Paul Davis teams provide hurricane relief
Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling of Southeast Wisconsin has deployed its resources of staff and highly-specialized equipment to the East Coast to provide emergency mitigation services and structural aid to communities damaged by Hurricane Irene.
According to Dan Druml, owner and president, the company sent technicians and a fleet of equipment from Milwaukee to locations from North Carolina to New York.
The Paul Davis group and emergency teams from Paul Davis National, the company’s large loss division, are currently onsite at projects where they are helping many communities and local businesses execute emergency services, disaster restoration, repairs and reconstruction plans.
Armitage sells business to Chicago investor
Mark Shelstad, a former partner in a Chicago-based insurance investment management firm, has purchased a majority interest in Armitage Investigative Services LLC in Milwaukee.
Formerly Armitage & Associates Investigative Services, Inc., the firm was founded in 1988 by former FBI agent Michael Armitage. It is now Wisconsin’s largest private investigation firm with 25 employees. The company specializes in financial, traditional and mortgage fraud investigations for law firms, financial institutions, large corporations, government agencies and small businesses.
The company’s principal client is Milwaukee-based MGIC Investment Corp., the largest private mortgage insurer in the United States.
Armitage said he sold a majority interest in the company because it needed to diversify more, and Shelstad had the experience in the insurance and financial fields as well as the contacts.
"I strongly felt the company needed someone else to take it to the next level with the financial resources, ideas and contacts," Armitage said. "Mark is the perfect person because of his strong background in the insurance and financial industry."
Shelstad has been a principal and senior portfolio manager at Asset Allocation & Management Co. LLC in Chicago for more than 25 years.
"Michael Armitage has built a tremendous platform with a reputation for high quality and on-time delivery," Shelstad said. "There’s a significant opportunity in the Financial Quality Control Audit market to expand, using that platform to diversify into auditing loans other than residential mortgages. It’s a large and under-served market that will benefit from our services leading to improved compliance and reduced enterprise risk."
Armitage will still be involved in the business but in a limited capacity.
Leadership program targets Hispanic professionals
Cardinal Stritch University Leadership Center will partner with the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM) to expand the leadership development offerings of both organizations.
The Leadership Center will conduct a series of programs designed specifically for Milwaukee’s Hispanic professionals throughout 2011 and 2012, beginning Sept. 7.
The Leadership Center’s new Hispanic programming was based upon a “needs assessment” of HPGM members. The new leadership development offerings are designed to give Hispanic professionals the chance to boost their professional development and career trajectories, facilitate growth as authentic and effective leaders, sharpen their management acumen and strengthen their abilities to influence, coach and form professional relationships.
"We are excited about our partnership with Cardinal Stritch University. It directly aligns with our mission of providing leadership development offerings to help our members reach the highest levels in corporations, non-profit and government organizations,” said Héctor Colón, executive director for the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee. “The Leadership Center’s belief in purposeful leadership and the transformation of self also aligns directly with HPGM’s mission and vision. We are proud to have them as a partner."
"We are committed to building a pipeline of diverse leaders for southeast Wisconsin who have the skills and talent to adapt to the changing landscape of the greater Milwaukee region,” said Leadership Center executive director Peter Holbrook. “This partnership allows both organizations to have a bigger impact and better results in developing emerging and seasoned leaders to achieve sustainable change in our community."
Planned events include lunch seminars, workshops and certificate programs around topics such as change management, career and personal brand building, professional networking, accountability, emotional intelligence and leadership and strategy. Advanced professionals can also enroll in the Coaching for Leadership certificate, with Leadership for New Managers certificates open to new and aspiring managers.
Registration and additional information is available at http://www.hpgm.org/leadership.aspx.
BizTimes Get Smarter Conference to feature cast of renowned educators
The 2011 Get Smarter annual conference will take place on Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee, beginning with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m.
The opening remarks at the conference will be presented by Wisconsin Superintendent of Education Tony Evers. Evers was elected to the post in 2009 with more than 57 percent of the popular vote. With more than three decades of public education experience, Evers will give a report about what the state’s educational system must do to prepare tomorrow’s workforce to meet employers’ needs.
Evers’ remarks will be followed by a panel discussion about the challenges and the opportunities facing southeastern Wisconsin’s educational infrastructure. Panelists will include:
Gregory Thornton, Ph.D., superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools.
Melanie Holmes, vice president of World of Work Solutions at Manpower Group and chair of the Milwaukee Area Technical College District Board.
Paul Sweeney, founding partner at PS Capital Partners LLC in Milwaukee and chairman of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s Education Committee.
Robert Rauh, principal of Milwaukee College Prep School.
Renee Herzing, president of Herzing University.
The conference will provide business owners, top-level managers and human resource leaders with insights on how education and workforce development can be the catalysts for economic development in the region and throughout the state.
The panel discussion will be moderated by BizTimes executive editor Steve Jagler.
In addition to the panel discussion, the conference will present several concurrent educational workshops for business executives. The leaders of the workshops will include:
Scott Jansen, talent dividend director at the Greater Milwaukee Committee. Jansen and the GMC are exploring ways to transform Milwaukee into a “City of Internships.” Jansen will lead a workshop to help employers establish internships to develop young talent.
Christine McMahon, principal at McMahon & Associates, a sales training and coaching firm. McMahon also is a columnist for BizTimes Milwaukee magazine. McMahon will lead a workshop about the secrets of successful negotiation. She will share best practices to help sales executives gain leverage and results.
Susan Marshall, a consultant and founder of Executive Advisor LLC in Oconomowoc. She also is the author of "How to Grow a Backbone." Marshall will lead a workshop about building confidence and competence for young executives.
Aleta Norris is a co-founding partner of Impact Consulting Group and Living As A Leader, a leadership training, coaching and consulting firm. Norris will lead a workshop to help companies to become more competitive by developing their workforce.
To register to attend the BizTimes Get Smarter Conference, visit www.biztimes.com/smart.
Harley-Davidson hosts annual custom bike show this weekend
Harley-Davidson Museum will host the third annual Custom Bike show during the 2011 Milwaukee Rally on Sunday, Sept. 4 on the Museum grounds. Custom motorcycle owners are invited to register their bikes to be part of the show, and display them for the judges and hundreds of guests throughout the day.
“Our annual Custom Bike Show showcases some of the most spectacular motorcycle customization from all over the country,” said Bill Davidson, vice president of the Harley-Davidson Museum. “We’re always impressed with the riders’ creativity, and even for those who don’t ride, the display of unique bikes is an amazing sight to see.”
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. Cost of registration is $10 for show bikes, but is free to attend. Registration is $10 and all proceeds benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Prize trophies will be awarded in 12 categories: Antique, VRSC, Sidecar, Trike, Full Dresser, Stock Sportster, Stock Big Twin, Show Custom, Sport Touring, Radical Custom, Pro, and Non-H-D Cool Customs.
A variety of events are scheduled at the Museum throughout the weekend in conjunction with the Milwaukee Rally. For a full schedule visit www.h-dmuseum.com.
