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From WisBusiness…
—
Gov. Jim Doyle pulled a bit of surprise yesterday by naming Mary Burke, a businesswoman who until
now has worked exclusively in the private sector, as his new
secretary of commerce.

“Mary is not only a Wisconsin
native but a real Wisconsin success story,” Doyle said. “Her
business experience stretches from Wisconsin to Europe and Asia, from small
business to Fortune 500 companies. She understands what it means to
compete in the global marketplace, and she’s had the experience of
starting her own business.”



Most recently, Burke was
director of forecasting and planning for Trek Bicycle, where she was
responsible for forecasting the sales of more than a million bicycles a year,
predicting market demand not only in the United States, but also in
China, Japan, and the rest of the world. Prior to that, Burke was
director of European operations for Trek, helping to start and oversee
companies in the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, and
the Netherlands.



Tom Still, president of the
Wisconsin Technology Council, called Burke an excellent choice who
could pay dividends for Wisconsin’s export-based economy.



“She’s been a big part of
building a homegrown Wiscosin company into a global force,” said
Still. “ She can help to focus on what it means to sell Wisconsin
goods and services around the world.”

Burke, 45, who was born and raised in Wisconsin, said
she approached the job as a way to give back to the state. “As someone
who has always been proud to be from Wiscosnin, there is nothing else
I’d rather be doing than serving in Gov. Doyle’s cabinet,” she said.

Burke said her first priority wil be to meet with her staff and
business and trade associations across the state to get their input. “I
have a lot to learn and I want to listen to what people are saying,”
she said.

See the release: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=30405

— The board of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce yesterday
unanimously endorsed a constitutional amendment that would limit
government spending and taxing increases. The endorsement came as WMC
held its annual membership meeting today in Waukesha. Eight new and two
re-elected members were chosen to join the 52-member Board of
Directors. William D. Gehl, chairman & CEO, Gehl Company, West
Bend, was elected to the second year of a two-year term as the board
chair.

WMC also touted poll numbers showing statewide support for an
amendment. As noted in Friday’s News Summary, WMC and Americans for
Prosperity, a Washington, D.C.-based foundation, found that 68 percent
of voters support a constitutional spending limit proposal, and 24
percent oppose the idea. The two-day poll surveyed 500 Wisconsin voters

regarding tax issues in Wisconsin. The survey has a margin of error of
plus or minus 4.38 percent and was conducted by Public Opinion
Strategies of Alexandria, Va.

*See the release on the amendment and other legislative issues:
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=30396

*See the list of new WMC officers:
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=30390

— See a new Small Business Minute on dealing with stress:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=30423

— More than 400 economic development leaders from around the
state are expected to attend the 2005 Governor’s Conference on Economic
Development, Feb. 2-4 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in
Madison. The conference, titled “Wall Street to Main Street: Finding
Local Solutions in a Global Economy,” will focus on creative ways to
deal with economic development obstacles related to finance, the work
force, education and health care.

See details: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=30427

Wells Fargo to drop Strong name for mutual funds: Wells
Fargo & Co. said Tuesday that is renaming its mutual fund group
Wells Fargo
Advantage Funds following the integration of Strong Financial Corp.,
signaling
an end to the Strong name. Wells Fargo is merging its Wells Fargo Funds
with 69
Strong Funds, out of 70, in the next quarter.
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2005/01/24/daily18.html

Southridge Mall ownership transferred: The ownership of
Southridge Mall has been transferred by an affiliate of a New
York-based
investment firm to another affiliate of the same company – a possible
precursor
to the mall’s sale. Southridge, 5300 S. 76th St. in Greendale, was
transferred
by BRE/Southridge Mall LLC to Southridge Mall II LLC for $105.5
million,
according to documents filed Tuesday with the Milwaukee County register
of
deeds. Both BRE/Southridge Mall and Southridge Mall II are affiliates
of
Blackstone Real Estate Advisors in New York.
http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/jan05/296164.asp

Renaissance to buy maker of laptops: Renaissance Learning
Inc., an educational software company in Wisconsin Rapids, has agreed
to buy
AlphaSmart Inc. of Los Gatos, Calif., for $57 million in cash and
stock, the
companies announced Tuesday. “It’s an ideal strategic fit for us,”
said John Hickey, president and chief executive officer of Renaissance
Learning.
http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/jan05/296147.asp

NorthStar Print Group sold: Multi-Color Corp. on Tuesday
bought nearly all the assets of NorthStar Print Group Inc. in Watertown
from
Journal Communications Inc. in Milwaukee. Multi-Color, which is a
label-producing company based in Cincinnati, paid $27,031,231 in the
cash deal,
which did not include some of NorthStar’s real estate holdings,
according to a
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/jan05/296144.asp

But you can’t afford an entire survey?

Take advantage of an exclusive discount program for WisPolitics.com
and WisBusiness.com Subscribers.

The monthly “Checkpoint” survey of public opinion is a
500-person statewide random digit dial poll. Surveys are planned
monthly throughout the year. The next survey will be going into the
field the end of this month. So you must act now to buy
individual questions. Contact Wood Communications Group at 608-259-0757
or e-mail kwood@wcgpr.com

Bio-Refinery Moves Forward in Stanley
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.cfm?Id=115&yr=2005

East Asia powers ahead on stem cell research
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/29b66f46-6f43-11d9-94a8-00000e2511c8.html

California cities woo stem cell HQ (AP)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Stem%20Cell%20Headquarters

Stem Cell Therapy Improves Heart Failure
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=7428791

N.J. Gov. Urges Bush to End Stem-Cell Restrictions
http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=7429021

Swan Club takes step out of its past, into modern
entertaining; New facility connected to Legends
http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/archive/biz_19564026.shtml

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