Paul Jones, executive chairman of Milwaukee-based A.O. Smith Corp., has been named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in the Midwest within the industrial/distribution category. After being saluted regionally, Jones will be entered into the national competition. National award winners will be revealed on Nov. 16 during the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum in Palm Springs, Calif. The awards honor successful entrepreneurs who have made significant strides in innovation and financial performance and who have shown outstanding personal commitment to their businesses and communities. In 2012, A.O. Smith had sales of about $2 billion and net earnings of $234 million. Along with Jones, Jim Sartori and Jess Schwager of the Sartori Company in Plymouth, Wis., were named regional award winners.
Cardinal Stritch University
Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, recently unveiled plans to reengineer the university following a vision to utilize its resources more effectively and accommodate the learning needs of today’s higher education students. The university will: establish eight new intercollegiate sports this fall, grow a partnership with Riverland Community College in Minnesota to offer classes toward a bachelor’s degree in business, strengthen its online program offerings, and terminate its Associate Degree in Nursing program to shift focus to its bachelor’s degree program options. The reengineering process will also allow Cardinal Stritch University to create the only urban teacher resident program in Wisconsin with the Urban Teacher Residency United (UTRU) model, open up a Student Success Center this fall, and implement an enhanced academic core curriculum that expedites the completion of a 120-credit bachelor’s degree. Additional changes include reconfiguring staff levels, discontinuing academic programs with limited demand, and introducing programs with greater growth potential.
GPS Education Partners
GPS Education Partners (formerly known as Second Chance Partners for Education) has relocated its corporate offices to 13000 W. Silver Spring Dr. in Butler. The education-based nonprofit organization, which offers hands-on training in manufacturing for high school juniors and seniors, has expanded substantially since it launched in 2000. The nonprofit operated seven manufacturing education centers in 2011 and currently operates 13 centers with three new sites planned to open in September. Each education center is based at an area manufacturing company in line with the program’s hands-on approach. GPS Education Partners will use its new space to work with more students interested in pursuing manufacturing careers. The organization was previously based at Waukesha County Technical College, located at 892 Main St. in Pewaukee.
Medical College of Wisconsin
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) plans to move the Wausau location of its community medical education program catering to central Wisconsin. In its first few years, the program will be facilitated at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, which will provide classrooms and administrative offices, and at Northcentral Technical College, which will allow space for anatomy and simulation. MCW initially considered locating its Wausau location in the former Wausau Liberty Mutual Insurance headquarters but determined that the building was too large for its medical and educational purposes. MCW’s community medical education program prepares medical professionals to fill treatment voids in underserved communities throughout the state.
