From WisBusiness.com …
— Following a rash of negative publicity, Commerce Secretary Jack Fischer says he will resign Friday, writing in a letter to the governor that “it has become increasingly difficult to carry out the mission of the Department.”
Last week, Fischer was the subject of several stories raising questions about expenses that he charged on a recent state trade mission and his performance while on those trips.
According to a release from the Commerce Department, Fischer said he did “not want to stand in the way of continuing progress; because of that, I am resigning.”
A spokesman for Gov. Jim Doyle said it was Fischer’s decision to resign. Deputy Secretary Aaron Olver will lead the agency until a new secretary is found.
“I am grateful for Jack Fischer’s service to the state of Wisconsin,” Doyle said in a statement. “He brought valuable experience from the private sector to the role of Commerce Secretary, and I thank him for all his work to promote Wisconsin businesses.”
In the Commerce Department’s release, the agency noted there would be no comment beyond the statement. It said Fischer, who joined the agency in November, planned to return to the private sector and was exploring several business opportunities.
Fischer was president and CEO of The Fischer Group Cos., Fischer Investors Inc. and J.L. Fischer Inc. He also previously served as president of JP-Marathon Inc. and president of Interglobia Development.
See the Commerce release:
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.Iml?Article=131268
— Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, said he hoped the controversy over Fischer’s travel will not discourage the next Commerce secretary from going abroad on trade missions.
“The Commerce secretary should be traveling on a regular basis around the state and country and globe,” he said. “It is a valuable way to project what Wisconsin has to offer.
“The next one shouldn’t feel that he or she should stay home and not travel on appropriate missions. Now more than ever we need to stay out front in terms of promoting our state.”
Still said he is confident Doyle will pick a qualified successor to Fischer “who has the right skills for the job so the positive momentum we’ve achieved can continue.”
“Meanwhile, I believe Commerce is staffed by a lot of first-rate professionals and that the work they do will continue,” said Still, who gave a vote of confidence to Olver, the deputy secretary.
— Flambeau River BioFuels President Bob Byrne says his company could have its biorefinery in Park Falls up and running by the spring of 2011 now that the U.S. Department of Energy has said it will pitch in $30 million to fund the project.
Byrne said the biorefinery, which will produce around 6 million gallons of sulfur-free diesel fuel annually from forest and agriculture sources, was budgeted at $84 million last year. But the rising cost of steel and other construction materials will likely push it over the $100 million mark, he said.
The biorefinery will be built beside Flambeau River Papers. In addition to diesel fuel, it will generate at least 1 trillion BTUs per year of process heat that will be sold to the paper plant, making it the first integrated pulp and paper mill in North America to be fossil fuel-free.
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.Iml?Article=131258
— Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley Corp. is reporting a net loss of $1.52 per share for the second quarter as it absorbs nearly $900 million in losses, primarily from the struggling construction and real estate development markets in west Florida and Arizona. That’s down from a profit of 68 cents a share for the same quarter last year.
Because other areas of the company were profitable, M&I’s total quarterly loss was $394 million, down from a net income of $179 million during the same period in 2007.
In a conference call with analysts, M&I CFO Greg Smith said the bank – Wisconsin’s largest – hadn’t made any subprime loans and should return to profitability in the coming quarter.
See the full story:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.Iml?Article=131262
— Beating out locales such as Atlanta, Dallas, Denver and Seattle, Milwaukee has been ranked as the ninth best city by Forbes.com in its “Best Cities For Young Professionals” list. Other Midwestern cities in the top 10 are Minneapolis, fifth, and Chicago, sixth.
Forbes ranked the country’s 40 biggest metropolitan areas for economic opportunity for young professionals to gauge which cities are attracting the next generation of top business talent.
The Forbes article said “Milwaukee might not be a leading innovator, but it has the fifth-highest concentration of top companies in the country, by our count. And those jobs pay.”
See the full story:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.Iml?Article=131265
— Plymouth-based Orion Energy Systems Inc. has announced that it expects revenues in the range of $16.1 million to $16.3 million for its fiscal 2009 first quarter.
The company’s revenues are lower than it expected, which the company attributed to its focus on building its sales organization. Total revenue for fiscal 2009 is now forecasted by the company to be between $101 million and $103 million.
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Press Releases
A.O. Smith Increases Quarterly Dividend to $.19 Per Share
Alliant Energy Corporation Declares Common Stock Dividends
Alliant Energy Estimates Impact of June Flooding on 2008 Earnings
LoanSifter Announces Integration With LeadMailbox
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation Reports Net Loss of $1.52 Per Share
Renaissance Learning, Inc. Announces Second Quarter, 2008 Results
SBA Opens Additional Disaster Center for Wisconsin Business Owners
Schneider National Intermodal Goes the Distance with Nestlé USA
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek Named “Top Milwaukee Workplace”
WindConnect Joins in Flat Ridge Wind Farm Groundbreaking
For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82
TOP STORIES
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Commerce secretary resigns amid criticism: Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Jack L. Fischer announced Wednesday that he would resign effective Friday. The resignation comes on the heels of criticism from trade missions Fischer made earlier this year. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Fischer and Commerce Department staff submitted bills for $21,282 for trips to Ireland, Canada and the Czech Republic, including $2,200 for a one-night stay in Dublin. The newspaper later reported that two Wisconsin businessmen who went on the Ireland trip with Fischer said in evaluations that he was a disappointment, in particular for a rambling introductory speech at an embassy reception. Fischer seemed to reference the controversy in his prepared statement Thursday, which said “it has become increasingly difficult to carry out the mission of the Department, and I do not want to stand in the way of continuing progress; because of that, I am resigning.”
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/296566
M&I reports $393M loss: Marshall & Ilsley Corp. of Milwaukee reported a net loss of $393.8 million, or $1.52 per share, because of continued stress on its construction and development portfolio “due to the ongoing deterioration in the housing market.” Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley (NYSE: MI) said the net loss for the quarter ending June 30 compared with net income from continuing operations of $178.9 million, or 68 cents per share, in the second quarter of 2007. The year-earlier figure excludes the contribution of M&I’s former financial technology arm Metavante Corp. (NYSE: MV), which was spun off in November 2007. The net loss was within the range of projections by analysts and a July 3 pre-announcement by M&I management.
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/07/14/daily24.html?surround=lfn
Great Lakes studies on health, business reveal dim reality: Two separate studies released Wednesday reveal a dim reality for both the ecological health of the Great Lakes and the businesses that rely upon them. The economic toll of the 57 invasive species that oceangoing ships have dumped into the lakes since the St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959 are costing the United States alone about $200 million annually, or $2 billion per decade. That number, released by federally funded researchers at the University of Notre Dame, does not include any impacts to the Canadian economy, and only looks at the economic damage done to the lakes’ fishing industry, businesses that tap the lakes for their water and the regional wildlife viewing industry. It does not consider property-value losses tied to invasive mussel-fueled algae outbreaks or damage to inland lakes.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773520
Harley’s second-quarter profit tumbles: Harley-Davidson Inc. said Wednesday its second-quarter profit fell sharply as a weak economy, record-high gas prices and lower consumer confidence continued to hobble the iconic motorcycle maker’s shipments and sales. But the Milwaukee-based company stood by its outlook for the year, and its earnings beat Wall Street’s expectations. Shares of Harley climbed in premarket electronic trading. Harley said its earnings for the quarter ended June 29 fell 23 percent to $222.8 million, or 95 cents per share, from $290.5 million, or $1.14 per share, in the same quarter last year. Revenue dropped nearly 3 percent to $1.57 billion from $1.62 billion in the year-ago quarter. The results beat Wall Street estimates. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of 76 cents per share on $1.4 billion in revenue, on average.
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/296636
Communities profit from Depp’s movie: Seeing movie star Johnny Depp was enough of a reward for many. But the movie “Public Enemies” also provided millions of dollars for the state’s economy at a time communities greatly needed it. According to early estimates by Film Wisconsin and The Associated Press, film crews spent more than $5.6 million on hotels, restaurants, supplies and local workers like stagehands. Scott Robbe, executive director for Film Wisconsin, said the complete figures should be compiled in about two months. He expects the total impact to be more than $10 million. “The preliminary numbers really indicate that there’s definite economic power for the state in terms of developing the film and television production industry here,” Robbe said.
http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/MAN0101/807170459/1984
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– Hybridfest head sees interest zooming
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/296532
– Farms learn costs, benefits of technology
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773517
BIOTECH (back to top)
– Farmers look for fuel efficiency at Wisconsin expo
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/07/17/wi/18wis.txt
ECONOMY (back to top)
– HQ decision: MillerCoors incentives top $23M
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/07/14/daily30.html?surround=lfn
– Does “Brew City” identity lose its fizz?
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/July_08/07162008_06.asp
– Madison drops to 89 in Best Places to Live list
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/296503
– Economy, weather impact charter fishing industry
http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/MAN0101/807170439/1984
– Former Tombstone Pizza plant to produce cereal
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773460
MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– GM won’t disclose timetable on closing
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/jul/16/gm-wont-disclose-timetable-closing/
LABOR (back to top)
– Oshkosh Job Center to lose staffing in state consolidation plan
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/OSH03/807170392/1987
SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Things come full circle for The Olive Tree
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/July_08/07162008_05.asp
– Investigators find abuse in SBA contract program
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/WDH03/807170623/1618
INVESTING (back to top)
– Orion Energy shares plummet
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773461
– Dow down in early trading
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/APC03/80716052/1028
REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Flood-prone communities contemplate home buyouts
http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/MAN0101/807170457/1984
– Parade of Condos set for July 26-Aug. 3
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/296504
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Day 3 of Farm Technology Days Canceled
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=863&yr=2008
– Farmers eye up latest machinery at Farm Tech Days
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/GPG03/807170562/1247
– Rep. Kagen Co-Sponsors Bill to Protect Herds from FMD
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=864&yr=2008
– Organic Valley stops buying factory farm milk, says watchdog group
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/296567
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Schneider named primary provider for Nestlé USA
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/07/14/daily27.html?surround=lfn
– State’s gas price matches U.S. average
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/296634
– New bus line links Wausau to cities
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/WDH0101/807170645/1981/WDHnews
– Legislature considering regional mass transit
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/jul/16/legislature-considering-regional-mass-transit/
– Dunn County Board drops support for airport
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news_local.asp?id=BH7CH8SQE22
RETAIL (back to top)
– Packers tickets hang in balance
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/APC0101/807170485/1979/APCnews
– More people turn to coupons to save money
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/APC03/807170474/1028
– Red, white and blue marketing
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773456
REGULATION (back to top)
– Walker expects to lose battle to stop sales tax referendum
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773463
– Survey: Keep smoking in bars
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/WDH0101/807170644/1981/WDHnews
– Nuclear debate persists
http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20049070&snippet=t&forward=%2Fitem%2Ecfm%3Frecid%3D20049070%26snippet%3Df
– Clinton approves processing plant
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/jul/16/clinton-approves-processing-plant/
TOURISM (back to top)
– Sci-fi film to be shot in Green Bay area
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/GPG0101/807170591/1978/GPGnews
UTILITIES (back to top)
– Nuke plant rates high in safety report
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/GPG03/807170597/1247
– Alliant faces resistance on coal plant proposal
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773516
– Common Council rejects selling former Appleton water plant
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/APC0101/807170494/1979/APCnews
HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Milwaukee family gets $18M after birthing injury
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/07/17/wi/03wis.txt
– Thompson, along with nonprofit, targets tropical diseases
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773513
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– M&I CFO: Despite woes, bank will be profitable
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/07/14/daily34.html?surround=lfn
– Blackhawk Bank profits improve
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/07/14/daily29.html?surround=lfn
– Thrivent offers aid to flooding victims
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/APC0101/807170490/1979/APCnews
– State court says insurance doesn’t cover negligence
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/07/17/wi/01wis.txt
MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– State commerce secretary resigns amid criticism over foreign trips
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/296551
– Loaned executives a United Way success
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/296595
– Worzala to be appointed county treasurer
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/296519
– Graber director of client services for Hawkins, Ash, Baptie & Co.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/GPG03/807170557/1247
– Gielow to help lead Concordia pharmacy school
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/07/14/daily28.html?surround=lfn
– Former Doral Dental CEO pleads the Fifth
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773457
BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– Greg Linnemanstons: Measure what matters to get a better ‘dashboard’ view
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/APC0701/807140450/1436/APC03
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