MMAC’s plan to create prosperity-Education

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) surveyed it’s members to see what needs to be done in the Milwaukee area to create prosperity (jobs).  They listed some of the assets of the Milwaukee region:

• Livability
• Workforce Quality
• Manufacturing Base
• Prime Location on Lake Michigan.

They identified several challenges to creating jobs in the region and identified an agenda for addressing the challenges getting in the way of creating jobs and prosperity for Milwaukee and the surrounding regions. They outlined their agenda in their report called; “The Blueprint for Economic Prosperity” 

The top concerns they identified are as follows:

• High taxes
• Burdensome regulations
• Inadequate education and workforce development
• Limited prospects for economic growth
• Need for more community leadership.

Education
MPS Graduation rate of 47% ranks 47^th of America’s 50 largest school districts. Milwaukee and Wisconsin cannot be open for business without an educated workforce. The MMAC is a strong supporter for Milwaukee’s Parental Choice program. 83% of members supported this program. Governor Walker has proposed expansion of this program in his State budget. The public schools in Milwaukee are not doing the job needed to prepare students for 21^st century jobs. The MMAC is also proposing changes in the way MPS is structured and governed to get them to perform better.

MMAC has some success in the education area. Here are just some of their accomplishments:

• Worked with legislators from the Milwaukee area to keep the caps from being lowered for the Choice program.
• They helped to get legislation passed to create more stringent standards for schools applying to the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program.
• Required all publicly funded schools to use a standard achievement test.
• Did a study of MPS finances, which showed unfunded healthcare and pension liabilities that are bankrupting the system. 
• Raised more than $34,000 to help fund MPS Reading Enrichment Programs at Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School and at Browning Elementary School.
• Sponsored Charter School of the Year Award.

The MMAS is also proposing to implement the state’s Workforce Training System locally to reduce administrative costs, increase the dollars flowing to training and connect the current educational system to employers.

For 2010-2012 the MMAC proposes the following agenda to help change education to create jobs:

• Increase funding for Choice and Charter schools.
• Support efforts to adopt federal “Race to the Top” Standards including:
• Common standards and assessment.
• Timely reporting on student performance.
• Evaluate teachers based on student performance.
• Intervene in struggling schools.
• Move authority for MPS to the Mayors office.
• Add a business leader to the MATC board.

Improving education is vital to create jobs and prosperity for Wisconsin residents.  The MMAC surveyed pay as it related to educational attainment. Here is what they found for average yearly earnings:

• Less than high school-$21,648.
• High school grad- $30,476.
• Some college or associate degree- $34,471.
• College degree- $47,929.
• Graduate or professional degree- $60,885.

Currently only 31% of the residents of the Milwaukee areas have a four year degree or better. This puts us in the mid point of comparable markets.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Mandated benefits and jobs

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

Public policy sometimes has unintended consequences.  In November 2008,  City of Milwaukee voters approved a referendum supported by “9 to 5, National Association of Working Women.  The policy mandated the following:

• All employers shall provide a minimum of one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked by an employee. 
• Employees of small business will not accrue more than 40 hours of paid sick leave in a calendar year, unless the employer selects higher limits.
• The ordinance applies to all employers within the city, except the federal government, the state of Wisconsin, including any office, department, agency, authority, institution, association, society or other body of the state, including the legislative and judiciary, or country or local government.

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce has been fighting the ordinance in court. The initial court decision was made for the MMAC. The most recent decision sided with the city. Expect further fights.

The MMAC contends the ordinance is a job killing resolution.  The law will make Milwaukee a high cost island since surrounding counties do not have this requirement.  The MMAC is going to fight these types of policies since they feel they are an advocate for business and job creation. .  Today Gov. Walker will sign the bill into law. So at least the law is consistent statewide and defuses that argument.

The other side claims the benefits of the law including:

• Lacks of sick days affect mostly workers at the bottom of the pay scale.
• When workers have no sick days, they come to work sick. This can infect others, and prolong illness. This increases cost to the healthcare system and for employers.
• Sick employees who work with food could affect the health of the general public.
• Employees who stay home to care for sick family members risk losing their jobs.
• Without sick time it is difficult for employees to set up medical appointments for routine and medical care.
• When employees have no sick days they cannot care for sick family members, pushing them into the healthcare system. This again increases costs.

The law is well intended. It does increase the costs for business and may stop a business from expanding and jobs being created.  It would be better to let the marketplace decide if an organization can offer these benefits or for government to provide incentives for a business that does offer them

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Federal workers thrive without collective bargaining

 Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

There have been plenty of protests here in Wisconsin about the provisions of Governor Walkers budget repair. There is a recall effort because of the loss of collective bargining.

 There have been assertions of union busting and that Walker is attacking the middle class.  President Obama pronounced the legislation “An assault on our unions”.

The legislation was actually quite mild.  Governor Mitch Daniels in Indiana de-certified their public employee unions with an executive order. States such as Ohio and Tennessee are pondering reductions in union bargaining.  The legislation in Wisconsin and these states puts our public sector unions more in line with the bargaining ability of federal workers.

Federal workers have not been hurt by limited bargaining powers. They still out earn their private sector co-workers for the same jobs by an average of $7000.  Federal workers also average $30,000 in benefits on average compared to the $7000 earned on average in the private sector.

The federal government also does not collect union dues or force employees to join the union.  Membership and payment of dues is voluntary. The employees still benefit from any agreement reached by the union.  Wisconsin would no longer collect union dues and employees would not be forced to join the union. This puts Wisconsin in line with the federal system.

The reason the unions are so opposed to these changes is most federal workers choose not to join the union. The unions lose all their dues monies.   Unions give mostly to democratic campaigns, so this will leave a lot of cash out of democratic coffers. Any wonder why the 14 democratic state legislators fled the State of Wisconsin during the battle over the budget repair bill.

This fight is not about representing the rights of workers or taking care of the middle class. The unions in Wisconsin have shown they have been willing to sacrifice union jobs to retain their own money and power.

Union leadership is paid for at the federal level. There is just no union dues money to spread around.   Workers also can bring issue to a federal review panel, so they have workplace protections.

There is lots of money at stake in this fight. The Census showed there were 3.8 million state employees and 11.1 million government employees nationwide. Unions want that dues money. It means power, influence and jobs with lavish salaries for union leaders.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

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Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Milwaukee Health Care and Jobs

Chris Wodke
http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) has a goal to create jobs and prosperity in the greater Milwaukee area. Our area is known for the quality of healthcare. We have firms that are known for their innovation in developing new technologies.

The MMAC did a study of healthcare in the area and what can be done to lower costs and be a positive factor in the economy.  Their goal is a consumer based system that provides high quality, cost effective health care.

More than 75 percent of healthcare spending is spent on the 20 percent of the U.S. population s with chronic diseases.

Many of the groups that belong to the MMAC have programs to promote wellness in their workplaces. This came out of a project between the MMAC, the Greater Milwaukee Committee and the City of Milwaukee.    MMAC also partnered with WPS’ Patient Choice and the Business Group on Health Care, offering products that provide a consumer driven approach to managing health care.

The MMAC is also active on the legislative front.  Here are some of their results to date:

• Increased reimbursement rate for hospitals providing Medicaid services to reduce cost shifting to private payers.
• More than 50 Milwaukee employers enrolled in the Well City program; 15 have achieved Well Workplace Award designations.
• Blocked “Healthy Wisconsin” state government proposed health care take over.
• Enhanced web-based resources on health care costs and quality.

The MMAC will also continue to lobby on the health care front because they know reducing cost for business has a positive effect on creating jobs. Here is what they have on their legislative agenda for 2010-2012:

• Exempt health savings accounts from state taxation.
• Reform medical malpractice system to reduce costs associated with defensive medicine.
• Create legislation to guarantee access to transparent health care cost and quality information.
• Achieve “Well City” status for Milwaukee.
• Create tax incentives for wellness and chronic disease management expenditures.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Do Ivy league graduates earn more?

 Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

If you go to Harvard will you make more money in your lifetime than if you went to the University of Wisconsin at Madison or even UWM?   Does it lead to lifetime employment? Are you at a disadvantage if you go to a state school like Madison or UWM? Should you fork over the big bucks to get the name of a prestigious

A study was done by economists Stacy Dale and Alan Krueger to determine if your alma mater affects your lifetime income.

They found it depends. Black, Latino, low income students or students whose parents were not college graduates did earn more it they attended an elite university. The researchers felt the increase in income came from the connections they formed during their education. They may also have acquired networking skills that their middle class counterparts already had. The networks connections you make in college can be critical to your later success in life.

For white students the picture is a bit different.  They found if a student had high SAT scores and applied to elite universities it did not matter if they attended. If they had the ability to attend an elite university, but did not attend there was no affect on their future income.  The major reason for the increased income of graduates from elite schools is the students themselves. It may have nothing to do with the schools.  Good news for those of you with high SAT scores that cannot afford Duke or Princeton. Your success in life depends on your brains and drive, not the name of the institution on the diploma.  If you have the right stuff you will make a good living over your entire lifetime. So don’t worry about which school you attend. Follow your passion, use your talents and the money will follow.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Is your job search detrimental to your health?

 Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

Jim Trainer a Partner with Jell Tech Consulting spoke at the March Crossroads network meeting on the subject “ What you don’t know or take for granted in you job search may be detrimental to your health.”

Here is a summary of his remarks. 

You may need to re-think what you are doing in your job search. 

Resume

• The first thing he asked the audience was the resume.  The goal of the resume is to get an interview.
•  If it isn’t generating and interview it is time to review it.
• Get rid of resume objective.
• Use a summary of skills and experience. This will help an employer to know what is unique about your talents and skills.
• Your resume should focus on the skills you bring and the results you have gotten.
• Quantify your success with hard numbers. Employers are bottom line oriented.

Branding
You need to understand employers are concerned about what you can do for them. They have a need or a problem and are looking for someone to solve it. Your resume and interview should tell an employer:

• What you are good at.
• Why someone should hire you.
• They can trust you.
• You will be a good team player.
• You are a problem solver that gets results.
• You take initiative.

Networking

Lots of people are unemployed. There is no shame in being on a job search. Tell everyone you are looking.  Here are some networking ideas to use in your job search:

• Always carry copies of resumes in envelopes. Keep them with you. Tell everyone you are in a job search, hand them your resume and ask them for their advice.   Ask them to take a look and let you know how you can improve your resume.
• Tell the person you will call them in a few days. When you call them:
• Ask for feedback.
• Ask them if they have any job leads for a person with your skills.
• Ask them to keep you in mind and let you know if they hear of anything.

They are now familiar with your skills and may be able to help you in the future. This approach may generate some good leads. Be sure you follow up on them.

• Ask those you network with if there is anything you can do for them, they just might help you in return.

Interviews

This is the toughest part to get to. If you get an interview then you are doing some things right with your resume and networking. To make the interview effective:

• Ask the interviewer about their biggest challenge or problem. Listen closely to determine if your skills are a fit.
• Be ready with your CAR stories. A car story is a Challenge you had, the approach you took to solve it and the result you got.  Past accomplishments are a good indicator of future success.
• Be sure you are closing the interview well. Ask if there is anything the interviewer heard that would prevent the company from taking you to the next step or ask about the next step.

Hopefully you find the information from the presentation helpful. Perhaps you will join us for the next Crossroads Career Network meeting. We meet the second Monday of each month at Hales Corners Lutheran Church. The church is located at

12300 W. Janesville Road

. Meeting start at 6:30.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Milwaukee 7 Partnership to create jobs

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

The Milwaukee 7 Partnership is an initiative sponsored by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) to create economic development. Economic development is important to the region to create jobs and long term prosperity. The seven stands for the 7 counties in southeastern Wisconsin.

MMAC is one of the founding partners of the Milwaukee 7 regional economic development initiative, along with the City of Milwaukee and the Greater Milwaukee Committee.  The Milwaukee 7, launched in September 2005, was formed to create a cooperative platform for the seven counties of southeastern Wisconsin: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha and Washington.  Its mission is to grow, attract and retain diverse businesses and talent.

MMAC’s public policy work is designated to improve the business climate in southeastern Wisconsin.  The focus is on attracting, expanding and growing business with the partnership with the MMAC in Milwaukee 7.  Other members include the City of Milwaukee, Greater Milwaukee Committee and representatives from throughout the seven counties of Southeastern Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee 7 has participated in 75 corporate projects. Part of the project was selling Milwaukee as a place to do business.  The result was:

·         12 businesses relocated to Milwaukee, bringing 3,200 jobs, $184 million in payroll and $151 million in capitol investment.

·         Leveraged millions of dollars in federal earmarks, state assistance and other municipal investments for business projects that make the Milwaukee Region stronger and a more attractive place to do business.

·         Created a network for water technology firms, leveraged federal funds and gained a U.N designation for the region’ focus on water research.

·         Secured a passage of a state jobs tax credit giving Wisconsin a powerful new incentive to attract and retain jobs.  The credit gives a 10% refundable credit over 10 years for jobs with wages between $20,000 and $100,000.

·         Raised $730,000 for the Milwaukee 7, bringing the total funding to $6.4 million from 64 investors.

·         ChooseMilwaukee.com won an award for a web site that matches real estate with demographic information and showcased the region.

The Milwaukee 7 has 27 projects pending that could result in an additional 6000 jobs.  Great news because jobs bring prosperity for the entire community.  The MMAC they will not land all of these jobs, but we will get none of them if we sit on the sidelines. Plans for 2010-2012 include:

• Continue efforts to attract companies with marketing targeted to specific industries.
• Continue the Regional Call Program to contact local employers and proactively address issues and facilitate expansion plans.
• Increase incentives for the expansion, retention and attraction of new jobs.
• Deliver project wins generating 2000 new or retained jobs.
• Kick off the second round or Milwaukee 7 fundraising with a goal of $7 million.

Part of the project has included interviews with 174 companies around the region. This brings the contact base to 600 companies.  The interviews give the MMAC insight on steps to be taken to create jobs.

The work being done helps to line up resources with companies already in the region.  The Milwaukee 7 has identified growth industries in Automotive & controls manufacturing and food processing as industries that line up well with our resources.

The Milwaukee metro area ranks 4^th highest in Fortune 500 firms per capita among 21 comparable metro areas. We have many assets to recommend our location including our lake, low wastewater treatment costs and low utility costs.  MMAC as part of Milwaukee 7 will continue to work to promote Wisconsin business locally by acting globally.

Here are some examples of some recent wins for our region:

Quad/Graphics will create as many as 1,300 jobs in southeast
Wiscons in as it merges operations following the acquisition of World Color Press Inc. in 2010 for $1.3 billion. “Milwaukee 7
was instrumental in helping us early on in our process of deciding where to put these 1,300 jobs,” said Joel Quadracci, Quad/Graphics chairman, president and CEO.

Now the second-largest printer in the Western Hemisphere, Sussex-based Quad is receiving $46 million in state assistance through Enterprise Zone tax credits to create the new jobs and retain 5,500 existing jobs in Wisconsin. The merged company has combined sales of $5.1 billion and 30,000 employees, with about 6,000 workers in Wisconsin at five plants.

Bucyrus International is expanding its mining equipment operations and
will create 515 jobs as a result of growing demand and the acquisition of the mining division of Terex Corp. South Milwaukee-based Bucyrus is investing $44 million for the project, including $5 million for worker training and $39 million in capital investment to rehab the former Midwest Airlines headquarters in Oak Creek that will serve as its headquarters. The state is providing $20 million in the form of Enterprise Zone tax credits to support the company’s consolidation and expansion.

Caterpillar, the world's largest construction equipment maker, recently announced it has agreed to buy Bucyrus for $7.6 billion to greatly expand its mining machine manufacturing footprint, adding large shovels and drills to its range of smaller mining machinery. Peoria, Ill.-based Cat will locate its global mining division headquarters at Bucyrus' new headquarters in Oak Creek.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

End of collective bargaining, not end of the world

 Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

Public sector union member, especially teachers have been vocal in their protest of the end of collective bargaining.   Their life as they knew it is over, at least according to them.  You would think they were losing the very last freedom they had.

The goal of Walker and the legislators is to reduce the cost of state government, keeping taxes low and sending the signal Wisconsin is open to business. Unlike President Obama, Walker really does have a laser like focus on jobs. He understands to create a business friendly climate we must get the size and cost of government under control.

Government at all levels needs flexibility to run its operations. Union work rules were preventing the efficient and economic operation of government.

So is the end of collective bargaining really the end of the world. What will be the benefits and draw backs. What can workers expect as the law starts to take effect?

We just have to look to Indiana to see the future.  Gov. Mitch Daniels eliminated bargaining for state employees six years ago with an executive order.  Here were some of the results in Indiana:

• No raises for state employees in some years.
• Higher health insurance payments. Average employee paying $3400 a year more.
• Weakening of sonority preferences. Merit pay system. Some employees got 10 percent raises while some employees got no raise.
• More ability to outsource or consolidate state operations.

Daniels was able to merge procurement of several state operations. He consolidated food service operations for Indiana state prisons and saved $100 million since 2005. He would have been unable to do so under old union contracts.

Contracts for teachers currently require health insurance be bought through the teachers trust.  The union charges more and pockets the profit. If the teachers were switched to the state program $68 million a year would be saved. That is a lot of money that could be used to educate our kids and the taxpayers would not pay a dime more.  The state coverage would be as good as currently provided to the teachers.

Workers would still have grievance procedures and civil service protection under Walkers plan.   This is a change we need. It has helped in Indiana; we need make the same changes in Wisconsin.

Elections and jobs

Chris Wodke
http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

Another reprint of an article I wrote after last year’s election.  We want to keep in mind the consequences of elections as the recall efforts against Governor Walker and other Republicans continue.

 Illinois voters elected Pat Quinn as Governor at the same time Wisconsin voters elected Scott Walker. That’s about all these two have in common beside a state border.

Democrat Quinn chose to raise taxes to balance the Illinois budget.   Walker has taken the route of cutting spending and holding the line on taxes to create a business friendly environment. Quinn doubled the corporate income tax in addition to raising personal income taxes. The business tax rate increased from 4.8 percent to 7 percent. Personal income tax rates went from 3 percent to 5 percent.

That decision  may cost 23,000 jobs as Caterpillar tells Quinn the tax hike may drive it from Illinois. In a story reported by the AP and by Chicago Business Caterpillar details its concerns about the unfavorable business climate in Illinois.  Doug Oberhelman, CEO of Caterpillar wrote a letter to Governor Quinn  on March 21^st.  In the letter he stated “I want to stay here, But as the leader of this business, I have to do what’s right for Caterpillar when making decisions about where to invest”.

Oberhelman went on to say he wanted to work with Quinn to change the business climate. Caterpillar has ties to Wisconsin. Late last year Caterpillar announced they were acquiring Bucyrus International of South Milwaukee. So jobs in Wisconsin may be at stake because of decisions made in Illinois.  Quinn took the route of raising taxes instead of taking on the unions like Scott Walker here in Wisconsin.

We all need to realize organizations like Caterpillar exist to make money. The tax increase in Illinois will cost Caterpillar about $40 million dollars.  

Four states have already reached out to try and lure Caterpillar from Illinois. Oberhelman has disclosed he has been contacted by governors from South Dakota, Nebraska, Texas and Virginia.  Caterpillar recently expanded by building plants in Texas and North Carolina. If we want to keep jobs in Wisconsin we must keep taxes low and create a business friendly environment. If we don’t we will lose jobs to states that do.

States must make the tough decisions to lower spending and balance budgets. Businesses and private citizens cannot afford more increases. Lowering costs means solving high labor and benefit costs. These are the major component of spending in any state budget. Illinois chose to ignore that they have one of the largest unfunded pension plans. Walker took the tough route, suggesting modest increases in pension and healthcare payments by state workers. The changes in collective bargaining are needed to insure these changes are permanent.

Business will simply pick up and move to states that have lower taxes and a better business climate.  The 23,000 employees cannot afford to be lost.

Our recent Wisconsin Supreme Court race was billed as a referendum on the Walker program.  The race is still too close to call.  Will we have a liberal justice that will thwart every reform effort?  Will we have a justice that kills every attempt to make Wisconsin business friendly?  We will have to wait to see which justice takes their seat on the court. Let’s hope it is a justice that will rule impartially and not on party lines. Walker was elected by a majority of Wisconsin voters.  Let’s hope his programs get a chance to create a business friendly environment for Wisconsin. We need the companies and we need the jobs.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Is the economy at a tipping point?

 Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

This artcile is a reprint of an article I did last year. Things have not improved. The super committee did not reach an agreement and the deficit has ballooned.  Governments in Europe and state governments here at home are threatening default.

Last year a gas station on

Port Washington Road

has gas for $4.15 a gallon.  The rising cost of energy has fueled a huge increase in food prices.  At $3.90 a gallon energy costs amount to 6 percent of spending for the average American. Energy prices have fallen, but are still high

All the recession except the one on 9/11 were started with high energy prices. This current recession started when gas hit $4.00 per gallon nationwide.  The recessions all started when energy prices hit 6 percent of personal spending.  Currently food prices have risen 6.5 percent since January.   Craig Johnson, President of Growth Partners estimates food and energy will amount to 15 percent of consumer spending.  That is for the average American. If you are out of work or have a lower than average income the percentage is even higher.

The job market is improving but still fragile. In March all 12 metro areas in Wisconsin experienced a drop in their unemployment rates according to numbers reported by the Department of Workforce Development.  Madison had the lowers rate at 5.7 percent, followed by 6.6 percent in LaCrosse and 6.9 percent in Oshkosh.  Janesville had the highest rate at 10.2 percent. The rate in Milwaukee was 8.1 percent down from 10.2 percent a year ago. The rate in Racine was 9.7 percent.

There are still many long term unemployed.  Business has started to recover, but has been slow to ramp up hiring. Will the rise in gas and commodity prices stall the fragile recovery?

According to a New York Times/CBS poll   Americans are not feeling good about the state of the economy. They list high gas prices and unemployment as two of the reasons.   57 percent of Americans do not approve of the job President Obama is doing in handling the economy.  About the same number are concerned about the President’s handling of the deficit.  This lack of confidence will affect business spending and investment.  The rise in energy and commodity costs will decrease consumer spending in the rest of the economy. Both bad signs for the economy and future job creation.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Accelerating Economic Development

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/ 

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) has a plan to accelerate economic development. The plan was published as part “The Blueprint for Economic Prosperity” they recently published.  

Their web site states “Alongside traditional economic development activities, MMAC has developed imitative and programs to accelerate economic growth by broadening its impact and extending its reach.”

One of those initiatives is FUEL Milwaukee.  Business needs to attract and retain a capable talented workforce. FUEL Milwaukee helps employees and employers to connect. FUEL engages professionals (mostly under 40) in a network of peers with opportunities to grow, volunteer, learn and have fun.  This helps those involved to broaden their network. Those more connected and involved in the community are more likely to stay. Brain drain has been a real problem in the past for Milwaukee.

According to the Great Places to Work Institute, Milwaukee ranks 1^st in the nation for the number of “Great Places to Work” per capita. We have great places to work and a pool of educated willing workers.  FUEL Milwaukee also provides a key connection for human resources professionals to market their company and region to highly talented professionals.

The MMAC has a diversity initiative. They feel if the number of minority owned businesses were aligned with our populations, it would mean another $2.3 billion in revenue.  Diversity brings strength to an economy. The goal is to serve ethnically diverse firms. The Business Council serves ethnically diverse firms and helps them to increase their ability to do business. The cornerstone of the program is the Supplier Diversity Module. This connects minority owned business firms to corporate and public sector work. So far $135.5 million in spending has occurred through this program.

The MMAC is supporting new ways to think, act and innovate to continue prosperity and create jobs.  One such program is the Milwaukee World Trade Organization. This helps companies to develop international business relationships though a network of 400 members. MMAC’s China Business Council has helped members enter this market.

MMAC is also helping to attract foreign investment through their regional Immigrant Investor Zone. The program offers green cards to foreign investors and their family members for a minimum investment of $500,000 and the creation of 10 new jobs.

These programs are an example of some of the things the private sector can do to create jobs. The MMAC should be applauded for their efforts.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Why taxing the rich won't fix the economy

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

President Obama has been talking for months about taxing the rich and siding with Occupy protestors.  Last year Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan (R ) proposed a path to balance the federal budget in his recently  “Path to Prosperity”. Taxing the rich is nice populist rhetoric designed to get votes.  It sounds so good to make the evil rich cough up more of their ill gotten gains. 

The problem is there aren’t enough rich and they don’t have enough money to solve our current deficit problems (currently $14 Trillion).  According to the Internal Revenue Service and reported in the Wall Street Journal, the entire taxable income of everyone earning over $100,000 in 2008 was about $1.58 Trillion.  If these “evil” rich were to give 100% of their income it would not cover even one year of the deficits President Obama is running.

A study reported in Investors Business Daily shows why there is not enough money to solve our problems:

• $2.1 trillion in taxes was collected in 2008 from those making over $200,000.
• If the tax rate is raised back to that in the Clinton era of 39.6 percent from 35 percent and the capitol gains set back to 20 percent this would have gotten $50 billion in taxes.

This does not give us the income needed to fix the budget problems. We have to stop spending so much. We have an unfair system. Not because the rich don’t pay enough, but because many Americans pay nothing:

• Wage earners in the bottom half of income pay nothing.
• The top 1 percent of wage earners pay 40 percent of the taxes.

Much of the revenue from these top earners is due to capitol gains and bonuses. These rise and fall with the business cycle. When we are in a recession, this source of income drops dramticallly.

Taxing the rich has failed before. FDR  Under FDR tax rates on the highest income earners rose to 90%.   Those with money stopped taking the risk of investing if 90 percent was going to the government.

During his term unemployment never fell below 20 percent

The onset of World War II was able to pull the country out of the depression. Despite massive spending by Roosevelt unemployment increased. All of his spending took jobs from the private sector and transferred them to the public sector in the form of WPA jobs.

The policies of Roosevelt prolonged the depression by 7 years according to UCLA economists. Researchers Harold L Cole and Lee E Ohanian found that government can mess up a recovery with its policies They blame the National RIndustiral Recovery Act.  The Act raised wages and process resulting in higher unemployment. They estimate without the act the depression would have ended on its own in 1936 instead of 1943.

We have learned in Wisconsin the value of reducing spending. Walkers budget repair bill and budget w reduced the cost of government.  Local governments are providing service without raising taxes. Federal government needs to do the same. Because every dollar taken out of the private sector means jobs lost.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation