KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

DAVID KOHLER
President and CEO MIKE STAVER
of KOHLER Co.
LEADERSHIP ISN’T
145 YEARS OF FOR COWARDS
MANUFACTURING AND
INNOVATION

OCTOBER 30, 2019 REGISTER NOW

INSIGHT
CONNECTING BUSINESS & PEOPLE IN THE NEW NORTH OCTOBER 2019 VOL. 12 NO.7 $4.95

SPECIAL
PREVIEW
Manufacturing First
Expo & Conference
INSIDER
Tariffs making their
mark on businesses
and consumers
PIPELINE
Employers develop
innovative benefits
to retain employees

NORTHWOODS
HEALTH
INSURANCE
Paper Converting Machine Co.
sets its sights on diversification
Stan Blakney brings decades
of industry experience and
a track record of success to
his new role as president of
Paper Converting Machine Co.
 PLANS for
small businesses

Kelly Hicks, Executive Director at Youth Go

and Network Health Group customer

Ask your agent about

LOW COST, HIGH
Network Health’s Assure ASSURANCE
health plan today or call For small business owners, we know health
insurance coverage for your employees can
us at 844-281-8411
be expensive. However, with the Assure plan
from Network Health, you can keep money in
your business, reduce your spend on health
care coverage and choose from a variety of
benefit designs based on your needs.
networkhealth.com/assure
2486-01a-0619
 RIGHT CARE, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT NOW

NOVO Care Navigation

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 3
 Executive Office Suites
Career Options
• Experts in
Talent Acquisition –
Office/Professional
Positions
• Committed
to Engaging,
Retaining, and
Empowering
Talent All-inclusive approach including:
Lisa Powers, President, Career Options, Inc. • Professional receptionist • Utilities & cleaning
• Furniture & internet • Office equipment &
• Local/long distance calls conference rooms

920-832-4500 | www.career-options.com 4650 W Spencer St. • Appleton, WI 54914

920-968-4600 • www.pamcosuites.com

MBA INFORMATION SESSIONS

OCT. 22 - AP P L ETO N
OCT. 23 - OSH KO SH

MBA MINGLE EVENT

OCT. 28 - AP P L ETO N

uwosh.edu/mba
800-633-1430
mba@uwosh.edu

N o t i c e o f N o n d i s c r i m i n a t i o n : u w o s h . e d u / n o n | U W O s h k o s h i s a c c re d i t e d b y t h e H i g h e r L e a r n i n g C o m m i s s i o n ( H L C ) : u w o s h . e d u / a c c re d i t a t i o n

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 63
 W O M E N ’S L E A D E R S H I P
CONFERENCE

INSPIRING AND EMPOWERING THE LEADER IN ALL OF US

cial Early
Spe ration!
Regist
our
Save Y day!
OCTOBER 17, 2019
o
Spot T — LIBERTY HALL, KIMBERLY, WI —

Register today for an all-day professional development

and networking designed to educate, encourage and inspire
women to take their careers to the next level.

• Sessions
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
• Panel discussions
Best-selling author,
• Keynote presentations Dr. Lois P. Frankel
• Network with other professionals

• J
 oin in discussions about subjects For more information, and to register, visit:
relative to their growth womensleadershipwi.com

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

 PRINTING
Seaway Printing
CREATIVE
Insight Publications LLC connects people, communities, Jeff Amstutz, Creative Director
organizations and industries in creative, meaningful ways. Michael Miller, Art Director
A2Z Design
Cover and Cover Story Design
PHOTOGRAPHS BY IMAGE STUDIOS
CONTACT US
We at Insight Publications want to hear
from you! Here’s how to get in touch:
GENERAL NEWS, PEOPLE NEWS,
BUSINESS NEWS, EVENTS
edit@insightonbusiness.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR,

& Creative Direction CORRECTIONS, STORY IDEAS

a2zdesign.com MaryBeth Matzek, editor
mmatzek@insightonbusiness.com
Shane Van Boxtel REGIONAL NEWS
Brian Rasmussen MaryBeth Matzek Image Studios Jessica Thiel, associate editor
Publisher Editor Photography jthiel@insightonbusiness.com
imagestudios.com TO ADVERTISE
Brian Rasmussen, publisher
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD brasmussen@insightonbusiness.com
Jeff Amstutz Wendy Gilbert, account executive
A2Z Design wgilbert@insightonbusiness.com
Jessica Thiel Bryan Aschenbrenner Dane Checolinski Diane Verhagen, account executive
Associate Editor Lead Designer Sheboygan County Economic Development Corp. dverhagen@insightonbusiness.com
Marcus Dumke
Strategy & Management Consultant Bryan Aschenbrenner, lead designer
Alex Hummel baschenbrenner@insightonbusiness.com
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Deb Toll, sales and office coordinator
dtoll@insightonbusiness.com
Margaret LeBrun
Andrew Schaick, marketing technologist/
Wendy Gilbert Insight co-founder (retired)
Diane Verhagen events coordinator
Account Executive Account Executive Adrienne Palm aschaick@insightonbusiness.com
gener8tor SNAIL MAIL
Michelle Schuler Insight, P.O. Box 944, Appleton, WI 54912
Microsoft INSIGHT OFFICE
Sarah Spang 400 N. Richmond St., Suite B
Envision Greater Fond du Lac Appleton, WI 54911
Vicki Updike
Andrew Schaick Deb Toll New North Inc./New Sage Strategies Insight (USPS #16070) is published
Marketing Technologist/ Sales and Office monthly by Insight Publications
Events Coordinator Coordinator Manny Vasquez LLC, 400 N. Richmond Street,
Pfefferle Companies Suite B, Appleton, WI 54911-
Kennedy Krause 4602. Periodicals postage paid
Editorial Intern at Appleton, WI and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: send address changes to Insight
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Publications, P.O. Box 944, Appleton, WI 54912.
Kat Boogaard Copyright 2019 by Insight Publications LLC.
Reproductions in whole or in part without written
Casey Britten permission are prohibited. Phone: (920) 882-0491;
Dale Robertson Fax: (920) 227-4158. To subscribe, go to
Graphic Designer Sharon Verbeten
www.insightonbusiness.com.

The days of reactive hiring are over. Recruiting quality employees is now a function of Marketing and HR.
That’s why we create custom recruitment strategies for a brave new world. Don’t be the last to know. goelement.com

Strateg y Advertising Marketing Digital Web PR

4 | A_EC20-0318
INSIGHT • Element
O c t o b eRecruitment_Insight_Qtr
r 2 019 Island Horz_Final.indd 1 w w w. i n s i g h4/20/18
t o n b u s i11:35
n e s s . AM
com
 2019 Mergers and Acquisitions Forum
Presented by:

HISTORIC PROPORTIONS:
HOW A ROBUST M&A MARKET IS PAVING
THE WAY FOR DECISION MAKERS

DATE & LOCATION: In 2018, M&A activity skyrocketed, nearing 2015’s record high of over $4 trillion. How
OCTOBER 9 | 7 – 10:30 A.M. does a robust market influence dealmaking and ensure deal success in 2019 and beyond?
Lambeau Field Atrium, A diverse group of M&A thought leaders will offer insight into the industry, discussing
Legends Club Room
current trends and the challenges impacting transactions. Learn the implications for
7:00 am – Registration, continental
breakfast & networking decision makers and gain practical knowledge and perspective on the future of M&A.
8:00 am – Program begins
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
BREAKOUT SESSIONS: JACK BENNETT
Increasing Value of Your Former UW-Stevens Point men’s basketball coach Jack
Business Before the Sale
Bennett led his 2004 and 2005 teams to NCAA’s first
Presented by
GEORGE BUREAU
Division lll back-to-back national championships. As part
WMEP of a successful coaching family, which includes former UW
Coach Dick Bennett and Dick’s son, Tony Bennett, who just
led the University of Virginia to its first-ever NCAA basketball
title, Jack will share his experiences in “Relevant Life
Leveraging Legal Counsel to Lessons Learned from the World of Intense Competition”.
Maximize Value
Presented by
LAURA MERONK
GODFREY KAHN S.C.
FEATURED PANELISTS
Moderator Panelist Panelist Panelist Panelist

Negotiating Beyond Purchase

Price; Know Your Proceeds
Presented by
MIKE SCHROEDER
TAUREAU GROUP, LLC
ANN HANNA DAVE STRAND COREY VANDERPOEL JOE POLANECZKY MIKE MALATESTA
Managing Director & Former Owner & CEO Managing Director & Principal Leader
Owner Wisconsin Oven Corp. Owner Merit Capital Partners ERC Midwest, LLC
Taureau Group, LLC Retired CEO - TPS Taureau Group, LLC

This forum is geared toward business owners and executive management. There is no cost to attend.

In partnership with:

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
Register at insightonbusiness.com/events/ma O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 5
 22
CONTENTS O CTOBER 2019 > VOL 12 > NO. 7

12
24 COVER STORY
FRESH ROLE:
Paper Converting Machine Co. sets its sights
on diversification

ONLINE: Listen to PCMC President Stan Blakney discuss

the company’s plans to diversify and what it means to
practice Truly Human Leadership.

9 Editor’s Note: Manufacturing garners the spotlight this month

11 Reader Recommended: What are you reading, watching, 11 18
wearing or doing that’s so great you want to share it with others? 18
12 Personalities: Dane Checolinski ­— Fresh take on innovation
14 Places: Diving into dairy’s dilemmas — Task force aims
to address industry’s needs

15 Regional Roundup 18
18 Northwoods — Northern exposure — Marinette, 62
Florence counties aim to draw residents, visitors

20 Pipeline: Winning the retention race — Unique benefit

offerings help businesses set themselves apart

22 For the Love: Friends in high places — Volunteer group 39

has long history of supporting High Cliff State Park

30 Feature: Pitch events put startups in the spotlight

35 Insight Insider: Waiting game — Tariff war creates
uncertainty for businesses

39 Health Insurance: Strong medicine — Shopko’s exit

leaves impact on pharmacy sector

44 Small Business: Terra Verde, Poco Pizza 44

46 On the Move People 49
49 Feature: Honored for excellence — Acuity, Rail Yard earn
economic development honors

50 On the Move Business

59 Don't Miss: Conventional wisdom: Manufacturing First 31 Four-page Manufacturing First preview
set for Oct. 30 36
61 Commentary: Conference puts focus on
women’s leadership skills INSIGHT ON THE WEB:
62 Power Lunch: Off the beaten path www.insightonbusiness.com
6 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 Balancing technology and people.
Real estate professionals — are your clients ready for a faster and easier
mortgage process? TAP Lending combines the speed and efficiency of a
great technology platform with the help and decision making of a local
Nicolet mortgage professional.

Ready to learn more?

Pre-approval or application with

TAP Lending at nicoletbank.com
or call 1-800-369-0226 to speak with
our mortgage lending professionals.

Technology and People and

a great local bank. The perfect
combination for your business
and your client’s mortgage. Nicoletbank.com | 800.369.0226
 W E ’ L L H EL P YO U

GROW
The Schneider School of Business &
Economics is where people, teams and
organizations are inspired to dig deeper
and achieve their full potential. By
connecting nationally recognized faculty,
business professionals and high-impact
programs, we’re developing leaders,
uncovering new market potential,
and igniting growth and innovation
throughout Wisconsin.

MBA

CENTER FOR
EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP

CENTER FOR
BUSINESS & ECONOMIC
ANALYSIS

STRATEGIC RESEARCH
INSTITUTE

Explore the possibilities

schneiderschool.snc.edu

8 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m

Manufacturing garners the spotlight this month
W
hile most people know Wisconsin as the Dairy State,
it’s really manufacturing that's at the heart of the state’s
economy, with one in five jobs related to the industry.
And with October known as Manufacturing Month across the
country, businesses, schools and organizations hold a variety of
events drawing attention to the industry.
One of the state’s largest events is the Manufacturing First Expo
& Conference, which is being held Oct. 30 at the KI Center in
Green Bay. The event draws more than 1,200 people and features
keynote speakers, special presentations, breakout sessions and
a large expo hall filled with more than 200 exhibitors.
David Kohler, a man whose name has been associated
more with golf lately than manufacturing, is using his keynote
presentation to focus on Kohler Co.’s 145 years of manufacturing
and innovation that produces a wide range of products from
engines to bath fixtures.
Kohler says Wisconsin has established a well-earned
reputation across the country as a center of manufacturing,
and innovation is vital to keeping it that way.
“We reinvest 90 percent of our earnings back into our company
annually, which gives us a competitive advantage to drive
future growth,” he says. “We have increased our investment in
information and process technology across our global facilities,
creating model Industry 4.0 pilot factories in select locations.”
That investment in Industry 4.0 is vital since manufacturing
COMING UP
Mergers and Acquisitions Forum
The M&A market is hot right now, but how can you ensure
your deal’s success? The 2019 Mergers and Acquisitions Forum
on Oct. 9 at Lambeau Field Atrium’s Legends Club Room
in Green Bay will provide the advice and insight you need.
The event features a keynote address, a panel discussion
with M&A thought leaders and breakout sessions. Visit
insightonbusiness.com/events/ma for more information.
Women’s Leadership Conference
Organized by New Sage Strategies,
the Women’s Leadership Conference
will be held Oct. 17 at Liberty Hall in Kimberly. The day
features a keynote from author Lois Frankel, presentations
from local women leaders and a panel discussion during lunch.
The conference is designed to inspire the leader inside each
woman. Go to Womensleadershipwi.com for more information
or to register.
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019
FROM THE EDITOR
is moving more toward automation, the internet of
things and other high-tech tools to help companies stay
competitive and grow at a time when many businesses
struggle to find enough workers.
“The drive to innovate keeps our brands relevant,”
Kohler says. “We constantly push the envelope on
design, function and user experience, which leads us
to discovery in all areas of our business.”
To learn more about this year’s event, please see the
Don’t Miss story on page 59.
This month’s cover story by Jessica Thiel on Paper
Converting Machine Co. provides another example of how
a longtime, successful manufacturer must change with
the times to meet industry and customer demands. The
100-year-old Green Bay company went through a major
shift in 2005 when it was acquired by Barry-Wehmiller.
With the new owner came a whole new way of thinking
that focused on putting employees first. That change in
thinking has led to additional growth and helped PCMC
become an employer of choice. To learn more about the
company and its plans for increased diversification, please
read the story starting on page 24.
AN EXTRA DOSE OF INSIGHT
Listen to Stan Blakney,
president of Paper Converting
Machine Co., discuss how the
Green Bay company plans to
diversify its business.
Blakney's interview is just
one of the many Insight has done during the past 10 years
with New North business leaders that you can find online at
insightonbusiness.com/home/cover-story-videos.
Look for Insight on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
and YouTube
Facebook and LinkedIn: Insight Publications LLC
Twitter and Instagram: Insightpubs
YouTube: InsightMagazineWI
• INSIGHT | 9
A New Name in
Personalized Health Insurance
The coverage your employees need.
The quality they deserve.

In today’s healthcare environment, your insurance options

are archaic—giving you and your employees nothing but
restrictions and red tape. Often, you’re forced to choose
from a number of giant national carriers who can put
profits first and the care of your employees second.

The old method of finding quality care just isn’t

working, which is why Health Tradition, an
independent health plan dedicated to providing
the highest-value of coverage, is taking a new
approach. With versatile, member-centric plan
options, and a growing network of Wisconsin-
based providers, your employees will have
high quality care— with a personal touch.

Speak with your healthcare benefits

professional today to learn about your
Health Tradition plan options, or visit
HealthTradition.com/FoxValley to
see the innovative care solutions
that are now available in the
Greater Fox Valley area.
 READER RECOMMENDED
What are you reading, watching, listening to or CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE
doing that’s so great you want to share it with “Nonprofit marketers have more control over their
organization’s content on the digital landscape than ever
others? We asked a few of our Insight readers, and before. We can share information when we want, how we
this is what they said. want and to the defined audience we want. While this is
powerful, it can also be overwhelming, especially if you
— Compiled by Insight Editor MaryBeth Matzek manage multiple platforms and need to show an ROI. The
#501Social Blog by Julia Campbell helps cut through all
the noise and delivers practical, relevant advice and sound

VOLUNTEERING: tips and tricks that every

nonprofit professional can
GOOD FOR YOU AND benefit from. From email
YOUR BUSINESS to Instagram, information
shared covers everything
“Whether I'm serving on a
from technical tools to
committee or helping at a community event, I've found that
storytelling. I reference her
there is no better way to get connected to our community materials often and always
and make a difference at the same time. With each volunteer walk away with ideas to try.”

experience, I find myself growing and gaining valuable

Kristen Paquet, CP,
leadership skills along the way. Even better, research continues Green Bay
to prove the many health benefits of volunteering. Many businesses are

also starting to recognize workforce development benefits, like cultivating

collaboration, empathy, adaptability and leadership skills. This is leading

LESSON IN
to more workplace volunteer programs to help employees carve out time
PRODUCTIVITY
in their busy schedules. The end result is a happier, healthier, better-
“Productivity theories and methods
connected community. That is good for everybody!”
always intrigue me, and I'm hooked
on author Michael Hyatt right
Renee Torzala, Faith Technologies Inc., Menasha
now. He recently published
‘Free to Focus,’ and his ‘Lead to
Win’ podcast and Full Focus
UPLIFTING INSPIRATION planner are great companions
“‘The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women for anyone interested in
Changes the World’ by Melinda Gates is filled with implementing his system.
stories about the power of lifting up women to not ‘Educated,’ a memoir by Tara
just improve communities but humanity. Many of Westover, is also a recent
her stories and the focus of her work has been in
favorite. She brings to light
developing countries, where perhaps some of the most innovative programs
that higher education should be attainable for everyone,
have been developed. As the executive director of the Women’s Fund for the
and with support, there are no limits to success. I see this
Fox Valley Region, I was inspired by the lessons, concepts and philosophies. I
in our students at Lakeshore Technical College every day
can envision how some of these ideas can be modified and adopted here to
and am so inspired by their journeys to success.”
raise women and girls, improving our entire community.”

Julie Keller, Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region, Appleton Julie Mirecki, Lakeshore Technical College, Cleveland

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 11
 As the home to major employers such as Acuity Insurance and
Sargento Foods as well as tying for third place in the nation for
concentration of manufacturing, Sheboygan County is on the
cutting edge in many ways. Dane Checolinski,
director of the Sheboygan County Economic Development
Corp., says the county is on a mission to establish
itself as a leader in another realm: innovation.
FreshTech is Wisconsin’s first innovation
community. Plans for the half-mile area in
the City of Sheboygan’s Indiana Avenue
corridor include spaces designed
for collaboration, co-working and
hosting events, research labs, a
makerspace and urban housing.
The Wisconsin Internet of Things
Council also established itself
within FreshTech.
Stakeholders from across
the county — including the
SCEDC, City of Sheboygan,
Sheboygan Area School
District, Lakeland University
and Lakeshore Technical
College — are coming together
to make the vision a reality.
Two studies are underway
— one looking at creating a
makerspace, the other looking at
developing an innovation hub.

12 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 BY JESSICA THIEL PHOTOGR APH BY SHANE VAN BOX TEL/IMAGE STUDIOS
Fresh take on innovation
Insight: Where did the idea for an innovation
district in the county originate?
Dane Checolinski: The idea came from a
former employee of the SCEDC, Jim Schuessler,
who’s now running Door County. He went to an
entrepreneurship training course in Atlanta, and
he came back very excited for this concept of an
innovation district. It seemed to fit a bunch of
different challenges or opportunities we had in the
Sheboygan area.
The first one is that the city wanted to start
focusing on the Indiana Avenue corridor. It’s
a main drag just south of the downtown right
next to Blue Harbor. We wanted to try to breathe
life back into that area. The second thing is
that workforce continues to be a challenge
across the state. (An innovation district) creates
centers of life and problem-solving. It creates an
environment where a lot of professionals want
to be. If we could somehow re-create something
like that in Sheboygan, we thought it’d be a better
opportunity for us to be able to attract and keep …
professionals.
It started in our organization. We shared it with
the city. They seemed to really like the overall
concept, and ultimately, three of us went on a road
trip to go view a bunch of these different innovation
districts: Chattanooga, Tenn., St. Louis and
Indianapolis. Each one was in a different phase.
What makes Sheboygan County the right
location for this?
The first thing is concentration of manufacturing.
The second thing is, the community has had some
really nice successes that I think bolster some
confidence. In the 90s, it took an old coal pile and
turned it into South Pier. Community leaders and
city leaders had a vision for that peninsula, they
went after it and they found Great Wolf to build Blue
Harbor, and they transformed that area. We have
some confidence that we can transform a landscape
if we do it properly, think it through, get the right
stakeholders. We can make it happen.
The next piece is that because workforce is
such a key issue, we knew one of our bottlenecks
was housing. We have done everything we can to
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019
PERSONALITIES
encourage as much housing construction as we can.
We’re not there yet on all fronts, but we saw a lot of units
go into downtown and fill rather rapidly.
What steps have you taken in establishing this?
The City of Sheboygan has done an outstanding job
getting ready on the physical front. They first created
a concept master plan, which they are in the process
of updating right now. They started purchasing real
estate and making land available for development. We
were lucky enough that the whole area was named an
opportunity zone. The city has also created a TIF district
on top of it, and now they’ve negotiated to purchase
more rail line to extend multiuse trails through the area.
The old tannery in that area is going to become 120
apartments, and so they’ve used some of those TIF funds
to redo some of the streetscape and make it a lot nicer.
On the programming side, we first started off with
our summit. We had 12 different things we wanted to
know, and 150-plus people showed up. They started
sharing all their ideas, and we recorded it. Based on
that, a couple of different branches started to occur in
programming. We have what we call our programming
task force that is a group of about 30-plus individuals.
Three subcommittees formed out of that, and they’re
based around the strongest themes that came out of
the summit: professional development, cross-company
collaboration and entrepreneurship.
What are the next steps?
We do have a developer that now has the sole right to
negotiate on part of the parcels the city has begun to
accumulate. We’d like to look at doing the first office
building down there in a long time. We need to see
these two studies wrap up because even if one says,
yes there’s something here and the other one says no,
that means we’ve got at the very least a makerspace or
an innovation hub. We want to see the IoT Council
continue to grow and thrive.
There’s a lot of physical development that’s going to
be shaping up in the next year or two, but ultimately
on the programming side, we need to figure out what
programming is going to be most effective at doing
those three main things: changing the culture, helping
to attract talent and then ultimately entrepreneurship
as well. I think it’s going to be a joint physical and
programmatic push.
• INSIGHT | 13
PLACES B Y S H A R O N V E R B E T E N | WHAT'S UP IN THE REGION. PAGE 18: NORTHWOODS
Diving into dairy’s dilemmas
Task force aims to address industry’s needs
Wisconsin may be known as America’s
Dairyland, but that doesn’t mean its $43
billion dairy industry isn’t without its
many challenges — including volatile
milk prices and more farmers deciding
to sell their herds and exit the industry.
A recent plan offered by the Dairy Task
Force 2.0 laid out 51 recommendations for
supporting and strengthening the state’s
dairy industry.
“Like anything, the dairy industry is
evolving,” says Moriah Brey, co-owner
of Brey Cycle Farm in Sturgeon Bay and
a member of the 31-member task force.
“We’re not immune to growth and change
… this speaks to our continued focus on
improvement and adaptability.
“Many of the recommendations have
a focus on research and development of
new techniques, products and practices.
This is of utmost importance to each farm
individually and as our industry as a whole
strives to remain competitive and relevant.”
The task force, which was made up of
dairy farmers, milk processors, lenders
and others with an interest in the industry,
compiled a 51-page report detailing the
issues surrounding the industry, and
setting forth recommendations on how to
move forward.
“The challenges are real and continue to
change,” says Brey, whose farm raises 500
cows, 500 heifers for other farmers and
farms about 1,500 acres of feed crops, in
14 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
addition to raising Angus/Holstein beef
cattle for market.
Mark Stephenson, director of Dairy Policy
Analysis at the University of Wisconsin, led
the task force, which was created last year as a
joint effort between the state Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
and the UW System. This was the second task
force of its kind. In 1985, a similar group
was formed to study the issue of increasing
milk production. However, this year’s group
had a different focus, Stephenson says.
“We’ve got plenty of milk right now,”
he says. “It’s about how do we make our
rural communities more vibrant. I feel
amazingly good about what was done.”
After putting forth and discussing
recommendations, the task force ranked them
in terms of priority, with No. 1 being a Dairy
Innovation Hub, which fuels the UW System
— particularly UW-Madison, UW-Platteville
and UW-River Falls — with the necessary
dollars to help drive research and train industry
leaders to keep the industry moving forward
with growth, modernization and innovation.
“A lot of what we take for granted
today came from that type of research,”
Stephenson says.
Brey agrees investing in education
and research is important. “After all,
passionate, educated people are the
backbone of our industry,” she says.
Investment in human capital was
another key recommendation. The group
is looking for ways to encourage young
people to pursue careers in agriculture,
which accounts for about 500,000 jobs
in Wisconsin. Still, the task force report
says, “rural communities struggle
to retain our youth in an industry
that requires high levels of science,
technology and skills … the goal is to
show that local industries, agriculture
companies, manufacturers and farms
offer highly skilled and technical careers
right in their local communities.”
Some other report recommendations
include:
• Recognizing the importance
of exports. Creating a plan to help
cheesemakers produce new products
targeted specifically for export markets.
The United States only exports about
5 percent of the cheese produced in
Wisconsin, according to the report.
• Funding local road improvements
and maintenance by setting aside a
percentage of the transportation budget
to support roads in rural communities.
• Studying the impact of dairy and
agriculture on local communities.
According to the report, the dairy
industry supports one of every 10 jobs
in Wisconsin, while the average cow
in the state generates about $34,000 of
economic activity each year.
• Creating a dairy app to help dairy
farmers quickly access important
information about the industry.
About 20 of the recommendations are
in the process of being implemented.
“We’re thankful that Wisconsin is
America’s Dairyland and providing
resources and examples for us to
learn from as we continue to better
our own dairy farm,” Brey says. “The
recommendations put forth … will ensure
that those resources remain relevant and
helpful and Wisconsin remains a leader
in all aspects of dairying.”
 • INTERSTATE 41 CORRIDOR
Brown, Calumet, Outagamie,
Winnebago, Fond du Lac Counties
Gulfstream opens Appleton
aircraft maintenance facility
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. opened its
new $40 million aircraft maintenance
facility at the Appleton International
Airport. The facility increased Gulfstream’s
local maintenance, repair and overhaul
(MRO) operations and created nearly 100
jobs, with the potential for more in the
next few years.
The nearly 190,000-square-foot
building, northeast of the airport terminal,
includes 101,853 square feet of space,
which will accommodate 12 Gulfstream
G650ER or G650 aircraft. In addition to
offices, back shops and general support
space, the expansion adds a new sales and
design center and increased customer
access to Gulfstream’s design portfolio.
The facility boasts several sustainable
features, including sensitive land protection,
a rainwater management system, enhanced
control systems for heating and cooling,
optimized energy performance and electric
vehicle charging stations. It is expected
to receive U.S. Green Building Council
Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design certification.
Ariens Co. announces $30M in
plant improvements, hiring plans
Ariens Co. is halfway through a $30
million transformation of its Plant 1 that
will allow the Brillion company to meet
growing demand for its zero-turn mowers.
The company’s five-year trend of double-
digit growth is spurring the project, which
should be complete next summer.
Ariens also is looking to hire another
150 workers for various manufacturing
positions to meet its continued growth.
The transformation project touches all
areas of the 320,000-square-foot plant and
includes a new $19 million paint system,
lasers, robotic welders, steel delivery bay
and shipping docks. It also focuses on
workplace enhancements in ergonomics,
safety, air quality, automation to assist with
heavy tasks and automated guided vehicles
to move products.
Demand for zero-turn mowers is
fueling Ariens’ growth, says Matt Meden,
the company’s vice president of marketing.
“That market is increasing by 500,000
per year, and each year, our share of that
continues to grow,” he says. “We’ve done a
lot of work on brand awareness, so when
they get to a power equipment dealer or
Home Depot or Lowes — where we also sell
our products — they’ll be looking for us.”
Jewelers Mutual Insurance
changes corporate structure
Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co.
policyholders have approved a
plan to convert the Neenah
organization’s corporate structure to
a mutual holding company. [continued ] »

Sarah likes knowing her employees have choices. That’s why she chooses a health plan with
one of the largest networks in Wisconsin. So her employees can choose the doctors they trust.

If you’re like Sarah, you’ll like UnitedHealthcare.

Visit uhc.com/WI
Plan benefits and programs may vary.
Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates. Health Plan coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin, Inc.
8372025.0 3/19 ©2019 United HealthCare Services, Inc. 18-10762-A

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 15
• PL A C E S continued
The conversion to a mutual holding
company, previously approved by the
Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner
of Insurance and the Jewelers Mutual
board of directors, will be effective upon
issuance of a certificate of authority by the
Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner,
which is expected on or shortly after Jan. 1.
The change to a mutual holding
company structure provides Jewelers
Mutual with more flexibility to develop
new and innovative products and services
beyond its traditional insurance products,
according to CEO and President Scott
Murphy. In recent years, the company
has launched its JM Shipping and JM
Care Plan solutions.
Under the new structure, Jewelers
Mutual Holding Co. will become
the group’s new parent company,
with Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co.,
SI becoming a stock subsidiary
company wholly owned by the
mutual holding company.
While a mutual holding company
16 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
structure would allow Jewelers Mutual
to consider the sale of stock to raise
capital, Murphy said it has no plans
to do so. The company will continue
to operate solely for the benefit
of its policyholder members, and
policyholders will have essentially the
identical membership rights in the
mutual holding company that they
have today.
• WEST CENTRAL
Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara,
Marquette, Green Lake Counties
Training available for 41 workers
affected by Waupaca Kmart closing
The Kmart located at 830 W. Fulton
St., Waupaca, will close in November,
affecting approximately 41 employees.
The Fox Valley Workforce
Development Board is leading efforts
to retrain and re-employ the workers.
The board will work with Kmart store
leadership to schedule an employee
outreach session, which will include
an overview of the services the board
offers and the area Job Center, as well as
information on unemployment insurance.
The employees also will be evaluated
for job readiness and begin the process of
finding their next role. In addition, these
workers may be eligible for assistance from
the National Retail Worker Dislocation
Grant, which can direct up to $30,000 to
each laid-off retail worker for retraining,
housing and other support.
Waupaca Foundry recognized as
business friend of environment
Waupaca Foundry Inc., a Hitachi
Metals group company, received the
2019 Business Friend of the Environment
Award in the category of environmental
innovation. The iron component
supplier was honored for outstanding
leadership in integrating sustainable
business practices throughout its
manufacturing operations.
Sponsored by Wisconsin Manufacturers
 QUALITY YOU EXPECT. FLEXIBILITY YOU NEED. UW OSHKOSH ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS.

UNDERGRADUATE
• Applied Computing

GRADUATE
• Data Science
• Sustainable Management
• Applied Biotechnology

Enroll now for fall! Contact us to speak with an academic advisor about credits
transferring, financial aid and choosing the right degree program.

Learn more about your options at uwosh.edu/online.

uwosh.edu/online
(920) 424-1129
conted@uwosh.edu
Division of Online and Continuing Education

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 63
 St. Norbert College
CEO BREAKFAST
and Strategy Series
An outreach to the business community by the Donald J. Schneider School of Business &
Economics, featuring distinguished local and regional business leaders in eight morning
presentations.

Oct. 9, 2019 7:30-8:30 a.m.

You’re in a Turnaround
Whether You Know It or Not
Tom Ealy, President and CEO, Ameriprise
F. K. Bemis International Conference Center, St. Norbert College
Sponsor: American Family Insurance

Nov. 5, 2019 7:30-8:30 a.m.

Medicare for All
Chris Woleske, CEO, Bellin Health
Systems Inc.
F. K. Bemis International Conference Center, St. Norbert College
Sponsor: J.P. Morgan

Also scheduled:
Dec. 10, 2019 Feb. 4, 2020 April 9, 2020
Mary Goggans, President, Encapsys Craig Dickman, Managing Director, Greg Linnemanstons, President, Weidert
Titletown Tech Group
Jan. 14, 2020
John McHugh, Director of Corporate March 5, 2020 May 6, 2020
Communications, Leadership Develop- Chris Hess, President and CEO, Goodwill Craig Culver, Co-Founder, Board Chair-
ment and Training, Kwik Trip NCW man and Brand Ambassador, Culver’s

Registration: $60 per person, per session

For more information
call 920-403-3449 • email lisa.gray@snc.edu • visit snc.edu/ceobreakfast

Presenting Sponsor Title Sponsors

Miron Davis Kuelthau Johnson
Construction Insight Magazine Financial Group

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 63
 and Commerce, the annual Business
Friend of the Environment Award
recognizes small, medium and
large businesses in three categories:
sustainability, the use of innovative
technology and environmental
stewardship. Nominees were from
industries throughout Wisconsin.
Waupaca Foundry operates three iron
foundries and machining operations
based in Waupaca and Marinette. The
award recognized Waupaca Foundry’s
progress in reducing water use and
wastewater treatment in key areas of
manufacturing production.
In addition to reducing water use, the
company recycles 555,000 tons of spent
foundry sand and slag annually. Sand
that can no longer be recycled is used in
general construction, road construction,
agricultural use and geotechnical fill.
Air pollution control uses bag house
air filtration and filter leak detection to
maintain the highest pollution controls
in the foundry industry.
• THE LAKESHORE
Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc,
Sheboygan Counties
Former Door County school
could become housing development
Developers have shared their latest
plans to turn West School in Sturgeon
Bay into a 40-unit workforce housing
development.
The project, which would be named
Sawyer School Lofts, would include
a minimum of eight units guaranteed
for veterans.
Andy Dumke and Cal Schultz of
Northpointe Developments said in
addition to their own investment in the
property, the school would be refurbished
in part with historic tax credits and
Wisconsin Housing and Economic
Development Authority tax credits.
The development would help provide
housing for working individuals and
families — something that is in high
demand in Sturgeon Bay, Dumke said.
“We are passionate about saving
historic buildings and are excited that
this building has the opportunity to
live on with a new purpose,” he said.
“If all goes as planned, West School’s
100th birthday will be celebrated
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019
with its rebirth as a place offering
quality housing.”
The project still needs to make it
through the local approval process.
Providing integrated solutions
Construction begins on state’s for your electrical needs
www.usa.siemens.com
first large-scale solar facility
Construction is underway on Wisconsin’s We deliver your
first large-scale solar park. Wisconsin infrastructure solutions
Public Service and Madison Gas and
Electric have teamed up to build the Two
Creeks Solar Park in Manitowoc County.
The facility will include 500,000
solar panels on 800 acres of land. It is
expected to provide power to more than
33,000 homes.
The park will be in Two Creeks and the
city of Two Rivers, near the Point Beach
Nuclear Plant. NextEra Energy Resources
LLC, the world’s largest generator of
renewable energy from the wind and the 3800 N. Providence Ave. Ste. B
sun and owner of the Point Beach Nuclear
Plant, is developing and building the
APPLETON
facility, which will operate as a subsidiary 800-622-3353
of the company. www.anixter.com
The project will require 300 workers
during construction, with three full-time
personnel hired to operate the facility.
Construction will ramp up this fall, and
the project is expected to finish by the
end of 2020.
• THE NORTHWOODS
Florence, Marinette, Menominee,
Oconto Counties
Fincantieri Marinette Marine and
Vigor deliver boats to Jordanian navy
Fincantieri Marinette Marine and Vigor
announced the deliveries of two additional
Response Boat-Mediums to the U.S.
Coast Guard. These boats are part of
an approved foreign military sale to the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan through
the Department of Homeland Security.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine was the
prime contractor and program manager
for the project, and Vigor built the vessels
at its Seattle facility.
Key features on the vessels include FLIR
night vision technology, push knees for
added control with VBSS operations, and
a composite aft deck hardtop for crew
comfort. The vessels continue to use shock
mitigating seats, Vector-Stick Integrated
Control Systems, and port and starboard
rescue wells for water retrievals.
• INSIGHT | 17
 • PL A C E S continued BY JESSICA THIEL
Northern exposure
Marinette, Florence counties aim to draw residents, visitors
LO C K H E E D MA R T I N
Marinette County’s lead economic
development organization has renamed
and rebranded itself, and it has now
turned its sights to achieving a set of
audacious goals, including increasing the
county’s population by 30 percent in the
next 15 years.
The former Marinette County
Association for Business & Industry
Inc., or MCABI, has adopted the name
inVenture North. The new moniker better
reflects the regionalism the organization
promotes and embraces. Business
and economics know no borders, says
inVenture North Executive Director
Robert Pontius, noting the close ties
between Marinette and Menominee, Mich.
“The political boundaries really don’t
have anything to do with the prosperity of
the region,” he says. “Because our funding
was no longer exclusively Marinette
County and because we saw a need to
break across borders and break out of
silos, we thought we definitely needed a
name change — and something that was
punchier and easier to remember.”
Since the relaunch, Pontius and
Roberta Davis, marketing and community
development director for inVenture
North, have been visiting communities
and re-establishing connections. The
county covers a lot of space, Davis says, so
it’s important to get out and communicate
that the organization is there to help with
economic development efforts.
18 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
Littoral Combat Ship 21, the
future USS Minneapolis-
St. Paul, gets christened at
Fincantieri Marinette Marine.
The shipyard is one of the
three competing for a $1.2
billion U.S. Navy contract that
would deliver a widespread
economic impact.
Davis says these next steps are
about inVenture North visiting
communities and identifying
their individual needs to help
them build on their strengths
and unique value propositions.
With the new name and brand also
comes that bold goal of increasing the
county’s population by 30 percent.
“The biggest holdbacks right now for
economic development are talent and
population,” Pontius says. “Attracting and
retaining business isn’t about providing a
piece of land or infrastructure or capital
in the form of money; it’s really providing
the talent and the workforce these
companies need.”
Pontius says he’d like to see the county
return to the boom times it enjoyed at
the turn of the century. If it can achieve
its goal, it will help draw all the other
community features that will attract
workforce to the area, from restaurants
and entertainment to increased
educational opportunities, he says.
Growing the population brings logistical
challenges from offering ample housing
to improving broadband. Pontius says the
county faces huge shortages in housing at
all levels, from low-income to luxury. It’s
actively working with developers as well
as looking at innovative solutions such as
adaptively reusing underutilized buildings
for housing and even tiny home villages.
As for broadband, it’s a hurdle for the
county, Pontius says. Younger people
expect higher bandwidth and won’t settle
in a place that can’t offer it, he says.
When it comes to evaluating the need
for broadband assistance on a federal
level, Pontius says, the process relies on
assessing census tracts. If one area in a
tract has strong access, the whole tract
is colored as having good broadband.
Pontius says a more granular look is
needed. The hope, he says, is to replace
broad-brush census tract surveys with
more accurate assessments to identify
“internet deserts.”
The organization has set two other major
goals: bringing the micropolitan region
from the bottom 15 percent to the top 10
percent in the ranking of Micropolitan
Statistical Areas and creating a distinctive
asset for the community.
Given the large role manufacturing plays
in the county’s economy, Pontius would
like to see it pursue building an additive
manufacturing innovation center. He says
it could be a multidisciplinary facility with
a focus on serving business and advancing
technology around 3-D printing while
also collaborating with K-12 schools and
higher education.
First steps would include creating a pilot
facility and demonstrating to people the
power of 3-D printing, as “it’s a show, don’t
tell” kind of innovation, Pontius says. The
organization is seeking seed money from
stakeholders, such as companies, higher
education institutions and municipalities.
Several entities would own the project,
and inVenture North would lead the effort.
Eventually, the goal would be to move to a
larger standalone building.
One huge economic development win that
could lie in store for Marinette County is the
$1.2 billion U.S. Navy guided missile frigate
contract. Fincantieri Marinette Marine is one
of three companies vying to build the vessels.
If it were to win the contract, it could lead
to more than $19 billion for additional
ships over the next 10 years.
Because Marinette Marine has already
built a FREMM frigate that’s been a proven
success with the Italian navy, Pontius
says he believes the company holds a
competitive advantage in landing the
contract. “We’re very hopeful,” he says.
 FLORENCE

MARINETTE

NORTHWOODS MENOMINEE
OCONTO

SHAWANO DOOR

KEWAUNEE

Florence County is home to abundant

WAUPACA
OUTAGAMIE BROWN

natural beauty and outdoor recreational WAUSHARA

WINNEBAGO

CALUMET
MANITOWOC

opportunities. The county offers many MARQUETTE

GREEN
LAKE SHEBOYGAN

campgrounds and cabin rentals and

FOND DU LAC

would like to add a hotel to the mix.

says the county is working

F LO R E N C E CO U N T Y
Attracting development
Florence County is making headway in
opening an assisted living facility. Wendy
Gehlhoff, economic development director
for Florence County, says market studies
have shown a need for the facility. The
most recent study, completed in 2018,
revealed a waiting list for this type of
service within an hour radius.
“There’s a big need up here, and it’s
only going to get bigger as the population
ages,” she says.
The county would like to see a senior
facility that includes independent living,
assisted living and memory care. Gehlhoff
with a developer on a 35-unit
concept that includes space
for expansion. She’d like to
see it break ground next spring.
In 2017, Florence County saw the
highest tourism spending growth in the
state, increasing 16.7 percent to $5.7
million. Gehlhoff says the spike was
helped by an event that only happens
every eight years — the Upper Peninsula
Volunteer Firefighters Tournament
brought 10,000 visitors. A renovation at
Florence Middle and High School also
brought contractor stays.
Overall, though, Gehlhoff says
tourism is trending upward, increasing
12.5 percent over the last two years.
The county offers abundant year-
round outdoor recreation opportunities
from its wild rivers and waterfalls to
snowmobiling and all-terrain vehicle
riding. Florence County’s Facebook page
boasts more than 9,800 likes.
While the county is home to many
campgrounds and cabin and cottage rentals
as well as two bed and breakfast locations,
it doesn’t have any hotels. Gehlhoff says the
county has a parcel of land it’s willing to
give away for free for development and has
a TIF district available to provide financial
assistance. It would like to see a 30- to
40-room hotel open.
“We just see there’s so much potential
because of all the outdoor recreation,” she
says. “There’s a pent-up demand.”

DO YOU HAVE TIME TO

MANAGE YOUR FLEET ?

FLEET MANAGEMENT WE CAN HELP.

SERVICES (9 2 0 ) 7 2 9 - 5 1 5 1

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 19
 PIPELINE
Winning the retention race
Unique benefit offerings help businesses set themselves apart
Whether it’s offering rewards, paid time
off to volunteer or another special benefit
to employees, businesses know they
need to play their “A” game to retain
their talent.
“You can’t be a successful company
if you don’t focus on your people,” says
Sandy Fragale, CEO of Orthopedic &
Sports Medicine Specialists. “Employees
play a significant role in a company’s
success, and when they are treated well
and appreciated, it really shows.”
According to the Work Institute,
turnover cost American businesses $600
billion in 2018, with that figure expected
to reach $680 billion by 2020. That total
is not only associated with the direct
costs of finding the replacement but also
the number of lost-work days to fill a
position, the time of those involved with
the interview process and the period it
takes for the new hire to learn the job and
produce at the expected level.
At OSMS, a recognition program plays
a vital role in retention efforts. When
the organization launched an internal
engagement platform to encourage peer-
to-peer recognition and foster a positive
culture, OSMS introduced “bonus bones,”
which are reward points employees
can convert to paid time off, gift cards,
premier parking spots and additional
bonus bones, says Darin Schumacher,
OSMS’s marketing manager.
Each month, every employee receives
200 bonus bones to award to co-workers.
The awards can be given to recognize
a job well done, someone who’s gone
above and beyond or anything else
that makes the employee stand out. As
employees hand out their bonus bones,
it goes on a social media-type feed on
OSMS’s intranet and others can “like” or
comment on the post, Fragale says.
Fragale and OSMS’s doctors — who
own the business — are active on the
20 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
BY MARYBE TH MATZEK
platform, which the CEO
says is important.
“A program like this
needs to be supported from
the owners on down. It’s
a definite culture shift,”
Fragale says. “We believe
the most important thing is
our people, and if we treat
them well, they will treat
our patients well and they’ll
come back.”
Fragale says bonus
bones are just one way
the company shows its
appreciation to employees.
“It’s important to have
them know that they are
valued. For example, we
have a grill, and twice a
summer, I grill out for the
OSMS
whole company,” she says.
“Employees even bought me
a crazy chef hat and apron.
It’s something everyone Sandy Fragale, CEO of Orthopedic & Sports Medicine
looks forward to.” Specialists, cooks out each summer for the company’s
employees. Fragale says the event is just one way the
Lending a hand organization shows its appreciation to employees.
Most companies support their
employees’ volunteer efforts — “Employees can identify on their
especially as studies show giving back own how they want to spend their
is high on millennials’ value list. volunteer hours. They just need to tell
But what about providing PTO so their manager, designate it in the (time
employees can volunteer their time tracking system) as volunteer time and
with a nonprofit organization? then are paid for that time,” she says.
That’s something First Business Bank “We’ve always been flexible with hours, so
began doing earlier this year. Each full- it’s pretty common that people would take
time employee receives eight hours time off from work to volunteer and make
of PTO he or she can use to help at a up the time. Now, we’re letting them
nonprofit during the workday without know they don’t need to make it up.”
worrying about using vacation time, The program was launched earlier this
says Emily Bradley, director of talent year, and Bradley says it has been met with
acquisition at First Business Bank. Some a good response.
part-time employees also receive PTO “There’s not a lot of cost to this
time for volunteering depending on how program, but there’s a big business
many hours they work. reward. Our employees feel more
 appreciated and happier that their employer
is giving them this time to do something
they enjoy,” she says.
Bradley believes more employers will
offer PTO for volunteering as time goes on.
“Employees — especially the millennials —
want to be involved in the community, and
this shows them their employer supports
their efforts.”
On their own schedule
One of the most popular offerings at J. J.
Keller & Associates in Neenah doesn’t cost
the company a cent.
“Our flexibility is by far our most popular
benefit we have that employees take advantage
of,” says Amy Sabourin, vice president of HR
and Associate Services at J. J. Keller. Workers —
depending on their position — have the option
to work from home or structure their hours
for what’s best for them. “Employees have the
freedom to work from home or a little different
schedule if that better meets their needs. That
option is such a benefit to our employees.”
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019
Offering employees the option
to work from home does not create
extra cost for the company and
actually benefits the company since
it helps attract and retain workers,
Sabourin says.
An estimated 25 percent of the
company’s employees work remotely.
Sabourin adds when employees
are polled about what they like best
about working at J. J. Keller, the flexible
working schedule tops the list.
The flexible working option is just
one of multiple ways J. J. Keller tries
to show its employees they’re valued,
Sabourin says. The company offers an
onsite health clinic, fitness center and
cafeteria and supports multiple community
initiatives, which employees appreciate.
“When associates feel appreciated
and valued, that goes a long way to
creating a place where people want to
work, and once they come on board,
that they want to stay,” she says.
What is the Pipeline?
When talking with business
leaders, there’s one subject
that generally unites them:
lack of talent. The talent
shortage cuts across all
industries and businesses
of all sizes. With that in
mind, Insight is launching
this new feature to address
attraction and retention
topics along with other
workforce training trends.
If you have an idea for
a future story, please
email it to mmatzek@
insightonbusiness.com.
• INSIGHT | 21
F O R T H E L OV E
Friends in high places
Volunteer group has long history of supporting High Cliff State Park
A mother of four kids, including a
son in a wheelchair, Kim Stumpf is
always looking for opportunities
to spend time outdoors together
as a family.
“When we go to a park, we
want a park where all the kids
can play,” she says. “If the park
isn’t ADA-accessible, we won’t
even choose to go there.”
Fortunately for the Stumpf
family, who live just outside of
Sherwood, a state-of-the art
ADA-accessible playground will
be built this fall at nearby High
Cliff State Park on the northeastern
shore of Lake Winnebago.
“We need to travel to go to
parks, so to have an ADA-accessible a new ADA-accessible playground at the park in Sherwood.
park near home would be great,”
Stumpf adds.
Funded by the Friends of High Cliff
State Park (FOHC), the new playground
will be installed in the upper level of
the park near the observation tower,
replacing the deteriorating 45-year-old
playground. It will be located closer
to the existing public restrooms and
water fountains, which will also be
upgraded along with a sidewalk
connecting the restrooms to the
playground. Amenities will include a
variety of ADA-accessible play activities
for kids, including a low-impact,
low-maintenance play surface.
“Our role is to help support High
Cliff through educational programs,
stewardship and park improvements,”
says Paul Stelter, FOHC president.
“We’re completely privately financed.
All of our funding comes from donations,
membership fees and fundraisers.”
Established in 1997, the nonprofit
volunteer organization takes on a
variety of projects ranging from hosting
fundraisers to organizing in-park events.
22 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
Friends of High Cliff State Park is raising $175,000 to build
For the past year, the focus has been
updating the playground, Stelter says.
In June, the group received a $100,000
grant for the project from the David L.
and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund within
the Community Foundation for the Fox
Valley Region. That donation brings
the group within reach of its fundraising
goal of $175,000.
“This is the largest donation the
Friends group has ever received, and it’s
certainly one of the bigger projects we’ve
been involved with,” Stelter says. “We
are thankful to the Nelson family and
to the Community Foundation for their
support. The grant put us in a position
where we’re confident that we’ll be able
to raise the rest of the money with good
support from the community.”
Construction on the park will begin
this year with plans to have it open in
time for next summer.
High Cliff State Park isn’t unique in
having a “Friends Of ” organization that
supports activities and projects; most state
parks have similar programs in place. Each
BY CASEY BRIT TEN
year, Friends groups
provide thousands
of volunteer hours to
support state parks
across Wisconsin.
At High Cliff,
FOHC has focused
on helping fund
F R I E N D S O F H I G H C L I F F S TAT E PA R K
park positions and
ongoing improvement
projects, including
equipment purchases,
habitat restoration
and facility repairs.
In addition, FOHC
hosts regular events at
the park such as the
upcoming Halloween
campground walk,
fishing clinics, cleanup
days and educational workshops.
Volunteers can also be found
chopping firewood, planting trees and
picking up litter. All the projects have
one thing in common: keeping High
Cliff beautiful and available to everyone.
“This project is a great example of
how the Friends come together to
enhance people’s experiences in using
High Cliff State Park,” Stelter says. “The
park has a lot to offer. The Friends help
make it even more special, and in the
case of this playground, accessible to
more people.”
For Stumpf ’s family, the efforts are
appreciated. “High Cliff State Park offers
so much more than your average park,”
she says. “Families can spend time
there swimming, boating, hiking and
playing together. (The playground) is
going to be a great addition.”
FOHC membership is open to anyone
who enjoys the park, Stelter says.
Friendsofhighcliff.org
Our Business Services Team provides
200+ years of combined experience
in business banking!

Fox Business Services is a unique group of financial specialists helping area

business owners, entrepreneurs and investors find the solutions they need
to succeed. How may we help you?

ss
Busine
foxcu.org/business
920.993.9000
 I NS P I R I N G
G R EAT N ESS
The Center for
Exceptional Leadership
helps an organization’s key leaders discover
their strengths, discern their principles, and
provide thoughtful, impactful leadership to
their organizations.

Let us help create the contemplative, visionary

champions your organization demands
through our intensive program of assessment
and development. New cohorts form regularly.

Visit snc.edu/cel or contact us at cel@snc.edu.

What sponsors report:

“Greater self-awareness”
“More thoughtful decision-making skills”
“Going from a tactical mode to a strategic one”

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 63
 NORTHEAST WISCONSIN

INTERNATIONAL TRADE
CONFERENCE

TITLE SPONSOR: OCTOBER 25TH, 2019 | 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

FOX VALLEY TECHNICAL COLLEGE’S D.J. BORDINI CENTER

With a focus on Wisconsin’s two largest trading partners, Canada & Mexico, this year’s
Conference offers practical training for businesses looking to expand into exporting, as well
as insightful analysis for those businesses with significant international portfolios.

OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

PRESENTED BY:

JULIÁN ADEM WILSON WAYNE

DÍAZ DE LÉON JONES ROBSON
Consul General of President and Chief Executive Officer Consulate General of
Mexico in Milwaukee Oshkosh Corporation Canada in Chicago

LEARN MORE AT NEWINTERNATIONALTRADE.COM

58 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 Paper Converting
Machine Co. sets its
sights on diversification
BY JESSICA THIEL
P H OTO G R A P H
B Y S H A N E VA N B OX T E L,
I M AG E S T U D I O S

L
ooking at the Paper
Converting Machine
Co. of today, the
picture that emerges is one
of success. Since 2005, the
100-year-old Green Bay
company has been part of
the storied Barry-Wehmiller
Network, a move that has
helped it embrace lean
principles and emerge as an
employer of choice.
It’s easy to forget that
amidst more recent victories,

Stan Blakney brings decades of

industry experience and a track record
of success to his new role as president
of Paper Converting Machine Co.
 O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 25
FRESH ROLE continued

lies a history of a company that struggled

for years to ride the waves of an industry
that’s marked with peaks and valleys. In fact,
between 2001 and 2005, the paper converting
company lost more than $57 million and
instituted more than 730 layoffs across all
its operations.
Nearly 15 years after Barry-Wehmiller
Companies acquired PCMC, the company
is going strong. It recently merged with
fellow Green Bay company Hudson-

Sharp Machine Co., acquired two printing
companies, and plans to diversify its business,
boost its customer service and embrace
Industry 4.0 solutions.
Few people could be better poised to Becoming part of the Barry-Wehmiller Network has helped PCMC become an employer of
lead the company into its future than Stan choice. But like other companies, it needs more workers. Its biggest talent needs are machinists
Blakney, a seasoned leader with decades and service technicians.
of experience in the capital equipment
industry. Throughout his career, he’s helped companies diversify
and increase profits. In February, Blakney became the first-ever
outsider named president of PCMC.
As the company grows, Blakney recognizes the importance
of PCMC’s continued role as a leader in the tissue converting
equipment industry. At the same time, he sees the need to stretch
into new markets, ones he says could help stabilize the company’s
long-term outlook.
“Either (customers are) putting in a bunch of new lines or
they’re not,” Blakney says. “We want to keep concentrating an
emphasis on tissue, and we want to service that market really well,
but we also want to expand, so that we’re not impacted so much
on the ups and downs of that market.”
CO U R T E S Y P C M C
Friday and worry they would be next to lose their job, Sabota says.
Furthering the problem, the company didn’t share financials with
employees, so he says he knew times weren’t good, but he didn’t
fully understand the magnitude of the challenges until later.
PCMC’s fate changed in 2005 when Barry-Wehmiller, a St.
Louis-based $3 billion global supplier of manufacturing technology
and solutions, acquired it. Today, Barry-Wehmilller includes nine
companies serving the packaging, paper converting, sheeting,
corrugating, engineering and IT consulting industries.
For the company’s employees, the change was momentous. “This
is definitely not the same organization, in a very good way, since
the acquisition by Barry-Wehmiller,” Sabota says.
Three years after the acquisition, another cruel twist of fate — the
Great Recession — lay in store. The way the company handled it,

BATTLING BACK
In 1919, PCMC began as the vision of a father-son team operating
out of a garage under the name Bay City Machine Co. In 1923,
its name changed, and the company continued to grow over the
decades, building its headquarters in Green Bay and establishing
itself as a leading manufacturing company.
Over its century of history, however, PCMC has ridden out its
own peaks and valleys. In the early 2000s, the company’s fortunes
took a particularly rough turn.
Craig Sabota, a continuous improvement team lead with PCMC,
has worked for the company since 1997 and lived through the five
years of financial losses and layoffs. The company was stuck in a
cycle of getting huge orders and hiring a bunch of people, only to
lay them off a year or two later.
The uncertainty led to a culture Sabota describes as “very
nervous.” Workers would see a security guard at the door every
CO U R T E S Y P C M C
however, could not have been more different than the response to
previous downturns.
In his celebrated 2015 book “Everybody Matters: The
Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family,”
Barry-Wehmiller Chairman and CEO Bob Chapman and co-
author Raj Sisodia recounted how Barry-Wehmiller weathered the
recession, keeping people’s jobs intact and emerging as a stronger
organization. Chapman is a sought-after speaker for his message
and has made three presentations in the region during the past year,
including just last month at St. Norbert College.
When the recession hit, Chapman had already developed the
company’s Guiding Principles of Leadership, which lay out its
commitment to employees’ personal growth, and founded Barry-
Wehmiller University, which offers classes focused on inspirational
leadership, culture and sustainable business strategies. Staying true
to the principles he’d laid out would prove the ultimate challenge.
As Chapman watched the economic downturn, he agonized,

“This is definitely not the same organization, in a very

good way, since the acquisition by Barry-Wehmiller.”­
—Craig Sabota, continuous improvement lead, PCMC
 ultimately asking himself the question, “What would a caring
family do when faced with a crisis?” The answer: shared sacrifice. ONLINE: Listen to PCMC
At PCMC and other Barry-Wehmiller companies, no one got President Stan Blakney discuss
laid off, but workers took mandatory furloughs, with everyone the company’s plans to
taking four weeks of unpaid time off. Sabota says the solution was diversify and what it means
a relief to employees, one that garnered national media attention to practice Truly Human
Leadership.
amid a slew of companies taking the “slash and burn” approach to
weathering the downturn.
“It was one of the nicest summers
I’ve had in my working career
because I could actually spend time
with my family, and I think a lot of
“We want to keep concentrating an emphasis on tissue,
people viewed it that way. It sure and we want to service that market really well, but we also
was a lot nicer to do it that way want to expand, so that we’re not impacted so much on the
than losing your job,” says Sabota,
who also teaches a class for Barry- ups and downs of that market.” – Stan Blakney, president, PCMC
Wehmiller University.
The move not only spared people’s
livelihood, it helped strengthen “through communication, trust, celebration, respect, continuous
Barry-Wehmiller. Business bounced back, far outpacing the improvement and responsible freedom.”
recovery of the economy at large, and the company posted record Chapman began championing Truly Human Leadership in
earnings in 2010. the early 2000s, and considering the war for talent nearly every
Legacy Flexo, a Green Bay flexographic printing company, has company is facing, the concepts he developed seem prescient.
worked with PCMC since the early 2000s. Mark Carrick, president Blakney became familiar with Barry-Wehmiller when he read
and co-owner, says he had some reservations when he learned Chapman’s book and later encountered the company firsthand when
Barry-Wehmiller had acquired the company. he was working as chief operating officer at Goss International, a
“Sometimes it’s a negative when a larger corporation takes over New Hampshire-based printing machinery company. PCMC was
a business,” he says. “They’ve done a very good job with PCMC, among the bidders when the company was for sale.
improving service and offerings.” Since assuming his new role, people have often asked Blakney if
Barry-Wehmiller delivers on the promises it makes to employees.

TRULY HUMAN LEADERSHIP

Each Barry-Wehmiller company embraces and lives by
Chapman’s Truly Human Leadership philosophy that advocates
for creating a culture that brings out the best in employees
CO U R T E S Y P C M C
“It’s one thing to write it in a book. Do they really live it? I can
tell you after being here for going on seven months ... they do.
They really care about people and try to get them into the right
areas,” he says.
This doesn’t mean PCMC is a utopia, he says. [c ont i nue d ] »

As PCMC moves into the future, it plans to

continue its commitment to manufacturing tissue
converting equipment while also increasing its
focus on printing and bag converting.

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 27
FRESH ROLE continued
Rather, it’s about dealing with people respectfully and giving them
the opportunity to take on new and different challenges. It’s a
workplace where employees know they matter.
“It really is a culture of caring here. It’s amazing to me how
people really reach out and support one another with whatever
crisis they’re dealing with,” says Kate Eastman, marketing and
communications leader at PCMC.
It’s also a culture of openness. Unlike in the past, Barry-
Wehmiller shares financials with staff at all levels. Sabota says
knowing what’s going on with the health of the organization gives
employees confidence.
Recognition and celebration are integral at PCMC and all Barry-
Wehmiller companies. Peers and co-workers recommend employees
to be recognized at its Guiding Principles of Leadership celebrations.
Honorees get to drive a special vehicle from the Barry-Wehmiller
fleet for a week, receive Green Bay Packers tickets and get to spend a
weekend at one of the company’s cabins in Hobart or Phillips.
PCMC faces an onslaught of retirements among machinists and
struggles to fill service technician roles because of the travel and
highly technical knowledge required for the job. Overall, though,
Blakney says the company fares well when it comes to talent and
has a low employee churn rate compared to industry averages.
To help meet future needs, PCMC has a strong internship
“It really is a culture of caring here. It’s amazing to me how people really reach
28 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
CO U R T E S Y P C M C
PCMC employs approximately 980 across locations in Green Bay
and Europe. The company recently acquired printing companies in
Florida and Canada.
program in which students work on meaningful projects and tackle
real problems. On the skilled trades side, it’s looking to reinvigorate
its co-op/apprenticeship program in the hopes of training people
for machinist and assembly roles.
“We’ve been pretty lucky. I think people recognize us as a really
good place to work, and that helps us in recruiting,” Blakney says.
A LARGER FOOTPRINT
Choosing an outsider to lead the company was a new direction for
PCMC. Blakney says the company thrived under his predecessor,
Steve Kemp, who retired from PCMC after working there 38 years.
At the same time, it wanted to pursue a new strategy that would
help broaden its focus.
Blakney, a Marine Corps veteran, has held multiple roles in the
manufacturing industry in the Midwest and on the East Coast, as
well as living in Germany for three years while he served as COO
for the Valve and Gate Group.

CO U R T E S Y P C M C
PAPER CONVERTING MACHINE CO.
Headquarters: Green Bay
Year founded: 1919
What it does: Tissue converting, packaging, flexographic
printing, bag converting and nonwovens technology
Employs: Approximately 980 across locations in tissue side as well to improve PCMC’s product portfolio. On
Green Bay, England, Belgium and Italy
pcmc.com
The capital equipment industry veteran has overseen renovations
and expansions and helped lead companies from losses to profits.
When American Industrial Partners acquired Goss International and
Blakney joined Goss as COO, the company was losing $26 million.
Blakney and his team turned that around. His first year there, Goss
made $4 million; it made $14 million his second year.
When Blakney joined PCMC, it was heavily focused on the tissue
side of its business. While the company will continue to nurture
and grow its tissue converting business, it also plans to expand the
print and bag converting side. Its merger with Hudson-Sharp, a bag
converting equipment manufacturer and fellow Barry-Wehmiller
company, helps facilitate that goal.
Blakney says the two companies and their equipment
complement each other well. He anticipates the move will facilitate
innovation and efficiencies and put the company in a stronger
place to meet customer needs moving forward. In addition, several
customers have PCMC presses and Hudson-Sharp bag-making
equipment, so that puts PCMC in a good position to sell them both
pieces of equipment.
In August, PCMC acquired two printing companies: RDP
Marathon Inc. of Montreal and IPT Digital of Sarasota, Fla.
In addition, the company would like to expand out of doing
flexographic printing alone and move into digital as well. It plans to
incorporate a hybrid press that allows for customization and doing
both kinds of printing.
PCMC’s dedication to printing innovation includes
out and support one another with whatever crisis they’re dealing with.”
– Kate Eastman, marketing and communications leader, PCMC
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019
At a recent Guiding Principles of
Leadership celebration, recognized
employees got to drive a Chevy Camaro
for a week and received Green Bay Packers
tickets and a weekend stay in one of the
company’s cabins in Hobart or Phillips.
manufacturing presses designed to reduce energy costs and
which include waste-saving, quick-changeover features. Its
Meridian laser anilox cleaner provides a one-pass cleaning
solution, and its SteadyPrint anti-bounce feature delivers
enhanced graphics and improved imagery to customers. Its
SteadyPrint won the Flexographic Technical Association’s 2019
Technical Innovation Award in May.
Blakney wants to expand and pursue acquisitions on the
the innovation side and in pursuit of sustainability initiatives, it
manufactures a machine that allows companies to produce rolls
of coreless bath tissue.
Blakney says a reinforced dedication to service and incorporating
more modern technology is necessary to meet customers’ needs.
“I come from a lot of capital equipment businesses. Service and
support are key,” he said.
PCMC is also embracing internet of things and Industry 4.0
solutions. Smart Touch HMI (Human-Machine Interface) will be
added to its new equipment. Field Link is a tablet that allows the
company’s technicians to assess and diagnose customers’ problems,
and Smart Touch offers an intuitive machine interface. In October,
Hudson-Sharp also will launch a machine with Industry 4.0
features specific to the bag converting market.
The company works with partners such as Legacy Flexo to run
trials on equipment and test and devise smart manufacturing
solutions. For example, the two are working on a project that
documents printers’ run abilities and collects data.
“We work hand in hand with one another. That’s from the sales
end to the engineers to the service end of things,” says Alex Schaefer,
maintenance and safety manager for Legacy Flexo.
As PCMC moves forward, it plans to grow its core businesses
through providing superior service and increasing product
offerings while also maintaining its focus on the aftermarket.
Selling new equipment is the smallest part of the business, Blakney
says. Sustaining and maintaining it is key. It also will continue to
pursue acquisitions where they make sense.
“We set a good goal for this group that we’re going to grow. In the
past, we had kind of just tried to maintain, and we’re changing that
philosophy now,” Blakney says.
• INSIGHT | 29
FEATURE
Pitch events put startups in the spotlight
Startups play a vital role in the region’s
economic vitality. To draw more attention to
startups and the entrepreneurs behind them,
New North Inc. is coordinating Hatch, a
regional pitch event, in partnership with
the BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation.
Eight entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas
to a team of judges during the afternoon of
the New North Summit on Dec. 5. The first-
place winner will receive $5,000, and the
second-place winner will receive $3,000.
BrightStar, a nonprofit organization that
invests in early-stage companies, will fund
the event’s prizes.
During the Hatch competition,
entrepreneurs will have three to five
minutes to make their pitch to the judges,
followed by three to five minutes of
questions and answers. Contestants are also
encouraged to upload a 90-second video
with a description of their business idea on
the link provided on the online application.
30 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
Two contestants from four local Hatch
contests, which will be held during Startup
Wisconsin Week, Nov. 11-17, will win the
right to compete during the Hatch event
at the New North Summit.
The four local pitch contests and
locations are:
• The Audible will be held from 4:30 to
6:30 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the Urban Hub, 340
N. Broadway St., Green Bay.
• Fast Pitch will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.
on Nov. 12 at Fox Cities Stadium, 2400 N.
Casaloma Drive, Grand Chute.
• Hatch Pitch Sheboygan County will be
held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 at Miley
Barn, 100 Alfred Miley Ave., Sheboygan Falls.
• Invent Your North will be held from 6
to 8 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Maritime Center of
Excellence, 1320 Main St., Marinette.
At each local contest, the winner will
receive $2,000 and the second-place finisher
will receive $1,000.
BY MARYBE TH MATZEK
For more information on any of these
Hatch events or to register, please visit
thenewnorth.com and look for the Hatch
Contest link.
During Startup Week, the Urban
Hub is hosting a pitch event on Nov. 11
focused on talent needs. At TechConnect,
startup CEOs will pitch an audience of
technology professionals on what they need
from a tech talent perspective. The goal is
to create a context where two otherwise-
disconnected groups — business and
technology professionals — can meet and
foster a co-founder, adviser or employee
relationship, says Matthew Kee, startup
development manager for the Greater
Green Bay Chamber.
To help prepare entrepreneurs, the New
North has added resources on its website,
including a list of co-working spaces in the
region. Visit thenewnorth.com/our-work/
entrepreneurial-resources to learn more.
 — SPONSORED CONTENT —

KI CONVENTION CENTER • GREEN BAY, WI

OCTOBER 30, 2019

October 29 – Pre-Conference for Exhibitors and Sponsors ONLY!

 Keynote Speakers  More than 200 Exhibitors  12 Breakout Sessions

 3 Special Presentations  1,000+ Attendees  Networking and More

The author of “Leadership Isn’t for Cowards,”

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS Mike Staver is an internationally respected
speaker and coach. Mike takes noisy,
often complex, leadership content and
DAVID KOHLER MIKE makes it immediately useful, digestible and

STAVER
President and CEO entertaining. Mike has degrees in business
of KOHLER Co. administration and counseling psychology
LEADERSHIP and is a certified speaking professional.
145 YEARS OF
MANUFACTURING ISN’T FOR KEYNOTE SPONSOR:
AND INNOVATION COWARDS

PRESENTED BY:
REGISTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

TODAY
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
MANUFACTURINGFIRST.COM O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 31
OCTOBER 29, 2019 – Pre-Conference 6:15 PM
(Sponsors & Exhibitors only NEWMA PARTNERSHIP
AWARDS DINNER
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
(TICKETS SOLD SEPARATELY)
OEM Roundtable
(Exhibitors & Sponsors ONLY!) NEWMA will host its eighth annual EXCELLENCE IN
Supply chain presentations and face-to-face discussions MANUFACTURING/K-12 PARTNERSHIPS AWARDS
with area OEMs and larger manufacturers DINNER as part of the pre-conference activities
on Oct. 29. NEWMA received a record number of
4:30 PM – 6:15 PM nominations this year and is excited to recognize
NEWMA Cocktail Reception the 2019 winners at the dinner event.
(Scholarship Silent Auction)
Tickets for the NEWMA dinner are not included
6:15 PM – 8:30 PM in the Manufacturing First registration and must
NEWMA Partnership Awards Dinner* be purchased separately. Reserve your seats for
$60 by going to manufacturingfirst.com.
* NEWMA Excellence in Manufacturing/K-12
Partnerships Awards Dinner (tickets sold separately)

ONE BIG DAY – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019

 Keynote Speakers  More than 200 Exhibitors  12 Breakout Sessions
 3 Special Presentations  1,000+ Attendees  Networking and More

7:00AM REGISTRATION, BREAKFAST & NETWORKING | Sponsored by CR Meyer

8:00AM KEYNOTE PRESENTATION | Sponsored by Ruder Ware

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: DAVID KOHLER & MIKE STAVER

DAVID KOHLER MIKE STAVER

President and CEO Author, Speaker
of Kohler Co.
Leadership
145 Years of Isn’t for
Manufacturing Cowards
and Innovation

KEYNOTE
SPONSOR:

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

REGISTER AT: MANUFACTURINGFIRST.COMw w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
32 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019
 IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING KEYNOTE SPEAKER – 2 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
SPECIAL PRESENTATION #1 SPECIAL PRESENTATION #2
A top 10 list of what NOT to do How & Why Alternative Financing Works for Manufacturers
in the workplace!
Presented by:
Presented by: Bill Elliott
Sara Ackermann President
Attorney First Business Growth Funding

9:30AM – 3:30PM EXPO OPEN

All-day expo with over 200 exhibitors, interactive XCELLD booths and networking opportunities.
Manufacturing First CELLS are exclusive booth
spaces designed to give the attendees opportunities 2019 Manufacturing First CELLS will feature:
to continue their education throughout the day. The
elite CELLS are quick, on-demand ways to learn
skills, interact with other manufacturers and stay
in the middle of all the action.

MORNING & AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS | Sessions at 11AM & 1PM

TOPICS TO INCLUDE:
• How Manufacturers Can Own Google Search in 2019 • Adaptive Leadership: A Proactive Approach to Positive
Results in a Rapidly Changing Business Environment
• Demystifying Industry 4.0
• A Healthy Workforce = Economic Development,
• Disaster Recovery, Crisis Response and Business Continuity
Growth and Sustainability
• Improving Employee Safety and Operational Excellence
• How Overhead Can Erode (or Increase!) Your Gross Margin
• Articulating Your Effective, Intentional Culture!
• ROI of Safety
• Recruiting and Retaining Talent Through Leadership Development
• Getting Started in Automation — Strategies to Evaluate, Prioritize
• Aligning HR and Marketing and Implement Automation Processes

2:00 – 3:00PM POWER HOUR | Expo Floor

3:15PM SPECIAL PRESENTATION | Presented by Oshkosh Corp.

3:30PM BUSINESS AFTER HOURS | Sponsored by Northwind IP Law

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
RATES $149 registration
$179 at the door O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 33
 PRESENTING SPONSORS
PRESENTED BY: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

KEYNOTE SPONSOR PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSORS
Breakfast Sponsor Lunch Sponsor Cocktail Reception Renewable Energy Student Keynote T-Shirt Sponsor Signage Sponsor Event Manager
Sponsor Sponsor Partnership

34 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m

MANUFACTURINGFIRST.COM
 >insight insider
Waiting game
Tariff war creates uncertainty for businesses
Beyond the headlines, tweets and
30-second sound bites about trade wars
and tariffs, businesses ranging from
manufacturers to farmers are trying to
determine a way forward as they cope
with higher costs, lower sales and a lot
of uncertainty.
For more than a year, businesses
have contended with higher tariffs on
products imported from China and
have seen China retaliate by placing
higher levies on U.S. products entering
its country. The back-and-forth between
the countries has led to an increase in
the number of products covered by the
tariffs, which now includes consumer
goods such as electronics and shoes.
At the same time, the United States
has trade disagreements with other
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019
By Mar yB eth Matzek
countries, making the whole situation
challenging to follow.
“All of this unease and uncertainty is
bad for business,” says Soren Hauge, an
economics professor at Ripon College.
“Business owners are sitting on their
hands and not investing in technology
or machinery in case things get worse.
That then affects other manufacturers
because they’re not selling as much.
It’s an unending cycle.”
During the past year, Wisconsin
businesses have dealt with the negative
impact of the trade war with China,
whether it is farmers seeing the
market for their soybeans dry up
or manufacturers paying more for
their inputs. As of Aug. 1, Wisconsin
businesses paid an extra $533 million
in import taxes on products subject
to the tariffs, while at the same
time, state businesses, including
farmers, have faced $231 million
in retaliatory tariffs, according to
U.S. Census Bureau data.
If additional tariffs on consumer
goods go into place in December as
planned, the government predicts U.S.
households will incur an extra $1,000
to $2,000 annually in higher costs.
“The current threats and trade
restrictions between the U.S. and
its trading partners are already
damaging Wisconsin business
interests, not only causing counter-
retaliations but also in chilling trade
flow” between businesses here
and their Chinese markets, says
Ngosong Fonkem, a senior adviser
at Addison-Clifton, who works
with companies on day-to-day
compliance with U.S. trade laws
and related audits, investigations
and civil enforcement proceedings.
“The trade war not only impacts
Wisconsin businesses on the
importing side but also on the
exporting side as Wisconsin
products entering China, the
EU and Mexico are subject to
additional duties imposed by
Fonkem
the trading partners,” he says.
Initially, some businesses thought the
tariffs with China would be a short-term
issue, so they resolved to absorb the
costs, but as the trade war drags on and
intensifies, some are now rethinking their
original positions, says Brad Baumann, a
principal with CLA in Oshkosh.
“Businesses realize this is a long-term
play situation. This (trade war) is going
to be around awhile,” he says. “Even if
Democrats win in 2020, nothing will
change overnight. Companies [continued ] »
• INSIGHT | 35
i n s i d e r cont inued

“For businesses that make today’s businesses

are operating in, few
specifically targeted by China and other
trading partners due to their belief that
companies can make a they form President Trump’s core voting
products in China and ship quick change in supply base” and that he may be more willing to
chain vendors.” make a deal to aid those industries since
them back to the United he doesn’t want to lose their support.
Bearing the cost While Trump suggested businesses
States, creating a whole Importers originally
bear the additional
move their supply chains out of China
to get around the tariffs, Baumann says
cost of the tariffs, says that’s not as easy as it sounds.
new supply chain in another Marc von der Ruhr, an “The capacity in manufacturing is
economics professor at very tight in the United States. We don’t
country in east Asia or even St. Norbert College in have enough workers, and if production
De Pere. For example, is moved back (here), there would be
back in the United States — if there’s a 15 percent
tariff, that percentage of
higher labor costs,” he says.
Ripon College’s Hauge says
the item’s value is paid
as the president suggested to the government. The
overhauling a supply chain is also not
an inexpensive task.
importer then needs to “For businesses that make products in
— takes time and can cost decide if it wants to pass China and ship them back to the United
on the entire cost to its States, creating a whole new supply chain
more money.” buyers, absorb it or split in another country in east Asia or even
the increase between back in the United States — as the
both parties. president suggested — takes time and
— Soren Hauge, economics professor, Ripon College “Of course, the degree can cost more money” than what the
to which this happens tariffs cost, he says.
will need to decide whether they want to depends on many factors,” von der Ruhr Baumann says, however, that as the
pass on the higher costs to their consumers says. “One is how price-sensitive the trade war drags on, some manufacturers
or begin looking at other strategies.” consumer is. If the consumer may take a serious look at creating a supply
One of Baumann’s clients manufactures is insensitive to price changes chain in another country, such as Vietnam
half of its product in Wisconsin and in the purchase decision, the or India, but it won’t happen overnight.
the other half in China. While tariffs consumer will pay more of “I work with a manufacturer who is
are increasing its costs associated with the tax than otherwise. Both looking at possibly moving production
manufacturing, he says the company consumers and producers von der Ruhr out of China to another country, but it
doesn’t have the space or people to stand to be hurt by tariffs.” takes time to get that all figured out,” he
produce those products in Wisconsin. As for the industries taking the biggest says. “There’s much to consider, including
“This is leading them to look at hit in the trade war, Fonkem says it’s different lead times and that the quality
adding a new building or looking to shift clearly manufacturing and agriculture. may not be where it should be. Those are
some sourcing to Mexico from China,” That’s not by accident, he says, since all intangibles that need to be considered.”
Baumann says. “In the ecosystems that those two industry sectors “have been While it may be challenging for U.S.
companies to find suppliers not affected
by the tariffs, the Chinese, on the other
hand, have easily found non-U.S. sources
Feeling the impact for what it needs, Fonkem says. For
example, Wisconsin soybean farmers have
During the first seven months of 2019, Wisconsin exported $12.7 billion been locked out of their primary market
worth of products — a 5 percent decrease compared to the same — China — as part of the trade war. China
has turned to other markets, including
timeframe in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
South America, to get its soybeans.
This is just the second time since 2012 that exports didn’t reach the When the trade war is resolved, Fonkem
$13 billion mark by the end of July. wonders if Wisconsin farmers will be able
to win back their customers. That question
According to the Census Bureau, exports to China were down 26.3 and others are getting more consideration
percent during the first seven months of 2019, which accounted for as the trade war continues, he says.
Baumann says the tariffs may be one
nearly all of the decline.
of the factors that leads to an economic
slowdown. He says farmers who are

36 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 unable to sell their soybeans or
must sell them at a lower-than “The current threats and trade restrictions
anticipated cost then may be
unable to purchase new equipment between the U.S. and its trading partners
and become wary of making any
new investments.
“Manufacturing output is slowing,
are already damaging Wisconsin business
but I think there’s a number of
factors coming into play,” Baumann interests, not only causing counter-
says. “There’s less demand because
with the tariffs, some people are
hesitant to spend. There’s also a lot
retaliations but also in chilling trade flow.”
of political uncertainty heading into
the next election and businesses — Ngosong Fonkem, senior adviser, Addison-Clifton
don’t like uncertainty.”
economic stability through trade. The Hauge says. “Economies of scale — which
Past lessons thinking was if two countries had a good grew in popularity after World War II
For businesses wondering how the trading relationship, it would benefit — meant that only some manufacturers
current trade war will end, history may not each one economically, and political would build certain items, such as
be a good indicator, Hauge says. Prior to disagreements would be resolved through enormous airplanes. It’s cheaper to make a
World War II, trade wars between nations negotiation, not the battlefield. lot of jets in one place than make them in
were common, but “global trade, as we “The United States took the lead in multiple spots.”
now have it, wasn’t in place,” he says. creating the WTO since it encouraged But in doing that, the United States lost
The World Trade Organization was trade, which allows economies to grow out to other nations in the production of
created after World War II to promote and leads to overall global stability,” some low-cost items, Hauge [continued ] »

Need help navigating

your work injuries?
With fast return to work rates, we offer a complete package of work injury
management from consultation and prevention to treatment and follow-up
care – all with the goal of getting your employee healthy and back to
work quickly.

• Coordinated medical care to encourage early return-to-work and

reduce lost time

• Case managers facilitate ongoing communications among the injured

worker, employer, provider and workers’ compensation carrier

• Assist with navigating the health care system to secure the right resources
at the right time

To learn more about how Prevea can help

with your onsite or in-clinic occupational
health needs, contact us at (920) 431-1999
or visit prevea.com/OccHealth.

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 37

“The illiterate of the
21st century will be
those who cannot . . .
learn, unlearn, and relearn.” These words of Alvin Toffler are
echoed by other experts who know that often the hardest part of
learning is unlearning — especially in today’s data-saturated world.
Why unlearn? Because if we can’t unlearn, we can’t learn.
If we can’t learn, we can’t grow. And if we can’t grow, we won’t
become the individuals and organizations we aspire to become.
We invite you to experience the potential of belonging to a small
group of trusted women and men who seek to learn, unlearn and
relearn from each other — all so they can positively impact their
personal and professional lives. And we will treat you to breakfast!
The purpose of this no-pressure event is to help you discover
whether it makes sense for you to join 550 of Wisconsin’s top
leaders in taking advantage of this powerful “secret weapon”
known as Executive Agenda. Our next set of information
breakfast meetings in Green Bay and Appleton (both sessions
run from 8:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.) are as follows:
Tuesday, October 8 – Holiday Inn Stadium, Green Bay
Tuesday, October 15 – DoubleTree by Hilton, Appleton
This breakfast is a guest participation meeting with limited
seating. To reserve a place, call Executive Agenda toll free at
877-MY GROWTH (877-694-7698) or 262-821-3600, or e-mail us
at ea@executiveagenda.com  www.ExecutiveAgenda.com
38 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019
VERSION 1
i n s i d e r cont inued
says. “We lost those jobs and really missed
an opportunity to retrain and re-educate
those workers for other jobs,” he says.
Fonkem says there is no scientific
methodology for calculating how long
trade wars last.
“International trade is the bedrock of
the U.S. economy, and the longer that is
impeded, the more the economy will be
disrupted,” he says. “Typically, trade wars
end only after long periods of settlement
negotiations by the feuding nations, but
there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight.”
St. Norbert’s von der Ruhr says a trade
war with Japan in the 1980s may be the
best example of what may happen with the
current trade dispute with China. “We had
a persistent trade dispute with Japan that
was attributed to ‘unfair trade’ practices.
That dispute lasted decades,” he says.
In announcing the tariffs, the U.S.
government cited both the trade deficit
with China and intellectual property theft
as reasons for the move. Regarding stealing
intellectual property, Hauge says China
“has definitely bent current WTO rules,
but tariffs by one country won’t make
them change their MO. It would have been
better if the U.S. had worked with its allies
to provide more leverage and pressure to
change how companies doing business
there share their technology.”
As for the current tariffs reducing the
U.S. trade deficit with China, von der Ruhr
says that’s unlikely. “Tariffs will not reduce
the trade deficit because U.S. importers
will likely substitute imports from nations
other than China,” he says.
The entire global economy may suffer
from a lengthy trade war between the
United States and China, Fonkem says.
“The trade war may decouple our
economy from the Chinese supply chain,
which may lead to grave consequences not
just to the two countries’ economies, but
the global economy.”
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 > health insurance
Strong medicine
Shopko’s exit leaves impact on pharmacy sector
HOME TOWN PHARMACY
When Shopko began selling off its
pharmacy business last December as
a precursor to the retailer’s eventual
bankruptcy and closure, consumers were
shocked, confused and angry. What
would happen to their prescriptions?
What did it mean for their prescription
drug coverage?
The incident underscored the close
relationship people have with the
employees at their pharmacies and their
concern about prescription drug coverage.
“For consumers, the pharmacy
(insurance) benefit is the most visible and
the most utilized,” says Chuck Rynearson,
vice president of health analytics and
pharmaceutical benefits at Menasha-
based Network Health.
Shopko originally sold the pharmacy
files of 25 Wisconsin stores to Kroger,
the owner of Pick ’n Save, with CVS and
Walgreens later picking up additional
parts of Shopko’s pharmacy businesses
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019
By Mar yB eth Matzek
as the retailer entered bankruptcy. For
consumers, the closure of Shopko’s
pharmacies was a huge headache as they
found themselves at a new store and
making sure their information was up
to date. Some small communities found
themselves without a pharmacy altogether.
The news also left other pharmacies
scrambling as they faced a rush of
customers looking for a new home, which
meant adding and updating files as well as
making sure they had enough medication
in stock and employees to meet the
higher demand.
When Shopko closed its pharmacies,
Hometown Pharmacy — a pharmacy
and complementary health care
services provider headquartered in the
Columbia County village of Rio — hadn’t
planned on opening additional stores in
Northeast Wisconsin, but then former
Shopko pharmacists began reaching out.
Hometown Pharmacy, which has more than
When Shopko closed all its
stores this year, it left many
communities without a
pharmacy. Players such as
Hometown Pharmacy, shown
here, have helped fill the void.
The pharmacy has opened 10
new stores this year, including
six in Northeast Wisconsin.
70 locations in Wisconsin,
partners with independent
pharmacists to open locally
owned stores and still have
group buying power.
The Shopko pharmacists
were concerned “their
patients would be losing
their only pharmacy
option in town and be
forced to drive elsewhere,”
says Katelyn Schiltz,
a spokeswoman with
Hometown Pharmacy.
“The pharmacists wanted
to continue serving their patients and
knowing our business model and our
approach to health care, they wanted to
partner with us.”
By working with Hometown, local
pharmacists can reduce the burden of
running their own businesses by assisting
them with tasks such as HR, payroll,
marketing and ordering, so they can
focus on their patients, Schiltz adds.
This year, Hometown Pharmacy has
opened 10 new stores, including six in
the region. New stores in Brillion, Sister
Bay and Winneconne provided those
communities with a local pharmacy after
Shopko closed.
“We were not actively looking to open
any new pharmacies this year, so when
we started receiving the calls and emails
from people wanting us to bring our
services to their communities, that was
when we decided we needed to help out,”
says Schiltz, adding that the [continued ] »
• INSIGHT | 39
hea l t h i n s u r a n c e cont inued

"We were not actively looking to Lessons learned

After watching what happened with

open any new pharmacies this Shopko, Network Health wanted to

year, so when we started receiving
the calls and emails from people
wanting us to bring our services to
their communities, that was when
we decided we needed to help out.”
— Katelyn Schiltz, spokeswoman, Hometown Pharmacy
company also heard from community
leaders looking to bring a new pharmacy
to their town following Shopko’s closure.
Schiltz says Hometown Pharmacy
looks to set itself apart from big box
retailers by being proactive about
customers’ health.
“We want to be a place where
you go to stay healthy so that you
don’t need prescriptions in the first
place,” she says. “We want to be
a regular part of your health care
team, and we take the time to get
to know you.”
ensure it gave its members plenty of time
to prepare when it decided to change its
preferred pharmacy for its commercial
health plan customers from CVS to
Walgreens beginning Jan. 1.
Rynearson says Network began
spreading the word in July about the
upcoming change along with the
information that their insurance would
already be accepted at Walgreens if
customers wanted to make the switch
earlier. Walgreens was already the
preferred pharmacy for Network’s
Medicare plan members.
“Anyone who has gone through the
process of transitioning a prescription
from one pharmacy to another knows it’s
not always easy, and to do that at the first
of the year is just crazy,” Rynearson says.
“You want to limit disruptions as much
as possible.”
Network’s decision to partner with
Express Scripts as its new pharmacy

WE KNOW WHAT YOU’D You’re an entrepreneur at heart, and you’d rather

be spending time building your business. We get

RATHER BE BUILDING. it. That’s why, when you work with Consolidated
Construction, we’ll introduce you to our planning
and delivery process that results in a hassle-free
building project. Get a faster construction schedule,
better communication, and higher return on
investment – so you can spend less time building
your building and more time building your business.

Consolidate It. Make 1 Call.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL

ARCHITECTURE I FUNDING I CONSTRUCTION I SERVICE

1.800.642.6774 1call2build.com

40 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 Grant E. Jonathan R. William E. James W.
Birtch Eiden Fischer Goonan

Sarah E. Jeffrey L. Courtney A. Frank W.

Hanneman Hesson Hollander Kowalkowski

HOME TOWN PHARMACY

Hometown Pharmacy has more than

70 locations statewide and partners Benjamin D. James R. Robert A. Anne C.
with independent pharmacists to LaFrombois Macy Mathers McDonald
operate locally owned stores.

benefits manager for all lines of

business led to the switch from CVS to
Walgreens, Rynearson explains. ESI has
managed benefits for Network Health
Jonathan A. Thomas W. Gerald H. Stephen A.
Medicare members since 2005, but with Meulemans Moniz Rammer Seifert
this transition, employer group and
individual plan members are now
also included.
“We’ve been working with Express
Scripts already, so it made sense to
move the commercial side there as well.
The Express Scripts network contains Lawrence C. Adam N. Steven R. Rodman W.
Walgreens pharmacies, which are Silton Skarie Sorenson Streicher
easily accessible for most of Network
Health’s service area,” he says. “Several
Walgreens locations have 24-hour
pharmacies, which means our members
can pick up prescriptions when it’s
convenient for them.” Jared R. William S.
Rynearson says the move allows Stroik Woodward
Network to gain efficiencies and savings
that can be passed on to its members.
Big Law. Local Expertise.
Keeping costs in line Our Fox Valley and northeast Wisconsin attorneys have a vested interest in
While it’s no secret health care costs the communities where they live and practice. Our community presence,
keep increasing, Brent Eberle, senior creative approach, and industry-leading knowledge position us to be your
vice president and senior pharmacy preferred legal partner. To learn how our more than 180 attorneys can help
officer of Navitus Health Solutions, you throughout northeast Wisconsin, visit vonbriesen.com.
says Navitus customers saw their drug
spend stay flat from 2017 to 2018. A
pharmacy benefits manager, Navitus
works with self-insured businesses or
third-party administrators. Oshkosh • Green Bay • Appleton • Neenah • Manitowoc
“We’re looking to see that trend
continuing for 2019,” he says. [continued ] »

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 41
 health cont inued

”Anyone who has

helping us see the future
12.05.19 KIGreen
Convention Center
Bay, WI
Visit newnorthsummit.com
Services for Business & Industry
Customized. Innovative. Solutions.
gone through
the process of
transitioning a
prescription from
one pharmacy to
another knows it’s
not always easy,
and to do that
at the first of the
year is just crazy.
You want to limit
disruptions as
much as possible.”

To stay competitive, you need to — Chuck Rynearson,

find, select and train new and existing vice president of health analytics

employees. and pharmaceutical benefits,

Let Fox Valley Technical College help you:
• Find new employees
• Evaluate with employee assessments
• Enhance employee skills with seminars
and customized training
Contact our industry experts today!
www.fvtc.edu/EmployerResources • 920-735-2525
Network Health
“That’s a real positive. There are some
very specialty drugs out there with huge
costs associated with them that get a
lot of attention.”
The costs of other drugs have stayed
in line or lowered due to the addition of
more generic drugs and the creation of
narrower networks, Eberle says.
“A narrower network reduces options
for consumers, but it helps lower costs,
and if you live in an area without a
big selection, it makes sense to go that
route,” he says.
When Shopko announced its closure,
Eberle says his team looked quickly to
make sure any members in those areas
had other options available.
“We just wanted to make sure our
members were taken care of and
provided them with the information
to help them,” he says.

42 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 Make the switch to
Old National
Business Checking
and get up to

$700
(maybe even more!)
With qualifying activities.

OFFER ENDS NOVEMBER 30!

YOUR BANK FOR BUSINESS.

At Old National, we offer solutions to meet your needs, plus the confidence of
working with a bank named a World’s Most Ethical Company for eight years in a row.

Learn more about how Old National can help your business succeed—and our
limited-time offer—at oldnational.com/success. Or visit a banking center near you
for more details, and ask us how you can earn even more with additional services!

TO QUALIFY FOR A CHECKING ACCOUNT BONUS: From August 26, 2019–November 30, 2019 open a Free Business Checking (not available in WI), Essential Business
Checking (only available in WI), or Business Partner Checking with a minimum deposit of $50.
• To earn the $300 bonus: Account Current Balance of $5,000 on day 30 AND maintain that balance for an additional 60 days (days 31-90)
• To earn the $500 bonus: Account Current Balance of $15,000 on day 30 AND maintain that balance for an additional 60 days (days 31-90)
• To earn the $700 bonus: Account Current Balance of $25,000 or more on day 30 AND maintain that balance for an additional 60 days (days 31-90)
• Current Balance will be based on the end of the 30th calendar day the account is open; and for the next 60 calendar days (days 31-90); and will be determined using
Old National’s Funds Availability Policy.
Offer is not available for clients with an existing Old National business checking account or business checking accounts closed on or after January 1, 2019. Other restrictions
may apply, see bank for details. Limit one bonus per TIN/SSN. Account must be open and in good standing at the time the incentive is paid. The qualifying bonus(es)
will be credited to your Old National business checking account within 45 days from the end of the month in which you complete all offer requirements. Bonus may be
reported on IRS Form 1099-INT. Old National reserves the right to discontinue offer at any time. Not valid with any other Old National offer. Member FDIC. 0819-056

Serving Wisconsin with 30 locations.

w w w. i n s i g h oldnational.com/success
tonbusiness.com O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 43
> small business

Brewing a business By Kat Boogaard

Terra Verde brings quality joe to Chilton

Sometimes it’s those unassuming specific training ahead of and during

life moments that inspire the best
business ideas. That’s exactly what
happened to Marko Sosa, co-owner
of Terra Verde in Chilton.
“One day, I was dropping off my
kids at day care, and one of the girls
that worked there was drinking a
latte, and I asked her where she got
it,” Sosa says. “She said she had driven
10 miles one way to go get it. She
said that she did that every morning
because we didn’t have a coffee shop
or anyplace here in Chilton that
would offer coffee drinks.”
It was then that Sosa, who worked
as a dairy consultant at the time,
really got his wheels turning — in
fact, he canceled his appointments
for that day and immediately began
scouting for a coffeehouse location.
“The location we’re at now had
just opened up, and so a week later
we signed the lease. A month later,
the store’s opening, becoming master
baristas and master coffee roasters.
That roasting piece of the puzzle
has been a key part of Terra Verde’s
success. They started roasting coffee
about a year after they opened in
August 2007. Sosa says it’s something
that sets them apart. They focus on
high-grade, organic coffees that are
imported from all over the world and
work exclusively with farms and co-
ops that meet very specific criteria.
Their roasting process itself also
emphasizes quality.
“We use the long approach of
roasting, which a lot of roasters don’t
like because it takes a lot of extra
time,” Sosa says. “The people that we
receive these coffees from, they take
extreme care — that’s their pride and
joy that they’re sending to us. We
want to make sure that we’re taking
extra care of the coffee in return.”

we were open,” Sosa says.
While Sosa admits it was a speedy
process, he had a lot of familiarity
with business planning and other
logistics thanks to his master’s
degree in economics. He and his wife
Melissa, who co-owns the business
with him, received a lot of coffee-
That attention to detail didn’t go
unnoticed, and selling their roasted
coffee wholesale now makes up a
good chunk of their business. That
wasn’t Sosa’s original intention, but
after a shop in Rhinelander expressed
interest in offering Terra Verde to its
customers, the wholesale side grew
from there. In addition to offering Terra
Verde’s products wholesale throughout
the Midwest, Sosa provides
consulting services to other
coffee shop owners.
And why the name Terra
Verde? Sosa’s vision for
the company was to be
socially, environmentally
and economically
sustainable. He landed on
the name “Green Earth,”
but wasn’t in love with the
way it sounded. Originally
from Honduras, Sosa
decided to throw in
some Spanish and Italian
for good measure.
“Terra means earth
TERRA VERDE
Marko Sosa opened Terra Verde in Chilton in
2007 after hearing from his child’s day care
provider that she drove 10 miles one way to
get a coffee drink each morning since the
city didn’t have a local coffeehouse. Terra
Verde roasts its own coffee, which it also
sells wholesale to other coffeehouses.
in Italian, and verde means green in
Spanish,” Sosa says.
If running Terra Verde wasn’t enough,
Sosa runs another business in Chilton:
Scoops, an ice cream spot that’s open
year-round. With both businesses, his
commitment to customers remains high.
One of those customers is the day care
worker who was sipping a latte on that
fateful morning.
“She comes just about every day,” Sosa
says. “And I tell her it’s her fault that this
whole thing happened.”
terraverdecoffee.com

44 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 Restoring roots By Kennedy Krause

Farm to freezer business offers fresh, tasty pizza to go

After growing up on a small dairy farm and
wanting an escape, Shawn Pollack finally
landed what he thought was his dream job:
working in production for one of the largest
television studios in California. However,
the job came with high pressure, and Pollack
often found himself cooking to de-stress.
“I found myself slowly becoming
obsessed with wanting to start growing
my own food again,” he says. “Going back
to my roots was ironic for me because
I was the guy always trying to get away
from it all.”
Located on his family’s dairy farm in
Van Dyne is Poco Pizza, Pollack’s frozen
pizza business that opened two and a half
years ago.
Using only ingredients from his family’s
farm and neighboring farms, with the
exception of his wood-fired crust that
comes from Italy, Poco Pizza prides itself on
offering fresh, tasty ingredients and unique
topping combinations. Since opening, it’s
offered more than 320 types of pizzas.
To purchase pizzas, customers visit the
website to see what is available that week,
order and come to the farm for pickup
on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
— the only day Poco Pizza is officially
“open.” There’s a small selection of pizzas
available to purchase the day of, and local
POCO PIZZA
delivery is also available depending on the
amount spent. The majority of ingredients in Poco
“Poco” is an Italian word meaning “a Pizza’s products come from the owner’s
little bit,” which is a theme for the farm-to- family dairy farm in Van Dyne.
freezer business: fresh ingredients shine
on their own because they’re already In addition to pizzas, customers can
flavorful and delicious. purchase frozen lasagna and cuts of pasture-
“The whole point was to use as few raised beef online and pints of ice cream
ingredients as possible, to use the freshest from Kelley Country Creamery and Faris
ingredients and allow those two things Gourmet Popcorn in-store on Saturday.
to create what they create,” he says. “It’s
incredible to see that there is such a market
Pocopizza.com
for things coming directly from your farm.”

Meet Robin.
A health plan option
made for Wisconsin

Through Robin with HealthPartners, best-in-class caregivers

and insurance coverage work together to create a health plan
option that puts people first.

Visit healthpartners.com/robinhealthplans to learn more.

A health plan option by Robin with HealthPartners plans are underwritten

and/or administered by HealthPartners Insurance
Company and HealthPartners Administrators,
Inc. ©2019 HealthPartners.

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 45
ON THE MOV E people

spOtlight
Melissa Hughes, a top executive with the dairy cooperative Organic Valley, is the
new CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
For the past 15 years, Hughes has worked as general counsel at Organic Valley
in La Farge. While there, she helped grow the number of participating farms
from 500 to 2,000 and annual sales to more than $1 billion.
Gov. Tony Evers named Hughes to replace former CEO Mark Hogan, who retired
Sept. 1 and had been appointed to the post by Gov. Scott Walker. Before joining Organic
Valley, Hughes worked as a private attorney in Wyoming. She begins her new role Oct. 1.

NEW HIRES Larson to assistant Carmen Lax joined

Sara L. Muhlbauer was named vice president. Scholarships Inc. as
CEO of Lakeland Care. Sue Loken was NEW Scholars director.
Aspiro named Lincoln Burr as named chief risk CPA Jacob Pyle
president and Alan Gaffney as vice officer at Bank First. joined Enlighten
president of finance. Mark A. Heuer Financial, LLC as a loan
Brian Leone-Tracy was joined Fox Valley Savings Bank as vice review specialist.
named executive director president of business banking. Ledgeview Partners announced new
of Fox Valley Literacy. Rian Cane joined Séura as vice hires: Dave Rutherford, senior business
Fehr Graham hired president of sales. analyst/project manager; Angela Brady
Dan Ross as chief financial Jeffrey Sachse was named interim director Williams and Anusha Reddy Katam,
officer and promoted of the Center for Customized Research and .NET developers; Caleb Zautner,
Matt Dahlem to branch Services at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. support consultant; and Mike Welch,
manager overseeing operations in its Attorney and registered Salesforce consultant. Chris Harp was
downtown Sheboygan office. Wisconsin lobbyist promoted to senior solution architect-
The Stephenson National Bank & Nicholas J. Probst managing consultant.
Trust announced new hires: Shelly joined von Briesen & Prophit hired El Hein, junior
Morgensen, chief credit officer, and Kim Roper, s.c. and will graphic designer, and Carly Sauld,
Van Osdol, vice president and business lead the firm’s new project manager.
development officer. It also promoted Government Relations and Hoffman Planning, Design &
Elisa Rollo to chief retail officer and Beth Administrative Law section. Construction announced new hires:

16-MONTH COMPLETION | SATURDAY CLASSES | COHORT | APPLETON

A P P LE T ON | OSHKOSH | ONLINE

uwosh.edu/mba | 800-633-1430 | mba@uwosh.edu

Notice of Nondiscrimination: uwosh.edu/non | UW Oshkosh is accredited (On Notice) by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC): uwosh.edu/accreditation

46 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 Tammy Hall, project assistant, and
Kerri Balcaitis, receptionist.
Sgt. Dave Jones, former emergency
manager and investigative supervisor
for UW-Green Bay Public Safety,
was named UW-Green Bay’s chief of
police, replacing Tom
Kujawa, who retired
in April 2019.
Endocrinologist
Iftikhar Malik and
nurse practitioner
Christine Arendt
joined Fox Valley
Surgical Associates.
Family medicine
physicians Merici
Awe and Michael
Werner joined
Primary Care
Associates of Appleton.
Optometrist Jordyn
King joined BayCare Clinic Eye
Specialists in Manitowoc.
Prevea announced new hires:
general surgeon Humera Ahmad, Prevea
Allouez Health Center; pulmonary,
critical care and sleep medicine physician
Gurminder Dhillon, HSHS St. Nicholas
Hospital; and nurse practitioner
Heather Lensmire, Prevea
Seymour Health Center.
Cardiologist
Sampoornima
Setty joined Bellin
Health Cardiology
Associates.
Obstetrician/
gynecologist Julie DeJong joined
Agnesian HealthCare’s Fond du Lac
Regional Clinic.
Making Your Events Easy and Affordable
1234 Bellevue Street  Green Bay  920-468-6828  biebelscatering.com
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019
spOtlight
Sheryl L. Van Gruensven was named
interim chancellor of the University
of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She is the
institution’s vice chancellor for business
and finance and has served in numerous
roles at UW-Green Bay.
“Sheryl is a well-regarded administrator
and budget and finance specialist,” UW System
President Ray Cross said. “She has my full confidence to lead
UW-Green Bay in the coming months.”
Prior to being named vice chancellor for business and
finance in 2016, Van Gruensven had served in that role on
an interim basis. She joined UW-Green Bay in 2004 and was
named director of human resources in 2005.
Counselors Brett Schultz and Beth dean of faculty; and Sister Donna
Reynoso joined HFM Behavioral Health. Innes, dean of graduate studies.
Cory Krolczyk joined H.J. Martin Bank of Luxemburg
and Son as a warehouse delivery driver. promoted Ashley Bley
Keller Inc. hired Chase Solomon, to relationship banker.
Connor Schwahn and Colton Aurora BayCare
Kaszuba as building craftsmen. named five new
physician partners;
PROMOTIONS Jared Boyd, anesthesia;
Dennis Tienor was promoted to Christopher Keto,
senior vice president, business urological surgery;
banking at Bank First. Brandon Newell, oral and
Marian University announced several maxillofacial surgery; Arman Shaikh,
promotions: William Mangan, vice cardiology; and Robert Zemple,
president of advancement; Joseph Foy, emergency medicine. [continued ] »
 Corporate Events
 Company Picnics
 Holiday Celebrations
 Goal Recognition
 Company Anniversaries
 Workplace Safety Rewards
• INSIGHT | 47
 people
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS/
CERTIFICATIONS
Three members of the UW-Green Bay
faculty received named professorships:
Luis Fernandez, Robert and Joanne
Bauer Endowed Professorship in Strings;
Michael Draney, Barbara Hauxhurst
Cofrin Professorship of Natural Sciences;
and Pao Lor, Patricia Wood Baer
Professorship in Education.
The Greater Green Bay Chamber
selected Paul Belschner, president and
CEO of Base Companies LLC, as the 2019
Daniel Whitney Award recipient.
Lucy Arendt, professor of
business administration
at St. Norbert College,
was appointed to the
Advisory Committee
on Earthquake
Hazards Reduction.
The Greater Green Bay
Chamber selected Green Bay Packers
player Blake Martinez as the recipient of
its Community Service Award.
B R A N D I N G • A DV E RT I S I N G • D I G I TA L & P R I N T
48 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
David Lally, director of Business
Development & Advocacy for HSHS
St. Vincent, St. Mary’s, St. Nicholas
and St. Clare hospitals, received the
American Hospital Association’s 2019
Grassroots Champion award.
Richard Windsor, a urological
surgeon with Aurora BayCare Medical
Center, received the UroLift Center of
Excellence recognition.
Shaheda Govani, owner of Govani
Dental, was inducted as a fellow into
the International College of Dentists
Class of 2019.
BOARD APPOINTMENTS
Craig Dickman, managing director
of TitletownTech, was named to the
Wisconsin Economic Development
Corp.’s Entrepreneurship &
Innovation Committee.
Thomas Hopp joined the Moraine
Park Technical College District Board.
Corey Vanderpoel, owner and
managing director of Taureau Group,
A2ZDESIGN.COM
LLC, was appointed to the PBS Holdings
Inc. board of directors.
The Greater Green Bay Chamber added
the following new members to its economic
development board of directors: Brad
Charapata, BMO Harris Bank; Randy
Crevier, Wells Fargo; Ann Franz, NEW
Manufacturing Alliance; Adam Willems,
Baker Tilly; Scott Willert, America’s
Service Line, LLC; Mathew Dornbush,
Cofrin School of Business, UW-Green
Bay; Dan Heiser, dean of The Donald J.
Schneider School of Business & Economics,
St. Norbert College; Kim Cookle and
Gregg Mleziva, Village of Denmark; and
Alex Kaker, Village of Suamico.
Gov. Tony Evers announced appointees
to the Governor’s Task Force on Caregiving.
Those from the New North include: Lisa
Schneider, Respite Care Association of
Wisconsin; Stephanie Birmingham,
Options for Independent Living Inc.; Mo
Thao-Lee, Universal Home Health Care
Inc.; and Carol Bogda, Oneida Nation
Social Services/Elder Services.
 BY MARYBE TH MATZEK
Honored for excellence
Acuity, Rail Yard earn economic development honors
Sheboygan’s Acuity Insurance and the
Rail Yard Innovation District in Green
Bay took home top awards in the 2019
Community and Economic Development
Awards. Established by the Wisconsin
Economic Development Association, the
awards recognize businesses, projects and
organizations that are making significant
contributions to Wisconsin’s economy.
Acuity received the CEDA Economic
Driver Award for its commitment to
long-term investment in its Wisconsin
operations, which delivers a significant
economic impact. The Rail Yard received
the CEDA Real Estate Redevelopment and
Reuse Award.
Founded in 1925, Acuity provides
insurance products to individuals and
businesses in 28 states. Acuity has grown
in Wisconsin and throughout its operating
territory at a rate that eclipses the rest
of the insurance industry, doubling its
top-line revenue in the past eight years and
adding $225 million to top-line revenue in
just 24 months. In addition, Acuity is an
integral part of the Sheboygan community
with a long history of charitable efforts,
including donating over $3 million to
charitable organizations in 2019.
Acuity also recently completed a $250
million expansion of its Sheboygan
headquarters, doubling the size of its total
building space to more than 1.2 million
square feet.
ACUIT Y INSURANCE
Acuity Insurance in Sheboygan received
the 2019 Community and Economic
Development Award in the Economic
Driver category. The insurer recently
completed another expansion at its
Sheboygan headquarters.
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019
The Rail Yard
Innovation District in
Green Bay received
the 2019 Community
and Economic
Development Award
in the Real Estate
Redevelopment and
Reuse category.
“We are tremendously honored and
proud to receive the Economic Driver
Award,” said Ben Salzmann, Acuity
President and CEO. “This reflects our
commitment to the state of Wisconsin
as well as our mission of service to our
customers and community and to helping
people rebuild shattered lives.”
The Real Estate Redevelopment and
Reuse Award honors innovative real estate
redevelopment or reuse projects that have
a positive impact on the community’s
economy, including job growth and
increased tax base.
The Rail Yard Innovation District
began with the restoration of the historic
Larsen Canning Co. warehouse in
Green Bay. The project in the downtown
Broadway District attracted employers,
investors and consumers, leading to
further development.
The Rail Yard Innovation District now
includes multiple tech-forward, mixed-use
buildings, which are home to 26 businesses,
including a popular brewery. The $31
million project, which retained 190 jobs
and created 100 new jobs, was financed
with private investment secured by tax
increment financing and state and federal
tax credits.
“The Rail Yard leverages what was
once an underused asset located in
the Broadway District and has turned
it into a beacon of hope for what can
happen to repurposed buildings when
FEATURE
B A S E C O M PA N I E S L L C
historical structures are preserved,” said
Brian Johnson, executive director of On
Broadway, Inc. “Redevelopment of this
site took a strong vision and commitment
to a challenging project, one that was not
easy but the right thing to do. Generations
of people will now be able to enjoy these
facilities in remembrance of the many
generations before them that occupied
these symbolic structures.”
Base Companies, LLC played an
instrumental role in bringing the Rail
Yard project to fruition. President Paul
Belschner expects additional development.
“It’s exciting to see the continued
development progress within downtown
Green Bay’s urban core,” he said. “We’re
just getting started.”
In addition to Acuity and The Rail
Yard, other CEDA winners included the
Promega Corp. in Fitchburg, the River
Prairie Project in Altoona, ROC Ventures
in Milwaukee and Western Technical
College in La Crosse.
Several New North projects and
organizations were also named finalists in
this year’s awards: the Greater Green Bay
Chamber of Commerce in the Economic
Development Initiative category; the
Oshkosh Transload Terminal in the Public-
Private Partnership category; and the Co-op
Program of Inspire Sheboygan County in
the Talent Development category.
To see a list of all finalists, go to weda.
org/events/awards.
• INSIGHT | 49
ON THE MOV E business

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
The Marine Corps is almost doubling its
order for new Joint Light Tactical
Vehicles from Oshkosh Corp. The
Pentagon increased its order from the
original 9,000 to about 15,000.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fox
Valley Region announced it will
merge with Best Friends Neenah
Menasha effective Jan. 1. The new
organization will relocate to a single
location. Lindsay Fenlon was appointed
CEO, and Jaime Kriewaldt was named
chief program officer.
Integrity Insurance announced a
partnership with Ask Kodiak, which
developed a commercial insurance search
engine that keeps independent insurance
agents up to date on carrier appetite.
Green Bay Austin Straubel
International Airport will add nonstop
service to Orlando three days a week via
Frontier Airlines beginning in November.
Nestle USA and its Dreyer’s ice cream
unit are eliminating 126 jobs across
Wisconsin, including 32 employees at its
plant just north of Little Chute off County N.
Plymouth Foam launched a new line of
dog toys under its Airehide brand, which
uses BASF’s Infinergy material.
Health Tradition, a Wisconsin-based
independent health plan, rolled out
health insurance plans for large and
small employers as well as retirees in
Northeast Wisconsin.
Schneider announced it is launching a
new tracking application programming
interface for shippers that leverages
improved data to deliver near-real-time
estimated time of arrival visibility.
Kwik Trip launched online ordering and
delivery on EatStreet for all its Green Bay
and Appleton area stores.
A-mazing Events began offering a full
range of administrative support services to
nonprofit organizations.
BUSINESS COMINGS AND GOINGS
DTE opened a new dairy-based renewable
natural gas (RNG) processing and
injection facility in Newton.
Titletown Development and food
and beverage partner Delaware North
Sportservice celebrated the grand
opening of “The Turn,” powered by
Topgolf Swing Suite.
Alliey + Co, a wedding and event venue,
opened in De Pere. Smet Construction
Services completed the project.
Johnsonville announced plans to
open a Johnsonville Marketplace retail
store across the street from its
headquarters. The 3,500-square-foot
building is slated to open in spring 2020.
ThedaCare opened a FastCare clinic
within its ThedaCare Physicians-Darboy
location. The organization also announced it
will cease offering birthing service at
ThedaCare Medical Center-New London
effective Dec. 31.
Stephenson National Bank & Trust
opened a commercial loan services office in
Green Bay.
Smart Choice MRI, a retail MRI
company, opened a clinic in Green Bay.
Wild Tomato Pizza opened a new
location in Egg Harbor with the help of a
loan from the Door County [continued ] »

“Finally. A technical team

who understands my
complex love language.”
Marco’s Cloud Services will give your
business technology the TLC it needs.
Find out what your technology could
be saying at marconet.com.

business IT | managed services | cloud services | copiers & printers

50 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 Sponsored Message

Rethink Your Business’ Health Plan

Choose a Plan for Health. At times health immunizations for adults
insurance and health care can be confusing and children. Employers
for employers and their employees. There are and their employees
many aspects of health care to consider: from will also be pleasantly
the healthcare provider network to services and surprised to see diagnostic
benefits a health plan provides. What can be services such as X-rays,
more confusing are the out-of-pocket costs that labs, hearing and vision
employers are left to explain and employees services are all $0 for
are left covering. plan members.

Prevea Health and Prevea360 Health Plan have a What makes this plan a
partnership that addresses these uncertainties that unique consideration for
employers face in providing smarter, more comprehensive employers aside from
coverage and benefits for their employees. Together their removing deductibles Author: David Docherty
approach is an integrated health care system that focuses and coinsurance is that Title: Senior Vice President
on preventive care and wellness strategies. Dr. Ashok Rai, these plans are easier & Chief Growth Officer
Prevea Health President and CEO, sees many opportunities to understand and for
Company: Prevea360 Health Plan
to meet employers where they are. Prevea’s Corporate employees, these plans
Health and Wellness program is a great example of the are easier to budget Expertise: Development and
integration of both entities. Dr. Rai states,“We see an for out-of-pocket costs. implementation
opportunity to provide care to employers and employees There are seven categories of strategies that
at their place of work. This approach, along with specific of copays (the first foster annual and
wellness education programs can lead to healthier and category being a preventive long-term growth of the
happier employees.” The Prevea Corporate Health and $0 copay category) and an Prevea360 Health Plan
Wellness program is a comprehensive corporate program out of pocket maximum.
that offers a wide range of customizable wellness solutions Once employees reach that
for your business and employees. The programs are limit, they will pay nothing for the rest of
designed to educate and empower your employees to the plan year for in-network health care services.
make healthier choices and live a more balanced lifestyle.
Prevea Health and Prevea360 Health Plan and are part
Another way their partnership is providing smarter, more of an integrated health care delivery system. This true
comprehensive coverage is through Prevea360’s new Smart collaboration between health care physicians, hospital
Plans. These plans provide upfront cost transparency by partners and insurance provider results in an exceptional
removing deductibles and coinsurance, so employers know experience for our employers, who are our members and
exactly what they are providing to their employees, and patients. Because we are an Integrated Delivery Network,
employees know what their in-network medical visits and we offer effective care management and population health
services will cost them. Kevin Engelien, large group product programs that result in higher quality, lower costs and
manager, says,“We are removing the most misinterpreted better health outcomes.
features of health insurance, coinsurance and deductibles.
This helps members know what they will pay before getting
care, and allows them to budget better and make more
educated health care decisions.” These plans are copay only
© 2019 Prevea360 Health Plan • 712631_1909

plans that offer preventive care services covered at 100%.

Covered preventive services range from physical health
prevea360.com/allaroundyou
exams, gynecological exams, child health exams, and many

PO Box 28467 Green Bay, WI 54324-0467 877.230.7555 ( TTY: 711)

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m Prevea360 is underwritten by Dean Health Plan, Inc. O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 51
 business

Economic Development Corp. Revolving

Loan Fund.
Appleton’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant
opened at 3775 W. College Ave. Operated
by Eric Krebs, the restaurant is expected to
employ 120.
Aquire Restoration moved its
headquarters to Washburn Street in Oshkosh.
Two new businesses opened in
Sheboygan: Local Press Eatery and baby
clothing and toy store Bluebird.
Wellspring, a women’s daytime
resource center, opened in the Broadway
District in Green Bay.
Braids Unlimited Salon & Barbershop
opened in Appleton.
Glas, the Green Coffeehouse opened
in downtown Green Bay.

CONSTRUCTION
Orthopedic & Sports Medicine
Specialists announced plans to build a
new 45,000-square-foot orthopedic clinic
and surgery center in Fox Crossing. The
medical provider also completed a
13,000-square-foot expansion of its clinic
and the Bellin Orthopedic Surgery Center
in Green Bay.
HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital unveiled its
newly remodeled radiation oncology suite.
A groundbreaking was held for
construction of the Broadway Lofts
housing development in the Rail Yard in
Green Bay.
The Sheboygan City Hall reopened
following its $10 million remodel.
Immel Construction is completing
remodeling and renovation projects for the
Colburn Park Pool and Bathhouse in
Green Bay and Walmart stores in Shawano
and Greenfield.
Keller Inc. is completing projects for the
following organizations: Velocity Water
Works, Kaukauna; WST FAB, Manitowoc;
Premier Eyes, LLC, Brookfield; Grafft
Riverfront Center, Janesville; Kriete Group,
Madison; and Weinbrenner Shoe Co., Merrill.
A.C.E. Building Service is working on
projects for Beacon Marine, Sister Bay;
TR Family Dental, Two Rivers; and Menards
locations in west Appleton, Marinette,
Oshkosh and Beaver Dam.
Hoffman Planning, Design &
Construction Inc. is completing projects
for the following organizations: Woodside
Senior Communities, Ashwaubenon;
Christ the King Lutheran Church,

52 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 Combined Locks; and Appleton Area
School District.
Frontier Builder and Consultants
began work on Golden Harvest Market
in Merrill.
RJ Albright Construction is working
on a 6,500-square-foot addition to
TRADES II, a commercial condominium
development in Oshkosh.

EDUCATION
Northeast Wisconsin Technical
College announced plans to transition
most of its classes from a 15-week
schedule to an eight-week schedule. The
new program is called the 8-Week
Advantage. Two programs transitioned
all courses to the eight-week model this
fall, 50 percent will move to the new format
in the fall of 2020, and the remaining
programs will transition in fall of 2021.
The Mechanical Contractors
Association and UA 400 Pipe Trades
contributed $100,000 to the NWTC
Educational Foundation to support
student scholarship in trades-related fields.
Lawrence University launched a
Bachelor of Musical Arts degree. It offers a
50-50 split between music studies and
another field.
Three University of Wisconsin-
Oshkosh engineering technology programs
received accreditation by the Engineering
Technology Accreditation Commission of
ABET. Its electrical engineering technology,
environmental engineering technology and
mechanical engineering technology
programs are the only three bachelor’s degree
programs of their kind in Wisconsin to
receive accreditation from the organization.
The university also announced that
beginning next spring, it will offer two new
100 percent online collaborative master’s
degree programs — applied biotechnology
and information technology management.
Marian University welcomed the second-
largest first-year class in its history, when
329 members of the Class of 2023 arrived
on campus for the start of the new
academic year.

AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS/
MILESTONES
Moraine Park Technical College presented
its 2019 Futuremaker Partner Award to
Mercury Marine.
Oshkosh Corp. received the [continued ] »

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 53
 business

2019 Employ Humanity Excellence Award

THE NEW ERA OF BUILDING
• DESIGNERS • TRADESMEN
• PROJECT MANAGERS
Proud to be selected as the general
contractor for the new Bellevue 2670
millenniumconstructionwi.com
920.882.8700
Retail Center in Bellevue, WI
St. Norbert College
for its work promoting the well-being of its
employees, industry and community.
Washington Monthly ranked Lakeshore
Technical College No. 2 on its list of Best
Colleges for Adult Learners.
Marine News named Fincantieri Bay
Shipbuilding to its list of Top 100
Companies.
Ledgeview Partners was recognized as
part of the 2019-20 Inner Circle for
Microsoft Business Applications.
Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers
of America named M3 Insurance a Best

CEO BREAKFAST
Practices Agency.
American Banker and Best Companies
Group named Bank First to its list of Best
and Strategy Series Banks to Work for in 2019.
J. F. Ahern was named a 2019
Association for Facilities Engineering
An outreach to the business community by the Donald J. Schneider School
of Business & Economics featuring distinguished local and regional business
Leadership in Sustainability Award honoree.
leaders. The Carnivore Meat Co. VE RAW BAR
won best point-of-sale display at SuperZoo.
Join us for the next presentation in this year’s series: Whispering Pines Tree Farm won the
Grand Champion award at the Wisconsin
Oct. 9, 2019 Christmas Tree Association contest and
National Reserve Grand Champion at the
You’re in a Turnaround National Christmas Tree Association
Whether You Know It summer meeting. It also will provide a
Christmas tree for Vice President Mike
or Not Pence’s official residence on the grounds of
Tom Ealy, President and CEO, the Naval Observatory.
Ameriprise Sartori Cheese won the Wisconsin
F. K. Bemis International Conference Center,
State Fair’s 2019 Grand Master
St. Norbert College Cheesemaker award.
Sponsor: American Family Insurance Henry Repeating Arms was named the
title sponsor of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity
Series race at Road America.
Also scheduled: The month of August brought the highest
Nov. 5, 2019 John McHugh, Director of Chris Hess, President and
Chris Woleske, CEO, Corporate Communica- CEO, Goodwill NCW amount of cargo through the Port of
Bellin Health Systems Inc. tions, Leadership Devel- Green Bay to date, with a total of 316,224
opment and Training, April 9, 2019
Dec. 10, 2019 Kwik Trip Greg Linnemanstons, tons moved, bringing the 2019 shipping
Mary Goggans, President, President, Weidert Group season total to nearly 1.3 million tons, an 18
Encapsys Feb. 4, 2020
Craig Dickman, Managing May 6, 2020 percent increase in tonnage year-to-date
Director, TitletownTech Craig Culver,
Co-Founder, Board
from 2018.
Chairman and Brand The Ripon Medical Center Pulmonary
Ambassador, Culver’s
Rehabilitation program was certified by the
Jan. 14, 2020 March 5, 2020 American Association of Cardiovascular
Presenting Sponsor All sessions take place 7:30-8:30 a.m. and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
Miron Construction Cost is $60 per session.

Title Sponsors For more information CHARITABLE GIVING AND GRANTS

call 920-403-3449 • email lisa.gray@snc.edu United Way Fox Cities set a goal of $9
Davis Kuelthau visit snc.edu/ceobreakfast million for its 2019 Community Campaign.
Insight Magazine
The State of Wisconsin opened
Johnson Financial
Group applications for a $24 million round of
grants to be appropriated in the 2019-2021
state biennial budget. Applicants must

54 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 apply by Dec. 19 at https://psc.wi.gov/
Pages/Programs/BroadbandGrants.
Bellin Health held a $43 million bond
sale in August, with all bonds selling within
45 minutes of going on sale. Proceeds from
the sale will help finance the company’s
maternity department expansion and
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit project.
Acuity donated $2.5 million to support
construction of a neonatal intensive care
unit, pediatric unit and birthing center at
the new Advocate Aurora Health being built
in Kohler.
Etude Elementary School in Sheboygan
received a $650,000 expansion grant from the
U.S. Department od Education to be
distributed over the next five years.
The Agnesian HealthCare Foundation
Charity Open raised more than $410,000 for
Agnesian HealthCare Hospice Hope.
KK Integrated Logistics and the Kuber
family of Menominee, Mich., donated
$176,750 to the M&M Area Community
Foundation Future Fund endowment.
Festival Foods employees in the Green
From
Wheels
Down to
Touchdown
FLYGRB.COM
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019
Bay area pledged a record $100,000 to the
Brown County United Way Campaign this
year, an increase of more than 7 percent
over 2018.
The Green Bay Packers Give Back
Celebrity Bowling Event raised $50,560
for the Wisconsin CASA Association.
The proceeds will be used to launch a new
statewide program called “My Stuff, My
Bag” with the goal to provide every
Wisconsin CASA foster care and Child
Welfare System child with their own
suitcase to use for personal belongings
when traveling to a new home.
Bergstrom Automotive donated a
“Choose Your Ride” car, a half police car,
half taxi, to ThedaCare. The health care
organization will use it as an educational
tool in its Trauma Program.
The City of Sheboygan was one of 159
recipients of the 2019 AARP Community
Challenge Grant program. It plans to use
the funds to enhance its downtown
historical walking tour.
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin
received a combined total of $733,000 in
grants from various funds and foundations
within the Community Foundation for the
Fox Valley Region to support the
Community First Career Exploration and
Financial Literacy Center, a partnership of
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin and Fox
Valley Technical College.
4imprint awarded promotional
items grants to nearly 275 nonprofit
organizations.
Fond du Lac Area Women’s Fund
is accepting applications from 501(c)3
nonprofit organizations in Fond du Lac
County for its 2019 grants cycle.
Completed applications must be
submitted online before 4 p.m. Oct. 15.
Visit fdlwomensfund.com/grant-
application to apply.
The Nonprofit Impact Initiative
awarded $35,000 in initial grants to
strengthen local organizations in the first
component of a multitiered program to
support nonprofits in Brown, Door,
Kewaunee and Oconto [continued ] »
• INSIGHT | 55
 Do your employees need a boost on some of their soft skills?
Do you have employees who are great at their jobs, but lack
communication and time managment skills?
Check out the upcoming Personal Performance Seminar Series!
Register for all 6 seminars and save $164! Series starts Oct.15!

NWTC does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or other protected classes.

PAY THE DAY

Join Early & Save! | October 1-15
Join the Y during our PAY THE DAY promotion from October 1-15, and
your membership Joiner Fee is adjusted according to the day you join.
The earlier you join, the more you save!

GREATER GREEN BAY YMCA • greenbayymca.org | OSHKOSH COMMUNITY YMCA • oshkoshymca.org | YMCA OF THE FOX CITIES • ymcafoxcities.org

56 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 business
Win a gift card to Mackinaws
counties. Organizations receiving grants
included: Altrusa House, Brown Enter online
County Homeless & Housing
Coalition, Community Services to win a
Agency, Girl Scouts of Northwestern
Great Lakes, Green Bay Botanical
Garden and St. John the Evangelist
$35 gift card
Homeless Shelter.
The Wisconsin Department of
to Mackinaws!
Workforce Development provided HURRY…
Advanced Manufacturing Technical CONTEST ENDS OCTOBER 26th
Education Equipment grants to the *Some restrictions apply, see complete details at:
following schools and districts: Waupaca www.insightonbusiness.com
High School, Luxemburg-Casco
School District and Stockbridge
School District.
For the 17th season, the Green Bay
Packers and Sargento Foods Inc. are
leading a joint effort to help feed families
in Wisconsin, with Sargento donating
$1,500 for every touchdown the Packers
score during the regular season.
The Greater Fox Cities Chapter of
Credit Unions held CU Day at Fox Cities
Stadium and donated $5,000 to Bahamas  GO ONLINE: CLICK TO REGISTER
hurricane relief.
The Women’s Giving Circle of
Marinette and Menominee Counties
distributed more than $11,000 in grants at
its annual Gathering and Grant Ceremony.
Jewelers Mutual Group partnered A UNIQUE
with the Kids in Need Foundation to
distribute 2,000 backpacks in eight schools.
approach.
Govani Dental partnered with the
Oshkosh Area Community Foundation SUPERIOR
to create Govani Dental Gives, a program that
matches online charitable donations
solutions.
made to the fund, dollar for dollar, up
to $1,000.
D&S Machine Service Inc. donated
two pieces of equipment — a vertical Contact Todd today. A level of service only a few elite bankers can provide.
machining center and a small lathe — to At Settlers bank, our private bankers have a unique
the Luxemburg-Casco School District. approach when working with professional clients.
We collaborate with your team of financial advisors
ALL THE REST to evaluate your complete financial picture when
The Boys & Girls Club of Appleton making complex loan decisions. Our expertise allows
announced plans to expand its outdoor us to understand your specialized situation and
recreational area. provide creative solutions.
Todd Bestor
A group of 10 investors using the name
VP, Private Banking
Block 800 announced a plan to replace tbestor@SettlersWI.com
three buildings on West College Avenue 920.939.6763
with a four-story building, which would NMLS #282054

include 20 market-rate apartments and

10,000 square feet on the first floor that
could be used for retail or office space. Appleton | Madison | SettlersWI.com
The City of Fond du Lac opened its MEMBER FDIC
new public safety training center.

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 57
 NORTHEAST WISCONSIN

INTERNATIONAL TRADE
CONFERENCE

TITLE SPONSOR: OCTOBER 25TH, 2019 | 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM

FOX VALLEY TECHNICAL COLLEGE’S D.J. BORDINI CENTER

With a focus on Wisconsin’s two largest trading partners, Canada & Mexico, this year’s
Conference offers practical training for businesses looking to expand into exporting, as well
as insightful analysis for those businesses with significant international portfolios.

OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

PRESENTED BY:

JULIÁN ADEM WILSON WAYNE

DÍAZ DE LÉON JONES ROBSON
Consul General of President and Chief Executive Officer Consulate General of
Mexico in Milwaukee Oshkosh Corporation Canada in Chicago

LEARN MORE AT NEWINTERNATIONALTRADE.COM

58 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m

Conventional wisdom
Manufacturing First Expo & Conference coming to Green Bay Oct. 30 By Jessica Thiel
Though manufacturing covers a diverse
and wide range of applications, many of
the same sets of issues touch all players in
the industry. From talent to technology
to security, the 2019 Manufacturing First
Expo & Conference covers them all.
Two keynote speakers are headlining
this year’s conference. David Kohler,
president and CEO of Kohler Co., will
present on “145 Years of Manufacturing
Innovation.” The company may be best
known for manufacturing bath, kitchen
and power products, but its business
ventures include golf courses, luxury
resorts and hotels, and Kohler Original
Recipe Chocolates. In 2020, Kohler’s
Whistling Straits will host the Ryder
Cup, an event that’s expected to deliver a
regional economic impact of $135 million.
The company also has established itself
as an innovation and sustainability
leader. Its Kohler Konnect smart
products offer state-of-art solutions,
and the company is working toward
achieving a net zero environmental
impact by 2035. Its WasteLAB
incubator, for example, identifies
new uses for manufacturing waste.
Mike Staver, an
internationally recognized
speaker and coach, will
present “Leadership Isn’t
for Cowards.” He’ll base
his talk on his book of the
Staver same name. Cultivating
effective leadership is vital
for so many reasons, not the least of which
are attracting and retaining talent, he says.
For companies to successfully compete
for talent, they need to be able to tell
a compelling story. It’s important for
leaders to convey to prospects that the
company will value their opinions and
make them feel a part of the team, he says.
“People aren’t going to move for
benefits and money. Most people are
going to move into an industry because
somehow it means something to them;
somehow it attracts them; somehow, it’s a
meaningful story,” Staver says.
The title for Staver’s book and talk
comes from his assertion that successful
w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019
leaders operate from a place
of courage. Leaders who
struggle operate from a place
of fear, he says, and leaders
who thrive feel the fear and
discomfort but still go after
the objective.
Following the keynote
presentations, the exhibit
hall opens at 9:30 a.m.
and runs until 3:30 p.m.
It features more than 200
exhibitors as well as four
XCELLD booths. The special
booth spaces, which will be
hosted by Doig Corp., Kohler
Co., Oshkosh Corp. and the
Wisconsin Economic
Development Corp., offer
in-depth experiences and
opportunities to learn
skills and interact with
other manufacturers.
Kohler Each year, more than
550 area high school
students attend the event as well. They’ll
hear a special presentation from David
Kohler and tour the exhibit floor to learn
more about manufacturers and available
job, internship, apprenticeship and
co-op opportunities.
This year’s event features three
special presentations. At 9:45 a.m., Sara
Ackermann, an attorney with Ruder Ware,
will share her talk “Employment Law is Not
for Cowards.” It will include a top 10 list of
what not to do in the workplace and will
cover minimizing the risk of employee
litigation, increasing employee retention
and employment law compliance.
Also at 9:45, Bill Elliott, president of
First Business Growth Funding for
First Business Bank, will present
“How & Why Alternative Financing
Works for Manufacturers.” Recent
surveys indicate many manufacturers
are taking steps to protect themselves
against an economic downturn.
Elliott’s talk will discuss the advantages
that alternative financing can offer.
At 3:15 p.m., Bryan Brandt, senior
vice president and chief marketing
D O N’T M I S S
The exhibit floor at this year’s Manufacturing First Expo &
Conference will feature more than 200 exhibitors and four
XCELLD booths, which offer added learning opportunities.
Before the floor opens to attendees, students from around
the area will have access, offering a chance to meet with
manufacturers and learn about careers.
officer for Oshkosh Corp., will share how
his company developed a new corporate
brand aimed at better showing its identity,
value and strength. He’ll discuss how a
strong brand and company culture come
together to support business goals.
The day’s breakout sessions run from 11
a.m. to noon and from 1 to 2 p.m., with six
sessions running during each time frame.
They cover topics ranging from search
engine optimization to cybersecurity
and talent retention to safety.
Industry 4.0 is a major theme as well,
with sessions devoted to the topic at both
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This is key, as the NEW
Manufacturing Alliance’s recently released
Industry 4.0 survey indicates many
companies don’t know where to begin
when it comes to emerging technologies.
The day concludes with the Business
After Hours Cocktail Reception and
Power Hour, which offers an opportunity
to win prizes.
If you go
Manufacturing First Expo & Conference
When: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: KI Convention Center, Green Bay
Cost: $149 in advance and $179 at the door
To register or for more information:
manufacturingfirst.com
• INSIGHT | 59
 EXPERIENCE
STEAK EXCELLENCE
AT OSHKOSH’S NEWEST STEAKHOUSE

OPE
TO THN
PUBLI E
C

Located at the Oshkosh Country Club

11 W Ripple Ave,
Oshkosh, WI 54902

920.231.1076
tjshighlandsteakhouse.com

For Reservations:

Efficient and Flawless Events

Leaving you free to focus on your guests.

Event Design,
Coordinating &
Consulting

Your strategic meeting and event planning partner

• Establish and maintain event budget
• Audit all vendor invoices and contracts
• Develop a detailed event schedule
• Create contingency plans
• 100% rehire rate for repeat events

920.788.3000 a-mazingevents.com

60 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
 MaryBeth Matzek
Editor
mmatzek@insightonbusiness.com COMMENTARY

Conference puts focus on women’s leadership skills

Have you ever read a book that executives and their teams. She also
completely changed your way of serves as co-chair of the New North
thinking? That was the case for Vicki Inc. board of directors and partners
Updike about 15 years ago when a with Bridget O’Connor on The
fellow executive at Miles Kimball Co. Connective, a De Pere business
in Oshkosh gave her the best-selling designed to help women business
book, “Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner owners grow and learn.
Office: Unconscious Mistakes Women Now Updike is sharing
Make that Sabotage Their Careers” by what she’s learned
Lois Frankel. about leadership and
“Reading that book literally changed professional development
the way I saw myself as an executive,” with women from
says Updike, who at the time was a vice Updike throughout the region at
president at Miles Kimball (now known the inaugural Women’s
as Silver Star Brands.) “It’s been such a Leadership Conference on Oct. 17 at
meaningful book to me in my career.” Liberty Hall in Kimberly. And the
In 2010, Updike was named author of the book that changed
president of Miles Kimball and served Updike’s thinking — Lois Frankel —
in that role for six years. She now runs will deliver the event’s keynote address.
New Sage Strategies, a consulting firm “The day is really to encourage and
she founded that works to strengthen inspire the leader in all of us. Leadership
is not a title. Leadership is a skill, and it
is a skill that you need to develop over time,”
Updike says.
In putting the day together, New
Sage Strategies wanted to create a day
“to educate, encourage and inspire
women to continue their leadership
journey,” Updike said.
In addition to Frankel, Updike turned
to local women business leaders to share
their knowledge with others through
breakout sessions and a panel discussion.
It’s about time that an event like this is
taking place in the region. Women
business leaders don’t always receive the
credit they deserve, which is something I’m
happy to say that Insight will be addressing
in 2020. Stay tuned.
To learn more about the Women’s
Leadership Conference or to register,
visit womensleadershipwi.com.

PLANNERS | ARCHITECTS | BUILDERS

Building Trust Since 1960

With Offices in the Fox Cities,
Madison, Milwaukee & Wausau
ER
T
EN

N
IG
T

D
EC

ES
N
ER
ER

TE
IT

D
D
N

IN
H

R
IL
AN

O
R
U
AR

RI
PE
PL

TE
SU

IN

WWW.KELLERBUILDS.COM | 1.800.236.2534 |

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 61
 POWER LUNCH P H OTO G R A P H S CO U R T E S Y M U D C R E E K CO F F E E C A F E
Off the beaten path
P erhaps a rural Wisconsin burg isn’t
the top place one would expect
to find a top-notch cup of coffee,
but Stockbridge’s Mud Creek
Coffee delivers just that — as well as a full
breakfast and lunch menu — all served in
a cozy cafe atmosphere. For Mary Kohrell,
community economic development
director for Calumet County, it’s a favorite
stop for bite to eat or a hot or cold beverage.
“It has a really good vibe. I love the feel
of it,” she says. “There’s always people there,
so it’s vibrant.”
The cafe, which is open Tuesday
through Saturday, features sandwiches,
wraps, paninis, soups, salads and all-day
breakfast options. Kohrell, who leans
toward vegetarian choices, favors the Pesto
62 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
Melt, $10.50. The panini is served on focaccia
and includes spinach, roasted red peppers,
tomatoes, kalamata olives, pesto, provolone,
parmesan and balsamic vinaigrette.
For those who prefer meat, the Spiced Pecan
Chicken Wrap, $10.50, features fajita chicken,
spiced pecans, tomatoes, red onion and blue
cheese dressing. All sandwiches include a side.
New owners Mathew Wilber and Ted
Parsons bring years of experience in the
restaurant industry and are excited to carry
on the success of Mud Creek Coffee. The
cafe started with the vision of becoming
a gathering place that offers delicious
and nutritious food, and Kohrell says it
has accomplished just that. It’s become a
destination for young and old alike.
— Jessica Thiel
 ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHY • CORPORATE & BROADCAST VIDEO PRODUCTIONS • INTEGRATED CGI IMAGESTUDIOS.COM • 877-738-4080

w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 019 • INSIGHT | 63
 PROTECTING & GROWING WEALTH
Your financial goals are very personal, and your investments should be, too. At First Business, our
highly experienced team works thoughtfully and creatively for each of our clients, holding them in the
highest regard as individuals. We are proud to offer comprehensive and unbiased strategies, helping
our clients achieve the personal success they envision.

NANCY JOHNSHOY, CFA®

VICE PRESIDENT, FIRST BUSINESS TRUST & INVESTMENTS

BUSINESS BANKING | PRIVATE WEALTH | SPECIALTY FINANCE

firstbusiness.com/wealth

64 | INSIGHT • O c t o b e r 2 019 w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m