Business development
Kohler Co. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire KLAFS, a manufacturer of saunas, steam rooms, and other hydrothermal features, from the Egeria Group. The agreement was signed Dec. 1 and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024.
Ground Round Grill & Bar Neenah has been rebranded as Batley’s Grill & Bar. The change to an independent restaurant will allow for more menu and marketing flexibility.
Oshkosh Defense announced that the U.S. Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal awarded a production contract for the Medium Equipment Trailer. Oshkosh will partner with Broshuis BV to execute the $342 million contract. It also was announced that the Israeli Ministry of Defense has placed two orders for Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicles.
Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc. launched a new website. The new site, still accessible at hoffman.net, offers a glimpse into Hoffman’s corporate culture and Total Project Management.
The ThedaCare Regional Medical Center – Neenah Retail Pharmacy opened at the hospital campus in December. The location features on-site services as well as curbside pick-up. Pharmacy services are available to patients, community members and ThedaCare team members.
AMSCO Wear Products, a leader in the wear-resistant steel industry, acquired exclusive intellectual property rights from Columbia Steel Cast Products, LLC, a provider of wear-resistant castings that serves aggregate producers, hard rock mining and dragline mining operations. AMSCO also acquired Global Partners Alliance, LLC and forged a new partnership with Stahlwerke Bochum GmbH in Bochum, Germany. Global Partners Alliance is a company that supplies high-quality wear parts to scrap metal recycling industries. AMSCO, a Lawton Standard company, will also become the new exclusive North American sales agent for SWB’s hammers, alloy anvils and other shredder parts.
Honkamp, P.C., a Midwest CPA and business advisory group with offices in Oshkosh, recently added one of the 20 largest CPA firms in the St. Louis metro area to its growing team. Effective Dec. 2, Schowalter & Jabouri, P.C. merged into Honkamp.
Allegiant announced a new nonstop flight from Appleton International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Flights will begin in May.
Froedtert Health has acquired 26 acres in Sheboygan on which it will build a four-story, 165,000-square-foot community hospital and attached medical office building. Froedtert paid $3 million to the Sheboygan School District, which had owned the land for several decades.
Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation, will advance the 5-megawatt Ledgeview Solar Project with Alliant Energy after the utility received approval to partner on the project from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
Construction
Keller, Inc. has been chosen as the architect and general contractor/builder on an addition and remodel project for Carstens Mill in Brillion, on a 40,000-square-foot expansion for Switchgear Power Systems in Winneconne, and on a building project for Christ the King Holy Nativity Episcopal Church in Sturgeon Bay.
Bayland Buildings, Inc. recently completed the following projects: Hobart Fire Department’s new 18,200-square-foot fire department and emergency operational center, Crumbl Cookies in Oshkosh, and the new snow leopard enclosure at the N.E.W. Zoo in Green Bay. Bayland also recently broke ground on a new 8,500-square-foot community center in the Town of Riverview for Martenson and Eisele, Inc. and on a new 1,700-square-foot building for the Humane Society of Waupaca County, including an exam room, X-ray room, surgery/recovery room, pharmacy and kennel space.
Awards
Connor Friemuth of NEW Compost took first in the NEW Launch Alliance Pitch Contest Nov. 30. The second-place winner was Preempt Physical Therapy and the third-place winner was Kids in Combat Boots.
The Fox Cities Chamber recently named its 2023 Business Award recipients: Community Attraction Award – Appleton Downtown Inc. (ADI); FAB (Food & Beverage) Award – Xe54: A Wine & Cocktail Lounge; Collaboration Award – The Monthlies Project; Large Business of the Year – Plexus Corp.; Small Business of the Year – Wisconsin Herd; Employee Friendly Workplace of the Year – The Boldt Company; Champion of Young Professionals of the Year – Walbec Group.
SSM Health Cancer Care, 480 E. Division St., Fond du Lac, announced recent recognition by the American College of Surgeons as a Surgical Quality Partner.
Brown County Library was named 2023 Library of the Year by the Wisconsin Library Association. This notable distinction is based on activities or accomplishments in the areas of impact to the community, commitment to innovation and commitment to library users.
Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists – Orthopedic Surgery Center of Green Bay was recognized as one of “America’s Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers 2024” by Newsweek.
Red Shoes Inc., an Appleton-based strategic communications firm, was a finalist in the Best Workplace of the Year category for the MARKETPLACE Wisconsin Governor Awards, which honor Wisconsin businesses owned by minorities, women, and service-disabled veterans and their advocates.
Fairchild Equipment has been awarded the Most Valuable Partner Award for outstanding achievements in 2023 from the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association. This is the 10th consecutive year Fairchild Equipment has received this award.
Fox World Travel is a winner of the silver award from the 2023 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards in the online travel services category for its customized information technology chat solution to its online booking interface, SAP Concur.
The Child Care Center located at Lakeshore Technical College’s Cleveland campus has earned a 5-star rating, the highest available, from YoungStar. YoungStar is the quality rating and improvement system used by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families to rate regulated child care providers.
Aurora BayCare Medical Center, Aurora Medical Center – Bay Area, Aurora Medical Center – Oshkosh and Aurora Medical Center Sheboygan County were all recognized by U.S. News & World Report on its annual list of best hospitals for maternity care. The list classifies the hospitals as “high performing,” which is the highest level of achievement.
Skogen’s Festival Foods announced it was recognized as an FMI Foundation 2023 Gold Plate Award winner, marking the fifth Gold Plate Award given to the Wisconsin retail grocer since 2016. The annual Gold Plate Awards Ceremony honored various campaigns and programs that supported September’s National Family Meals Month movement.
Ascension Northeast Wisconsin – St. Elizabeth Campus earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog that sets standards for excellence in patient care.
The American Prize in Orchestral Performance (professional division) for 2023 has been awarded to Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra. Kevin Sutterlin directs the orchestra.
Grants
The Community First Fox Cities Marathon presented by Miron Construction announced 24 local nonprofit organizations are receiving a portion of the $80,000 in proceeds from the 2022 weekend of events. Many of the nonprofits receiving a donation are running groups, nursing and police/fire education programs and police departments.
The Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation has awarded more than $148,000 to 36 Midwestern charities. These donations included $22,500 to Appleton-area charities providing key community services.
The Green Bay Packers and Tork wrapped up their “Tackle Hygiene with Every Catch” campaign by donating $29,000 worth of hygiene products to Pillars and Harbor House.
Kessler-Fahrenkrug Funeral Home provided a $10,000 gift match to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center’s year-end giving campaign.
Secura Insurance will donate $39,000 to 13 nonprofit organizations as part of the annual Secura Gives Back campaign. This year, 390 agents participated by nominating the nonprofit of their choice to receive $3,000 donations.
Icon Marketing Inc. donated 1,000 shirts to be modified for ThedaCare patients to wear during chemotherapy treatment; Jerry Stevens donated materials to make the modifications. The shirts provide discreet access to ports that are used to administer treatments.
Ledgerock Distillery LLC in Fond du Lac County will use a $250,000 Value Added Producer Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to process corn and wheat into high-end craft spirits including bourbon, whiskey, vodka and gin. Funds will also be used for marketing to increase its customer base to more than 6,200. Lakeshore Forest Products in Manitowoc County also received a $250,000 USDA Value Added Producer Grant to provide working capital to process hardwood logs into kiln-dried hardwood lumber. Funds will also be used for marketing to increase its customer base.
Education
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College has opened its first Health Sciences Extended Reality (XR) Lab through a $300,000 grant from Achieving the Dream and the Brave of Heart Fund.
Moraine Park Technical College is now accepting applications for its new emergency dispatch certification program. Starting spring 2024, students can enroll in classes online and at the Fond du Lac campus.
For the fifth time in six years, Lakeshore Technical College has been selected as a top 10 finalist for the Bellwether Award, which recognizes community colleges on the cutting edge. Lakeshore is the only college in Wisconsin named a finalist.
