Governor Walker Joins Uline for Groundbreaking in Hudson
Governor Scott Walker joined community leaders in Hudson, Wisconsin on December 16th to mark the ceremonial groundbreaking for a 640,000 square foot distribution facility for Uline, Inc. The new facility, scheduled to open later in 2013, will replace a smaller one in Eagan, Minnesota. It will employ 150-175 associates. The Eagan facility has a track record on adding employees based on new and expanding accounts, according to Duke Uihlein, a family member who is in charge of Minnesota operations that will transition to Hudson.
Hudson Mayor Alan Burchill and State Senator Sheila Harsdorf spoke at the event and welcomed the Uihlein family and Uline, Inc. to Hudson, St. Croix County, and west central Wisconsin. Senator Harsdorf introduced Governor Walker. He reminded attendees that there are great opportunities for companies in Minnesota to consider moving east to Wisconsin like Uline did.
Uline president Liz Uihlein spoke for the family. She reflected back on how husband Dick started the business in 1980. Interest rates were high and they had to live within their means, and that lesson holds true for the company today, even though it is a rapidly-growing distributor of shipping supplies.
According to the company website, Uline boasts over 2,600 employees nationwide. The Hudson, Wisconsin facility will serve customers in the upper midwest region of the U.S.
Nicholas Vivian Nominated for the 2012 State Bar of Wisconsin Judicial Council
Nicholas J. Vivian, Partner at the law firm of Eckberg, Lammers, Briggs, Wolff & Vierling, PLLP, has accepted the nomination to run for the 2012 State Bar of Wisconsin Judicial Council.
Nicholas Vivian, Christine Rew Barden and Tom Bertz were nominated by their peers and selected by a State Bar Nominating Committee to run for office on the Judicial Council. The Judicial Council was created in 1951 to advise the state Supreme Court and the Legislature on issues affecting the administration of justice. The council recommends legislation to change the procedure, jurisdiction or organization of the courts. Four seats on the 21-member council are delegated to the State Bar of Wisconsin. The elections are held in April and the three year term begins July 1st, 2012.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by my colleagues, the Nominations Committee and the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Wisconsin, says Vivian. The Judicial Council plays an important role in the development of recommendations to the Legislature to improve the practice of law and the administration of justice in the State of Wisconsin.”
Nick is a graduate of Northern Michigan University and completed his juris doctor at Hamline University of Law. He concentrates his practice in business and commercial law, including commercial financing, mergers and acquisitions, creditor rights, and general business law. Nick serves as general counsel to community banks, municipalities, developers and main street businesses. Nick is licensed to practice in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Nick has also served on St. Croix EDC’s board of directors since 2006.
Eckberg Lammers is a full-service law firm with offices in Stillwater, MN and Hudson, WI. The firm offers legal services and council to individuals and business throughout the St. Croix Valley and Western Wisconsin. Eckberg Lammers was founded in 1949 and is committed to providing high quality legal representation with emphasis on honesty, integrity, and value-added service. The firm’s website is: www.eckberglammers.com.
UW-River Falls College of Business and Economics Maintains Accreditation
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls has maintained its business accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting.
Only 643 schools of business, or less than five percent worldwide, have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education. To maintain accreditation a business program must undergo a rigorous internal review every five years, at which the program must demonstrate its continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs.
“It takes a great deal of self-evaluation and determination to earn and maintain AACSB Accreditation,” said Jerry Trapnell, vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “Schools not only must meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty, and staff must make a commitment to ongoing improvement to ensure continued delivery of high-quality education to students.”
The College of Business and Economics (CBE) at UW-River Falls is the regional leader in the acquisition, study, application, and sharing of business, economics and information technology knowledge. CBE’s mission is to provide high quality undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts, a high quality master of business administration program, and business outreach services to the greater St. Croix Valley region.
“Successful AACSB Accreditation of the UW-River Falls College of Business and Economics is an internationally-recognized validation of the excellence of the College, and speaks to the commitment of faculty, staff, and CBE Dean Glenn Potts to fostering an exceptional learning environment for our students,” said UW-River Falls Chancellor Dean Van Galen.
The achievement of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls will be recognized in April at the 2012 AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting held in San Diego. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting.
To learn more about the College of Business and Economics at UW-River Falls, visit http://www.uwrf.edu/CBE. To learn more about AACSB accreditation, visit www.aacsb.edu/accreditation. For more information, contact Glenn Potts, Dean of the College of Business and Economics, at (715) 425-3335.
State Legislators Update EDC at Annual Forum
State Representatives John Murtha and Dean Knudson provided individuals and businesses with updates at St. Croix EDC’s annual Legislative Networking event held December 5th at the Cashman Conference Center on the campus of WITC-New Richmond (New Richmond, Wisc.). About forty people attended the event which included a full hour of questions and answers on a variety of topics. State Senator Sheila Harsdorf was unable to attend the event due to a family matter and Rep. Erik Severson had a work commitment at the Osceola Medical Center.
Representative Murtha reflected on the session that started in January. He said legislators were committed to creating jobs and an important element was relaxing regulations. He said another important goal — that of a balance budget — had been achieved.
Representative Knudson also recapped the 2011 session and restated Rep. Murtha’s comments about a balanced budget and the elimination of a structural deficit that forecasts revenue into the future. He also said the state changed the way it interacts with businesses and referred to the ‘Wisconsin is Open for Business’ slogan. Of note, Rep. Knudson said the manufacturers tax credit, a 7.5 percent production credit that will be phased in over three years, would help set the stage for Wisconsin’s ability to recruit and retain value-added producers. While the legislative session focused on job creation and economic development, Rep. Knudson said a severe, stubborn recession is holding back optimism.
Both Murtha and Knudson referred to the St. Croix Valley as a shining star for Wisconsin. They said national publications are taking notice of Wisconsin’s improved business rankings, and the rankings help create an impression that Wisconsin is business friendly.
EDC president Ryan Sicard introduced the state representatives and moderated the question and answer session. The EDC board reconvened for its monthly meeting following the conclusion of the forum.
EDCs & Chambers Announce Legislative Day in Madison
Citizens & businesses travel to Madison to highlight issues for Dunn, Pierce, Polk & St. Croix
The EDCs from Dunn, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix counties will travel to Madison on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 to advocate legislative priorities for the west central Wisconsin region. The event is free and is open to citizens, businesses, and business groups who are willing to travel to and from Madison to meet with key legislators, cabinet secretaries, and policy advisors.
Citizen advocacy events like the 4-county event are popular ways to engage citizens and businesses in grassroots lobbying. The events serve multiple purposes, including awareness building for a region and advocating for 5-6 key legislative priorities in hopes they will be approved or accelerated. La Crosse, the Chippewa Valley, and Superior all have set-aside a day (or days) to travel to Madison with legislative issues.
A preliminary agenda calls for advocates to arrive in Madison for an orientation on the issues by 11 a.m. Appointments in groups of two or three people will run throughout the afternoon. By 4 p.m. the event will conclude and the citizens/business owners may depart for home.
For additional information and to RSVP participation, please contact St. Croix EDc at (715) 381-4383.
State’s Lead Economic Development Agency Launches Website
The state’s lead economic development agency, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), has launched its new web site at www.wedc.org.
WEDC was created in 2011 by the Wisconsin State Legislature to take over the economic and community development functions of the former Department of Commerce. The transition was implemented on
July 1, 2011.
The new website site promotes WEDC services and features easy-to-find contact information for businesses looking to start or expand in Wisconsin, and resources for entrepreneurs and innovators. The site includes international business development resources and current news of the organization. Several items are still in the construction stage including a robust site locator tool and WEDC’s focus on target industries.
Paul Jadin leads WEDC as its president. WEDC has key areas of focus: Economic and Community Development; Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Business and Industry Development; International Business Development; Marketing and Public Affairs; and Finance and Public Affairs.
WEDC Announces 2012 International Market Activities
To help Wisconsin businesses explore and access export markets, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced four international market activities for 2012.
The activities include a mission to Southeast Asia (March 16-28), a mission to South America (April 14-24), a mission to India (April 22-May1), and an international directors visit (May 7-11).
To learn more, go to http://wedc.org/international-activities-2012.
St Croix EDC’s Annual Membership Campaign Continues
St. Croix EDC seeks memberships from businesses, organizations and individuals in 2012. Annual memberships to St. Croix EDC support its mission to improve the business climate within St. Croix County. Reflective activities to accomplish this include marketing and communication, business retention, business expansion, business recruitment, business start-ups, and small business advocacy.
Supporting the EDC helps create and retain jobs and expands the commercial-industrial tax base in all St. Croix County communities. The EDC’s monthly and quarterly newsletters help members and supporters stay connected. Advocacy trips to Madison address priorities in the areas of economic development, infrastructure and transportation, education, and workforce development.
Categories for memberships include Associate Level ($100 - $249); Bronze Level ($250 - $999); Silver Level ($1,000 - $2,499); Gold Level ($2,500 - $4,999); and Platinum Level ($5,000 or more). The different membership levels provide increased benefits based on the amount of membership support.
Private sector members are encouraged to deduct the cost of a membership as a trade or business expense on their respective federal tax returns in accordance with IRS Code.
A list of St. Croix EDC private and public members and a 2012 membership application with a list of membership benefits is available on the EDC’s website member page at: www.stcroixedc.com/members.htm.
For questions or additional information please contact the EDC offices at (715) 381-4383.
iMARK Molding (Woodville) and Phillips Plastics Corporation (Hudson) Are Among 53 Companies Seeking 2011 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award
Organizers of the annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year awards released the 53 names of companies that were nominated. The list includes iMARK Molding, Inc. of Woodville and Phillips Plastics Corporation of Hudson.
The Manufacturer of the Year Award program, now in its 24th year, recognizes a diverse array of manufacturers of all sizes and specialties for their contributions to the state of Wisconsin. A total of five Grand Award winners will be chosen, including four in categories based on size of the company, and one for leading the way with environmentally sustainable best practices.
iMARK Molding, of Woodville, Wisconsin, has been nominated for the Small-sized Company Grand Prize. Their summary nomination says iMARK gives clients more than a plastic-molded product. The company forms a distinct partnership with each client to assist with every step of the process, from design, to production, to value-added secondary operations. Their sophisticated product realization process, robust quality planning, technologically advanced manufacturing processes, and straight-forward customer-centric focus positions customers with the competitive advantage they require in today’s marketplace. iMARK takes tremendous pride in their recently expanded facility. As a globally competitive manufacturer housed in small-town Wisconsin, iMARK’s quality and dedication stands above others. iMARK has built their company on the cornerstones of mutual respect of all 52 employees, almost all from Wisconsin, and personal responsibility. iMARK delivers maximized cost savings, increased quality, and accelerated speed-to-market. iMARK dedicates time and engineering expertise to local school projects and CEO Mark Sturtevant collaborated with local educators to develop a program that involves the entire eighth grade class and relates much of what students are taught in school to the real world of manufacturing. In addition to this program, iMARK has an Engineering Scholarship Program and makes contributions to promote manufacturing careers in the community. Additional information about iMARK Molding can be found at www.imarkmolding.com.
Phillips Plastics Corporation has been nominated for the Mega-sized Company Grand Prize and the Sustainability Award. Phillips designs and contracts with manufactures to build components and finished products which are sold into defense, consumer, and automotive industries, drug delivery, and medical device markets. Phillips differentiates itself by investing in advanced molding, automated assembly, and quality control technologies; in the people who design and industrialize products; and in the quality systems and equipment that ensure Phillips exceeds customer expectations. In August of 2011, Phillips completed the acquisition of Medisize Corporation, a European-based outsource provider of design and manufacturing services to pharmaceutical, diagnostic and medical device companies. The combined companies now employ over 2,100 people in 19 locations worldwide. In Wisconsin alone, there are 14 locations, employing 1,300 dedicated Wisconsinites. Phillips is also a leader in environmental sustainability. Phillips monitors energy usage, hazardous waste, universal waste, landfill waste streams, water, air emissions and many other topics on a path of continual improvement and environmental sustainable business practices. Additional information about Phillips Plastics can be found at www.phillipsplastics.com.
The accounting and advisory firm of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, the law firm of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, and the business association Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce sponsor the Manufacturer of the Year awards program. They will reveal the winners at a ceremony on February 23rd at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee.
Bakke Norman Announces Session on Human Resources and Employment Law
Bakke Norman law firm will sponsor its next “Breakfast with Bakke Norman” on Wednesday, February 1st. The program includes a panel discussion and recent cutting edge issues in human resources and employment law.
Topics include the Affordable Care Act, innovative employee benefit plans, emerging issues in human resources, and avoiding litigation.
Panelists are Linda Skoglund, employee benefits specialist and corporate president of JA Counter; Joanne Jackson, human resources director at Amery Regional Medical Center and the 2011 president of the Wisconsin Society for Human Resource Managers (SHRM); Joey Monson-Lillie, human resources director at Cardinal Glass; and Pete Reinhardt, shareholder and employment law attorney at Bakke Norman.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the program runs from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Cashman Conference Center at WITC New Richmond campus. Reserve your spot by contacting Janet King at (715) 684-4545 or jking@bakkenorman.com.
Interfacial Solutions Announces Collaboration to Commercialize Volcanic Ash Composites
In mid-November, Interfacial Solutions LLC (River Falls, Wisc.) announced a research collaboration with Magma Composites to commercialize novel micronized volcanic ash composites. The collaboration will focus on bringing material science and manufacturing process innovations to a novel class of volcanic ash polymer composite resins.
“Interfacial Solutions has worked for some time with micronized volcanic ash and has found, that when properly formulated, some extremely unique resin properties,” said Chief Technology Officer and Founder Dr. Jeffery Cernohous. “Polymer resins made from micronized volcanic ash possess extremely low coefficients of thermal expansion and are surprisingly ductile and tough. Magma Composites has recently taken an exclusive license to intellectual property that is held by Interfacial Solutions IP, and we will collaboratively be exploring methods to cost effectively manufacture these composite resins into sheets that can be used, among other purposes, as cost-effective and durable replacements to plywood used as concrete forms.”
About Interfacial Solutions LLC: Interfacial Solutions is a privately held technology development company with a proven track record of helping innovators innovate in the material science field. Located in a 40,000 square foot facility in River Falls, Wisconsin, Interfacial Solutions has a creative team of scientists possessing more than 50 patents and is equipped with state-of-the-art polymer testing equipment, compound and processing equipment, and production capabilities to meet a broad range of plastic industry challenges. Additional information can be found at www.interfacialsolutions.com.
About Magma Composites LLC: Magma Composites LLC is a privately held company dedicated to commercializing the unique features of volcanic ash sheet products. It is majority-owned by Interfacial Solutions IP. Additional information about Interfacial Solutions IP can be found at www.interfacialsolutions.com/ifsip/index.
JA Counter Announces Program on Health Care Reform Bill
JA Counter and Associates will conduct a day-long program on Tuesday, January 24th at WITC-New Richmond Cashman Conference Center (New Richmond, Wisc.), from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The program is entitled The Future is Now: What role will your benefit plan play in 2014? The program’s objective is to equip attendees with the knowledge and practical resources needed to manage employees and benefits, not just in 2012, but through 2014 when most of the rules and regulations surrounding the Health Care Reform Bill, PPACA, take effect. The program includes:
•Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickels is the Keynote Speaker and will provide an up-to-the moment preview of PPACA and the Health Insurance Exchange in Wisconsin. This will be a great opportunity to visit with the Commissioner and get questions answered about the Wisconsin Exchange and what it will mean for business owners.
•Peter Marathas, partner and attorney at Proskaur Rose, LLP, will share his interpretation of PPACA, what impacts benefits this year, and what businesses need to know to prepare for 2014.
•Steven Massey, President and CEO at Westfields Hospital, will discuss regulations that will specifically affect the model of how Westfields delivers health care and how it will impact the end consumer. He will talk about what hospitals are doing today to prepare.
•Dave Racer, Mlitt will explain the 25 things that need to change in the U.S. to affect change and make a difference in health care and managing costs.
•Terry Maves, R.Ph., Pharmacy Director at UnitedHealthcare will discuss how to gauge drug value relative to cost and drug outcomes. Business owners may use that knowledge to educate employees on ways to better manage their prescription drug costs.
•Stacie Swanson, human resources professional, will tell attendees how a “Results Only Work Environment” can help businesses increase employee productivity and create a positive, healthy work environment.
The program fee is $60 for JA Counter clients and $75 for non clients and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Register online at Online: www.jacounter.com or by mail to: Julie Bauermeister at JA Counter, 1477 South Knowles Avenue, New Richmond, WI 54017.
Save the Date: Business of the Year Banquet set for February 16th
Please save the date of Thursday, February 16, 2012 for St. Croix EDC’s 18th Annual Business of the Year Banquet.
The 2011 honorees will be announced on January 12th.
The location of the banquet is pending.
For questions or additional information please contact the EDC offices at (715) 381-4383.
Columnist Lists 2011 Victories for Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Ed Stych reports on breaking business news in the Twin Cities for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. On December 28th, Stych cited five federal victories Kent Hoover from Portfolio.com that small businesses and entrepreneurs could claim in 2011, including:
(1) The Repeal of the 1099 Paperwork Requirement: Last April, Congress repealed a provision in the healthcare reform act that would have required businesses to file a 1099 form with the IRS any time they spent more than $600 a year with other businesses. Business now have to file a 1099 only for payments to unincorporated service providers.
(2) The Repeal of the Three Percent Withholding for Government Contractors: In November, Congress repealed a tax law that would have required federal, state, and local governments to withhold three percent of their payments to vendors. This requirement had been on the books since 2005 as a way to make sure government contractors didn’t avoid paying federal taxes.
(3) Small Business Innovation Research Compromise: Congress reached a compromise on whether small companies majority-owned by venture capital firms should be eligible to obtain Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. Venture capital-owned companies have not been able to receive SBIR grants since 2003. In 2011, a compromise was approved that allows venture capital-owned firms eligible to receive up to 25 percent of SBIR awards at three federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Heath, and up to 15 percent at other agencies that allocate funds for the SBIR program.
(4) The Launch of Startup America: Last January Startup America was launched as a joint effort between President Obama’s administration and the private sector to promote entrepreneurship in the U.S. The Startup America Partnership already has received hundreds of millions of dollars of commitments from private sector companies for entrepreneurial education, training, and mentorship programs. On the government side, the Small Business Administration (SBA) recently proposed rules for a new venture capital program that will target early stage companies.
(5) Free Trade Agreements Passed: Last October, President Obama submitted three trade agreements initially negotiated by former President George W. Bush to Congress. They were promptly ratified by Congress. The deal eliminated tariffs on most U.S. exports to South Korea, Columbia, and Panama and will open services markets in these countries. This is good news for exporters, an increasing number of which are small businesses.
Source: Ed Stych, Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal (December 28, 2011) and Kent Hoover, www.portfolio.com.
St. Croix County’s Unemployment Rate for November Holds at 4.9%
Third Straight Month at 4.9% Keeps St. Croix Among State’s Lowest
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Reggie Newson announced the preliminary November unemployment rates for Wisconsin’s 72 counties on December 21st. St. Croix County’s rate was estimated at 4.9% which is the same as the September and October rate. The rate has fallen consistently since mid-year as August’s rate was noted at 5.8% and the July rate was 6.3%. One year ago, the county’s unemployment rate was estimated at 6.3%.
Compared to a year ago, DWD said 69 of the state’s 72 counties had lower unemployment rates, one had no change and two had slight increases. All 12 metropolitan areas across the state reported lower unemployment rates from October to November.
Only Dane, Pepin, and Pierce counties had an unemployment rates lower than St. Croix in November. Dane’s rate was estimated at 4.4%, Pepin was at 4.6%, and Pierce was at 4.7%. Lafayette County was the fifth-lowest county in November at 5.0%. Menominee County had the highest rate in November at 13.6%, followed by Door at 10.9%, Bayfield at 10.3%, Iron at 9.9%, and Adams at 9.6%.
In addition to St. Croix and Pierce, Polk is the third county that comprises Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley. Polk County’s unemployment rate for November was 7.4% (down from October’s rate of 7.6%) compared to the 4.7% rate in Pierce and the 4.9% rate in St. Croix. The 13-county Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MN-WI metro area reported an unemployment rate of 5.1% in November compared to 5.4% in October, 6.0% in September, and 6.7% in August. Both St. Croix and Pierce counties are included in the federal definition of the 13-county Twin Cities metro area.
The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate for Wisconsin in November was estimated at 7.3% and is down from October’s rate of 7.7% and September’s rate of 7.8%. One year ago, the state’s seasonally adjusted rate was 7.6%.
The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate in Minnesota for November was estimated at 5.9% compared to October’s rate of 6.4% and September’s rate of 6.9%. Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted rate was 7.0% one year ago.
The preliminary unemployment rate in the U.S. in November was estimated at 8.6% compared to October’s rate of 9.0% and the September-August-July rates of 9.1%. One year ago the U.S. rate was estimated at 9.8%.
November’s estimates are preliminary and are subject to revision within the next few weeks.
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