Milwaukee-area businesses are largely pessimistic toward fourth quarter business activity levels, according to the latest business outlook survey conducted by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC).

Small-business owners and managers often can benefit from advice from industry experts with many years of experience. The southeastern Wisconsin chapter of the Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE) can provide that resource.

One day, about a year ago, when he showed up for work, Randall Crocker, the president and chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based law firm Von Briesen & Roper S.C., noticed that workers were preparing to put a large sign for one of his firm's competitors on top of the office building that they both occupy.

This week, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, I have interrupted our regular programming to give you an article by Matt Beyer, one of Wisconsin's native sons who is one of the legion of China's half-pats.

The development of applications surrounding social media tools such as Twitter is seemingly endless. However, the development of Milwaukee-based Spreenkler's TwitterLens enables individuals and companies to virtually "listen in" on conversations anywhere in the world, and allows them to do it in an organized, easy to monitor manner.

The plastics industry, particularly the molding sector, has a rich history in southeastern Wisconsin. The region has been home to hundreds of injection molders, thermoformers and blow molders for decades, employing thousands of people.

To boost its efficiency and improve its chances for long-term growth, Oostburg-based Dutchland Plastics Corp. is consolidating its local operations into one 160,000-square-foot facility.

In June, Germantown-based L.T. Hampel Corp., a thermoforming plastics manufacturer, sold its line of branded portable restroom products to Satellite Industries, a Minneapolis company. Satellite is the industry leader in the portable restroom business.

Triangle Tool Corp., a Milwaukee-based specialty tool maker that serves the plastics industry, recently completed an 18,000-square-foot addition to house its new specialty tooling division.

Jeff Kerlin, general manager of Menomonee Falls-based Tailored Label Products, believed in the importance of cross-training his employees even before the threat of H1N1 Influenza. His company though, might be better positioned for an outbreak because of the practices he already has in place.

In 2003, Susan Marshall, president of Oconomowoc-based Executive Advisor LLC, was hired by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to assist with his takeover of that city's school system. She was part of a team of facilitators at the New York Leadership Academy who were brought in to teach transformational leadership to more than 600 principals in the school system.

Most investors have seen their portfolios take a significant hit during the Great Recession. It is not uncommon...