Much has been said about employee wellness programs. However, as health care costs continue to climb, how does a southeastern Wisconsin company go about launching a wellness program? What are the best practices? What are the pitfalls to avoid? The answers to those questions can be found in the cover story of the new print edition of Small Business Times. Other highlights of this week's SBT include stories about Curt Gielow's plans to jumpstart Concordia University's new Pharmacy School and the transformation of the Chez Jacques French restaurant in Milwaukee's Fifth Ward. In addition, this week's issue includes the Get Smarter Training & Development Directory.

Legal problems are continuing for Milwaukee-based Extendicare Homes Inc., as a new class action lawsuit was filed against the nursing home chain today in the state of Washington.
The new suit was filed in King County Superior Court against Extendicare Homes, Fir Lane Terrace Convalescent Center Inc. and its 15 long-term skilled nursing facilities in the Washington on behalf of Howard Steele as the personal representative for the estate of Lee Ann Steele and on behalf of all Washington citizens who resided in one of the company's Washington facilities from July 1, 2004 through July 1, 2008.
"Extendicare facilities sound warm and fuzzy on paper. The type of place that you would want your parents or grandparents to be if they needed care you couldn't provide them yourself," said Long Beach, Calif., plaintiff attorney Stephen Garcia of The Garcia Law Firm. "The reality is that these facilities have a long record of excessive and repeated citations by the Washington Department of Social and Health Services for providing substandard care and care that violates the rights of residents."
Garcia said the facilities have been cited by authorities for a variety of deficiences of service.
The complaint alleges that Extendicare's corporate officers, directors and managers of the company do not hire enough staff to provide adequate care at its homes.
"Basically, we believe that Extendicare's corporate strategy and policy is to maximize profits at the expense of the elderly and vulnerable people it claims to serve," Garcia said. "We all know that there is a direct correlation between elder abuse and staffing levels. In my opinion, the Extendicare facilities in Washington are elder abuse cases waiting to happen. It's just a matter of whose parents or grandparents are going to be the victims."
Extendicare Homes also has faced some complaints of life-threatening levels of service in Wisconsin.
According to the company's web site, Extendicare operates 28 facilities throughout Wisconsin.
Extendicare Homes is a subsidiary of Extendicare Health Services Inc. (EHSI), a Milwaukee-based subsidiary of the Canadian company Extendicare Real Estate Investment Trust (Extendicare REIT).

Milwaukee accounting firm Virchow, Krause & Company LLP is seeking regulatory approval to change its name to Baker Tilly LLP.
The change reflects Virchow Krause's partners plans to become a branded affiliate of Baker Tilly International, the eight-largest worldwide accounting and business services network.
Virchow Krause, an independent member of Baker Tilly International since 1999, is the largest independent U.S. member firm in the Baker Tilly network.
Virchow Krause will maintain its independent member status and will not assume any management responsibilities within the network as a result of the name change. Virchow Krause is not merging with Baker Tilly, nor is it being acquired.
In making the announcement, Geoff Barnes, chief executive officer and president of Baker Tilly International, said, "The independent members of Baker Tilly International desire to develop the brand worldwide, and as the largest U.S. member firm, Virchow Krause became the logical choice to carry the brand in the U.S.  Discussions ensued and Virchow Krause was extremely interested in pursuing this opportunity."
Tim Christen, Virchow Krause CEO, said, "The world is becoming smaller and many of our current clients, and the new clients we’re engaging, are involved in international commerce. Representing the Baker Tilly global brand in the U.S. will strengthen our ability to provide clients with seamless resources and benefits as they develop business abroad."
According to Christen, consideration of a name change is part of Virchow Krause’s long-term global branding strategy.
"The firm has extensive international capabilities in-house, but the common international brand will greatly reduce the confusion that often occurs when collaborating with other independent member firms throughout the world to serve client needs," Christen said.
Virchow Krause Wisconsin managing partner Kevin Heppner said, "Doing business internationally is the future - now. More and more, our clients, and companies throughout our geographic market, are increasing their investments in foreign markets."
Virchow & Krause has 220 total staff members in its Milwaukee office and 1,300 employees overall in its offices in Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis, and throughout Wisconsin. The company said the name change will have no impact on any of its existing office locations.

Racine native Richard Berthelsen has been named as acting executive director of the NFL Players Association, following the death of Gene Upshaw from pancreatic cancer Thursday.
The NFLPA's executive committee met by conference call at noon on Thursday and unanimously decided to appoint Bethelsen, who had served as general counsel for the players' union since 1983. Berthelsen has been an active member of the union's negotiating committee for the past 37 years.
Berthelsen is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison and practiced law in Madison before taking on his role in the NFLPA in Washington, D.C.
Tennessee Titans center Kevin Mawae, who is the current president of the NFLPA, said, "Gene was a leader, mentor and friend to me and many others throughout his lifetime. Today is a sad day for all those who knew him. As Gene would have wanted, the NFL Players Association will continue to move forward in making the NFL the greatest professional sports league in the country."

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has appointed Circuit Court Judge Kitty Brennan to the District I Court of Appeals.
Brennan will fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge Ted Wedemeyer Jr. She will begin serving Sept. 8 and will serve a term ending July 31, 2009.
"Judge Kitty Brennan is an outstanding judge and a well-respected member of the legal community," Doyle said. "Her experience on the bench will serve her well in this new role."
"I want to thank Gov. Doyle for his confidence in me," Brennan said. "While I will certainly miss the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, I’m excited about this opportunity to serve the people of Milwaukee and the state as an appellate court judge."
Judge Kitty Brennan has served more than 14 years on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, including three as chief judge. Prior to her election to the court in 1994, she worked as a private practice attorney and an assistant district attorney in Milwaukee County.

SBT's China correspondent Einar Tangen says the Olympic Spirit should be replicated and repeated. Read more in the latest edition of Tangen's Dispatches From China.

This week's BizTimes Nonprofit Spotlight shines upon the Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation. Learn how your business can help a local charity by perusing the BizTimes Nonprofit Directory.

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) Council of Small Business Executives (COSBE) recently held its 18th Annual CEO Roundtable Golf Outing at Tuckaway Country Club in Franklin. To view a photographic slideshow of the event, visit the latest edition of SBT Around Town.

Ripon College president David Joyce joins a growing movement of people calling for a lower legal drinking age. Read more in SBT's daily roundup of headlines from newspapers across the state at www.biztimes.com/#news.

The Dow Jones Industrials Average posted triple digit gains this morning after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the economy's sluggish pace of growth will likely help curb inflation. "Although we have seen improved functioning in some markets, the financial storm that reached gale force … has not subsided," Bernanke said. The BizTimes Stock Index snapped its losing streak Thursday by recovering .40 points to close at 143.36 Thursday, and local stocks continued to rise in early morning trading today, with advancers outnumbering decliners. The largest local advancers this morning were Kohl's Corp. (up 83 cents to $48.79) and Fiserv Inc. (up 81 cents to $51.68). The largest local decliners this morning were the index's mining equipment manufacturers, Bucyrus International Inc. (down $1.53 to $67.67) and Joy Global Inc. (down $1.28 to $70.00). 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.

Bogus issue ads by special interest groups such as the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) on the left and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) on the right are corrupting the state's democratic process, according to a new report by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Read more in today's Milwaukee Biz Blog by Mike McCabe.

Hartford loses business advocate Wolpert
Werner X. Wolpert, a longtime driving force in business development in the Hartford area, died today of natural causes at 12:38 p.m.
In May, Wolpert retired as executive director of the Hartford Area Development Corp. (HADC) after 16 years on the job.
Wolpert, who was 80 years old, is survived by his wife, Heidi Wolpert.
"Obviously, Werner was a strong base in the industrial community before taking over Hartford Area Development Corp.. He was very instrumental in the retention of our industrial community as well as recruitment of new members," said Hartford Mayor Scott Henke. "He was a definite mentor to me and really solidified the Hartford way of doing business."
As the leader of the HADC, Wolpert recruited several manufacturers to the Hartford area and helped grow the area's economy. Prior to his career at the HADC, Wolpert operated his own mason yard and wholesale fuel business in Hartford.
Doreen Buntrock, former director of the Hartford Chamber of Commerce who worked closely with Wolpert over the years, said, "It's a sad day for Hartford. He was a very good friend of mine, he was a very good businessman and he did a lot of good things for Hartford. He gave a lot of himself and had a great vision he will be greatly missed by a lot of people."
"Werner did some really great things for the City of Hartford," said Ed Majkowski, who took over Wolpert's position as HADC executive director in May. "The role of the HADC is focused on our industrial businesses, and Hartford has grown and become very strong in the industrial market. That has a lot to do with Werner's efforts.
"This is a tremendous loss to our community his heart was in everything about Hartford. He lived his life around doing things to promote Hartford. His legacy will be carried on through the HADC. He established a lot about the way we do things here - promoting good economic growth in this community," Majkowski said.
No funeral services have been arranged, as per his wishes, and any memorials should be sent to the Washington County Humane Society.