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The Wisconsin 275 share where, and when, they’d go if they could time travel

Samantha Dietel
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The Wisconsin 275 share where, and when, they’d go if they could time travel

Until someone unlocks the secret to time travel, Wisconsin’s business leaders can only wonder what they would do if they had that ability.

BizTimes Media asked the Wisconsin 275, the most influential business leaders in the state, when and where they would go if they could time travel. A vast majority of those who responded to the question said they would go back in time — to relive life’s special moments, spend more time with lost loved ones, or experience first-hand some of the country’s most monumental events. And this wouldn’t be Wisconsin if going back to see the 1960s Green Bay Packers weren’t the pick for some.

Others looked to the future, wondering what it would be like, or about how their families are doing, or whether their company had any impact.

The following are selections of noteworthy responses from the Wisconsin 275 to the question, “If you could time travel for one day, when and where would you go?”

Looking to the past

Chris Goller, executive vice president, head of corporate, banking Midwest region, of PNC Bank: “If I could, I would love to be transported to the Ice Bowl, one of the most iconic games in NFL history, played between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys on December 31, 1967, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.”

Jim Popp, president and CEO of Johnson Financial Group: “Sounds corny, but I would probably go back and spend a day with my mother. She passed away almost 30 years ago, so she missed out on most of our family growing up. She was fun and outgoing and would have been a big part of our kids’ lives. I would go back and fill her in on all that she’s missed and make sure she knows what a great life we’ve all had.”

Jackie Q. Carter, director of Port Milwaukee: “I would travel back to 1970 to have conversations with family elders who passed away before I was born. I would ask them about their life, their parents and grandparents. I would get information I need to fill in my family tree beyond my great grandparents. I would better understand my family’s history to redirect our legacy.”

Marty Brooks, president and CEO of Wisconsin Center District: “I would spend time with both of my parents the day they passed away. I was not with either of them when they passed and was unable to express my love and appreciation to them. I miss them deeply and would gladly take one day to go back in time for that.”

Chris Miskel, president and CEO of Versiti: “My paternal grandmother died when my dad was two years old. It would be amazing to go back and spend time with her and learn more about her journey.”

Dr. John Raymond, president and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin: “July 20, 1969, to be there again for the Apollo 11 mission, the first moon landing.”

Paul Bartolotta, chef, owner and co-founder of The Bartolotta Restaurants: “I would travel back to any Christmas morning with my family when we lived on 71st Street in Wauwatosa when I was a child. Family means everything to me. And the second day would be my wedding day 25 years ago. Both moments have defined who I am today.”

Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of Visit Milwaukee: “Back to 1988, as a junior in high school. My grandparents and parents were still alive. It was a time of innocence that we can’t recapture today.”

Dustin Hinton, president and CEO, Wisconsin and Michigan, of UnitedHealthcare: “I would go back and relive the birth of our son, Cole. Probably the happiest day of my wife, Dawn’s, and my lives. At the time, we didn’t realize he would be our one and only. I would relive that day in a heartbeat.”

Scott Murphy, president and CEO of Jewelers Mutual Group: “I would go back in time to talk to my younger self. Although I probably would not be able to change, I would tell myself that all those things that are out of my control that I will worry about over the years did not come true – and not because I worried about them.”

Terrance Williams, president and CEO of TruStage: “My dad was born in 1938. At the time when he finished high school, Black men in the South were not allowed to attend the university that I went to (University of South Carolina). I would like to go back and meet that young 18- or 19-year-old Terry Williams, learn what he was like and better understand the experiences that shaped the man he is today.”

Kimo Ah Yun, president of Marquette University: “July 24, 1999. Lummi Island, Washington. The day that I married my best friend.”

Barb LaMue, president and CEO of New North: “Back to the early 1900s to experience what my grandparents did when they immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island from what was then Czechoslovakia.”

Steve Lindley, president of Hooper: “It would be interesting to be in Philadelphia on Sept. 17, 1787, for the initial signing of the U.S. Constitution.”

Rick Barrett, CEO of Barrett Lo Visionary Development: “I would want to go back to the Green Bay Packers of the 1960s and just listen to Vince Lombardi speak and hear how this man could inspire people to be so extraordinary.”

Kevin Newell, president and CEO of Royal Capital: “I’d go back in time to spend time with all of my loved ones who have since passed away, and enjoy every minute of it.”

Amy Lindner, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County: “My great-grandfather became a citizen of this country when I was a child. I wish I could be there to see his pride and happiness and to get one more hug from him.”

Chad Vincent, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin: “Back to see mom!”

Looking to the future

Joel Quadracci, chairman, president and CEO of Quad: “I would go forward in time, perhaps 20 years after I am no longer alive, to see if my work mattered as I believe you never will know your true success as a leader in business while you’re still in it.”

Mike Daniels, chairman, president and CEO of Nicolet National Bank: “I’d go 30 years in the future to check on my kids and grandkids.”

Tim Gokhman, managing director ofNew Land Enterprises: “Go 10 years into the future to see how climate change, geopolitics and the stock market are doing.”

Craig Dickman, managing director of TitletownTech: “Into the future. I would love to see how Wisconsin looks 100 years from now.”

Jane Blain Gilbertson, owner and executive chair of Blain Supply, Inc.: “Go forward 30.5 years to our company’s 100th Anniversary Celebration with my family, past, current and future!”

Fed Tries Not To Repeat The Past

Annex Wealth Management
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Fed Tries Not To Repeat The Past

Saying farewell to President Jimmy Carter can cause some to recall the challenges our country faced in the 70’s – and the challenges faced by Fed Chairman Paul Volcker. Today’s Fed seems driven to avoid the mistakes of that era. What does that mean for interest rates in 2025? Annex Wealth Management’s Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen discuss.

🔒 Milwaukee-based Rent College Pads acquired by student housing company

Ashley Smart
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🔒 Milwaukee-based Rent College Pads acquired by student housing company

Milwaukee-based Rent College Pads, a software provider helping college students streamline their search for off-campus housing, has been acquired by Denver-based StarRez, a Vista Equity company.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

StarRez, a provider of on-campus student housing software, has more than 3 million beds under management, according to a Thursday announcement.

Rent College Pads builds out online platforms which universities then use to create a one-stop-shop for student housing. Approximately 5 million students use Rent College Pads’ software to find housing, according to Dominic Anzalone, founder and CEO of the company.

He launched the company as a college student in 2013 during an entrepreneurship class at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. One of the company’s first partnerships was with Marquette University.

Since then, Rent College Pads has grown to partner with more than 100 organizations across the country including the University of Michigan, University of Texas at Austin, Florida State, and Columbia University.

In 2015, Rent College Pads raised $1.5 million from several local investors including BrightStar Wisconsin, Racon Capital and the Wisconsin Super Angel Fund. Since then, Rent College Pads has not needed to raise any more capital from investors.

“We’ve been profitable since we first started,” said Anzalone. “Our growth rate was always close to 100%. It’s really a true Midwest story because we didn’t raise a lot of money at all, and we grew into this great thing.”

The acquisition will allow both companies to a create single, end-to-end solution for universities. While Rent College Pads is focused on off-campus housing, StarRez focuses on on-campus housing options. Having all this information on one platform will further streamline housing searches for students, Anzalone said.

“Without us, it’s kind of like the wild west (for students),” he said. “We’ve consolidated all the available options in one platform and created a safe place for them.”

The acquisition expands StarRez’s off-campus housing listings and provides tailored solutions for students and property managers. Universities will now be able to feature curated, off-campus housing options while also supporting their student wellness and retention goals.

“Over the past decade, College Pads has grown from a bootstrapped startup into a transformative force in the off-campus housing industry, revolutionizing how students find and secure housing while empowering millions each year to make informed decisions during one of the most pivotal stages of their lives,” said Mitch Ehly, chief operating officer of Rent College Pads. “This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter, and by combining our innovation and expertise with StarRez’s global leadership in student housing solutions, we are uniquely positioned to redefine the housing experience for students both on and off campus.”

Rent College Pads will continue to be headquartered in Milwaukee and Anzalone says the company plans to grow its team locally. He declined to share how many employees Rent College Pads had prior to the acquisition, but did share that StarRez has more than 400 employees across the country.

“Students often must balance their preferences of location, amenities, and budget when transitioning to off-campus living, and College Pads has long been a trusted leader in this space,” said Travis Knipe, CEO of StarRez. “We look forward to enhancing this platform for our StarRez Global Community and investing further in user-friendly features. Together, StarRez and College Pads will redefine student living worldwide.”

🔒 Wolter acquires Illinois-based material handling company

Andrew Weiland
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🔒 Wolter acquires Illinois-based material handling company

Brookfield-based material handling distribution company Wolter Inc. announced that it has acquired Illinois-based Midway Industrial Equipment, a material handling company with locations in Sugar Grove, Illinois and University Park, Illinois.

“This strategic move enhances Wolter Inc.’s product and service offerings, bolsters its forklift and warehouse equipment capabilities, and strengthens its presence in the Midwest,” the company said in a news release.

“We are excited to welcome Midway Industrial Equipment into the Wolter Inc. family,” said Jerry Weidmann, CEO of Wolter Inc. “Midway’s strong commitment to customer satisfaction and innovative solutions aligns with our mission to deliver exceptional material handling services. Together, we will provide unmatched support and expertise to our customers.”

Midway Industrial Equipment’s portfolio includes new and pre-owned forklifts, new and reconditioned batteries and chargers, industrial equipment, warehouse solutions, and maintenance services covering the Chicago suburbs in northern Illinois and portions of northern Indiana. The company provides planned maintenance programs, equipment rentals, and an inventory of parts.

“With Midway’s expertise in multi-brand equipment servicing and commitment to excellence, this partnership will provide customers with high-quality solutions tailored to their operational needs. This acquisition underscores Wolter Inc.’s dedication to driving productivity and better serving the industrial and commercial sectors in the Midwest and beyond,” Wolter said in a news release.

Wolter was named the Family-Owned Business of the Year by BizTimes Media for 2024. The company expanded its business substantially throughout 2024 with the addition of Bobcat products to its catalog and several acquisitions in the southeast region of the United States creating a new operational market for the company.

Since its founding in 1962 by Otto Wolter, who now serves as board chairman, the company has acquired nearly 20 subsidiaries. Its Midwest market includes Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and the upper peninsula of Michigan.

In 2023, Wolter employed around 590 people. As of November 2024, Wolter employed close to 700 people.

Wolter was also recognized as one of BizTimes Media’s Future 50 companies in 2022, 2023 and 2024, a recognition of southeastern Wisconsin’s fastest growing, privately held companies.

Wolter’s Brookfield facility at 3125 Intertech Drive.
Wolter’s Brookfield headquarters at 3125 Intertech Drive.

Bernie’s Book Bank Greater Milwaukee receives $500,000 inaugural matching gift from Kohler family

Samantha Dietel
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Bernie’s Book Bank Greater Milwaukee receives $500,000 inaugural matching gift from Kohler family
Natalie Black Kohler

The late Natalie Black, a former top executive for the Kohler Company and the widow of former Kohler Co. president, CEO and chairman Herbert V. Kohler Jr., gifted $500,000 in honor of her late husband to Bernie’s Book Bank Greater Milwaukee, the nonprofit announced on Thursday. Black died in September at the age of 74.

Bernie’s Book Bank, a Lake Bluff, Illinois-based nonprofit, aims to open a processing facility and volunteer center in Milwaukee by the end of the year, as well as serve the greater Milwaukee area’s 96,000 qualifying children by the end of 2026.

Black’s initial $500,000 award will support Bernie’s Book Bank Greater Milwaukee’s efforts to source books to 20,000 Milwaukee Public Schools students. The gift comes with an additional $500,000 commitment that will be awarded when Bernie’s Book Bank Greater Milwaukee reaches its $1 million fundraising goal. The organization has already raised $450,000 toward that goal.

“We are deeply grateful for this meaningful endorsement from the Kohler family,” said Jenna Renno, executive director of Bernie’s Book Bank Greater Milwaukee. “Their trust and generosity inspire us to continue building momentum as we work toward creating equal access to books and the opportunities they inspire for all children in our region.”

🔒 Fox Point-based startup Alinea Engage acquired by Pittsburgh company

Ashley Smart
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🔒 Fox Point-based startup Alinea Engage acquired by Pittsburgh company
Carol Vance

Fox Point-based physical therapy software startup Alinea Engage LLC has been acquired by Pittsburgh-based Net Health, a software solutions provider for health care providers.

Alinea Engage developed a software platform that allows outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation providers to improve outcomes and reduce health care costs by using automation to better engage patients.

Using Alinea software, medical practices can digitize their intake forms and complete that onboarding process before a patient arrives for the appointment, she said. Alinea’s main strategic partner is Casamba, a post-acute care electronic medical records company.

“We are thrilled to become part of the Net Health family, and excited about the opportunity to continue our work with greater investment, powerful product alignment with Net Health, and the infrastructure needed to strengthen our client partnerships,” said Carol Vance, founder and CEO of Alinea.

Net Health’s clients will now have access to Alinea’s current features, including patient onboarding automation; patient and family engagement; and workflow automation for prior authorization and direct bill processes.

Net Health’s clients will now have access to Alinea’s current features, including patient onboarding automation; patient and family engagement; and workflow automation for prior authorization and direct bill processes.

“Over the years we have built lasting relationships with Alinea, and it became apparent that we share a common mission and a set of core values,” said Ron Books, CEO of Net Health. “Foremost among those values is a mandate to put clients at the heart of everything we do, by providing high-value technology that enables them to deliver better outcomes. By acquiring Alinea, we are reinforcing that commitment and strengthening our organizational portfolio to ultimately offer best-in-class, specialized solutions for all.”

Impact of Debt Ceiling On Rates & The Dollar

Annex Wealth Management
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Impact of Debt Ceiling On Rates & The Dollar

This week saw more non-economic events touch the markets. A split in policy between the Fed and ECB has affected the dollar, and what happens to the dollar if we hit the debt ceiling? Annex Wealth Management’s Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen discuss.

Marquette University biomedical sciences professor awarded $2.4 million NIH research grant

Samantha Dietel
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Marquette University biomedical sciences professor awarded $2.4 million NIH research grant
Matthew Hearing. Photo submitted by Marquette University.

Matthew Hearing, an associate professor of biomedical sciences at Marquette University’s college of health sciences, has received a $2.4 million research project grant from the National Institute’s of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health to study treatments for stress-related neuropsychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder.

Hearing and his team will test whether “chronic unpredictable stress produces sex-dependent neurological changes that result in deficits in behavioral/cognitive flexibility, and that this reflects impaired function of areas of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex,” according to Marquette’s Thursday news release.

Deficits in cognitive flexibility can be evident in an individual through their ineffective problem-solving and “negative thought patterns that come at the expense of healthy coping responses,” according to the news release.

“Flexible behavior — the ability to adapt behavior in response to changing environmental contingencies — is a critical component of everyday life,” Hearing said. “Our preliminary findings indicate that prolonged exposure to unpredictable psychosocial stress produces deficits in strategy shifting, or ‘cognitive flexibility in mice,’ akin to those observed in people with major depressive disorder. Interestingly, similar to human populations, not all mice exhibit deficits in flexibility, which may help to identify risk factors related to individual susceptibility versus resilience to stress.”

For this project, Hearing will also work with former colleague John Mantsch, who is now a professor and chair of pharmacology and toxicology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Hearing and Mantsch also received a $1.7 million grant in 2020 from the National Institutes of Health for a neuroscientific study on substance use disorder in women.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Dr. Hearing and his team to expand on their groundbreaking neuroscientific research on mechanisms underlying mental disorders,” said William Cullinan, dean of Marquette’s College of Health Sciences. “This particular approach has strong implications for understanding and treating a range of debilitating stress-related neuropsychiatric conditions.”

100 East tenant chooses Associated Bank River Center for new office

Hunter Turpin
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100 East tenant chooses Associated Bank River Center for new office

Chicago-based professional services firm Grant Thornton Advisors is moving its local office to the Associated Bank River Center as its current office tower readies for a conversion to apartments.

Grant Thornton, which provides tax and business consulting services, will occupy about 5,100 square feet on the 8th floor of the River Center, at 111 E. Kilbourn Ave., according to a permit filed with the City of Milwaukee. The company’s buildout could cost about $200,000, the permit shows

The company currently has an office at 100 East, at 100 E. Wisconsin Ave. also in downtown Milwaukee, and is among the last remaining office tenants in that building to sign a new lease elsewhere.

The Marcus Corp. also chose to relocate to the Associated Bank River Center and occupy 52,000 square feet. Other tenants have landed in buildings like 833 East, BMO Tower and 411 E. Wisconsin Ave.

The owners of 100 East, John Vassallo, Joseph Klein and Klein Development, are working to secure financing for the building’s conversion to apartments and are seeking historic tax credits to help finance the project, which could begin work as early as this year. The building could become up to 380 apartments, but detailed plans have not been released.

Grant Thornton did not respond to a request for comment.

$25 million in federal funds allocated for West National Avenue reconstruction

Sonia Spitz
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$25 million in federal funds allocated for West National Avenue reconstruction

An allocation of $25 million in federal funding was granted to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for planned improvements to West National Avenue in Milwaukee, according to a press release from Senator Tammy Baldwin.

The funding will be used to rebuild 2.6 miles of West National Avenue between 1st Street and 39th Street on the city’s south side, according to the press release.

The project is expected to cost $39.6 million total. In addition to the federal grant, the remaining funding will come from state and local contributions, according to Trevor Fannon, regional communications director at WisDOT.

Construction for the project is expected to start in late spring or early summer of 2026.

Changes to the street will include decreasing vehicle lanes from four to two lanes, and the addition of raised bike lanes, raised crosswalks, a raised intersection, and improved sidewalk space.

The changes are being made to increase bike and pedestrian safety, reduce car speeds, and boost public transit, according to WisDOT’s website.

“I am so excited to see funds poured into such a culturally and commercially thriving part of Milwaukee’s Near South Side area,” said U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore in a statement. “These much-needed improvements, such as replacing deteriorating pavement, making curb ramps ADA compliant, creating separated bike lanes, improving street lighting, and raising crosswalks, will make this corridor safer for commuters, pedestrians, and bikers.”

Map of the project from WisDOT’s website

🔒 Fathom CEO leaves company to work for Florida nonprofit, successor named

Ashley Smart
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🔒 Fathom CEO leaves company to work for Florida nonprofit, successor named
Carey Chen

A little more than a year after becoming the head of Hartland-based Fathom Digital Manufacturing, chief executive officer Carey Chen has left the company to take on a role with another organization.

Chen, who was named CEO of Fathom in November of 2023, is now the executive director and CEO of the American Welding Society, according to a Friday announcement from the company.

Based in Doral, Florida, the American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes.

Rush LaSelle

“After nearly two decades of volunteer leadership at AWS, I am honored to take on this new responsibility as CEO,” said Chen in a statement. “I look forward to working closely with our talented staff, dedicated board of directors, volunteers, and members to advance AWS’s mission and vision, driving innovation and growth for the welding community.”

Following Chen’s departure, Rush LaSelle, an executive with experience in additive manufacturing, has been named the next CEO of Fathom.

Most recently, LaSelle served as CEO at Grand Rapids, Michigan-based 3DX Tech Additive Manufacturing, where he led a strategic repositioning to prioritize high-growth advanced materials for additive manufacturing.

Before 3DX, he was CEO of AddUp, a metal additive manufacturing business owned by Michelin, and held senior leadership roles at Jabil, a global leader in contract manufacturing.

Rush holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Santa Clara University and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Fathom was started in 1984 as Midwest Composite Technologies but rebranded as Fathom in 2019 after the acquisition of Kemeera.

Profits From Rental House – Where Should They Go? | HYSA Over $100k – Should It Stay?

Annex Wealth Management
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Profits From Rental House – Where Should They Go? | HYSA Over $100k – Should It Stay?

Each week, members of the Annex Wealth Management team answer your questions about investing, money and the economy. This week Annex Wealth Management’s Matthew Morzy, MBA, CFP and Fred Coleman, CFP® answer your questions on:

  • Profits From Rental House – Where Should They Go?
  • HYSA Over $100k – Should It Stay?

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