(WisBusiness) MON News Summary — 27 Oct. 2008

From WisBusiness.com …

— In recessionary times, the director of the University Research Park in Madison is bullish on Wisconsin.

Mark Bugher, from Eau Claire, is a former top adviser to Gov. Tommy Thompson who has been running the research park for nearly a decade.

Bugher says in a recent interview that he can’t think of a better place to be in Wisconsin than the research park if you’re interested in economic development and job creation.

In the words of Bugher that’s because “we have all of these young, highly educated people who are chasing their dreams and trying to create companies that are going to really help mankind in the future. They are not just producing widgets for profit’s sake … but they’re producing drugs and therapies … that are going to help people overcome some of the most deadly diseases in society.”

See more in a new WisBusiness interview with Bugher:

http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=139969

— The housing slump nationwide has been one of the biggest reasons for the overall recession.

In at least parts of western Wisconsin, however, the housing industry is holding its own, and remains a good “investment” for any community.

Elliot Eisenberg, a senior economist with the National Association of Home Builders, discussed the findings of a study last week on the economic impact of single- and multi-family housing in La Crosse County.

The 405 single-family and 164 multifamily homes built in the county in 2007 will generate $92.8 million in revenue, compared with $88.2 million in costs, during the next 25 years, Eisenberg’s study concluded.

Read more about western Wisconsin’s housing situation in a new piece from columnist Gregg Hoffmann:

http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=202

— Entrepreneurs looking for tips on advancing their business can attend a Madison panel discussion at 5 p.m. today to find out more about MERLIN Mentors, a collaboration of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the University Research Park and UW-Madison’s Office of Corporate Relations.

The event is sponsored by WARF and will be held at the Fluno Center, 601 University Avenue in Madison.

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REGISTER FOR WISBUSINESS.COM NOVEMBER EVENTS

**NOV. 3: New UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin**

Madison Club

11:45 a.m.

The next WisBusiness.com Luncheon at the Madison Club, organized by the Madison Club, Madison Magazine, and WisBusiness.com, is slated for Monday, Nov. 3 at 11:45 a.m. The guest is new UW-Madison Chancellor Carolyn “Biddy” Martin.

To learn more about Chancellor Martin visit: http://www.chancellor.wisc.edu/

The event is open to the public, and the price for lunch is $19. Call the Madison Club to register at (608) 255-4861. The luncheon starts at 11:45 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m.

**NOV. 18: A post-election look at where the state economy is heading**

Discovery World

Milwaukee

7:30-9 a.m.

Featuring: Commerce Secretary Richard Leinenkugel, former Commerce Secretary Cory L. Nettles of Quarles & Brady, Competitive Wisconsin Director and former Commerce Secretary William McCoshen, state Sen. Ted Kanavas, a member of the Senate committee on economic development, and UW-Madison political scientist Ken Goldstein.

Moderated by Mike Gousha of the Marquette Law School and host of “UpFront with Mike Gousha.”

Presented by WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness in cooperation with Competitive Wisconsin, MMAC and Discovery World. Quarles & Brady is an initial sponsor of the event.

See details: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=139211

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THANKS TO OUR WISBUSINESS SPONSORS

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Press Releases
· Lt. Gov. Lawton, ITAWi: Announce new initiative to promote job opportunities and build IT workforce
· Wisconsin Academy/WARF: Presents “A Decade Celebrating Stem Cells”

For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82


TOP STORIES
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Credit card lawsuits on the rise : A growing number of Wisconsinites are being sued for defaulting on credit card and other debts, another sign of stress in a weakening economy. Large-claim money judgment lawsuits – debt collections exceeding $5,000 on credit cards as well as business, car and college loans, and medical and other bills – jumped 49% statewide in 2007, a review of circuit court data found.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/33339959.html

Manitou completes Gehl tender offer: French material handling equipment manufacturer Manitou BF SA said Friday that one of its subsidiaries has successfully completed the tender offer to buy all outstanding shares of Gehl Co. of West Bend. With the expiring of a subsequent offer Friday, Manitou’s Tenedor Corp. unit now owns 95.3 percent of all outstanding shares of Gehl, a manufacturer of compact agricultural and construction equipment. Tenedor acquired the shares for $30 a share. The companies announced the $450 million deal Sept. 8.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/20/daily56.html

U-verse debuts Monday in Madison : Madison will join the U-verse universe Monday. AT&T’s U-verse TV offering is now available here, with digital programming that travels over your phone line. The system, meant to compete with Madison’s only cable company, Charter Communications, as well as with satellite TV companies, “will personalize the way (people) watch TV (in a way) that you will not see other providers offer,” said Shelley Goodman, AT&T general manager for Wisconsin and Illinois.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/311392

PNC to buy National City: PNC Financial Services Group will buy National City Corp. of Cleveland in a $5.6 billion deal that will bring PNC Bank to Milwaukee. The deal will create the fifth-largest banking company, according to deposits, in the United States. National City has two dozen bank branches in the Milwaukee area, including the former St. Francis Bank locations. As of June 30, the most recent deposit market share report from the FDIC, National City ranked fifth among banks for the Milwaukee-Waukesha market with $1.37 billion in deposits, a 3.06 percent share.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/20/daily49.html

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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
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– ETC posts 3Q loss
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/20/daily52.html

– Keeping score: All American Scoreboards using new technology for sports and lighted signs
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/311123

BIOTECH (back to top)
– ConjuGon to get $2.4M in defense funds
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/20/daily55.html

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Appleton businesses cry foul over city garbage pickup cuts
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081027/APC0101/810270483/1004&located=RSS

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Paper industry executive Russ Wanke will leave NewPage for Thilmany
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081025/APC03/810250529/1028

– Bucyrus president bullish on financial outlook
http://www.jsonline.com/business/33288824.html

LABOR (back to top)
– Despite economy, Oshkosh area businesses still hiring seasonal employees
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20081026/OSH03/310260017/1167

– Door, Kewaunee counties promote availability of in-demand jobs
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081025/GPG03/810250678/1247

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Kaukauna graphics firms make room to grow
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081026/APC03/810260605/1028

– Pizzeria owners grateful for American dream
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/27/smallb1.html?b=1225080000^1722601

– Executive Q&A: Jim Klinke has built his family’s business into a multimillion-dollar dry cleaning operation
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/311122

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Waterfront grants awarded to Kewaunee, Manitowoc
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081025/GPG03/810250679/1247

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Funding to Help Establish Dairy Goat Research Herd in Wisconsin
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1297&yr=2008

– Crop Decisions seminars available to assist growers
http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20081026/FON03/810260471/1327

– Dodge County farm honored at World Dairy Expo
http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20081026/FON03/810260455/1327

– Electrical expertise and much more
http://www.htrnews.com/article/20081026/MAN03/810260510/1397

– Cross Country: Raemisch Implement kicks into high gear
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/310959

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Allegiant Air settles into new base at Outagamie County Regional Airport in Greenville
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081025/APC03/810250519/1028

– Port of Green Bay shipments rise slightly
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081026/GPG03/810260703/1247

– Wisconsin Aviation unveils new electronics department at county airport
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/311339

RETAIL (back to top)
– Nueske’s gambled on new ways to bring home the bacon
http://www.jsonline.com/business/33283749.html

TOURISM (back to top)
– Brewers to upgrade stadium
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/10/27/story4.html?b=1225080000^1722031

UTILITIES (back to top)
– Integrys Energy to review third-quarter results
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081027/GPG03/810270509/1247

– U-verse TV service launches in Madison
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/311332

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– St. Elizabeth names foundation director
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081026/APC03/810260593/1028

– Affinity Health System outsources its public relations to Red Shoes PR of Grand Chute
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081025/APC03/810250523/1028

– ProCare to hold food drive in Green Bay
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081027/GPG03/810270508/1247

– Aurora BayCare Medical Center gets recertified
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081027/GPG03/810270507/1247

– Health cost balancing act
http://www.jsonline.com/business/33283739.html

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Students feel loan pinch
http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/article/20081027/SPJ0101/810270405/1657&located=RSS

– Thrivent honored for charitable work
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081026/APC03/810260604/1028

– Brookfield’s new Spring Bank confident it can succeed in tough times
http://www.jsonline.com/business/33336674.html

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– CEO Dan Ariens holds coveted spot on Green Bay Packers’ executive committee
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081026/APC03/810260585/1028

– Kimberly-Clark Watch: CEO Thomas Falk earns University of Wisconsin alumni honors
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081025/APC03/810250509/1028

BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– John Van Driest column: Employees often serve as best brand ambassadors
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081027/APC03/810270462/1028

– John Torinus: Large injection of common sense and ethics is needed
http://www.jsonline.com/business/33281924.html

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

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