Concordia University Mequon president Rev. Patrick Ferry recently completed his book, Faith in the Freshman: A Story of Hopes and Hoops. Ferry will officially launch the release of his book tonight at a book signing and reading in the Concordia University Todd Wehr auditorium at 7 p.m.

“It’s really an interweaving story that has been tied together across generations,” Ferry said. “While basketball is an important theme, I hope that anyone who reads it will realize that it’s about so much more. It’s about pursuing dreams and knowing that refining dreams along the way is OK and that it’s more about the journey.”

The memoir is based on Ferry’s own life, and follows his college basketball career along with his son Andrew’s.

It contains some of life’s most powerful lessons on family, faith, academic and transformation, Ferry said.

“I was actually writing Andrew’s part of the story as it was in progress,” Ferry said. “His story was made more interesting by the fact that he was diagnosed with type one diabetes in high school. His dream is still to play college basketball, and the book demonstrates the challenges that he faces with being undersized and the other complications and so on.”

Ferry hopes that his book can serve as a way for others who face similar obstacles and challenges to be encouraged. The book portrays his son’s struggles as a college freshman basketball player with home sickness and chronicles Ferry’s own hopes, fears and dreams for his son.

“I think the book will be useful and helpful for people who are like me, parents of children in college, parents of children with diabetes, who ask ourselves questions about how we help our children chase their dreams without pushing too far or trying to re-live our own experiences through them,” Ferry said. “In my honest assessment that has been something I haven’t been very successful at doing.”

Ferry wrote the first draft of his book in about four months.

“I turned 50 this year, and as part of my new year’s resolution I decided I needed to do it now,” Ferry said. “I’ve been journaling for quite some time, and thinking about this for a while so it came together pretty quickly.”

The book offers an overview of Ferry’s college experience in what he calls one of the ‘worst basketball programs in the country.’ It flashes back and forth to his son Andrew’s basketball career which begins at Valparaiso University.

The book is available at Concordia University’s book store, as well as local book stores in the Milwaukee area. It can also be purchased online at www.faithinthefreshman.com or on Amazon.com. All proceeds from the book will go towards Concordia University and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“We really wanted to support the causes that are important to us,” Ferry said.

U.S. Cellular launched its Calling All Communities campaign. The campaign invites communities across the nation to rally around their favorite schools in an attempt to win a combined $1 million. The ten schools across the country with the most votes will each win $100,000 to use in any way they want. During last year’s campaign a school in Wisconsin Rapids was among those selected.

“We are very proud of our school system, but we welcome any program that generates additional community and financial support for our kids and our schools,” said Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle. “I’m confident that the spirit of our communities is strong enough to bring another win home to Wisconsin.”

Between now and Jan. 15, 2010, anyone 18 or older can visit any U.S. Cellular store to receive a code to vote online for their favorite school. Schools of all sizes, public, private, urban and rural, K-12 have a chance to become a Calling All Communities champion.

“Last summer was like Christmas around here with new textbooks, furniture and electrical upgrades,” said Joan Bond, principal of Assumption High School in Wisconsin Rapids. “We also created a scholarship in (U.S. Cellular CEO) Jack Rooney’s name to remind us each year how fortunate we were to win. This award will have lasting impacts on our school.”

Last year’s top 10 schools used their winnings in a variety of ways, including rebuilding a storm-damaged gymnasium, upgrading computer labs, building new playgrounds and creating scholarship programs.

“We’re eager to see the creativity of our local schools as they unite to gather community support,” said Chris Rathsack, U.S. Cellular director of sales for Wisconsin.  “We expect Wisconsin schools to run strong, competitive campaigns.”

This week Chicago-based MillerCoors LLC made two significant donations including a $500,000 gift to fund an expansion of public water education programs through Discovery World's Freshwater Initiative.

The new MillerCoors THIRST Freshwater Innovation Lab will provide a hands-on environment for visitors to meet industry experts, participate in unique classes and engage in educational projects from Discovery World's water curriculum.

The lab will be located on the second floor of Discovery World's Aquatarium Building, and will feature a micro-scale brewery that will allow visitors to experience each step of the beer production process, focusing on water's vital role in brewing.

"We are committed to protecting and conserving the water that is a main ingredient in our great beers," said Mike Jones, vice president of corporate affairs at MillerCoors. "With the THIRST Freshwater Innovation Lab, we hope to help inspire the next generation of water innovators who will continue the legacy of water stewardship in the Milwaukee community for years to come."

The MillerCoors THIRST Freshwater Innovation Lab is currently under construction with plans to open in spring of 2010.

MillerCoors also donated $1.3 million during the annual Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Leadership Institute and 22nd anniversary dinner weekend in New York City. The dinner raised a record $6.2 million. These funds will be used to assist in leadership development, programmatic support, scholarship and capacity-building for the 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) served by the Fund.

"As the founding corporate sponsor, MillerCoors recognizes the importance of supporting the next generation of political leaders, entrepreneurs and CEOs,” said Larry Waters, TMCF board member and MillerCoors director of multicultural relations. “This donation is just an example of our continued and unwavering commitment to encouraging the dreams and aspirations of students."

Alverno College has launched a Research Center for Women and Girls. The center will include research specific to women and girls and was formed to promote positive social change.

“We are excited for the Research Center for Women and Girls at Alverno to become the bridge from the academic world to the community” said Kate Masley, Ph.D., director of the research center. “This is not sit-on-the shelf research. This is the first step to empower both girls and young women.”

The center was formed in response to Alverno’s research collected through the 2007 Status of Girls in Wisconsin Report. The report took a look at the lives of the 360,000 10- to 19-year old girls in the state and included findings in the areas of reproductive health, substance and alcohol abuse, and social support, among others. The center, which is open to the public, will host a comprehensive database for students, educators, elected officials and business professionals. It will also host workshops, lectures and documentaries exploring a wide range of issues.

The center, which included the remodeling of a small chapel and the hiring of the new director, was made possible by a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor.    

Milwaukee-based The Wagner Companies have begun its seasonal manufacturing of the famous “festivus poles” which became popular during a 1997 episode of the show Seinfeld.

According to Jerry Stiller’s character in the show, Frank Costanza, the festivus tradition includes a display of a bare aluminum pole in opposition to the commercialization of the highly decorated Christmas tree.

Wagner first began producing festivus poles in 2005, and have shipped more than 5,000 since first making them available.

“Having grown up in Astoria, Queens and gone to Queens College with Jerry Seinfeld, I was always a big fan of the show,” said Tony Leto, executive vice president of sales and marketing for The Wagner Companies. “In December, 2004, I read an article in the NewYork Times by Allen Salkin that touched on how the fictional festivus was starting to take hold in various parts of the country.”

The specifications noted for the poles were something the company could do and in 2005, the timing seemed right and they went into production, Leto said.

“Milwaukee seemed like the perfect manufacturing location for festivus poles since it is a city that shares the festivus pole’s very high strength-to-weight ratio,” he said. “It has also been a fun project for us since it allows us to step away from the architectural and industrial metal products we would typically produce.”

Festivus poles are now available at the Royal Garden Florist in Rego Park, Queens, but can also be purchased online at www.festivuspoles.com.

Name: Bridgette L. Ridgeway   

Title: President and CEO

Company: TaylorField & Company

Company address: 3900 W. Brown Deer Road, Suite 250 Brown Deer

Company web site: www.TaylorField.us

Industry: Media production, public relations, strategic marketing

Education: UW-Milwaukee; triple major in communications, international studies and political science

Family: Son, Kendall

Hobbies and Interests:  “Co-hosting NBC’s ‘What’s Hot’ segment on Mondays, planning for my new national talk show to launch in 2010, producing two feature length documentaries (one on post-genocide in Rwanda Africa and its affect on women and families), and motivating women and young professionals to conquer their fears and reach their full potential. I also enjoy writing poetry, reading biographies, listening to national public radio, watching documentaries, studying world history and geography and just stepping outside of my comfort zone.”

Favorite book and/or movie: Movie: “Sometimes in April” – a riveting film about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, Africa. Book: “Start Where You Are” by Chris Gardner

Favorite musician/band: Stevie Wonder – Definitive Collection

Favorite place to visit/vacation: JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Favorite local restaurant: Happy Hour: Mccormick and Schmick's Seafood

Words to live by: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths” – Proverbs 3:5-6

What is your core philosophy for doing business? “Show up over prepared and ready to deliver!”

Who is your role model and why? ‘Pearl Brumfield: My mother. Her resilience, love, work ethic, spirit, smile, laughter, wisdom, character and values continue to light my path.”

What was the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?  “I was in Chicago recently to meet with an executive at OprahRadio. I didn’t expect the meeting to last more than 20-30 minutes and I was over-prepared (as usual) to talk about anything. Instead of meeting, she took me on a behind the scenes tour of Harpo Studios– I saw everything from where the Oprah Winfrey Show is taped, the control room (which is incredible) and staff offices to the salon, gym, and back corridors filled with photos of Oprah and celebrity guests. Oprah was taping a show that day so I got to see her as well. The entire experience was an unexpected whirl wind. Thank God I wore comfortable shoes. I was introduced to every staff person we encountered along the way. My ‘meeting’ ended in my new friend’s office about 2 hours later and included a trip to the Oprah Store.’

Pewaukee Chamber adds new executive director

Kathy Eckhardt took her post this week as the Pewaukee Chamber of Commmerce’s new executive director. She has more than 20 years of experience as a business human resource director, and has also worked as a community and recreation director with the village of Hartland. Eckhardt has undergraduate degrees in social welfare and business management and a graduate degree in administrative leadership-adult education.

Associated Banc-Corp names new president and CEO

Associated Banc-Corp., the corporate parent of Green Bay-based Associated Bank, has named Philip B. Flynn its president and CEO, effective Dec. 1. Flynn will also serve as president, CEO and director of Associated Bank, N.A.

Flynn will replace current CEO Paul Beideman, who announced his retirement plans earlier this year. Beideman will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors and as CEO of Associated Banc-Corp until December 1, 2009.

Flynn has been with Union Bank in San Francisco, Calif. Since 1980, and has been its vice chairman and chief operating officer since March, 2005. He has also held positions such as chief credit officer, head of commercial banking, specialized lending and wholesale banking activities during his career with the bank.

“I am excited and honored to be selected as Associated Banc-Corp’s president and chief executive officer,” Flynn said. “I look forward to working with Associated’s board of directors, management team and talented team of colleagues as we continue to serve our customers and provide value to our shareholders.”

Associated Banc-Corp’s board of directors has also elected William R. Hutchinson as its chairman effective Dec. 1. He has served on the board since 1994.

“These two appointments will provide stability and ongoing strength to the leadership of the company,” Beideman said.

Architecture

Eppstein Uhen Architects, Milwaukee, announced that Richard Pierce has joined the firm as a facility planner. He has more than 30 years of experience.

Zimmerman Architectural Studios hired Steve Raasch as director of health care planning expanding the firm’s health care and science and technology design studios. He has 25 years of architectural planning, design and project management experience.

Building & Construction

J. P. Cullen & Sons, Inc., Brookfield, announced that Daniel Cullen has joined its team as a project engineer. He is the fifth generation Cullen to join the business.

Child Care Services

Ebenezer Child Care Centers Inc., Milwaukee has named Audrey Schanning the center coordinator for their south side facility, located at 1496 S. 29th St., Milwaukee. Schanning previously owned her own licensed center for 13 years.

Education

Alan Borsuk has joined Marquette University Law School as a senior fellow in law and public policy. Borsuk will investigate and report on regional, national and international matters that have become the focus of Law School efforts in teaching, research, conferences, lectures and public service activities.

Milwaukee-based Mount Mary College added three new members to its board of trustees. They are: Eileen Wirtz Bloechl, Mary Staudenmaier and Norman Barrientos, president of Milwaukee-based Barientos Design & Consulting, Inc.