Two local companies recently appeared in a new book entitled “Made Here, Baby!,” by author Bruce Wolk. The book features the best American-made products for kids from babies to preteens and serves as a resource for new parents.

Chickory Wood Products in Mequon, which makes wooden toys for children, and Serendipity Puzzle Company in Waukesha, which makes puzzles using 100 percent recycled fibers, water-based inks and coatings, were both listed in the book.

“We make about 80 to 85 different hand made wooden toys for children,” said John Kranitz, owner of Chickory Wood Products. “It started out as a hobby, but has gotten more and more popular as people find out about them.”

Kranitz produces high quality wooden trains, cars, planes, boats and other wooden toys out of different types of wood including cherry, black walnut, maple, oak, and hickory. 

The colors are created with different types of wood, but all of the toys are completely finished and varnished.

“To be mentioned in a book like this is really good publicity for us,” Kranitz said. “It’s a very popular product once people are able to see what we’re all about.”

After an intensive research and interviewing process, Wolk compiled the guide to more than 400 small, medium and large American manufacturers of products including toys, games, puzzles, diaper bags, carriers, car seats, baby products, clothing, shoes, bedding, furniture and sporting goods. 

Throughout the book, Wolk highlights the unique profile of each of these American companies and also provides a index of women-owned businesses, companies committed to green or organic manufacturing and companies which have been in business for over a century. 

 “Keeping your kids happy and healthy is a major priority, so it’s reassuring to know that it is possible to find safe, high quality American-made products that in many cases also offer a money-back guarantee,” Wolk said. “Consumers will also be pleasantly surprised that many of the quality products made by these companies are very price competitive.”

“Made Here, Baby!” retails for $17.95 and is available through www.madeherebaby.com and at most major online retail sites such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and Borders. The book makes a nice gift for baby showers or can be used as a reference by anyone looking for safe, American-made products for children from newborns through teenagers, Wolk said.

Wauwatosa-based Il Mito restaurant owner Chef Michael Feker recently announced his partnership with Weisflogs Design Center in Pewaukee. 

“I am very excited about the partnership with Weisflogs Design Center,” said Feker. “They put the kind of attention to detail into their designs that I put into culinary arts. We both work with passion as our motivator. With Weisflogs I will be pursuing the other passion that feeds my soul, which is interior design and kitchen design. When patrons see the passion I’ve poured into designing the space at both the restaurant and cooking school, they will understand that I live and breathe this passion that I can share with them.”

“Our partnership with Chef Feker introduces a unique opportunity for people to work with both a culinary leader and a building expert to create beautiful kitchens,” said Steve Sobieski, president of Weisflogs Design Center. “Together, we are dedicated to helping homeowners find the perfect balance of design, function and affordability. Anyone who watches Chef Feker in the kitchen knows how captivating his passion for food and life is, and we are eager to blend this with our enthusiasm for building homes of distinction.”

Recently, BizTimes reporter Alysha Schertz sat down with Chef Feker at the Chef Michael Feker School of Culinary Magic, which was also a partnership design between Weisflogs and Feker that was completed in 2008, and is connected to Il Mito. 

Click on the image to see that interview.

Just after the completion of their 2008-09 season, The Milwaukee Bucks announced they will team up with New Berlin-based Cascio Interstate Music, and students from UW- Milwaukee to create, and auction off a one-of-a kind custom Archer Guitar autographed by the Milwaukee Bucks players.

The guitar is up for auction on www.auctions.nba.com and www.bucks.com. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the MACC Fund (Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer).

The UW-Milwaukee business students' assignment is to market a cause while also planning a fundraising project to help that cause. The UWM students

hope to raise awareness on campus and the surrounding community about the importance of pediatric cancer and blood disorder research.

Joshua Kaiser, founder of Rishi Tea Company in Milwaukee, and Sean O’Leary, art director and tea buyer for the company, recently left on a trip to Yunnan, China. The birthplace of tea.

The two are making their annual spring visit to the Fair Trade ancient tea tree villages of Mannong and Manmai.

In 2007 Rishi Tea partnered with the Mannong Manmai Tea Association to initiate the Mannong Manmai Ancient Tree Tea Organic Fair Trade Project. The tea region was planted about 1,500 years ago, one of the oldest tea cultivation areas in China. The tea trees of Mannong produce pu-erh, Dian Hong, green and white teas.

Rishi teas from the Mannong Project include: Ancient Emerald Lily, Ancient Moonlight White, Snow Sprout (Bai Ya), Yunnan black tea (Dian Hong), Sheng Pu-erh Tuo Cha, Shu Pu-erh, Wild Berry Black, Earl Grey, Vanilla Black, Lemongrass Black, Classic Iced Tea, Summer Lemon Iced, Rishi’s blended Chai, and several other blends that contain black teas originating from the Mannong Project.

Read more/see more on the Rishi Tea blog or follow their live updates on Twitter @seanofdesign.

Nominations for the annual Frank P. Zeidler Public Service Award are now being accepted. The award is presented each year to the city of Milwaukee resident whose work best exemplifies the values and vision of the former Milwaukee mayor. Zeidler spent his life as a public servant, as a civic activist, local historian and socialist party leader. He was an advocate for social justice and equal opportunity, and viewed government as the public enterprise whose goal was the greatest public good.

Up to two individuals can receive the award and nominations can be made through June. For nomination information contact Linda Elmer at the City Clerk’s Office, at lelmer@milwaukee.gov or  414-286-2232. 

Name:  Robert M. Dakovich

Company:  Faith Technologies

Title:   Vice president of the Milwaukee division

Company address:  3720 N. 124th Street, Suite P, Wauwatosa, WI 53222

Company web site:  www.faithtechnologies.com

Industry:  Electrical subcontractor

Education:  B.S. Construction Engineering, Iowa State University

Family:  “My wife, Shannon, and two sons age 7 and 12.”

Hobbies and Interests:  "Hunting and outdoors."  

Favorite musician/band:  Country (genre)

Favorite local restaurant:  Water Street Brewery

Words to live by:  “Do what it takes.”

What is your core philosophy for doing business? “Integrity.”

Who is your role model and why?  “My father. He is hard working, of the highest integrity and a gentleman.”  

Bubbler Executive Appointments
Mussoline takes helm at 88Nine RadioMilwaukee

Mary Louise Mussoline, the former senior director of development at the Milwaukee Art Museum, has been named executive director of non-commercial 88Nine RadioMilwaukee (FM 88.9 WYMS). Mussoline's selection followed a multiple-month search and extensive interviewing process for the open position, said Eric Resch, board chair of Radio For Milwaukee, which operates the station.

"Mary Louise brings a wealth of experience in management and fund development," Resch said. "Her strong background, talent and working relationships within Milwaukee’s non-profit and business communities will help RadioMilwaukee realize its vision for creating a better city through the power of music and our collective voice."

Resch said Mussoline will work closely with her senior management team, including station manager Vicki Mann and program and content director Sam Van Hallgren, to increase the station's impact within the area and grow community support.

"In a short time, RadioMilwaukee has established itself as a powerful force to bring people together in celebration of music, local arts and community building," Mussoline said. "By tapping into more of the Milwaukee area’s many resources, I hope to help build an even stronger foundation for our future growth and success."

West Bend Mutual Insurance names Steiner as new CEO

As expected, West Bend Mutual Insurance Company made it official recently by announcing the promotion of Kevin Steiner to president and chief executive officer, succeeding Tony Warren, who retired as CEO April 1.

Steiner joined West Bend Mutual in 1994 as group underwriting manager and was later named corporate sales manager. In 1996, he was promoted to assistant vice president of sales, and in 2002 to senior vice president of marketing. He was named executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2007.

Before joining West Bend Mutual, Steiner spent 10 years with Citizens Insurance Company in Michigan. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and received his master's degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

The board of directors of West Bend Mutual elected Warren as the new chairman of the board. Warren, succeeds John "Rocky" Dedrick, who retired in March.

InvestorsBank names Hensley CEO

Richard Hensley has been named chief executive officer of Waukesha-based InvestorsBank. Hensley will officially start work at InvestorsBank on Wednesday. Hensley served previously as Wisconsin president of Citizens Bank.

Timothy Schadeberg, who was named president of the bank in May of 2008, will continue in that role.

The bank’s approach to banking with privately held businesses and their owners appealed to Hensley, he said, because of its desire to bank the entire client.

“We’re looking for entrepreneurs who are committed to growing their business, who wants someone to be their trusted advisor,” Hensley said. “We’re trying to collectively create a group that is all committed to that idea.”

InvestorsBank was founded in 1997 by George Schonath. Schonath passed away late last year. His family continues to own the bank and his daughters are acting as co-chairs of its board.

The bank has historically been selective about its clients, Schadeberg said, and Hensley will continue that focus.

“Dick will be adding a strategic focus,” Schadeberg said. “We’re looking for long-term relationships.”

As the banking industry recovers from the economic downturn, community-based financial institutions will be poised for significant growth, Hensley said.

“You can walk in and talk to your banker, the president and maybe even the owner,” he said. “You can get an almost immediate decision on a transaction. And we can do just about anything that anyone needs – we may not have the product in our arsenal, but we can act as a quarterback (with other financial providers) so we can provide everything you need.”

In December, InvestorsBank hired its own treasury manager, Schadeberg said. Between the new manager, its existing private bankers and other employees, the bank now effectively has its own private banking department. In the next several months, the bank will begin branding, marketing and packaging products for its private banking offering, Hensley said.

“The fundamentals are all in place. The business products will not change, but how we do it will,” he said.

Insurance

Shawn Young was recently promoted to the position of partner with the New York Life Insurance Co. office in Milwaukee.

Mark Pohlman recently joined the Starr Group, Greenfield, as a commercial account executive, he has 21 years of insurance experience and served the last nine as an underwriter in the technology division of an insurance company. 

Dennis O’Brien recently joined National Benefit Consultants, Inc., Milwaukee, as the insurance consultant specializing in agency relations.

Legal Services

The Milwaukee law firm of O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong S.C., recently added Grant Killoran to the firm. He has significant litigation experience representing clients in Wisconsin and nationwide.

Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., Milwaukee, recently announced that shareholder Donsia Strong Hill has been inducted into the first class of the College of Applied Science and Technology Hall of Fame at Illinois State University. 

Professional Organizations

Milwaukee-based American Society for Quality recently appointed Robert Chalker to the position of global managing director. Robert Watters has also been promoted to ASQ Learning Institute director, effective May 1. 

David Flack, senior GIS analyst in the Technology Services Department of Ruekert/Mielke, Waukesha, was recently appointed co-chair of the Wisconsin Land Information Association Technical Issues and Information Policy Committee.

Professional Services

Southgate Leasing Corp., Milwaukee, recently announced the appointment of Kevin Miota to the position of president and chief operating officer. He has more than 20 years of experience with the company, where he previously served as vice president of sales. 

Bill Isaac has been named director of U.S. Cellular’s Waukesha Customer Care Center. He has been at U.S. Cellular for more than 9 years, serving most recently as the director of the Customer Care Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Joe Wilde Company, Inc., New Berlin, recently announced that Gordon Welk was elected to serve as president of the newly formed Southeastern Wisconsin chapter of the Central States Door Dealer Association.

Five best selling business books courtesy of 800 CEO Read:

1. “Life Worth Living,” by Robert Martensen

2. “Jump Start Your Business Brain,” by Doug Hall

3. “Peak,” by Chip Conley

4. “Black Swan,” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

5. “High Altitude Leadership,” by Chris Warner, Don Schmincke

Courtesy of 800 CEO Read

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