BIZNOTES FOR 12/10/04

Chris Johnson and Jim Culhane, directors of Tri-Marq Communications, Inc., Milwaukee and Chicago, have partnered with Steve Muckerheide, the former vice president of worldwide technical services for The Walt Disney Studios, to create Backlot Imaging, Inc., Milwaukee and Chicago. The partnership has combined the media production services of Tri-Marq with the animated and live-action imaging and post-production services of Backlot. The partnership has allowed Backlot to produce effects shots for the New Line Cinema motion picture,
Chris Johnson and Jim Culhane, directors of Tri-Marq Communications, Inc., Milwaukee and Chicago, have partnered with Steve Muckerheide, the former vice president of worldwide technical services for The Walt Disney Studios, to create Backlot Imaging, Inc., Milwaukee and Chicago. The partnership has combined the media production services of Tri-Marq with the animated and live-action imaging and post-production services of Backlot. The partnership has allowed Backlot to produce effects shots for the New Line Cinema motion picture, "Raise Your Voice," starring Hilary Duff. Backlot worked on another motion picture that will be played in theaters in January.
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) has received four grants worth a combined $654,300 to expand its registered nursing, practical nursing, radiography and certified nursing assistant programs. The programs are among the health programs at the college that are filled with students to capacity. The grants were awarded by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, using state-general-purpose revenue funds and are being used to hire additional instructors. Grant amounts include $224,200 for registered nursing, $205,900 for radiography and $112,100 each for practical nursing and the certified nursing assistant programs.
Milwaukee Downtown BID No. 21 and Kujawa Enterprises, Inc.
Milwaukee Downtown BID No. 21 and Kujawa Enterprises, Inc. (KEI), Oak Creek, received the Award of Distinction by the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA). The Award was for the collaborated effort of both organizations on a streetscape project, which included the installation of planters and hanging baskets along the Riverwalk and portions of Wisconsin Avenue. David J. Frank Landscaping Contracting Inc., Germantown, was another Wisconsin award winner. The landscaping company received a distinction award for residential landscape.
Vollrath Associates, Inc.
Vollrath Associates, Inc., Mequon, received three awards in the 2004 MarCom Creative Awards Competition. Vollrath Associates received a platinum award for the ONYX North America employee newsletter, "EcoSpeak," and gold awards for the Hudson Highland Group 2003 annual report and the Littelfuse Inc. 2003 annual report. The international award competition recognizes those in fields such as advertising, public relations, corporate communication departments, educational institutions, government entities, video production, broadcast and cable operations. Other Wisconsin platinum award winners were Bottom Line Marketing & Public Relations, Milwaukee; Jacobson Rost, Sheboygan; Milwaukee Center for Independence, Milwaukee; Bouwer Printing and Mailing, Appleton and National Association of Tax Professionals, Appleton.
Commercial Association of Realtors, Wisconsin, Inc.
The Commercial Association of Realtors, Wisconsin, Inc., Milwaukee, recently announced its annual awards. Steve Palec from the The Polachek Company received the Deal of the Year award; Dan Jessup of Apex Commercial received the 2004 Realtor of the Year award; Jim Parks from Berghamer Corporation won 2004 Affiliate of the Year; Bruce Westling of NAI MLG Commercial was awarded Political Leader of the Year; Barry Mandel of The Mandel group received the Political Achievement Award; Bob Gintoff of NAI MLG Commercial was named Deal of the Year runner-up. Commercial Association of Realtors, Wisconsin, Inc., also recently installed its officers for 2004-05. The leadership team is: Thomas Bernacchi, president; Scott Revolinski, president-elect; Scott Welsh, secretary; and Andrew Jensen, treasurer.
Institute of Real Estate Management
The Milwaukee Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management recently installed its 2005 officers. They are: Angela Fullerton, NAI MLG Management, LLC, president; Kristin Layeux, U.S. Bank Corporate Real Estate, president-elect; Steve Pollock, MRED Management, Inc., vice president; Ray Balfanz, NAI MLG Management, LLC, treasurer/secretary.
J.H. Findorf & Son, Inc.
J.H. Findorf & Son, Inc., Madison and Milwaukee, recently received three Golden Trowel awards for its work on Capitol Point Condominiums in Madison, Findorf’s corporate headquarters and the residence of Joel and Leigh Bahr. The awards are given by the International Masonry Institute every two years for masonry design and construction. The Capitol Point Condominiums project was named Best in Category for Residential Urban Projects. The award for Best in Category for Commercial Projects was given to the J.H. Findorf & Son, corporate headquarters in Madison. The home of Joel and Leigh Bahr was named Best in Category for Residential Single Family Project. Other southeast Wisconsin 2004 Golden Trowel winners were St. Mary’s Catholic Faith Church, Hales Corners; Shorewood Public Library, Shorewood; West Allis Fire Station No. 1, West Allis; Marquette University portals, Milwaukee; Southwest Library expansion and renovation, Kenosha; John P. Raynor Library at Marquette University, Milwaukee and Mount Mary College, Wauwatosa. J.H. Findorf & Son also recently received a 2004 Build Wisconsin Award for renovations and additions completed at Middleton High School, Middleton.
Medical College of Wisconsin
The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, has named Katherine Hudson, former president and chief executive officer of Brady Corp., chairman of the board of trustees. Paul Knoebel, president of Knoebel and Associates, Inc., Brookfield, joined the board and Paula Traktman, professor of microbiology, joined as a faculty representative. Gov. James Doyle appointed Curt Culver, president and chief executive officer of Milwaukee’s MGIC Investment Corp., to the board. In addition, John Sheehan, president and principal owner of Beechwood Sales and Service, New Berlin, has joined the Medical College Cardiovascular Center advisory board. Brian Stemper, a professor of neurology at the Medical College, was the sole recipient of the Best Paper by a Young Investigator Award at the 2004 International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Impact Conference in Graz, Austria. The paper was titled "Effects of Reflexive Cervical Muscle Contraction on Whiplash Kinematics and Injury." Co-authors include Narayan Yoganandan, Frank Pintar and Thomas Gennarelli, department chair. Research was done at the VA Medical Center-Milwaukee, and was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the department of neurology.
Positively Pewaukee
Debbie Bayee has been named president for Positively Pewaukee’s 2005 board of directors. Dennis Smith of Springfield Realty will serve as vice president; Chuck Ward of Pier Wisconsin will serve as secretary and Pattie Iwen of Marine Bank will serve as treasurer. Lynn Braden of Winter, Kloman, Moter and Repp; Mindy Bovre of State Farm Insurance; Matt Hohner of Sign A Rama; Tim Lovett of DeWitt, Ross & Stevens, S.C., and Lee Trotta will serve on the board. Ann Wells of Junior Achievement and Scott Gosse of the Village of Pewaukee will serve as advisory members.
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
James Wigdale, chairman of the board at Marshall & Ilsley Corp., Milwaukee, has been presented the 2004 National Human Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee, Milwaukee Chapter. The award is presented to memberss of the business and civic community throughout the country who have demonstrated commitment to preserving Jewish heritage. Wigdale is secretary and treasurer of the board of directors for Columbia St. Mary’s, Inc.; a member and past president of the board of directors for Columbia Health System, Inc.; a member of the board of directors of Columbia Foundation; a member and past chairman of the board of trustees of Medical College of Wisconsin; a member of the board of directors for Children’s Hospital Foundation; a member and past chairman of the board of trustees for Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of Greater Milwaukee; chairman of the board of trustees for YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee, Inc.; a regent of the Milwaukee School of Engineering; a director of Milwaukee Redevelopment Corp., the Greater Milwaukee Committee and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. He also serves as a director of Mason Wells, Inc., Green Bay Packaging, Inc. and Sentry Insurance, and has been a member of The Financial Services Roundtable since 1974.
Ebenezer Child Care Centers
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has appointed Beverly Anderson, executive director for Ebenezer Child Care Centers, Milwaukee, to a two-year term on the Early Childhood Council (ECC) of Milwaukee. The ECC of Milwaukee is a collaboration of policy-makers and early childhood stakeholders that support the creation of high quality care and educational environments for young children in Milwaukee County. Anderson holds a bachelor’s degree in preschool education and child development from the University of Wisconsin.
Concordia University
Dr. William Ellis, dean of the school of business and legal studies, and chair of the division of business at Concordia University, Mequon, has been appointed to the board of directors for the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. Ellis holds a bachelor’s degree from Babson College. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Suffolk University, a master’s degree in education from Westfield State College, and a master’s degree in science from Concordia University Wisconsin, and earned his doctorate in business education and marketing from Pennsylvania State University.
TeraMedica
TeraMedica, Milwaukee, launched an enterprise imaging and information vehicle called Evercore. The new product captures data from imaging devices, stores the digital images and makes them available at the point of patient care, allowing for comprehensive electronic medical records to be available for any healthcare enterprise.
WomenConnected
WomenConnected, Waukesha, awarded six grants to Waukesha Memorial Hospital for programs and services funding. WomenConnected has gifted $20,000 to fund cancer research to detect lung cancer in high-risk individuals; $20,000 to fund a program to help women in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction; $12,000 to provide the hospital’s first on-site genetic counseling service for perinatal patients; $5,000 for a study of high-school female athletes to reduce the risk of sports-related concussion and determine when to return to competition; $5,000 to support the education of first responders and $1,500 to purchase an infant crisis mannequin for the neonatal resuscitation program.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
The UW-Milwaukee college of nursing has renamed its research center the Harriet H. Werley Center for Nursing Research and Evaluation. Werley was a nurse researcher and professor of nursing for UWM from 1983 to 1991. She died in 2002. Werley founded the second journal dedicated to publishing nursing research, entitled, "Nursing & Health," and the "Annual Review of Nursing Research." Prior to becoming a professor and researcher, Werley served in World War II and the Korean War as an Army nurse, and directed the department of nursing research at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Associated Landscape Contractors of America
David J. Frank Landscape Contracting, Inc., Germantown, received three Golden Trowel awards and Kei- Kujawa Enterprises Inc., Oak Creek, received an award of distinction in the 35th Annual Environmental Improvement Awards, presented by the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA). David J. Frank Landscape received a merit award for commercial landscape maintenance at Woodland Prime Office Park, Menomonee Falls; a distinction award for residential design/build at a Washington County residence and a distinction award for residential landscape maintenance at a Mequon residence. Kei received a distinction awards for commercial landscape maintenance at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Milwaukee.
Milwaukee County Zoo
The Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee, announced that it has unveiled a state-of-the-art advertising display board located outside the main entrance on Bluemound Road. The sign was created through collaboration between Adaptive Micro Systems, Milwaukee and Cochran Sign Co., Kewaskum. The sign features an AlphaEclipse Energy Smart electronic LED billboard supplied by Adaptive Micro Systems. The sign uses 20,000 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that have the ability to produce 16.7 million colors. The system is rated for more than 100,000 hours of continuous operation. Cochran Sign Co. designed the structural component that supports the LED display board. The zoo intends to use the sign to announce upcoming events, special activities and new animal births and acquisitions.
Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition
The Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition (WBCC) announced its new officers and board members. Ellen Vander Heyden of Laughlin/Constable, Milwaukee, was named president; Rhonda Deneka of All Saints Healthcare System, Racine, was named vice president; Bridget Fassett of St. Aemilian-Lakeside, Inc., Milwaukee, was named treasurer and Karen Maynard, WBCC past president, was named acting secretary. Lisa Frymark of Nelson Schmidt, Milwaukee; Trudy Goetsch of Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee, and Galina Tash, a Russian/English interpreter for hospital/clinic patients have joined the board of directors. Peggy Foster of Fox Point Bayside school district; Mildred Leigh Gold of the Milwaukee Health Department and Debra Rand Feldman are second term re-elected members.
Wisconsin Minority Business Opportunity Committee
The Wisconsin Minority Business Opportunity Committee (WMBOC) awarded two representatives from Superior Support Resources, Inc., Brookfield and Brian A. Mitchell Construction, Inc., Madison, full scholarships to attend a training seminar at Amos Tuck Business School at Dartmouth College. The two representatives will participate in a weeklong seminar run by Dartmouth staff that will address aspects of business development. The U.S. Department of Commerce/Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) developed the program and awarded scholarships to minority firms across the country. Wisconsin nominations were made by the WMBOC.
Abri Health Plan, Inc.
Abri Health Plan, Inc., Thiensville, has added Children’s Hospital and Health System, Inc., Milwaukee, to its provider network serving Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. The agreement includes Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital Urgent Care Centers, the Child Protection Center, Surgicenter of Greater Milwaukee and Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin. The agreement also supports expansion to other counties and programs.
Business Associates, Inc. and Precision Innovation, Inc.
Business Associates, Inc. and Precision Innovation, Inc., Germantown, have opened second locations at the same address, 822 West. St., Watertown. Greg Marx is the president and owner of Business Associates, a company specializing in financial evaluation, negotiation, assessment, crisis intervention, placement reorganization and management support for manufacturing, retail, auto service and distribution companies. His wife, Cheryl Anne, is the president and owner of Precision Innovation, a machine shop.
Modine Manufacturing Co.
Modine Manufacturing Co., Racine, created a scholarship for women or minority students at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). The Modine Scholarship will award two $12,500 scholarships annually to train and recruit minorities and women. The first two scholarships were awarded to Ann Hartwig of Greenfield and Roger Thounlasenh of Oak Creek for the 2004-2005 school year. Both students are studying mechanical engineering.
Koch Financial & Investment Services, Inc.
Linda Koch has opened Koch Financial & Investment Services, Inc., a fee-based advising service that provides clients with comprehensive life planning. Koch Financial & Investment Services is located at 740 N. Pilgrim Pkwy., Suite 200, Elm Grove.
Et alia, LLC
Salmone Supplies, Butler, has chosen et alia, LLC, Milwaukee, an SAP business partner, to implement and support SAP Business One. Salamone Supplies provides janitorial equipment and repair services, cleaning supplies and products and cleaning services including janitorial program, schedule development and training. SAP Business One will allow Salamone to integrate sales, purchasing and warehouse functions.
December 10, 2004, Small Business Times, Milwaukee, WI