In today’s global marketplace, strategic decisions about outsourcing, marketing and new product innovation can make or break a small Wisconsin manufacturer. Just ask Don Frantz. Frantz founded DuraSafe Lock Inc. in 2000, when he decided he wanted to sell a product line made by his first successful business venture, Frantz Machine Products Inc. of New Berlin.
However, Frantz quickly realized it was the wrong time to start a second company, because his lock manufacturing competition was outsourcing production to nations with cheaper labor costs, enabling them to sell their products for $5 less than his American-made product.
Then came the 2001 recession.
“It was impossible for us to continue with where we were and be successful at it,” recalled Cathy Kraatz, Frantz’s daughter and marketing manager for DuraSafe.
Frantz decided to partner with a manufacturer in China to save his company, and at the same time he attempted to design and develop different types of locks that his larger competitors were not producing.
“When we found that there was so much competition with the locks we were manufacturing at the time, we went to the drawing board and came up with some new innovative products that nobody had,” Kraatz said.
The launch of three new products within the last year has not only enabled DuraSafe to be noticed in the market, but it enabled the company to win a national award for innovation. Most importantly, the new locks have helped the company increase its sales by 200 percent.
Frantz’s strategy of selective outsourcing, marketing and new product innovation is paying off with a remarkable corporate turnaround for Durasafe.
“These three new products have completely carried the company to the next level, and with the attention we are getting from all over the world with our patented products, the company has completely turned around,” Kraatz said.
DuraSafe first bought the distribution rights and launched a product developed in Australia called the Couple-Mate last fall. The Couple-Mate is a winged guide that enables boaters to align their trailer hitch with their hitch ball in half the time.
“People have a hard time seeing where they are going when backing up their trailer, so this helps them guide the coupler directly over the ball. It has been a really good seller for us,” Kraatz said.
The Couple-Mate, although not DuraSafe’s own invention, fits well within the line of problem-solving products DuraSafe wants to be known for, Kraatz said.
In March and June, DuraSafe introduced its two new patented products, a line of Marine Electronics Locks to secure fish-finders, depth-finders and global positioning systems (GPS) on the deck of a boat, and the T-Rex Transom Saver with Prop Lock, a combination transom saver and propeller lock.
Frantz and Kraatz have even changed their mindset about locks, from planning ways to beat the competition at their own game to planning their next consumer-friendly invention.
“We create products that we know customers have a need for,” Kraatz said. “For instance, their GPS or fish-finders are getting stolen, or their propellers are getting stolen. We like to come up with problem-solvers, and people are taking notice. When they invest in an expensive propeller, they want to ensure that it is not stolen from them.”
The T-Rex, a combination transom saver and propeller lock, was actually suggested to DuraSafe by a dealer. According to Kraatz, the dealer mentioned that propellers can cost up to $800 and are stolen frequently.
Instead of adding an extra lock to a trailer or boat, DuraSafe came up with a two-in-one solution that is easy to use and costs between $59 and $69.
Kraatz said most consumers who tow their boats already have a transom saver to protect the outboard motor and to stabilize the transom while the trailer is towed. By adding a propeller lock to the typical transom saver, DuraSafe is providing consumers with insurance against theft of both the propeller and the transom.
DuraSafe’s most popular product is the Marine Electronics Lock. The company has sold 15,000 electronics locks since March. They retail at $14.99 to $16.99 per lock.
“The Marine Electronics Lock is a worldwide patent pending product that replaces one factory knob on either side of an electronics unit such as fish-finders, GPS units or very high frequency (VHF) radios,” Kraatz said. “You screw it in like you would the factory knob, turn the key, and it spins freely in the locked position.”
“Every time the fish-finder customers go to a marina, they have to take all of their equipment off of the boat deck, tuck it down in the galley, lock it up. Sooner or later, the plug is going to wear out from constantly taking it in and out,” Frantz said. “That is why the electronics lock is so popular, because it is what consumers are looking for.”
DuraSafe is in the final stages of development for electronics locks for VHF radios, which Frantz suspects will become a top seller because of radio requirements for boaters.
With all of DuraSafe’s recent success, Frantz and Kraatz are now able to plan for the future growth of the company and are finally making a profit.
“Business is a lot different for us now than in the past because everyone wants our products,” Kraatz said. “In the past, we were competing with existing products, trying to get the business while offering nothing new. The distributors already had similar products, so why should they change? Now, these new products are getting our foot in the door.”
Frantz and Kraatz saw the marine industry’s reaction to their products firsthand when they attended their first trade show. The Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS), an annual event presented by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), was held in Las Vegas in July.
Frantz said he did not walk out of any meeting at the show without a buyer purchasing something. Many took at least three products made by DuraSafe, he said.
The NMMA awarded DuraSafe with the 2004 Product Innovation Award for the Couple-Mate self-aligning trailer hitch guide. The Marine Electronics Locks line has been featured in seven trade magazines.
“We learned a lot from the MAATS show and have had such great feedback from that show that we will definitely be there next year,” Kraatz said. “We will not concentrate on the marine industry, but it has consumed so much of our time that it is the direction we are currently going. There is so much potential outside the U.S. that we have no idea how much the business can grow.”
Frantz said the fact that to compete in the lock industry means that he must outsource his production still bothers him, but it is a necessary evil to enable him to stay in business.
Although they would rather sell American-made products, Frantz and Kraatz said because the competition is outsourcing to save money on production, the price difference would deter consumers from choosing DuraSafe over a competitor’s brands.
“There was somewhat of a price difference for products being made in the U.S. vs. outsourcing and importing them,” Kraatz said. “Basically, when we got to market, we found that if we couldn’t meet or beat the price, there was really no interest, regardless if it was made in the U.S.”
If the outsourcing trend is reversed in the future by tax breaks and other incentives for companies to keep their manufacturing operations in the United States, Frantz said he would consider starting up the machines at Frantz Machine again.
Until that equation changes, American manufacturers will continue outsourcing their production to China to reduce their costs for production, employee wages, health care insurance and environmental compliance, Frantz said.
For now, Frantz instead is focused on next year’s MAATS event, where DuraSafe has already signed up and doubled its booth space.
“We already have four new ideas. Three are patent-able,” Frantz said. “It is hard to say if we can continue to keep up with innovative ideas and produce an innovative product, but that is our goal. We want to keep inventing or coming up with something that is not out there, or something that is out there, only we are going to make it better or lockable.”
Frantz and Kraatz currently have three other employees at DuraSafe who help with product development, testing and design.
DuraSafe operates within the Frantz Machine building at 1785 N. Johnson Road in New Berlin, but Frantz said he is in negotiation for 2,500 square feet of additional warehouse space nearby.
He wants DuraSafe to have its own location, which may be sooner than either Frantz or Kraatz could have expected a couple of years ago.
“Every day, there is great news,” Kraatz said. “When we started in 2000 as a lock business, we hit a wall when we realized we couldn’t make our products in the U.S. or at Frantz Machine. Now, with our new products, we have had interest from France, Italy, New Zealand, England. We have already shipped to Australia and just received a call from distributors in Canada and South Africa.”
Frantz said he decided to make locks because the receiver locks for trailers were something his machine shop could easily produce on the side and would allow DuraSafe to be a separate company.
Since innovation became the answer to DuraSafe’s shortcomings, convenience and peace-of-mind for his customers are now Frantz’s top priorities.
“If you can stop products from being stolen from consumers, especially when they are on vacation, that is a problem-solver in itself, and it is helping the person,” Frantz said. “If you get your fish-finder stolen, it ruins your fishing trip, or even worse your boat or trailer, or your propeller.”
The success of the new products also is increasing sales for the receiver locks that DuraSafe originally tried to sell to distributors. Kraatz said the rust-resistant stainless steel receiver locks that DuraSafe produces are becoming more popular because of their ability to cross over from the boating industry to the automobile and towing industry.
When the company maximizes its potential in the marine industry, Frantz hopes to create locks for other applications. DuraSafe already has a motorcycle lock line with locks for helmets, jackets and wheel discs.
“We are basically targeting the marine, hunting, fishing and automotive industries,” Frantz said. “But we can branch out. I mean, we can make a lock that locks anything. We have the research and development capabilities at Frantz Machine. Show us what you want locked, and we will lock it.”
New products
DuraSafe Locks Inc. launched three new and innovative lock products within the last year that resulted in a national award and a 200 percent growth spurt for the company.
Couple-Mate Self-Aligning Trailer Hitch Guide
Launched by DuraSafe last fall, the Couple-Mate was developed in Australia by Impulse Marine. Customers can back their trailer coupler directly over their hitch ball by placing the winged guide around the ball. No more scratches or getting out of the tow vehicle to make sure everything is aligned. The product has a retail price of $39 to $49.
T-Rex Transom Saver
with Prop Lock
The T-Rex was launched in June. The device is a combination transom saver and propeller lock that stabilizes the outboard while a boat is being towed and prevents theft of both the propeller and transom saver. The T-Rex was developed by DuraSafe and is the only transom saver that is available with a propeller lock. Don Frantz, president of DuraSafe, developed and obtained the patent for the product, which has a retail price of $59 to $69.
Marine Electronics Lock
DuraSafe launched the Marine Electronics Lock in March. The lock replaces the factory knob on brackets for electronics such as fish-finders, global positioning systems (GPS) and depth-finders to deter theft. The lock acts as a knob, but when locked,
spins freely. Because screw lengths and widths for electronics vary by manufacturer, DuraSafe offers nine different sizes. DuraSafe is preparing to launch a Marine Electronics Locks line for very high frequency (VHF) marine radios in three different sizes. The system was developed and patented by Frantz. The product has a retail price of $14.99 to $16.99.
August 20, 2004, Small Business Times, Milwaukee, WI

James T. Barry Co.
Acuity purchased a 35,428-square-foot industrial facility at 350 Progress Dr., Saukville.
A&K Properties purchased a 7,000-square-foot industrial facility at 12770 W. Custer Ave., Milwaukeee.
Hendricks Commercial Properties purchased a 27,500-square-foot industrial facility at W194 N16660 Eagle Dr., Jackson.
Boerke Co.
GWZ LLC has purchased 39,300 square feet of industrial space at 7760 S. 6th St., Oak Creek, from the Clariant Corp. The space was sold for $515,000.
Elkvh LLC purchased 1.35 acres of land at 4085 N. Lydell Ave., Milwaukee, from Randall Henning. The price was $140,000.
Dickman Co.
Land America Exchange Co. purchased 15,227 square feet of industrial space at 9810 S. Ridgeview Dr., Oak Creek, from Ronald F. and Joy A. Aumueller for $710,000.
Judson & Associates
John Troudt purchased 1.65 acres of land at W226 N3014 Duplainville Rd., Pewaukee, from Stan Odachowski.
John Troudt also purchased 1.09 acres of land at the southeast corner of Duplainville and Green roads, Pewaukee, from Gerald and Gordon Drewes.
Kindling Flame has purchased 4,310 square feet of space at 11617 W. Blue Mound Rd., Wauwatosa, from DelCom.
FMJ Enterprises purchased 1.41 acres of land at 5341 W. Fond du Lac Ave., Milwaukee, from Donald Ogilvie.
Ted Eliades purchased one acre of land at 120 Simmons Ave., Pewaukee, from GE Capital Franchise Corp.
MLG Commercial
Office Depot has leased 2,986 square feet of space in the Gateway Building at Bishop’s Woods, from WILC-Gateway LLC. The operations at the new location will serve as the hub for the company’s business services division sales force in Wisconsin. Office Depot will occupy the space in May.
Metal Express has leased 2,794 square feet of space for its new corporate headquarters at 625 Walnut Ridge Rd., Hartland, from Constance Fadrow of Wangard Partners. Metal Express has outgrown its current offices and will move to allow additional growth of its warehouse operations in Waukesha. The company expect to occupy its new space in May.
Ogden & Co.
Raza Holdings purchased the two-story commercial property at 929 W. Mitchell St., Milwaukee, which was formerly occupied by UMOS.
Commercial real estate leases
James T. Barry Co.
GZA Environmental leased 7,252 square feet of office space in the Crossroads Corporate Center I at 20900 Swenson Dr., Waukesha, from Teachers Retirement System of Illinois.
Auto Trader has leased 4,000 square feet of office and warehouse space at 3015 N. 114th St., Wauwatosa.
National Seating and Mobility leased 16,243 square feet of industrial space at W233 N2833 Roundy Circle West, Pewaukee.
Pooch Palace leased 5,100 square feet of space in the Cushing Park Plaza at 24 Enterprise Rd., Delafield.
Boerke Co.
Walsh Construction leased 7,000 square feet of office space at 2202 W. Clybourn St., Milwaukee, from Cooper & Associates.
Inland Companies leased 11,320 square feet of space at 839 N. Jefferson St., Milwaukee, from 839 North Jefferson Street Partnership.
SilverTrain has leased 2,351 square feet of office space at 839 N. Jefferson St., Milwaukee, from 839 North Jefferson Street Partnership.
Nick & Willy’s Pizza leased 1,267 square feet of retail space at 7435 117th Ave., Kenosha, from Grand Enterprises.
The Dickman Co.
Advanced Extrusions leased 6,983 square feet of industrial space at 9652 S. Franklin Dr., Franklin.
Inland Companies
Jan-Pro leased 2,528 square feet of office space at West Allis Center, 1040-1126 S. 70th St., West Allis.
Denecke Financial Services leased 997 square feet of office space at 5600 W. Brown Deer Rd., Milwaukee.
Dr. William Neuschaefer, DDS, leased 3,353 square feet of space at Executive Center III, 125 N. Executive Dr., Brookfield.
Judson & Associates
Homestead Dywall leased 2,400 square feet of space at N16 W22033 Jericho Dr., Pewaukee, from Jericho LLC.
Raton Services leased 2,880 square feet of space located at W227 N937 Westmound Dr., Pewaukee, from Nagawicka View Dairy Farm.
Regis Marketing leased 9,600 square feet of space located at W146 S6450 Tess Corner Dr., Muskego, from Max Mollgaard, Facility Management.
April 30, 2004 Small Business Times, Milwaukee

Total Team Construction of Brookfield has been awarded several contracts to provide construction management services for tenant finish work at America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses at Midtown Center, Milwaukee, at 17300 W. Bluemound Road in Brookfield and at Southridge Mall in Greendale.
Total Team Construction has been awarded the contract to provide construction management services for interior finish work at CafZ Brucke, 2101 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee.
Work has started on the Plankview Green Retail Center at the intersection of highways 23 and 32 in Sheboygan Falls. This will be the first phase of a new lifestyle center with shops that highlight lifestyle and home design-oriented products. The center will include a bank, entertainment complex, hotel, fitness center and several restaurants. Grand opening of the center is expected to coincide with the PGA Championship in Sheboygan County Aug. 9-15.
Bukacek Construction, Racine, has begun work on a 20,000-square-foot interior remodel of ACMI’s production facility, formerly known as Surgitek, at 3037 Mount Pleasant St., Racine. The modernization includes new clean rooms, a reformatting of existing floor space to improve efficiency, and an update of the manufacturing support rooms and the shipping and receiving area.
The Jansen Group completed the remodel and product reset at Gold’s Pick ‘N Save, 11300 N. Port Washington Rd., Mequon. Store improvements include completely moving walk-in coolers, the addition of kitchen hoods with make-up air units, moving walls, and the replacement and relocation of refrigerated and frozen cases. The 43,000-square-foot remodel progressed on a super fast-track schedule, seven weeks from the start of design to completion.
April 30, 2004 Small Business Times, Milwaukee

The United Performing Arts Fund in Milwaukee (UPAF) is testing a "smART card" which gives donors buy-one-get-one-free ticket offers to one performance of each of the 19 groups supported by the fund.
The card not only rewards donors to the arts, but will also help UPAF better understand arts patrons, says Dan DeWeerdt, senior director of marketing and community outreach for UPAF.
It is intended to replace a paper form donors have received in past years.
"While that paper card was very successful, it was very difficult to track use of the card," DeWeerdt said. Additionally, the paperwork became incredibly cumbersome and inefficient in light of current technologies, he added.
Employees at Northwestern Mutual, Rockwell Automation and SBC in Milwaukee participated in the pilot program that concluded in March. A survey of those users is now being conducted. With information from that survey, the card will be offered this fall to all donors who contribute at least $60 to the UPAF campaign. That gets them an individualized, bar-coded, credit card-size smART card; 1,200 cards were distributed in the pilot run.
The system for using the card is entirely Web based, with participating donors having password-protected access to individual information. The site has a summary of arts events and lists available and used benefits for the particular donor. It’s a real-time, personal page.
UPAF can then track all that information, helping it better operate its fund-raising efforts and helping its funded groups better understand the wants of arts patrons, DeWeerdt said.
"It gives us great demographic information," he said. "It’s pretty exciting to have a vehicle like this."
The smART card program is believed to the only one of its kind among approximately 60 united arts funds nationwide and is made possible with a $50,000 grant from The SBC Foundation, SBC Communications Inc.’s philanthropic arm.
"SBC recognizes the value of the smART card to UPAF donors as well as the Milwaukee-area participating arts organizations," said Paul La Schiazza, president of SBC Wisconsin. "The efficient, results-driven technology benefits UPAF, while it continues to provide a key benefit to UPAF donors."
DeWeerdt will present information on the card at the National Arts Marketing Conference Oct. 2-5 in Chicago. The conference will include a plenary session with Phil Kotler, the S. C. Johnson & Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He will address, "The New Wave: Technology-Enabled Marketing," describing what for-profit firms are achieving with high-tech marketing and showing where and how arts organizations can move in the same direction.
April 30, 2004 Small Business Times, Milwaukee

Mary Alice Tierney has been named vice president of communications at Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee. Tierney most recently served as vice president of corporate communications at Journal Communications. She has more than 25 years of experience in a variety of executive positions at Journal Broadcast Group, at Journal’s Milwaukee stations WTMJ-TV, WTMJ-AM, WKTI-FM and at WISN-TV, the Hearst Corporation, Milwaukee.
Paul Farrelly has been named president of Community Bank & Trust’s Glendale office. Farrelly has more than 15 years of commercial banking experience and previously held lending positions at First Bank, Bank One and, most recently, TCF Bank. He graduated from UW-Whitewater with a bachelor’s degree in finance and received his master’s degree in business administration from UW-Milwaukee.
Robyn Glick has joined United Way as vice president of individual giving. Glick, who was formerly with St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, brings more than 17 years of non-profit management and fund-raising experience to the organization.
Paul Grzeszczak has joined Briohn Design Group, Milwaukee as manager. Grzeszczak has a background in design-build construction. He holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in architecture from UW-Milwaukee.
Zeppos & Associates, Milwaukee, announced that Audra Jacobs has been promoted to assistant account executive and Amy Wojciechowski has been promoted to account coordinator. Jacobs joined the firm in 2002 and previously served as an account coordinator. Prior to joining Zeppos & Associates, she was a marketing and public relations intern with a professional Milwaukee sports team and a large Brookfield hospital. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Valparaiso University. Wojciechowski joined Zeppos & Associates in 2001 as the firm’s receptionist. Before joining the company, she worked as the head banquet captain and front desk clerk for a well-known metropolitan Milwaukee hotel and conference center. Wojciechowski earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business administration from Lakeland College.
Rulena Carlin has joined the staff of the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce, Wauwatosa, as the member relations coordinator.
Susan McDonald has joined the engineering staff at MEC Midwest, Milwaukee, as the national accounts manager. She earned her master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Missouri-Rolla.
Kolb+Co., West Allis, announced the following new employees: Karen A. Doerner, accounting and auditing manager; Erin Jachowicz, tax specialist; and Tiffany Weber, marketing assistant. Kolb+Co. Medical Billing has hired Kimberly H. Whelan as a billing specialist. Kolb+Co. Retirement Plan Services hired Michelle Courturier as a senior retirement plan administrator.
Scott Muro has joined AQS, Hartland, as a client services team manager while Nelda Foster has been hired as a quality assurance specialist. Muro has more than 13 years of experience, including database administration and development, user training, documentation, applications support, systems installations and account and project management. Foster is a quality assurance specialist on the technology department’s business services team.
Jennifer Provancher has been promoted to senior vice president of The Equitable Bank, Wauwatosa. Provancher joined The Equitable Bank in 1991 as controller, was appointed treasurer in 1993, and was promoted to vice president/chief financial officer in 2000. Provancher has more than 20 years of experience. She started her career in public accounting with Ernst and Young, and went on to work in the financial services industry before starting at Equitable.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (BCBSWi) announced the appointment of Jeffrey J. Nohl as general manager of the large group division. Nohl has more than 30 years of experience in the health insurance industry. He began working at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin in 1987 as vice president and chief actuary. He also served as president and chief operating officer of BCBSWi’s HMO subsidiary, CompcareBlue. Nohl left BCBSWi in 1995 to join Aurora Healthcare System, as president of Aurora Health Network. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of strategic planning & marketing services for Wisconsin Physicians Services (WPS). Nohl is a graduate of UW-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He received his master’s in business administration UW-Milwaukee.
Red Brown Kle’ Marketing Communications, Milwaukee, announced the hires of Kimberly Jackson as an account executive and Jermaine Young as an office administrator. Prior to joining RBK, Jackson served as an account executive with the Zipatoni Company at Miller Brewing, Milwaukee. Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree from Kentucky State University and a master’s degree from Clark Atlanta University. Young has more than 10 years of experience in customer service, clerical support services, data management and computer systems administration.
Kimberly Imroth has joined North Shore Bank as manager of the Kenosha branch while Jill Miller-Custer has joined the bank as an assistant vice president of cash management sales. Imroth was previously an operations manager with Bank of Kenosha and branch manager of Firstar Bank. Miller-Custer previously worked for Fiserv where she coordinated sales and presentations on cash management solutions and was a consultant for financial institutions and software cash management providers. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Cardinal Stritch University.
United Way of Greater Milwaukee has hired Michael Brey as the public sector campaign manager. Brey brings 15 years of fund development experience to the organization, most recently as the Newspaper in Education coordinator for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the executive director of the American Diabetes Association.
Kathy Buenger has been hired as executive director of the Funeral Service Foundation, based in Brookfield. She was the founding executive director of the Child Abuse Prevention Fund in Milwaukee, has years of chamber of commerce executive experience and was communications director for the American Lung Association of Wisconsin.
Karen Schettler has joined Creative Business Interiors, West Allis, as an account executive. A UW-Madison graduate, she has more than 20 years of diverse industry experience.
Judi Stout has been named executive director of the St. Michael Hospital Community Foundation. She has more than 20 years of service to the Milwaukee hospital in both the marketing and foundation departments. Her most recent position was as philanthropy associate for the St. Michael Community Foundation.
Covenant Healthcare has named Shelli Marquardt as executive director of the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Foundation. Marquardt has more than 12 years of experience in the health care industry, with an emphasis on fundraising and marketing. Her most recent position was area director for the American Diabetes Association. She also previously served as division sales trailer and pharmaceutical sales representative for Bayer Corp. She holds a bachelor of business administration degree from UW-Whitewater.
Stephanie Hungerford has joined Vollrath Assocites, Mequon, as an account manager. She most recently served as the public relations manager for the Milwaukee Ballet Co. She has previous public relations experience from Celtic in Brookfield, BVK in Milwaukee and The Silver Co. in Seattle. She is a Marquette University communications graduate.
Douglas Benschoter has joined Harwood Engineering Consultants, Wauwatosa, as executive director. He has more than 25 years of experience in the design and construction industry.
Ryan D. Schultz has joined Fiduciary Real Estate Development as a director of development with a focus on single-family subdivisions. Schultz previously was vice president of development operations at MLG Development in Brookfield. He holds bachelor of business administration degrees in real estate and urban land development, and marketing from UW-Milwaukee.
Jodi Sturgeon has joined Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. as vice president of lending. She was vice president for the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund in Concord, N.H., for eight years. Meanwhile Barbara Kueny has joined the organization as development coordinator. She most recently was director of major gifts in the Milwaukee office of the American Heart Association.
Dana LaFontsee has been named director of corporate development at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education. LaFontsee formerly was director of marketing for the school.
April 30, 2004 Small Business Times, Milwaukee

Business briefs
Karen Johnson Productions, a Racine-based service-based animation studio, has announced a formal name change to Aha! Studios Inc. Along with this change comes a specific refocus geared toward creating original content as well as an expansion of its traditional animation services.
“We are very excited about this new name and focus because it is a clearer reflection of who we as a company are becoming,” said Karen Johnson, founder and CEO of Aha! Studios. “We will continue to specialize in the traditional animation services that we are known for, but the scope of our studio has definitely broadened. We are devoted to becoming more of an idea studio where we can create concepts, and then guide them through all stages of production to deliver exceptional media products.”
In addition, the company is also pursuing a larger role in the children’s educational and family learning markets.
“Our mission is to become a leading producer of multi-media products that educate, inspire, and entertain children and families,” said Barbara Ferro, COO of Aha! Studios. “Within the past few years we have seen an explosion of children’s educational media and an increased emphasis on delivering wholesome family entertainment. This is a fast-growing $40 billion industry in which Aha! Studios has the creativity, innovation and drive to make a definite impact on.”
Aha Studios, Inc. is a full service multi-media company specializing in development of animated entertainment for television, CD-ROM games, web applications, toys and feature films. Additional information can be accessed at www.ahastudios.com.
Two former executives of one of the country’s largest machine tool distributors recently joined forces to create Tech Financial Services Inc. (TFS), a capital equipment finance and leasing company.
Mark Charlton, president and partner of TFS, left his position as vice president and founder of Systems Financial Credit, a division of Machinery Systems Inc., to form a company dedicated to offering leasing and finance solutions to the machine tool industry and purchasers of capital equipment.
Joining him as executive vice president and partner is Tim Murphy, who left his position as regional sales manager for Systems Financial Credit.
Charlton and Murphy will serve distributors, manufacturers and end-user customers by providing a wide range of financing and leasing options and specialized business solutions, they said.
“Our direct experience with the machine tool sales process will help differentiate us from traditional lending sources,” said Charlton. “That experience, combined with our knowledge of the economic and organizational issues confronting our customers, will allow us to provide the most competitive leasing alternatives.”
Charlton created Systems Financial Credit 17 years ago. Originally designed to handle only loans for sales generated by Machinery Systems, the company quickly expanded to include financing for sales made by competitors, as well. While there are approximately 200 major machine tool distributors in the US, only a few have in-house finance departments.
“By branching off to create an independent company, we feel we can more efficiently respond to the needs of the entire market of dealers, manufacturers and end-users,” added Charlton.
Tech Financial Services (www.techfin.net) has headquarters at 840 N. Old World Third St., Milwaukee, and a branch in Naperville, Ill.
Emory Business Valuation in Milwaukee has changed its name to Emory Business Advisors and, to accommodate growth, has moved to a larger suite of offices at 611 N. Broadway.
The firm, which represents buyers and sellers in middle-market merger and acquisition transactions, also has added Jeffrey M. White as a managing director and Jo-el Gratzke as an M&A associate. With Victoria Fox continuing as a managing director, the firm now has seven professionals.
White, who earned MBA and BBA degrees from the University of Wisconsin, has executed more than $4 billion in acquisitions and divestitures, ranging from under $1 million to more than $2 billion. Prior to joining Emory, he served as president and CFO of the publicly held RCN Corp., a $600 million communications company; CFO of Telecom New Zealand, which serves clients in New Zealand and Australia; and vice president of investments and acquisitions with Ameritech Development Corp.
Mike Wroblewski and Marianne Huebner, among the owners of Fiddleheads in Thiensville and Nectar Espresso Bar and Café in downtown Milwaukee, have purchased Cream City Coffee in downtown Cedarburg.
New Resources Consulting LLC, an information technology and professional consulting services provider, has purchased the Milwaukee PSC Group operations from its Illinois-based parent company.
“The team at New Resources has already been together for more than a decade, and we have been highly successful in designing client-centric solutions for Wisconsin-based firms,” said Mark Grosskopf, president of the Milwaukee operations. “In reviewing the current business climate and our clients’ most-pressing needs, we felt we could provide more responsive and cost-effective solutions as a stand-alone operation.”
The company (www.nrconsults.com) will keep its headquarters at 1000 N. Water St. in downtown Milwaukee and plans to expand to Madison and Appleton next year,
Associated Bag Company has completed an energy efficiency project that will save 222,549 kilowatt-hours (kwh) of electricity annually by simply turning on the lights.
Associated Bag, a national supplier of packaging products and shipping supplies, replaced 214 existing high-intensity discharge lights with new, high-efficiency light fixtures at its Milwaukee headquarters and distribution center. The annual electricity savings is the environmental equivalent of taking 32 cars off the road, planting 41 acres of trees or saving 20,032 gallons of gasoline, the company reported.
In combination with another lighting system installation at Associated Bag’s new distribution center in Dallas/Fort Worth, the company will save about 1 million kwh of electricity annually.
“These projects help keep us competitive in the marketplace by reducing our overhead expenses and are good for the environment at the same time. And, by simulating natural sunlight, we are also creating a better work environment for our employees,” said Herbert Rubenstein, president and CEO of Associated Bag (www.associatedbag.com).
The Illuminator fixtures, from Orion Energy Systems of Plymouth, use full-spectrum fluorescent light bulbs with reflective backings that increase ambient light while saving energy. The product has won Wisconsin’s Spirit of Ecology Award.
Over the expected 20-year life span of the new lighting in Milwaukee, Associated Bag will save 11.1 million kwh of electricity. That many kilowatt-hours will make an environmental difference in the Milwaukee area. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, will be reduced by 8,330 tons; carbon, which also affects global warming, will be reduced by 2,272 tons; sulfur dioxide, which is related to acid rain, will be reduced by 31 tons; and nitrogen oxide, which affects acid rain and smog, will be reduced by 71 tons.
The 20-year energy saving is the equivalent of removing 630 cars from the road, saving 404,635 gallons of gasoline or planting 817 acres of trees.
“I congratulate Associated Bag on adopting this environmentally friendly technology,” said Neal Verfuerth, Orion’s president. “It is having a tangible effect on Southeastern Wisconsin’s environment and will possibly mitigate the need for future power plants.”
The county’s first complete, interactive parking Web site for downtown Milwaukee has unveiled an expanded layout.
“With the introduction of the fully expanded ParkMilwaukee.com Web site, all downtown parking options will be featured with a clickable map highlighting major destinations and nearby parking options,” said Ellen Winters, executive director of the Westown Association. “The site was originally developed by OnMilwaukee.com for the Westown Association, but with the generous support of a variety of organizations, the site has been expanded to allow users to easily find parking locations and rates for all garages and lots located downtown.”
Nov. 28, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee

SBA loans
The following loan guarantees have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration during June:

Affiliated MD – Rejuvenation, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave., Pewaukee 53072, $80,000, Bank One;
Animal Clinic in Sussex, N64 W24300 Main St., Sussex 53089, $394,000, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corp.;
Arthur A. Arena M.D., 3535 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee 53215, $25,000 and $75,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Elisa Variedades, 2205-07 S. Muskego Ave., Milwaukee 53215, $198,000, Lincoln State Bank;
Art’s Used Tires, 2520 E. Norwich Ave., St. Francis 53235, $95,858, Mitchell Bank;
Bloom Consultants, 10201 Innovation Dr., Wauwatosa 53226, $500,000 and $150,000, Community Bank & Trust;
Café Selah, 5312 W. Burleigh St., Milwaukee 53216, $119,300, Legacy Bank;
Central City Construction, 1300 N. 4th St., Milwaukee 53212, $100,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Cobblestone Terrace of Sheboygan, 2605 Indiana Ave., Sheboygan 53081, $40,000, Community Bank & Trust;
Decus Group, 10501 264th Ave., Trevor 53179, $5,000, Innovative Bank;
Designers Touch, N35 W23770 Capitol Dr., Pewaukee 53072, $51,000, Delafield State Bank;
Dominos Pizza, 113 E. Main St., Whitewater 53190, $27,000, First Citizens State Bank of Whitewater;
Eat Cake, 4303 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee 53208, $37,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
The Feed Bag Pet Supply, 222 Oak St., Grafton 53024, $150,000, National Exchange Bank & Trust;
Fibeco Corp., 425 Spruce St., Sheboygan Falls 53085, $50,000, Community Bank & Trust;
Ficht Services, 4201 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood 53211, $25,000, US Bank;
Galerias Music, 2206 W. National Ave., Milwaukee 53204, $10,000, US Bank;
Home Run Foods, 3824 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee 53209, $25,000, US Bank;
Industries Roofing Services, N89 W16785 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls 53051, $535,000, CIT Small Business Lending Corp.;
The Irish Mist Pub, N51 W34911 Wisconsin Ave., Okauchee 53069, $135,800, First Bank Financial Centre;
Jumbos Frozen Custard, 1014 S. Main St., West Bend 53095, $380,000, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corp.;
J&Y International Enterprise, N92 W17420 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls 53051, $125,000, Old Kent Bank;
Keychain Publications, 2018 N. 51st St., Milwaukee 53208, $150,000, Park Bank;
Klees & Sulok Oil Co., W187 S7825 Lions Park Dr., Muskego 53150, $209,000, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corp.;
Krueger Bearings, 14960 Irene Ct., Elm Grove 53122, $500,000, TCF National Bank;
Kubi’s Pizzeria, 7119B S. 76th St., Franklin 53132, $40,400, Bank One;
Legend Trucking, 1917 S. 17th St., Sheboygan 53081, $51,000, Community Bank & Trust;
Lisa’s Flowers & Gift Shop, 8100 W. National Ave., West Allis 53214, $25,000, US Bank;
Native Cities, 152 W. National Ave., Milwaukee 53203, $25,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Northeast Wisconsin Spine Center, 1720 N. 8th St., Sheboygan 53081, $150,000, Investors Community Bank;
Plaza Publication, 152 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee 53203, $25,000, Bank One;
Quizno’s Classic Subs, Hillside Terrace at Highway 83, Delafield 53018, $85,000, Community Bank & Trust;
Reliance Heating & Air Conditioning, 815 S. 9th St., Milwaukee 53204, $224,125, Sunset Bank & Savings;
Schmelling Insurance Agency, 8119 22nd Ave., Kenosha 53143, $20,000, Bank One;
Sebastian’s, 6025 Douglas Ave., Racine 53402, $25,000, Capital One Federal Savings Bank;
7 Photography, 5656 N. Braeburn Ln., Glendale 53209, $20,000, State Financial Bank;
The Sign Shop of Racine, 2601 Fergus Ave., Racine 53404, $140,000, $60,000 and $10,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Stop Heating & Cooling, 311 N. Lake Ave., Twin Lakes 53181, $10,000, US Bank;
Subway, 12229 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa 53226, $150,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Subway, 2240 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Milwaukee 53212, $150,000, State Financial Bank;
TCE Unlimited, 2220 E. Bradford Ave., Milwaukee 53211, $10,000, Innovative Bank;
Treetop Publishing, 13916 Leetsbir Rd., Sturtevant 53177, $900,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
USAV Group, 5485 S. Westridge Dr., New Berlin 53151, $331,094, Milwaukee Western Bank;
Wilderness Roadside Inn, N5575 Hwy. 57, Plymouth 53073, $100,000, Community Bank & Trust;
The Window Box, 2634 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee 53211, $25,000, US Bank;
Yelle, 1540 Seamann Ave., Sheboygan 53091, $47,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank.

Stephen Grebe has joined the Layton State Bank commercial lending team as senior vice president. Grebe is a graduate of Marquette University, and he has 20 years of experience in the commercial banking arena. Prior to joining Layton State Bank, Grebe worked with Firstar Bank (now US Bank) and State Financial Bank.
Plunkett Raysich Architects has promoted Karl V. Lusis to the position of architect. Recently registered by the state in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects, he is the only Native American to be registered by the State of Wisconsin as an architect, according to David Raysich, managing partner of the firm. Lusis started his own company, Standing Stone Design, one year ago. The two firms are pursuing additional work among Native American nations around the country. Plunkett Raysich is currently in the master-planning phase of the Oneida Cultural Center project. Lusis, an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, has been with Plunkett Raysich for four years.
Brooke Engelhardt has joined the art department at Epic of Wisconsin in West Bend. She graduated from Northwestern University in 2000 with a double major in communication studies and international studies. Following graduation, she worked as digital media buyer for a startup Boston company.
John P. Knapek has joined Briohn Building Corp. in Pewaukee as a project superintendent. He has 39 years of construction experience.
Mark Mahoney has joined Mueller Communications in Milwaukee as an account coordinator. Mahoney, who had earlier been an intern at Mueller Communications, was a media relations intern with the Milwaukee Brewers before returning to Mueller. At UW-Whitewater, he was managing editor of the university’s newspaper.
Mark Taylor has joined Eppstein Uhen Architects in Milwaukee. He is a project assistant in the firm’s residential and mixed-use studio. Mike Arnold has joined the firm as project assistant in the commercial studio. Interior designer Lisa Abbott, architectural technician Jesse Treuden and intern Scott Uhen have moved into the firm’s health and wellness studio. Taylor holds duel master’s degrees in architecture and urban planning and has a variety of experiences in those fields; he earned a 2003 Charter Award from the Congress of New Urbanism. Arnold has more than six years of architecture and is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Eppstein Uhen has hired two people for its residential and mixed-use studio: Stuart LaRose, as project manager, and Kristan Grygiel as a project assistant. Eppstein Uhen Architects has also hired head receptionist Eunice Dvoracek. LaRose joins the Eppstein Uhen team with expertise in master planning, residential and mixed-use design in both urban and rural settings. He earned his master’s degree in architecture from UW-Milwaukee. Grygiel holds dual master’s degrees in architecture and urban planning from UW-Milwaukee. She relocated to Milwaukee from Chicago where she gained experience in residential and transit-oriented design, along with a wide range of mixed-use projects.
Patricia Lantier has been named managing editor of Astronomy, the world’s largest circulation magazine for astronomy enthusiasts. It is published by Kalmbach
Publishing of Waukesha. She succeeds David Eicher, who had previously been named editor. Prior to joining Astronomy, Lantier was managing editor at Gareth Stevens Publishing in Milwaukee, a division of World Almanac Education Group. She is the author and co-author of more than 25 books for children and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, and a doctorate in English from Marquette University.
Kurt Krumholz has been named president of SVA Planners, a fee-only financial planning, investment counseling and asset management firm that is an affiliate of Suby Von Haden & Associates.
Mike Zahn has joined A.N. Ansay & Associates of Port Washington as a producer for the commercial insurance division, focusing on the Green Bay and Fox Valley market. A graduate of UW-Green Bay, Zahn began his insurance career in 1998.
Robert Reynolds has been named director of material logistics at Orbis Corp. in Oconomowoc. He will divide his time between the Oconomowoc headquarters and the Menasha manufacturing facility. Reynolds has been with Orbis for 10 years and most recently was director of engineering. He had earlier worked for Dow Chemical USA. Reynolds graduated from Michigan State University in civil and environmental engineering. Orbis has hired Bill Ash as corporate controller. He had been the senior director of financial planning and analysis for CNH in Lake Forest, Ill. He holds a degree in finance and an MBA from Michigan State University.
Kenlyn Wierzbach has been promoted from the payroll/accounts receivable and accounts payable position to project manager at Schroeder Solutions in New Berlin. Wierzbach has more than 15 years of experience in the office furniture and furniture installation industry.
Dan Meier has joined National Survey &
Engineering, a division
of R.A. Smith & Associates, as a project engineer in its regional mall
practice group. Meier
was previously employed with Kohl’s Department Stores in Menomonee Falls. He has more than six years experience in stormwater control systems and conveyance design, site grading plans and site design. Meier has a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from UW-Platteville.
Steve Scholler is the new online editor at Image Makers in Waukesha. He has eight years of experience as a producer, editor and director.
Norwood Anderson has been named medical director of oncology services for Covenant Healthcare. Anderson’s most recent position was staff medical oncologist at the Cancer Center of Boston, for 17 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., and a medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, in Chicago.
Hays Companies of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, has promoted Jan Seidner from account manager to team leader. Seidner holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Ottawa University. Seider more than 13 years of experience in human resources management and administration and four years in employee benefits consulting.
John J. Klocke has been hired as executive director of SynergyHealth Foundation in West Bend. The foundation supports SynergyHealth, including The Kathy Hospice and St. Joseph’s Community Hospital’s health-care programs. Klocke has more than 20 years of experience in community relations and capital development. Most recently, he served as director of development and planned community giving for The Village Family Service Center in Fargo, N.D. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and mass communications from Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Russ Matzek has been promoted to national operations manager at has joined Amerihome Mortgage in Brookfield. He joined the company in November 2002, with 20 years of lending experience, including work as senior vice president of lending operations and regional vice president for two large area banks. He has a graduate degree in banking and finance from UW-Madison.
Barry Dickinson has been named commercial and industrial service manager at Roman Electric Co. in Milwaukee. Dickinson has been a Roman project manager for the past six years and has 27 years of electrical contracting installation and management experience.
LaQuanda Whitfield-Griffin has been hired as the secondary market pipeline specialist at the corporate headquarters of Bank Mutual in Brown Deer. Whitfield-Griffin has an extensive banking background including positions in merchant services and secondary marketing. She most recently held the position of secondary marketing customer liaison. She attended Holmes Community College. Trisha Johnson has been named bank office manager at the Southgate office of BankMutual, on South 27th Street in Milwaukee. Johnson has an extensive banking background including positions such as teller, senior teller and personal banker. She most recently held the position of personal banker at another financial institution. She has been in
banking for eight years. Johnson has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Alverno College.
Steve Fantl has been hired as the new-product development manager at Vulcan Industries in Germantown. Fantl brings more than 25 years of experience in new-product development and manufacturing process improvement to the company. Before coming to Vulcan Industries, Fantl was a senior project engineer at Stroh Die Cast and was employed by Master Lock for 16 years as a product and manufacturing engineer where he worked on the development of new and innovative products.
July 11, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee

Wisconsin Internet Solutions Co. (Wis.Net) has moved to the Technology Innovation Center of the Milwaukee County Research Park in Wauwatosa, according to Corey Scholtka, president of Wis.Net. The company had been operating out of a back office at 11717 W. North Ave., in Wauwatosa. Scholtka, a Waukesha resident, founded Wis.Net in 1999 as a home-based business serving small businesses in the Milwaukee area. The company’s services include Web site hosting, Internet domain registration, Web site design and animation, programming and online virtual tours. Wis.Net’s recent projects include 360 Milwaukee, an ongoing partnership with the City of Milwaukee that offers virtual tours of municipal, historical and tourism-related locations in the city. The project can be viewed at www.360Milwaukee.com. The company has three full-time employees and provides internship opportunities for college students.

Trainor/Frank & Associates has moved its corporate office to West Capitol Drive in the Town of Brookfield. The professional services firm provides human resource services to businesses on a local and national level. "While we’ll miss our home in Menomonee Falls, we’re very excited to have a location on Capitol Drive. This particular business corridor provides such easy access for both our corporate clients and our search clientele, said Jim Trainor, owner and CEO of Trainor/Frank. Trainor/Frank & Associates (fka Trainor/Salick) was founded in 1975. Located at 21180 W. Capitol Dr., Trainor/Frank’s new office was once the residence of Children’s Learning Center. "The location, layout and square footage of the facility was perfect for our needs", said Jim Trainor. In partnership with Jeff Wozniak and John Leopold, president and owner of Techstaff – a franchise staffing firm, the three jointly own the new property. Wahlgren/Schwenn was contracted for architecture/design and construction and Interplan provided interior design consulting. An open house is planned for March.

Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer & Associates Inc., of Milwaukee is a finalist in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ 37th annual Engineering Excellence Awards competition for its design of the Quadracci Pavilion, a recently constructed addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum. The project is among 162 engineering projects from across the nation being recognized by ACEC as preeminent engineering achievements for 2003. Judging takes place this month, with announcement of the 24 category winners, including selection of the "Grand Conceptor Award" for the 2003 top engineering achievement, to occur March 18t at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Quadracci Pavilion features a 90-foot-high glass-walled reception hall enclosed by the Burke Brise Soleil, a sunscreen that can be raised or lowered to create a moving sculpture. A suspended pedestrian bridge with a 200-foot-tall angled mast and cables crosses Lincoln Memorial Drive at O’Donnell Park, linking the museum and adjacent lakefront to Wisconsin Avenue.

OnMilwaukee.com has launched Job.OnMilwaukee.com, a joint venture with Lightburn Designs. Job seekers can post resumes at no cost, and search for jobs at Milwaukee-area employers.

Brookfield Liquor-Best Wine Cellars has opened at 1700 W. Capitol Dr. in Brookfield, managed by Bill Tobin. In addition to wine consultations and wine seminars, several monthly clubs will be offered, including wine of the month, scotch of the month, and a food and wine club. Jeff Desotell owns the new business. Ultimate Confections also has opened a location at 17000 W. Capitol Dr., adjacent to Brookfield Liquor-Best Wine Cellars. Owner Lori Murphy also operates an Ultimate Confections at 820 N. 68th St. in Wauwatosa. The company is online at www.chocolatesonline.com.

Martin Barnes has opened a Milwaukee franchise of The Entrepreneur’s Source, a nationwide network of consultants who work with individuals and companies considering franchising as a career alternative or as an expansion method. Barnes, a 30-year resident of Glendale, where the business is located, worked for 28 years as a manufacturer’s representative. The company is on the Web at www.franchiseexperts.com.

Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District has launched a new Web site with resources for a variety of audiences, including the downtown business community, residents, visitors, media and other neighborhood districts. The site is at www.milwaukeedowntown.com. It was designed by OnMilwaukee.com.

Feb. 21, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee

Jim Nicholson has been named executive vice president at R.A. Smith & Associates in Brookfield. Nicholson is responsible for overseeing the company’s Oshkosh branch office; managing strategic issues including mergers and acquisitions; and administering quality control initiatives. He has been employed with R.A. Smith & Associates since 1983. Nicholson has more than 33 years of management and design experience in public works engineering. He has held several positions at R.A. Smith including director of public works engineering, senior associate, senior manager and general manager of operations. Nicholson holds a bachelor of science degree in engineering from Marquette University and a bachelor of arts degree from UW-Madison.

Todd R. Luft has been named vice president and director of marketing at Port Washington State Bank. Luft has 15 year of marketing management, having worked in similar capacities with Associated Bank, Security Bank and M&I Bank.
Fred Klingbeil has been hired as medical director of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa. Klingbeil is also an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Carol Lynn Rusch has been named senior consultant at Business Development Directives, a Milwaukee-area research and management consulting firm. Prior to joining the company, she was a published researcher, operated her own business, held marketing and advertising positions, and taught in the Oconomowoc School District. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Illinois and a master’s degree from UW-Whitewater.
Dan Westrope has been named chief financial officer for State Financial Services Corp. in Hales Corners. Westrope, with the State Financial Bank since 1998, has been the Illinois market president. The bank promoted Tom Lilly from Stateline market president to senior vice president of the retail division. He has been with State Financial since 1985. Catherine Burdick, marketing manager for the bank, has been promoted to the position of assistant vice president for marketing. She has been with the company since August 2001. Darren Dewing, purchasing, has been promoted to assistant vice president for purchasing. He has been with the company since December 2000. Christopher Hefter, assistant vice president for corporate technology, has been promoted to the position of vice president for corporate technology. He has been with State Financial since 1996. Kenneth Naujock, assistant vice president of commercial lending at the Downer Avenue, Milwaukee location, has been promoted to the position of vice president for commercial lending at Downer Avenue. He has been with the bank since June 2000. Robert Zondag, retail sales manager for Wisconsin markets, has been promoted to the position of vice president for retail operations in Wisconsin. He has been with the bank since February 1999.
Three persons have joined the Greater Milwaukee Convention & Visitors Bureau staff. Laurie Serena is director of convention services. Ann Stuckey is marketing technology manager. Jim Jaworski is convention sales manager. Serena had been an independent meeting planner for a variety of organizations and was manager of the Group Travel and Meetings office of Proctor and Gamble. Stuckey worked for Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Jaworski was director of sales and marketing at Howard Johnson Inn and Suites.
Freida Webb has been named director for the Disadvantaged Business Development Program in Milwaukee County by County Executive Scott Walker. Webb has consulted with the Milwaukee Public Schools, Laborers International 113, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and other organizations. She created her own firm, Webb and Associates. She is a UW-Madison graduate with a degree in economics.
Emily Brink has joined Brady Marketing Group as a copywriter. She had previously been a public relations intern for the Milwaukee Christian Center.
Patrick Hevrdejs has been promoted to the position of managing director of the Milwaukee office of Jefferson Wells International. He spent the last six years as director of accounting and finance at the firm’s Chicago office.
Bonnie Klimt-Embertson has joined Mutual Savings Bank as manager of the Bayshore Mall bank office in Glendale. She was most recently branch sales manager at TCF Bank, but had earlier managed the Waldenbooks store in Bayshore Mall. She holds a degree in elementary education from UW-Milwaukee. The bank also has hired Patrick Stone as information systems specialist at its corporate headquarters in Brown Deer. Stone previously had worked for UW-Milwaukee. Andrea Friedman has joined the bank as marketing specialist at its corporate headquarters. She has been employed as a call center personal banker at another financial institution. Friedman holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and Spanish from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
Craig W. Riley has joined STS Consultants, Milwaukee, as a senior project surveyor in the civil engineering department. He has an associate’s degree in electronic engineering technology from the ACME Institute of Technology in South Bend, Ind., and a bachelor’s degree in automated manufacturing technology from ITT Technical Institute in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Jim Bomm has joined Embassy Suites Hotel -Milwaukee West in Brookfield as its food and beverage director. Bomm had been president and general manager of Jake’s Restaurants. He was with Jake’s for 30 years. The hotel has hired Everett Eash as its new chief engineer. He had been plant director at Temple University in Chattanooga, Tenn. since 1997.
Monica Karrels and Kim Anderson have joined Hays Companies of Wisconsin, in Wauwatosa. Karrels is an account representative and Anderson a systems analyst. Karrels spent seven years with Willis in Milwaukee, while Anderson was with AON in Milwaukee for 6-1/2 years.
Adelle Thurow has joined Emerald Isle Marketing Public Relations in New Berlin as an account coordinator. She had been with Advertising Boelter & Lincoln in Milwaukee. She is a Marquette University graduate.
Kelly S. Kuglitsch has joined the von Briesen & Roper law office as an associate in its Compensation & Benefits section. Kuglitsch was a dean’s school at DePaul University, and had been a legal extern for Judge Richard D. Cudahy in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago. She received a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in 1994 and a master’s degree from The George Washington University in 1999. She earned her law degree at DePaul University College of Law cum laude in 2002.
Jackie Bartanen has been promoted from the position of accountant to accountant supervisor at HealthEOS in DePere and Milwaukee. The company also promoted Christine Toliver from account manager to director of client services and John Okresik from help desk representative to supervisor of the help desk.
Brian Lucareli has been named senior vice president, director of trust services for Johnson Financial Group in Racine. Lucareli joined Johnson Financial Group in 1992. He is has an undergraduate degree from UW-Madison and a law degree from the Marquette University Law School. Johnson Financial Group also promoted Terry Brach to the position of assistant vice president – enterprise customer service, and Shari Brand to assistant vice president – technology project manager. Kevin Bong was promoted to the position of assistant vice president – application and security development. Brach joined the company in 1983 while Brand joined in 1999 and Bong in 1999. Paul Belke has been named assistant vice president – personal trust officer for Johnson Financial Group. He joins the company with more than three years of personal trust experience. He holds a law degree from UW-Madison.
Andy Vogel has been promoted to the position of vice president – division manager/commercial banking at Johnson Bank in Kenosha. Vogel joined the company in 2001 as vice president – commercial banking, with more than 12 years of banking experience. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration, earned at UW-Milwaukee. Johnson Bank has promoted Joann Christensen to the position of assistant vice president – banking support, in Racine. Christensen joined the company in 1983.
Susan Prerost has joined Johnson Trust as trust officer – relationship manager in Milwaukee. She has more than three years of trust experience, and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Marquette University.
Darci Miller has joined Park Bank as vice president of commercial banking, at the bank’s downtown Milwaukee office. She has more than 10 years of experience in the finance industry. She had been with Bank One for six years. Miller is a graduate of Marquette University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Jody Brandstatter has joined Avicom Marketing Communications in Waukesha as a senior account executive. Brandstatter has 11 years of account management experience and holds a degree in speech with an emphasis in public relations from UW-Whitewater. Avicom has hired McKenna Bryant as a copywriter. She has a degree from UW-Madison and previously worked as reporter in Roseburg, Ore. Kayla Krueger has joined the company as an account executive and marketing consultant. She holds a degree in English communication s from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Shakila Manogaran Shimp was named human resources director at Covenant Healthcare. She holds a master’s degree in management from Cardinal Stritch University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from UW-Milwaukee. She previously had been the human resources manager for Extendicare Health Services. Tom Zinda has been named director of strategic recruitment at Covenant Healthcare. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UW-La Crosse and has 12 years of human resources experience. He had been with Metavante Corp. Vicki Budzisz has been named director of library services at Covenant Healthcare. She holds a master of library and information science degree from UW-Milwaukee. Previously, she was the director of library services at All Saints Healthcare in Racine.
David Garacci has joined the architectural design team at Engberg Anderson Design Partnership while Christie Mole has joined the firm’s business development and marketing team. Garacci recently served as a project manager for Anderson Illustration in Madison and previously had his own business, Intersection Design in Milwaukee. Mole is a recent graduate of UW-Madison with a bachelor of science degree in family and consumer communications and a bachelor of art degree in Scandinavian studies.
Kolb+Co. has announced the following new employees: Thomas Branch, senior accountant; Jeff Reiner, staff accountant; Pam Franzke, tax specialist; Jenny Dalebroux, tax intern; Erin Jachowicz, tax intern; Claire Wember, accounting intern; and Mechelle King, marketing assistant. Kolb+Co. Medical Billing has added Charity Nelson, billing specialist. Kolb+Co. Technology Advisers has added Angela Phillips, consultant.

Kelly K. Miller has been promoted to the position of manager in the accounting and auditing department at Scribner, Cohen and Co. Miller has been with the CPA and advisory organization for four years. She is a graduate of UW-Whitewater with a BBA degree in accounting. Shawn Howard has been promoted from intern to staff accountant with the tax department. He graduated cum laude from Marquette University with a degree in accounting. Kristin Negri has been promoted from intern to staff accountant with the accounting and auditing department. Negri graduated cum laude from Marquette University with a degree in accounting and is currently pursuing a master of professional accounting degree from UW-Milwaukee. Nick Schulz has been promoted from intern to staff accountant in the accounting and auditing department. Schulz holds a BBA degree in accounting and a master of professional accountancy degree from UW-Whitewater. Eva Kuether has joined the accounting and auditing department as a senior accountant. Kuether holds a degree in accounting from UW-Milwaukee. Raven Ledvina has joined the tax department as a staff accountant. She holds a degree in accounting from UW-Milwaukee. Danielle Ohm has joined the accounting and auditing department as a staff accountant. She holds a degree in accounting and a certificate in international business from UW-Milwaukee. Mary Tarman has joined the tax department as an accountant. She holds a BBA degree in finance from UW-Milwaukee.
The Northwestern Mutual Financial Network has named Adam Wiese as a financial representative of the James P. Grogan Group in Brookfield, a district office of the James A. Schwertfeger Financial Group of Northwestern Mutual, and Kurt Raddemann as a financial representative of the John Glowacki Group in Waukesha, part of the Schwertfeger Financial Group. Richard Huber has been named as the director of agency management with the Schwertfeger Financial Group. Huber has also been appointed as a financial representative. New financial representatives at the Schwertfeger Financial Group include Thomas Balistreri, Melissa Drska, Betty Kujawa, Brett Templin and Andrew Thorne.
John C. Bonnell has been named a financial advisor at the North Shore branch of Robert W. Baird & Co. in Mequon. Bonnell joins Thomas J. Johnson in the newly formed Johnson Bonnell Group. Bonnell earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Butler University and a MBA from Loyola University, Chicago. Johnson, a senior vice president of investments, has been with Baird for 21 years.
Deyana Petrick has joined Benefit Solutions Corp. in Milwaukee as vice president of client services. Before joining BSC, Petrick held positions at a Milwaukee-area advertising agency and Associated Bank. She received her bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing from Marquette University.
Nancy Wilson has joined the Willms Anderson law firm in Thiensville as an attorney, practicing in the areas of federal and state taxation for individuals and businesses, corporate and business law, estate planning, and fiduciary income tax. Prior to attending law school, Wilson owned and operated a consulting business, a retail store, and a credit-reporting agency. Additionally, she was a corporate vice president for a Wisconsin manufacturing company. She received her B.B.A. degree in accounting and a master of accountancy (taxation concentration) from UW-Madison and her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Steve Biebel has been named local sales manager at WISN-TV (Channel 12). Biebel has served as national sales manager at WISN-TV since August 2000. Prior to coming to Milwaukee, he was senior account executive for Katz Media Group, a national advertising rep firm in Chicago. Biebel also served as an account executive at WFTC-TV in Minneapolis, and WKOW-TV, in Madison. Biebel is a UW-Madison graduate.
Paul Mueller, a 10-year employee who most recently served as the vice president of marketing at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc, has accepted the position of chief operations officer for the Oconomowoc campus.
Frank Miller has been appointed communications director of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. Miller formerly served as communication director for the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and was assistant vice president of marketing communications for Alverno College prior to that. Miller holds a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and is completing a master’s in communication at UW-Milwaukee.
William Schilling has joined Ayres Associates in Waukesha as a transportation engineer. Schilling has more than eight years of transportation engineering experience. He began his career with Ayres in 1994 after graduating from UW-Milwaukee with a degree in civil engineering. He later worked for R.A. Smith and then for CH2M Hill.
Barbara Klemp has joined Marsh Inc. in Milwaukee as a property client advisor. She had worked 26 years for Fireman’s Fund Insurance before joining Marsh.
Eric Trost has joined Suby, Von Haden & Associates as tax manager in the Milwaukee market office in Brookfield. He holds a degree in accounting from Marquette University and a master’s degree in taxation from UW-Milwaukee. Trost has more than 11 years of accounting experience. Suby, Von Haden & Associates also has named Sandra L. Swan as a supervisor at the Brookfield office. She holds an accounting degree from UW-Milwaukee and has more than eight years of accounting experience.
Christopher Hitch has joined National Survey & Engineering, a division of R.A. Smith &
Associates in Brookfield, as a project coordinator in its private development practice group. Hitch has six years experience with Ryan Incorporated Central, Janesville. Hitch has a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering, construction management emphasis, from UW-Platteville.
Gary Kretchmer has been promoted from project manager to senior project manager at CG Schmidt in Milwaukee. He received a bachelor’s degree in industrial education from Northern Michigan University and a master’s degree in architecture from UW-Milwaukee. Kretchmer has more than 20 years of project management experience.
Cheryl Galecke has joined Wipfli Ullrich Bertelson as senior human resource consultant for the Human Resource division in the firm’s Eastern Region. She will work out of Wipfli’s Green Bay office.
Doug Schacht has joined Thomas & Egenhoefer Inc. in Menomonee Falls as a project manager. Schacht earned a bachelor of science degree from UW-Whitewater. In addition, he holds a certificate in construction management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and completed the Associated General Contractors Project Manager Development Course.
Chad Weick recently joined Malcolm Marketing Communications in Racine as a new-media specialist. Prior to joining the company, Weick was responsible for Web application development for Madison-based HBG E-Business Solutions.
Wauwatosa Savings Bank has appointed Cheryl L. Brah to the position of assistant vice president of the Human Resource Department. She joined the bank in 1999 as human resource administrator.
Joan M. Whaley has joined Kahler Slater Architects in Milwaukee as principal in charge of wellness facility planning, development, programming and design. She formerly was based in San Diego as a project director with Kaplan McLaughlin Diaz and vice president/senior designer at Ellerbe Becket. Whaley has more than 15 years of experience directing the development, design and construction of hospital, hotel and commercial facilities. She is the author of "Wellness Centers, A Guide for the Design Professional" (John Whiley and Sons, publisher, 2000).
Freyberg Hinkle Ashland Powers & Stowell in Brookfield has announced that Stephanie L. Brester and Frank C. Windt have been admitted as partners to the CPA firm, and that Julie M. Cundy has been promoted to the position of senior audit manager.
Trainor/Frank & Associates, a recruiting and outplacement firm, has added three persons at its new Brookfield office: Paul German, director of client services; Susan Behn, director – human resource consulting; and Julie O’Malley, senior consultant.
Humana has hired Richard Champion to manage sales of the company’s individual health insurance plans in Wisconsin. Champion is a licensed health insurance agent, with more than 25 years of sales and marketing management experience, most of it in southeastern Wisconsin. He has owned and operated his own marketing and advertising agency. Champion holds a degree in communications from UW-Milwaukee.

Feb. 21, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee

The following loan guaranties have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration during January:
Ace Hardware, 26404 Oakridge Rd., Wind Lake 53185, $40,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Alternatives in Psychological Consultation, 10031-10045 W. Lisbon Ave., Wauwatosa 53222, $682,000 and $325,000, US Bank;
American Arborist Tree Service, N1 W29588 Hermie Ln., Waukesha 53188, $41,000, Delafield State Bank;
BFG Paintball, N113 W18750 Carnegie Dr., Germantown 53022, $615,000, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corp.;
Buck Construction, 706 N. Wisconsin St., Port Washington 53074, $15,000, Capital One Federal Savings Bank;
Cameralogic, 700 E. Roberta Ave., Waukesha 53186, $50,000, Waukesha State Bank;
Chamberlain & Henningfield, 569 Broad St., Lake Geneva 53147, $239,200, US Bank;
Design Build Group, 206 Travis Ln., Waukesha 53189, $96,000, Waukesha State Bank;
Dhillion’s Market, 575 W. Becher St., Milwaukee 53207, $234,000, Community Bank & Trust;
Dutch Boys Carpet Cleaning, 8511 Middle Rd., Oostburg 53070, $61,500, Community Bank & Trust;
Express Personnel Services, 4901 Washington Ave., Racine 53406, $82,039, Community Bank of Grafton;
GAFC Acquisition, 3235 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee 53208, $85,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Gestra Engineering, 1422 Oak St., Oak Creek 53154, $110,000 and $100,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
The GSJ Group, 1400 Milwaukee St., Delafield 53018, $50,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Homestyle Cooking, W9695 Hwy. 14, Darien 53114, $112,000, First Banking Center;
Jendusa Engineering Associates, 4615 Vettelson Rd., Delafield 53029, $158,000, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corp.;
Katydids, 219 W. Main St., Waukesha 53189, $46,000, Waukesha State Bank;
Kieffer & Co., 3322 Washington Ave., Sheboygan 53081, $787,000, Associated Bank;
Kolman Family Chiropractic, 130 Summit Ave., Wales 53183, $36,000, Delafield State Bank;
Lakefront Brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St., Milwaukee 53212, $586,000, Bank One Services Corp.;
Laurie’s Hallmark, 4053 Hwy. 28, Sheboygan Falls 53085, $225,000 and $15,000, Community Bank & Trust;
L&J of Waukesha, 1430 E. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha 53186, $670,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Low Price Auto Glass, 3725 N. 126th St., Brookfield 53006, $30,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Massey Enterprise, 611 Criglas Rd., Wales 53183, $125,000, Waukesha State Bank;
M&D Auto Services, W197 N7533 F&W Ct., Lannon 53046, $75,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Merton Auto Body, W275 N6683 Moraine Dr., Merton 53056, $496,000, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corp.;
Mike Webb Flooring, Main St., Waterford 53185, $44,500, Community State Bank;
Nate’s Bait & Tackle, 3542 Hwy. 50, Delavan 53115, $45,000, Community Bank Delavan;
The OK Corral (Only Kids), N9 W24200 Bluemound Rd., Waukesha 53188, $35,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Pandl Sisters Catering, 10050 N. Port Washington Rd., Mequon 53092, $250,000, Park Bank;
Prairie Stone Garden Center, 8504 Hwy. 60, Cedarburg 53012, $150,000, Park Bank;
Quality Quicklube, 3414 W. Washington St., West Bend 53095, $145,000, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corp.;
Ruby Fuel Land, 3501 N. 60th St., Milwaukee 53216, $580,000, Business Loan Center;
Sheboygan Glass Co., 3208 Washington Ave., Sheboygan 53081, $500,000 and $476,000, Community Bank & Trust;
Birender Singh, N1203 Park Rd., Pell Lake 53147, $409,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
TCH&G, S76 W24755 National Ave., Mukwonago 53149, $170,000, M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank;
Motors & Blowers, 1601 16th St., Racine 53403, $85,000, Community State Bank.
Feb. 21, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee