Marquette appoints associate dean at College of Nursing
Robert Topp has joined the Marquette University College of Nursing as associate dean for research, a new position in the college.
“Dr. Topp is an accomplished nursing researcher and administrator who brings tremendous expertise in nursing research through his own research and his work at the federal level with funding agencies,” said Dr. Margaret Callahan, dean of nursing at Marquette. “His commitment to interdisciplinary research will better position us to collaborate in increasing ways with colleagues at Marquette, in the community and across the country.”
As associate dean for research, Topp will take on the leadership role of advancing the college’s faculty and doctoral student research and scholarship. Topp is one of five key additions to the Marquette College of Nursing for the 2011-12 academic year, along with faculty members Susan Breakwell, Jill Guttormson, Ronda Hughes and Mallory O’Brien.
According to Callahan, the position was created to provide expertise to expand research programs at the college.
“Faculty have been doing a great job of designing, implementing and funding their research, but Dr. Topp’s additional experience will allow us to grow our research programs to develop new knowledge that will transform nursing, as well as better provide wonderful opportunities for our students,” she said.
Topp previously served at the University of Louisville, as associate dean for research, the Shirley B. Powers Endowed Chair for Health Systems Research and a distinguished university professor. He has been the principal or co-investigator on more than $2.5 million of extramurally supported research projects over the past 10 years, resulting in more than 100 publications in peer reviewed journals and 200 presentations at professional scientific meetings. Topp has been associated with the Nursing Study Section within the Center for Scientific Review at the National Institutes of Health since 1997 as both a regular and temporary member. His individual research has focused on facilitating recovery following knee surgery through “prehabilitation” — improving patient physical fitness prior to knee surgery.
Palec to lead CresaPartners Milwaukee office
Steve Palec, a former senior vice president with the Milwaukee office of CB Richard Ellis and one of the most prominent office real estate brokers in Milwaukee, has become the leader of CresaPartners in Milwaukee.
Palec will be the president and managing principal of CresaPartners in Milwaukee.
Boston-based CresaPartners is a corporate real estate advisory firm that exclusively represents tenants in commercial real estate transactions.
Palec has represented some of the most prominent tenants in major office space deals in Milwauke,e including ManpowerGroup, Cramer-Krasselt, GE Healthcare and the Major League Baseball commissioner’s office.
CresaPartners in Milwaukee quietly opened for business early this year. Michael Levine, an attorney and real estate investor and developer, launched the company. The CresaPartners Milwaukee office functions as an independent entity with a relationship to CresaPartners that is similar to an affiliation, but at a higher and more involved level, Levine said.
The addition of Palec provides a major splash for CresaPartners in the Milwaukee commercial real estate market.
“When Steve left CB Richard Ellis, we jumped at the opportunity to meet and talk with him,” Levine said. “We really wanted a senior guy to come in and lead our Milwaukee office. Steve will be running the show. We’ve been low on the radar. We’ve done quite a few deals in Milwaukee, but we haven’t been public about them. Now we want to make our presence known.”
Palec worked for The Polacheck Company for years. Polacheck was eventually acquired by CB Richard Ellis. His experience in growing a commercial real estate firm will be valuable for CresaParnters in Milwaukee, Levine said.
“I think he understands how to grow a commercial real estate firm from a small group of guys into a professional, elite team,” Levine said.
Palec declined to comment on the circumstances of his departure from CB Richard Ellis earlier this year. CB Richard Ellis executives could not be reached for comment.
After leaving CB Richard Ellis, Palec said he, “felt like Reggie White in free agency. I had an opportunity to sit down and decide what I wanted to do. This is an opportunity to put my own mark on an organization.”
Palec said he is not bringing any of his clients from CB Richard Ellis over to CresaPartners. He is finishing up deals from clients there but, “those are CB (Richard Ellis) deals,” he said.
Levine said he will stop working on real estate developments once the sale of his properties for the downtown Marriott hotel development are complete and will limit his law practice to focus primarily on CresaPartners. He is a principal with the firm in Milwaukee.
CresaPartners’ philosophy of only representing tenants is an advantage over competitors that represent tenants and landlords, Levine said.
“I see such a value added of being somebody who is the tenant’s sole advocate not concerned about doing business with that landlord (in the future),” he said. “If I’m dealing with somebody that wants to do business (later) with a landlord, how hard are they going to push that landlord? We’re not interested in the landlord or their business. We’re only interested in the tenant’s interest and the tenant’s needs.”
Associated Banc-Corp appoints Williams to board
Green Bay-based Associated Banc-Corp has appointed John (Jay) Williams to its board of directors.
Williams is currently serving as the president and chief executive officer of the Milwaukee Public Museum. He joined the museum following a 37-year career in commercial banking.
"We welcome Jay Williams to the Board as we continue to optimize its size and enhance the depth of the Board’s financial industry and regional experience," said , announced Associated chairman William Hutchinson. "Jay’s long and successful career at senior levels in Midwestern banking, and his deep involvement in Wisconsin’s civic organizations, will greatly bolster our strategic initiatives."
Williams’ banking career included being a member of PrivateBancorp, Inc.’s board and serving in a number of senior management roles with PrivateBancorp and its subsidiaries, including chairman and CEO of The PrivateBank N.A. and chief operating officer of PrivateBancorp.
Prior to joining PrivateBancorp, Williams was president of U.S. Bank Wisconsin and held various management positions in Milwaukee over a 31-year career with U.S. Bank and its predecessors, Firstar Corp. and First Wisconsin.
Williams is on the board of directors of Church Mutual Insurance Company, which insures over 100,000 religious institutions. He is chairman of the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball District (majority owner and operator of Miller Park) and on the board of trustees of St. Norbert College and the Medical College of Wisconsin, the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. Williams holds an MBA from Marquette University and a bachelor’s degree from St. Norbert College.
Williams begins his term on the Associated board immediately. He will stand for election at the company’s annual meeting of shareholders in April 2012. All Associated Banc-Corp directors are elected annually. Williams will also serve on the Associated Bank N.A. board of directors and the Associated Trust Company N.A. board of directors.
