Business In Brief

Nancy Barthel

Contributor

September 9, 2022

Ribbon cutting celebration
WRIGHTSTOWN – Zeta Group Engineering, a robotic integrator and conveyor manufacturer that provides automation solutions to customers, held a public ribbon cutting ceremony Aug. 15, for its new 15,600-square-foot facility.

The new building, located on County Road U in Wrightstown, will include a climate-controlled office and shop space, which will allow for larger capacity projects.

Northern Iron & Machine joins Lawton family
DE PERE – The Lawton Standard Co. recently added Minnesota-based Northern Iron & Machine (NIM) to its team as part of its expansion strategy.

Alex Lawton, CEO of Lawton Standard said NIM, which produces and machines high-quality, cast gray, ductile and austempered iron castings up to 250 pounds, adds to Lawton Standard Co.’s offerings by both size and method.

“NIM utilizes modern and efficient equipment and is run by well-trained, dedicated workers,” Lawton said. “We’re eager to develop and grow from an interchange of knowledge and projects between NIM and all locations.”

Scott J Hamlett, the retiring CEO of Northern Iron & Machine, said the sale of NIM to The Lawton Standard Co. will be able to take it to the next level.

“Lawton has the resources necessary to improve operational efficiencies and technical abilities,” he said. “Best of all, they’ll continue the culture of a close-knit family organization.”

Lakeland opens new Fox Cities location
FOX CITIES – Lakeland University recently unveiled its new Fox Cities Center location at Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) with an official ribbon cutting and open house.

President Beth Borgen said Lakeland is located just inside FTVC’s entrance 15 and occupies a space that includes an office presence and access to several classrooms during the spring, fall and summer semesters.

“This move for Lakeland makes so much sense,” Borgen said, noting that Lakeland has offered classes in the Fox Cities since 1982. “More than a third of the students Lakeland serves in the Fox Cities are FVTC graduates, and now they’ll be able to continue on the pathway to a bachelor’s degree at a campus that already feels like home.”

FVTC President Chris Matheny said Lakeland’s move is the latest chapter in the two schools’ long history of providing innovative educational opportunities to students in the region.

Pepsi new soft drink provider at Resch Complex 
GREEN BAY – PMI Entertainment Group (PMI) said it has reached an agreement with WP Beverages – the Green Bay area’s independent Pepsi distributor – to serve as the new soft drink supplies at the Resch Center and Resch Expo.

“The Pepsi brand has been synonymous with the entertainment industry, so we look forward to this partnership with WP Beverages,” PMI Entertainment Group Food and Beverage Vice President David Herrera said.

In addition to Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Diet Mountain Dew, the offerings will include Pepsi Zero Sugar, Sierra Mist, Mug Root Beer, Sunkist Orange, BUBBL’R, Gatorade, Starbucks, Klarbrunn, Lipton and Rockstar.

“Pepsi-Cola of Green Bay is committed to supporting the community, so our partnership with PMI Entertainment Group is an exciting and natural fit,” Luann Ballweg, Pepsi-Cola of Green Bay marketing manager, said. “We can’t wait to join forces with PMI to enhance the community experience even more.”

Streckenbach declares fentanyl a community health crisis
BROWN COUNTY – Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach, along with Public Health Officer Anna Nick, declared fentanyl as a community health crisis during a press conference Sept. 1, which coincided with the start of recovery month.

“The fentanyl and opioid crises are a scourge on our community, and action must be taken,” Streckenbach said. “Brown County needs to be proactive, educate and empower everyone through data-driven strategies and increased access to life-changing resources.”

In the declaration, Streckenbach directs public health to utilize opioid settlement funds to support programming, advocacy and raising awareness – through public and private community partnerships and the establishment of a Brown County Overdose Task Force focusing on three pillars: prevention, response and recovery.

A community listening session for people impacted by the opioid crisis and fentanyl is set for Monday, Sept. 12, from 5-8 p.m. at Backstage at the Meyer on Washington Street in Green Bay.

PCMC assist Sierra Hygiene Products with rewinder installation
GREEN BAY – Team members from Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC) in Green Bay came to the aid of Sierra Hygiene Products, a paper converting manufacturer located in Frostburg, Maryland, when visa complications delayed Chinese service technicians from arriving to the U.S. to assemble and install the Sierra’s two paper rewinders.

Jim Helminiak, Sierra’s operations manager said that’s when they reached out to PCMC.

“We already had an established relationship with PCMC through BW Converting Solutions’ automated tissue packaging company STAX Technologies,” Helminiak said. “With that relationship in place, we felt PCMC’s experience and general paper machine knowledge would be of great value to us.”

Two technicians – Adiar Pech and Tony Sandor – were sent to Maryland to assemble and install the machines and work with a local contractor to get the rewinders properly wired from top to bottom.

Appliance outlet to fill formerly vacant Michigan Avenue building
SHEBOYGAN – MVP Storage recently purchased the 12,000-square-foot former Salvation Army building at 1029 Michigan Ave.

MVP Storage, which aims to revitalize the long-vacant property, has since leased the space to Good As Gold, an appliance outlet featuring new and refurbished appliances.

WSBC announces business award finalists
WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council (WSBC) has announced its 2022 Sustainable Business Award finalists.

The award highlights recipients for showing cutting-edge environmental, social and governance leadership while rewarding them for being leaders in their industry and community.
Sustainable product finalists:
ContainerBoard Paper by Green Bay PackagingFlex Farm by Form FarmsThe Abstra Collection by Kohler WasteLAB
Innovative service finalists
Cooperative Solar Investment Service by SolarShare WI CoopPrinting using UV LED Curing Technology by Empire Screen PrintingTax Sponsorship by Legacy Solar Coop
Sustainable leadership – executive finalists
Chris Drees, president, Mercury MarineMichelle Miller, chief sustainability officer, AppvionScott Anderson, co-owner, director of Stakeholder Stewardship, Artisan DentalSustainable leadership – champion finalists
Jessica Quinlan, ESG and sustainability coordinator, KohlsMelita Nasca, PhD, lead for Eagle Heights Community GardensScott Loucks, sustainability manager, Mercury MarineWinners will be announced at the WSBC Awards Reception Nov. 15.

Phil Hauck scholarship recipients selected
DE PERE – Joshua Theis of De Pere and Anthony Schneider of Green Bay were recently selected as recipients of the Phil Hauck Scholarship at St. Norbert College – which covers half the cost of books, fees and tuition for an individual pursuing an MBA through the Schneider School, or half the cost of books, fees and materials for participation in the core program of the Center for Exceptional Leadership (CEL).

Theis, executive director at Options for Independent Living in Green Bay, is pursuing his MBA at St. Norbert.

Schneider, the community engagement specialist at St. John’s Ministries of Green Bay, will be attending the November Foundational Leadership program through the CEL.

Scholarships awarded to local students
GREEN BAY – The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation recently awarded more than $400,000 in scholarship to students from Northeastern Wisconsin pursuing post-secondary education.

“The Community Foundation is committed to breaking down barriers for students to afford higher education,” Kari Olsen, the Community Foundation’s director of grants and scholarship programming. “These scholarship awards send a message to students in our community, letting them know that people believe in them and are cheering on their success.”

Olsen said the foundation stewards 42 scholarship funds on behalf of donors who wish to support scholars in their education.