Shift Worldwide, a Chicago-based virtual communication consulting firm with Milwaukee ties, recently launched its Virtual Conference Room, a browser-based platform that fills the visual void existing in conference calls and virtual presentation tools, while reducing the high costs of business travel and office-based videoconferencing systems.

To celebrate that launch, Shift Worldwide is hosting a series of Virtual Open Houses that will showcase the capabilities of its Virtual Conference Room to individuals in the community for free.

"Virtual Conference Rooms are built for ease of use: one-click entry, no software to download and no hidden costs. Using our virtual conference rooms, you interact with an ease equivalent to that of a face-to-face meeting," says Paul Trout, chief executive officer of Shift Worldwide. Amy Westrup, chief marketing officer of the company, has established a Milwaukee office for the firm.

There are multiple available dates and times for the virtual open house: 

"Each conference room allows for 16 high-definition video feeds at one time, creating a psycho-social stimulus that holds people's attention. Participants lose anonymity and the platform deters multitasking," Trout said. "By seeing one another, participants stay engaged and are more motivated to participate. Our platform creates an active audience focused on live conversation, not just passive presentation."

Additional information is available at www.virtualconferencerooms.com.

We Energies recently released the newest edition of its "Cookie Book," an 80-year holiday tradition cookbook available for its customers. The newest edition features 45 holiday recipes along with photos.

"It's exciting to see this fun family tradition continue after 80 years," said Joan Shafer, vice president of customer services for We Energies. "This edition, featuring a variety of cookie recipes, is great for both longtime collectors of the Cookie Book and first time enthusiasts."

Customers can pick up a free copy of the book at more than 30 distribution centers throughout the We Energies service territory beginning Nov. 10 or can stop by one of We Energies Signature Events on Saturday, Nov. 21. The signature events will feature hot cocoa, live reindeer and cookies from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Miller Park parking lot and at the We Energies Service Center on Hwy KR just west of Highway 32 in the Town of Somers. Customers are invited to attend to pick up a free copy of the 2009 Cookie Book and to take pictures with Santa's Reindeer.

 For more information and a complete list of distribution centers visit www.we-energies.com/recipes.

BizTimes Milwaukee announced the winners of its 2009 Health Care Heroes Awards.

The awards honor people and organizations that are making a positive difference on the front lines of health care in southeastern Wisconsin.

The recipients will be honored at the 2009 BizTimes Health Care Heroes Breakfast, which will take place on Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Hotel in Wauwatosa.

The public is invited to attend the breakfast to celebrate the achievements of the Health Care Heroes. The event will be emceed by WISN-Channel 12 news anchor Patrick Paolantonio. For additional information about the event, visit www.biztimes.com/hero.

This year's Health Care Heroes are:

Oprah Winfrey has selected eight semifinalists for her YouTube Karaoke contest, which began earlier this year. Grace Weber, a Wauwatosa native and a senior at New York University, was selected as one of the semi finalists for her two minute rendition of “Natural Woman.”

Weber will sing on today's Oprah Winfrey show, which airs on WISN-Channel 12 at 4 p.m., to compete for viewer votes to move on to the next round.

Grace Weber, Pius XI High School 2006 graduate, now a senior at New York University, was named one of eight finalists in Oprah Winfrey’s Karaoke contest.  She will sing one song during the Thursday, Nov. 5 show, competing for viewer votes to move to the next round in the competition.

Semifinalist selections include:

The Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired will host Dining in the Dark, a fundraiser designated to raise awareness and develop a deeper understanding of what it is like to be blind.

According to the organization, by 2030 the number of Americans affected by age-related blindness is expected to double.

Dining in the Dark will be held at Bacchus, 925 E. Wells St., at Sunday, Nov. 8 beginning at 5 p.m.

Dining in the Dark allows individuals to eat an entire meal in complete darkness, with the aid of low lighting and a blindfold. A special menu was created by award-winning chef Adam Siegel to stress the sense of smell, taste and touch.

Tickets for the event are $250 and include a four course meal, wine, beer and valet parking. Visit www.dininginthedarkmke.org for more details.                                

The UWM Peck School of the Arts Department of Theatre will launch its Lab/Works series with "The Road North," an original musical variety show that traces the growth of the blues in America.

Rebecca Holderness directs the show, which opens Wednesday, Nov. 11, and continues through Sunday, Nov. 15. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in Studio 508 on the 5th floor of Kenilworth Square East, 1925 E. Kenilworth Place.

"The Road North" is an original musical entertainment built around six classic blues recordings, the artists who perform the songs, and some of the events that make up their history. Song, dance and spoken text alternate in the manner of a variety show. It was created by an ensemble of 21 performing artists of diverse ages, backgrounds, interests and expertise. The set includes drops created by UWM Department of Visual Art students under the guidance of Milwaukee artist and faculty member Raoul Deal, and images made by students at Hartford University School detailing their own journeys to the gateway city of Milwaukee.

All tickets are $5 and are available from the Peck School of the Arts box office, (414) 229-4308. A box office will open at Studio 508 a half hour prior to each performance. This production is supported in part by the UWM Cultures & Communities program.

Name: Erica Conway

Title: Chief Enthusiasm Officer

Company: C2 Graphics Productivity Solutions

Company address: Headquarters, 222 East Erie Street, #330, Milwaukee

Company web site: http://www.c2gps.com

Industry: Adobe training and talent placement for creatives

Education: B.A. in Journalism & Spanish, minor in public relations, University of WI-Oshkosh/M.A. Organizational Communication, Michigan State University

Family: "Brother Jim is my biz partner; Wil & Judy, parents; Josh Quinn, future husband and the C2 Crew, my 9-5 family!"

Hobbies and Interests: "The couch, TV (Glee, Dexter, Dog Whisperer, Project Runway, Biggest Loser), reading (guilty pleasures like Twilight), running, going to the WAC, social media and networking"

Favorite book and/or movie: "Books: All things fiction: mystery, love, intrigue. Movies: Blow it up, laugh it up or make me cry, I'm in!"

Favorite musician/band: Foo Fighters

Favorite place to visit/vacation: "What's a vacation? I like sunny beaches, Vegas and heading up to Minocqua!"

Favorite local restaurant: "Moys Cantonese restaurant in Elkhorn. Best eggrolls on the Planet!"  

Words to live by: "How can we make it more fun?"

What is your core philosophy for doing business? "Honor business karma. Do right by clients, prospects and partners and they'll do right by you."

Who is your role model and why? "I admire many people, especially business pros. But day to day, I strive to be as productive, focused, patient, professional, kind and together as Meri Frahm. She's worked with C2 since the beginning and that alone is testimony to her patience. I have said it repeatedly; we wouldn't be in business without her. She's of tremendous value to our organization but more importantly, I just LOVE her, she's a good soul."

Funniest thing that ever happened? "For those who know me, funny and silly things happen to me and around me ALL the time. I cannot pinpoint just one instance. Lame huh?"

Miller Receives Hospital Association’s Trustee Award

Gregory Miller, a member of St. Joseph’s Hospital, West Bend, received the Wisconsin Hospital Association’s 2009 Trustee of the Year Award. Miller joined the hospital board in 2001.  He has served on all hospital committees, standing and ad hoc, during those eight years. Miller was elected board chair in September 2003, and held that position until December 2008. During this time, the deliberation, design and building of a new hospital occurred, as well as the addition of a residential hospice. Also, an affiliation agreement with Froedtert & Community Health was concluded on July 1, 2008.

Miller was employed by the West Bend Company for 32 years. He held positions as vice president of engineering, vice president of marketing, vice president of business development and, for the last 12 years prior to his retirement, as vice president of all operations. He is a Navy veteran and holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in engineering, as well as an MBA from the University of Wisconsin.

"Through his effective service, Greg Miller has demonstrated a sincere commitment to serve St. Joseph’s Hospital and the healthcare needs of Washington County," said Michael Laird, president/CEO St. Joseph's Hospital.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association represents nearly 130 community-based hospitals throughout the state.

Baird names COO of Private Wealth Management

Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co. announced today it has added Denise Wypiszenski as managing director, chief operating officer of its Private Wealth Management group.

Wypiszenski will focus on supporting Baird’s financial advisors and branch offices nationwide to better serve clients and grow the business. She also will help advance ongoing recruitment, financial advisor training and other key strategic initiatives.

She was most recently the director and COO of the western division of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, a division of Morgan Stanley.

Baird’s Private Wealth Management group has added nearly 100 financial advisors since the beginning of 2009.

Ostroski is new business banker for Citizens Bank

Citizens Bank Business Finance, the asset-based lending, commercial finance product and service group of Citizens Bank, has appointed Philip Ostroski as senior vice president and business development officer.

Ostroski will be based at the Citizens Bank branch at N56 W 16949 Ridgewood Drive in Menomonee Falls and will be working with lending personnel at all Citizens Bank locations throughout Wisconsin, Iowa and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Ostroski previously was managing director for MorrisAnderson, a nationwide business management and financial consulting group.

Journal Broadcast Group CFO to retire

Ron Kurtis, senior vice president and chief financial officer for the Journal Broadcast Group, announced he will retire effective Dec. 27.

Journal Broadcast Group is a division of Journal Communications, Inc.

Kurtis is a 36-year employee with Journal Communications.

Architecture

Design Group Three Inc., Milwaukee, announced the hire of Jeremy Hartline as a member of the design staff. Jeremy, a licensed architect with more than 14 years of experience, is a specialist in the design of new homes, sensitive additions, and remodeling projects.

Consulting

The Milwaukee office of GRAEF announced the addition of Rachel Lang as an on-call wetland scientist.

Education

Divine Savior Holy Angels High School (DSHA) announced the addition of Doug Braun and Christina Scoptur to the school’s board of directors. In addition, AnneMarie Duveneck was added as a vice president and Kristen Beat was added as a communications assistant.

Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, hired Gwendolyn Graves as senior graphic designer in the school’s marketing department.

Maryann Lazarski, faculty in the Communication Arts department at Cardinal Stritch

Health Care

Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group announced the addition of Dr. Charles Lanzarotti, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist with more than 12 years of experience in serving patients in the greater Milwaukee area. Dr. Lanzarotti has also been named Medical Director of the Electrophysiology Laboratory at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-St Francis.

Madison Medical Affiliates, Milwaukee, announced the additions of Dr. Burak Gurses, critical care, pulmonary disease and internal medicine physician and Dr. Abraham Varghese, internal medicine physician.

The Medical College, Wauwatosa, honored Dr. Ann Nattinger, professor and chief of general internal medicine and director of the Center for Patient Care and Outcomes Research, and Jie He, post doctoral fellow in pediatrics with the annual women in science award. Nattinger will receive a $10,000 research award, and He will receive the $1,000 Edward J. Lennon, M.D. award for outstanding woman postdoctoral researcher.

Milwaukee-based Assurant Health, announced that Adam Lamnin, has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Insurance

Diversified Insurance Services, Brookfield, announced the appointment of Dwight Horner as senior vice president, risk services.

The Hanover Insurance Group Inc., Brookfield, announced that it has named Greg Loyda, assistant regional vice president for personal lines. In this new role, Loyda will work closely with Todd Bavery, regional vice president, personal lines to oversee all aspects of the personal lines business, including agency relationships, for the company’s Wisconsin territory.