FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James S. Haney, (608) 258-3400
Briggs & Stratton President and COO Teske Elected WMC Vice Chair
PEWAUKEE – The WMC Board of Directors Thursday elected Wausau Paper President and CEO Thomas J. Howatt as the chair of the 3,500-member business trade group.
Todd Teske, President and Chief Operating Officer of Briggs & Stratton Corporation was elected vice chair at the annual board meeting at the Country Springs Hotel.
“We are very fortunate to have such a strong board of directors to lead WMC as we advance policies aimed at making Wisconsin the most competitive state in the nation,” said James S. Haney, WMC president. “In 2010, Wisconsin businesses need to rally to lead the drive to enact policies that will promote jobs for our families.”
WMC is actively promoting the Wisconsin Jobs 2010 Agenda, which calls for reforms that will create jobs. Wisconsin Jobs 2010 calls for spending restraint, tax relief, regulation reform and legal reforms. “We need common sense solutions to compete with other states and countries,” Haney added.
In addition, Tod B. Linstroth, Senior Partner & Past Chair and Member of Management Committee, Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP, was re-elected Secretary of WMC; Timothy L. Christen, CPA, CEO of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, was re-elected Treasurer of WMC; James S. Haney, was re-elected President of WMC; and James A. Buchen and James R. Morgan were re-elected Vice Presidents of WMC.
Others elected or re-elected to WMC’s 52-member board at the Annual Membership Meeting are:
* Leo Brideau, President & CEO, Columbia St. Mary’s Inc., Milwaukee.
* John Casper, President & CEO, Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Oshkosh.
* Timothy L. Christen, CEO, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, Madison.
* James D. Friedmann, Partner, Quarles & Brady, LLP, Milwaukee.
* Reed E. Hall, Executive Director, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield.
* Robert D. Kamphuis, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Mayville Engineering Company, Inc., Mayville.
* John A. Mellowes, Chairman & CEO, Charter Manufacturing Company, Inc., Mequon.
* Paul Palmby, Executive Vice President and COO, Seneca Foods Corporation, Janesville.
* Nicholas T. Pinchuk, Chairman and CEO, Snap-on Incorporated, Kenosha.
* Diane S. Postler-Slattery, Ph.D., President and COO, SVP of Quality & Extended Services, Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Wausau.
* Joseph T. Pregont, President and CEO, Prent Corporation, Janesville.
* Larry Rambo, Regional CEO, Great Lakes Region, Humana, Inc., Waukesha.
* Michael W. Salsieder, President and General Counsel, Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Company, Inc., Wausau.
* Edward H. Schaefer, CEO, Citizens Community Federal, Eau Claire.
* Karl A. Schmidt, President & CEO, Belmark, Inc., DePere.
* Charles A. Schrock, President & CEO, Integrys Energy Group, Inc., Green Bay.
* Mary Starmann-Harrison, Regional President/CEO, SSM Health Care of Wisconsin, Inc., Madison.
* Todd Wanek, President & CEO, Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc., Arcadia.
“We are united and committed to promoting the Wisconsin Jobs 2010 Agenda,” Haney said. “We need common sense reforms to get make our state competitive again and hope there will be a robust dialogue about job growth in the coming months.”
WMC’s Wisconsin Jobs 2010 Agenda
Living Within Our Means
Controlling government spending means more money in consumers’ pockets, and enables businesses to create more jobs for our families. We need to limit government spending and provide tax relief for individuals and businesses. That starts by:
* Putting limits on government spending increases and setting aside money for a rainy day fund.
* Balancing the state budget under generally accepted accounting principles.
* Sending a message to the world that Wisconsin is open for business, by repealing recently enacted tax increases and providing incentives for job creation.
Unleashing Private Investment
When employers are burdened with unnecessary regulation, it costs us jobs. Fair regulations keep us safe; unfair regulations and regulatory delays lead to slower growth and higher unemployment.
* Ensuring state regulations are in line with federal regulations and those in competitive states.
* Establishing the Department of Commerce as the central business permitting agency, charged with quickly and aggressively securing all needed approvals for economic development.
Ensuring Justice for All
Everyone deserves a day in court. A fair legal system provides a stable climate for job creation. But, frivolous lawsuits and other lawsuit abuse hampers job creation.
* Enacting comprehensive product liability and other legal reforms.
* Establishing strict limits on punitive damage awards.
