Economic Development

Brookfield-based QPS Employment Group, a staffing and recruiting firm, has acquired the Kansas City, Mo., operations of SOS Staffing Services Inc., a national recruiting firm based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Wisconsin Energy Corp. reported first quarter net income from continuing operations of $172.1 million or 74 cents per share, up from $170.9 million, or 72 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Fiserv Inc. reported first quarter net income of $132 million, or 94 cents per share, up from $112 million, or 76 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Milwaukee-based Brady Corp. has acquired Runelandhs Forsaljnings AB, a direct marketer of industrial and office equipment in Kalmar, Sweden.

Process Retail Group Inc., a New Berlin-based integrated designer and manufacturer of custom permanent retail environments, announced it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Accent Industries Inc. of Kenosha.

Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. launched the Baird Small Cap Value Fund.

First-time unemployment claims fell nationally last week for the first time in a month to just slightly above a four-year low, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Associated Bank hires five new leaders

Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. reported first quarter net income of $172.0 million, or 74 cents per share, up from $119.3 million, or 51 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Growth in mining, strong replacement demand for products in the United States and a continued focus on cost management helped Caterpillar Inc. deliver record quarterly profits of$1.6 billion, or $2.37 per share in the first quarter, up from $1.2 billion, or $1.84 per share, in the same period a year ago.