Eric Decker

Ball Corp. 8500 W. Tower Ave., Milwaukee Industry: Aluminum cans for breweries, steel cans for canned food, baby...

The collapse of the housing market and the Great Recession took a great toll on Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley Corp., the largest financial institution based in Wisconsin.

Interest in buying and selling gold has exploded in recent months. Numerous commercials on television and the radio are bombarding the airwaves, advising people to buy gold as an investment.

While many of the printing companies in southeastern Wisconsin focus on printing glossy magazines, specialized labels, customized photo books, commercial packaging and more, Kubin-Nicholson Corp., a Milwaukee-based printer, has carved out its own niche in oversized billboards, signs and other large promotional materials.

In December, Manitowoc-based Orion Energy Systems Inc., reached an agreement with California-based Solyndra Inc., a manufacturer of commercial grade solar panels, to become a distributor and installer of Solyndra's solar panels.

Everbrite LLC 4949 S. 110th St., Greenfield Industry: Outdoor and indoor signs and displays, menu systems,...

Associated Bank Assets under management: $22.8 billion Branches: 291 Employees: almost 4,800 2009 net operating loss: $123.4...

M&I Bank Assets under management: $50.2 billion Branches: 369 Employees: more than 6,600...

Wisconsin's two largest banks – Associated Bank and M&I Bank – lost a combined $982 million in 2009.

Battered by the Great Recession, the two banks, which employ more than 11,000 people at 660 branches between them, reported loan and lease loss provisions of more than $1.8 billion last year.

Some of the biggest names in motorcycling, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, construction and agricultural equipment and even bicycling are all known for speed and handling.