From WisBusiness.com …
— Erik Forsberg has been named to the newly created position of executive director of the WiCell Research Institute.
In this position, Forsberg will direct all operations of the private, non-profit institute, a supporting organization of the University of Wisconsin-Madison that provides core services to UW-Madison stem cell researchers and operates the National Stem Cell Bank.
Forsberg most recently served as the senior director of scientific development at Pharming Group, where he directed scientific programs and established research and development agreements with academic and commercial organizations. His past positions include director of cloning technologies at Minitube of America, vice president of development at Infigen and assistant professor in the UW-Madison Department of Physiology.
See release:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=123191
— United Industries has notified state and local officials that it plans to close its Beloit plant and terminate 109 workers beginning July 11. The company, which makes welded stainless steel tubing for the automotive industry, said the layoffs will be permament.
Eighty four of the workers are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and have bumping rights. The remainder do not, the company said.
— Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz argues the capital city is “fast losing our reputation for not being able to put two bricks together”, but also says more needs be done to continue recent successes.
In his State of the City speech, Cieslewicz called for continued efforts to rebuild Madison’s streets after a hard winter and build a proposed Central Park, a new Central Library, another downtown hotel and a public market.
The mayor also again pushed for a regional transit authority.
“We cannot afford to get hung up on a premature debate over rail versus buses,” he said in prepared remarks.
Read the speech:
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=123165
— Legislation to ratify the Great Lakes Compact will include language to ensure communities outside of the lakes’ basin an avenue to seek the water they need, Gov. Jim Doyle says.
Doyle credited Wednesday’s announcement on the treaty agreement to a lot of hard work, cooperation and persistence.
“I believe what we have agreed on today is something we will be able to look back — all of us in public office five, 10, 15, 20 years from today — and say that this was one of the most significant accomplishments of our time,” Doyle said to applause.
*See more:
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=123130
*Listen to the news conference:
http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/080409_GLC_announcement.mp3
— Verizon Wireless has upgraded its network in downtown Milwaukee to improve indoor coverage for wireless phones users in the Wisconsin Center District, including the Midwest Airlines Center, the Arena and Milwaukee Theatre.
The enhancement will strengthen phone reception inside the buildings, enabling more customers to use their wireless phones to make calls; send and receive e-mail and text, picture and video messages; and download games and ringtones.
See story: http://www.biztimes.com/daily
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UPCOMING WISPOLITICS/WISBUSINESS EVENTS
WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com have four events scheduled for April and May.
— April 14: University Research Park Director Mark Bugher
— April 22: Dale Van Atta, author of the new biography “With Honor; Melvin Laird in War, Peace, and Politics.” (See an excerpt from the book: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=122814)
— May 5: Branding expert Marsha Lindsay
— May 6: Wis. Elections expert Robert Booth Fowler
See details on all the events:
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=122773
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Press Releases
Annual Symposium Celebrates Undergraduate Achievement
Edgewood College Hosts Family Science Night
EPA Awards $18 Million in Brownfields Grants to 56 Communities in Great Lakes States
Erik Forsberg Appointed Executive Director of WiCell Research Institute
Four Faculty Chosen as Guggenheim Fellows
Global Economic Issues Examines in UW-Madison Conference
Governor Doyle Recognizes Federal Procurement Award Winners
Governor Doyle Announces Agreement on Great Lakes Compact
Governor Doyle Announces Funding for Authenticom Inc.
Governor Doyle Calls on Wisconsin Legislature to Pass Great Lakes Compact
MGIC Comments on Standard & Poor’s Rating Action
Negligent, Attentive Mouse Mothers Show Biological Difference
Packers Coach to Talk of Leadership, Winning at Loggers Conference
Renewable Energy Financing Workshops Announced
Rep. Steve Kagen Receives AOA Health Care Leadership Award
Teens get firsthand look at addiction, peer pressure
TMA+Peritus Appoints Assistant Business Manager
WAUSAU’s Remote Corporate Capture Solution Ranked ‘Best-in-Class’ by Research Firm Aite Group
Wireless Phone Users in Downtown Milwaukee Now Experience Even Clearer Reception and Fewer Dropped Calls
Wiscontrepreneur ‘100-Hour Challenge’ Back for Second Year
For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82
TOP STORIES
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MillerCoors names 2 executives, says deal will close by mid-2008: SABMiller PLC and Molson Coors Brewing Co. are naming two executives from their companies to help lead their joint business venture called MillerCoors. The companies say they’ve appointed Tim Wolf as chief integration officer and Gavin Hattersley as chief financial officer. Hattersley has been senior vice president of finance at Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing Co. since 2002. Wolf has been Denver-based Molson Coors’ chief financial officer since 2005. Both appointments are effective upon the closing of the joint venture, which is subject to regulatory approval. Leo Kiely, chief executive of Molson Coors, will lead MillerCoors.
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/04/10/wi/04wi.txt
Compromise reached on Great Lakes water pact: State Legislature called into a special session to vote on compact… A compromise is on tap in the long-running battle to ratify an interstate pact to protect Great Lakes water resources. Wisconsin lawmakers announced Wednesday they had hammered out a compromise on the deal, designed to prevent parched states from sucking water out of the Great Lakes. Gov. Jim Doyle ordered the Legislature into a special session beginning April 17 to vote on the compact. “Through a lot of hard work, through a lot of cooperation, through some real persistence, we are ready in Wisconsin to pass the Great Lakes Compact,” Doyle said at a New Berlin news conference.
http://www.kenoshanews.com/article_comments/view_comments.php?articleNum=2810423
Manitowoc tests waters for rival: Firm considers $1.89 billion offer for food-service equipment firm… Manitowoc Co., one of the world’s biggest suppliers of cranes and ice machines, has returned with a $1.89 billion tentative offer for U.K.-based competitor Enodis PLC, almost two years after dropping an earlier bid for the company. Manitowoc indicated it may offer 260 pence ($5.12) a share in cash for Enodis, a food-service equipment company that does roughly half of its manufacturing in the United States and has strong North American sales. The acquisition would be a boost for Manitowoc’s food-service division, which accounts for 11% of the company’s sales, at a time when fast-food chains are expanding beyond burgers and fries to attract more health-conscious customers.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=737679
City eyes exclusive Pierce deal: Alderman proposes five-year fire truck contract… Competitive bidding for fire trucks in Appleton could end if Ald. Jim Clemons has anything to say about it. Clemons’ wants a committee of aldermen, firefighters and city officials to start talks with Pierce Manufacturing aimed at entering into a five-year contract for the Oshkosh Corp. subsidiary to become Appleton’s sole provider of fire trucks. The Finance Committee on Wednesday moved the resolution to the Common Council for consideration at its April 16 meeting. “I don’t ever want to be in the situation where we need a truck and get some low-ball bid only to end up with no truck. It’s doesn’t do any good if a truck we need doesn’t show up,” Clemons said.
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/APC0101/804100524/1979/APCnews
State reworks pension bonds: The state of Wisconsin restructured almost $1 billion in pension bonds this month, to reduce interest rates that spiked because of turmoil in the financial markets. Frank Hoadley, capital finance director for the state, said the $948 million worth of variable rate bonds were sold in December 2003 to fund half of a $1.8 billion unfunded liability for prior service. The other half was fixed rate bonds. The money actually is a small piece of the total pension picture for the $88 billion Wisconsin Retirement System, which includes employees and retirees of the state and numerous local governments.
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/280928
Waukesha takes state’s center stage: A state tourism head lauded a downtown Waukesha development – comparing it to high-end Chicago destinations – and other Madison officials took pointers from local businesses on water conservation Wednesday during the first day of a two-day convergence on the county. Gov. Jim Doyle, his wife and members of his administration made announcements, shook hands and held discussions throughout Waukesha and the county as part of the Capital for the Day program, which finishes today. A handful of communities are picked annually as part of the program that brings the state leaders from Madison to municipalities selected by Doyle.
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/April_08/04102008_02.asp
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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)
– UW System audit calls for more data safety
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/GPG0101/804100657/1207/GPGnews
– Kimberly-Clark design studio is state-of-the-art
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/GPG03/804100648/1247/GPGbusiness
BIOTECH (back to top)
– $4 million grant keeps Evansville crush facility plans moving
http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/apr/09/4-million-grant-keeps-evansville-crush-facility-pl/
ECONOMY (back to top)
– Reports show income gap getting bigger
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/280951
MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Manitowoc Co. again bids for Enodis
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/04/07/daily33.html?surround=lfn
LABOR (back to top)
– Workers worry over retirement savings
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/280925
– Companies go the extra mile for military employees
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/April_08/04092008_09.asp
– Healthy habits get advocacy at work
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=737729
SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Seminar April 22 for prospective entrepreneurs
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/GPG03/804100653/1247/GPGbusiness
– Camera Corner/Connecting Point plans business continuity seminar
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/GPG03/804100649/1247/GPGbusiness
INVESTING (back to top)
– MGIC chief says S&P downgrade won’t impact business
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/04/07/daily27.html?surround=lfn
REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Milwaukee-area firm proposes housing, retail development on St. Coletta campus
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/280940
– Lands’ End contests property assessment
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/280969
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Demand has more farmers selling raw milk, even where it’s illegal
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/04/10/wi/07wi.txt
– WMMB Director Elections Begin Next Week
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=447&yr=2008
– Red Barn Family Farms Launches Premium Bottled Milk
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=448&yr=2008
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Would 4-lane Main Street ruin downtown Waunakee?
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/280973
– Madison pedaling for bike-friendly pinnacle
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/280946
– American cancels 850 more flights today
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/280943
– Midwest cancels flights involving MD-80 aircraft
http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/MNH/80410009/1980
RETAIL (back to top)
– Stores follow tobacco law
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/280987
– Kelley’s to stop selling 4-packs of beer
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/280950
– Robotic mini-mart to boot up next month in Appleton
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=737730
REGULATION (back to top)
– Special session called to OK Great Lakes compact
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/280901
– No photo of damage? Landlords can’t dock security deposit
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/280930
– Hearing in Howard looks at Stewardship access rule
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/GPG0101/804100660/1207/GPGnews
– Court: Customers must cooperate to sue under Wis. Lemon Law
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/04/10/wi/06wi.txt
– WisDOT disregards contractors’ OSHA records
http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20048332&snippet=t&forward=%2Fitem%2Ecfm%3Frecid%3D20048332%26snippet%3Df
TOURISM (back to top)
– Hollywood mingles with Oshkosh
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/APC0101/804100549/1979/APCnews
– Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum attendance grows
http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/MNH0101/804100702/1980
– City plans new docks for shows, tourists
http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/SHE0101/804100565/1973
– Developers trumpet progress on hotel
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=737871
UTILITIES (back to top)
– Wind energy project in works
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/GPG03/804100647/1247/GPGbusiness
– Group questions utility’s plans
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/April_08/04092008_08.asp
– Milwaukee eyes storm water to spark growth
http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20048333&snippet=t&forward=%2Fitem%2Ecfm%3Frecid%3D20048333%26snippet%3Df
– Weather boosts overdue utility bills
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=737731
HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– UW Hospital to buy, issue bonds
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/280998
– Meriter scraps Nurses Run
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/280988
– Midwest Dental offers oral cancer screenings
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/WDH0101/804100698/1581/WDHnews
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Falls bank changes name for 2nd time in 2 years
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=737678
– Citizens Community bank buys Fox Valley branches
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/04/07/daily26.html?surround=lfn
– Allouez IRS office sets up special hours to help with taxes
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/GPG03/804100652/1247/GPGbusiness
MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Nonprofit DreamBikes aims to do good, bike by bike
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/280968
– Working her way up the ranks
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/April_08/04092008_10.asp
– Koebel gets 2nd term atop downtown West Bend group
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/April_08/04092008_11.asp
– IndependenceFirst to move to new south side offices
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/04/07/daily30.html?surround=lfn
BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– Pat Durkin: ‘Open’ approach of Managed Forest Law proposal may close minds
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/GPG07/804100593/1273/GPGlife
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