Magazines
Read the latest issues of BizTimes magazine for in-depth coverage of Milwaukee business news.
The fine art of listening: The most neglected skill of professional development
Recently two very different people asked me similar questions. One came from the new owner of a golf course, of all things – a semi-private course with all the extras, including two restaurants and a pro shop. The other came from a dear nephew who, for just a couple of weeks has been in a new and very senior position with a huge global corporation.
Our thoughts create results: Is your EGO helping or hindering your success?
What we think about we bring about. Understanding how our thoughts create results is an important skill for business people to learn – as everything first gets manifested in the mind and then becomes reality. This is our EGO at work, which is similar to a database in a computer.
Improve speed to market with high-tech products: Iterate quickly and frequently
In today's fast-paced world, it has become increasingly difficult for technology companies to be the first to bring a new product to market. Global competition is fierce, and the rapid pace of technology change forces companies to continuously innovate, just to keep up.
Moore's Law, for example, states that computer processing power doubles in speed every one-and-a-half years. That poses a significant challenge for the engineering companies that build their technology stack on top of a microprocessor that will become obsolete within a few years.
Moore's Law, for example, states that computer processing power doubles in speed every one-and-a-half years. That poses a significant challenge for the engineering companies that build their technology stack on top of a microprocessor that will become obsolete within a few years.
The business of the Bucks: Re-imagining the future
Would you accept an offer to become president of a company whose revenue ranks second to last in the industry, whose buildings and equipment are pretty much obsolete, and whose prospective clients often select other suppliers who have a better value proposition?
Kohl’s launches app for Apple Watch
Kohl’s Corp.N56 W17000 Ridgewood Drive, Menomonee FallsInnovation: Kohl’s app for Apple Watchwww.kohlscorporation.com Menomonee Falls-based Kohl’s Corp. has launched a...
OneJet brings innovative new airline business model to Milwaukee
An innovative new commercial airline is getting its start in Milwaukee.
Cambridge, Mass.-based OneJet launched service in April between Indianapolis and Milwaukee, and earlier this month began service between Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.
Passenger loads have been steadily increasing on the flights between Indianapolis and Milwaukee, said OneJet chief executive officer Matthew Maguire.
“So far, it's been great,” he said.
The OneJet business model is unique. Start with the planes. They are small. Very small. The planes only have seven passenger seats, and OneJet is typically only selling five for now for each flight.
Cambridge, Mass.-based OneJet launched service in April between Indianapolis and Milwaukee, and earlier this month began service between Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.
Passenger loads have been steadily increasing on the flights between Indianapolis and Milwaukee, said OneJet chief executive officer Matthew Maguire.
“So far, it's been great,” he said.
The OneJet business model is unique. Start with the planes. They are small. Very small. The planes only have seven passenger seats, and OneJet is typically only selling five for now for each flight.
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CCB Technology is an under-the-radar success story
Like many fledging companies in their early days, CCB Technology started in the basement of Chris and Patti Booth's house.
Fast forward 24 years later, and the technology provider has approximately 60 employees in two Racine locations; serves 40,000 clients nationwide; and forecasts climbing from $34 million in annual revenue last year to $40 million in 2015.
Fast forward 24 years later, and the technology provider has approximately 60 employees in two Racine locations; serves 40,000 clients nationwide; and forecasts climbing from $34 million in annual revenue last year to $40 million in 2015.
Aldrete to be honored with BizTimes Regional Spirit Award
When Griselda Aldrete jumped aboard Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee’s staff as a program manager in March 2012, the organization’s membership had stagnated at around 400.
Today, that membership base has ballooned to more than 1,400 as Aldrete, now president and chief executive officer, has worked to dramatically grow student memberships and corporate partnerships.
HPGM exists to promote Hispanic talent across the region, as well as help groom Hispanic professionals at all stages for successful careers.
Today, that membership base has ballooned to more than 1,400 as Aldrete, now president and chief executive officer, has worked to dramatically grow student memberships and corporate partnerships.
HPGM exists to promote Hispanic talent across the region, as well as help groom Hispanic professionals at all stages for successful careers.
Cover Story: Ad Man | Laughlin receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Steve Laughlin stumbled into his first entrepreneurial venture at age 11 with a family of white mice, a little red wagon and a handmade sign reading: “White Mice, 10 cents each.”
Even as a kid, Laughlin, co-founder and chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based marketing communications agency Laughlin Constable, was learning the principles behind business investments and the power of advertising firsthand. He launched his childhood business after a few trips to the pet store with his dad eventually resulted in a growing troupe of mice.
While Laughlin had his sights set on getting a dog, his parents wanted him to prove he could care for one by looking after a smaller animal first. On their first trip to the store, Laughlin’s father threw out $1 to buy him one pet mouse, which he accidentally “loved” to death, he said, as he held it tightly on the car ride home, overcome with excitement.
Upon their return to the pet store to quell Laughlin’s grief, the owner sold them two mice for the price of one. That transaction multiplied in a matter of weeks.
The Laughlin family, who lived in the Chicago suburb of Homewood, Ill., “had mice coming out of our ears,” Laughlin said.
So he hitched an old aquarium housing the mice onto his red wagon and wheeled it around to neighbors and classmates, exchanging his rodents for dimes.
“That was my first shot at anything entrepreneurial that might allow me to make money,” Laughlin said, adding that he was able to return his dad’s initial $2 investment within a couple months.
Since that first venture – and that first advertisement promoting his mice – Laughlin has become a creative legend whose name is known well beyond Milwaukee. His career as an advertising and marketing executive, which spans nearly 40 years, has produced an agency with four office locations, about 235 employees and a client roster that includes corporate giants such as Harley-Davidson Inc. and McDonald’s.
His career also has generated countless awards, many recognizing Laughlin Constable’s marketing projects and others saluting the agency as a top workplace.
Laughlin’s personal accolades include the American Advertising Federation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, induction into the Wisconsin Advertising Hall of Fame, and now, the 2015 BizTimes Bravo! Lifetime Achievement Award.
The honor from BizTimes Media “brought back a flood of memories” of the many people Laughlin has had the good fortune to work with and learn from, he said.
“I think more than any one thing, this award gives me an opportunity to realize how much I owe the many people who either pushed, helped or contributed to some measure of success,” Laughlin said. “We all work with other people. This is a business award, and nobody ever does it on their own in business. Business is a team sport, and we’re just all blessed by the people we’ve surrounded ourselves with or we’re lucky enough to work with.”
Even as a kid, Laughlin, co-founder and chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based marketing communications agency Laughlin Constable, was learning the principles behind business investments and the power of advertising firsthand. He launched his childhood business after a few trips to the pet store with his dad eventually resulted in a growing troupe of mice.
While Laughlin had his sights set on getting a dog, his parents wanted him to prove he could care for one by looking after a smaller animal first. On their first trip to the store, Laughlin’s father threw out $1 to buy him one pet mouse, which he accidentally “loved” to death, he said, as he held it tightly on the car ride home, overcome with excitement.
Upon their return to the pet store to quell Laughlin’s grief, the owner sold them two mice for the price of one. That transaction multiplied in a matter of weeks.
The Laughlin family, who lived in the Chicago suburb of Homewood, Ill., “had mice coming out of our ears,” Laughlin said.
So he hitched an old aquarium housing the mice onto his red wagon and wheeled it around to neighbors and classmates, exchanging his rodents for dimes.
“That was my first shot at anything entrepreneurial that might allow me to make money,” Laughlin said, adding that he was able to return his dad’s initial $2 investment within a couple months.
Since that first venture – and that first advertisement promoting his mice – Laughlin has become a creative legend whose name is known well beyond Milwaukee. His career as an advertising and marketing executive, which spans nearly 40 years, has produced an agency with four office locations, about 235 employees and a client roster that includes corporate giants such as Harley-Davidson Inc. and McDonald’s.
His career also has generated countless awards, many recognizing Laughlin Constable’s marketing projects and others saluting the agency as a top workplace.
Laughlin’s personal accolades include the American Advertising Federation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, induction into the Wisconsin Advertising Hall of Fame, and now, the 2015 BizTimes Bravo! Lifetime Achievement Award.
The honor from BizTimes Media “brought back a flood of memories” of the many people Laughlin has had the good fortune to work with and learn from, he said.
“I think more than any one thing, this award gives me an opportunity to realize how much I owe the many people who either pushed, helped or contributed to some measure of success,” Laughlin said. “We all work with other people. This is a business award, and nobody ever does it on their own in business. Business is a team sport, and we’re just all blessed by the people we’ve surrounded ourselves with or we’re lucky enough to work with.”
Hall is BizTimes Woman Executive of the Year
Dr. Eve Hall, president and chief executive officer of the newly revived African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, is the recipient of the 2015 BizTimes Woman Executive of the Year Award.
