Milwaukee Biz Blog

The future of Milwaukee's Hoan Bridge is at hand. A once-in-a-half-century decision will need to be made soon: Should the bridge be repaired and left as is, or should it be replaced with a street-level thoroughfare?

That question was bandied about by a panel at a Milwaukee Press Club Newsmaker Luncheon recently.
Peter Beitzel, vice president at the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), and state Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) both called for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) to conduct a full study, assessing all of the options for the Hoan Bridge.

"We need to do this right. I want good information. I think it's key to the Milwaukee region," Stone said. "I'm going to argue we need a full study."

However, if the DOT is going to authorize such a study on the Hoan, it best do so soon, Beitzel said.
Proponents of replacing the bridge say a street-level thoroughfare would open hundreds of acres of land for redevelopment along the bridge's lakeside corridor. Beitzel said the only way the replacement concept moves forward is if someone champions that cause, and that someone would likely need to be the mayor of Milwaukee, he said.

Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik, who represents the south side of the county, is leading the fight to save the Hoan as is.

Jursik cited several reasons the Hoan must be retained in its current form:

• Residents on the south side need a direct, efficient traffic link to downtown jobs and entertainment.
• The Port of Milwaukee needs a clean, unimpeded route for ships.
• The Hoan provides a direct link for downtown residents and visitors to General Mitchell International Airport.
• A reduction in traffic capacity on the Hoan would force more traffic onto north/south Interstate 94.
• Commuters on the south side use the Hoan as a route to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
• The Hoan offers an inviting, impressive first view of downtown Milwaukee for first-time visitors from the airport or the Lake Express High-Speed Ferry.
• Properly marketed, the bridge could become an icon of the city's skyline (check out how OnMilwaukee.com makes great use of it).

Indeed, the image of traffic backed up for miles while a street-level drawbridge is raised or lowered every time a ship passes through the Port of Milwaukee was not a welcome vision for anyone on the Newsmaker panel, including Eric Reinelt, director of the port.

 

Stone said the region, the state and the country must rise above petty partisan political discourse and be willing to consider other viewpoints on important issues.

Still, there was something missing from the Newsmaker Luncheon. Oh yeah, now I remember. It was the DOT.

Neither DOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi or executive assistant Chris Klein could attend the event. Klein also said they could not send anyone else from their agency to represent the DOT.

An agency with hundreds of employees and a total bi-annual budget of $5.9 billion, and there are only two people capable of representing the DOT at a public forum?

Perhaps their response (or lack thereof) is an indication that the future of the Hoan is not a priority right now in Madison.

According to the panelists who did attend, a decision is needed soon, because the bridge is in dire need of repairs, if not replacement. The Hoan is on the clock.

 

Steve Jagler is executive editor of BizTimes Milwaukee.

All of those naysayers who believe Wisconsin is a terrible place to do business need to take a deep breath and do some serious recalibrating.
To be sure, like every other state, Wisconsin has its share of challenges - its high taxes and the dropout rate at Milwaukee Public Schools always quickly come to mind. And no doubt, Wisconsin has taken it on the chin with the closures of automotive plants in Janesville and Kenosha.
The losses have made the Milwaukee 7 a convenient target for people who make a habit out of trashing Wisconsin's business climate.
However, the negative drumbeat news cycle needs to take a break sometimes, and Tuesday was one of those days.
BizTimes had known for weeks that Milwaukee is one of two cities to be finalists in a Spanish company's search to build its new North American headquarters. We were told by city officials that we should not report that fact, however, because doing so could jeopardize Milwaukee's chances of landing the project.
Well, Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce Richard Leinenkugel blew those concerns out of the water Tuesday when he reported by phone from Bilbao, Spain, at the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) all-member meeting that he had just concluded a "12-hour cage match" presentation to a Spanish company.
Leinenkugel is courting the Spanish firm with a southeastern Wisconsin delegation that includes officials from the Milwaukee 7, We Energies and Richard "Rocky" Marcoux, commissioner of the Milwaukee Department of City Development.
Milwaukee is "at the finish line" of landing the company's North American headquarters that would bring hundreds of jobs to southeastern Wisconsin and could also generate more work for vendors in the region, sources said.
"It's between us and one other city," said one source close to the negotiations.
Officials representing the Spanish company have been studying the business climate in southeastern Wisconsin for weeks, BizTimes has learned. The company sent representatives to the MMAC's Future 50 program in September, and they toured several southeastern Wisconsin factories, including the GenMet metal fabrication plant in Mequon. The plant tours were designed to give the Spanish company some insight about the array of potential partners and vendors in the region, sources said.
Sources said they expect the Spanish company to make a decision on the site for the North American headquarters by the end of the year.
Sources declined to identify the Spanish company that is being courted by Milwaukee.
We've got a pretty good hunch, however. Think alternative energy. Spain has become the world's second-largest producer of solar and wind energy in the world (behind Germany).
Spanish companies such as Gamesa, a manufacturer and installer of wind turbines, Iberdrola, a power group, and Acciona Energia, a wind park developer, are becoming global players in the fast-emerging alternative energy markets.

Republic Airways jobs
The news that Milwaukee is a finalist for the Spanish company's jobs came on the heels of Republic Airways Holdings Inc.'s announcement earlier Tuesday that it will save 800 jobs in Oak Creek and move 800 new jobs to the region by the end of next year.
Republic, the new parent company of Midwest Airlines, plans to move the jobs to Oak Creek and Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport.
Republic chief executive officer Bryan Bedford confirmed the creation of a Milwaukee hub during the MMAC's meeting at the Bradley Center.
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle announced the use of the state's Enterprise Zone tax credits to help convince Republic to bring the jobs to the state.
Indianapolis-based Republic Airways will consolidate operations in Milwaukee from other cities such as Las Cruces, N.M., and Denver, Colo.
Republic acquired Denver-based Frontier Airlines on Oct. 1.
Bedford praised Milwaukee's pro-business climate as a reason for deciding to bring the jobs here, rather than Indianapolis or Denver.
"We spent a lot of time in the last three months trying to figure out where we can be our best and most competitive," Bedford said.
Bedford also announced Republic will add new routes from Milwaukee to San Francisco and Raleigh, N.C. The company is considering adding service to six more routes.
"Midwest Airlines today is about 45 percent to 50 percent of what it was at its peak. Our goal is to get back to its peak as soon as possible," Bedford said.

 

Mercury Marine jobs
Step back for a moment and recall that Wisconsin also recently beat out Oklahoma to keep Mercury Marine's production plant in Fond du Lac. Wisconsin provided about $70 million in public assistance, along with about $50 million in a loan backed by a Fond du Lac County sales tax and $3 million from the city of Fond du Lac. With the combined package of incentives, Mercury Marine plans to move up to 2,700 jobs to the Fox Valley.

 

Biotech jobs
In addition to the wins with Mercury Marine and Republic Airways, eight biotechnology companies have recently moved from other states to Wisconsin.
Biotechnology in Wisconsin is an $8.7 billion industry with 400 companies and 34,000 employees. Biotechnology is the fastest-growing segment of the Wisconsin economy, with an annualized growth rate of nearly 7 percent.
The state is benefiting from the formation of the Wisconsin Angel Network and the Wisconsin Venture Fund to help facilitate deal flow, investor exchanges and network creation.
In February, Doyle expanded the investor tax credit law as part of an early economic recovery bill. Enhancements included: raising the cap on tax credits for angel investments from $1 million to $4 million; tripling the annual pool of credits available for angel credits, from $5.5 million to $18.25 million per year, and venture credits, $6 million to $18.75 million; and allowing angel investors to claim the entire 25 percent credit on their investment in the first taxable year.
The eight biotech companies moving to Wisconsin are: RJA Dispersions LLC; VitalMedix; Rapid Diagnostek; Aldevron; Flex Biomedical Inc.; Inviragen Inc.; Exact Sciences Corp.; and NanoMedex.
They're moving here from Minnesota, North Dakota, Massachusetts and Florida.
Those relocations recently prompted the Star-Tribune in Minneapolis to write a series (and a related blog item headlined, "Wisconsin kicks our butt") about how Minnesota is losing out to a better business climate in Wisconsin.

 

Jobs from the Flatlands
Meanwhile, Uline Inc. of Waukegan, Ill., will move across the Wisconsin border to its new headquarters in Pleasant Prairie in 2010, bringing 1,000 jobs to a state that is supposedly a terrible place to do business. Uline is investing about $100 million in this God-awful place.
Uline received more than $6 million in incentives and aid from the State of Wisconsin to come here. In addition to Uline, several other Chicago area-based firms recently have opted to build facilities in Kenosha County instead of northern Illinois, including Vernon Hills-based Rust-Oleum Corp. and Lake Forest Village-based Hospira Inc.
And guess what? Business advocates in northern Illinois are now screaming because Wisconsin is luring away so many of their businesses. At a meeting of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce in Independence Grove, Lake County Partners president Dave Young blamed Illinois' "unfriendly business climate" for the flight of businesses TO Wisconsin.
"We have a governor (in Illinois) who goes out of his way to antagonize the business community," Young said at the luncheon, according to the Lake County News-Sun. "Unfortunately, right next door in Kenosha County, Gov. Jim Doyle is very adept at business recruitment and actually enjoys it."
Oh, and there will be more good news. Look for the efforts of the Water Council and Badger Meter Inc. CEO Rich Meeusen to pay off with more freshwater technology jobs in the next couple of years.
On Wisconsin!

Steve Jagler is executive editor of BizTimes Milwaukee.

The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representative approved a landmark health care reform bill Saturday night by a 220-215 vote.
President Barack Obama, who went to Capitol Hill earlier on Saturday to lobby moderate Democrats who were wavering, said, "I look forward to signing it into law by the end of the year."
The bill will now go to the U.S. Senate.
BizTimes Milwaukee collected reactions about the legislation from Wisconsin's Congressional delegation and others. Their comments follow. More comments from other officials may be added during the day, and readers are invited comment at the end of the blog:

 

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison)
"This is an historic moment for our nation. House passage of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, marks the first step toward ensuring health care for all Americans. I truly believe that we'll look back years from now and view the passage of this Act to be as significant as the passage of the Social Security Act in 1935 and the Medicare and Medicaid Act in1965. The bill the House passed today will cover 35 million Americans who currently have no health insurance. This legislation will end the abusive practices of the insurance companies. Your coverage will no longer be denied because of a pre-existing condition. The bill will end the despicable practice of retroactively cancelling your policy at the moment you most need care. It will place caps on out-of-pocket medical expenses so that families dealing with a serious illness will no longer face the prospect of bankruptcy or financial ruin. And it will offer a multitude of other reforms to make our health care system more efficient, less costly, and more effective in preventing illness, restoring, and maintaining good health for you and you family. Health care for all is the issue that brought me into politics and has been a driving force in my work ever since. I am proud of the role that I played in crafting this groundbreaking legislation and will continue to work on improving and strengthening this measure to send the strongest bill possible to the President's desk."

 

Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Appleton), who is a medical doctor
“Tonight, we have taken a bold step forward towards securing the health and safety of all of our families. Working together, we are beginning to fix what is broken in our health care delivery system, guaranteeing that no family will lose their home or need to hold a bake sale just to pay for life-saving treatment. The bill we passed will immediately help senior citizens by beginning to close the Donut Hole in Medicare Part D and eliminating deductibles and co-pays for preventive services in Medicare. It will help everyone in Wisconsin by increasing the number of primary care physicians; securing continued coverage for workers who, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs; providing immediate help for the uninsured and expanding community health centers ... As someone who has been paying medical malpractice insurance premiums for three decades, I know that we need to fix this problem and strike the right balance. This issue came up frequently in our town hall meetings this summer, and I delivered that message to my colleagues in the House. I listened, came back and helped to write a better bill."

 

Rep. Ron Kind (D-LaCrosse)
"Comprehensive health care reform is long overdue because the current system is unsustainable. The Affordable Health Care for America Act not only makes health care more stable and affordable for those who already have health insurance, but it guarantees access to health insurance coverage for the uninsured, protects consumers, provides security for seniors, and reforms the way we pay for health care from one that is volume driven to one that is value driven. The health care reform bill builds on what works and fixes what doesn’t, offering stability and security to families who are satisfied with their health insurance and providing choices for those who aren’t, without leaving a legacy of debt to our children. Although it’s not perfect, the bill is a good start. As promised, it’s completely paid for. In fact, it reduces the national deficit by $109 billion over the next 10 years and will reduce the cost of care moving forward. I am proud to support the bill. Our current system pays for the number of procedures ordered instead of the quality of care provided; resulting in $700 -800 billion, approximately one third of health care costs, in wasteful spending each year that doesn’t help the patient. We need a value-based reimbursement system that rewards quality and cost-effectiveness. I’ve worked with health care providers in Wisconsin to correct the unfairness of Medicare reimbursement rates that they have been subjected to for so long. Our region is among the lowest reimbursed in the nation, forcing health care providers to shift costs to private plans, resulting in higher costs for patients. We’re fixing that flawed system with this bill, through negotiations I led, to include provisions for historic payment reform that reward the value of care delivered instead of the quantity of care provided. This bill will lead to a more cost effective way to pay for and deliver health care in our country and lower costs in the long run, making health care more affordable for all Americans. I have been assured by Mayo Clinic, Gunderson Lutheran and other health care providers that they will continue to work with me and other Members of both the House and Senate to achieve a final product that moves Medicare toward a model that rewards value. They understand that more of the same is not an acceptable option."

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee)
"With the passage of the House version of health insurance reform legislation, we recognize the government has a moral responsibility to make sure its citizens have access to quality and affordable health care. The health of a country’s population is absolutely critical to its productivity, and it’s about time that the United States got in the game. In my district, the Affordable Health Care for America Act will improve employer-based coverage for 354,000 residents, and provide credits to help pay for coverage to up to 192,000 households. This bill will improve Medicare for 87,000 beneficiaries, including closing the prescription drug donut hole for 6,200 seniors. It will allow 14,600 small businesses to obtain affordable health care coverage and provide tax credits to help reduce health insurance costs for up to 12,300 small businesses. This legislation will create a right to health care that many Americans have never had before, but it also creates a responsibility that all Americans get insurance so that everyone has some skin in the game. At some point, everyone in America accesses the health care system, and whether or not they have insurance, that care is not free. This bill brings 96 percent of Americans into the health care system – 36 million additional people. This is nothing short of transformational."

Rep. Tom Petri (R-Fond du Lac)
"I think the vote was a tragedy. The bill, when it is finally implemented, will be a killer of jobs and of economic growth. It is going to mean our unemployment will be higher rather than lower, and I think people are going to be shocked when they learn how much more they are going to be paying in premiums for the insurance that they get - especially young people and middle-aged people. There will be real increases in the cost of health care for an awful lot of Americans. Now, I think one thing we have to remember is that this is not final passage. The bill goes to the Senate and will have to go to a conference. There are many hurdles that still have to be passed."

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville)
"I firmly believe that this is the most consequential vote each of us will take in our service here in Congress. When you expose this bill’s budget gimmicks, does it increase the debt and deficit? Yes. Will it take coverage away from seniors, raise premiums for families, and decrease health care innovation? Yes. Will it raise taxes on small businesses and workers, and cost us nearly 5.5 million jobs when our unemployment rate is 10.2 percent? Yes. Does this bill mean the government will take over running our health care system? Yes. But what is worse is this bill replaces the American Idea with a European-style social welfare state. This bill – more than any other decision we are going to make in this body – will lead to millions of Americans becoming dependents on the state rather than being dependent upon themselves. This is not about health care policy – if it were, we could pass a bipartisan bill to fix what’s broken in health care without breaking what’s working in health care. This is about ideology. “The choice is not whether or not you’re going to stick with your party leaders. The choice here is what side of history do you want to be on? Will you be on the side of history where you stick with the people and the principles that built this exceptional nation? That is the choice we face."

Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Menomonee Falls)
"The U.S. Constitution declares 'we the people,' not 'we the government.' Yet, with tonight's late night passage of H.R. 3962, the House voted in favor of a government takeover of health care that will raise taxes, cut health care services, and perhaps most alarming, set our nation on a dangerous path in which the government encroaches on our lives even more. In the last few days, we've learned the government couldn't foresee the real cost of Cash for Clunkers and the stimulus package did little to stimulate job growth - and now, the same leaders who brought us these programs are taking over health care with more red tape, increased taxes and additional mandates. Like these programs, with health care, we don't know when the spending will end or how high the final costs will go beyond the estimates. Health care needs to be reformed in our country, but Speaker Pelosi's 2,000 page health care overhaul bill is the wrong way to do it. H.R. 3962 is the wrong prescription for America. This bill makes care more expensive and less available, while hurting Wisconsinites and harming Wisconsin businesses. This legislation chips away at the independence our Founding Fathers fought for, and replaces it with citizens being dependent on their government for care. I hope Senators Kohl and Feingold have a better understanding of the principles of democracy when they consider health care legislation on the Senate floor."

Susan Eckerly, senior vice president of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
"Small business owners are outraged that their elected representatives voted to pass a health care bill that fails to lower costs, increase choice and provide real competition for America’s small businesses.  Instead, this bill will actually make things worse, not better. With unemployment at a 26-year high, the punitive employer mandates and atrocious new taxes will force small business owners to eliminate jobs and freeze expansion plans at a time when our nation’s economy needs small business to thrive. There is no question that this bill will have devastating consequences for small business owners, their employees and the country’s economic recovery. As we have said since its original introduction, H.R. 3962 is not the kind of reform America’s small businesses need or want. Small businesses have long supported reform that provides more affordable and accessible healthcare options for them and their workers. Instead of listening to small businesses, the House passed a bill that will actually make things worse for small firms. Punishing small employers with employer mandates, payroll taxes and a new government-run program paid for on the backs of small businesses, will not fix our broken healthcare system. H.R. 3962 represents a failed opportunity to help small business owners with their No. 1 problem – skyrocketing health care costs. As the health care debate moves to the Senate floor, NFIB hopes senators will consider legislation that actually makes addressing the needs of small businesses a top priority. This begins with enacting
responsible insurance market reforms and increasing competition in the small group and individual private market by creating an exchange modeled on the SHOP Act. It means allowing national benefit plans to be purchased across state lines – something long supported by small business. And, it means making certain that they do so in a way that doesn’t increase the cost of doing business for our small businesses. We have said repeatedly that we remain committed to trying to support reform efforts that will provide more affordable and accessible healthcare options for small employers and their workers. No one needs reform more."

 

Bruce Josten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
"With the passage of H.R. 3962, the health care bill, the House missed a significant opportunity to advance reasonable and meaningful health reform that fundamentally changes how the health care system operates and changes the overall upward trajectory in spending.  American employers and employees want an improvement in the nation's health care system, not an unsustainable, unaffordable overhaul. Friday's news that unemployment has reached double digits for the first time in 26 years should have been a wake-up call for those considering job-stifling tax increases and employer mandates included in the House health care bill. Expanding coverage is an imperative; it is also imperative that the nation is moving on a credible and sustainable fiscal path. Unfortunately, in addition to the massive new tax burdens on individuals and small business owners, the health care reform bill just passed by the House of Representatives fails the crucial test of reducing the soaring cost of health coverage for businesses or individuals. We urge the Senate to listen to the American people and reject the House’s partisan approach to health care."

Robert Kraig, executive director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin
"It is very rare that a vote can be called 'historic,' but the vote Saturday night certainly was. Despite health care reform efforts that go all the way back to Theodore Roosevelt, this is the first time that any comprehensive health care reform bill has ever been passed by either house of Congress. By a narrow margin that would have been shifted by a change in 3 votes, Congress has taken a great step for the people of Wisconsin in passing the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Those who voted yes proved they were on the side of the American people and not the big insurance companies and special interests that have been working overtime to try and kill meaningful health care reform. Because of the strong support from members of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation to do what is right for their constituents, we can look forward to having more affordable health coverage with good, comprehensive benefits, and true choice and competition in the health insurance marketplace."

Erin Musgrave, Small Business Majority
"The passage today of H.R. 3962 by the US House of Representatives was historic. We are finally within reach of effecting real change—change that has been hard fought, is long overdue and essential to small businesses’ survival.  Providing America’s 28 million small business owners with high-quality, affordable healthcare got one huge step closer to becoming a reality today. Small business owners have been mired in a healthcare system that burdens them with inordinate costs, threatens their competitiveness and discourages entrepreneurship. Economic research we released in June shows that without healthcare reform, small business owners will pay nearly $2.4 trillion over the next 10 years to provide health insurance for their employees. Clearly, the cost of doing nothing is too high, and failing to pass healthcare reform legislation this year is unacceptable. We’re pleased to see adjustments to the bill that will benefit small businesses in particular. These include short-term relief through a high-risk pool set to start in 2010, requiring insurers to justify premium increases to discourage price gouging, a requirement that health plans spend at least 85 percent of premium dollars on medical care and individual plans available in the exchange that would save the 22 million self-employed 25 percent on their premiums in 2016. These provisions, along with tax credits, a robust national exchange and strong market reform—specifically the elimination of preexisting condition rules—will go a long way toward getting small businesses the relief they desperately need. With that said, there’s still more work to do. As we await the final Senate bill, it is imperative that all stakeholders remain constructively engaged and focused on enacting comprehensive healthcare reform this year. There are good provisions in the Senate bill that can be merged with H.R. 3962 to improve the final bill—specifically additional measures to lower costs. Today was a good day for small business and America, and we must maintain this momentum if we are to succeed. We’ve come too far to stop now."

 

Robert Nesse, M.D., president and CEO, Franciscan Skemp Healthcare (La Crosse), Mayo Health System
"The status quo is not acceptable. What we see in health care right now in the United States is tremendous amounts of duplication of services that are not necessary. About 30 percent of the money we spend on health care could be saved if we were all practicing at the best standards of quality and efficiency. The House bill’s provision calling for an Institute of Medicine study and recommendations will move us in the right direction. I look forward to continue working with Congressman Kind to achieve a final product that moves Medicare toward a model that rewards value."

 

David Newby, president of Wisconsin AFL-CIO
"When the House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act, working families found out who their real friends are, and Rep. Moore is at the top of the list. Residents of the fourth congressional district can be proud that Rep. Moore cast one of the deciding votes to put us closer than we have been in the last 60 years to achieving real health insurance reform. Rep. Moore has been a champion for health care reform. In voting for the Affordable Health Care for America Act, Rep. Moore stood up to the insurance company fat cats who have fought so hard to maintain the status quo. She said 'no' to insurance company denials and discriminations due to pre-existing conditions. She said 'no' to the insurance company stranglehold on 94 percent of the markets and told insurance companies they now have to compete. Rep. Moore said ‘yes’ to fairness, competition, security and stability in our health care system. She voted for a plan that provides health insurance to 96 percent of Americans, pays for itself, and reduces the deficit. Saturday’s vote was a rare vote of conscience that distinguished which members of Congress truly represent the will of the people. We thank Rep. Moore for standing with the working men and women who sent her to Washington and we will honor her commitment by continuing to stand with her. It is very exciting that we are so close to winning genuine health insurance reform and we will redouble our efforts to finish the job."

 

Derrick Plummer, Democratic Party spokesman
"It's disappointing, but not surprising that Rep. Ryan chose to stand with the insurance companies instead of Wisconsinites. Today, Rep. Ryan voted against a historic bill which will protect Wisconsinites from unfair insurance company practices and will provide coverage for millions of Americans. But standing on the side of insurance company CEOs and the far right wing or the Republican Party isn’t just bad policy, it’s bad politics. Rep. Ryan can be rest assured that after voting against health insurance reform today, the people of the 1st Congressional District will not be voting for Rep. Ryan next November."

 

Barry Rand, CEO of AARP
"AARP is pleased that the House has passed the Affordable Health Care for American Act. This bill meets our goals of improving Medicare's benefits and making critical health insurance market reforms that make coverage more affordable. Our nation is now closer than ever to a health care system that actually works for all Americans. For too long, insurance companies have taken advantage of discriminatory practices to cherry pick the most profitable customers. And for too long, the high costs of prescription drugs have forced seniors to choose between their medications and other necessities. We must fix this broken, inequitable system. This legislation protects Medicare and ensures that it will be there for today's seniors and for the future generations. The bill makes prescription drugs more affordable for people in Medicare by closing the program's dangerous gap in drug coverage and allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. It adds cost-free preventive services like cancer screenings and cracks down on waste and fraud to protect and strengthen traditional Medicare benefits. In addition, the legislation provides benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live in their own homes and communities by establishing the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program. For all Americans, especially those age 50 to 64 who often struggle to find affordable insurance, this plan strictly limits how much more insurance companies can charge based on age, and stops insurers from denying coverage based on a person's health history or gender. For those who still cannot find affordable coverage on their own, this bill offers help so they can purchase insurance. We thank those representatives who voted for this landmark legislation, and we urge those members who did not support health care reform tonight to reconsider the needs of their constituents when this issue returns to the House for a final vote."

 

J. James Rohack, M.D., president of the American Medical Association
"The AMA hails the passage of the House health reform bill, which will help improve the health system for patients and physicians and calls for swift passage of H.R. 3961 to secure the stability of the Medicare program. Passage of the House health reform bill is a big step forward as we work for comprehensive health reform this year. The AMA will continue its work with Congress and the administration to strengthen and improve health reform legislation as the process continues for patients and physicians. The bill will significantly expand health insurance coverage to Americans; empower patient and physician decision making; institute meaningful insurance market reforms; make substantial investments in quality; institute prevention and wellness initiatives; provide incentives to states that adopt certificate of merit and/or early offer liability reforms, and reduce administrative burdens. As Congress considers new coverage commitments to the American people through health reform, it must ensure that commitments already made are fulfilled through passage of the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 (H.R. 3961). This bill will permanently repeal the broken physician payment formula and preserve access to care for seniors, baby boomers and military families."

I have never played poker with Harley-Davidson Inc. chief executive officer Keith Wandell. But if I did, and he went "all in" with his chips on a crucial hand, I'd look him in the eyes. And then I'd probably fold.

Wandell is "all in" with Harley. The stakes are high, and he's playing his hand accordingly.
As they say, drastic times call for drastic measures. Harley's core customers - people willing to plop down $40,000 or so for a new motorcycle - have been steadily dwindling. And even if they are willing to fork over that kind of coin, good luck obtaining the financing.

Harley's earnings have fallen for nine consecutive quarters.

Wandell, who built a track record of squeezing efficiencies out of operations in his years as an executive at Johnson Controls Inc., was brought in last year to do the nasty, painful hatcheting at Harley.

So far, he's been up to the task.

Wandell is laying off thousands of people and closing plants. He recently ended the Buell Motorcycle line.

Wandell is divesting Harley's MV Agusta venture in Varese, Italy.

He's threatening to close Harley's plant in York, Pa., unless the company receives the right concessions from the employees there and the right incentives from the local governments there. That decision will come in December.

With all of that chaos and all of that carnage, you might think Wall Street would be skeptical about Milwaukee Iron. You would be wrong.

Stock analyst Craig Kennison of Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc., is downright bullish on Harley, raising his outlook for the company to "outperform." Kennison is predicting a "cyclical rebound and turnaround story" for Harley.

"We expect shipments to bottom in 2009 following efforts to slash dealer inventory. Meanwhile, we see a dynamic turnaround story led by a bold CEO driving better performance. We see an opportunity to earn $2.25-$2.50 per share at modest production levels as Harley exits unprofitable brands, renegotiates York, and expands internationally. At 11-12x that expectation, we consider Harley the best value in our recreation space," Kennison wrote.

"Operations meet expectations. Harley reported a noisy quarter, reminiscent of bar-time at a Harley rally. Beyond the noise, however, key operating metrics met our expectations … Focus on post-restructuring earnings power. We see the potential to earn $2.25-$2.50 per share on a modest improvement in shipments (250K bikes) as the restructuring plan unfolds. New CEO Keith Wandell is taking bold action to refocus the business and build around the Harley-Davidson brand," Kennison stated.

Kennison is predicting that much of Harley's new growth will come from overseas, as the company plans to add 100 to 150 international dealers to drive shipments to 40 percent of bikes sold by 2014.

So, Wandell's legacy at the Harley helm awaits him. He could go down as a cruel butcher who cut the life out of one of America's proudest brands. Or he could follow in the footsteps of predecessor Richard Teerlink as a corporate savior and a turnaround genius who pulled Harley out of the scrap heap.

Either way, it will be a painful, bumpy ride.

 

Steve Jagler is executive editor of BizTimes Milwaukee.

A natural reaction for many companies in the Great Recession has been to tighten managerial controls on everything from office supplies and cold-call sales schedules to travel expenses.

To be sure, frugality, accountability and efficiency have their places in the first aid box of successful business strategies - to a point.

It's when micromanagement goes too far, however, that it costs American companies up to $300 billion a year, according to Brian Carney and Isaac Getz, authors of "Freedom, Inc," a new business book subtitled, "Free Your Employees and Let Them Lead Your Business to Higher Productivity, Profits, and Growth."

The authors challenge the mindset of micromanaging "how companies" that establish a strong corporate hierarchy, where creativity and out-of-the-box thinking are discouraged, "where ideas die on the long journey through the corporate committee maze."

Instead, the authors celebrate "why companies" that empower their employees with an understanding of why they're doing what they do and the power to make decisions based on that knowledge.

The book, which is published by The Crown Publishing Group in New York, chronicles the success of "superstar why companies," two of which are based in southeastern Wisconsin.

Sussex-based Quad/Graphics Inc. founders Harry and Tom Quadracci are cited in the book for being years ahead of their time when they created QuadTech, a division to sell the company's innovative equipment, even to the firm's competitors.

The Quadraccis empowered Karl Fritchen to start QuadTech's own local sales and distribution network in Japan, rather than partner with just one Japanese company.

"OK, sounds like a good idea," Harry Quadracci told Fritchen. "I want you to stay in Japan, find office space, hire staff and then when you're all done, come back to the board and explain why we did this."

Fritchen recalled, "He (Harry Quadracci) didn't say, 'Put together a plan, present it to the board, get approval, then go back and do this.' My previous employer was so radically different that I just fell in love with this place immediately when I walked in."

Fritchen went on to become the chief executive officer of the highly profitable QuadTech.

"The feeling you get as an employee to have that happen to you, you want all your employees to have that same type of feeling and commitment to your organization," Fritchen said.

The book also chronicles how former CEO Richard Teerlink transformed Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. from being a stodgy, old-line manufacturer into a dynamic, celebrated, publicly traded iconic brand. The throttle of the company's turnaround was accelerated by Teerlink's "liberating" leadership style that created a culture of devotion and ownership among its workforce, according to the book.

Teerlink's successor, Jim Ziemer, who started his career at Harley as a union worker, said he inherited a leadership culture that he grew to understand and appreciate. "It is like a religion, it is spiritual. You've got to believe in it and act like it's a religion … Sometimes, maybe, command and control is great, but … if you don't have the same leader, then it does not sustain itself. If it is a religion, it can sustain itself."

The authors contend, "We are micromanaging our employees to death … Freedom works because we don't know what we do not know, and because some of what we think we know is wrong – or soon will be. If we can harness the additional knowledge of more of our peers, we can move much faster than the bureaucracy. And the only way to harness that knowledge is to allow those who possess it to act on it when necessary, right away – NOW – without waiting for some boss to approve it."

 

Steve Jagler is executive editor of BizTimes Milwaukee.

Democratic insiders believe Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will decide not to launch a campaign to be Wisconsin's next governor, and some say Gov. Jim Doyle is "shopping" for another candidate to challenge Barbara Lawton for the party's nomination.

Lawton, who is Wisconsin's lieutenant governor, picked up her most impressive endorsement yet Monday, when former Democratic Party of Wisconsin state chair and congressional candidate Matt Flynn announced he will support her bid for governor.

"The next governor of Wisconsin needs to be someone focused on creating new jobs. Barbara Lawton will be that governor. She is a strong leader who will fight for the economic security of our families and focus on keeping people on the job," Flynn said.

Barrett has not yet declared publicly whether or not he will run for governor.

When asked if he had contacted Barrett to inquire about his intentions, Flynn replied, "No, but I have been in contact with a member of his staff. And I left him a message."

Flynn added, "I think very highly of Tom Barrett. He's a great mayor and would be a great governor, but I don't think he's running."

Winning the endorsement of a big hitter such as Flynn, who is an attorney and a partner at Quarles & Brady in Milwaukee, is a major coup for Lawton.

Flynn's endorsement adds to a growing roster of key Lawton supporters from Barrett's backyard, including: Milwaukee County Democratic Party chair Martha Love, state Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa), and Milwaukee County Supervisors Peggy West and Marina Dimitrijevic.

"I'm honored to have the support of former Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Matt Flynn," Lawton said. "From his service in the Navy to his work as chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Matt Flynn is deeply patriotic and has built and reinforced his life-long commitment to D/democratic ideals. I am proud to have the endorsement of such an influential leader in our state's Democratic Party."

 

Lawton's credentials

Like most lieutenant governors before her, Lawton, 58 has served the past seven years in virtual anonymity.

The liberal Capital Times in Madison calls Lawton "Wisconsin's green leader." She has been the chair of the Wisconsin Arts Board of the National Lieutenant Governors Association.

Lawton was the founder of the Greater Green Bay Area Community Foundation and the Multicultural Center, and she has served as an advisor to Entrepreneurs of Color and on various boards, including that of the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Foundation. She also has served as a consultant to Wisconsin businesses expanding internationally.

Lawton, a graduate of Waterford High School, and husband Charles "Cal" Lawton have two grown children and four grandchildren. The Lawton family lived in Green Bay for more than 30 years. Their permanent home now is near Algoma.

She took office as Wisconsin's 43rd lieutenant governor on Jan. 3, 2003, and was re-elected in 2006.

 

Will a challenger emerge?

Although Lawton's relationship with outgoing Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle has been icy, at best, Flynn does not foresee any significant challengers in the primary.

"I think she'll be unopposed. I've been impressed that she's been excited about running right from the beginning," Flynn said. "There just simply is nobody else that I've heard of that is thinking of running."
However, longtime Milwaukee Democratic supporter Evan Zeppos expects another candidate will emerge to challenge Lawton. That challenger could come from the private sector, Zeppos said.

"I'd be surprised if it isn't a contested primary. I think it could be anyone who could raise money and anyone that could bring a fresh perspective to the Democratic primary. I think it could be someone who is not an elected official," said Zeppos, who operates a public relations firm in Milwaukee. "But it won't surprise me if someone who is an elected official or a former elected official, thinks, 'I could run.' Barbara Lawton hasn't raised a great deal of money yet. I just don't think it will end up being that she's the only Democratic candidate."

A private sector candidate could run on a pro-jobs plank without the political baggage that would be carried by a Madison-based Democratic insider, such as Lawton or Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.

The Wisconsin gubernatorial race will be a top priority for both national parties and could likely attract a record $6 million to $8 million in political resources. The Obama administration is playing an interactive, if not interventional role, in the key Democratic primary races for 2010.

One Wisconsin Democratic insider, who asked not to be identified for this report, asked, "Will the White House settle for Barbara Lawton?"

Another Democratic insider said, "Doyle is shopping for another candidate. He does not think Lawton can win. I know he is. I'm aware that the governor is out there recruiting candidates."

 

Contested primaries are best

The traditional political wisdom is that contested primaries are beneficial to candidates because the process vets out the candidates and keeps them in the news cycle longer and more often.

Case in point: the presidential race of 2008. Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama beat each other's brains out in a long contested primary, keeping themselves in the headlines every day. Republican John McCain, who had sewn up his nomination relatively early, struggled to stay in the public's eye.

Campaign donors also can become complacent in an uncontested primary.

The Republicans in Wisconsin can be assured of a hotly contested primary, featuring rivals Milwaukee County Scott Walker and former Congressman Mark Neumann of Janesville.

Steve Jagler is executive editor of BizTimes Milwaukee.

In the best of times, effective leadership is critical to the success of most companies. Now, you toss in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and strong leadership becomes a do-or-die proposition for most organizations.

The question is: are effective leaders born, or can they be taught? In reality, that need not be an either/or supposition.

There's no doubt that some people are simply blessed (or cursed?) with natural abilities to lead others. Call them the alpha dogs, call them generals, call them what you will. They possess some degree of charisma, charm, persuasion or intimidation that inspires other people to follow their lead.

However, many people in corporate American can learn to become better leaders by emulating and adopting the best practices of other successful leaders.

Tempo Waukesha, an organization of professional women, will present an opportunity to learn from some of the best leaders in Wisconsin at its Pulse luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The event will include a panel discussion featuring:

• George Dalton, entrepreneur and founder of Fiserv Inc. and Novo 1 Inc.
• JoAnne Brandes, founder and senior fellow of the Carroll University Center for Leadership Excellence and former executive vice president of JohnsonDiversey Inc.
• Bill Henricks, chief operations officer for Rogers Partners in Behavioral Health in Oconomowoc.

I will have the honor and the privilege of moderating the discussion, and I can't wait to hear what these leaders have to say about "remaining positive in turbulent times."

 

I could listen to George Dalton talk for hours. In fact, I have. He has a track record of bold, fearless leadership. He co-founded Fiserv in 1984, at the onset of the savings and loan crisis - a precarious time to start a company whose customers are banks. As the chief executive officer of Novo 1, George is on the cutting edge of strategies for customer interaction. His is a lifetime of continuous learning, and he has much wisdom to share.

JoAnne is a highly sought-after speaker who has served on the boards of directors at Anderson Windows Corp., Bemis Manufacturing Corp., Metrix Inc. and Highlights for Children Inc. Wherever she goes, she is asked to lead. That's why she also has served as a trustee at Carroll University, a regent at the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents and a director at St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee. She was the recipient of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Lifetime Excellence Award earlier this year. JoAnne says leadership is important, not only at the top of an organization, but at every level.

Bill has been working in the mental health field for nearly 25 years as a psychologist and health care administrator. Over the years, he has developed numerous behavioral health programs that help people recover from mental illness and/or substance abuse and live more balanced and productive lives. Bill will discuss what leaders can do to increase their own personal resiliency and how they can foster more resilient employees.

The luncheon will take place at the Country Springs Hotel in Pewaukee. You are invited to learn more about fearless leadership in turbulent times. For additional information, click here.

 

Steve Jagler is executive editor at BizTimes Milwaukee.

When do your employees stop becoming representatives of your company and start becoming private citizens? When are they officially off the clock? When they walk out the door at the end of the work day, are they private citizens who are no longer held to the same standards of behavior? When they get home, are they no longer considered to be on the job?

The process of establishing the answers to those questions is becoming murkier by the moment in this emerging age of social media.

Case in point: Nick Barnett. While rehabilitating from a nasty knee injury and operation this year, the Green Bay Packers linebacker became a Twitter sensation, attracting more than 17,000 followers.
Most of his "Tweets" were innocuous references to the tedium of everyday life, such as what he was having for dinner or what he was watching on television. He ended many of them with the phrase LOL (laugh out loud).

Then came the second game of the season, a disappointing Packer loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Barnett did not have a good game. After he finally made a tackle late in the second half, he celebrated with some sort of childish Samurai sword dance.

His Twitter followers immediately mocked him. Shortly after the game, Barnett retaliated with the following Tweets:

• "Oh yea for everyone that had something to say after I celebrated for making a takle for lost KISS MY (expletive deleted) ..."
• "I was trying to get defense fired up... And so what if I missed the takle before am I suppose to stay in a funk about it!?? Get a life."

A few hours later, Barnett apologized for letting his emotions get the best of him. By the next morning, he announced that he will no longer Tweet this season. He wrote an extended Tweet (unedited): "Hey everyone.. I done somethinking and I have decided to stay off Twitter unroll next offseason.. I am a emotional person and sometimes With this Twitter thing I forget that everything is public.. Sometimes I feel I am talking to my freinds and just talk.. So I am going To pull myself away from that.. Thanks to all the people who supported me thru my rehab and tough times and for the haters well god loves u."

 

At what point did Nick Barnett stop becoming a Green Bay Packer and start becoming a private citizen with his own identity in the world? Should the Packers have held him accountable for how he treated … their customers?

What about your company? If your people go home, and they write something offensive on Twitter, or Facebook or LinkedIn, will they be held accountable by your company? Should they be?

I don't have all of the answers to those questions, even though BizTimes Media is on the cutting edge of this social media revolution. Thanks to reporters Alysha Schertz and Eric Decker and managing editor Andrew Weiland, we are way out in front of most media outlets.

Like many of you, we're not sure where this all goes, but we want to be along for the ride.

I have told our people that I do not have the time nor the inclination to police every single entry they post on social media sites. However, I also told them I will reserve the right to hold them accountable. So, they should write with the presumption that I may see their content.

In many ways, that's regretful. But the reality is that in a sense, none of us is ever really off the clock anymore. Because of advancements in technology, the line of distinction between our professional and personal lives has been blurred. We use our cell phones and laptops to make dental appointments for our children one moment and communicate with a business client or a co-worker the next.

So, I guess we all best be careful when we LOL.

Steve Jagler is executive editor of BizTimes Milwaukee.

Chicago's failed bid to be the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics was a terrible loss for:
(A) Chicago
(B) Milwaukee
(C) The Midwest
(D) President Barack Obama
(E) America
(F) All of the above

The correct answer is (F). Make no mistake and accept no spin, the Obama administration suffered a substantial wound on this one. As I wrote last week, the president was making a serious political miscalculation by going to Copenhagen, Denmark, to accompany his wife and make a personal pitch to the International Olympic Committee on behalf of Chicago's bid to host the 2016 games - unless his administration had a strong premonition that his appearance would seal the deal.

By going to Denmark, Obama put his signature on the whole thing, win or lose.

As he prepared to fly to Denmark, Obama's critics pounced on him, saying he was taking his focus off of more serious things such as the economy, health care reform, the Middle East and Afghanistan. The critics implied that Chicago's Olympic pitch was not worthy of the president's time.

They were wrong. It was. And that's what makes the snub even more painful for … America.

Some of the shrillest critics rejoiced in Obama's failure. One giddy local talk show host even put a headline on his blog that read, "Barack, Michelle, and Oprah, Oh My!" For some, it has become more important that Obama fail than for their country to succeed.

And make no mistake, the Olympic fiasco is a failure for America, Obama and, to some degree, Milwaukee.

Don't think so? As the clock ticked down on the IOC's decision, I put out a call seeking comments from Milwaukee's business and civic leaders, some of whom lean politically to the left and others no doubt lean to the right. Every one of them was preparing to celebrate Chicago's selection to host the 2016 games.

They had no doubt whatsoever that the new development and infrastructure improvements of an Olympics in Chicago would spill over into southeastern Wisconsin. I asked them to share with us their thoughts if Chicago won the games and their thoughts if Chicago lost the games.

Of course, we posted their comments about Chicago's defeat on our web site.

Now, I'd like to share with you some of the comments they prepared for the moment had Chicago been successful in its bid. Taken in sum, they dramatically illustrate what could have been:

"Milwaukee will shine in the glow of the international spotlight placed on Chicago, and we will work to use that light to our economic development advantage. If it speeds up rail connections, all the better. Be the first time I rooted for a Chicago sports win!"
Tim Sheehy, president, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce

"For too long, we've been unable to come to a decision on whether to expand our transit options, invest in our facilities, parks and public infrastructure. Well, in 2016, the world is coming to dinner and it is time for us to start to set our table. We can certainly host events and training facilities, athletes and visitors all in wonderful venues across our region. And we can also show the world that we can 'just do it' in Milwaukee and regain our place as a city on the move."
Julia Taylor, president, Greater Milwaukee Committee

"The games will be the most significant impact on our local economy in recent history as investments in Chicago will undoubtedly spill over on to infrastructure and amenities north of the state line."
Jim Villa, president and CEO, Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin

"The world's eyes are now squarely focused on Chicago and the larger region. There is no question that we now have a great opportunity at our doorstep to tell our story to the world."
Dean Amhaus, president, Spirit of Milwaukee

"Hopefully by 2016, we'll have a rebuilt I-94 corridor and additional rail options between Milwaukee and Chicago. Together with Mitchell International Airport serving as another gateway, we should be positioned to capture some of the Olympic excitement in the form of additional economic impact for the region."
David Fantle, vice president, Visit Milwaukee

"The Olympics will put metro Milwaukee and our Midwest region in the global limelight as a major destination and an economic contender. That visibility will translate into jobs and economic growth ... if we are prepared to capitalize on it."
Kerry Thomas, executive director of Transit Now

"We couldn't be more pleased by Chicago's win today. We've been supportive of Chicago's bid from the outset and now we look forward to working with the organizers, Mayor Daley and their entire team to see what supporting role Milwaukee can play in the games."
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

"Mitchell International Airport has already been called Chicago's third airport so we fully expect to bring thousands of Olympic visitors through the Milwaukee gateway And with Wauwatosa native Pat Ryan heading the Olympic effort for Chicago, Milwaukee has a great friend in the games who will look for opportunities for our community to get involved."
Milwaukee County Supervisor Scott Walker

"This Olympic decision is great news for Milwaukee County. I am pleased that President Barack Obama led our nation's final push to secure these games for Chicago. The total economic impact from the games is expected to be $22.5 billion. If we can capture just one percent of that impact, that's still a $225 million boost to the economy in Milwaukee County. Ten percent is $2.25 billion. The positive effect this will have on our economy and sales tax collections should not be underestimated.
Milwaukee County Executive Lee Holloway

"Commuter rail will allow our city to demonstrate to the world the assets and opportunities in Racine. Our chances of bringing Olympics tourists and Olympics spill off into Racine diminishes tenfold if we do not have commuter rail."
Racine Mayor John Dickert

"This economic impact will probably be bigger than a Super Bowl that the Packers play in. It's a unique situation. The Metra comes right into Kenosha, and (Olympic athletes') families may look to have their residences here and take the train right into the Olympic areas."
Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser

 

Ouch. The Midwest has never hosted the Olympics. And that's a shame.

Steve Jagler is executive editor of BizTimes Milwaukee.

Out of all the public programs I get wrangled into emceeing or moderating during the course of the year, the BizTimes Health Care Heroes Awards program is undoubtedly my favorite. That's because the winners of the awards tend to be real people - make that real humble people - who are just doing the right things that make this world a better place.

Do you know someone who is making a positive difference on the front lines of health care? BizTimes Milwaukee is accepting nominations for the 2009 Health Care Heroes Awards, honoring companies, individuals and organizations for their contributions to improving health care in southeastern Wisconsin.

Health Care Heroes Awards honor those who epitomize the spirit embodied in the word "hero" in the delivery of health care to the community. The goals of the program are to recognize excellence, promote innovation, encourage emulation of successful programs, educate the general public, contribute to the enhancement of the value and quality of health care and, ultimately, give recognition to those deserving.

Entries are judged on accomplishments in the following categories:

• Corporate Achievement in Health Care - Honors a company that has successfully implemented an innovative health benefits plan or a company that has solved an acknowledged problem in health care administration. Judges will consider the uniqueness of a benefits plan, its popularity among enrollees, its cost-effectiveness, the complexity of the problem solved and the effectiveness of the solution or solutions.
• Advancements in Health Care - Honors a company, organization or individual primarily responsible for a scientific discovery or for development of a new procedure, device or service that can save lives or improve quality of life. Judges will consider the potential impact of the innovation.
• Community Service - Honors an individual or organization for leadership in focusing on solving a particular health care issue.
• Physician - Honors a physician whose performance on the job is considered exemplary by patients and peers. Judges will consider evidence of positive clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction and testimonials from peers and administrators.
• Nurse - Honors an individual from the nursing field whose performance on the job is considered exemplary by patients, peers and physicians.
• Health Care Staff - Honors an individual who works in the health care field and is committed to providing quality comfort and care. Winners could include therapists, technical support staff, specialists, certified nursing assistants, activity assistants, caregivers, etc.
• Volunteer - Honors an individual who has done volunteer work for the good of one or more people or the entire community. Involvement can be past and/or present.

Nominees must perform their service in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Ozaukee, Washington or Sheboygan counties.

 

Recipients of the Health Care Heroes Awards will be profiled in a special section of an upcoming issue of BizTimes Milwaukee and will be honored at a breakfast on Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Hotel in Wauwatosa.

To nominate a person or an organization for a Health Care Heroes Award, visit www.biztimes.com/hero.

 

Steve Jagler is executive editor of BizTimes Milwaukee.