Some random reflections from the recent Wisconsin Business & Technology Expo, which drew more than 200 exhibitors, thousands of business executives and a handful of national speakers at Wisconsin State Fair Park:
- People with those Bluetooth hands-free cell phone head sets should be careful when and where they use those contraptions. While going about my business in the men’s room at the Expo, a guy walks in and sets up shop three urinals to the right. He promptly announces, "Oh, this is great. It’s been great all day. You should be here." I’m the only other person in the room. I’m thinking, "OK, pal, what’s the story? What am I supposed to say?" A moment passes, and he continues talking. It is at that point that I realize he’s got an earpiece on the other side of his head, and he’s carrying on a hands-free conversation with someone else.
- The winners of the fittest CEOs in southeastern Wisconsin have some grueling workout routines that keep them in shape. The winners of the Fittest CEOs Competition were: women over age 50, Sally Miles Heuer, vice president of Computer 911 Inc.; women under age 50, Brigette Breitenbach, principal at Breitenbach Weiss Inc.; men over 50, John Maniaci, vice president and partner, Unlimited Inc.; and Todd Barden, president of Great Lakes Retirement Advisors LLC. The winners were chosen from a field of 80 entrants. The participants were evaluated for strength, endurance and body composition. Small Business Times partnered with the Wellness Center of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Athletic Club for the competition to provide awareness of how health and wellness affect the workplace and also to promote executive health. To view the complete list of participants and learn more about their exercise routines, visit www.biztimes.com/fit.
- TDS Metrocom, led by Jon Ollmann, always does something that creates a buzz at the Expo. This year, he had the fellas from ESPN Radio 1510, including Steve "The Homer" True, broadcasting live from the TDS booth. Ollmann also booked Milwaukee Brewer legends Gorman Thomas and Jim Gantner. I asked both Spike and Gumby if they thought this year’s Brewers have what it takes to get to the playoffs this year. Neither hesitated. Each of them answered with an emphatic "Yes!"
- Author and consultant Matt May gave us an inside look at how Toyota Motor Corp. surpassed General Motors Corp. as the world’s largest automobile manufacturer. The author of "The Elegant Solution: Toyota’s Formula for Mastering Innovation" said Toyota has a corporate culture of innovation that demands that its employees generate 1 million new ideas every year. That’s why Detroit automakers are now trying to catch up to Toyota’s Prius hybrid vehicle. By the time the American companies get there, Toyota will have already moved on to the next great innovations.
- Consultant Lee Froschheiser, author of "Vital Factors: The Secret to Transforming Your Business – And Your Life," told us that effective business leaders don’t spend their lives telling their people what to do all day. Instead, the best leaders empower their people to execute the company’s mission and then hold them accountable for doing so.
Consultant Julio Melara from Baton Rouge showed why he is one of America’s most dynamic motivational gurus, as his lunchtime audience was captivated by his schtick. If your company ever needs a pick-me-up, call Julio! - The SBT Lifetime Achievement Award went to Joseph Zilber, chairman of Towne Realty Inc. in Milwaukee. Zilber, who was interviewed by satellite from Hawaii, said he wants the redevelopment of Milwaukee’s former Pabst brewery site to be his legacy. I would make the case that the man already has a legacy, and the Pabst project is just gravy.
Gary Zimmermann Jr., president of Creative Business Interiors Inc., West Allis, was the winner of the Regional Spirit Award because of his involvement in the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, the Council of Small Business Executives and the Council of Growing Businesses. - The winners of the Bravo! Entrepreneur Awards were: Mike Erwin, president and co-owner of Tailored Label Products Inc., Menomonee Falls; John Goeden, founder and president of Precision Color Graphics Ltd., Franklin; Grant Johnson, founder and president of Johnson Direct LLC, Brookfield; Greg Kolton, president and CEO of Foundations Bank in Pewaukee; Donald Krause, founder and president of National Graphics Inc., Brookfield; Joel Lederhause, founder and president of Discount Ramps.com LLC, West Bend; Craig Stoehr, founder and chairman of Milwaukee Mile Holdings LLC, West Allis; Ursula Twombly, Falamak Nourzad and Robert Barr, principals of Continuum Architects + Planners S.C., Milwaukee; and Adrian Velasquez, president of Fi-Med Financial Medical Management, Milwaukee.
- The winners of the IQ (Innovation Quotient) Awards were: Bowers & Associates Inc., Franklin; the IBEW Great Lakes Training program; Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee; the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra; Northwoods Software Development Inc., Milwaukee; Poblocki Sign Co. LLC, West Allis; Safe Building Solutions, Waukesha; Shorewest Realtors, Brookfield; Simix Reactive Solutions LLC, Kenosha; and Wixon Inc., St. Francis.
- We learned how Wisconsin manufacturers need to be creative to compete in the global marketplace. Words of wisdom were provided during an interactive panel discussion featuring Richard Armbrust, chief executive officer of Oilgear Co.; Mike Graverson, president of National Tissue Co. LLC in Cudahy; Keith Trafton, CEO of Super Steel Corp. in Milwaukee; and David Reiland, president and CEO of Magnetek Inc., which recently sold its overseas operations and moved its corporate headquarters to Menomonee Falls from Chatsworth, Calif. (How often does that happen?)
Many of the Expo exhibitors were just plain exhausted after the two days of walking, talking and networking on the cement floors of the Expo hall. Attendees also had the opportunity to listen to 31 free seminars. This was only the third year for the Wisconsin Business & Technology Expo. If you missed it, we hope to see you next year!
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Steve Jagler is executive editor of Small Business Times.
