(WisBusiness) MON News Summary — 25 February 2008

From WisBusiness.com …

— The majority of Wisconsin businesses are owned by aging baby boomers who will retire sometime over the next 20 years. What then? The cover story of the print edition of this week’s Small Business Times is headlined, “What’s your exit strategy?” This special report explores the process of determining the best options for transferring the ownership of companies. SBT will conduct a special M&A Forum for business owners who have not yet devised their plans for “The Next Stage” of their companies. Sign up now to attend the forum:
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=d5b63201-4080-42b5-b65b-415a6ca34277

— A grassroots movement has started in Western Wisconsin to preserve farmland for the future.

Jame Servais, a Vernon County Board supervisor and former farmer, La Crosse County planner Charley Handy and several others have started discussions about “purchasing development rights” (PDR) programs

They organized a meeting in La Crosse earlier this month and have tentatively scheduled another for March 14.

See a new column from Gregg Hoffmann on the effort:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=202

*****************************************
WHAT’S THE GREAT LAKES WATER COMPACT MEAN FOR WISCONSIN?

Explore “The Issues and Science behind the Pending Great Lakes Water Compact” March 5 at a special Blueprint Briefing at Discovery World on Milwaukee’s lake front.

The briefing, open to the public, will feature “Great Lakes Water Wars” author Peter Annin; Kevin Wilson, assistant deputy minister of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; Todd Ambs, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource’s water division chief and member of the board of the Great Lakes Commission; Matt Moroney, executive director of the Metropolitan Builders Association of Greater Milwaukee; and Ann Beier, director, Office of Environmental Sustainability,
City of Milwaukee.

UW-Milwaukee officials also plan a briefing on the science and research behind the policy immediately following the panel discussion.

The special briefing is being presented by WisPolitics.com-WisBusiness.com, UW-Milwaukee, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), the Government of Canada, and Discovery World.

See more and register:
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=116957
*******************************************************************

****************************************
THANKS TO OUR WISBUSINESS SPONSORS

****************************************

QUICK LINKS
Use these links to jump directly to a news summary topic
Technology | Biotech | Economy | Manufacturing | Labor | Small Business | Investing | Real Estate | Agribusiness | Transportation | Retail | Regulation | Tourism | Utilities | Health Care | Financial Services | Management | Business Columns |


TOP STORIES
*************
UW scientists find gene pathway: The same chemical reaction that causes iron to rust plays a similarly corrosive role in our bodies. Oxidative stress chips away at healthy cells and is a process, scientists know, that contributes to a host of diseases and conditions in humans ranging from Alzheimer’s, heart disease and stroke to cancer and the inexorable process of aging. A team of UW-Madison scientists has discovered a gene expression pathway that exerts a sweeping influence over this process of oxidative stress, which one day could allow for the manipulation of genes or development of new drugs to thwart disease.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/274078

WS Packaging labeled for success, future growth: Algoma company sales top $400 million a year… Combining an aggressive acquisition strategy and open-book management, WS Packaging Group made itself one of the largest label makers in the world. “It has been our strategy to grow and expand,” said Terry Fulwiler, chairman of WS Packaging. WS Packaging Group is one of 63 Wisconsin businesses nominated for the 20th annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards to be presented Thursday at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. The awards recognize Wisconsin companies that demonstrate a commitment to business excellence.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/GPG03/802250543/1247/GPGbusiness

Ocean Spray begins hiring: Hiring has already begun for the first of two Ocean Spray Craisins production facility expansions planned for Wisconsin Rapids. Plant startup is set for Sept. 1. Last summer, Ocean Spray broke ground on a 100,000-square-foot and nearly $50 million expansion at its Wisconsin Rapids facility. Construction on the second, $27 million expansion, which also will cover 100,000 square feet, is slated to begin March 1. The facility expansions are expected to add more than 100 jobs — about 50 jobs for each phase. Some of the jobs already are being filled, said Fran Podvin, Ocean Spray board chairman. “The two projects are kind of going on at the same time,” Podvin said.
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/WDH0101/802250541/1581/WDHnews

West Bend Mutual prospers by focusing on niche: Insurance company sells combined auto, home policies… This spring, West Bend Mutual Insurance Co. will open the doors on an addition that more than doubles the size of its headquarters in West Bend. Company executives see it as a way to help keep a good thing going. The 700 local employees now shoehorned into circa 1991 space built for 500 will get some more breathing room in the 220,000-square-foot addition, and with it a bigger dining area, new fitness center, hospitality center and training rooms. West Bend Mutual’s strategy of working to do a few things well – mainly home, auto, business and workers compensation insurance – has been crucial to 73% growth in the company’s policyholder surplus in the last five years and a 47% rise in assets in that period, they say.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721171

************************************************************
WISBUSINESS FEATURED COLUMNISTS

– GREGG HOFFMANN: Contributor, WisBusiness.com

– TOM STILL: President, Wisconsin Technology Council

– JENNIFER SERENO: Senior manager, Wood Communications Group

– STEVE JAGLER: Executive editor, Small Business Times

– TOM BURZINSKI: IT executive and consultant
************************************************************

TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– 2 Wisconsin rocket-building teams among 18 to display to NASA
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WI_ROCKET_DESIGNERS_WIOL-?SITE=WIMAD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

– Managers hope fund cashes in on new computer chips
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721518

– Is nanotechnology playing God?
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/Feb_08/02232008_03.asp

BIOTECH (back to top)
– ‘An opportunity to just dive into the research world’
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/274115

– Governors: black coal must be part of green energy debate
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/front/topstory06.asp

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Franklin firm sold to Dallas company
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721211

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Tax credit may bring 42 manufacturing jobs to Oconomowoc
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/Feb_08/02232008_07.asp

– A real grind for local fabricators
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/Feb_08/02232008_09.asp

LABOR (back to top)
– Tough times: Waterloo leaders hope they can overcome the loss of a major employer
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/273920

– Neenah school retirement plan a tax burden
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/APC0101/802250471/1003/APCnews

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Clean goal: Hockey mom’s company sanitizes sports gear
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/273830

INVESTING (back to top)
– Private pay not paying off yet
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721170

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Resource One in De Pere opens relocation division
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/GPG03/802250549/1247/GPGbusiness

– Homes of their own
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721173

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– National milk production continues climb in January
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/GPG03/802250546/1247/GPGbusiness

– Nilsestuen Calls for ‘Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin’ Grant Proposals
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=246&yr=2008

– ED/WC event will address insurance options for farmers
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/Feb_08/02232008_10.asp

– Speaker at organic farming conference derides corporate agriculture
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/02/24/news/z02organic24.txt

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Can technology prevent another Interstate crisis?
http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/feb/24/can-technology-prevent-another-interstate-crisis/

– Officials repeated Pa. mistakes
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/274087

– Snowmobiling enthusiasm rebounds
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/WDH0101/802250538/1581/WDHnews

RETAIL (back to top)
– Harley-Davidson eyes Indian market
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/02/24/wi/01wis.txt

– JCPenney opening in Menomonee Falls
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/Feb_08/02232008_08.asp

REGULATION (back to top)
– Top pol blamed in smoke ban delay
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/274009

– Senate to vote on autism bill Tuesday
http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/02/25/local_news/doc47c1f83b7c7d1535732930.txt

TOURISM (back to top)
– Brewers have record-setting day of ticket sales
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/sports/topstory03.asp

– Famous Dave’s founder takes on Dells with water park of his own
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721388

– Stretch of Hwy. 60 could be designated state’s first scenic byway
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/02/24/news/z06byway24.txt

UTILITIES (back to top)
– Holmen seeks 37% increase in water rate
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/02/25/news/z02water25.txt

– Task force calls for wind-siting changes
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721206

– Sewers could stop townships from losing their land
http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/feb/24/sewers-could-stop-townships-losing-their-land/

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Mental health bill faces hurdle
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/274022

– Medical care for Door County inmates probed
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/GPG0101/802250560/1207/GPGnews

– Groundbreaking planned for new Brown Co. Mental Health Center
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/GPG0101/802250573/1207/GPGnews

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– UW eyes raising money for need-based scholarships
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/274010

– SCORE offering business insurance workshop in Green Bay
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/GPG03/802250547/1247/GPGbusiness

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– President of Green Bay company appointed to board of directors
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/GPG03/802250550/1247/GPGbusiness

BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– Mark Ellis: Defining your brand with enthusiasm is a good first step
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/APC0701/802250474/1888/APCbusiness

– Mick Hager: Excellent leaders are exemplary listeners
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/GPG07/802250552/1247/GPGbusiness

– Tom Saler: Choose wisely: Slow growth or high inflation?
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721202

Media Partners
—Channel3000
—Small Business Times
—Madison Magazine
—BusinessWeek

National Business Roundups ( back to top)
–YAHOO FINANCE: http://finance.yahoo.com/
–CNBC BUSINESS NEWS: http://www.cnbc.com
–ABC BUSINESS NEWS: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/
–GOOGLE NEWS: http://news.google.com/news/en/us/business.html

(c)2008 WisBusiness.com.
All rights reserved. Reproduction or retransmission of this publication, in whole or in part, without the express permission of WisBusiness.com is prohibited. Unauthorized reproduction violates United States copyright law (17 USC 101 et seq.), as does retransmission by facsimile or any other electronic means, including electronic mail.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR