BizTimes Milwaukee

I speak regularly on the topic of Leading Generation Y. Commonly, the baby boomer “leaders” in the room are frustrated with their Gen Y employees. Commonly, the baby boomer “parents” in the room are concerned about their Gen Y offspring.

I have a favorite question I ask salespeople: “How important is trust as it relates to your ability to get results as a salesperson?”

IBM's Lou Gerstner proved that elephants can dance. Exxon, under Lee Raymond's leadership, demonstrated that a phoenix can rise up from the ashes.

In 2011 and 2012 combined, there were nearly 500 mergers and acquisitions completed that involved Wisconsin-based companies. About 285 involved a Wisconsin-based seller and 289 involved a Wisconsin-based buyer.

One of the many bright spots of the Wisconsin economy is the financial health of the 199 state-chartered banks and 187 credit unions regulated by the state Department of Financial Institutions, of which I serve as secretary. Over the past two years, the performance of banks and credit unions has continued to improve. For example:

Westbury Bancorp Inc., the West Bend-based holding company for Westbury Bank, has completed its stock offering in connection with the mutual-to-stock conversion of WBSB Bancorp MHC.

The Waukesha County Business Alliance and media sponsor and partner BizTimes Media announced the 2013 Top 10 Businesses of the Year.

The southeastern Wisconsin industrial real estate market continues to post impressive levels of absorption and lower vacancy rates.

Brookfield-based consulting engineering firm R.A. Smith National Inc. is the first in Wisconsin to own a major new 3D laser scanning technology for the surveying division of its business, according to the company.

Despite signs of economic recovery, a new survey says Americans' confidence in their ability to afford a comfortable retirement remains at historic lows as workers appear to be grasping the realities of what they need to save.