From WisBusiness.com …
— What are the best practices that will propel Wisconsin manufacturers to success in 2015? To what extent are the state’s 10,000 manufacturers embracing world class manufacturing strategies to transform their companies?
Wisconsin’s Next Generation Manufacturing Survey will provide answers and fresh insights to these and other questions. The Web-based survey can be seen at http://www.WisconsinNGM.com. Any Wisconsin manufacturing owner, CEO or senior level executive is eligible to participate.
The survey is confidential and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Deadline for participation is Sept. 30. Survey participants will receive a personalized Next Generation Manufacturing Performance Report or a summary report after results are tabulated.
See release:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=134304
— Madison-based TomoTherapy Incorporated has announced that Stephen C. Hathaway, CFO, plans to retire when his employment contract expires on March 31, 2009. Hathaway announced his intention at an early date to ensure a smooth transition of TomoTherapy’s financial operations.
In addition, the company announced that Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Klein has decided to resign her position of Vice President of Global Sales, effective immediately, to pursue other opportunities. Shawn Guse, a member of TomoTherapy’s executive team, will serve as interim Vice President of Global Sales during the search for Klein’s successor.
See the release:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=134341
— A top Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce official is urging the group’s board members to remain committed to a $1 million fundraising drive despite an e-mail campaign mounted by One Wisconsin Now targeting them.
James Buchen, the group’s vice president for government relations, used OWN’s e-mail relay system to warn members that the group’s efforts seem to be an effort to disrupt the fundraising drive.
“We hope that this will not be the case,” Buchen wrote in the e-mail, which OWN released at the request of WisPolitics. “We hope that Directors will continue to show the resolve and fortitude demonstrated at the June Board Retreat when the Board voted unanimously to launch our fall issue campaign.”
OWN says the e-mail campaign, which targets WMC board members and their companies, has generated more than 10,000 contacts in a little more than a week.
“Over 10,000 emails went into the inboxes of WMC’s board members and their companies because the people of Wisconsin have some strong opinions about their work,” said Scot Ross, executive director of the Institute for One Wisconsin. “We hope this is just the beginning and ask anyone who has not yet taken the opportunity to do so by visiting our site.”
WMC spokesman Jim Pugh said Buchen decided to send an e-mail through the OWN e-mail relay system to make sure all of the members targeted heard from the group. Pugh said WMC’s fundraising effort is “doing excellent,” though he declined to say whether it had met its goal.
See Buchen’s e-mail:
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=134329
See the OWN release:
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=134314
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Press Releases
Over 10,000 Emails Sent to WMC Board Companies
TomoTherapy Announces Management Transitions
Topping List of Backdrop’s™ New Features is Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom™2 Plug-In Integration
WMEP and partners launch Wisconsin Next Generation Manufacturing Survey
American Corn Growers Association Endorses Obama
Governor Doyle Announces $500,000 for Hodan Center Expansion
For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82
TOP STORIES
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Nutritional firm with base in Monroe makes $315M acquisition: Glanbia PLC, which has its Glanbia Nutritionals division based in Monroe, on Monday announced the $315 million acquisition of Optimum Nutrition. Illinois-based Optimum will operate as an independent business, Glanbia said in a news release. Optimum is a manufacturer of nutritional supplements for the sports sector, with brands that include “Optimum Nutrition,” “Gold Standard 100% Whey” and “ABB.” Optimum is privately owned and has three operating facilities in Illinois, South Carolina and Florida employing 387 people. In 2007, Optimum had revenues of $185 million and an operating profit of $32 million. “Optimum is a strong business with an excellent track record and reputation in the sports nutrition market, particularly in the U.S.,” Kevin Toland, president and CEO of Glanbia USA, said in a statement.
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/302086
Wausau Paper to eliminate 150 Maine jobs: Mosinee-based Wausau Paper plans to close by year’s end one of its two paper machines at Otis Mill in Maine, eliminating about 150 jobs. Spokesman Perry Grueber said Monday that the No. 10 paper machine targeted for permanent shutdown in Rumford makes paper used in the backing for adhesive labels. He said the company is committed to its other machine that makes different specialty papers. Grueber said the date of the shutdown depends on orders but is expected by year’s end. He said it’s expected to eliminate 150 of the 235 jobs at the mill. Maine Gov. John Baldacci is dispatching Rosaire Pelletier, his senior forest products adviser, to the mill today to see if anything can be done to spare the job cuts.
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/WDH03/808260428/1618
NewPage unlikely to sell Kimberly mill after Sept. 8 closing: Sweet Lorraine is about to quit rolling for good. She’s a paper machine, No. 97, one of the efficient compliment of three that churned out product for decades at the NewPage Corp. mill. For the moment, she’s been pressed into overtime. Her last day on the job is Sept. 8, a 10-day extension announced late last week. A customer needs the “coated one side” paper badly. When they stop making paper at NewPage, a lot of questions will remain. None as big as one: Will NewPage ever sell it? “I don’t think you can force them to sell it,” said David Moede, of Kaukauna, a 28-year veteran of the mill who admitted last week he’s still trying to get his head around the specter of the mill closure and corporate decision that came like a bolt out of the blue July 30.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/GPG03/808260559/1247
Madison looks primed for IT boom: More information technology companies could be joining Google and Microsoft in opening offices in Madison. A number of professors in the University of Wisconsin-Madison computer science department are at the point in their careers where they’re interested in business ventures and industry collaborations, said Guri Sohi, a professor in the computer sciences and electrical and computer engineering departments and former chairman of the UW-Madison computer science department. That has led to a more favorable environment for business collaborations, said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. “The positive momentum on the biotech side in Madison is huge; they’re on a roll that’s very significant right now,” said Greg Meier, CEO of TMinus60, a Wauwatosa company focused on accelerating technology start-ups that has helped launch several companies in the last six months.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=787181
Wisconsin tribes’ gaming revenue up 7.3 percent in 2007: Tribal casinos in Wisconsin apparently didn’t feel the pinch of a lackluster economy last year, according to a report released recently. Gaming revenue at the 27 Indian gaming facilities in Wisconsin rose 7.3 percent in 2007 to about $1.335 billion. The numbers were listed in “Casino City’s Indian Gaming Industry Report” written by Alan Meister, an economist with Analysis Group of Los Angeles. The number of gaming machines at tribal casinos in Wisconsin rose 7.6 percent to 16,810 in 2007, the report said, while the number of table games increased 1.6 percent to 316. The report noted a number of recent developments in the tribal gaming industry in Wisconsin: In June, the Forest County Potawatomi Community doubled the number of gaming machines and table games at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee.
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news_local.asp?id=BHH26NRQESP
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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)
– Satellite Internet firm offers equipment leasing
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/302088
– Two piracy cases settled
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/302136
BIOTECH (back to top)
– Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research’s first tower opens next week
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/302098
– UW-Stout prepares for research centers, polytechnic conference
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news_local.asp?id=BHJ5TPHAEIU
ECONOMY (back to top)
– Charter now the lone holdout on Big Ten Network
http://www.madison.com/tct/sports/302167
– Gas prices down 15 cents in past two weeks
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/302057
MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Joy Global raises stock dividend 17 percent
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/25/daily5.html?surround=lfn
– Industrial plating firm plans for expansion
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/APC03/808260465/1028
– State manufacturers asked to take part in survey
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/302076
LABOR (back to top)
– GM closing could indirectly affect poverty
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/aug/26/gm-closing-could-indirectly-affect-poverty/
– AirTran to furlough 169 pilots
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/25/daily1.html?surround=lfn
SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Cera’s owner files federal lawsuit against city
http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/08/26/local_news/doc48b38ac2326c5856838490.txt
– Business start-up session set Sept. 9
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/APC03/808260466/1028
INVESTING (back to top)
– Kimberly school board backs investment lawsuit
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/APC0101/808260474/1979/APCnews
– Financial sector angst depresses stocks
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=787182
– Dow closes down 240+ points
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080825/APC03/80825031/1028
REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Construction set to start on elderly housing project in Monona
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/302135
– Existing U.S. home sales up in July, report says
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/302044
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Pastures drying up as counties wait for rain
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/302127
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Allegiant Air’s move surprised Ashwaubenon airport director
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/GPG0101/808260589/1978/GPGnews
– Harley fest means heavy motorcycle traffic
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/302083
RETAIL (back to top)
– Lottery defies odds, offers tax relief
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/GPG0101/808260553/1978/GPGnews
– Dealers making most of Harley party
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/Aug_08/08252008_03.asp
REGULATION (back to top)
– Judge hears arguments over state medical fund
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/08/26/wi/00wis.txt
– DNR grants available for landowners to help rare plants and animals
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/302126
– Hike in fines for snow parking violations endorsed
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/302166
TOURISM (back to top)
– Hotels hope Harley riders will fill vacancies tonight
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/WDH0101/808260625/1981/WDHnews
– Ice Age Trail open houses Wednesday, Thursday
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/302071
UTILITIES (back to top)
– Utility works to repair dam
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/WDH0101/808260534/1981/WDHnews
– Integrys to sell lake property on Lake Content
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/GPG03/808260541/1247
– Telecom rollouts raise ire over utility boxes
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TEC_UGLY_CABLE_BOXES?SITE=WIMAD&SECTION=HOME
HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Some Wisconsin Democrats retreating from health-care reform plan
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/302131
– ThedaCare plans $10.5 million upgrade to New London site
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080825/APC03/80825103/1028
– Proposed Dane County Human Services budget maintains funding for most programs
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/302144
– Assisted Living Concepts expands credit agreement
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/25/daily2.html?surround=lfn
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Accounting firm Virchow Krause files for new name
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/302134
MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– TomoTherapy announces executive changes
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=787173
– Finnish paper exec gets spotlight
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/APC03/808260460/1028
– St. Norbert to hold leadership series
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/GPG03/808260562/1247
BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– Arlen Boardman: Investment in Kimberly mill fails to pay off in end
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/APC0701/808260455/1436/APC03
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