First Business Bank: To hold 4th annual economic forum

Economic Survey Results for Northeast Wisconsin

What: First Business Economic Forum

When: Thursday, December 15, 2011 – 3:45 p.m.

Where: Butte des Morts Country Club, Appleton, WI

First Business Bank, along with the A.C. Nielsen Center for Marketing Research at the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Business, Insight Publications, and –NorthStar Economics, will release the results of the 2011 First Business Economic Survey of Northeast Wisconsin at the First Business Economic Forum scheduled for December 15, 2011 from 3:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Butte des Morts Country Club in Appleton, WI.

This economic survey is specific to Northeast Wisconsin businesses. It analyzes common business indicators such as sales revenue, operating costs, capital expenditures, profitability, staffing, wages, and pricing gathered from CEOs, CFOs, and owners of Northeast Wisconsin businesses. Each year the survey contains a current event question. This year, respondents were asked the needs of businesses in regard to employment applications. This is the ninth year the survey has been conducted in Wisconsin and the fourth year the survey has been conducted in Northeast Wisconsin.

The forum will begin at 3:45 with a presentation by David Ward of NorthStar Economics on the highlights of the survey. Following the presentation, Margaret LeBrun of Insight Publications will moderate a panel discussion with local business leaders on the economic climate of Northeast Wisconsin. Panelists at this year’s event include:

* Sheila Jenkins, President of Network Health Plan

* Vicki Updike, President of Miles Kimball

* Mark Lasky, Chief Executive Officer of Sadoff and Rudoy Industries, LLP

* Bob Zemple, Partner at Baker Tilly

* Ann Franz, Strategic Partnership Manager of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

The survey was prepared by Amanda Decker, Catherine Thornton, and Sheikh Jobe of the A.C. Nielsen Center for Marketing Research at the UW-Madison School of Business.

The forum is open to the media and to the local business community. To register online, please go to http://www.firstbusiness.com/events

Contact: Jodie Johnson

Vice President – Marketing

First Business Financial Services

608-358-6289

jjohnson@firstbusiness.com