2011 First Business Economic Survey & Forum
The results of the 2011 First Business Economic Survey are in. Find out what Dane County business leaders are saying about 2011 actual and 2012 predicted:
- sales revenue
- total operating costs
- capital expenditures
- profitability
- number of employees
- changes in wages
- changes in pricing
- demand for education and experience levels in job applicants
Join us December 7 for our First Business Economic Forum. Scott Converse will highlight the 2011 survey results. Following the presentation, Wendy Grapentine will moderate a panel discussion with local business leaders on the economic climate of Dane County.
Featured Business Leaders:
Speaker: Scott Converse
Scott Converse is the Director of Technology Programs for the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business. Working within the Executive Education department, he oversees courses in Six Sigma, purchasing and supply management, and information technology. His clients have included Fortune 500 firms, the U.S. Military, and state agencies.
Moderator: Wendy Warren
Wendy Warren Grapentine is a former newscaster at the ABC affiliate in Madison, Wisconsin. After twelve years of anchoring the evening news and reporting medical news, and five years at the Wisconsin School of Business, she transferred her communication skills to the business world. She now teaches business writing and professional presentation skills through her company, Straight to the Point Communications, LLC.
Panelist: Beth Donley
Ms. Donley is a founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stemina Biomarker Discovery, a biomarker discovery company using human embryonic stem cells to discover small molecules for drug development and diagnostics. Ms. Donley is a patent attorney who served as General Counsel and Director of Business Development for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), the patent and licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin, for more than eight years.
Panelist: Mike Victorson
Mike Victorson is President & CEO of M3 Insurance. He joined M3 in 1992 in marketing and client service and advanced to Executive Vice President of the Employee Benefits Division. In 2002, Mike was asked to serve as M3's Chief Operating Officer and a year later, he assumed the role of President. In 2005, Mike became the company's Chief Executive Officer. Mike does speaking on insurance and business topics and serves on a number of insurance company advisory boards.
Panelist: Jay Loewi
Jay Loewi is CEO of QTI Group, a locally-owned staffing company serving southern
Wisconsin. He has more than thirty years of business experience as an entrepreneur,
strategic leader and general business advisor. Prior to his leadership position in the QTI Group, Jay led the operations of a local food products company and held a leading financial role with a major bank. QTI's services include staff recruitment, HR consulting, and Human Resources management.
Panelist: Paul Tonnesen
Paul Tonnesen is President and Corporate Officer of Fiskars NorthAmerica. Mr. Tonnesen has over 25 years of strategic, operational and turnaround experience within the consumer products industry, both publically traded and private. He has successfully worked in large cap and middle market companies such as Kraft Foods, Johnson & Johnson, Spectrum Brands, and Elmer's. His strong network in the retail trade includes many of the top CEO's.
Panelist: Corey Chambas
Corey Chambas is President & CEO of First Business Financial Services and is the director of several First Business companies. He has 25 years in the commercial banking industry, specializing in commercial lending and cash management. Corey is a board member of M3 Insurance Solutions, an advisory board member of Bellbrook Labs and Aldine Capital Fund, and a member of the Strategic Issues Campaign Committee for the United Way of Dane County.
Cross-Regional Results
The First Business Economic Survey was executed in Dane County, Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties, and Northeast Wisconsin. The individual market results are being rolled out in December in each market. A cross-regional report that compares and contrasts the results between regions will be released on December 16, 2011.
