Krista McMasters will become the first female chief executive officer of a major certified public accounting firm when she takes the helm at Clifton Gunderson LLP. Learn about McMasters' ascension to the top and the company's plans to move its headquarters to Milwaukee in the cover story of the print edition of this week's Small Business Times. This week's SBT also includes profiles of the winners of the Bravo! Entrepreneur and IQ (Innovation Quotient) Awards.

Halpin Personnel Inc., a family-owned staffing firm that specializes in light industrial placements in Racine and Kenosha, and central Illinois, has expanded its radius to include a Milwaukee branch.
The Milwaukee Halpin office recently opened at 11046 West Bluemound Road and does business as Resources Staffing.
Mike Halpin, president and owner of Halpin Personnel, said the Milwaukee office is led by Vince Manzara, who has been in the industry for 10 years.
Like Halpin's other locations, Resources Staffing specializes in light industrial placements but also has a prominent direct hire division to place skilled and high-end candidates.
For additional information, visit www.halpinpersonnel.com.

Julie Stav, prominent Latina financial expert, New York Times best-selling author and radio and television host, will deliver the keynote address at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Wisconsin's 20th Salute to Hispanic Women Conference & Luncheon.
The event will take place Saturday, May 10, at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, 509 West Wisconsin Ave. The conference will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the luncheon at noon.
"We are thrilled to host Julie Stav's visit to Milwaukee," said Maria Monreal-Cameron, HCCW president and chief executive officer. "Her compelling message of personal financial independence is a perfect fit for this year's conference theme of building wealth."
Stav is the host of "Tu Dinero con Julie Stav," a national radio show." She will host her radio show at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 9, from the HCCW offices in Milwaukee.
The morning conference will provide a supportive setting for women to interact with peers, hear presentations designed to stimulate candid discussion and offer access to resources.
The noon luncheon will celebrate accomplished Hispanic women who have risen above barriers; triumphed over struggles and obstacles; and who eagerly share their life experiences with other Latinas.
Tickets for the conference and luncheon may be purchased for $50 per person. Tickets for the conference only or the luncheon only are $30 per person. For additional information and reservations, call (414) 643-6963 or visit www.hccw.org.

Citizens Community Bancorp Inc. the Eau Claire-based holding company for Citizens Community Federal, announced today its intention to repurchase up to 10 percent of its outstanding stock shares in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.
The shares will be purchased periodically time over a 12-month period, depending upon market conditions.
James Cooley, president and chief executive officer of the company, said the board of directors approved the repurchase program in view of the current price level of the company's common stock and the strong capital position of Citizens Community Federal.
"We believe that the repurchase of our shares represents an attractive investment opportunity which will benefit the company and our shareholders," Cooley said.
As of March 31, the company had consolidated total assets of $425.7 million and stockholders' equity of $75.3 million. The Company's stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Stock Market under the symbol "CZWI."

In the wake of General Motors Corp.'s recent announcement that it will lay off 756 workers at its Janesville plant, GM supplier Logistics Services says it will lay off 132 workers at its Janesville plant. In addition, Sitel Corp. announced plans to lay off 105 workers from its telemarketing center in Madison. Read more in SBT's daily roundup of headlines from newspapers across the state at www.biztimes.com/#news.

The United Way of Greater Milwaukee needs the support of the region's small businesses, according to David Lubar, co-chair of the agency's 2008 Community Campaign. Read more in today's Milwaukee Biz Blog.

The Wisconsin Commercial Real Estate Women (WCREW) recently hosted an overview of the downtown real estate market at NAI MLG Commercial's downtown Milwaukee office. View a photographic slideshow of the event in the latest edition of SBT Around Town.

The BizTimes Stock Index recovered 1.58 points to close at 164.26 Friday, but local stocks kicked off the new week on a down beat in early morning trading today, with decliners outnumbering advancers. The largest local decliners this morning were Kohl's Corp. ((down $1.27 to $48.84), Weyco Group Inc. (down $1.20 to $27.34) and Rockwell International Inc. (down $1.06 to $55.75). The largest local advancers this morning were Bucyrus International Inc. (up $3.88 to $133.99) and Joy Global Inc. (up $1.26 to $78.23). The BizTimes Stock Index was created by Small Business Times and is monitored by North Shore Bank. The index, which measures the stock values of publicly held companies based in southeastern Wisconsin, is updated daily and can be viewed at www.biztimes.com.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and three Milwaukee aldermen today sent a letter to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, urging the agency to downsize the Interstate 94 widening project and divert some of the funds instead for mass transit in the region.
Barrett and aldermen Willie Hines, Michael Murphy and Robert Bauman sent the letter in response to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) compiled by the Federal Highway Administration and the DOT for the I-94 north/south corridor reconstruction and expansion project.
"The I-94 reconstruction and expansion project is a $1.9 billion effort - the largest in the history of the State of Wisconsin. Given the enormous price tag, the skyrocketing costs of gas and energy and the tremendous opportunity that this project presents to advance many modes of transportation, we must reiterate our continued disappointment that the (plans) for the I-95 north/south corridor study have not incorporated mass transit into the mix of alternatives," the letter stated.
Between 1992 and 2007, the state spent $19.2 billion on highways, compared with $2.2 billion on rail and mass transit, Barrett said.
In 1999, the City of Milwaukee received $27.8 million in state dollars for roads and streets. In 2008, the city is receiving $26.32 million. When adjusted for inflation, the city is receiving 32-percent less from the state for roads and streets over the past 10 years, according to Barrett.
In that same period, the city's expenditures to cover the shortfall have climbed more than 31 percent to $5.5 million, Barrett said.
"These are the critical dollars that repair our streets and fix potholes that wreak havoc on our cars, buses and trucks," the letter stated.
The letter said the DOT estimates that $200 million of the I-94 plan would go to widen the freeway from the Mitchell Interchange south to the state line from six to eight lanes.
"In light of the serious questions raised about the need for freeway expansion, this money could be better spent implementing a balanced transit strategy that includes mass transit alternatives and increased local road aids," the letter stated.