the official newsletter of www.smarttnetwork.com
May 2010 SMARTT Network Newsletter
Opportunities
Seeking Public Relations Manager
This full-time, leadership position in Eau Claire is responsbile for developing and implementing a broad range of public relations, business communication, and internal communication materials. Oversee photography of college activities for press and promotional usage. Coordinate college's government relations activities.
Necessary Training and Experience:
---Bachelors Degree in technical writing, communications, journalism or related field.
---Three years experience in deadline-oriented public relations/marketing, newspaper editorial, or radio/TV news.
---Three years experience in script writing
APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUESTED TO BE RECEIVED BY 4:00 PM THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010
Equal Opportunity/Access Employer and Educator.
Posted 04/27/2010
Quality Engineer - #1632
Phillips Plastics has an excellent opportunity for an experienced Quality Engineer at our Multi-Shot facility in Eau Claire. In this position you will:
This position requires a Bachelors degree in a related area, and
To apply, go to our website, complete a brief on-line application for this position, and attach your resume!
Posted 05/11/2010
Maintenance Technician
Phillips Plastics has excellent opportunities for experienced Maintenance Technicians in our Menomonie, WI facilities. Maintenance Technicians provide set-up, troubleshooting, and on-going maintenance support of the equipment we use in manufacturing.
Please apply by completing a brief on-line application and attaching your resume, from our company website.
Posted 05/11/2010
Area Manager
Bush Brothers & Companyis seeking an Area Manager. Under the direction of the Department Manager, the Area Manager is responsible for the daily performance of the operations teams. Responsibilities include process improvements in the areas of cost, quality, safety, and employee development; administering corrective counseling, facilitation of team meeting and reporting business results to the organization. The successful candidate will thrive in a collaborative, team based culture. The flexibility to work all shifts and different departments is required. Educational requirements are a Bachelors degree with manufacturing experience desired.
This role is a stepping stone to advancement into leadership roles within the Bush Brothers & Company organization. We offer competitive pay and an excellent benefit package. To learn more about Bush Brothers, please read the SMARTT company profile.
If interested in an exciting career with a highly successful local company, send your resume to 600 S. Bush Brothers Drive, Augusta, WI 54722
Posted 05/12/2010
Eau Claire, Amery & Baldwin Agent positions
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 05/13/2010
MENARDS
OPPORTUNITIES AT MENARDS!!
We are looking to add the following positions to our team:
Senior Imports Sourcing Specialist
Senior Java Programmer
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 05/18/2010
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News from around Western Wisconsin
Eau Claire among Top Fifty in Forbes' Best Small Places for Business and Careers
Eau Claire, WI, was ranked No. 48 on the list of Best Small Places for Business and Careers by Forbes.com. The latest Forbes article, released on Apr.14, 2010, ranked the top 184 cities for small business and careers in the United States (U.S.).
Cities were ranked based on multiple factors including the cost of doing business, educational attainment, and job growth (past and present). Other factors included cultural opportunities and quality of life issues. It also highlighted Eau Claire's largest private company, Menards, and named National Presto Industries "best small company".
Eau Claire is the highest ranked Wisconsin city, followed by Appleton (No. 53), La Crosse (No. 60), Oshkosh, (No. 62), Wausau (No. 95), and Racine (No. 96).
Invention could revolutionize design of work stations
A versatile, ergonomically correct work station designed by a University of Wisconsin-Stout specialist and an alumnus could change the way a broad spectrum of people learn, conduct research and perform tests and other tasks.
The prototype tabletop station, 5-feet-6 inches long and 2-feet-7 inches wide, primarily was designed for people with disabilities. Mobile and height-adjustable, it fits work station needs for people with a variety of physical limitations.
Because of its versatility, the design also breaks new ground as an ergonomically correct work table for the general population, from children to adults, for use in schools, institutions, industries and businesses.
The inventors are Jeff Annis, a Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute rehabilitation specialist and product designer, and Brad Stafford, a 2005 UW-Stout graduate and product designer for Spectrum Industries of Chippewa Falls.
"With the disabled population as our focus, we came up with a universal design that provided access for all people," Annis said. "This could be used in school and business science labs, on an assembly line, as a craft table, in assisted living and in commercial kitchens."
The work station will be unveiled at an open house from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 3, at SVRI, 221 10th Avenue E. The open house will include tours of SVRI's assistive technology labs.
Chippewa Valley angel investors network invests $250,000 in Strandvision
The Chippewa Valley Angel Investors Network LLC today announced a $250,000 equity investment in StrandVision LLC (http://www.strandvision.com) headquartered in Eau Claire. StrandVision is a startup provider of hosted digital signage services. It is the second venture of founder and CEO Mike Strand, who previously founded StrandWare, a bar code labeling software company.
The investment in StrandVision is the Network's fourth equity investment since its founding in April 2003 and brings the group's total investments to over $1,000,000. In 2005 alone, the Network invested $695,000 in Chippewa Valley ventures. The StrandVision investment will be used to continue product development and to further ramp up marketing and sales.
"StrandVision was very attractive to the Chippewa Valley Angel Investors Network on many levels," said Pete Marsnik, Chippewa Valley Angel Investors Network manager. "It is a local business with a solid business plan and Mike has an impressive track record. StrandVision's business concept is not only sustainable but exciting and scalable. We like to say we put the 'smart' in 'smart money' so, beyond the funding, we look forward to working with Mike to help him take StrandVision to the next level."
Western Wisconsin business wins safety award
Phillips Plastics Corporation in Eau Claire was one of fifteen Wisconsin companies to receive a Wisconsin Corporate Safety Awards Tuesday night. The awards were announced at the Wisconsin Safety Council's 68th Annual Safety and Health Congress & Expo at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells on April 27.
The Wisconsin Corporate Safety Awards are co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Safety Council and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The 16th annual awards program honors businesses for exemplary safety records and excellence in health and safety management.
"Phillips Plastics is committed to the safety and well-being of every one of their employees," said Bryan Roessler, director of the Wisconsin Safety Council. "Their stellar safety record was evident to the Corporate Safety Award judging team."
Stout art student wins $5,000, 36 rolls of packaging tape
Talk about a sticky situation, am I right?! Eh?! Anyway, check out that awesome (and huge!) goldfish. That's the creation of UW-Stout student Elizabeth Lee, an entry called "Can I Keep Him?" in a sculpture contest put on by 3M to promote artistic endeavors and (no doubt) Sctoch Brand sticky tape. It took first place, wining Lee $5,000 and 36 rolls of Scotch Premium Performance Packaging Tape. From a contest press release:
ST. PAUL, MN--(Marketwire - April 7, 2010) - Scotch Brand awarded Elizabeth K. Lee from Spring Valley, Wis., a $5,000 cash prize in the The Scotch Off the Roll Tape Sculpture Contest, sponsored by 3M. Lee took her creativity off the roll by designing and constructing "Can I Keep Him," a tape sculpture depicting a larger than life goldfish swimming in a clear bag. Her sculpture 'stuck' in the minds of the judging panel, beating out more than 135 other tape sculpture entries.
It took Lee 40 to 50 hours over several weeks to finish the project. Crazily, this was her first piece of three dimensional art. Man, first Sharpie markers and now Scotch tape. What's next? An award-winning PostIt Note sculptor from CVTG?
Six to receive Alumni Association awards
An indie rock star, a high school band director, an elementary school principal, an international business consultant and two chief operating executives will receive awards from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Alumni Association May 22 at a luncheon and ceremony in conjunction with spring commencement.
"We celebrate the versatile talent, creativity and leadership skills of these individuals who represent and honor this university so well," said John Bachmeier, director of alumni relations. "The university is proud to recognize them for their personal success and for their service to others."
Randy Oostra and Roberta Schmidt will each receive the Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award, which recognizes distinguished service to the community, state or nation that brings credit upon the recipient and the university.
See who the recipients are and what they are receiving the award for.
SMARTT Network Profiles - Is yours up to date?
Subscribers are looking for specific skills when searching for open positions. Remember to update your profile as you gain experience and develop new skills or certifications. Log in to your account and click on "My Profile" to update your information. Do you have a suggestion to enhance the site or include profile options? Email us your suggestion!
Representative David Obey to Retire
Rep. David Obey, a leading liberal Democrat and chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, says he intends to retire at the end of his term this year.
The Wisconsin lawmaker made the surprise announcement at a Capitol Hill news conference Wednesday.
Obey said, "There is a time to stay and a time to go. And this is my time to go."
His decision is another blow to Democrats defending their majority in an election season of voter discontent.
Obey, 71, won the first of 21 terms in 1969 - when a special election was held after President Richard Nixon tapped Melvin Laird to be his defense secretary. He faced a potentially bruising re-election campaign this fall.
Obey first became chairman of the Appropriations Committee in 1994.
Down in the Valley
Diversification, a strong work force and a pro-business environment make the Chippewa Valley a region to note in Wisconsin.
Because the Chippewa Valley area is a mere 90-miles east of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, many Minnesotans are more familiar with this region than residents of southern and eastern Wisconsin. However, there are many diverse groups and individuals in this area that are telling others about this unique and business-friendly area of the state.
A home for entrepreneurs
One company that was extremely impressed with the Chippewa Valley region and the workforce is RAI Stone Group. The company, originally based in Minnesota, works with business clients to provide a comprehensive financial analysis of cash flows, profitability and growth potential. Sam Zordich, owner and founder of RAI Stone Group, wanted to relocate her business and began reviewing eight locations in eight different states throughout the United States. "We were really looking for a community to be a part of and a community we could contribute to," Zordich says. Ultimately, Zordich decided to stay in the Midwest and the Eau Claire office opened in December 2009.
Innovative approaches
Huebsch Services is another Chippewa Valley company that is focused on the future. The supplier of work apparel, matting solutions, restroom supplies and cleaning products understands the importance of keeping up-to-date on new technologies.
"We continuously improve on the things that differentiate us," says Business Improvement Specialist Tim Benjamin.
Featured Technology
Oil Extraction of Cholesterol from Eggs
Consumer Cholesterol Concerns:
Consumer research suggests a realatively high level of consumer concern about managing cholesterol levels. According to HealthFocus, a large-scale syndicated study of consumer attitudes towards health, 41 percent of consumers are extremely or very concerned about high cholesterol, and 40 percent say they consider "cholesterol free" to be extremely or very important when reading food labels. This concern about cholesterol is likely to increase over the next 10 years as the population ages.
US Patent Number. 6,093,434, Issued 07/25/00, "Enhanced Cholesterol Extraction From Egg Yolk"
This technology claims a rapid continuous or batch process for the reduction of cholesterol in egg yolks. The technology allows reduction of cholesterol by up to roughly 80 percent without otherwise affecting taste or functionality. This process also results in an imporved ratio of saturated to unsaturated fats (alters the ratio from 2:1 to 1:2). This process is reported to maintain taste, texture, and other hedonic properties while producing a product having greater heart and health benefits. It does not require special animal diets, and can be used to produce constituted liquid eggs including the white.
Possible Market Segments:
- consumer market - not including shell eggs
- food manufacturing industry
- food service industry
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