Verizon Wireless Inc.
Verizon Wireless invested $99 million in 2011 to enhance its network in Wisconsin. The investment includes the expansion of 4G LTE to Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton and Green Bay. Additionally, Verizon Wireless enhanced its network in and around four major sporting venues in Wisconsin. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network now covers more than 200 million people in 195 markets across the country. Additional markets are planned for 2012 with coverage of the entire 3G network footprint planned for the end of 2013. The company’s continuing investment to support Wisconsin’s infrastructure required for economic development and robust business growth included: adding new cell sites and upgrading equipment on existing cell sites to increase coverage and capacity of the company’s voice and data network; installing permanent backup generators at cell sites to ensure the network remains reliable during times of crisis; and prepping the backbone of the network to deploy 4G LTE at urban and rural locations across the state.
Well City Milwaukee
In 2010, Milwaukee earned a Well City USA–Silver designation from the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA). Well City Milwaukee will now embark on its second phase with a goal to earn a Well City–Gold designation by the end of 2014.
Milwaukee is the largest city in the country to earn silver status and the only city in the country to take on the challenge of pursuing a second three-year initiative to reach a higher level of accreditation. Milwaukee’s success in phase one helped spawn three other Well City USA projects in Wisconsin – in Racine, Oshkosh and the Fox Cities – making Wisconsin the only state in the country to have four active Well City projects. In addition to the 29 organizations that have recommitted to Well City Milwaukee from phase one, 19 new area workplaces have recently committed to start the process for earning their Well Workplace designation in phase two. Charter Member organizations leading the charge include Alverno College, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Educators Credit Union, Helwig Carbon Products, ManpowerGroup, Marquette University, Michael Best and Friedrich, Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative, P&H Mining, Park Bank, Robert W. Baird, Rockwell Automation, Sensia Healthcare, We Energies, and others. Well City Milwaukee helps employers maximize their wellness program’s potential, optimize dollars spent on their programs and improve their overall return on investment by offering tools, resources and expert guidance every step of the way through completing the Well Workplace Award accreditation.
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare–Lakeshore Manor in Racine is the top-rated nursing home in Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 Best Nursing Homes Honor Roll. Of more than 15,500 homes rated and profiled on the U.S. News website, Lakeshore Manor was among the fewer than 1 in 8 that received a five-star overall rating in all four quarters of 2011. Lakeshore Manor received four straight quarters of perfect five-star ratings from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in all three areas—health inspections, nurse staffing, and quality of care. Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare–Franciscan Woods in Brookfield is also rated a Best Nursing Home and received a five-star overall ranking. U.S. News’s Best Nursing Homes recognizes top-rated homes in all 50 states and offers important guidance to families and health care providers caring for people in need of a nursing home. U.S. News evaluation of nursing homes is based on data from Nursing Home Compare, a consumer website run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The government agency sets and enforces standards for nursing homes. Homes earn an overall rating of one to five stars, as well as up to five stars in each of three underlying categories: health inspections, nurse staffing, and quality of care. U.S. News updates each nursing home’s ratings data quarterly.
S.C. Johnson & Son Inc.
Racine-based S.C. Johnson was recognized with a Wisconsin Business Ethics Award in the large company category by the Milwaukee Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. The award recognizes high standards of ethical behavior in everyday business conduct and/or in response to a specific ethical crisis or challenge. As a recipient of the Wisconsin Business Ethics Award in the large company category, S.C. Johnson will now be considered for the American Business Ethics Award, which will be presented by the Foundation for Financial Service Professionals later this year. The program was hosted by the Wisconsin Chapter of The Foundation for Financial Service Professionals which works in conjunction with the 178 Chapters of the Society of FSP across the United States to foster regional American Business Ethics Award programs. These programs recognize and honor companies in their communities that embody and demonstrate high standards of ethical behavior in their everyday business conduct.Other companies recognized include CG Schmidt, Inc., The Stark Collection Agency, WFA Staffing Group and Rockwell Automation. Entries are judged by a distinguished, independent panel that represents the business, academic, public service and consulting communities.
Concordia University
Concordia University Wisconsin Mequon’s Nursing Program recently added a new designation. Effective July 1, 2012, the School of Nursing will be CUW’s newest school, joining five others at the University. Now in its 30th year at CUW, the nursing program is separating from the University’s School of Human Services, following a strategic plan by now retired Dean, Dr. Ruth Gresley three years ago. The search is under way for a Dean of the School. Dr. Teri Kaul currently serves as the Chairperson of the Nursing Department and Director of the Graduate Nursing Programs, Dr. Michelle Simpson is the Traditional Undergraduate Program Director, and Dr. Carol Lueders-Bolwerk is the Director of the BSN completion program, Parish Nursing, and Congregational Health Ministries. Currently, CUW’s nursing program is one of the largest at the University and this new designation will allow for separate scholarship and grant funding for the new School. It will also give current and prospective students a better awareness of the specific nursing options available at CUW. CUW’s individual nursing programs are accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education. In 2009, CUW became the first university in the state of Wisconsin to graduate more than a dozen students with a Doctorate of Nursing Practitioner degree.
