Ideas

Buoyed by increasingly positive employment data, more U.S. chief executive officers project a pickup in sales, capital spending and hiring in the next six months, according to the latest survey by the Business Roundtable.

Many businesses use non-compete agreements, but few use them effectively. If you are in court trying to enforce such an agreement, not only do you have to convince the judge that your agreement is lawful, but you have to convince the judge that she or he should issue an order putting someone out of work or restricting their employment activities.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and a panel of business executives will focus on the “Key Industries for Job Growth.”

Milwaukee-based Roundy's Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 11 Dominick's stores in the Chicago area from Safeway Inc. in a $36 million cash and lease assumption transaction.

Revolution Capital Group, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, announced it has acquired Maysteel, a manufacturer of precision sheet metal enclosures in Allenton, Wis.

Bank Mutual has named Jamie Van Wagoner bank office manager for southeastern Wisconsin.

Associated Financial Group has named Jennifer Nigl vice president, talent acquisitions executive consultant.

New Berlin-based Nassco Inc. has acquired Wausau-based CTL Company Inc.

While Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday heralded the holiday season of spending once again, today marks a much different kind of season opener.

Glendale-based Johnson Controls Inc. has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to obtain a 60 percent ownership stake in Hitachi Appliances' global air conditioning business.