Ideas

BizTimes is accepting last-minute registrations from employers to attend the fifth annual Get Smarter Conference, which will focus on how companies can use apprenticeships, internships and mentorships to develop their future workforce and become more productive.

MADISON – Kevin Conroy, the chief executive officer for Exact Sciences Corp., was asked the other day how the federal shutdown and the looming deadline for lifting the federal debt ceiling was affecting his publically traded biotechnology company.

If Congress fails to raise the federal debt ceiling and defaults on the nation's debt, the U.S. economy would be at risk of recession and the stock market would be at risk of a severe downturn, according to most of the economic forecasters surveyed by BizTimes last week.

Sussex-based QuadMed LLC has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Novia CareClinics LLC of Indianapolis in a merger of two innovators in employer-sponsored health care management solutions and on-site primary care.

Bart Adams, partner at Sikich LLP (formerly Kolb + Co.), has been appointed chair of the Waukesha County Business Alliance's Policy Board. Brian Nemoir, president of Full Impact Communications, has been appointed vice chair, and Tom Fotsch, chief operating officer of EmbedTek has been appointed secretary.

Englewood, Colo.-based Liberty Interactive Corp. said that it would spin off its stakes in travel website TripAdvisor Inc. and New Berlin-based online retailer BuySeasons into a new publicly-traded company known as Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings.

A second panel has been added to the fifth annual BizTimes Get Smarter Conference. This panel will dig deeper into discussion about internships and apprenticeships.

Associated Banc-Corp announced it will consolidate eight branches in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Regulation going into effect Jan. 1, 2014 in regards to residential mortgage lending is limiting banks' creativity and innovation on product offerings which in the end hurts consumers. If community banks feel it is only “safe” to offer “vanilla” products, then there won't be as many options for consumers, especially those who may not qualify for a conventional 30-year fixed rate mortgage.

Allison Cimpl-Weimer has been named vice president, associate counsel at Associated Bank in Milwaukee. She will provide legal support...