Economic Development

U.S. manufacturing growth is at its highest level since April 2011, as production, hiring and orders continued to rise in November.

Madison-based Catalyze.io, a cloud-based health care technology company, announced that it has closed a Series A financing round co-led by Baird Capital's venture capital group, Arthur Ventures and Chicago Ventures, with participation from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Gener8tor, Angels on the Water and other individual investors.

Fiserv Inc., a Brookfield-based global provider of financial services technology solutions, announced that its board of directors has declared a two-for-one stock split of Fiserv common stock and a proportionate increase in the number of its authorized shares of common stock.

Artisan Partners, a global investment management firm founded in Milwaukee, announced that it has signed a major, long-term lease at 875 E. Wisconsin Ave. as the firm plans for its future and growth in the downtown Milwaukee area.

Robert W. Baird & Co. inc. has published year-end tax and financial planning ideas to explain upcoming changes to laws and how they will impact taxpayers.

William A. Nurthen has been named chief financial officer of Milwaukee-based ARI Network Services Inc.

Bryan C. Krug will join Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. in Milwaukee as a fixed income portfolio manager, likely by the end of the year.

Michael J. Weil has been named director of wealth management at Next Generation Wealth Management in Milwaukee.

AXA Advisors LLC has formed The Moore/Kielich Group to serve clients with a variety of financial needs.

BizTimes will explore the forecasts for the year ahead in business at the 2014 Northern Trust Economic Trends Breakfast on Jan. 17.
We haven’t yet dug in to the research that will give us a glimpse of which way the winds will be blowing next year.