Northwestern Mutual to add 200 more employees at 411 building
Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. has expanded its hiring plans for its new space in the 411 East Wisconsin building in downtown Milwaukee.
The company, which in January signed a lease for 56,320 square feet of office space at the 411 building, said in January it would add 250 employees in the space in 2015. In a new earnings release, Northwestern Mutual upped that figure to 450. Many of the new employees will work on enhancing the company’s technological experience for its policy holders.
“What we originally leased at the 411 building will be used to accommodate these 450 jobs,” said John Gardner, senior public relations consultant at Northwestern Mutual. “It’s just a matter of our growth in that area and the commitment we’ve made to enhance the technology we provide our clients.”
The 450 jobs are in addition to the 1,900 employees Northwestern Mutual plans to hire by 2030 at the new 32-story, 1.1 million-square-foot headquarters building it is currently constructing on its headquarters campus in downtown Milwaukee.
Engineers prioritize pay over culture as talent war cranks up
Experis, the global leader in professional resourcing within Milwaukee-based ManpowerGroup, has revealed that increased pay is the top consideration for American engineers seeking a new job, and electrical engineers are in greatest demand by the nation’s employers.
The 2015 Experis Engineering Talent Supply and Demand Survey, released ahead of National Engineers Week, found that 40 percent of engineers searching for a new position prioritize increased salary, bonuses and/or incentives.
In contrast, only 18 percent consider a better work environment or culture the most important factor. More interesting or challenging work, access to better professional training and career development or improved work/life balance are the biggest considerations for 17 percent.
Electrical engineers are the most sought-after, with 12 percent of employers desiring workers with these skills, followed by manufacturing engineers (10 percent) and software engineers (7 percent). However, employers cite a lack of applicants (46 percent), lack of experience (44 percent) and a lack of technical skills (32 percent) among applicants as obstacles to hiring.
Business plan competition to include tween girls
As Marquette University opens up the application process for its 2015 ImpactNext business model competition, it is also helping launch a new startup idea competition aimed at drawing young girls into entrepreneurship.
The “Future She-E-O Contest,” a joint competition between Marquette’s Kohler Center for Entrepreneurship and Milwaukee-based Fashion Angels, will accept startup business proposals from tween girls across the country. The winner, to be selected by a panel of top business women, will earn a $10,000 college scholarship in support of an entrepreneurial course of study.
The top five youth candidates will be granted a trip to Fashion Angels’ headquarters, where they will meet with the female founders and take an extensive tour of the company’s facility. Fashion Angels designs and manufacturers lifestyle and activity products specifically for tween girls.
Finalists will also present their startup concepts at ImpactNext’s April 21 presentation and awards event.
The ImpactNext business model competition targets entrepreneurs from across the state as well as from Marquette’s own community. This is the first year the competition is open to the public. The competition revolves around the development of business models as well as customer discovery. Entrepreneurs who enter their ideas can earn up to $10,000 toward their startup concept.
Business plan applications are due by Thursday, March 26. The April 21 finale event is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in the third floor ballroom of Marquette’s Alumni Memorial Union, located at 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Toolamation to move from Illinois to Kenosha, create 65 new jobs
Beach Park, Ill.-based Toolamation Services Inc. plans to move its headquarters and manufacturing operations over the border to Kenosha, bringing 50 existing jobs with it. The company plans to create another 65 jobs over the next three years.
Toolamation is now based at 9037 Sheridan Road in Kenosha. The three existing industrial buildings on the 4.8-acre site total 46,350 square feet. One was previously occupied by IEA Inc. The site was listed by Chicago commercial real estate firm Lee & Associates for $1 million on the Kenosha Area Business Alliance website.
Toolamation makes high-volume machine tooling products. It had two facilities in Beach Park, which will be combined in the new space. Toolamation has invested $1.4 million in the project, which includes renovating the building to offer a more efficient space and room for future expansion. The company expects the new facility to open in the spring.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. has approved tax credits for Toolamation totaling $300,000 over the next three years, contingent upon meeting its job creation goals. KABA is also funding a $490,000 loan for the purchase of the building and equipment.
The Milwaukee 7 was also involved with attracting Toolamation to Wisconsin.
