A group of Russian women have spent the entire week in the Milwaukee area learning about women in business and women in the U.S. culture. The group was part of the U.S. Library of Congress Open World program.

“In Russia, participants in the program are allowed to nominate another delegate in the same field,” said Yuliya Aleksandrovna Kudryashova, a facilitator who traveled with the group of women. “The program will call the candidate and offer them the chance to participate in the program. After a review of all the applications, delegates are chosen based on extensive professional experience in the field, a very deep social involvement, charity work and nonprofit work, as well as leadership potential. Candidates are expected to have goals and inspirations in mind for their future.”

The theme for this particular Open World trip was Women In Leadership in non-government organizations.

The 10 women traveled with two Russian facilitators and were assisted by both a national and local interpreter throughout their trip. Open World partnered with the local chapter of the Friendship Force Club, which houses the delegates for their stay.

“The program used to put the delegates from other countries up in a hotel,” Bob Blazich, Frienship Force coordinator said. “Now with the help of a few other organizations, we can provide home hosting for them, which adds much more to the experience.”

According to Blazich, the women are here to work and learn more about the “American way.”

“They have a pretty busy schedule while they are here and will be traveling and visiting many places to get the full experience,” he said.

The group’s itinerary has them visiting with the Greater Milwaukee Committee, the Milwaukee Rotary Club, the Women’s Center in Waukesha, MCFI, Tempo International and the YWCA. Along the way, they’ll meet some of Wisconsin’s most dynamic women, including Maria Monreal Cameron, Barbara Lawton, Carla Rutley, Julia Taylor and Christy Garcia Thomas of UPAF.

The delegates consisted of women in financial service careers, marketing, public relations, nonprofit organizations and media. They will return home on Sunday, Dec. 13.

Pictured: Delegates from Russia and members of Tempo International held a panel discussion regarding women in leadership roles in the United States and Russia earlier this week.

Milwaukee-based Ascedia LLC recently launched a new company dedicated to the growing trend of mobile marketing, messaging and development. Staff at Roll Mobile, specialize in mobile website and smart phone application development, and mobile advertising and marketing strategies.

“One of the things we had been focusing on at Ascedia was our mobile development unit. As things grew it became clear that the mobile market was something that we needed to focus on and so we decided to break off and form a whole new company strictly dedicated to mobile marketing and its products,” said Sara Santiago, president of Roll Mobile, and former director of mobile development at Ascedia.

According to Santiago, the company is able to assist a company in entering the mobile realm at any level.

“I’ve been traveling around talking to different trade groups and shows in the Midwest area, and the desire to learn more about mobile marketing is definitely there,” she said.

Roll Mobile specializes in developing and expanding traditional marketing and advertising pieces into the mobile realm, development of smart phone applications, mobile marketing strategy and mobile website development.

“Its just a better way to focus on what we can do,” Santiago said.

They hired two additional employees, and the rest were pulled from Ascedia’s mobile marketing department. The company has the capability of developing applications for iPhone, blackberry, palm pre and android platforms.

“We have clients nationwide right now and just recently signed an international client,” Santiago said. “It’s an exciting market to be involved in right now everything is changing so fast and more and more companies are building mobile channels into their marketing budgets.”

Milwaukee-based Lakefront Brewery Inc. recently won two silver medals at the 2009 European Beer Star Awards. The brewery's Octoberfest beer won in the category of Bavarian Style Marzen and its Klisch Pilsner won in the category of Pilsner Bohemian style. Lakefront was the only Wisconsin brewery to receive medals.

"I am honored to receive these awards," said Lakefront Brewery president Russ Klisch. "To win against some of the best European brewers in the world, in their own backyard is quite an accomplishment. I think it says a lot about the quality of our beers."

Thirty-five countries participated in this year's awards bringing 836 beers to compete in 41 categories. The annual European Beer Star Awards is aimed at breweries all over the world that remain true to traditional, European brewing methods. The awards honor special, authentic beers that distinguish themselves in taste and quality.

The Rummage-A-Rama! Christmas Edition takes place Saturday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wisconsin Products Pavilion at State Fair Park.

"We're excited about having an event before the holiday season because it's perfect timing for gift shopping," said promoter Tim Gill. "Rummage-A-Rama! isn't just rummage. It's new and used, antiques and collectibles, closeouts and overstock. This is a great place to find unique gift items priced to sell."

In celebration of the Christmas Season, Rummage-A-Rama! will also be accepting new, unwrapped gift donations for kids at the Penfield Children's Center.

The Rummage-A-Rama! Christmas Edition will also have seasonal clothing and accessories and plenty of holiday decorations for sale, including Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments.

"Holiday shopping doesn't need to be stressful sale-chasing," Gill says. "Rummage-A-Rama! allows bargain-hunters to escape the malls and enjoy a relaxed,unique shopping environment."

Admission is $2 with a donation of two non-perishable food items for Hunger Task Force. Kids 12 and under are free. Adult admission without a food donation costs $4. Preferred parking is available within the park for a $5 fee, as regulated by Imperial Parking, by entering Gate 5 off 84th Street under the Ag Village Entrance.

According to a survey recently released by Kenosha-based Jockey International Inc., millions of Americans should add underwear to their holiday wish list. According to the survey 43 percent of American’s report that they need an “underwear overhaul” and 21 percent think their significant other needs one.

A previous Jockey survey indicated that more than a quarter of American’s own underwear five or more years old, and 79 percent have underwear that is tattered, discolored or stained.

The Jockey Holiday Survey was conducted by Kelton Research between October 13th and October 20th, 2009 using an email invitation and an online survey. 

Name: Dave Devereaux

Title: Co-owner

Company: Express Medical Transporters (EMT USA)

Company address: 9675 S. 54th St., Ste. 300, Franklin, WI 53132

Company web site: www.rideemt.com

Industry: Professional, non-emergency transportation services

Education: Cornell University, bachelor’s degree in hotel administration, 1984; Temple University, master’s in business administration, 1986.

Family: Three daughters, ages 20, 18 and 14; one beautiful girlfriend and one not so beautiful bulldog named Rocky.

Hobbies and interests: Sports, especially baseball, college football and college basketball; being outdoors, whether it’s at a ballpark or working in the yard; enjoying trips to see my favorite teams play.

Favorite book and/or movie: Favorite movies include “Goodfellas” and “The Godfather.” I enjoy books about politics and 20th century American history, biographies of the famous, infamous and notorious.

Favorite musician/band: I’m a fan of Cher, Elton John, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.  Still love the headbanger music from my college days, and I keep the satellite radio tuned to the 70’s station.

Favorite place to visit/vacation: Wherever my girlfriend and I can go to see close friends or our favorite teams play; also enjoy going back home to Scranton, Pa., to visit.

Favorite local restaurant: After many years of business travel, I am a fan of the home-cooked meal.

Words to live by: Practice active listening and the two-sentence rule.

Who is your role model and why? My mom is my role model.  She raised me and my brothers with strong guidance and unconditional love, she encouraged me to get the best education possible and she inspired me to work in healthcare.

What was the funniest thing that has ever happened to you? Once while traveling for business, I accidentally locked myself out of my hotel room in my boxers when I awoke in the middle of the night to use the rest room and made a wrong turn.  When I went to the front desk to ask the clerk for a key, he refused to give it to me unless I showed him my i.d. About the same time, the women’s basketball team from a visiting university entered the hotel lobby. It was embarrassing then and pretty funny today!

Narrai Named chief operating officer of Scheibel Halaska

Scheibel Halaska has promoted Andy Narrai to chief operating officer.

“Andy is an experienced marketing veteran and a proven leader at Scheibel Halaska,” said Mary Scheibel, principal of Scheibel Halaska. “He has helped lead our business initiatives with great success and is well-equipped to step into this role. This change will allow our firm to continue achieving its goal of perfecting the client experience.”

Narrai will oversee all operational activities, including business development, public relations, client services and creative. Additionally he will be responsible for enhancing practices and procedures; staff development; and integrating new media and emerging marketing initiatives into client programs.

Since joining the firm in 2005, Narrai has held the positions of vice president of client service, director of client services and account manager. He previously held leadership positions elsewhere including advertising director and account services director.

“I am honored to assume this new role,” Narrai said. “I look forward to building upon Scheibel Halaska’s unique blend of business acumen and marketing communications skill as we craft new offers for our clients.”

He is a national officer with the American Advertising Federation, where he serves on its Board of Directors as treasurer.

Clarke is new chairwoman of Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors

The Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors (GMAR) has installed Julie Clarke of Realty Executives Integrity as chairwoman of the 4,000-member real estate organization.

Clarke took the oath of office at the GMAR’s annual Chairwoman’s Holiday Party, held at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Wauwatosa.

Clarke was elected to the GMAR Board in 2006, and served as the association’s treasurer in 2008 and chair-elect in 2009. She has been a Realtor since 1997 and has been recognized as a top sales agent each year in her career.

Other members of the GMAR’s leadership team include: Steven Wiedenfeld of RE/MAX Integrity, the GMAR’s chair-elect; Robert Herget of Century 21 Herget & Plavsic, treasurer; Barb McGill, First Weber Group, corporate secretary; and Kathy Domagalski, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, past chairwoman.

Also honored that evening was Beth Savas from the Stefaniak Group as the GMAR’s Realtor of the Year. Other award recipients included: Jean Land, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, the GMAR’s Dedicated Service Award; Diane Dahlke, Two Men and a Truck, Affiliate Member of the Year; and Jeff Benson, RE/MAX Realty 100, the GMAR’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Advertising & Public Relations

Scheibel Halaska, Milwaukee, promoted Vince Halaska to account/interactive marketing manager. Halaska has been with the firm since 2003 and most recently held the role of account executive.

Architecture

Engberg Anderson, Inc., Milwaukee, announced that Bill Robison has been named partner at the firm. Robison has been with the firm for over 19 years, and has managed a wide variety of projects including public libraries, corporate spaces, retail, community buildings, hospice and religious environments.

Distribution

Lakeland Supply Inc.,Waukesha, has added Melissa Thomas as an account executive. Thomas will help develop a growth strategy and provide consultative packaging solutions for new accounts in southeastern Wisconsin.

Engineering

Scott Odya, P.E. has joined Key Engineering Group, Ltd., Milwaukee, as a project engineer. He has been involved in civil site design and transportation projects over a span of eight years. He has experienced in designing commercial sites, industrial sites, storm water management reports, cost estimates and project specifications. 

Government Organizations

The City of New Berlin is proud to announce that city clerk, Marilyn Gauger, has received the designation of Wisconsin Certified Professional Clerk (WCPC) from the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association. This is the highest professional designated achievement for a municipal clerk.  In addition, Sherri Hanson, elections/license technician has received the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) awarded by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, Inc

Check out the week ahead surrounding Milwaukee's performing arts and music scene by visiting Third Coast Digest, a media partner of BizTimes Milwaukee.