BizTimes Staff

Briana Birenbaum, CPA, has been promoted to tax manager at Vrakas/Blum S.C. in Brookfield. She joined the firm in...

Ameriprise Financial advisors Gary Dunco, CFP, CRPC, APMA, and Robert DiDonato, CIMA, recently qualified to attend the 2014 National Conference in Boston.

Brookfield-based GSF Mortgage has received the Platinum Guaranteed Rural Housing Million Dollar Lender Award from the United States Department of Agriculture for the third consecutive year.

Gordy Weber, who has worked at Associated Banc-Corp for 44 years, will retire at the end of the year.

Brookfield-based QPS Employment Group, a staffing and recruiting firm, has conducted a survey that indicates more than 27 percent of Midwestern companies plan to increase wages in the third quarter.

Waukesha coating systems and coating product solutions distributor ICAFe Inc. has agreed to acquire Dove Equipment of East Peoria, Ill.

Wauwatosa-based real estate development firm Wangard Partners Inc. plans to build a two-building, $14 million industrial space development on the former Yellow Freight Truck terminal sites at 11525 and 11406 W. Rogers St. in West Allis.

Glendale-based Johnson Controls Inc. has opened a new, industry-leading North American crash test facility at its automotive seating headquarters in Plymouth, Mich.

Wauwatosa-based Briggs & Stratton Corp. announced that it has agreed to acquire Holdrege, Neb.-based Allmand Bros Inc. for $62 million.

Milwaukee-based Busch Precision Inc. has acquired certain assets, including two lines of business, from West Allis-based Maintenance Service Corp.

Menomonee Falls-based ZBB Energy Corp.’s Chinese joint venture has received a new $3.24 million cash investment.