Ideas

BizTimes Media recently hired reporter Erica Breunlin, who is covering technology, health care and the nonprofit sector for BizTimes Milwaukee magazine and BizTimes.com.

I hear more and more leaders starting to talk openly about the challenge they face in attracting employees and keeping them. This is good. If we don't connect with this reality, we won't take steps to change it.

When working with clients who are hoping to see their sales teams break through to new levels of performance, I often haul out this role-playing exercise:

Have you ever thought about how much of what you do everyday is a function of habits?

Wisconsin's unemployment rate is at 7 percent, and the national unemployment rate is at 8.3 percent, but the unemployment numbers are even higher for people in some segments of the population, including young adults, veterans and minorities.

American Pasteurization Company, a Milwaukee-based high pressure processing company that serves the food manufacturing industry, will open a second facility in Sacramento, Calif.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) announced that Wisconsin merchandise exports increased 8 percent in the first half of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, growing from $10.8 billion to $11.7 billion.

InnoWare Paper Company, a paper tableware manufacturer in Menomonee Falls, will close its doors on May 1. About 100 workers will be dislocated.

Sheboygan Falls-based Johnsonville Sausage is recalling select some packages of Johnsonville Turkey Sausage with Cheddar Cheese.