Viewpoints

BizTimes Media LLC on Monday published the 2015 edition of WisconsinBiz, the annual publication that promotes Wisconsin as a place to grow or move a business.

Five academic institutions in Milwaukee are joining forces to form a local site of the National Innovation Network that will recruit and train 90 entrepreneurial teams over the next three years. With training, the teams will conduct deep research into their chances of starting a viable business or find new pathways to market.

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce's Council of Small Business Executives is accepting nominations for its Future 50 Awards.

After close to 18 years of guiding business students through Concordia University Wisconsin’s School of Business Administration, David Borst has launched his own cluster of businesses under Borst: The Brand.

Several jaws dropped and eyebrows rose in January when BizTimes predicted a robust year of national economic growth for 2015.

The PNC Financial Services Group Inc. reported first quarter net income of $1 billion, or $1.75 per share, down from $1.1 billion, or $1.82 per share, in the first quarter of 2014.

Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. reported record net revenue of $1.2 billion in 2014, up 12 percent over 2013. It is the fifth consecutive record year the employee-owned financial firm has reported.

Brown Deer-based Bank Mutual Corp. reported first quarter net income of $3.6 million, or 8 cents per share, up 25 percent from net income of $2.8 million, or 6 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2014.

Associated Bank has purchased about $2 million in residential mortgages from Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity in one of the largest one-time mortgage sales in the chapter's history.

Milwaukee-based MGIC Investment Corp. today reported first quarter net income of $133.1 million, or 32 cents per share, up significantly from $60 million, or 15 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2014.