Ideas

Robert Arzbaecher, the outgoing chief executive officer of Menomonee Falls-based Actuant Corp., and Glen Hackmann, managing director, general counsel and secretary of Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc., will be co-chairs of the 2014 fund drive for the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) of Greater Milwaukee.

The Pfister Hotel is seeking applicants for its sixth Artist in Residence, who will take over the hotel’s in-house studio space for a year beginning in April 2014.

Mary Isbister, president at Mequon-based GenMet, will be the next chair of the Council of Small Business Executives (COSBE) board of directors.

Employers are invited to attend the fifth annual BizTimes Get Smarter Conference, which will focus on how companies can use apprenticeships, internships and mentorships to develop their future workforce and become more productive.

Racine-based Modine Manufacturing Co. a diversified global leader in thermal management technology and solutions, announced it has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire privately held Barkell Limited, a manufacturer of custom built air handling units located in Consett (County Durham), United Kingdom.

Pereles Bros. Inc., a Milwaukee-based plastic injection molding company, has been purchased through an equity buyout by business partners Steve Iram and Jim Gannon.

The overall financial health of 289 publicly traded banks in the United States improved in the past year, according to a new national study.

BMO Harris Bank will serve as a multi-year title sponsor for the Broadway at the Marcus Center series.

ZBB Energy Corp., a Menomonee Falls-based developer of renewable energy power platforms and hybrid vehicle control systems, reported a net loss of $11.9 million, or 15 cents per share, for its full fiscal year, which was an improvement over a net loss of $13.7 million, or 37 cents per share, in the previous fiscal year.

Madison-based Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin Inc. has completed its previously announced $175 million recapitalization.