GE Healthcare recently unveiled its "Wide Bore" MRI machine. Typical MRI machines have a 60-centimeter opening for the patients. Widening that opening used to result in poorer image quality and made accurate diagnosis more difficult, said Jim Davis, general manager of magnetic resonance at GE Healthcare.

The new Optima MR450w, developed at GE Healthcare's Waukesha headquarters, has a 70-centimeter opening, which makes receiving an MRI more comfortable for claustrophobic and obese patients in southeastern Wisconsin without sacrificing the image quality or accuracy of the diagnosis.

"GE has overcome all of the limitations that I've seen with 70-centimeter MR," said Dr. A. Joseph Borelli Jr., president and medical director at Belfair Medical Clinic in Bluffton, S.C.  "Radiologists, administrators and technologists continue to demand uncompromised image quality, and the Optima MR450w is uniquely positioned to offer just that."

The new system allows for superb image quality and a 50-centimeter field of view, which allows for physicians to get more anatomy scanned in fewer takes.

Former Green Bay Packer LeRoy Butler recognizes the benefits of the wider MRI opening.

"Throughout my career, I had to drive several hours for access to a wide bore MRI due to my severe claustrophobia. This new system from GE Healthcare brings comfort to patients like me who have a fear of being closed in. And I don't have to worry about the image quality," Butler said.

According to 2007 statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 62 percent of Wisconsin adults are overweight or obese.

"As obesity reaches epidemic proportions worldwide, it is important that this patient population has the same access to high-quality MRI as patients with normal weight, so that clinicians can detect, monitor and treat obesity-related diseases," Davis said.

BizTimes Milwaukee reporter Alysha Schertz interviewed Davis as GE Healthcare unveiled the new machine, which went to market this week. To view a webcast of that interview, click on the video below.

AECOM, the company responsible for the storm water treatment project on Milwaukee's Bradford Beach, has received the 2009 Environmental Public Works Project of the year award from the American Public Works Association for the project.

"We are honored our project has been recognized by APWA," said Bernie Michaud, AECOM senior water resources engineer. "It is gratifying to contribute to the revitalization of a regional resource such as Bradford Beach Park that serves a large and diverse community."

AECOM's award-winning environmental project helped to revive Milwaukee County's Bradford Beach Park which had been experiencing declining public use, high bacterial counts and numerous closures at its location along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

The Milwaukee-based Hoffman York public relations agency announced the establishment of HY-brid, a division within the company dedicated to helping clients deliver green products and initiatives.

"A slumping economy doesn't mean that green efforts will be cut from company budgets," said Sharon Boeldt, president of Hoffman York PR. "Reducing energy use through efficiency as well as marketing and positioning sustainable products and processes is a trend that's here to stay. Eventually, all of corporate America will be required to respond to the marketplace how they are responsible citizens in the green space."

According to the 2009 state of green business report from Greenbiz.com, in a survey of more than 100 companies, nearly 47 percent said they were increasing their investments in green product development in 2009; less than 6 percent said they'd be investing less than they did a year ago.

Wisconsin's Focus on Energy Program and MASCO's Merillat Cabinetry are two of the division's clients.

Name:Christina Steder

Title: President

Company: Clear Verve Marketing LLC

Company address: 13309 Watertown Plank Road, Elm Grove, WI  53122

Company web site: www.clearverve.com

Industry: Marketing

Education: B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Stout

Family: "Husband, Paul, and three girls: Paige, Cameryn and Piper, plus a dog we just got from the Wisconsin Humane Society, Charlie."

Hobbies and Interests: "Biking, dancing, cooking (but not cleaning up), family camping trips"

Favorite book and/or movie: "Business book: Made to Stick, For fun: anything by David Baldacci."

Favorite place to visit/vacation: Peninsula State Park in Door County.

Favorite local restaurant: Zarletti

Words to live by: "Never, never, never give up." (Winston Churchill)

What is your core philosophy for doing business? "Be humble and don't be afraid to ask questions. I think a client would rather have us ask a question and then come up with a great solution based upon good information than pretend we understand something and provide a substandard recommendation."

Who is your role model and why? "Personally, my parents they are two people who have shown me the value of hard work, teamwork, and doing what is right. Professionally, I am completely inspired by Anne Zizzo and Erica Conway and what they have built."

What was the funniest thing that has ever happened to you? "One of my former jobs involved travel to France. On my first trip, I barely spoke French and had to go work in the corporate office for a week. I decided I'd be a smart, independent woman and take the metro to work instead of a cab. (This also meant I didn't have to try to talk to the cab driver.) When I got off the metro, I turned the wrong way and got totally lost. I wandered around Paris for nearly an hour before I found the office building I was looking for. They were ready to start driving around to find me, and I was really mad at myself. The good news is, I never get scared when I have to go somewhere new. You can't be lost forever!"

Kohl's announces new chairman

Menomonee Falls-based Kohl's Corp.'s announced that Kevin Mansell, 57, has been named chairman of the board. Mansell, is a 27-year veteran of the organization, and will also continue to serve as president and chief executive officer. The move is part of Kohl's ongoing executive succession planning process.

With Kevin Mansell's appointment, Larry Montgomery, 60, will retire from his position as chairman of the board. Montgomery will continue with the company and serve on the board until Jan. 30, 2010, and has agreed to provide additional transition assistance following retirement.

"Larry has been an exceptional leader and our associates, customers, suppliers and shareholders have benefited under his tenure," Mansell said. "Throughout his career at Kohl's, he has demonstrated an unsurpassed commitment to our company and its mission. As a result, he succeeded in establishing a foundation that has allowed for significant growth during a steady economy and financial strength during challenging times."

“Kevin is a proven executive as he assumes the role of chairman,” said Montgomery. "His strategic vision and continued demonstrated ability to successfully lead, especially in today's increasingly challenging and competitive marketplace, positions Kohl's for long term success. Kevin, in hand with our seasoned leadership team and associate base of over 120,000 strong, will lead Kohl's into the next decade as an even stronger, more powerful company with incredible growth opportunity "

Coventry is new president of Dresser Waukesha

Dresser Inc. named Bruce Coventry president of the company's engine business, Dresser Waukesha.

Based in Waukesha, Dresser Waukesha is a manufacturer of natural gas engines in power generation, gas compression and other mechanical drive applications. Dresser Waukesha also packages engine-generator sets and DC switchgear controls for the distributed generation market.

Coventry, a senior executive and veteran of the global engine industry, succeeds Barry Glickman, who has been appointed president of Dresser's Flow Technologies business.

"We are excited to have Bruce join the Dresser leadership team," said John Ryan, president and chief executive officer of Addison, Texas-based Dresser Inc. "Bruce's deep experience in the engine business as well as his strong engineering and world class manufacturing leadership background is an outstanding match for Dresser Waukesha. He will help us expand on the business we are doing around the world in new and existing markets."

Coventry most recently served as chief executive officer of Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), a subsidiary of Chrysler LLC. He previously was president of Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA), a joint venture of DaimlerChrysler, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi Motors.

ZBB Energy appoints Abdoo and Koeppe to board

Milwaukee-based ZBB Energy Corp. announced the appointments of Richard Abdoo, former chairman and chief executive officer of Wisconsin Energy Corp., and Paul Koeppe, former CEO and founder of Superconductivity Inc., to serve as independent directors on the company's board of directors.

Abdoo is president of R.A. Abdoo & Co. LLC, an environmental and energy consulting firm. Prior to his own business, he was chairman and chief executive officer of Wisconsin Energy Corp. from 1991 until his retirement in 2004.

Koeppe was president, CEO and founder of Superconductivity Inc., a manufacturer of superconducting magnetic energy storage systems from 1988 to 1997 when it was acquired by American Superconductor, an electricity solutions company. He then served as executive vice president of strategic planning for American Superconductor until his retirement in 2001.

ZBB chairman Bill Mundell said, "The appointments of both Dick and Paul are a significant step in the continued build up of ZBB's capabilities. Both gentlemen bring a wide range of skills and experiences that are exactly applicable to our core energy storage business. Dick's long and distinguished career leading one of the Midwest's largest public utilities will be invaluable to our team. Paul has a proven track record in founding, managing and successfully transacting several energy technology companies and his knowledge of the market place for our own systems will be of particular significance."

Consulting

The Milwaukee office of GRAEF recently announced that Gary Bazan joined the firm as an on-call construction inspector with its Milwaukee Construction Services Group. Scott Luckiesh, P.E., S.E. also joined the company as a structural engineer and business development professional.  

Education

Cathy Ritterbusch, associate professor and chair of Milwaukee-based Mount Mary College's Justice Department, was recently named president of the Association of Women Lawyers (AWL). As president, Ritterbusch will oversee AWL's 35th Anniversary and will concentrate on enhancing mentoring programs for women lawyers as well as identifying opportunities for AWL to assist women lawyers in achieving positions of leadership in their profession.

Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, recently announced that Jennifer Hanon will be the new coordinator of international admissions. Hanon has five years of successful international recruitment experience.

Government Organizations

The City of Milwaukee's department of public works recently appointed Preston Cole as the operations division director. Cole most recently served as environmental services superintendent in DPW's Operations Division.

Health Care

Terry Flanigan, a nurse practitioner, recently joined Advanced Pain Management (APM). Flanigan will play a unique role at APM, providing services as an in-patient care practitioner at St. Luke's South Shore and St. Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee. APM is a group of physicians dedicated to diagnosing and treating painful conditions using the most advanced, minimally invasive treatment options available to enable patients to restore their quality of life.