(WisBusiness) WED News Summary — 3 Sept. 2008

From WisBusiness.com …

— Kohl’s Department stores are reporting disappointing sales for August.

Kohl’s Corporation, of Menomonee Falls, reported yesterday that sales for August increased 2.6 percent over August 2007, but on a comparable store basis, sales decreased 5.8 percent.

Total year-to-date sales were up 2.6 percent over the comparable prior year period. On a comparable store basis, year-to-date sales decreased 5.6 percent.

Kevin Mansell, Kohl’s president and chief executive officer, says, “As expected, August was more difficult than our expectations of a 2 to 4 percent comparable sales decrease for the third quarter. Some traditional back-to-school business such as footwear and children’s performed well while other areas such as juniors and young men’s were more challenging. We continue to manage our inventory levels and expenses conservatively in this environment.”

See more in the WisBusiness.com press release section at http://www.wisbusiness.com

— Billions of dollars are stolen or embezzled each year from the world’s leading companies due to what now is termed economic crime.

Small businesses and the general public also can be hurt by identification theft, embezzlement, fraud and other crimes. Western Wisconsin isn’t immune to the problem.

Small business owners and the general public can learn how to protect themselves from financial misconduct at an Economic Crimes Summit from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Reinhart Center at Viterbo University in La Crosse.

Read more in Gregg Hoffmann’s column from southwestern Wisconsin.
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=202

— This Monday’s WisBusiness.com Luncheon will feature Georges Rioux, the Canadian Consul General to Chicago.

Learn more about the Canadian Consulate General in Chicago: http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/chicago/menu-en.asp

This 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.

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Press Releases
· Adelman Travel Group: Top Management Changes at Adelman Travel Group
· Baird: Expands Global Platform to Include Investment Banking in China
· Cub Foods: Sparked Revolution with Low-Price, One-Stop Stores
· DoJ: Jackson County Well Drilling Company to Pay $8,000 Fine For Improperly Constructed Wells
· Fiserv: Fiserv Announces Plans to Leverage Its Case-Shiller® Home Price Indexes
· Fiserv: Fiserv Case-Shiller® Home Price Insights: Despite Housing Crisis, Nashville Shines among Affordable Markets with Solid Employment
· Integrys Energy Group: Wisconsin Public Service and Citizens Utility Board Propose Innovative Utility Pilot Programs
· Integrys: Donofrio to Leave Integrys the End of September
· Kohler Co.: Kohler Co. Acquires UK-Based UPS Service Company
· Peak Rigde Capital: Invests in Wisconsin
· Prudential Financial: 14th Annual Search Under Way for Wisconsin’s Top Youth Volunteers
· TCF Bank: Announces the ”TCF Free Grocery Celebration”
· TomoTherapy: Appoints Roy Tanaka to Its Board of Directors
· TomoTherapy: to Present at Two Investment Conferences
· UW Madison: Ice Age Lesson Predicts a Faster Rise in Sea Level
· UWSP: Environmental educator sharing expertise with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
· UWSP: Heywood named acting associate dean for College of Letters and Science

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


TOP STORIES
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Deere to expand production at Horicon plant: Deere & Co. will add production to the company’s Horicon plant after closing a manufacturing plant in Welland, Ontario, Deere announced Tuesday. The Horicon factory will produce the Gator utility vehicle, which is used for farm work or off-road driving. The plant makes other models of the vehicle and riding lawn equipment.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=790235

Miller Park To Feature New Harley-Davidson Section: Harleys are taking over Miller Park as the new Harley-Davidson deck is added to the ball park. The new deck will be built in left-center field behind the Brewers bullpen. “This is a fully integrated sponsorship and one of the most comprehensive deals in Brewers history,” Brewers Executive Vice President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger said. “This is a partnership that not only brings the Milwaukee Brewers and Harley-Davidson together, it will also benefit fans coming to Miller Park.”
http://www.wisn.com/automotive/17372081/detail.html

StubHub strikes deal with University of Wisconsin: StubHub has struck multiyear deals with the University of Wisconsin and the University of Washington, its first college deals in more than a year.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/01/daily11.html?ana=from_rss

Kohler’s generator unit buys British manufacturer: The engine and power generator manufacturing business of Kohler Co. has purchased Uninterruptible Power Supplies Ltd. of Berkshire, England, an uninterruptible power supply system and service provider in the United Kingdom, for an undisclosed price.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/01/daily7.html?ana=from_rss

High gas prices a boon to some Wis. tourist stops: One northern Wisconsin summer attraction found $4-a-gallon gasoline a boon for summer business. “We got a lot more people from Minnesota this year. Maybe they weren’t going to California or Texas or whatever,” said Duane Domaszek, co-owner of Wildwood Wildlife Center of Minocqua, a zoo with one of biggest animal encounter areas in the Upper Midwest. “We have been all right.” The summer looked like it could be a bad one for Wisconsin tourism with a faltering economy, high gas prices and June flooding. But a check of some major destinations found little evidence of gloom and doom as Labor Day neared.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/02/ap5379014.html

Town & Country Electric expanding: High energy prices, tightening credit markets and a beleaguered housing industry may be bringing the nation’s economy down, but don’t tell that to Town & Country Electric. Business is booming at the Appleton-based electrical contracting firm’s Sheboygan branch, so much so that the branch is expanding its work force here to help handle a growing backlog of work. “People say there’s a downturn in the economy, but we’re at our busiest point in years,” said Jason Hinz, a business development associate at the company’s Sheboygan office.
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080831/SHE03/808310315/1096

Baird expands investment banking in Asia: Robert W. Baird & Co. has expanded its investment banking operations in Asia by hiring Anthony Yan-Hong Siu as managing director. Siu will be based in Baird’s Shanghai office, which also houses Baird Private Equity operating and investment professionals, Baird said Tuesday.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/01/daily2.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)
– Computer recycling firm shifts alliance; 1st Star plans to retain services in Fox Cities
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/APC03/809030605/1028

– Yahoo!, UWO announce partnership
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/OSH03/809030502/1167

BIOTECH (back to top)
– UW Researcher Growing Human Cartilage For Orthopedic Use; Work Being Done At New WIMR Complex
http://www.channel3000.com/news/17374497/detail.html?rss=c3k&psp=news

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Going gangbusters in tough economy; Newcomers to list of state’s biggest private companies take different tacks but buck trend
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=790354

– Study: Families Hit Hard By Slumping Economy; Study Conducted By Center on Wisconsin Strategy
http://www.channel3000.com/money/17362762/detail.html?rss=c3k&psp=news

– Sherwood hopes to lure business downtown
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/APC0101/809030588/1979/GPG03

– Gannett Central to close Point press
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080822/MNH03/808220509/1768

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Ladish gets $50M from debt placement
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/01/daily10.html?ana=from_rss

– Paper innovators to be cited
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/APC03/809030614/1028

LABOR (back to top)
– Paper workers plead for mill to stay open; Kimberly rallies with prayers, protests
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=790366

– Great Lakes Cheese produces cheese for McDonald’s, many others
http://www.rivervalleynewspapers.com/articles/2008/09/03/business/01greatlakes.txt

– Garbage strike continues
http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/09/02/local_news/doc48bda12f595b5687037611.txt

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Feingold launches effort to boost small business R&D funds
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/01/daily4.html

Related story: Feingold introduces legislation to help water technology industry
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=790236

– Business duo markets ‘cholive’ as martini’s new, chic sidekick
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=790250

– Home sweet abode: Shop owner learns lessons
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/01/smallb1.html?b=1220241600^1692822

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Madison: Land swap OK’d, would bring homeless services to east side site
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/303250

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Silage dry-down days planned
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/GPG03/809030713/1247

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Businesses eye hybrid trucks
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/APC03/809030610/1028

– Outagamie, Green Bay airports in competition
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/APC0101/809030608/1979/MNH03

RETAIL (back to top)
– Batteries Plus store set for Rib Mountain
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080831/WDH03/808310333/1618

– Caledonia Street antiques store closes
http://www.rivervalleynewspapers.com/articles/2008/09/03/business/00cahalan.txt

– Madison: Business Beat: Whole Foods’ exit would leave a big hole to fill
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/303111

REGULATION (back to top)
– Ambac wins Wisconsin approval for unit
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/02/ap5381407.html

TOURISM (back to top)
– Editorial: State got boost from slow season
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/GPG0602/809030687/1269/GPG06

– Packers tickets available through Ticketmaster pact
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/01/daily15.html?ana=from_rss

– Greater Green Bay Brand to be unveiled
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/GPG03/809030715/1247

UTILITIES (back to top)
– Wisconsin Public Service, advocacy group reach energy deal
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=790328

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Health Insurance Weighs Heavy On Residents; Many Have No Insurance Or Can’t Afford It
http://www.channel3000.com/news/17374968/detail.html?rss=c3k&psp=news

– Cooperative gives more business to Humana; Provider to handle all of (Brown) county group’s health insurance
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/GPG03/809030714/1247

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Adelman names new president, COO
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/01/daily16.html?ana=from_rss

– Hinton named chief administrator at Aurora Sinai
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/01/daily13.html?ana=from_rss

– WPS executive Mikulsky to assume added Integrys duties
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/01/daily9.html?ana=from_rss

– Madison-based TrafficCast hires new CEO
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=790297

BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– Dave Willems column: Consistent marketing key to building momentum
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080901/APC0701/809010483/1436/APC03

– Mike Ivey: Wisconsin spends millions to bring new business here. Does it work?
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/303115

Media Partners
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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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