Summer 2005 - Kenosha Area Business Alliance

LEADERSHIP
KENOSHA AREA BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC.
Board of Directors
Chairman
Secretary
Mark S. Jaeger
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
Jockey International, Inc.
Thomas H. Laken, Jr.
President
Finishing & Plating Service, Inc.
Vice Chairman
Treasurer
Michael F. Montemurro
Senior Vice President - Transportation
Snap-on Incorporated
Jerold P. Franke
President
WISPARK LLC
NEWSLETTER
OF
KENOSHA A REA B USINESS A LLIANCE
July 2005
Deputy Mayor of Louisville Discusses
City-County Merger
President
Todd R. Battle
Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Inc.
David R. Barnes, Attorney
von Briesen & Roper, s.c.
Dr. Sam E. Borden, President
Gateway Technical College
Cathryn S. Bothe, President
Bothe Associates Inc.
Patrick DeGrace, Director of
Customer Care
Hospira, Inc.
John Donnell, President
Martin Petersen Company, Inc.
Ken Dowdell, Vice President &
Publisher
Kenosha News
John M. Ernster, Manager-Customer
Services
WE Energies
Kenneth L. Fellman, President
M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank
Mary Galligan, President
Kenosha Area Convention and
Visitors Bureau
David L. Hagman, President & CEO
Vista International Packaging, LLC
William A. Hardt, President
Northlake Engineering, Inc.
William J. Hayes, President & CEO
Nitto Americas, Inc.
Dr. John P. Keating, Chancellor
University of Wisconsin - Parkside
Wayne E. Koessl, Senior Local Affairs
Representative
WE Energies
Joseph F. Madrigrano, Sr., Owner
Marina Shores
Virginia K. Moran, President
Label Makers, Inc.
Mark Naidicz, Director-Corporate
Human Services
S.C. Johnson
Robert C. Nelson, President
Bane-Nelson, Inc.
Karl Ostby, President & CEO
Southport Bank
Joe Per, Plant Manager
DaimlerChrysler-Kenosha Engine Plant
Leon Pascucci, President
Grenadilla, Inc.
Rita Petretti, Vice President
Petretti Builders and Developers
Lawrence R. Rasch, President
Rasch Construction and
Engineering, Inc.
Barbara Riley, Vice President-Business
Development
Riley Construction Company, Inc.
Richard O. Schmidt, Jr., President,
CEO & General Counsel
United Hospital Systems
Robert G. Terwall, President
Cherry Electrical Products
Gregg Thompson, President
BCI Group
Stanley A. Torstenson, President
Stan’s Lumber, Inc.
Peter D. Valeri, President
Valeri Agency, Inc.
Dennis Vignieri, President
Kenosha Beef International, Ltd.
Michael W. Wells, President
Frank L. Wells Company
Cletus R. Willems, Vice President &
General Counsel
JHT Holdings, Inc.
Target Your Marketing Efforts
K
ABA members may request a separate
one-page insert of their own design and production to accompany the KABA newsletter mailing
to about 900 recipients. KABA reserves the right to
review the insert to ensure the quality is compatible with the newsletter. The newsletter is published
in January, April, July and October. Members interested in including an insert should contact KABA,
(262) 605-1100, by the first of the month
prior to publication. The insert fee is
$250. The correct number of copies
need to be delivered to KABA by the
25th of the month prior to publication.
NEW 300,000 SF INVENTORY BUILDING
COMING TO LAKEVIEW CORPORATE PARK
W
Directions is published quarterly by the
Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Inc.
600 52nd Street, Suite 120
Kenosha, WI 53140-3752
262-605-1100, FAX 262-605-1111
Email: [email protected]
www.kaba-inc.com
The Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA)
is a private not-for-profit corporation recognized
as the focal point for economic and community
development, business technical assistance
and employer training to existing firms and new
businesses interested in locating in Kenosha
County.
Todd R. Battle, President
Cecilia Lucas, Director of Bus. Finance
Diana Ide, Director of Member Services
Julie Hopper, Administrative Assistant
Jeremy Scuffham, Marketing Specialist
Keena Johnson, Intern
JULY 2005
ISPARK LLC and CenterPoint Venture LLC, under
the name of CenterPoint WISPARK Land Company
LLC, announced construction of LakeView X, a 301,650
SF inventory building at LakeView Corporate Park.
Located on a 23.5 acre site at the southwest corner of
113th Street and 88th Avenue (Highway H), this distribution/manufacturing facility is being developed south of
Cherry Electrical Products and west of the
Volkswagen/Audi Midwest Distribution Center.
economy", said Jerry Franke, President of WISPARK LLC.
"It is important to have existing space of this nature readily
available to attract companies in need of space quickly many times it leads to a build-to-suit opportunity."
R
iley Construction Company, the general contractor and
Partners in Design Architects, the architectural firm,
have extensive experience with WISPARK projects. Lee
and Associates has been selected to market the property.
T
L
L
C
he pre-cast industrial building will be both expandable
to 600,000 SF and divisible to 75,000 SF and is expected to be ready for occupancy by mid-October 2005.
Building features include 30' clear height, 24 exterior docks
(expandable to 56) and truck trailer storage.
ow vacancy rates and high user demand in Southeast
Wisconsin contributed to the decision to move forward
with this project. “This is the first speculative building
development in LakeView in 4 years. The fact that much of
the existing building space in the Park is leased and the
market indicates a demand for more is a healthy sign of the
JULY 2005
akeView Corporate Park is a 2,391-acre mixed-use real
estate development located along I-94 between
Chicago and Milwaukee. The Park has attracted 75
corporations that employ more than 9,000 people in the
Village of Pleasant Prairie, since opening in 1988.
enterPoint WISPARK Land Company LLC is a joint
venture between WISPARK LLC (a subsidiary of
Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Energy Corporation),
CenterPoint Properties Trust, and CalEast Industrial
Investors, LLC advised by LaSalle Investment
Management.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Kenosha Area Development
Activity Picking Up
Welcome to KABA’s newest
members in 2005:
Hospira, Inc
The Club at Strawberry Creek
E
ach quarter, we use Directions to provide you
with an overview of area development activity and share news about our members and the
Greater Kenosha Area. As we put together this
July 2005 edition, a number of items lead us to
conclude that the local economy continues to perform well - - and
appears to be gaining momentum. Among these items are:
• Construction of a 300,000 SF spec building in LakeView
Corporate Park by WISPARK and CenterPoint (page 1).
• Optimistic responses from area business executives that
participated in KABA’s annual economic outlook survey
(page 4).
• News of a 150,000 SF retail expansion from Prime Outlets
(page 5).
• The location of EPG, a division of Federal Signal, in a
65,000 SF space in LakeView Corporate Park (page 4).
• Another positive report from the Kenosha County
Convention & Visitors Bureau on tourism spending and
impact (page 7).
• Numerous positive reports on financial results from area
businesses (pages 4, 5, 7, and 8).
• Receipt of a $400,000 grant from the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation to complete environmental
impact studies for the commuter rail line extension (page 4).
T
hese are all positive signals that Kenosha County’s economy is
moving in the right direction. In addition to the positive economic
news, we are also pleased to report that our initiative to work more
closely with the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce is going well.
We co-hosted a legislative breakfast with Senate Majority Leader Dale
Schultz in May and have planned an August golf outing to raise funds
for college scholarships. We hope to see you there.
Todd Battle
KABA President
2
UPCOMING EVENTS
S
Wisconsin
Senate Majority
Leader
Addresses
Kenosha
Businesses
enate Majority Leader Dale Schultz
was in Kenosha on May 13th to
address a breakfast gathering of Kenosha
businesses and community leaders.
Hosted by KABA in partnership with the
Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce and
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce,
the event attracted about 65 attendees.
Senator Schultz's remarks were centered
on the timeline for the state budget,
measures currently being taken to improve
Wisconsin's economy, and the Senate's
priorities for the remainder of the session.
The breakfast concluded with a question
and answer session during which Senator
Schultz addressed questions from the
audience including concerns with Medicaid
funding and healthcare costs faced by
many companies and individuals in the
state of Wisconsin.
M
ike Pollocoff, the
Administrator for
the Village of Pleasant
Prairie, recently celebrated his 20th anniversary as the Village
Manager. Hired in 1985
by the Town of Pleasant
Prairie, which at the time had 27
employees and a $980,000 operating
budget, Mike has played a major role in the
Village's development.
The town's
incorporation into a village, the development of LakeView Corporate Park, and the
construction of the Rec Plex and Ice Plex
are a few of the notable accomplishments
that the Village has achieved during Mike's
tenure. Today the Village has a general
operating budget in excess of $9 million
and 142 employees.
JULY 2005
Progressive CEO Series for Manufacturing
Executives
K
A
KABA/Chamber
Scholarship Golf
Classic
ABA is offering a series of 3 half-day workshops for manufacturing
executives over the next 6 months.
rea manufacturing executives are invited to attend any or all three
programs. A $65 registration fee applies for each program. The
content for the series has been developed by 360vu, an affiliate of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology and its Manufacturing
Extension Partnership. Each program will feature a 360vu presenter and
will include a case study from a local CEO with relevant experience.
C
herry Corporation’s Chairman and President, Peter Cherry, will be a
featured speaker at the Leap of Strength: The CEO Adventure
seminar held on Thursday, November 17th at Gateway Technical
College.
Successful Strategies for Competing
in a Low-Cost Manufacturing World
Thursday, June 23, 2005 8 a.m. - 12p.m.
College of Lake County
19351 W. Washington St. - Grayslake, IL
Facilitated by: Michael Stone & Melissa Kelly-McCabe
Featuring: Jim Brizzolara, President of Hydraforce, Inc.
A CEO Guide to Innovation and Product Development
Thursday, September 22, 2005 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
McHenry County College
8900 US Highway 14 - Crystal Lake, IL
Facilitated by: Michael Collins, MPC Management, LLC
Featuring: Bob Deprez, CEO of the Martinez Group International
Leap of Strength: The CEO Adventure
Thursday, November 17, 2005 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Gateway Technical College - Madrigrano Center
3520 30th Avenue - Kenosha, WI
Facilitated by: CEO Coach & Speaker Walt Sutton
Featuring: Peter Cherry, Chairman & President of the Cherry Corporation
Contact KABA to request additional information or to register to attend.
Diana Ide - Director of Member Services
P (262) 605-1100
F (262) 605-1111
[email protected]
JULY 2005
11
Monday, August 8th
K
ABA and the Chamber are collaborating
this
year
to
offer
the
2005
KABA/Chamber Scholarship Golf Classic,
presented by TDS Metrocom. This premier
golf outing for the business community will
raise money for college scholarships.
W
e would like to recognize and thank our
title sponsor and partner, TDS
Metrocom, for their generous support of this
event. This marks their third year of support
for KABA's golf outing - and the first year for
the combined outing. We would also like to
thank Palmen Motors for sponsoring our
hole-in-one contest. Someone may be
driving away in a new Jeep Wrangler if the
ball bounces their way!
T
his year's event will present an excellent
opportunity for you to enjoy a day of golf
and fun - while raising money for college
scholarships. Since its inception in 1996,
KABA's Foundation has awarded 89 college
scholarships totaling more than $122,000.
The Chamber's foundation has awarded
more than 50 college scholarships in the past
20 years.
C
ontact KABA at (262) 605-1100 to
request registration information and
forms. In addition to registering to play at the
event, there are also hole sponsorship
opportunities for you or your business to
consider. We look forward to seeing you on
August 8.
September 27 Referendum
K
enosha residents will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on the proposed
$12.9 million referendum on September
27th. The three components of the proposed
plan include construction of a 600-student
elementary school in the White Caps neighborhood, a 200-student addition and renovations to Prairie Lane Elementary School, and
improvements to the athletic/physical
education facilities at Bradford and Tremper
High Schools. For more information on the
referendum visit www.kusd.edu.
EDUCATION REPORT
BOARD MEMBER PROFILES
Student’s Share Mentor
Program’s Strong Impact
LakeView Technology Partners
with Project Lead the Way
O
T
f the 171 students participating in KABA’s
Mentor Program, 64 percent responded
to the program evaluation survey, of which all
indicated their mentors have helped them in
various areas. The majority (69%) stated their
self-confidence has increased, while 65
percent stated their mentors have helped
them improve on the school work, 61 percent
stated they feel better about school, and 50
percent designated they get along better with
their classmates. Kids strongly agreed that
the time dedicated to them was valuable and
just having a friend to talk to was the most
valuable aspect of KABA’s mentor program.
A
side from quantitative data, it is evident that students valued their
mentors with nearly every student taking time to praise them. Their
responses ranged from simply stating how nice their mentors were to
thanking their mentors for helping them with their problems to making
them feel good about themselves to inspiring them to do their best.
What kids had to say about their mentors...
“She is the best mentor and she makes me feel good about myself...”
“He is a very unique and a transcendent man who chose
to help me in every way he could.”
“That she's the best mentor ever and she's a great friend
and she has been a big help in my life.”
“It was great to talk about science and inventions
and smart stuff with an adult.”
“He helped me realize my strengths.”
“He is like having a dad...”
Interested In Becoming A Mentor?
S
ince 1997, KABA has strived to make a difference in education
through its mentor program. This program currently has 170
mentors working with 3rd-5th grade students in Kenosha, Bristol,
Salem and Trevor school districts. The commitment is only 30-45
minutes per week of the mentor's time and takes place at their school.
The program provides each student with a positive role model to talk
to and have fun with and provides the mentor with the satisfaction of
contributing to something positive in a child's life. Becoming a
mentor is a win-win situation for all! We are currently recruiting new
mentors for the 2005-’06 school year. If you are interested in
learning more about KABA's Mentor Program through additional literature or a presentation at your organization, please contact Diana Ide
at
(262) 605-1100.
10
o address the critical shortage of
engineers and engineering technologists,
LakeView Technology Academy formed a
partnership with Project Lead The Way ®
(PLTW). LakeView is the third registered
PLTW training center in Wisconsin.
P
roject Lead The Way is a not-for-profit
organization that promotes pre-engineering courses for middle school and high
school students. First introduced 8 years
ago in 12 New York State high schools,
PLTW now offers programs at 600 schools in
35 states.
C
ourses
include:
Introduction
to
Engineering Design, Digital Electronics,
Principles of Engineering, Computer
Integrated Manufacturing, Civil Engineering
and Architecture, and Engineering Design
and Development. Bradford and Tremper
High Schools will be teaching two courses
starting in the fall as well.
Cathryn Bothe
President
Bothe Associates Inc.
C
athryn joined Bothe Associates Inc. in 1992 and became President in 2001. Her community activities
include: President of the Friends of the Library, Chair of the Kenosha Unified Shared Decision Core
Committee, Chair of the City of Kenosha Police and Fire Commission, County Civil Service Commission and
Chair of the Republican Party of Kenosha County. She has represented KABA as co-chair of the successful KUSD referendum that built Bain and Mahone Middle Schools and has served on the site council at Lakeview Technology
Academy since its inception. Her involvement with KABA represents the strong belief of three generations of the Bothe family
that small employers need to continue to be a vital part of KABA and the development of Kenosha County.
Jerold P. Franke
President
WISPARK LLC
J
erry joined WISPARK as Director of Business Development in 1988 and served as Vice President and
Senior Vice President prior to being named President. Mr. Franke is a member of the National Association
of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and chairs its Urban Redevelopment Forum. He is a member of
several local and state real estate and economic development organizations.
P
revious experience includes Vice President for economic development for Forward Wisconsin, Inc., the state's economic
development marketing organization; City Manager and Director of community development for the city of Janesville, WI; and
urban planning positions in Des Moines and Waterloo, Iowa. He serves on the boards of directors of WISPARK LLC, Johnson
Bank, and several other organizations.
Cletus (Clete) Willems
Vice President & General Counsel
JHT Holdings, Inc.
S
ome of the benefits students in the PLTW
program will receive include: training in
current technology using the latest computer
software and equipment in use in industry,
participating in a hands-on, activity oriented
program that utilizes team efforts, and taking
courses that will apply and reinforce their
study of math and science.
Wilmot High School Wins 9th
Annual Kenosha Academic
Skills Challenge
O
n April 11th, the Wilmot High School
team won first place in the 9th annual
Kenosha Academic Skills Challenge over
Bradford High School by a narrow margin of
655 to 600. This year’s event consisted of
twelve teams from eight local high schools
and 100 students with ten coaches and
teachers and 25 staff from Carthage,
Gateway, and UW-Parkside volunteering.
The skills challenge was originally started by
KABA's Education Committee.
KABA
continues to sponsor this annual event, along
with Carthage, Gateway, and UW-Parkside.
JULY 2005
C
lete was born and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with
a Bachelor of Arts degree, and received a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Wisconsin in
1970.
F
ollowing graduation, Clete served as a Captain in the JAG Corps of the United States Air Force, performing duties as a trial attorney, government contract specialist, and General Counsel of a Tactical Air
Command training base. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service.
A
C
fter nearly 23 years of private practice with business law firms in Columbus, Ohio and Kenosha, Wisconsin, Clete joined JHT
Holdings, Inc. as Vice President and General Counsel in 2002, the position he holds today.
lete has been strongly committed to the development of economic opportunity in the Kenosha area, having founded both the
Kenosha Area Development Corporation, and the AMC/Chrysler Task Force. The Task Force addressed the reforms
required to transition the local economy after the cessation of 75 years of automobile manufacturing. In addition to his role as a
KABA director, Clete has served on the boards of many private corporations and public institutions including the State of
Wisconsin Innovation Network, the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce, the Kenosha Civil Service Commission, St. Joseph
High School, Armitage Academy, and the Kenosha County Redevelopment Authority.
Business to Business Marketing Opportunity
“NSR Business Solutions is very pleased with the results we received by marketing through the Kenosha Area Business
Alliance newsletter. The inserts we placed directly resulted in new clients and many exciting prospects.”
Craig Anderson – President, NSR Business Solutions
D
irections, KABA’s quarterly newsletter, provides an easy and cost effective method for marketing your firm’s
products or services to decision makers from other area companies. Approximately 900 copies are mailed each
quarter to key personnel of member companies. Any member of KABA can pay $250 to place an insert in the
newsletter to promote their products or services directly to other KABA members.
JULY 2005
3
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Area Executives Upbeat About Economy
K
ABA recently completed its annual executive economic outlook
survey. Executives from 55 area firms responded to the survey.
Forty percent of respondents were manufacturing executives. Fifty six
percent of survey respondents employ more than 50 people and 55%
represented companies with at least $10 million in annual sales. The
survey captured valuable, and mostly positive, information from area
executives about the state of their business, industry conditions, and
plans for growth. A sample of survey questions and responses are
included below. Please contact us for a complete copy of the survey
results.
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Stronger than now
23
42%
Comparable to now
22
40%
Weaker than now
4
7%
6
11%
55
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Yes
35
64%
No
20
36%
55
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Yes
15
27%
No
40
73%
55
100%
7. During the remainder of 2005, your industry is expected to be:
Too uncertain to predict
Total
13.
During the remainder of 2005, does your organization expect to purchase
capital equipment?
Total
16.
During the remainder of 2005, does your organization expect to to expand its
facility?
Total
18.
Which one of the following represents the most serious challenge to your
business?
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Access to Capital
2
4%
Business Taxes
0
0%
Competition
Employee Health Care Costs
Pricing Pressure
12
22%
14
25%
13
24%
Raw Material Costs
8
15%
Regulatory Compliance
0
0%
Shortage of Skilled Workers
3
5%
Other
Total
3
5%
55
100%
4
Hospira in the News
with First Quarter
Results, Acquisition
H
ospira’s first quarter numbers beat analysts’ expectations as sales totaled $662
million, a 6.6 percent increase over last year.
Net income was $77 million, compared to
$65 million in the same quarter last year, a
better than 18% increase.
H
ospira also announced that it is acquiring
Physiometrix, a Massachusetts-based
maker of anesthesia-monitoring devices.
This is the first acquisition by Hospira since
its spinof from Abbott Laboratories. Hospira
will pay $23 million in cash and assume debt
of $1 million to complete the acquisition. The
sale received unanimous approval from the
Physiometrix board of directors, but still must
be approved by company shareholders. A
third quarter closing is expected.
Wisconsin Department of
Transportation Provides
$400,000 for Commuter Rail
EDUCATION REPORT
LakeView Graduate to Attend MIT
J
eremy Richardson, the 2005 LakeView Technology
Academy valedictorian, plans to attend MIT to pursue a
degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering this fall. He has
been interested in engineering since childhood and placed third in the
state in a skills use competition for computer-aided design earlier this
year. Jeremy was also presented with one of KABA's 2005 college
scholarships in the amount of $2,500 on May 25, 2005 at the LakeView
Technology Academy honors breakfast. LTA Principal William Hittman
and his staff are credited with successfully improving the Academy's
overall test scores since 2002.
2005 KABA College Scholarship Awards
K
enosha area high school students submitted 32 scholarship applications for review to KABA's Scholarship Committee. Of the 32 applications, 6 students were awarded $2,500 scholarships and 2 students
were awarded $1,500 scholarships, totaling $18,000. To date, KABA
has awarded 89 scholarships and more than $122,000. A special thanks
to KABA’s 2005 Scholarship Committee: Ken Fellman, M & I Bank;
Gerald Demske, Southport Bank; Gary Hutchins, Bank of Kenosha; and
John Stolfe for their time in selecting this year’s scholarship winners.
$2,500 Award Recipients
Calvin Bovee - Wilmot Union
Stacie Bruss - Indian Trail Academy
Joshua Estep - Bradford High School
Jacqueline Fliess - Westosha Central
Marissa Gallo - Tremper High School
Jeremy Richardson - LakeView Technology Academy
W
isconsin Department of Transportation
(WisDOT) Secretary Frank Busalacchi
visited Kenosha on June 2nd and presented
Kenosha County Executive Allan Kehl with a
check for $400,000. This represented 50%
of the non-federal share of the costs to
complete the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) and conduct advanced
engineering evaluations of a 33-mile
commuter rail line connecting Milwaukee,
Racine, and Kenosha.
K
enosha County agreed to serve as the
grant recipient and administrator on
behalf of the cities and counties of Kenosha,
Racine and Milwaukee. The environmental
impact study, a necessary step to move the
project forward, should take 12 to 18 months
to complete.
Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Metra Profile
33 mile extension of Chicago Metra Union
Pacific North commuter rail line
1.1 million people would be served by the
extension
7 roundtrips per weekday between Chicago &
Milwaukee (3 per weekend day)
$152 million to construct
$15 million in annual operating costs
For More Information: www.transitnow.org
JULY 2005
KUSD Teachers
Receive National
Award
$1,500 Gateway Tech Award Recipients
Anthony Figueroa - Tremper High School
Anthony Torcaso - Tremper High School
Central Makes Best High School List
T
wo educators in the
Kenosha Unified School
District were recognized in May by the
American Association of University Women
for their contributions to encouraging
educational excellence and equity in
Kenosha County. Donna Townsend, a
Bradford High School library media specialist, received the Educational Equity/Diversity
Award and Mary Gerlack, a second-grade
teacher at Lincoln Elementary School,
received the Educational Excellence Award.
Parkside included in
Biomedical Technology
Research Alliance (BTA)
U
W-Parkside is part
of a Southeastern
Wisconsin
alliance
focused on expanding biomedical research
capacity and opportunities within the region.
Other academic institutions involved in the
initiative include the Medical College of
Wisconsin, Marquette, UW-Milwaukee, and
MSOE.
T
he Biology Department of the University
of Wisconsin-Parkside, long known for its
excellence and bioinformatics emphasis, is
leading the University in this enterprise.
W
estosha Central High School was ranked 965th on
Newsweek Magazine’s Best High School List, making
it one of only 13 Wisconsin schools to make the list. The
list was compiled using a ratio of the number of AP or International
Baccalaureate tests taken by all 2004 graduating students at a school.
KUSD Places in Robotics Competition
G
ateway Technical College held its second
annual Robotics Competition on May 19 at
the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation (CATI) in
Sturtevant. Teams from both LakeView Technology Academy (LTA) and
Bradford High School competed by designing and building a remote
control robot. LTA teams took 3rd place in Sumo, 2nd and 3rd place in
Engineering Documentation and 2nd in Presentation. One Bradford
team took 3rd place in the Timed Cup competition. LTA took 2nd place
in overall school rankings.
JULY 2005
9
UW-P Opens
SEG Center
T
he University
of Wisconsin Parkside opened
their new business solutions center in May The Ralph Jaeschke Solutions for Economic
Growth Center. The center aims to provide
student projects that will enhance business
education as well as stimulate regional
economic growth by providing assistance to
area businesses.
R
alph Jaeschke’s wife, Fran, was
instrumental in bringing Parkside to
southeastern Wisconsin in 1968.
IN THE HEADLINES
H
oward J. Brown, President of Kenosha News’ parent company
United Communications Corporation, was awarded the Silver
Shovel Award by the International Marketing Association. The
association’s highest honor awards a marketing professional with a
distinguished record of service to INMA on a regional, national and/or
international level and a demonstrated commitment to excellence in the
discipline of newspaper marketing.
M
artin Peterson Co. was honored as one of 17 state businesses that
received a Wisconsin Corporate Safety Award in recognition of
workplace safety and health excellence. Other Kenosha County finalists
were DaimlerChrysler's Kenosha Engine Plant and DK Contractors in
Pleasant Prairie. In other news, Martin Peterson Co. announced the
addition of several new staff to their company, including Mike Anderson
as a Project Manager specializing in piping systems, Dave Ruffalo as a
Construction Project Manager specializing on expanding the company’s
water and wastewater treatment division, and Laura Osborn as a Project
Coordinator.
J
ohnson Bank in Kenosha announced a few new associates and promotions. Brian Klemstein joined as Vice President of Commercial
Banking. Jason Weitzel was appointed as Mortgage Loan Officer
responsible for originating mortgage loans for residential properties. Lisa
Grove was promoted to Assistant Vice President-Commercial
Relationship Manager and Jennifer Knutson was promoted to Branch
Manager.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Snap-on Reports Increased
Earnings and Strives for
Increased Efficiency
ew Snap-on Chief Executive Officer Jack
Michaels assured shareholders that the
company would strive to become more
efficient by eliminating complexity and
reducing costs at their annual meeting held in
April. Snap-on's first quarter earnings did
reflect improvement over past years and this
trend is expected to continue during 2005.
Snap-on reported net earnings of $17.9 million, compared to $12.7 million in 2004, and
a 41% increase in their first quarter profit.
Expanded Offerings, Convenience
Make Milwaukee Airport One of
Nation's 50 Largest
rispell-Snyder, Inc. announced a promotion as well as numerous
new associates. Paul E. Schafer was promoted to Construction
Services Manager for their environmental department. Kevin M.
Hickman was named as the firm’s first Business Development and
Marketing Manager and will work out of the Lake Geneva headquarters.
Anthony Baciak Jr. and Kurt Davidsen have joined the company as
Project Engineers for the public works/infrastructure department. David
Pittman was named as a project engineer in the transportation
department.
S
cherer, Schneider, & Paulick, an executive coaching firm, appointed
Michael P. McDermott as the new Managing Director of their
Southeastern Wisconsin office.
U
nitedHealthcare and Aurora Health Care announced a 15-year
agreement that will provide UnitedHealthcare customers with
access to Aurora medical centers, the most comprehensive medical
network in Wisconsin. Aurora has 13 hospitals, as well as nearly 800
Aurora physicians practicing in 100 clinics throughout eastern
Wisconsin.
8
Work continues on Roundy’s new food processing facility on 52nd
Street in Kenosha.
oundy’s Supermarkets Inc., the Milwaukee-based grocery
retailer, reported first quarter net income of $62.9 million,
compared with $15.5 million in the same period one year ago.
These numbers included a $49 million after-tax gain from the sale
of distribution centers in Ohio and Indiana. Retail sales were
$777.3 million, up 11% from the first quarter in 2004. Net sales
were off 3% at $911.4 million. Roundy’s is a Fortune 500
company with $3.7 billion in annual sales, 20,000 employees, and
132 retail grocery stores throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and
Illinois. Roundy’s is currently constructing a 116,000 SF food
processing and preparation facility in Kenosha.
Prime Outlets Plans 150,000 SF
Expansion
P
rime Retail, Inc., the owner of Prime
Outlets in Pleasant Prairie, has announced
plans to construct an additional 150,000 SF of retail space. The current
shopping center has 70 brand-name outlet stores occupying
approximately 289,000 SF. According to data from the Kenosha County
Convention and Visitors Bureau, 53 million people visited Prime Outlets
in 2004.
T
T
ank of Elmwood promoted Ron Stevens to first Vice President after
being with the bank for five years.
R
N
he expansion includes the construction of two leaseable retail
buildings, as well as a food court with lounge areas, restrooms, and
an information center. Construction is expected to begin in July. Initial
phases could open in July of 2006, and the entire expansion is slated for
completion by December 2006.
he Spanish Center of Kenosha named Bernardo “Ben” Ortega as
their new Executive Director. He brings with him more than 15 years
experience as the Director of La Causa, Wisconsin’s largest bilingual,
multicultural child-care agency that serves 9,000 people.
B
C
Roundy’s Reports strong 1st Quarter;
Progresses with Kenosha Facility
E
xpanded services from Northwest and
Midwest Airlines, Milwaukee's two
largest carriers, are drawing more travelers
to General Mitchell International Airport. It
also appears that an increasing number of
northern Illinois residents are choosing
Milwaukee to avoid the hassles associated
with O'Hare International Airport in Chicago,
according Michael Boyd, an airline industry
consultant.
T
hese factors are contributing to steady
passenger growth, which through April of
2005 is up 6% compared to the first four
months of last year. This represents 137,623
additional passengers utilizing the airport.
The increase in passengers also pushes
Milwaukee's airport into a group of the
nation's 50 largest. Northwest now offers 38
daily flights to 13 destinations. Midwest
offers 142 daily flights to 48 destinations.
JULY 2005
Public Policy Forum
moving the region forward
Kenosha County
Leads Region in
Tax Base Growth
T
he rate of tax base growth in Kenosha County in 2004 paced the
seven-county Southeast Wisconsin region. Kenosha County led the
region with a 10.3% increase in property tax base from 2003 to 2004,
while the entire region grew at a rate of 8.9% and the State of Wisconsin
grew at 8.4%.
T
he information, contained in a March 2005 study completed by the
Public Policy Forum, also showed that Kenosha’s rate of
manufacturing growth was especially impressive and more than double
the growth rate of the next closest County in the region (9.1% to 4.3%).
Kenosha experienced a 11.4% increase in residential tax base and a
7.7% increase in commercial tax base.
T
he study also revealed that this seven-county area represents 37%
of the State’s total tax base with more than $145 billion of
Wisconsin’s $391 billion in property tax base. Kenosha is the 4th largest
County in the region with just over $11 billion in tax base, trailing
Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Racine Counties.
JULY 2005
5
Positive Signal Division of Federal Signal
Moves to LakeView
T
he Environmental Product Group division
of
Federal
Signal
Corporation,
announced in April that they were relocating
their parts distribution operations from
Oshkosh to Pleasant Prairie. They have
leased 50,000 SF in a 100,000 SF industrial
facility located at the northwest corner of 88th
Avenue and Highway 165 in LakeView
Corporate Park. Functions carried out at this
site will include receiving, inspection, stocking, shipping, and customer service. This
facility supplies parts worldwide to Federal
Signal's dealer network supporting the Leach
brand of Refuse Trucks. Initial operations
require 10 total employees, but could grow to
25.
A
ccording to Dean Devore Vice President
and General Manager of Parts for
Federal Signal: "We selected this area based
on the results of a comprehensive study of
our distribution patterns. Major factors
included transit time to our customers, real
estate costs, labor availability and costs, and
access to major transportation hubs. In our
industry we predict that physical distribution
will be a competitive lever. In Pleasant
Prairie we will establish a world class parts
distribution center that will eventually service
additional Federal Signal vehicles."
IN THE HEADLINES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Available Land & Buildings
WISPARK’s Available
Space in LakeView
Corporate Park
• 50,000 to 300,000 SF rates are
$3.95/SF to $4.24/SF
Contact WISPARK at (262) 857-4661
for more information on space and land
available.
WISPARK’s Available Land in
LakeView Corporate Park
• 2 to 88 acres sites ranging from
$3.00/SF to $3.50/SF or $130,680 to
$152,460/acre
WISPARK’s Available
Space in Business Park
of Kenosha
• 1.5 - 30 acre sites available from
$55,000 to $65,000/acre.
For park and financing information
contact KABA at (262) 605-1100 or
WISPARK at (262) 857-4661.
Business Center of Kenosha, 8910
58th Place
• Up to 23,000 SF, divisible in 4-5,000
SF units. Private loading dock. 18’
clear ceiling height. For more
information, contact Mark Riley of Riley
Management, LLC at (262) 857-8500.
Commerce Center of Kenosha, 5732
95th Avenue
• Up to 15,600 SF, divisible by 2,700 SF
units. Loading dock available. 16’
clear ceiling height. For more information, contact Mark Riley of Riley
Management, LLC at (262) 857-8500.
Shanron Office Center, 5017 Green
Bay Road
• Up to 2,000 SF, divisible by 1,000 SF
units. Private entrance, easy access.
For more information, contact Mark
Riley of Riley Management, LLC at
(262) 857-8500.
Lakeview Office Building, 10411
Corporate Drive, Pleasant Prairie, WI
• 2,000 SF class A office space.
Beautiful setting near DesPlaines
River Nature Conservatory. Directly
off of I-94. For more information,
contact Mark Riley of Riley
Management, LLC at (262) 857-8500.
Power Brace property, 7640 60th
Avenue
• 12.59 acres and +106,000 SF of
buildings.
• M-2 (Heavy Manufacturing) zoning.
• Could be rezoned for retail in light of
the surrounding growth. Contact S.R.
Mills of Bear Realty of Kenosha at
(262) 842-0452 for further details.
Cranberry Business Park, 77th Street
and 57th Avenue, Kenosha, WI
• 2,000 to 12,000 SF of industrial
spaces for lease or sale. Units have
ceiling heights of 25 feet with many
options for overhead doors and/or
semi loading docks. Contact S.R.
Mills of Bear Realty of Kenosha at
(262) 842-0452 for further details.
Southport Financial building, 6905
Green Bay Road
• 1,096 to 14,263 SF of office space.
Contact S.R. Mills of Bear Realty of
Kenosha at (262) 842-0452 for
further details.
Area Construction
Lee
Plumbing
Mechanical
Contractors, Inc. have been awarded
the following projects:
• Site utilities at Spec X in WisPark
• Site utilities and interior plumbing for
Iris expansion in WisPark
• ABC Supply renovation
Kaelber Company is currently
involved in the following projects:
• Plumbing & Utility piping for Ocean
Spray’s expansion in Wisconsin
Rapids
• Plumbing, HVAC, & Fire Protection
for the new Wispark Spec Building
• Fire Protection for the Iris USA
expansion in Pleasant Prairie
6
Partners in Design Architects is currently working on or have recently
completed the following:
• 7,000 SF Gateway Technical College
Student Commons and Food Court
• 2,600 SF branch of Bank of Kenosha
located on I-94 in the Windsor Pointe
multi-tenant building
• 34,000 SF addition to Kenosha Beef’s
Kenosha production plant and a
40,000 SF addition and remodel to
their Norcross, Georgia facility
Rasch Construction & Engineering is
currently working on or have been
awarded the following projects:
• Masonry for building 18 at HarborPark
• Remodeling of the Kenosha Metra
Station
• Design/building of an addition on the
Kenosha Animal Hospital
• Hurricane Harbor and Watering Hole
projects at Six Flags Great America
Riley Construction is currently involved
in the following projects:
• Recently awarded a 300,000 SF
speculative distribution/manufacturing
building located in LakeView
Corporate Park
• The 78,500 SF PepsiAmericas
distribution center in LakeView
Corporate Park scheduled for
completion in late spring
• The 26,000 SF Kenosha Beef
International, LTD is scheduled for
completion this summer
• Currently renovating an existing
medical office suite into a 1,800 SF
Sleep Lab for Kenosha Hospital and
Medical Center
Southport Bank Reports Solid Growth
S
outhport Bank held an upbeat annual meeting
in May. Compared to 19 other banks started
in Wisconsin in the last decade, Southport is the
second largest and most profitable according to
information presented at the meeting by CEO Karl
Ostby. Started eight years ago, Southport Bank has grown quickly and
now has $315 million in assets, $241 million in loans, and $233 million in
deposits. Annual earnings were up 3% to $3.4 million in 2004.
H
ighlights from 2004 included the acquisition of Waukesha-based
ComCor Mortgage, a new branch office in Racine, and a new
financial services building on Green Bay Road. Southport Bank
currently has five branch offices, a mortgage company, and 112
employees – up from 77 a year ago.
Kenosha Healthcare Initiative Screenings a Success
M
H
ore than 200 people received low-cost health screenings during the
three-day wellness fair in April sponsored by the Kenosha
Community Healthcare Initiative.
ealth Care Initiative organizers provided low-cost health wellness
checks and no-cost medical advice to local residents as part of their
efforts to improve health and lower medical spending in Kenosha
County. The low cost of $55 was intended to give inexpensive access to
preventative care, especially for employees of small businesses that
cannot afford to provide wellness programs, and to people with high
deductibles or no health insurance. An equivalent series of laboratory
tests done by a local health care provider would range from $300 to
$500. Five participating local businesses/corporations registered 85 of
their employees for screenings, while the balance came in individually.
Organizers aim to double participation next year.
Kenosha County Tourism Numbers on the Rise
A
ccording to the Kenosha Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau and
the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, tourism spending in 2004 in
Kenosha County increased by $2.8 million from 2003, providing for a
total of $205.2 million spent by visitors in Kenosha County. Mary
Galligan, President of the Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
attributes much of the increased spending to new events in the area
including the Danskin Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie and the U.S. Cellular
Kenosha Days of Discovery tall ships festival, although Prime Outlets is
still the number one attraction for visitors to the Kenosha area.
Bank of Kenosha Hosts Annual
Meeting; Reports Positive Results
Ruffalo Painting Company is currently
working on the following:
• Pepsiamericas Warehouse
• WE Energies - Maintenance Building
along with Platt Construction
• Holy Rosary School Interior
We Energies completed an upgrade of
the Albers Substation, which will
improve the service reliability to
Southeastern Kenosha County.
JULY 2005
T
he Bank of Kenosha doubled annual revenues
in 2004 and is opening two new branches in
2005 according to information presented by CEO Gary Hutchins at the
bank’s annual meeting in May. The bank also reported total assets of
$155 million at year end 2004. The bank began in June of 2000 with $7
million in total assets.
T
wo new branches will be added in 2005 – one at the northeast corner
of I-94 and Highway 50 in the Woodman’s shopping center, and the
other at 8056 39th Avenue in the former Wisconsin Department of Motor
Vehicles building. The bank has also had significant employment growth
and now employs 52 people.
JULY 2005
7
Dodge Charger Powered by
Kenosha Engines
B
y all accounts, the Chrysler 300 was a
major success for DaimlerChrysler.
Selected as Motor Trend Magazine’s Car of
the Year for 2005, the 300 was a hit with
customers and helped revive Chrysler’s
image and sales.
I
f early signs are any indication, the Charger
may have a similar impact on
DaimlerChrysler’s Dodge unit. Early demand
for the Charger, which hit dealer lots in late
May, appears to be greater than the 300
when it was first offered.
T
he good news for Kenosha is that both
vehicles rely heavily on the 3.5 liter, V-6
engine that is produced at the Kenosha
Engine Plant. While premium models of the
vehicles are sold with the Hemi engine, basic
versions will rely on the Kenosha built 3.5
liter. Chrysler invested more than $600 million to expand the Kenosha plant for the 3.5
line in 2001. During two shifts of production,
that line turns out 920 engines per day.
KABA Participates in Chicago
Marketing Mission
I
n May, KABA
joined economic
development professionals from across the state to call on
Chicago-land companies to encourage them
to consider Wisconsin as they plan for future
growth. This effort has been an annual event
for over two decades and led to more than 60
face-to-face appointments with interested
CEOs.
S
ince 1987, Forward Wisconsin has
worked with roughly 80 Illinois firms that
have expanded or relocated into Wisconsin.
IN THE HEADLINES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Available Land & Buildings
WISPARK’s Available
Space in LakeView
Corporate Park
• 50,000 to 300,000 SF rates are
$3.95/SF to $4.24/SF
Contact WISPARK at (262) 857-4661
for more information on space and land
available.
WISPARK’s Available Land in
LakeView Corporate Park
• 2 to 88 acres sites ranging from
$3.00/SF to $3.50/SF or $130,680 to
$152,460/acre
WISPARK’s Available
Space in Business Park
of Kenosha
• 1.5 - 30 acre sites available from
$55,000 to $65,000/acre.
For park and financing information
contact KABA at (262) 605-1100 or
WISPARK at (262) 857-4661.
Business Center of Kenosha, 8910
58th Place
• Up to 23,000 SF, divisible in 4-5,000
SF units. Private loading dock. 18’
clear ceiling height. For more
information, contact Mark Riley of Riley
Management, LLC at (262) 857-8500.
Commerce Center of Kenosha, 5732
95th Avenue
• Up to 15,600 SF, divisible by 2,700 SF
units. Loading dock available. 16’
clear ceiling height. For more information, contact Mark Riley of Riley
Management, LLC at (262) 857-8500.
Shanron Office Center, 5017 Green
Bay Road
• Up to 2,000 SF, divisible by 1,000 SF
units. Private entrance, easy access.
For more information, contact Mark
Riley of Riley Management, LLC at
(262) 857-8500.
Lakeview Office Building, 10411
Corporate Drive, Pleasant Prairie, WI
• 2,000 SF class A office space.
Beautiful setting near DesPlaines
River Nature Conservatory. Directly
off of I-94. For more information,
contact Mark Riley of Riley
Management, LLC at (262) 857-8500.
Power Brace property, 7640 60th
Avenue
• 12.59 acres and +106,000 SF of
buildings.
• M-2 (Heavy Manufacturing) zoning.
• Could be rezoned for retail in light of
the surrounding growth. Contact S.R.
Mills of Bear Realty of Kenosha at
(262) 842-0452 for further details.
Cranberry Business Park, 77th Street
and 57th Avenue, Kenosha, WI
• 2,000 to 12,000 SF of industrial
spaces for lease or sale. Units have
ceiling heights of 25 feet with many
options for overhead doors and/or
semi loading docks. Contact S.R.
Mills of Bear Realty of Kenosha at
(262) 842-0452 for further details.
Southport Financial building, 6905
Green Bay Road
• 1,096 to 14,263 SF of office space.
Contact S.R. Mills of Bear Realty of
Kenosha at (262) 842-0452 for
further details.
Area Construction
Lee
Plumbing
Mechanical
Contractors, Inc. have been awarded
the following projects:
• Site utilities at Spec X in WisPark
• Site utilities and interior plumbing for
Iris expansion in WisPark
• ABC Supply renovation
Kaelber Company is currently
involved in the following projects:
• Plumbing & Utility piping for Ocean
Spray’s expansion in Wisconsin
Rapids
• Plumbing, HVAC, & Fire Protection
for the new Wispark Spec Building
• Fire Protection for the Iris USA
expansion in Pleasant Prairie
6
Partners in Design Architects is currently working on or have recently
completed the following:
• 7,000 SF Gateway Technical College
Student Commons and Food Court
• 2,600 SF branch of Bank of Kenosha
located on I-94 in the Windsor Pointe
multi-tenant building
• 34,000 SF addition to Kenosha Beef’s
Kenosha production plant and a
40,000 SF addition and remodel to
their Norcross, Georgia facility
Rasch Construction & Engineering is
currently working on or have been
awarded the following projects:
• Masonry for building 18 at HarborPark
• Remodeling of the Kenosha Metra
Station
• Design/building of an addition on the
Kenosha Animal Hospital
• Hurricane Harbor and Watering Hole
projects at Six Flags Great America
Riley Construction is currently involved
in the following projects:
• Recently awarded a 300,000 SF
speculative distribution/manufacturing
building located in LakeView
Corporate Park
• The 78,500 SF PepsiAmericas
distribution center in LakeView
Corporate Park scheduled for
completion in late spring
• The 26,000 SF Kenosha Beef
International, LTD is scheduled for
completion this summer
• Currently renovating an existing
medical office suite into a 1,800 SF
Sleep Lab for Kenosha Hospital and
Medical Center
Southport Bank Reports Solid Growth
S
outhport Bank held an upbeat annual meeting
in May. Compared to 19 other banks started
in Wisconsin in the last decade, Southport is the
second largest and most profitable according to
information presented at the meeting by CEO Karl
Ostby. Started eight years ago, Southport Bank has grown quickly and
now has $315 million in assets, $241 million in loans, and $233 million in
deposits. Annual earnings were up 3% to $3.4 million in 2004.
H
ighlights from 2004 included the acquisition of Waukesha-based
ComCor Mortgage, a new branch office in Racine, and a new
financial services building on Green Bay Road. Southport Bank
currently has five branch offices, a mortgage company, and 112
employees – up from 77 a year ago.
Kenosha Healthcare Initiative Screenings a Success
M
H
ore than 200 people received low-cost health screenings during the
three-day wellness fair in April sponsored by the Kenosha
Community Healthcare Initiative.
ealth Care Initiative organizers provided low-cost health wellness
checks and no-cost medical advice to local residents as part of their
efforts to improve health and lower medical spending in Kenosha
County. The low cost of $55 was intended to give inexpensive access to
preventative care, especially for employees of small businesses that
cannot afford to provide wellness programs, and to people with high
deductibles or no health insurance. An equivalent series of laboratory
tests done by a local health care provider would range from $300 to
$500. Five participating local businesses/corporations registered 85 of
their employees for screenings, while the balance came in individually.
Organizers aim to double participation next year.
Kenosha County Tourism Numbers on the Rise
A
ccording to the Kenosha Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau and
the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, tourism spending in 2004 in
Kenosha County increased by $2.8 million from 2003, providing for a
total of $205.2 million spent by visitors in Kenosha County. Mary
Galligan, President of the Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
attributes much of the increased spending to new events in the area
including the Danskin Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie and the U.S. Cellular
Kenosha Days of Discovery tall ships festival, although Prime Outlets is
still the number one attraction for visitors to the Kenosha area.
Bank of Kenosha Hosts Annual
Meeting; Reports Positive Results
Ruffalo Painting Company is currently
working on the following:
• Pepsiamericas Warehouse
• WE Energies - Maintenance Building
along with Platt Construction
• Holy Rosary School Interior
We Energies completed an upgrade of
the Albers Substation, which will
improve the service reliability to
Southeastern Kenosha County.
JULY 2005
T
he Bank of Kenosha doubled annual revenues
in 2004 and is opening two new branches in
2005 according to information presented by CEO Gary Hutchins at the
bank’s annual meeting in May. The bank also reported total assets of
$155 million at year end 2004. The bank began in June of 2000 with $7
million in total assets.
T
wo new branches will be added in 2005 – one at the northeast corner
of I-94 and Highway 50 in the Woodman’s shopping center, and the
other at 8056 39th Avenue in the former Wisconsin Department of Motor
Vehicles building. The bank has also had significant employment growth
and now employs 52 people.
JULY 2005
7
Dodge Charger Powered by
Kenosha Engines
B
y all accounts, the Chrysler 300 was a
major success for DaimlerChrysler.
Selected as Motor Trend Magazine’s Car of
the Year for 2005, the 300 was a hit with
customers and helped revive Chrysler’s
image and sales.
I
f early signs are any indication, the Charger
may have a similar impact on
DaimlerChrysler’s Dodge unit. Early demand
for the Charger, which hit dealer lots in late
May, appears to be greater than the 300
when it was first offered.
T
he good news for Kenosha is that both
vehicles rely heavily on the 3.5 liter, V-6
engine that is produced at the Kenosha
Engine Plant. While premium models of the
vehicles are sold with the Hemi engine, basic
versions will rely on the Kenosha built 3.5
liter. Chrysler invested more than $600 million to expand the Kenosha plant for the 3.5
line in 2001. During two shifts of production,
that line turns out 920 engines per day.
KABA Participates in Chicago
Marketing Mission
I
n May, KABA
joined economic
development professionals from across the state to call on
Chicago-land companies to encourage them
to consider Wisconsin as they plan for future
growth. This effort has been an annual event
for over two decades and led to more than 60
face-to-face appointments with interested
CEOs.
S
ince 1987, Forward Wisconsin has
worked with roughly 80 Illinois firms that
have expanded or relocated into Wisconsin.
IN THE HEADLINES
H
oward J. Brown, President of Kenosha News’ parent company
United Communications Corporation, was awarded the Silver
Shovel Award by the International Marketing Association. The
association’s highest honor awards a marketing professional with a
distinguished record of service to INMA on a regional, national and/or
international level and a demonstrated commitment to excellence in the
discipline of newspaper marketing.
M
artin Peterson Co. was honored as one of 17 state businesses that
received a Wisconsin Corporate Safety Award in recognition of
workplace safety and health excellence. Other Kenosha County finalists
were DaimlerChrysler's Kenosha Engine Plant and DK Contractors in
Pleasant Prairie. In other news, Martin Peterson Co. announced the
addition of several new staff to their company, including Mike Anderson
as a Project Manager specializing in piping systems, Dave Ruffalo as a
Construction Project Manager specializing on expanding the company’s
water and wastewater treatment division, and Laura Osborn as a Project
Coordinator.
J
ohnson Bank in Kenosha announced a few new associates and promotions. Brian Klemstein joined as Vice President of Commercial
Banking. Jason Weitzel was appointed as Mortgage Loan Officer
responsible for originating mortgage loans for residential properties. Lisa
Grove was promoted to Assistant Vice President-Commercial
Relationship Manager and Jennifer Knutson was promoted to Branch
Manager.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Snap-on Reports Increased
Earnings and Strives for
Increased Efficiency
ew Snap-on Chief Executive Officer Jack
Michaels assured shareholders that the
company would strive to become more
efficient by eliminating complexity and
reducing costs at their annual meeting held in
April. Snap-on's first quarter earnings did
reflect improvement over past years and this
trend is expected to continue during 2005.
Snap-on reported net earnings of $17.9 million, compared to $12.7 million in 2004, and
a 41% increase in their first quarter profit.
Expanded Offerings, Convenience
Make Milwaukee Airport One of
Nation's 50 Largest
rispell-Snyder, Inc. announced a promotion as well as numerous
new associates. Paul E. Schafer was promoted to Construction
Services Manager for their environmental department. Kevin M.
Hickman was named as the firm’s first Business Development and
Marketing Manager and will work out of the Lake Geneva headquarters.
Anthony Baciak Jr. and Kurt Davidsen have joined the company as
Project Engineers for the public works/infrastructure department. David
Pittman was named as a project engineer in the transportation
department.
S
cherer, Schneider, & Paulick, an executive coaching firm, appointed
Michael P. McDermott as the new Managing Director of their
Southeastern Wisconsin office.
U
nitedHealthcare and Aurora Health Care announced a 15-year
agreement that will provide UnitedHealthcare customers with
access to Aurora medical centers, the most comprehensive medical
network in Wisconsin. Aurora has 13 hospitals, as well as nearly 800
Aurora physicians practicing in 100 clinics throughout eastern
Wisconsin.
8
Work continues on Roundy’s new food processing facility on 52nd
Street in Kenosha.
oundy’s Supermarkets Inc., the Milwaukee-based grocery
retailer, reported first quarter net income of $62.9 million,
compared with $15.5 million in the same period one year ago.
These numbers included a $49 million after-tax gain from the sale
of distribution centers in Ohio and Indiana. Retail sales were
$777.3 million, up 11% from the first quarter in 2004. Net sales
were off 3% at $911.4 million. Roundy’s is a Fortune 500
company with $3.7 billion in annual sales, 20,000 employees, and
132 retail grocery stores throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and
Illinois. Roundy’s is currently constructing a 116,000 SF food
processing and preparation facility in Kenosha.
Prime Outlets Plans 150,000 SF
Expansion
P
rime Retail, Inc., the owner of Prime
Outlets in Pleasant Prairie, has announced
plans to construct an additional 150,000 SF of retail space. The current
shopping center has 70 brand-name outlet stores occupying
approximately 289,000 SF. According to data from the Kenosha County
Convention and Visitors Bureau, 53 million people visited Prime Outlets
in 2004.
T
T
ank of Elmwood promoted Ron Stevens to first Vice President after
being with the bank for five years.
R
N
he expansion includes the construction of two leaseable retail
buildings, as well as a food court with lounge areas, restrooms, and
an information center. Construction is expected to begin in July. Initial
phases could open in July of 2006, and the entire expansion is slated for
completion by December 2006.
he Spanish Center of Kenosha named Bernardo “Ben” Ortega as
their new Executive Director. He brings with him more than 15 years
experience as the Director of La Causa, Wisconsin’s largest bilingual,
multicultural child-care agency that serves 9,000 people.
B
C
Roundy’s Reports strong 1st Quarter;
Progresses with Kenosha Facility
E
xpanded services from Northwest and
Midwest Airlines, Milwaukee's two
largest carriers, are drawing more travelers
to General Mitchell International Airport. It
also appears that an increasing number of
northern Illinois residents are choosing
Milwaukee to avoid the hassles associated
with O'Hare International Airport in Chicago,
according Michael Boyd, an airline industry
consultant.
T
hese factors are contributing to steady
passenger growth, which through April of
2005 is up 6% compared to the first four
months of last year. This represents 137,623
additional passengers utilizing the airport.
The increase in passengers also pushes
Milwaukee's airport into a group of the
nation's 50 largest. Northwest now offers 38
daily flights to 13 destinations. Midwest
offers 142 daily flights to 48 destinations.
JULY 2005
Public Policy Forum
moving the region forward
Kenosha County
Leads Region in
Tax Base Growth
T
he rate of tax base growth in Kenosha County in 2004 paced the
seven-county Southeast Wisconsin region. Kenosha County led the
region with a 10.3% increase in property tax base from 2003 to 2004,
while the entire region grew at a rate of 8.9% and the State of Wisconsin
grew at 8.4%.
T
he information, contained in a March 2005 study completed by the
Public Policy Forum, also showed that Kenosha’s rate of
manufacturing growth was especially impressive and more than double
the growth rate of the next closest County in the region (9.1% to 4.3%).
Kenosha experienced a 11.4% increase in residential tax base and a
7.7% increase in commercial tax base.
T
he study also revealed that this seven-county area represents 37%
of the State’s total tax base with more than $145 billion of
Wisconsin’s $391 billion in property tax base. Kenosha is the 4th largest
County in the region with just over $11 billion in tax base, trailing
Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Racine Counties.
JULY 2005
5
Positive Signal Division of Federal Signal
Moves to LakeView
T
he Environmental Product Group division
of
Federal
Signal
Corporation,
announced in April that they were relocating
their parts distribution operations from
Oshkosh to Pleasant Prairie. They have
leased 50,000 SF in a 100,000 SF industrial
facility located at the northwest corner of 88th
Avenue and Highway 165 in LakeView
Corporate Park. Functions carried out at this
site will include receiving, inspection, stocking, shipping, and customer service. This
facility supplies parts worldwide to Federal
Signal's dealer network supporting the Leach
brand of Refuse Trucks. Initial operations
require 10 total employees, but could grow to
25.
A
ccording to Dean Devore Vice President
and General Manager of Parts for
Federal Signal: "We selected this area based
on the results of a comprehensive study of
our distribution patterns. Major factors
included transit time to our customers, real
estate costs, labor availability and costs, and
access to major transportation hubs. In our
industry we predict that physical distribution
will be a competitive lever. In Pleasant
Prairie we will establish a world class parts
distribution center that will eventually service
additional Federal Signal vehicles."
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Area Executives Upbeat About Economy
K
ABA recently completed its annual executive economic outlook
survey. Executives from 55 area firms responded to the survey.
Forty percent of respondents were manufacturing executives. Fifty six
percent of survey respondents employ more than 50 people and 55%
represented companies with at least $10 million in annual sales. The
survey captured valuable, and mostly positive, information from area
executives about the state of their business, industry conditions, and
plans for growth. A sample of survey questions and responses are
included below. Please contact us for a complete copy of the survey
results.
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Stronger than now
23
42%
Comparable to now
22
40%
Weaker than now
4
7%
6
11%
55
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Yes
35
64%
No
20
36%
55
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Yes
15
27%
No
40
73%
55
100%
7. During the remainder of 2005, your industry is expected to be:
Too uncertain to predict
Total
13.
During the remainder of 2005, does your organization expect to purchase
capital equipment?
Total
16.
During the remainder of 2005, does your organization expect to to expand its
facility?
Total
18.
Which one of the following represents the most serious challenge to your
business?
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Access to Capital
2
4%
Business Taxes
0
0%
Competition
Employee Health Care Costs
Pricing Pressure
12
22%
14
25%
13
24%
Raw Material Costs
8
15%
Regulatory Compliance
0
0%
Shortage of Skilled Workers
3
5%
Other
Total
3
5%
55
100%
4
Hospira in the News
with First Quarter
Results, Acquisition
H
ospira’s first quarter numbers beat analysts’ expectations as sales totaled $662
million, a 6.6 percent increase over last year.
Net income was $77 million, compared to
$65 million in the same quarter last year, a
better than 18% increase.
H
ospira also announced that it is acquiring
Physiometrix, a Massachusetts-based
maker of anesthesia-monitoring devices.
This is the first acquisition by Hospira since
its spinof from Abbott Laboratories. Hospira
will pay $23 million in cash and assume debt
of $1 million to complete the acquisition. The
sale received unanimous approval from the
Physiometrix board of directors, but still must
be approved by company shareholders. A
third quarter closing is expected.
Wisconsin Department of
Transportation Provides
$400,000 for Commuter Rail
EDUCATION REPORT
LakeView Graduate to Attend MIT
J
eremy Richardson, the 2005 LakeView Technology
Academy valedictorian, plans to attend MIT to pursue a
degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering this fall. He has
been interested in engineering since childhood and placed third in the
state in a skills use competition for computer-aided design earlier this
year. Jeremy was also presented with one of KABA's 2005 college
scholarships in the amount of $2,500 on May 25, 2005 at the LakeView
Technology Academy honors breakfast. LTA Principal William Hittman
and his staff are credited with successfully improving the Academy's
overall test scores since 2002.
2005 KABA College Scholarship Awards
K
enosha area high school students submitted 32 scholarship applications for review to KABA's Scholarship Committee. Of the 32 applications, 6 students were awarded $2,500 scholarships and 2 students
were awarded $1,500 scholarships, totaling $18,000. To date, KABA
has awarded 89 scholarships and more than $122,000. A special thanks
to KABA’s 2005 Scholarship Committee: Ken Fellman, M & I Bank;
Gerald Demske, Southport Bank; Gary Hutchins, Bank of Kenosha; and
John Stolfe for their time in selecting this year’s scholarship winners.
$2,500 Award Recipients
Calvin Bovee - Wilmot Union
Stacie Bruss - Indian Trail Academy
Joshua Estep - Bradford High School
Jacqueline Fliess - Westosha Central
Marissa Gallo - Tremper High School
Jeremy Richardson - LakeView Technology Academy
W
isconsin Department of Transportation
(WisDOT) Secretary Frank Busalacchi
visited Kenosha on June 2nd and presented
Kenosha County Executive Allan Kehl with a
check for $400,000. This represented 50%
of the non-federal share of the costs to
complete the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) and conduct advanced
engineering evaluations of a 33-mile
commuter rail line connecting Milwaukee,
Racine, and Kenosha.
K
enosha County agreed to serve as the
grant recipient and administrator on
behalf of the cities and counties of Kenosha,
Racine and Milwaukee. The environmental
impact study, a necessary step to move the
project forward, should take 12 to 18 months
to complete.
Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Metra Profile
33 mile extension of Chicago Metra Union
Pacific North commuter rail line
1.1 million people would be served by the
extension
7 roundtrips per weekday between Chicago &
Milwaukee (3 per weekend day)
$152 million to construct
$15 million in annual operating costs
For More Information: www.transitnow.org
JULY 2005
KUSD Teachers
Receive National
Award
$1,500 Gateway Tech Award Recipients
Anthony Figueroa - Tremper High School
Anthony Torcaso - Tremper High School
Central Makes Best High School List
T
wo educators in the
Kenosha Unified School
District were recognized in May by the
American Association of University Women
for their contributions to encouraging
educational excellence and equity in
Kenosha County. Donna Townsend, a
Bradford High School library media specialist, received the Educational Equity/Diversity
Award and Mary Gerlack, a second-grade
teacher at Lincoln Elementary School,
received the Educational Excellence Award.
Parkside included in
Biomedical Technology
Research Alliance (BTA)
U
W-Parkside is part
of a Southeastern
Wisconsin
alliance
focused on expanding biomedical research
capacity and opportunities within the region.
Other academic institutions involved in the
initiative include the Medical College of
Wisconsin, Marquette, UW-Milwaukee, and
MSOE.
T
he Biology Department of the University
of Wisconsin-Parkside, long known for its
excellence and bioinformatics emphasis, is
leading the University in this enterprise.
W
estosha Central High School was ranked 965th on
Newsweek Magazine’s Best High School List, making
it one of only 13 Wisconsin schools to make the list. The
list was compiled using a ratio of the number of AP or International
Baccalaureate tests taken by all 2004 graduating students at a school.
KUSD Places in Robotics Competition
G
ateway Technical College held its second
annual Robotics Competition on May 19 at
the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation (CATI) in
Sturtevant. Teams from both LakeView Technology Academy (LTA) and
Bradford High School competed by designing and building a remote
control robot. LTA teams took 3rd place in Sumo, 2nd and 3rd place in
Engineering Documentation and 2nd in Presentation. One Bradford
team took 3rd place in the Timed Cup competition. LTA took 2nd place
in overall school rankings.
JULY 2005
9
UW-P Opens
SEG Center
T
he University
of Wisconsin Parkside opened
their new business solutions center in May The Ralph Jaeschke Solutions for Economic
Growth Center. The center aims to provide
student projects that will enhance business
education as well as stimulate regional
economic growth by providing assistance to
area businesses.
R
alph Jaeschke’s wife, Fran, was
instrumental in bringing Parkside to
southeastern Wisconsin in 1968.
EDUCATION REPORT
BOARD MEMBER PROFILES
Student’s Share Mentor
Program’s Strong Impact
LakeView Technology Partners
with Project Lead the Way
O
T
f the 171 students participating in KABA’s
Mentor Program, 64 percent responded
to the program evaluation survey, of which all
indicated their mentors have helped them in
various areas. The majority (69%) stated their
self-confidence has increased, while 65
percent stated their mentors have helped
them improve on the school work, 61 percent
stated they feel better about school, and 50
percent designated they get along better with
their classmates. Kids strongly agreed that
the time dedicated to them was valuable and
just having a friend to talk to was the most
valuable aspect of KABA’s mentor program.
A
side from quantitative data, it is evident that students valued their
mentors with nearly every student taking time to praise them. Their
responses ranged from simply stating how nice their mentors were to
thanking their mentors for helping them with their problems to making
them feel good about themselves to inspiring them to do their best.
What kids had to say about their mentors...
“She is the best mentor and she makes me feel good about myself...”
“He is a very unique and a transcendent man who chose
to help me in every way he could.”
“That she's the best mentor ever and she's a great friend
and she has been a big help in my life.”
“It was great to talk about science and inventions
and smart stuff with an adult.”
“He helped me realize my strengths.”
“He is like having a dad...”
Interested In Becoming A Mentor?
S
ince 1997, KABA has strived to make a difference in education
through its mentor program. This program currently has 170
mentors working with 3rd-5th grade students in Kenosha, Bristol,
Salem and Trevor school districts. The commitment is only 30-45
minutes per week of the mentor's time and takes place at their school.
The program provides each student with a positive role model to talk
to and have fun with and provides the mentor with the satisfaction of
contributing to something positive in a child's life. Becoming a
mentor is a win-win situation for all! We are currently recruiting new
mentors for the 2005-’06 school year. If you are interested in
learning more about KABA's Mentor Program through additional literature or a presentation at your organization, please contact Diana Ide
at
(262) 605-1100.
10
o address the critical shortage of
engineers and engineering technologists,
LakeView Technology Academy formed a
partnership with Project Lead The Way ®
(PLTW). LakeView is the third registered
PLTW training center in Wisconsin.
P
roject Lead The Way is a not-for-profit
organization that promotes pre-engineering courses for middle school and high
school students. First introduced 8 years
ago in 12 New York State high schools,
PLTW now offers programs at 600 schools in
35 states.
C
ourses
include:
Introduction
to
Engineering Design, Digital Electronics,
Principles of Engineering, Computer
Integrated Manufacturing, Civil Engineering
and Architecture, and Engineering Design
and Development. Bradford and Tremper
High Schools will be teaching two courses
starting in the fall as well.
Cathryn Bothe
President
Bothe Associates Inc.
C
athryn joined Bothe Associates Inc. in 1992 and became President in 2001. Her community activities
include: President of the Friends of the Library, Chair of the Kenosha Unified Shared Decision Core
Committee, Chair of the City of Kenosha Police and Fire Commission, County Civil Service Commission and
Chair of the Republican Party of Kenosha County. She has represented KABA as co-chair of the successful KUSD referendum that built Bain and Mahone Middle Schools and has served on the site council at Lakeview Technology
Academy since its inception. Her involvement with KABA represents the strong belief of three generations of the Bothe family
that small employers need to continue to be a vital part of KABA and the development of Kenosha County.
Jerold P. Franke
President
WISPARK LLC
J
erry joined WISPARK as Director of Business Development in 1988 and served as Vice President and
Senior Vice President prior to being named President. Mr. Franke is a member of the National Association
of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and chairs its Urban Redevelopment Forum. He is a member of
several local and state real estate and economic development organizations.
P
revious experience includes Vice President for economic development for Forward Wisconsin, Inc., the state's economic
development marketing organization; City Manager and Director of community development for the city of Janesville, WI; and
urban planning positions in Des Moines and Waterloo, Iowa. He serves on the boards of directors of WISPARK LLC, Johnson
Bank, and several other organizations.
Cletus (Clete) Willems
Vice President & General Counsel
JHT Holdings, Inc.
S
ome of the benefits students in the PLTW
program will receive include: training in
current technology using the latest computer
software and equipment in use in industry,
participating in a hands-on, activity oriented
program that utilizes team efforts, and taking
courses that will apply and reinforce their
study of math and science.
Wilmot High School Wins 9th
Annual Kenosha Academic
Skills Challenge
O
n April 11th, the Wilmot High School
team won first place in the 9th annual
Kenosha Academic Skills Challenge over
Bradford High School by a narrow margin of
655 to 600. This year’s event consisted of
twelve teams from eight local high schools
and 100 students with ten coaches and
teachers and 25 staff from Carthage,
Gateway, and UW-Parkside volunteering.
The skills challenge was originally started by
KABA's Education Committee.
KABA
continues to sponsor this annual event, along
with Carthage, Gateway, and UW-Parkside.
JULY 2005
C
lete was born and raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with
a Bachelor of Arts degree, and received a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Wisconsin in
1970.
F
ollowing graduation, Clete served as a Captain in the JAG Corps of the United States Air Force, performing duties as a trial attorney, government contract specialist, and General Counsel of a Tactical Air
Command training base. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service.
A
C
fter nearly 23 years of private practice with business law firms in Columbus, Ohio and Kenosha, Wisconsin, Clete joined JHT
Holdings, Inc. as Vice President and General Counsel in 2002, the position he holds today.
lete has been strongly committed to the development of economic opportunity in the Kenosha area, having founded both the
Kenosha Area Development Corporation, and the AMC/Chrysler Task Force. The Task Force addressed the reforms
required to transition the local economy after the cessation of 75 years of automobile manufacturing. In addition to his role as a
KABA director, Clete has served on the boards of many private corporations and public institutions including the State of
Wisconsin Innovation Network, the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce, the Kenosha Civil Service Commission, St. Joseph
High School, Armitage Academy, and the Kenosha County Redevelopment Authority.
Business to Business Marketing Opportunity
“NSR Business Solutions is very pleased with the results we received by marketing through the Kenosha Area Business
Alliance newsletter. The inserts we placed directly resulted in new clients and many exciting prospects.”
Craig Anderson – President, NSR Business Solutions
D
irections, KABA’s quarterly newsletter, provides an easy and cost effective method for marketing your firm’s
products or services to decision makers from other area companies. Approximately 900 copies are mailed each
quarter to key personnel of member companies. Any member of KABA can pay $250 to place an insert in the
newsletter to promote their products or services directly to other KABA members.
JULY 2005
3
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Kenosha Area Development
Activity Picking Up
Welcome to KABA’s newest
members in 2005:
Hospira, Inc
The Club at Strawberry Creek
E
ach quarter, we use Directions to provide you
with an overview of area development activity and share news about our members and the
Greater Kenosha Area. As we put together this
July 2005 edition, a number of items lead us to
conclude that the local economy continues to perform well - - and
appears to be gaining momentum. Among these items are:
• Construction of a 300,000 SF spec building in LakeView
Corporate Park by WISPARK and CenterPoint (page 1).
• Optimistic responses from area business executives that
participated in KABA’s annual economic outlook survey
(page 4).
• News of a 150,000 SF retail expansion from Prime Outlets
(page 5).
• The location of EPG, a division of Federal Signal, in a
65,000 SF space in LakeView Corporate Park (page 4).
• Another positive report from the Kenosha County
Convention & Visitors Bureau on tourism spending and
impact (page 7).
• Numerous positive reports on financial results from area
businesses (pages 4, 5, 7, and 8).
• Receipt of a $400,000 grant from the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation to complete environmental
impact studies for the commuter rail line extension (page 4).
T
hese are all positive signals that Kenosha County’s economy is
moving in the right direction. In addition to the positive economic
news, we are also pleased to report that our initiative to work more
closely with the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce is going well.
We co-hosted a legislative breakfast with Senate Majority Leader Dale
Schultz in May and have planned an August golf outing to raise funds
for college scholarships. We hope to see you there.
Todd Battle
KABA President
2
UPCOMING EVENTS
S
Wisconsin
Senate Majority
Leader
Addresses
Kenosha
Businesses
enate Majority Leader Dale Schultz
was in Kenosha on May 13th to
address a breakfast gathering of Kenosha
businesses and community leaders.
Hosted by KABA in partnership with the
Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce and
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce,
the event attracted about 65 attendees.
Senator Schultz's remarks were centered
on the timeline for the state budget,
measures currently being taken to improve
Wisconsin's economy, and the Senate's
priorities for the remainder of the session.
The breakfast concluded with a question
and answer session during which Senator
Schultz addressed questions from the
audience including concerns with Medicaid
funding and healthcare costs faced by
many companies and individuals in the
state of Wisconsin.
M
ike Pollocoff, the
Administrator for
the Village of Pleasant
Prairie, recently celebrated his 20th anniversary as the Village
Manager. Hired in 1985
by the Town of Pleasant
Prairie, which at the time had 27
employees and a $980,000 operating
budget, Mike has played a major role in the
Village's development.
The town's
incorporation into a village, the development of LakeView Corporate Park, and the
construction of the Rec Plex and Ice Plex
are a few of the notable accomplishments
that the Village has achieved during Mike's
tenure. Today the Village has a general
operating budget in excess of $9 million
and 142 employees.
JULY 2005
Progressive CEO Series for Manufacturing
Executives
K
A
KABA/Chamber
Scholarship Golf
Classic
ABA is offering a series of 3 half-day workshops for manufacturing
executives over the next 6 months.
rea manufacturing executives are invited to attend any or all three
programs. A $65 registration fee applies for each program. The
content for the series has been developed by 360vu, an affiliate of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology and its Manufacturing
Extension Partnership. Each program will feature a 360vu presenter and
will include a case study from a local CEO with relevant experience.
C
herry Corporation’s Chairman and President, Peter Cherry, will be a
featured speaker at the Leap of Strength: The CEO Adventure
seminar held on Thursday, November 17th at Gateway Technical
College.
Successful Strategies for Competing
in a Low-Cost Manufacturing World
Thursday, June 23, 2005 8 a.m. - 12p.m.
College of Lake County
19351 W. Washington St. - Grayslake, IL
Facilitated by: Michael Stone & Melissa Kelly-McCabe
Featuring: Jim Brizzolara, President of Hydraforce, Inc.
A CEO Guide to Innovation and Product Development
Thursday, September 22, 2005 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
McHenry County College
8900 US Highway 14 - Crystal Lake, IL
Facilitated by: Michael Collins, MPC Management, LLC
Featuring: Bob Deprez, CEO of the Martinez Group International
Leap of Strength: The CEO Adventure
Thursday, November 17, 2005 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Gateway Technical College - Madrigrano Center
3520 30th Avenue - Kenosha, WI
Facilitated by: CEO Coach & Speaker Walt Sutton
Featuring: Peter Cherry, Chairman & President of the Cherry Corporation
Contact KABA to request additional information or to register to attend.
Diana Ide - Director of Member Services
P (262) 605-1100
F (262) 605-1111
[email protected]
JULY 2005
11
Monday, August 8th
K
ABA and the Chamber are collaborating
this
year
to
offer
the
2005
KABA/Chamber Scholarship Golf Classic,
presented by TDS Metrocom. This premier
golf outing for the business community will
raise money for college scholarships.
W
e would like to recognize and thank our
title sponsor and partner, TDS
Metrocom, for their generous support of this
event. This marks their third year of support
for KABA's golf outing - and the first year for
the combined outing. We would also like to
thank Palmen Motors for sponsoring our
hole-in-one contest. Someone may be
driving away in a new Jeep Wrangler if the
ball bounces their way!
T
his year's event will present an excellent
opportunity for you to enjoy a day of golf
and fun - while raising money for college
scholarships. Since its inception in 1996,
KABA's Foundation has awarded 89 college
scholarships totaling more than $122,000.
The Chamber's foundation has awarded
more than 50 college scholarships in the past
20 years.
C
ontact KABA at (262) 605-1100 to
request registration information and
forms. In addition to registering to play at the
event, there are also hole sponsorship
opportunities for you or your business to
consider. We look forward to seeing you on
August 8.
September 27 Referendum
K
enosha residents will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on the proposed
$12.9 million referendum on September
27th. The three components of the proposed
plan include construction of a 600-student
elementary school in the White Caps neighborhood, a 200-student addition and renovations to Prairie Lane Elementary School, and
improvements to the athletic/physical
education facilities at Bradford and Tremper
High Schools. For more information on the
referendum visit www.kusd.edu.
LEADERSHIP
KENOSHA AREA BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC.
Board of Directors
Chairman
Secretary
Mark S. Jaeger
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
Jockey International, Inc.
Thomas H. Laken, Jr.
President
Finishing & Plating Service, Inc.
Vice Chairman
Treasurer
Michael F. Montemurro
Senior Vice President - Transportation
Snap-on Incorporated
Jerold P. Franke
President
WISPARK LLC
NEWSLETTER
OF
KENOSHA A REA B USINESS A LLIANCE
July 2005
Deputy Mayor of Louisville Discusses
City-County Merger
President
Todd R. Battle
Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Inc.
David R. Barnes, Attorney
von Briesen & Roper, s.c.
Dr. Sam E. Borden, President
Gateway Technical College
Cathryn S. Bothe, President
Bothe Associates Inc.
Patrick DeGrace, Director of
Customer Care
Hospira, Inc.
John Donnell, President
Martin Petersen Company, Inc.
Ken Dowdell, Vice President &
Publisher
Kenosha News
John M. Ernster, Manager-Customer
Services
WE Energies
Kenneth L. Fellman, President
M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank
Mary Galligan, President
Kenosha Area Convention and
Visitors Bureau
David L. Hagman, President & CEO
Vista International Packaging, LLC
William A. Hardt, President
Northlake Engineering, Inc.
William J. Hayes, President & CEO
Nitto Americas, Inc.
Dr. John P. Keating, Chancellor
University of Wisconsin - Parkside
Wayne E. Koessl, Senior Local Affairs
Representative
WE Energies
Joseph F. Madrigrano, Sr., Owner
Marina Shores
Virginia K. Moran, President
Label Makers, Inc.
Mark Naidicz, Director-Corporate
Human Services
S.C. Johnson
Robert C. Nelson, President
Bane-Nelson, Inc.
Karl Ostby, President & CEO
Southport Bank
Joe Per, Plant Manager
DaimlerChrysler-Kenosha Engine Plant
Leon Pascucci, President
Grenadilla, Inc.
Rita Petretti, Vice President
Petretti Builders and Developers
Lawrence R. Rasch, President
Rasch Construction and
Engineering, Inc.
Barbara Riley, Vice President-Business
Development
Riley Construction Company, Inc.
Richard O. Schmidt, Jr., President,
CEO & General Counsel
United Hospital Systems
Robert G. Terwall, President
Cherry Electrical Products
Gregg Thompson, President
BCI Group
Stanley A. Torstenson, President
Stan’s Lumber, Inc.
Peter D. Valeri, President
Valeri Agency, Inc.
Dennis Vignieri, President
Kenosha Beef International, Ltd.
Michael W. Wells, President
Frank L. Wells Company
Cletus R. Willems, Vice President &
General Counsel
JHT Holdings, Inc.
Target Your Marketing Efforts
K
ABA members may request a separate
one-page insert of their own design and production to accompany the KABA newsletter mailing
to about 900 recipients. KABA reserves the right to
review the insert to ensure the quality is compatible with the newsletter. The newsletter is published
in January, April, July and October. Members interested in including an insert should contact KABA,
(262) 605-1100, by the first of the month
prior to publication. The insert fee is
$250. The correct number of copies
need to be delivered to KABA by the
25th of the month prior to publication.
NEW 300,000 SF INVENTORY BUILDING
COMING TO LAKEVIEW CORPORATE PARK
W
Directions is published quarterly by the
Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Inc.
600 52nd Street, Suite 120
Kenosha, WI 53140-3752
262-605-1100, FAX 262-605-1111
Email: [email protected]
www.kaba-inc.com
The Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA)
is a private not-for-profit corporation recognized
as the focal point for economic and community
development, business technical assistance
and employer training to existing firms and new
businesses interested in locating in Kenosha
County.
Todd R. Battle, President
Cecilia Lucas, Director of Bus. Finance
Diana Ide, Director of Member Services
Julie Hopper, Administrative Assistant
Jeremy Scuffham, Marketing Specialist
Keena Johnson, Intern
JULY 2005
ISPARK LLC and CenterPoint Venture LLC, under
the name of CenterPoint WISPARK Land Company
LLC, announced construction of LakeView X, a 301,650
SF inventory building at LakeView Corporate Park.
Located on a 23.5 acre site at the southwest corner of
113th Street and 88th Avenue (Highway H), this distribution/manufacturing facility is being developed south of
Cherry Electrical Products and west of the
Volkswagen/Audi Midwest Distribution Center.
economy", said Jerry Franke, President of WISPARK LLC.
"It is important to have existing space of this nature readily
available to attract companies in need of space quickly many times it leads to a build-to-suit opportunity."
R
iley Construction Company, the general contractor and
Partners in Design Architects, the architectural firm,
have extensive experience with WISPARK projects. Lee
and Associates has been selected to market the property.
T
L
L
C
he pre-cast industrial building will be both expandable
to 600,000 SF and divisible to 75,000 SF and is expected to be ready for occupancy by mid-October 2005.
Building features include 30' clear height, 24 exterior docks
(expandable to 56) and truck trailer storage.
ow vacancy rates and high user demand in Southeast
Wisconsin contributed to the decision to move forward
with this project. “This is the first speculative building
development in LakeView in 4 years. The fact that much of
the existing building space in the Park is leased and the
market indicates a demand for more is a healthy sign of the
JULY 2005
akeView Corporate Park is a 2,391-acre mixed-use real
estate development located along I-94 between
Chicago and Milwaukee. The Park has attracted 75
corporations that employ more than 9,000 people in the
Village of Pleasant Prairie, since opening in 1988.
enterPoint WISPARK Land Company LLC is a joint
venture between WISPARK LLC (a subsidiary of
Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Energy Corporation),
CenterPoint Properties Trust, and CalEast Industrial
Investors, LLC advised by LaSalle Investment
Management.