directions - Kenosha Area Business Alliance

DIRECTIONS
Quarterly Newsletter of the Kenosha Area Business Alliance | Spring 2011
Catalyst Exhibits Moving to Kenosha County, Governor Walker
on Hand to Announce that “Wisconsin is Open for Business”
Catalyst Exhibits has chosen LakeView Corporate Park in Pleasant Prairie for the site of its new facility, a decision CEO Tim Roberts says is best for the
company today and looking to the future.
“
Catalyst Exhibits is a marketing company that specializes in the design, development, fabrication and management of exhibits and displays for tradeshows
and expos. They will relocate in July from Crystal Lake, Illinois, to Kenosha County.
Catalyst has signed a long-term lease to occupy a 144,000-square-foot building and will
We anticipate our business
invest $2.5
million to
growing and the economy growing
renovate and
and we’re excited to do it
equip the new
facility. The
here in Wisconsin.
company employs 88 and
expects to add up to 25
— Tim Roberts, CEO,
new hires over the next
Catalyst Exhibits, Inc.
few years as it expands.
”
Governor Scott Walker was in Kenosha County on March 17th to make the
announcement and present a check to Catalyst representing the $500,000 loan
the State Department of Commerce has pledged to the company. KABA is
providing $1.25 million in the form of a low-interest loan to assist with facility
renovations and equipment.
Pictured (L-R): KABA President Todd Battle, Rep. John Steinbrink, Catalyst
CEO Tim Roberts, Larry Much - ExecutiveVice President at NAI Hiffman, Rep.
VanWanggaard, Rep. Samantha Kerkman, Governor ScottWalker.
Kenosha County’s economic development
organization and employers association.
“There’s a great team in Wisconsin and particularly Kenosha County right now
– Governor Walker and his administration, the Department of Commerce, the
continued on page 5 >
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
cat•a•lyst noun \ ka-tə-ləst: an agent
that provokes or speeds significant change
or action
Economic development organizations strive
to become catalysts that positively impact
the communities in which they operate.
As I reviewed the items that would appear
in this edition of Directions, it became
increasingly clear, that a column focused on
“catalysts” would be appropriate.
The word is used in two articles describing specific development projects:
u
atalyst
C
u
“
We
Exhibits is a marketing company that selected LakeView
Corporate Park in Pleasant Prairie as its new home. The project
involves several million dollars of investment, the renovation
and occupancy of a 144,000 SF facility, and more than 100 jobs
including relocations and planned new hires.
hope this project serves as a catalyst. . .(for Downtown
Revitalization).” Here it was used to describe KABA’s
recent acquisition of a long-vacant commercial building in
Downtown Kenosha. Extensive renovations are underway.
Jockey International has executed a lease to occupy the first
floor and KABA will move its offices to the second level later
this summer. The project will draw additional visitors and
retail shoppers to downtown and hopefully spur increased
development activity downtown.
Additionally, while perhaps not specifically described this way, three other
important projects outlined herein have the potential to serve as catalysts
for additional job creation and economic development in Kenosha County:
u
The
Southeast Wisconsin Innovation Center (SWIC)
Kenosha Development Opportunity Zone (DOZ)
u
The Kenosha County High Impact Fund
The SWIC refers to a proposal to develop an incubator/innovation center
to support start-up and early stage technology companies. The DOZ is
a newly established tax credit program that will help incentivize capital
investment and job creation in the City of Kenosha. The High Impact Fund
is a new funding tool, capitalized by Kenosha County and administered by
KABA, which provides an incredibly flexible incentive mechanism that will
be used to secure economic development projects that generate significant
jobs or investment.
Each of these projects/developments is an important piece of the
economic development puzzle. But Rebecca Ryan, the key note speaker
at KABA’s annual meeting, helped crystallize the most important catalyst
for the community’s economic development: a talented and engaged
population. Rebecca drove home the point that the cities and communities
that thrive in the future will do so because they will succeed at
attracting, retaining and cultivating future generations of skilled workers,
entrepreneurs and community leaders.
This is why our partnership with, and support of,Y-LINK (Kenosha’s Young
Professional Organization) is so important. We were extremely pleased to
team with Y-LINK and our annual meeting sponsor, Johnson Bank, to bring
Rebecca Ryan to Kenosha. Her message resonated with our membership
and will serve as a catalyst as we work to accelerate the development of
our community, the revitalization of its downtown, and the growth of its
young professional organization.
In closing, I want to recognize and thank a special group of community
leaders: KABA’s outgoing directors. David Barnes, Cathryn Bothe, John
Donnell, John Ernster, Mark Naidicz, Karl Ostby, and Larry Rasch each
recently completed a term on the KABA Board. Our organization and
community has benefitted from their contributions of time, energy, and
talent. Thank you!
Sincerely,
u
The
Todd Battle, President
Welcome New KABA Members
uBaker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP
Provides expertise in tax, accounting, and audit services as
well as private investment banking, mergers and acquisitions,
management consulting, estate and financial planning
u
Computer Technologies, Inc.
A computer consulting firm with expertise in a wide range
of technologies
u
Department of Workforce Development,
Kenosha Job Service
Assists employers and job seekers in making the connection
that leads to a job seeker finding employment
u
Frantal
Dental Care
Dr.Terrence K. Frantal and Dr. Michael P. Frantal serve the
greater Kenosha Area, specializing in cosmetic dentistry
u
Hays
Companies
Privately held insurance broker providing risk management, commercial insurance, and employee benefits consulting needs
u
Kenosha
Common Markets, Inc.
Oversees the Kenosha HarborMarket which operates in
Kenosha’s downtown/lakefront area 50 Saturdays a year
u
Momentum
BPA, Inc.
A management consulting firm specializing in business process
automation and cloud computing; as well as accounting and
finance, CRM, & e-commerce software solutions
u
PNC Bank
One of the largest financial services companies in the
country, PNC provides everything from personal banking
services to wealth management and business banking
u
Triangle Appliance, Video
& Carpeting, Inc.
A full-service appliance, audio/visual equipment and
flooring retailer based in the heart of Kenosha
DIRECTIONS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
KABA Acquires Building in Downtown Kenosha; Jockey
International to Occupy Retail Space on Lower Level
KABA has purchased a long-vacant, 14,300-square-foot building at 5500 Sixth Avenue in downtown Kenosha. Jockey International, Inc. has signed a lease
to occupy retail space on the 7,100-square-foot lower level of the historic, two-story building. KABA will occupy approximately 4,000 square feet on the
second floor, with the remaining space available for a future tenant.
Jockey will relocate its existing 4200 39th Street Closeout Center to the downtown location, offering discounted products and a unique assortment of
value and closeout merchandise, unavailable at other Jockey stores. In addition, Jockey will use a portion of the space to showcase memorabilia spanning its
long history in Kenosha. The Jockey Factory Store is scheduled to be open Memorial Day weekend. KABA’s space will be ready by mid-summer.
“I believe that the design of this store makes it a place that all Kenoshans can be proud of. We think it will only further enhance the wonderful downtown
area,” said Jockey Chairman and CEO, Debra S. Waller.
KABA President Todd Battle said the acquisition is an outgrowth
of KABA’s 2009 strategic plan, Kenosha First. That blueprint
strongly recommended additional focus on downtown
development initiatives.
“Downtown Kenosha plays a vital role in the community’s
economic health and overall image,” Battle said. “We hope this
project serves as a catalyst for continued investment and helps
to drive additional visitors and traffic to the downtown area.”
“
Jockey has been a part of the fabric of Kenosha for
almost 120 years . Having a downtown store location
is a great way to demonstrate Jockey’s commitment
to serve the Kenosha community .
— Debra S. Waller, CEO, Jockey International
About three years ago, a restaurant developer began interior renovations
before halting that venture shortly thereafter.
Kenosha Mayor Keith Bosman has been very supportive of the project.
”
“Kenosha is making revitalization of its downtown a top priority, realizing that a healthy, vibrant city center is one of the qualities of a successful
community,” Bosman said. “The investment by KABA and Jockey in such a prominent location is a significant step in the right direction.”
Riley Construction is providing construction management services for the renovation, which was designed by Partners in Design architects of Kenosha.
Pictured (clockwise, L-R):The exterior of 5500 6th Avenue just after start of construction; the second level at start of construction; the front entrance to the lower level (Jockey
Factory Store) at start of construction; renderings of the lower level retail space; rendering of the common front area of the new KABA offices.
Spring 2011 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Market and feasibility study underway for Southeast Wisconsin
Innovation Center
The Village of Pleasant Prairie and KABA have contracted with San Francisco-based Prescience
International to perform a Market, Building Programming & Design and Financial Feasibility
Study on the proposed Southeast Wisconsin Innovation Center (SWIC).
As a part of a broader regional initiative to spur innovation and entrepreneurship, the U.S.
Department of Commerce-Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $3.5
million grant to the Pleasant Prairie Community Development Authority late last year to help
fund the construction of the SWIC. An additional approximately $4 million will be needed for
construction, with KABA and the Village each providing $2 million. This project, to be built in
Pleasant Prairie, would create a LEED-certified, 40,352-square-foot state-of-the-art facility to
house start-up and early stage technology firms.
Prescience began its work in mid-February and is expected to present their findings some time in May. As part of its due diligence, the consulting company
is conducting interviews and researching companies, venture capitalists, educational institutions and other relevant organizations from the Madison Area to
Northern Illinois to determine whether a technology incubator of this kind would be successful in this location at this time.
Kenosha Development Opportunity Zone established
The city of Kenosha has been declared a Development Opportunity Zone (DOZ) and has been granted a $5 million allocation of Wisconsin corporate
income tax credits. The credits will be a valuable economic development tool for new and existing companies in the city of Kenosha.
The DOZ designation is in response to the recent closing of the Chrysler Engine Plant. The City of Janesville has
also received the designation as it lost a GM plant recently. The Kenosha and Janesville opportunity zones
would grant businesses that locate within the geographical boundaries of the zone - in this case, the city
of Kenosha - funding for environmental remediation and tax credits based on jobs created and amount of
capital investment. If the zone is successful, there is a chance it could be continued for another five years.
KABA and/or the city would recommend economic development projects to be considered for the
tax credit program to the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. The Department will make the final
determination about
awards to be given.
Kenosha County’s High
Impact Economic Development
Fund is capitalized
“
Having economic development tools like these
strengthens the case that Kenosha County
wants your business. It gives our community
a competitive edge to support job creation.
— Todd Battle, KABA President
”
KABA has received $1 million from Kenosha County to aid economic development projects deemed “high impact”. “High impact” would be
defined as a project that creates at least 50 new full-time equivalent positions or at least $3 million in capital investment. The funding was previously
earmarked for infrastructure upgrades to the Chrysler-Kenosha Engine Plant, which has since closed. Leaders on the county board elected to put the
monies into future economic development projects.
The $1 million fund will be a flexible incentive program and is intended to compliment existing local revolving loan funds and traditional State incentives.
DIRECTIONS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Master Plan for Downtown
Development
KABA has worked with Mayor Bosman and city officials to assemble
a group of business and community leaders to serve as a steering
committee for the creation of an updated Downtown Master Plan.
A draft request for proposal has been prepared and will soon be
distributed to qualified firms that would assist with plan development.
“
KABA’s economic development strategic plan, Kenosha First - adopted
in 2009, stresses the importance of a revitalized downtown to the
community’s economic vitality. It points out that Kenosha’s historic
A healthy and vibrant downtown, specifically,
creates jobs, incubates small businesses, reduces
sprawl, protects property values, and increases the
community’s options for goods and services.
— The Pew Partnership for Civic Change
”
buildings, walkable streets, new housing stock, existing businesses
and museums create a strong base for revitalization efforts. KABA
is excited to continue to capitalize on these strengths and make
development in the downtown area a high priority.
Available Business Sites
Featured Proper ty:
KABA Loan Portfolio Update
On March 16, 2011, KABA’s Finance Committee approved a $1,250,000
loan package for Catalyst Exhibits, Inc. KABA’s funds will be used to assist
with the company’s relocation
from Crystal Lake, Illinois to
Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
The company is leasing
144,000 square feet of space in
Lakeview Corporate Park. The
project includes build-out of interior office space, improving the facility’s
utility infrastructure, equipment purchases and working capital. Catalyst
Exhibits partners with major corporations to design and create exhibits
for trade shows.
On April 6, 2011, KABA’s Finance
Committee approved a $850,000
loan package for Bradshaw Medical,
Inc. KABA’s funds will be used
to purchase CNC equipment for
the production line. Bradshaw
Medical designs and manufactures
Class One medical devices for the
orthopedic industry. In Q3 of 2010
Bradshaw Medical moved into a new 30,000-square-foot manufacturing
facility in the Business Park of Kenosha.
If your organization is looking to
expand or purchase new equipment,
KABA’s financing solutions may work
for you. For more information, contact
Rich Rodenbeck at 262.605.1100 or
rrodenbeck@kaba.org.
Catalyst Exhibits, cont.
< Village of Pleasant Prairie and Kenosha County - working together to
set the table and create the environment and confirm that Wisconsin is
open for business,” said KABA president Todd Battle. “Then we rely on
entrepreneurs and innovators like Tim and his team at Catalyst to make
investments, grow companies, and create economic activity and jobs.”
8901 102nd Street
u105,637
u8
u24’ clear
SF
interior docks; 2 drive-in doors
height
Spring 2011 KABA’s revolving loan program was capitalized in the 1980s with a
modest amount of funding. The fund has grown to more than $28
million today and is an important economic development tool. Over
the last three years, KABA has invested approximately $15 million in
Kenosha County economic development projects.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Welcome to LakeView Corporate Park’s Newest Tenant: Visual Pak
The Visual Pak Companies have chosen to relocate its headquarters to LakeView Corporate Park in Pleasant Prairie. In March, the privately-owned group of
interdependent companies moved into a 150,000-square-foot facility that was previously home to Unified Solutions, Inc.
Visual Pak Companies is a supplier of packaging solutions nationwide. The company was previously located in Waukegan,
IL. The company employs 221 in LakeView and has operations in Appleton, North Chicago and Atlanta as well.
LakeView Corporate Park is a master-planned, mixed-use development adjacent to Interstate 94 offering industrial,
office and retail property. In addition to Visual Pak, the park has recently welcomed Mondi Akrosil and Catalyst Exhibits.
OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE...
KABA’s 3,093 SF space in the HarborView Office Center
is available for lease. Located at 600 52nd St., the space
features six private offices, a built-in reception & waiting
area, a conference and large multi-purpose space and
great views of the harbor. Please contact KABA for more
information or see the insert in this newsletter.
Teleflex Medical OEM adds
third shift; purchases new
capital equipment
Proposed state law change
would exempt Pleasant
Prairie from TIF limits
Teleflex Medical OEM experienced a strong growth pattern in 2010, adding
a third shift and acquiring new capital equipment including CNC machinery,
laser etching technology, molding equipment, and vision and finishing systems.
The company needed to increase production to meet its customers’ rising
demand.
A state bill introduced April 26 would exempt the Village of Pleasant Prairie
from limits on the use of tax-incremental financing (TIF). State law limits
the percentage of overall municipal property values that can be located
within TIF districts.
Due to its growth,
Teleflex has seen
a continued need
for skilled labor
such as CNC Swiss Set-up/Operators. Through a collaboration with
Gateway Technical College, Teleflex was able to provide training to over 60
employees for a second year in a row. Site-wide training will include 400
plus hours of continuous improvement exercises throughout the year.
Teleflex Medical OEM, headquartered in Kenosha, is a global provider of
medical devices used in critical care and surgery. The company employs
approximately 160 at its manufacturing facility in the Business Park of Kenosha.
The TIF district being considered for exemption would let Pleasant Prairie
borrow money to support two projects they’ve already committed to, and
repay the debt using property taxes generated by the new buildings. The
limit exemption would allow Pleasant Prairie to provide $5 million to
support a 1.1-million-square-foot Uline Inc. distribution center–to build
utilities, relocate power lines and make other site improvements–and $2
million for the Southeast Wisconsin Innovation Center (see article on page 4).
According to village administrator Michael Pollocoff , Pleasant Prairie has
broken the 12 percent state limit because of decreasing housing values and the
high property value of Uline’s new facility, which is located in a TIF district.
DIRECTIONS
IN THE HEADLINES
Four Kenosha County
companies named Wisconsin
Companies to Watch
Snap-on announces record
earnings at its annual meeting
webcasted live
In recognition of their excellence in the marketplace, four KABA members
have been selected as Wisconsin Companies toWatch.
Snap-on Incorporated recently announced its operating results for the first
quarter of 2011, including an overall sales increase of over eleven percent
over 2010 levels. Gross profit of $330.6 million improved to 47.7% of
sales compared with 46.3% a year ago and operating earnings of $87.3
million increased $15.6 million from 2010 levels.
Centrisys Corporation, Equity Creative, Regulatory Compliance Associates
and Xten Industries are among the 33 businesses so honored by the
Wisconsin Entrepreneur Network and the Wisconsin Department of
Commerce. The annual awards program, developed by the Edward Lowe
Foundation, puts the spotlight on second-stage companies that demonstrate
high performance in the marketplace, exhibit innovative products, services
or processes, or otherwise make their company “worth watching.”
A ‘second-stage’ company is loosely defined as one which has survived
startup and is ready to add a level of managerial employees, all the way up
to about $50 million in sales. Second-stage companies are powerhouses
for job creation. During 2005-2007, Wisconsin’s resident companies
averaged more than 33,500 second-stage establishments, according to
YourEconomy.org, an online resource of the Edward Lowe Foundation.
Those second-stage companies employed more than 800,000 workers (that’s
36.7 percent of the jobs created by companies headquartered in the state).
KABA nominated the companies for the recognition. In addition to an
evaluation on past growth and projected success, applicant companies are
judged according to their special strengths. These strengths revolve around
innovative products and business practices, special use of technology, work
within the community and more.
“
These companies are having a significant
impact on our economy through the
jobs they create and the contributions they
make to our community. Owners of second-stage
companies are some of the hardest working
people in America and KABA is proud to
take part in recognizing these important engines
of our economy.
— Todd Battle, KABA President
”
The winners were honored at an awards ceremony May 5th in Madison
and KABA was proud to be a sponsor of the program once again this year.
Winners will also have an opportunity to attend a complimentary threeday Leadership Retreat, hosted by the Edward Lowe Foundation at its
Michigan headquarters this summer.
Spring 2011 CEO Nick Pinchuk credits enhancement of the franchise network,
expansion in the vehicle repair garage, the extension in critical industries
and growth in emerging markets for its recent success.
Snap-on made its earnings announcement at its annual meeting which was
held in Kenosha County this year after being on the road for the previous
several years. The meeting was at the Radisson Hotel & Conference
Center in Pleasant Prairie, and webcasted in real time to its shareholders
around the world.
KABA board member profile:
Matthew Davidson, President, CEO
& Owner, Xten Industries LLC
Matt Davidson, a resident of Lake Forest, IL, is president, CEO and owner
of Xten Industries, an award-winning contract manufacturer and plastic
injection molder. The company, which employs 90, has manufacturing,
engineering, tooling, decoration, assembly and logistics operations at its
high-cube manufacturing facility in
Kenosha.
Along with Bill Renick, Davidson
founded Xten in 2000 after acquiring
Hauser Plas Tech of Chicago. In 2002,
Xten purchased Priority Tool and
Manufacturing of Kenosha and moved
their operations to a 78,000-squarefoot building on 10 acres in The
Business Park of Kenosha.
Prior to 2000, Davidson had more
than 15 years of general management
experience in the packaging industry.
He has served as a director or trustee for
numerous companies and not-for-profit
organizations. He has a BA with Honors
from The Colorado College and a MS
(Geology) from Harvard University.
K A B A 2 0 1 1 A N N UA L M E E T I N G
What’s Next? Rebecca Ryan discusses Kenosha & its next generation
Over 250 people attended the 2011 KABA Annual Meeting held April 7th at the
Club at Strawberry Creek. The luncheon meeting featured a look back at 2010,
mentor and training awards and a dynamic keynote address by consultant Rebecca
Ryan, founder of Next Generation Consulting (NGC). NGC is a Madison-based
market research firm that specializing in engaging the next generation.
“
Rebecca’s presentation disseminated NGC’s extensive research on “Next Cities”
- places that have the attributes to become talent magnets. Her talk, titled Cities 3.0:
Reflecting, Responding & Redesigning, discussed what’s worked for cities in the past, what
trends are emerging now and how to position Kenosha for the future. The entire presentation
is available on our web site: http://www.kaba.org/about/photogallery.htm.
What’s awesome for Kenosha at the front door of
Wisconsin is that it will have much faster
than normal growth . If you’re betting,
you would be pushing all your chips to
counties like Kenosha.
— Rebecca Ryan, Founder,
Next Generation Consulting, Inc.
”
Pictured (clockwise, L-R):Tom Mahoney, President of Johnson Bank - sponsor of the 2011 KABA Annual Meeting; the meeting about to begin; Rebecca Ryan; Y-Link President
Randall Troutman;Y-Link members in attendance stand to be recognized; Rebecca Ryan.
2011 Master Certificate Recipients
The following individuals were awarded masters certificates in human resources
management at the 2011 KABA Annual Meeting:
uJackie Gianeselli, SuperValu, Inc
uMichelle Martinez, SuperValu, Inc
uJane Snell, Village of Pleasant Prairie
The KABA Masters Certificate program is a partnership with Gateway Technical College
which allows KABA to offer three programs–Supervisory Management, HR Management
and Quality Management–that each lead to six credit hours of advanced standing toward a
Gateway Technical College Associate’s Degree in Management.
DIRECTIONS
K A B A 2 0 1 1 A N N UA L M E E T I N G
KABA elects new board
members; honor outgoing
KABA elected the following individuals to serve a three-year term on
its board of directors: William Chew–President, Midwest & Southeast
Regions, SuperValu, Inc.; Matthew Davidson–President, CEO & Owner,
Xen Industries, LLC; Carl Schultz–Owner, Five Star Fabricating, Inc.;
Timothy Woods– Director, Manufacturing & Operations North America,
S.C. Johnson & Sons. The KABA nominating committee makes a
recommendation for new board seats, with the KABA membership voting
by paper ballot to approve or oppose its selections.
”
Rebecca Ryan, YPs talk talent
at Next Leaders Roundtable
Following the Annual Meeting, Rebecca Ryan led a 90-minute breakout
session with business and community leaders and young professionals about
making Kenosha attractive to the next generation and keeping its talent
in the community. She concentrated her session on Kenosha’s new young
professionals organization,Y-Link, and how to better equip the group to
grow and influence change with respect to Kenosha’s young talent. She
stressed the importance of cooperation - with the previous generation with
the community’s leadership, with area companies and partners. What can
Y-Link do to make Kenosha what they want it to be?
Board members who have served KABA for many years and have reached
the end of their volunteer commitment were recognized for their service
at the Annual Meeting. KABA’s outgoing board members were: David
Barnes–Attorney, Barnes Law Office; Cathryn Bothe–President, Bothe
Associates Inc.; John Donnell–President, Martin Petersen Co, Inc.;
John Ernster–Manager, Customer Service, We Energies; Mark Naidicz–
Divisional Vice President, Talent Acquisition, Abbott; Karl Ostby–Retired
President & Chief Executive Officer, Southport Bank; Lawrence Rasch–
President, Rasch Construction & Engineering, Inc.
She closed the session by comparing the generational transition we’re facing
to the 4 x 100 relay race the U.S. ran in the 2008 summer Olympics. By
far the fastest teams, the mens and women’s relay races should have been
easily won as runners on either side of the baton were faster than their
competition. In both races, the runners dropped the baton on the hand-off.
“Are you a Boomer ready to make the handoff? Are you an Xer or Millennial
eager to receive it?” Rebecca asked session participants. “It doesn’t matter if
you are an awesome individual performer. To keep our communities moving
forward sustainably, we have to work together.”
2011 Mentor Award Recipients
The following individuals were awarded awards for their continued commitment to the KABA Mentor Program at the 2011 KABA Annual Meeting:
12 years of service
u
Jackie Gianeselli
u
Kelly Koblenski
u
Ken Ropp
Nine years of service
u
Deanna Goodwin
u
Bill Harris
Spring 2011 Lori Heckel
u
Vickie Hessefort
u
Achille Infusino
u
Linda Langenstroer
u
James McPhaul
u
Carmela Parker
u
u Heather Schulz
Six years of service
u
Barbara Brever
u
Ingrid Meffle
u
Rich Salisbury
u
Matt Troha
Three years of service
u
Maria Bartholomew
u
Andrew Dodge
u
Margie Gentner
u
Juli Georno
u
Alex Greno
u
Robert Hofer
Cheryl Ide
u
Joseph Leonardi
u
Sasha Mika
u
Nancy Sedloff
u
George Sedloff
u
Bunny Stoops
u
Daphne Ursu
u
K A B A 2 0 1 1 A N N UA L M E E T I N G
2011 KABA Mentor of the Year: United Hospital’s Sally Berzinsky
Sometimes it’s a book of tongue twisters, sometimes it’s a piece of fruit, and often it’s simply her presence and attentive listening ear. A variety of ingredients can
help an adult mentor a student, but one is indispensable: consistency. And according to staff at Brass Community School, Sally Berzinsky epitomizes that quality.
Each week, Berzinsky dedicates an hour to mentoring a student through an elementary school mentoring program administered by KABA. She has been
a part of the program since just after its inception in 1997. Now in her 13th year, she was recognized as Mentor of the Year at the KABA Annual Meeting.
Deb Malsack, head secretary at Brass, nominated Berzinsky for the award. The nomination was supported by 16 others.
Berzinsky currently mentors Gloria (both pictured below), a fourth grader at Brass Community School. Over the years, she’s mentored five students, and
has always worked to be a positive, consistent role model for the children. In turn, she ends up learning quite a bit herself.
Berzinsky is one of roughly 120 mentors from the business community who mentor children in the third to fifth grades, as well as middle-school students
from Kenosha County school districts. For more information about how to
get involved, please contact KABA at 262.605.1100 or info@kaba.org.
“
Sometimes there’s only so much we can do for kids
academically...there’s always that little piece that
we can’t seem to get to. For some kids, it’s
”
knowing that someone like Sally is out
there caring about them.
— Scott Kennow, Principal, Brass Elementary
K A B A E V E N T C A L E N DA R
Please contact KABA or visit http://www.kaba.org/news/calendar.asp for more information about the programs listed below.
10
Y-Link CEO Breakfast: Frank Unick, CFO, Uline, Inc.
Date: Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 a.m.
Location: Uline, 12575 Uline Drive, Pleasant Prairie
Cost: $15
Frank Unick, CFO, Uline, Inc., will present “Career Alignment: Matching
Your Objectives to Company Priorities & Economic Realities”. The CEO
Breakfast Series features area business and community leaders who share their
various experiences and professional development journeys, offering insight
to young professionals embarking on their own career paths.
Scholarship Golf Classic, presented by TDS
Date: Monday, June 13, 2011
Time: 10:00 a.m. Registration / 11:15 Shot gun start /
5:00 p.m. Reception
Location: The Club at Strawberry Creek / 14810 72nd
Street, Kenosha
This annual event raises valuable funds to support education in Kenosha
County. All proceeds will be used to award college scholarships to graduating
seniors. A few sponsorships are still available! Be noticed by Kenosha area
business and community leaders and help the Education Foundations of KABA
and the Chamber in their mission to help Kenosha Area youth.
KABA/Kenosha Area Chamber Business After 5
Date: Thursday, June 23, 2011
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. (6:30 program)
Location: Boys & Girls Club, 1330 52nd Street, Kenosha
Cost: $5 KABA/Chamber member; $10 non-member
Join a united business community in support of the Boys & Girls Club of
Kenosha for Business After 5 featuring open, social networking over drinks
and hors d’oeuvres. Come tour the Boys & Girls Club’s exciting new facility
and support this worthy cause!
DIRECTIONS
F O R YO U R I N F O R M AT I O N
The 2010 KABA Annual Report
is now available on our web site.
If you would like
a printed copy(s)
sent to you, please
contact KABA at
262.605.1100 or
info@kaba.org.
Additional KABA Member
News & Notes
u
Bear
Property Management
-Beth Knoke has re-joined the Bear team as an Administrative Assistant; she previously
was the Closing Director at Bear Realty and had 12 years of service with the company
-Amy McNutt, CPA, has joined the company as Assistant Controller
u
Clark
Dietz, Inc.
Clark Dietz, a transportation, civil, environmental, mechanical, electrical, and
structural engineering firm with regional offices inWisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana, has
announced several new hires/promotions:
-Brian Cater, P.E. has been promoted to Manager of the Kenosha Transportation Dept.
-Mustafa Emir, PhD, P.E. as a Senior Project Manager based in the Milwaukee office
-Tony Minto, P.E. has joined as a Project Engineer in the Kenosha office
-GeorgeVukelich as a business development professional for the Civil/Environmental group
u
Crispell-Snyder, Inc.
Become a summer youth
employment mentor!
Kenosha County and the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha (B&GC) are currently
soliciting applications from local businesses to serve as mentoring worksites
for the upcoming summer as part of the 2011 Youth Employment Program.
The participating business, non-profit agency or public office would host one
or more youth this summer for an 18 hour/week, eight week program.
The Youth Employment Program provides training and work experience for
eligible youth between the ages of 14 and 21. Youth who meet the enrollment
criteria complete all HR paperwork and become employees of the B&GC
- there is no cost to the participating organization. They then complete
skill assessments, job training and career development programs and are
The Lake Geneva-based professional consulting firm has promoted Ann-Perry
Witmer to project manager
u
Godin, Geraghty, Puntillo, S.C.
A nnounced that Thomas A. Camilli, Jr. is the law firm’s newest partner. Their new
name will be Godin, Geraghty, Puntillo & Camilli, S.C.
u
Jockey
International, Inc.
T he Kenosha-based manufacturer and marketer of apparel products has hired Dustin
Cohn as senior vice president, chief marketing officer
u
LMI
Packaging Solutions, Inc.
LMI Packaging, a printer and converter of flexible packaging materials used
throughout the food and beverage industries, has added three new professionals to its
commercial team: Gary Morrison–National Account Sales Manager; JP Moran
and Rosa Wright-Orozco–Inside Sales Representatives
u
Reflective
Concepts, Inc.
The manufacturer of custom segmented reflectors and components for the lighting
industry has received ISO9001:2008 Quality Management certification
u
Regulatory
Compliance Associates, Inc. (RCA)
RCA, a provider of compliance consulting services for clients in the medical device,
pharmaceutical and biologics industries, has recently announced two new hires:
- Jeff Packard has joined RCA as a Program Manager
- Matt Kiefer has joined RCA as an Engineering Consultant
u
Riley
Construction Company, Inc.
President Dave Riley has been elected president of the Associated General Contractors
(AGC) ofWisconsin’s Board of Directors for 2011
u
R
acine
placed with participating worksites throughout the county. Upon successful
completion, in-school youth receive one half credit towards graduation.
For more information, contact the Youth Employment office at the Boys &
Girls Club of Kenosha: 262-654-6200 ext 116 or pwattles@bgckenosha.org.
Spring 2011 & Kenosha Area chapter of the Society for Human Resource
Management (SHRM)
RK-SHRM has elected a new board of directors: Cathleen Sederberg, human
resources manager of Andis Co., is president; Clara Tappa, human resources
manager of United Communications Corp., is president-elect; Marta Kultgen,
human resources manager of Racine County, is vice president of membership; Susan
Richardson, senior human resources specialist of Southern Wisconsin Center, is
treasurer; and Jodi Emmons, branch manager of Express Employment Professionals,
is secretary
11
Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Inc.
600 52nd Street, Suite 120
Kenosha, WI 53140-3752
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #
Kenosha, WI
K A B A B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S
Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Stanley Torstenson
Retired Chief Executive Officer,
Stan’s Lumber, Inc.
Virginia Moran
Chief Executive Officer,
LMI Packaging Solutions, Inc.
Susan Ventura
SeniorVice President & Chief
Operating Officer,
United Hospital System
Patrick DeGrace
Director of Customer Care,
Hospira Worldwide, Inc.
William Abt
Sr.Vice President of Business and Administration,
Carthage College
Ken Dowdell
Vice President/Publisher,
Kenosha News
William Hardt
President, Northlake Engineering, Inc.
Gregg Thompson
Chief Executive Officer, Bukacek Construction
Bryan Albrecht
President, Gateway Technical College
Kenneth Fellman
President, Marshall & Illsley Bank
Mark Jaeger
SeniorVice President, General Counsel & Secretary,
Jockey International, Inc.
Frank Unick
Chief Financial Officer, Uline, Inc.
Marvin Bembry
Director, State and Local Government Affairs,
Abbott
Dr. Deborah Ford
Chancellor, University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Timothy Geraghty
Attorney,
Godin, Geraghty, Puntillo & Camilli, S.C.
Guy Bradshaw
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Bradshaw Medical, Inc.
William Chew
Regional President, Midwest & Southeast Regions
SuperValu, Inc.
Matthew Davidson
CEO & Chairman of the Board
Xten Industries, LLC
David Hagman
Chief Executive Officer,
Vista International Packaging, LLC
Dr. Michele Hancock
Superintendent of Schools,
Kenosha Unified School District
Staff
12
Todd Battle
President
Teri Muehlbauer
Office Manager
Lisa Feltson
Administrative Assistant
Becky Noble
Director of Marketing
Diana Ide-Gonzalez
Director of Training & Education
Richard Rodenbeck
Director of Business Finance
Karla Krehbiel
SeniorVice President,
Johnson Bank
Peter Valeri
President, Valeri Agency, Inc.
Dennis Vignieri
President,
Kenosha Beef International, Ltd.
Aldo Pagliari
SeniorVice President - Finance and
Chief Financial Officer
Snap-on Incorporated
Barbara Riley
Vice President - Business Development,
Riley Construction Co., Inc.
Timothy Woods
Director - Manufacturing & Operations
North America
SC Johnson & Son, Inc.
Carl Schultz
Owner, Five Star Fabricating, Inc.
Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Inc.
600 52nd Street, Suite 120, Kenosha, WI 53140-3752
P: 262.605.1100 | F: 262.605.1111 | www.kaba.org
Directions is published quarterly by the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Inc. (KABA). KABA is a private,
not-for-profit corporation recognized as the focal point for economic development, business technical
assistance and employer training to existing firms and new businesses interested in locating to Kenosha
County,Wisconsin.
DIRECTIONS