Milwaukee Business Journal Weekly

Wisconsin health care systems shifted their resources away from day-to-day patient care and elective procedures to handle the COVID-19 pandemic -- and that’s costing them in the neighborhood of 50 percent of their revenue. MBJ’s Rich Kirchen talks with Wisconsin Hospital Association CEO Eric Borgerding about Eric’s concerns that federal stimulus funds are woefully inadequate to ease the financial pain.  The commercial real estate industry feels its own pain due to the pandemic and its heavy toll on the economy. MBJ’s Sean Ryan shares insights from a Milwaukee Business Journal flash forum on how real estate executives are coping with major changes in their world. For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every area of Milwaukee tourism from convention postponements and hotel closings to restaurants adjusting to take-out and delivery. MBJ’s Margaret Naczek spoke with the president of one of Milwaukee’s biggest summertime events about what he is doing to adapt.  Milwaukee World Festival president and CEO Don Smiley about what Summerfest is doing as it moved its dates from the end of June to three weekends in September.  Margaret also spoke with Russ Klisch, owner of the popular Milwaukee brewery and restaurant Lakefront Brewery about how he has adjusted operations from being the first brewery to shut down public operations to now reopening for carry-out purposes. He shared how his business is adjusting and what the public response has been like.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

Description: With schools across Wisconsin closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, most students are getting their lessons still online.  MBJ’s Nick Williams talked with Amanda DoAmaral, founder and CEO of Fiveable, an education technology startup in Milwaukee. Fiveable offers live-streamed and archived AP tutoring videos for students. The online system also helps teachers grow their teaching skills by watching tutorials from other educators.  Later, Nick talks with MBJ Managing Editor, Todd Bragstad on information included in the Milwaukee Business Journal and parent company American City Business Journals’ Small Business Resource Guide to navigate COVID-19 impact. For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

It’s all uncharted territory out there for real estate and pretty much every other industry as businesses cope with COVID 19 and the new statewide stay at home order. Tracy Johnson, leader of the Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin, has been dealing with a lot of those issues and gives MBJ’s Sean Ryan a good overview of business responses and things that can help, such as SBA loans.  The world of hotels and restaurants was also in turbulent waters already and then came the wave of cancellations and postponements of pretty much every major downtown convention through June. MBJ reporter Margaret Naczek tells Sean what that all means, and reporter Rich Kirchen gives an update on the Democratic National Convention set for July---for now anyway. For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

It’s been a crazy week in Milwaukee.  With the city mostly shut down, the hospitality industry is getting hit the hardest. MBJ’s Sari Lesk talked with 3 of the city’s biggest names in hospitality about this – Justin Aprahamian from Sanford, Caitlin Cullen from Tandem and Greg Marcus from The Marcus Corporation.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/   Click here to listen to “Connection” podcasts featuring MBJ’s Publisher, Kira Lafond - http://mbjconnections.libsyn.com/  Kira meets some incredible people in her role – look for more in-depth conversations coming soon!

COVID-19 outbreak is affecting businesses small, medium and large in the Milwaukee area – including The Milwaukee Business Journal.  Market President and Publisher, Kira Lafond, shares an update about some MBJ events.  Milwaukee’s convention center unveiled renderings for a 400-million-dollar expansion that is designed to add another iconic space to the downtown arena district. Wisconsin Center District CEO Marty Brooks talks with MBJ’s Rich Kirchen about the architectural vision and practical aspects of the project.  Finally, Wisconsin employers are scrambling to enact policies and procedures for their workforces as COVID-19 concerns reach higher levels. Rich interviews Erik Eisenmann -- an attorney at Husch Blackwell in Milwaukee who heads the firm’s labor and employment practice.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

Manufacturers face a number of challenges in the 21st century from recruiting and retaining talent to artificial intelligence and advanced technology. MBJ’s Margaret Naczek spoke with Terry Tuttle, president of HellermannTyton North America, about the state of manufacturing in 2020 and some of the company’s greatest accomplishments and challenges.  Later Margaret talks with MBJ’s Sean Ryan about his story about how local developers are taking central city property and transforming them into unique developments like the Sherman Phoenix project. He shared some insights from the developers and some of the most fascinating projects going on in the city this week. For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

We start with ongoing coverage of the tragic shooting at Molson Coors.  MBJ’s Nick Williams talks with fellow reporter Margaret Naczek on how this is affecting, and will continue to affect, the company and the brewery itself, which is such an iconic fixture in the community.  Later, Nick talks with LaNelle Ramey, executive director of Mentor Greater Milwaukee.  His organization is focused on creating more mentors and Milwaukee and connecting those volunteers with opportunities  to be a mentor in Milwaukee.  Then Nick chats with entrepreneur Elzie Flenard, who runs a podcast agency, Enterprise Now.  They talk about why businesses should have their own podcast and why the podcast industry is taking off.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

Listen to hosts David Boehm and Nick Williams as they bring us the press conference for the Molson Coors Shooting.  Its the story that touches all of us here at The Milwaukee Business Journal and people all around the area is the tragedy yesterday at the Molson Coors brewery.  Milwaukee Police reports that a 51-year-old male employee of the company fatally shot five people before taking his own life. All of the victims worked for the company. Listen to Police Chief Moralas, Tom Barrett, Tony Evers, and Mandela Barns talk about this tragedy.   

MBJ’s Sean Ryan talks with Keith Stanley, Executive Director of the Near West Side Partners, about the growing activity in his section of the community, particularly along 27th Street. We’re seeing plans for a state office building with 100s of workers, an innovative urban indoor farm, and other projects percolating in the area.  Later, MBJ’s Nick Williams shares some updates and changes to Miller Park through the offseason.  Nick gives a rundown of new things coming to the stadium this year, and what the long-term future may hold. For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

MBJ’s Sari Lesk talks with Bruce Westling and Kevin Schmoldt, managing directors at Newmark Knight Frank, about Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward district. The cover story in this week’s edition of the Milwaukee Business Journal explores leasing activity in that district.  Later, Sari chats with DeVona Wright Cottrell and Isioma Nwabuzo, associate general counsels at Baird, about mentoring. Wright Cottrell was recently recognized by professional women’s organization TEMPO Milwaukee for her work as a mentor. Nwabuzo, one of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 honorees this year, is one of her mentees.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/  

On top of hosting the best team in the NBA and the upcoming Democratic National Convention, Fiserv Forum and The Milwaukee Bucks recently made some news on a new labor agreement for arena employees.  MBJ’s Rich Kirchen talks with Peter Rickman, president of the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Organization, which recently agreed to its first contract at Fiserv Forum. Rickman explains how his group -- better known as MASH – was able to win a $15 minimum wage and pay increases for 1,000 arena employees.  Later, Rich talks with fellow MBJ reporter Margaret Naczek about her cover story on Harley Davidson.  Harley is shifting gears with its product line after years of declining sales for its long running touring and cruising motorcycles. Margaret and Rich discuss how Harley is introducing a street bike and its first adventure touring cycle while promoting its first electric cycle.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

Description: 2020 is Milwaukee’s year. With the Ryder Cup, DNC and Society of American Travel Writers all coming to town in 2020, there’s a lot to talk about. MBJ’s Margaret Naczek spoke with Visit Milwaukee’s new CEO Peggy Williams-Smith on how the city’s convention and visitors bureau is preparing for this busy year. She also spoke with fellow Milwaukee Business Journal reporter Nick Williams about his story on the highest-ranking tech executives in Milwaukee.  Nick shared some of the insights he learned from interviews with local tech executives about some of the trends within the industry, including everything from artificial intelligence to recruiting talent. For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/  

MBJ’s Nick Williams talks with Patricia Cabral-Mercado, co-founder of Lift Up MKE, a female owned tech company that trains women returning to the tech industry for management. Later, Jeremy Fojut of NEWaukee talks about their new co-working and entrepreneurship center planned for Walker’s Point.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/  

There’s a lot of investment and other activity brewing on the west side of downtown Milwaukee, especially along West Wisconsin Avenue. MBJ’s Sean Ryan talked with Beth Weirick of the Downtown Milwaukee Business Improvement District about a host of updates around the Westown neighborhood west of the river in downtown Milwaukee. She’s planning some privately funded streetscaping improvements before the Democratic National Convention, and overall just helping to encourage that area of Milwaukee to become even more vibrant in the future.  Speaking of the DNC, Sean talked with MBJ’s Rich Kirchen about the big event now less than 6 months away. He discusses his latest updates as Milwaukee prepares for the July convention, and gives his analysis on all the activity happening west of the river downtown.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

Description: MBJ’s Sari Lesk wrote the cover story this week in the Milwaukee Business Journal on the changes in the restaurant industry in the Milwaukee area in 2019.  She reviews the year that was with Hakan Hare from Founders3.  One of elements of that feature is a colorful timeline of restaurant openings and closings throughout the year.  That was designed by MBJ’s new lead designer, Jacqueline Prins.  Sari talks with Prins about her background, how she approaches graphic design for the paper and about being new to Milwaukee.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

MBJ’s Rich Kirchen talked with Jason Fechner, anchor and reporter with Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin.  Fechner discusses the news channel’s growth and on their approach to telling the news in a 24-hour format.  Later, MBJ reporters Nick Williams and Sean Ryan join Rich to dive into this week’s cover story on local executives to watch in 2020.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

Milwaukee Brewing Company is known for its signature beers like Louie’s Demise, but the company recently announced it was jumping on the hard seltzer bandwagon. MBJ’s Margaret Naczek spoke with the company’s new CEO, Dave Hock about the brewery’s push into hard seltzer with a new product in 2020. Later, Margaret talked with fellow MBJ reporter Nick Williams about MBJ’s list of 20 Wisconsin startups to watch for in the new year. They talked about the process with compiling this list and what makes the startups so unique.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

MBJ’s Nick Williams talks with Mark Fairbanks, founder of Milwaukee’s Island of Brilliance, a learning academy for children and young adults on the autism spectrum.  They discuss the growth of the organization and how Milwaukee’s tech community can get involved.  Later, Mike Ruzicka, president of the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors, joins Nick to recap the local housing market in 2019 and what we can expect for 2020.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

Efforts to attract jobs to Milwaukee’s Century City business park have been an important issue for the community. MBJ’s Sean Ryan interviewed Cheryl Blue, leader of the 30th Street Industrial Corridor Corporation, who talked about the organization’s ongoing efforts to attract jobs to that area of Milwaukee’s central city. They discuss connecting surrounding residents, many of whom need jobs, to the city’s economic development efforts. That’s an issue since the public backlash torpedoed the Strauss Brands headquarters development at Century City in October.  Later Sean talks with MBJ reporter Sari Lesk about Associated Bank’s renovations to the Milwaukee Center office tower downtown. Associated Bank bought the tower in 2016 to become the main hub of its Milwaukee operation.  This project will modernize one of Milwaukee’s signature office high-rises.  For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/