WisconsinBiz

Riding past Acuity's headquarters off Interstate 43 in Sheboygan, passersby can't miss seeing the company's growth. Acuity, a property and casualty insurer that operates in 22 states, is in the midst of a $130 million, 240,000-square-foot addition. When finished in 2016, the company's corporate headquarters will double in size and house a 65-foot ferris wheel and a 2,000-person theater-in-the-round for companywide meetings.

The Milwaukee skyline will take on a whole new look during the next few years as Northwestern Mutual constructs its new 32-story downtown tower.

Insurance companies definitely feel at home in Wisconsin. The state is fourth in the nation for the number of companies, with nearly 250 life, health, and property casualty organizations headquartered here.

Alliant Energy prides itself on the delivery of safe, reliable energy to over 600 communities in central and southern Wisconsin. With the help of its 1,800 in-state employees, the company is executing a number of projects to protect the environment, enhance reliable service and minimize costs for its customers.

With consumers and businesses relying more than ever on electricity, the market for generators has never been better. And Kohler Power Systems is developing unique, reliable products to meet the growing need. “We’ve seen increased global demand for backup power generators, and Super Storm Sandy, Hurricane Katrina and recent ice storms have created problems maintaining reliable power on an aging U.S. power grid,” said Vito Minneci, vice president of marketing for Kohler Power Systems. “Power failures are increasing in size and severity at the same time we rely on electricity to power computers and other electronic devices. It’s a major part of our daily lives.”

Advanced manufacturing is a mainstream concept that represents some of the latest and most innovative technologies that are available. MSOE is no stranger to this concept. In fact, the university was an early adopter of these technologies and helped advanced manufacturing techniques become the new normal in a variety of fields.

by Sheku Kamara, Rapid Prototyping Center Director

Associated Bank is proud to sponsor the Economic Development Regions section of WisconsinBiz. Born in 1970 as an association of strong community banks, we have maintained a strong regional character throughout our history. We recognize and understand the differences in the business and financial needs of companies and communities in the various regions of our state. These needs are also reflected in the priorities of regional economic development organizations.

by Tom Bray, MSOE Dean of Applied Research

Mike Hamerlik wants you to keep your eye on Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS).