Business transitions

Jump the Curve Consulting Group was recently founded by Nick Kroll for the purpose of assisting small to mid-size industrial manufacturers and distributors grow their businesses. With years of experience in industries such as steel, machine tool, irrigation, engine, power equipment, and hydraulics. Jump the Curve brings first-hand experience and focus to its industrial clients. Services include strategic planning facilitation, sales and marketing team/plan development, market research, and distribution channel management. The Waukesha firm is on the Internet at www.jumpthecurve.net.
Saz’s Barbecue Products has appointed two local food brokers to market Saz’s sauces, frozen snack items, pork, chicken and rib products to Wisconsin retailers. Acosta Sales and Marketing Company, Waukesha, will handle Saz’s sauces and frozen snack items, while Food Marketing Services, Pewaukee, will handle barbecue pork, chicken and rib products. According to Steve Sazama, owner of Saz’s, the new relationships will improve the company’s visibility and ability to reach consumers through a variety of grocery and retail outlets.
Acosta, a national broker that specializes in perishable items, was selected for its success with premium products. “We target premium brands that are leaders in their categories,” said Scott Swartz, business manager for Acosta. Food Marketing Services, specializing in meat and deli marketing, will serve as Saz’s marketing representative to grocers throughout Wisconsin, including Pick ‘n Save and Sentry.
Postal Solutions, a marketing production company in Menomonee Falls, has changed its name to Proven Direct. The name change reflects the firm’s formal launch of its newest services, including variable imaging and online marketing, according to Proven Direct president Mike Limbach. The company was founded in 1997 as a mailhouse providing services such as list acquisition, address hygiene, laser personalization, inkjet addressing and inserting.
Dash, Inc., the Sussex-based developer of innovative application-specific software, has launched its new “Digital-Asset Management” software, DASHddx. The new software is an imaging and document-management system that automatically faxes, e-mails and/or laser-prints forms and then archives those documents.
J.W. Winco, Inc., a New Berlin supplier of standard industrial machine components, now offers steel and stainless steel indexing mechanisms. The components are designed to replace and simplify indexing and safety mechanisms. The company offers secondary machining and assembly, in addition to special labeling and packaging.
Wauwatosa Savings has donated $100,000 to help build a multi-purpose performance stage in Wauwatosa’s expanded Hart Park, located on the banks of the Menomonee River. The Rotary Stage and Performance Amphitheater is a key component of the city’s plan to expand and improve Hart Park. Civic officials are attempting to raise $1 million to build the stage, which will be designed to be flood resistant.
St. Joseph’s Community Hospital of West Bend has received an “A-” rating on its $50 million in revenue bonds, which will help finance construction of its new $55 million hospital. The bond ratings were provided by Fitch Ratings, Inc. The bonds are expected to be sold in January through UBS PaineWebber and Ziegler Capital Markets. The new hospital is expected to open in May 2005 at the northwest corner of Highway 45 and Pleasant Valley Road in the Town of Polk. St. Joseph’s Community Hospital is a member of SynergyHealth.
With successful factory completion of a recent six-day test of three completely integrated ABB ACS 1000 medium-voltage drive systems, the equipment will be readied for transport and installation at the City of Detroit’s Haggerty Station Pumping Facility in March/April. “The testing was live, real-world and real-time alongside representatives from the city,” said Chuck Clark, senior vice president, ABB Inc., and director, Medium Voltage Drives, ABB Inc., Automation Technologies in New Berlin. ABB designed the system to optimize control of the 700-horsepower variable-speed water pump motor to be used at the station.
Jan. 10, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee