Simon appoints new manager for Southridge Mall
Simon Property Group Inc. announced that Mary Mokwa has been named manager of Southridge Mall in Greendale.
As mall manager, Mokwa will manage all day-to-day operations, maintenance and tenant relations. Additionally, she will be responsible for the security and marketing of the center.
Southridge is in the midst of a $52 million renovation.
Mokwa served as assistant general manager of the property in 1991. While there, she successfully assisted the general manager in the hands-on management and administration of shopping center operations.
After leaving Southridge, Mokwa continued her retail shopping center management career in positions with increased management and leasing responsibilities at Urban Retail Properties/JMB and Continental Properties Company Inc., a Menomonee Falls-based developer.
"Mary brings with her more than 15 years of shopping center management experience," said Nicole Delmer, regional vice president of marketing, central, for Simon. "We look forward to her passion and dedication once again benefiting Southridge Mall and we’re excited to welcome her back.”
Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group is an S&P 500 company and the largest real estate company in the United States.
U.S. Bank promotes Ward as business banker
Mike Ward has been promoted to oversee U.S. Bank’s business banking group in southeastern Wisconsin. Based in Milwaukee at 777 E. Wisconsin Ave., Ward leads a team of 48 bankers throughout Milwaukee, Racine, Waukesha and Madison who work with small business owners on ways to improve their company’s cash flow, operate more efficiently and grow using U.S. Bank’s loan, treasury management, payment solutions, wealth management and trust services.
Ward has more than 24 years of banking experience. He first joined U.S. Bank’s predecessor, First Wisconsin, in 1987, as a credit analyst and member of the bank’s management training program. He most recently served as district sales manager for U.S. Bank’s business banking team and his group received consistent company awards for their outstanding service for business customers.
Ward is active in the Waukesha area community where he resides.
Gart is new CFO of Cannella
Burlington-based Cannella Response Television, the largest infomercial media company in the direct response television industry, announced today that Michael Gart has joined the company as chief financial officer.
Gart will succeed Guy Theune, who will retire at the end of the year.
Gart joins Cannella from Tribune Media Services, where he served as CFO and senior vice president of finance since 2004.
“Mike brings to Cannella more than 20 years of finance/management experience in the media arena, and a proven record for driving process improvements and stewarding the finances of growth businesses,” said Tony Besasie, president, Cannella Response Television. “He is a great addition to our organization and will help manage our growth in the coming years.”
Cannella was purchased in 2009 by private equity firms ZM Capital and Palladium Equity Partners along with Veronis Suhler Stevenson.
Fiserv promotes Gupta to be group president
Fiserv Inc. a Brookfield-based global provider of financial services technology solutions, announced today that Rahul Gupta has been named group president of its Digital Payment Solutions group.
In his new role, Gupta will provide oversight for several of the company’s strategic payment platforms including electronic bill payment and presentment, biller solutions, card services and global payment solutions.
Gupta has more than 25 years of experience serving the financial services and payments industries. He joined Fiserv in 2006 and most recently served as president of the Card Services Division, where he was responsible for the debit, credit and prepaid solutions for Fiserv, including the ACCEL/Exchange payments network and UChoose Rewards loyalty program.
"Rahul’s proven ability to deliver strong payments solutions and growth in a client-centric fashion will serve Fiserv well as we enter a new era of financial services," said Jeffrey Yabuki, president and chief executive officer of Fiserv.
Prior to joining Fiserv, Gupta served as president of U.S. operations at eFunds Corporation, a payments and risk management solutions provider.
Fitzgerald joins Republican Senate field
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) today made his long-anticipated announcement that he will run for U.S. Senate.
Fitzgerald was one of the key supporters of Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial bill to curb the bargaining rights for the members of public unions in Wisconsin.
Fitzgerald told The Associated Press that he believes his role in passing that law is his most significant campaign asset heading into the race. Walker’s plan drew protests as large as 100,000 people and drew national attention.
"It’s the No. 1 thing I’ve got going for me. It’s fresh in people’s minds," Fitzgerald said. "We did it right in Wisconsin…There are conservatives who think Wisconsin is ground zero for the movement."
Fitzgerald is seeking the seat to be vacated by Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl, who will retire in 2012.
Democrats have held the Senate seat since 1957. So far, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) is the only Democrat campaigning for the seat.
Fitzgerald joins a Republican field that includes Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann.
Wisconsin employers earn Well Workplace Awards
The Wellness Council of America, with its local affiliate, the Wellness Council of Wisconsin, recently presented several new Well Workplace Awards in Wisconsin, bringing the total awards to 14 for 2011.
Affinity Health System, including Network Health Plan, Menasha, and PyraMax Bank, Greenfield, each received the Gold Well Workplace Award. Frett Barrington Ltd., Pewaukee, received the Small Business Well Workplace Award.
The Well Workplace Award recognizes an organization for its commitment to the health and well-being of its employees.
David Hunnicutt, president of Wellness Councils of America, said, “In a time when the health of our nation’s workers is not what it should be and health care costs consistently reflect this trend, the Well Workplace initiative provides employers with a powerful approach to stemming the tide of increasing costs and systematically working toward improving the health and well-being of (their)most valuable asset – (their) employees.”
“These employers worked hard to successfully meet the rigorous standards set by the Well Workplace process,” said Jessica Raddemann, executive director of the Wellness Council. “It is our pleasure to recognize them as the newest Wisconsin employers to achieve Well Workplace status.”
The Wellness Council of Wisconsin also announced the selection of several new board members: Christine Adee, chief financial officer, Wild Impact Marketing; Jason Morgan, GE Healthcare; Mary Starr, executive vice president, The Starr Group; and Charles Stevens, partner at Michael, Best and Friedrich LLP.
In addition to selecting new board members, the Wellness Council approved a new slate of officers: president Lisa Mrozinski, Total Rewards manager, Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.; vice president Monica Hinek, CEBS, senior benefits analyst, Everett Smith Group, Ltd.; treasurer: Christine Adee, CFO, Wild Impact Marketing; and secretary Kim Megal, director of human resources, Tekra Corp.
The Wellness Council’s current board members include: Michael Brady, City of Milwaukee; Ellen Endrizzi, Zilber Ltd.; Barbara Feiertag, M&I Corporation, part of BMO Financial Group; Sarah Havens, Gundersen Lutheran Health System; Kathy Krohn, MRA; Michael Loy, City of Wausau; Abigail Nadler, M3 Insurance Solutions for Business; and Heather Ohlinger, Creation Technologies; and Advisory Board members: Barbra Fagan, Froedtert Health; Gavin Quinnies, US HealthCenter, Inc.; Donna Owens, Trotter Wellness; Kevin Setnes, Standard Process; and Jo Steinberg, Midland Health Testing Services Inc.
