs. In the greater Milwaukee area, the Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse of Washington County received $5,000 to support and secure interactive Internet; the Council for the Spanish Speaking received $10,000 to support the replacement of an outdated phone system and to increase high-speed Internet lines; Hope House of Milwaukee received $5,000 to support the purchase computers, software and high-speed Internet services; Interfaith Caregiving Network received $5,500 to support Web site enhancements; Literacy Council of Greater Waukesha received $4,400 to support the purchase of a laptop computer and projector; Milwaukee Public Library Foundation received $25,000 to support greater community outreach by offering free computer training on basic Internet access, E-mail, word processing, Excel and to offer bilingual classes to 2,000 Milwaukee south side residents; Safe and Sound received $50,000 to support a software enhancement; Strive Media Institute received $5,000 to proved online mentoring and training for at-risk and low-income youths and to support the purchase of a server and reconfiguration of its network; Waukesha Symphony received $10,460 to support an interactive Web site; and YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee received $25,000 to support the implementation of asset management software.
Aurora Health Care
Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee, in collaboration with the UW-Madison, received a $1.7 million grant to focus on improving patients’ abilities to manage their heart failure. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health and targets home health care patients who are receiving care for congestive heart failure. The primary focus of the study is to look at using Web technology to offer customized computer support for patients. Patricia Brennan, UW Moehlman-Bascom Professor of Nursing, is the principal investigator of the study. Under the study, 200 patients receiving home care from the Aurora Visiting Nurse Association of Wisconsin (VNA) will receive computers to help them track and manage their weight, diet, medications, vital signs and symptoms. During each home visit, the Aurora VNA nurse will review the tracking information with the patient. A second group of 200 patients will not have the computer technology, but will receive Aurora care, printed information and self-management materials through ongoing visits from their home health nurse.
Marshall & Ilsley Bank
Marshall & Ilsley Bank (M&I Bank), Milwaukee, was the top Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the state of Wisconsin in 2004 for the second consecutive year. According to an SBA loan total for fiscal 2004, M&I Bank approved 319 loans in Wisconsin for $48,501,400. The Wisconsin Business Development Corp., Monona, approved the most loan dollars with 143 loans totaling $69,745,000. M&I Bank approved 85 loans to women, 34 to minorities and 10 to veterans. When including the SBA loans approved for M&I Banks outside of Wisconsin, M&I was the 22nd-largest SBA lender nationally in number of SBA loans made with 475, and 28th highest lender nationally in loan dollars, with $75,039,000. Other top lenders in Wisconsin were: Associated Bank, Green Bay and West St. Paul, Minn., which approved 202 SBA loans totaling $25,898,100 and Community Bank & Trust, Sheboygan, which approved 101 SBA loans totaling $27,314,200.
HomeSale Realty
Pat Morita, an actor best known for his role as "Mr. Miyagi" in "The Karate Kid" movie and the malt shop owner "Arnold" in the "Happy Days" television show, will be the new spokesman for HomeSale Realty, Wauwatosa, in a new series of TV commercials. The spots will be filmed at Marquette University and directed by David McKellips, executive producer with HomeSale Realty and J.P Chen, a producer and director for Phoenix Communications, Milwaukee.
Eagle Technology Inc.
Eagle Technology Inc., Mequon, released ProTeus IV, an updated version of its ProTeus III line of a computerized maintenance software system. ProTeus IV was developed for use in facilities including health care, government and educational institutions as well as manufacturing and process plants for maintenance efficiency and asset management. The software integrates preventative maintenance scheduling, demand maintenance work order processing, inventory and equipment tracking and simplified plant resource management.
The Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute
Six Wisconsin tag and label manufacturing companies recently received recognition in the 27th annual awards competition from The Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI), Naperville, Ill. Aladdin Label, Inc., Waukesha, received a first place award in the Flexography-Color Process-Prime category for its Photo Teddy Bears label. Banta Specialty Converting, Milwaukee, placed second in the same category for its Kohler, Vinnata Faucet label and honorable mention in the Flexography-Line & Screen/Tone-Prime category for its Generac, WheelHouse 5550 label and in the Flexography-Line & Screen/Tone-Non-Prime category for its Speed Clean, Pressure Washer label. Belmark, Inc., DePere, placed second in the Roll-to-Roll Color Process-Prime category for its Ralston Snack Mix label. CL&D Graphics, Inc., Oconomowoc, received honorable mention in the same category for its Atkins Crunchers Tortilla Chips-Ranch label. WS Packaging Group Inc., Algoma, received the Leadership Award for Process Improvement for its Environmental & Recycling program, which involves an effort by the company to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous waste. Green Bay Packaging, Inc., Green Bay, received the Leadership Award for Innovative Technology for its implementation of a recycling program that reduced the amount of material sent to landfills from its Coated Products division. TLMI awarded 106 companies in North, South and Central America, Europe and Australia in the competition.
State Shelter Subsidy Grant Program
Eleven Wisconsin agencies will receive $895,727 in awards from the State Shelter Subsidy Grant program administered by the Bureau of Housing in the Department of Commerce. The grant provides up to 50% of the operating budget of a generic homeless shelter facility or homeless voucher program. The program is open to government agencies or private for-profit and non-profit agencies. The funds provide a consistent funding source on an annual basis for many smaller emergency programs. Grants to agencies in southeastern Wisconsin included: $366,607 to Health Care for the Homeless, Milwaukee; $84,130 to Community Action, Inc., of Rock and Walworth counties; $44,500 to Hebron House of Hospitality, Inc., Waukesha; $26,000 to Kenosha County Interfaith Human Concerns Network, Kenosha; $18,000 to Salvation Army, Sheboygan; $32,000 to Salvation Army, Waukesha; $60,000 to United Migrant Opportunity Services, Inc., Milwaukee and $3,300 to Washington County Red Cross, Milwaukee.
RedPrairie Corp.
RedPrairie Corp., Waukesha, has partnered with Exel, a global supply chain solutions company based in the United Kingdom. As part of the five-year agreement, RedPrairie will supply its technology to Exel for wider deployment throughout the world. Exel and RedPrairie will leverage each other’s supply chain experience to determine how industry leading technologies can be used to create efficient supply chain networks for Exel customers. Exel will maintain its role on RedPrairie’s strategic and customer advisory boards, assisting in the advancement of existing technologies and the creation of new ones. Exel associates worldwide will continue to be fully trained on implementation and operation of RedPrairie technology. Exel and RedPrairie have worked together on projects for 20 years but have never made this type of agreement.
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Brookfield, has been selected as a primary subcontractor in a grant awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The International Foundation will partner with the Harvard School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to study smoking cessation benefits among jointly managed health and welfare funds. Earlier research by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that there is a higher prevalence of smoking among working-class employees and lower rates of success in quitting compared to white-collar workers. The study will be executed over a three-year period to examine the nature and extent of coverage for smoking cessation benefits among multiemployer plans, including factors that impede or encourage the provision of preventative health benefits. The analysis will use economic modeling to estimate the costs and savings of implementing smoking cessation programs.
Celtic Inc.
Celtic Inc., Brookfield, has been selected as the agency of record for Hood Leather Goods, Milwaukee. Celtic will implement a variety of marketing initiatives for Hood Leather Goods, including corporate branding, research, public relations and brochure and print ad development. Hood Leather Goods manufactures leather pool table pockets and offers a complete line of protective covers for pool tables and outdoor grills.
Public Relations Society of America-Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter
The Public Relations Society of America-Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter (PRSA) has relocated to 250 N. Sunny Slope Rd., Suite 200, Brookfield. The organization’s new phone number is (262) 796-2220, and the fax number is (262) 796-2239. The PRSA’s general email is prsa@mcglin.com.
Menomonee Falls Chamber of Commerce
Harry Goetz, a retired principal for the Menomonee Falls School District has been named Citizen of the Year for 2004 by the Menomonee Falls Chamber of Commerce. Goetz served as an elementary school teacher and administrator in Menomonee Falls for 34 years. Goetz has previously been involved as a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts; judges art contests, the district spelling bee and other volunteer work for local schools; he is a volunteer advocate representative for senior citizens in Waukesha County by helping to obtain clarification of wills in probate; he serves as president of the school district’s recreation commission; has served as chair of the scholarship committee for the Knights of Columbus; he volunteers and supervises Bingo at the Holy Hill church; Goetz established and is the coordinator for Teen Court, which offers a second chance to teenage first offenders and serves as captain of his neighborhood watch program. Goetz was nominated by Marilyne Young, who served as Goetz’s administrative assistant at Valley View and Thomas Jefferson schools. The Citizen of the Year Award will be presented to Goetz during a banquet in his honor to be held in April.
Wisconsin Dental Association Inc.
Wisconsin Dental Association Inc., Milwaukee, recognized 10 individuals in its annual Pyramids of Pride awards. Dr. Gerald Ziebert, a full-time prosthodontics professor at Marquette University School of Dentistry (MUSoD) with a part-time dental practice in Milwaukee, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ziebert graduated from MUSoD in 1956 and opened a general dentistry practice after serving two years in the U.S. Navy. He joined the Marquette faculty part-time in 1963 and began teaching full-time in 1971 after completing prosthodontics training. He currently heads the division of prosthodontics at MUSoD and is a past Leo D. Pinsky Outstanding Teacher Award recipient. The Tri-County Community Dental Clinic, Appleton, received the Community Outreach Award; Kawanza Griffin of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Kim Murphy of Fox 6 Wake-Up News both received the Media Awareness Award; Dr. Lyndsay Knoell, a general dentists with a practice in Racine, received the New Dentist Leadership Award; Dr. Ronald Stifter, a general dentist who owns a practice in Milwaukee, received the Outstanding Leadership in Mentoring Award; Dr. Kenneth Waliszewski, who practices prosthodontics in Brookfield, received the Outstanding Service Award; Dr. Eva Dahl, an endodontist in Onalaska, received the Political Action Award; Dr. Dean Copoulos and Thomas Witkowski of Wisconsin Dental Association Insurance Programs Inc. received the President’s Award of Honor.
DBA Marketing Communications
SurgiVet, Waukesha, has hired DBA Marketing Communications, Delafield, to develop a new marketing campaign for the veterinary medical equipment manufacturer. DBA will develop advertising, direct mail, brochures and other marketing materials for the company.
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
Fifty-two Wisconsin companies were nominated for the 17th Annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards for outstanding achievements in manufacturing. The annual competition is co-sponsored by Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; Virchow, Krause & Co. LLP; and the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. The manufacturer of the year Grand Award winners are categorized based on number of employees. Two additional Grand Award categories include Community Commitment Grand Award and a High-Tech Grand Award for innovation and leadership in high-tech manufacturing. The winners will be announced at an awards banquet on March 3. Nominees in southeastern Wisconsin include: Alby Materials Inc., Burlington; Argon Industries, Inc., Milwaukee; Brady Corp., Milwaukee; Bucyrus International Inc., South Milwaukee; Commercial Communications Inc., Hartland; GE Infrastructure Water & Process Technologies, Milwaukee; Harnischfeger Corp., Milwaukee; Hydro Electronic Devices Inc., (HED), Hartford; Magnetek, Inc., Menomonee Falls; Mortara Instrument Inc., Milwaukee; Openfirst LLC, Milwaukee; ORBIS Corp., Oconomowoc; Orion Energy Systems, Plymouth; Res Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee; Saddlebrook BarnCams, Oconomowoc; Schoeneck Containers, Inc. (SCI), New Berlin; Signicast Corp., Hartford; Sprecher Brewing Co. Inc., Glendale; Stork Cellramic, Inc., Milwaukee; Visual Systems Inc., Milwaukee; and Waukesha Tool & Stamping , Inc., Sussex.
Piper Jaffray & Co.
Piper Jaffray & Co., Minneapolis, awarded a total of $404,250 in grants to 69 non-profit organizations across the firm’s geographic regions, including four grants to organizations in Wisconsin. The grants support strong youth organizations whose programs focus on helping disadvantaged youth in grades K-12 achieve academic success. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee received $5,000 to support its Homework First project; Milwaukee Community Service Corps received $2,500 for its REACH Program; the YMCA of Metro Milwaukee-Schroeder Branch, Brown Deer, received $2,500 for its Strong Kids program; and Big Brothers & Big Sisters of the Fox Valley Region, Appleton, received $3,000.
Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee
The Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee (AGC-GM) has joined the Southeast Wisconsin Homeland Security Partnership. The partnership’s mission is to bring together interested public and private sector organizations to identify mutual concerns and appropriate cost-effective policy and technology solutions for enhancing homeland security in the region. AGC-GM has identified members who are willing to volunteer machines and supplies in the event of an emergency through its Emergency Services Mobilization Program. For both natural and man-made disasters, the contractor’s mission is to furnish materials, equipment and supply skilled personnel as long as necessary under the direction of civil or military authority in charge of disaster relief. Tim Just, an AGC-GM member, has been appointed to serve as an employer member of the Wisconsin State Masonry Apprenticeship Advisory Committee on a three-year term. The committee is advisory to the Department of Workforce Development and the Wisconsin Technical College System board on apprenticeship matters within the construction industry. Their goal is to improve consistency throughout the apprenticeship community and allow for and serve as a basis for program expansion.
Community Memorial Foundation
Community Memorial Foundation, Menomonee Falls, has elected Rick Binzak as chairman of its board of directors. Binzak is the vice president of commercial banking for M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank. He is the past president of the Greater Menomonee Falls committee and board member of the Menomonee Falls Chamber of Commerce. Sharon Ellis, an independent consultant, was named vice chairman; Dan Hart, secretary and treasurer of the AIS Group was named treasurer and Mark Poker of Michael Best & Friedrich was named secretary. Dr. Dan Kanitz of Community Memorial Hospital and Falls Anesthesia Associates and Phil Strosahl of Strosahl & Co. are new to the board. Other members include: Ronald Bast, William Bestor, Douglas Clark, Claudia Deede, James Hazzard, Dianne Johnson, Kay Keller, Jodie Perthel, Robert Pieters, Alberto Querimit, Debbie Schmidt and Ron Wilfer.
PersuasionPartners, Inc.
Darrin Schmitz, past executive director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, has started PersuasionPartners, Inc., a political consulting firm specializing in direct voter contact mail and communications. Schmitz served as the executive director for the state party since 2001 with a brief absence in 2002 to serve as the campaign manager of the Scott McCallum for Governor Campaign. Prior to joining the state party, Schmitz served as executive director of Wisconsin Bush/Cheney 2000, turnout director for Thompson for Governor and speech writer and press secretary for former Gov. Tommy Thompson. Schmitz has also directed legislative races and served as a chief of staff in the legislature.
Metropolitan Builders Association
Craig Rakowski of James Craig Builders, Inc. has been named president of the Metropolitan Builders Association, Waukesha. Rakowski has served on the board since 1998 and is currently a member of the Construction Arbitration Board, which he was vice chairman of in 1998 and chairman of in 2000. Pete Feichtmeier of Colby Construction Co., Inc. was named president-elect; Bruce Johnson of BDC Building Design & Construction was named treasurer and John Siepmann of Siepmann Realty Corp. was named secretary. Rod Demlang of Demlang Builders, Inc; Joe Orendorf of Jospeh Douglas Homes and Steve Clavette of Trustway Homes are new members of the board of directors.
McGlinchey & Associates
The Waukesha County Economic Development Corp. (WCEDC) has chosen McGlinchey & Associates, Brookfield, to assist the WCEDC in all areas of marketing communications planning and programming, including strategic planning, marketing, public relations, promotions, corporate sponsorships and special events.
MillerLaw, S.C.
Attorney Craig Miller has opened MillerLaw S.C. at 705 E. Silver Spring Dr., Whitefish Bay. Miller is a former partner at Miller & Stansberry S.C. and has practiced law in the Milwaukee area for more than 30 years. Miller is a general practitioner specializing in wills, probates, traffic cases and personal and family law. He is fluent in Spanish and a member of the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin and national, state and local bar associations. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. MillerLaw can be contacted at 414-332-5020.
Wisconsin TechConnect
The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) announced the launch of Wisconsin TechConnect, a free online job posting system accessible to students and graduates of Wisconsin Technical Colleges across the state. TechConnect is a cooperative initiative of the 16 local student employment offices in WTCS. The Web site, www.wisconsintechconnect.com, enables employers to post job openings at specific or all of the WCTS colleges and postings are promoted to qualified students and graduates.
January 7, 2005, Small Business Times, Milwaukee, WI
