the official newsletter of www.smarttnetwork.com
March 2010 SMARTT Network Newsletter
Opportunities
Manager, Economic Development
Xcel Energy is hiring an Economic Development Manager to be located in Eau Claire, WI. The Economic Development Manager will provide overall direction in the development, implementation and evaluation of economic development initiatives and programs within Xcel Energy's NSPW jurisdiction. The requirements for the position are: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Urban Planning, Economics or related field; 5 years of economic development and/or business planning experience; Project management experience; Proficient in the use of MS Office; Proven written and verbal communication skills. Economic Development certification and Customer service and direct customer contact in a sales or marketing environment are preferred. To apply for the position, please go to the careers link on xcelenergy.com. The posting may close at any time.
Posted 03/11/2010
WITC Career Opportunities
WITC Career Opportunities!
Web Manager (location to be determined)
New Richmond
· Biofuel/ Chemical Processing Instructor (Adjunct)
Rice Lake
· Bookstore Staff (884 hrs/yr)
· General Studies - Health Sciences Instructor
· General Studies - Psychology Instructor
· Occupational Therapy Assistant Instructor
Superior
· Associate Degree Nursing Instructor
· Human Services Associate Instructor
· Principles of Sustainability Instructor (Adjunct)
· Bookstore Supervisor
Deadlines vary
For a complete list of qualifications and to apply visit our website at www.witc.edu/employ.
TTY 888/261-8578
WITC is an equal opportunity/access/employer and educator.
Posted 03/12/2010
State Farm Agent - Eau Claire, Amery and Baldwin
The State Farm Agent Opportunity is your chance to be an entrepreneur and grow a business backed by an industry leader. It's your business - you make the hours, you run your office, and you earn the rewards that come with being successful.
We want you to make a difference in Eau Claire, Amery, or Baldwin. State Farm is committed to backing its agents with products, services, and customer support that are second to none.
With an 85% agent retention rate and average tenure of 20+ years, State Farm is among the best in the industry. We invite you to take the next step and realize your unbounded business potential. Do you think State Farm sells just insurance? Think again:
* State Farm currently offers over 100 insurance and financial services products through our agents
* State Farm Bank (founded in 1999) is in the top 1% of banks nationally for assets under management
* State Farm had the #1 rated Mutual Fund in 2008, and was rated #2 over the last 5 years (based on Barron's rankings)
* Ranked #31 on Fortune 500 Top 1000 American Companies for 2009
These are established agencies with a generous book of business which the incoming agent will take over and earn full commissions on from day one. Offering a book of business with no cost to the candidate is unique for the industry.
We offer a comprehensive paid training program, signing bonuses, unparalleled support, and an opportunity to make a great income.
To learn more about this opportunity, please see our SMARTT profile.
Posted 03/15/2010
Physical Therapist Instructor
Position: Full-time Physical Therapist Assistant Instructor and Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE)
Position Summary: This position is responsible for increasing student learning through developing a relevant and progressive curriculum, designing and implementing effective learning strategies and environments, delivering instruction of high quality, assessing student learning, advising students, and participating in college activities. Competencies and tasks of the position will be consistent with the educational principles of the college that focus on meeting the learning needs of students.
www.cvtc.edu/employment
Human Resources
Chippewa Valley Technical College
620 West Clairemont Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54701-6162
Fax: 715-833-6451
Posted 03/17/2010
MENARDS OPPORTUNITIES!!
We are looking to add the following positions to our team:
Senior Imports Sourcing Specialist
Senior Java Programmer
Senior IS Project Manager
Quality Assurance Manager
Quality Assurance Developer
At Menards, you will find excellent pay, a friendly work environment, paid training, opportunities for advancement and a full benefit package, that includes:
Store Discount
Instant Profit Sharing
Potential Performance Bonuses
Relocation Assistance
For complete job descriptions or to apply, please visit us online at www.menards.com or mail your resume to:
Menard, Inc.
Attn: Corporate HR
5101 Menard Dr
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Posted 03/15/2010
Realityworks Private Sector Sales Opportunity
Private Sector Sales Opportunity
Located in the heart of northwestern Wisconsin, we are looking for an enthusiastic, self-starter to join our District sales department. We are the leader in educational technology simulation products, broadening our product portfolio in the career and technical education fields. This is an opportunity for an educator or former education administrator to use their experience, skills and knowledge to have a positive impact from outside the classroom.
The selected candidate, working under the general supervision of the Global Strategic Accounts Manager, will call on district curriculum directors and other district level administrators. We look forward to adding an educator to our team who understands school district curriculum needs, processes and procedures. The qualified candidate applying for this position will have a Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree (B.A). and a Masters of Education. PhD a plus. Must be computer literate, self-motivated, demonstrate good interpersonal skills, and be well-organized. Selected candidate must be willing and able to travel as needed. Relocation not required.
The company offers a casual work environment, competitive pay and great benefits! To be considered, please email your resume and cover letter (Word or text document) to: employment@realityworks.com We are a tobacco-free environment and an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Posted 03/16/2010
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News from around Western Wisconsin
Governor Doyle appoints Eau Claire lawyer to University of Wisconsin Board of Regents
MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle today announced the appointment of Edmund Manydeeds to the University of Wisconsin System's Board of Regents. The appointment is effective May 1, 2010 and will expire May 1, 2017. The Governor also reappointed Mark Bradley to the board for a term to expire May 1, 2017.
"Ed Manydeeds will bring a unique perspective on education to the Board of Regents," Governor Doyle said. "He is a person who is committed to the UW System and the educational values of this state."
Manydeeds is a civil trial attorney in Eau Claire. He has served on the Governor's Judicial Selection Committee and with the Office of Lawyer Regulation. Manydeeds received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Manydeeds and his wife, Marcia, live in Eau Claire and have three adult daughters.
CEO says company "highly likely" to open operation in Eau Claire
Eau Claire (WQOW) -- A computer systems manufacturer is looking to make a new home in the Chippewa Valley, and will likely bring dozens of high paying jobs with it.
The CEO of the Rochester based company says it's highly likely that F.T.L. will buy the old 3M building on Eau Claire's north side. The company plans to add 40 jobs within the next three years, and could potentially need up to 100 employees.
Eau Claire city leaders say the positions are fairly high paying jobs that would require specific education. F.T.L. manufactures computers systems, radio frequency/microwave systems and solar energy systems.
Flights take off to Chicago thanks to new carrier in the Chippewa Valley
WEAU
Eau Claire, WI - You can now get to the third largest airport in the world with less hassle because of a new service at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport. Some say this is a good thing for passengers, and the community.
Their roots are in Chicago, but until now, Judy Michalski and her husband, couldn't fly there without making a stop in the cities.
"Chicago's a big city. There's a lot to see and do there and I think probably there are people in the area that are from Chicago," Michalski said.
Now a new airline service in the Chippewa Valley is making it easier to get back to their home city more often.
State Economist speaks about the state of the WI Economy - Eau Claire Area EDC Annual Luncheon
Leader Telegram
An economic recovery has been in effect for more than half a year, according to John Koskinen, chief economist and division administrator of research and policy for the state Department of Revenue.
The recession set the national and state economies back 10 years and Eau Claire's back six, he said Monday during an appearance at The Florian Gardens. Koskinen was the featured speaker at the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corp.'s annual luncheon. "Recovery is under way and has been ... for seven or eight months," he said.
Read full story ("Official: Recovery Begun")
John Koskinen's presentation at the Eau Claire Area EDC's Annual Luncheon:
View Koskinen's speech on YouTube (or visit www.eauclaire-wi.com)
Follow along with Koskinen's PowerPoint presentation
UW-River Falls Chancellor Inauguration Scheduled for End of Month
UW-River Falls Office of the Chancellor
The inauguration of Chancellor Dean Van Galen will be held at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls on Friday, March 26, at 2 p.m. in the University Center.
Dean Van Galen is the 18th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. A Wisconsin native and a 1982 alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Van Galen earned a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry at Kansas State University and conducted post-doctoral research at the University of California at Berkeley.
Prior to his selection as chancellor, Van Galen served as vice president for university advancement at the University of West Florida (Pensacola) for six years.
Read more about Chancellor Van Galen
UW-Eau Claire's College of Business is a worldwide leader in IS research
UW-Eau Claire
EAU CLAIRE - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's College of Business is one of the top 100 colleges in the world for research in the field of information systems, and one of its IS faculty members is among the top 100 IS researchers worldwide, according to a study conducted by a professor at the University of Arkansas.
For 2007-09, UW-Eau Claire's College of Business currently is ranked among the top 100 universities internationally for ongoing IS research, and Dr. Matt Germonprez, assistant professor of information systems at UW-Eau Claire, currently is ranked among the top 100 individual IS researchers. This follows a top 100 ranking for the UW-Eau Claire College of Business for 2006-08.
Judge blocks plans for St. Croix River bridge
Pioneer Press
For the second time, a U.S. district judge in Minneapolis has blocked plans for a St. Croix River bridge south of Stillwater.
Chief Judge Michael Davis on Thursday ruled in favor of the Sierra Club in its lawsuit to prevent construction of the bridge.
"It's not a win for us. It's a win for the river," said St. Croix Valley Sierra Club spokesman Jim Rickard.
St. Croix EDC Honors three local businesses
Wisbusiness.com
On February 25th, St. Croix EDC honored its 2009 business of the year winners during a banquet at the University Center, on the campus of UW-River Falls, River Falls, Wisconsin. NCCM Company (River Falls, Emerging Business of the Year), Baldwin Telecom, Inc. (Baldwin, Small Business of the Year), and SMC Ltd. (Somerset, Business of the Year) are the 2009 winners.
Ken Heiser, a Hudson banker, received the inaugural EDC Directors Award. The EDC's board of directors created this award to honor an individual or organization that has championed economic development through innovative actions, making St. Croix County a better place to live, work, play, and learn.
Check out the winners:
NCCM Company - Provides product and service innovations as well as green cost effective solutions.
Baldwin Telecom - St. Croix County's largest local provider of phone, internet, and cable services.
SMC Ltd. - Offers global solutions, contract manufacturing and molding services for the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.
Harnessing sun power in Wisconsin
Bubbling Springs building in Menomonie Technology ParkWhile Wisconsin has never been mistaken for the Sun Belt, there's sufficient sunshine in most of the state for a solar-thermal system capable of heating 80 percent of the hot water used by a typical household. That can provide significant savings on energy since water heating is the second biggest user of energy in a home.
The growing recognition of the advantages of solar energy by homeowners and business people has fueled the growth of Bubbling Springs Solar of Menomonie, the only manufacturer of flat-plate liquid thermal collectors in this state.
Mike Helfman and his wife, Luisa Gerasimo, who started the business on their Bubbling Springs farm, an organic beef farm about five miles west of Menomonie, have seen their business grow from a production of 37 collectors in 2007 to more than 250 in 2008. Last year, the company sales dropped due to the economy, but Helfman and other solar-thermal energy professionals who gathered in Madison last year see bright prospects in the coming years. Helfman, in fact, is looking for 25-percent growth for his company in each of the next three years. The company now has a work force of eight, including the owners, and generates revenues in excess of $350,000, according to Helfman.
Local BattleBot Phenom, UW-Stout Engineering student
Like most of us with a Y chromosome, I possess an inherent fondness for robots. I love robots of all shapes, sizes, makes, and models, ranging from the monstrous MechaGodzilla right down to the nebulous nanite. The only thing better than robots? Fighting robots.
So you can imagine my glee when I heard about Clint Ewert, a Stout engineering, technology, and mechanical design major who has more BattleBots titles and trophies than I have fingers. For the uninitiated, BattleBots is a competition in which two teams build a robot, equip it with some form of lethal weapon, and then let those robots loose in the "battle box," which is essentially a 30-foot-by-30-foot arena - sometimes full of rotating saws and pneumatic hammers - to beat the mechanical snot out of one another. The rules are fairly simple: the last bot moving wins.
Featured Technology
The SMARTT Network Technologies section fosters early-stage business and technology activity in Western Wisconsin.
Decoratively Enameled Plastic Molded Parts for Motor Vehicles
Technology Owner: Delaware Economic Development Office
Industry Category: Plastics and Packaging category
Description of Technology: The invention provides decorative plastics molded parts, in particular for the motor vehicle sector, a process for their production and their use.
Patent Listing:
1. US Patent No. 7,001,643, Issued February 21, 2006, "Decoratively Enameled Plastic Molded Parts for Motor Vehicles"
Market Potential: Plastics parts are being used to an increasing extent in the construction of cars, not least for weight reasons. Often, the visible surface of plastics parts is provided with a color and/or effect-producing lacquer in order to give a decorative effect.
A fundamental problem is the sensitivity to mechanical effects of the colored and/or effect-lacquered plastics parts used in the car construction industry. Plastics lacquers are extrodinarily sensitive to scratching and the impact resistance of color-and/or effect-lacquered plastics parts is low, in particular at low temperatures. These weaknesses appear in particular in the case of colored and/or effect-lacquered plastics pumpers, anti-bump strips or panels. Plastics parts suffer considerable damage even on slight contact, for example inadvertent impacts when parking the vehicle, for example due to visibly obvious scratches on the external lacquer or even due to actual fracture of the plastics part.
Benefits:
light weight
Applications:
decorative plastics molded parts for the motor vehicle sector.
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