Viewpoints

Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Energy Corp. reported first quarter net income of $195.8 million, or 86 cents per share, down from $207.6 million, or 91 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2014.

Wisconsin's state-chartered credit unions increased profits by 21.6 percent and ending by 10.7 percent in the first quarter of 2015, according to new data released by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.

Brookfield-based Fiserv Inc. has reported first quarter net income of $178 million, or 73 cents per share, up from $168 million, or 65 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2014.

Milwaukee-based colors, flavors and fragrances manufacturer Sensient Technologies Corp. has reached an agreement to acquire the assets of U.K. specialty ink manufacturer Xennia Technology Ltd. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015.

Oconomowoc-based First Bank Financial Centre has launched a loan pool program to encourage economic development in downtown Milwaukee.

Brown Deer-based Bank Mutual Corp. will close 10 percent of its branch network on May 16.

Macromatic Industrial Controls Inc. boasts approximately 15,000 catalog numbers, but its goal is to continue developing two or three new products or redesigns every year.

I've read many articles about the problem of America's “skilled worker shortage" and why we need advanced training; but most don’t define or explain what they mean by "advanced training."

Novozymes BioAg Inc., a Copenhagen, Denmark-based biotech firm, is expanding its presence in Milwaukee. The firm recently leased a 75,500-square-foot building at 4801 W. Woolworth Ave., from Milwaukee-based Phoenix Investors LLC.

Metal-Era, a roof edge and ventilation system manufacturer, plans to add an addition of about 35,000 square feet to its 110,000-square-foot plant at 1600 Airline Road in Waukesha.