1. Confidence of CEOs in region up slightly
By David Wegge, PhD
david@intellectualmarketing.com
CEOs in Northeastern Wisconsin are slightly
more confident today than they were at the end
of last year according to the latest Nicolet Bank
Business Pulse. While CEOs indicate the last three
months have been some of their most challenging
in years, they are more optimistic today.
Today, The Nicolet Bank Business Pulse
Index stands at 93.8 — up slightly from 91.7 at the
end of 2007. While the Index remains below its
100-point baseline, the good news is that CEOs
seem to say they’re more optimistic today.
The Current Conditions Index is down to 83
— nearly four points from its previous all-time low
at the end of Quarter 4, 2007 — but The Future
Expectations Index improved slightly to 104.5 from
96.6 at the end of Quarter 4, 2007.
The Business Pulse measures current
economic conditions compared to three months
ago, as well as expectations of CEOs over the next
See CEOs, PAGE 13
The Pulse of Area BusinessSeventy percent, though,
believe recession is
possible this year
By Betty Wall
bwall@thebusinessnewsonline.com
Dale Youngquist says the Neenah Rotary
Foundation golf outing just keeps getting bigger
and better. “Dollars Fore Scholars” now includes
golf, dinner, and an auction, with proceeds going
toward scholarships.
The event, set for this Thursday, May 29 at
Ridgeway Country Club, is open to the public. To
register, call Dana Kohlmeyer at (920) 720-0649.
Youngquist, a manager in the Appleton office
of Schenck Business Solutions, is past president of
the Neenah Rotary Club, and serves on the Club’s
board as well as its Foundation board. The Neenah
Rotary Foundation gives out scholarships,
primarily to Neenah High School and St. Mary’s
High School. He said they also support a program
called STRIVE at Neenah High School that helps
under-achieving students.
Rotary’s largest fund raiser is Seafood Fest,
held each September in partnership with the
Menasha Rotary. This year’s event is scheduled for
September 5-6 at Jefferson Park in Menasha.
Youngquist volunteers every year at Seafood Fest,
and also participates in another Rotary fund raiser
As a volunteer, he’s at the ‘fore’ front
See Youngquist, PAGE 4
Youngquist helps raise funds for scholarships, children’s charities
People
who make a difference
�Dale Youngquist, manager
Schenck Business Solutions, Appleton
Wearing his Quarry Quest shirt, Dale Youngquist sits in a piece of earth-moving equipment similar to some used for Quarry Quest where
kids and their families can actually take the controls of a crane or backhoe and learn about working at a quarry. The annual fund raiser
also allows them to participate in other activities such as dig for fools gold, learn about geology, and make sand sculptures or a
concrete cake. The Business News photo by Amanda Lauer
May 26, 2008 THE BUSINESS NEWS 3
www.thebusinessnewsonline.com
In This Issue
6 Technology
8 Hal Becker
10 Finance
12 Healthcare
14 Manufacturing
16 Real Estate
19 The List
23 Growth Strategies
25 People
26 For the Record
27 Stock Trends
30 Classifieds
32 Commentary
33 Opinion
In every issue
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14 A division of Hoffmaster Group in
Appleton will close its Appleton
plant as part of a consolidation plan.
16 Expansion of a Kaukauna business
may create up to 50 jobs.
18 Integrys Energy Group CEO Larry
Weyers says the bar must be raised
when developing leaders.
23 Started as a part-time business in
the early 1970s, Arn’s Cabinets
turned into a family business that
spans three generations.
C A P I TA L I D E A S
Q: Sam’s truck hauls 8 tons. Billy’s truck hauls 12 tons.
How much more does Billy’s truck haul than Sam’s?
A: 336 tons
Banking. We take it personally. 920.430.1400 Nicoletbank.com
Billy drove his truck straight to Nicolet National Bank. And with the
help of his business banking partner, he obtained the financing
needed to purchase an entire fleet.
After seven years of working out of her
home and taking primarily wedding photos,
an area photographer opened a studio in
Olde School Square in Ledgeview. Story on
Page 5.
The Business News northeast
Programs:
Quark Xpress
InDesign
Photoshop
By Betty Wall
bwall@thebusinessnewsonline.com
In anticipation of labor shortages in the near
future, DeLeers Construction is now selling pre-
engineered housing through a separate division
called Ambient Homes. Pre-engineered houses are
constructed in small components in a controlled
factory setting, and then shipped to the home site,
where DeLeers stick-built home crews set and
finish the homes.
Ambient Homes is five miles south of
Sturgeon Bay on Hwy 42/57, where it has sales
offices and five homes on display. DeLeers
Construction is at 1735 Sal Street in Green Bay.
The third generation company was started by
brothers Jake and Norbert DeLeers in 1945.
Paul DeLeers, business development director
for DeLeers Construction, said he first began
looking at the pre-engineered concept while
Youngquist is
at the ‘fore’
front as a
fund raiser
Youngquist
By Betty Wall
bwall@the businessnewsonline.com
You might say Paul Linzmeyer is a business
activist. The Green Bay businessman takes an
innovative approach to business and started
Innovation for Sustainable Operations Inc. (ISO)
with partner Steve Dunn, a
professor at UW-Oshkosh.
Their “Grean” concept applies
lean business principals to
environmental, social and
economic strategies to help
companies secure a sustainable
corporate future.
“It’s no longer business
as usual. We not only have to look at sustainability
for the corporation but for the community as a
whole,” said Linzmeyer.
“I like to say that profits
to a business are like oxygen to
an organism.You need oxygen
to survive but it is not your
core purpose,” Linzmeyer
said. “A company has no value
if the environment fails or if
society fails. So, we all need to
be part of the solution to have
healthy, sustainable communities and societies.
Company owners must get involved and begin to
drive system change. That is going to be in their
own best interests.”
Linzmeyer has been interested in
environmental and social aspects of business for
more than 15 years, and he knew that he wanted to
focus on those areas. As president of Bay Towel in
Ashwaubenon since 1994, he had instituted many
green practices in the company. He left BayTowel in
January to form his new company.
In April, Linzmeyer was appointed by
the United States Department of Commerce as
Building toward the future
See Building, PAGE 34
See ISO, PAGE 34
Potential labor shortages
lead area company
to create division that
builds houses indoors
DaleYoungquist, a manager
in theAppleton office of Schenck
Business Solutions, is involved
in a number of area fund-raising
activities including the Neenah
Rotary Foundation’s annual golf
outing that raises funds for
scholarships given to area
students. He is also involved with
Quarry Quest, an annual event
that has raised $575,000 for
children’s charities since its
inception in 1999.
— Story on PAGE 3
Paul DeLeers, left, and his dad, Jerry, stand in front of one of their factory-made display homes at their
Sturgeon Bay display area. Homes are made in three sections and transported to the building site,
eliminating weather damage during construction. The Business News photo by J.A. Robb
Linzmeyer, UW-O professor
start business to help others
plan sustainable strategies
Former Bay Towel president now a leader of ISO
Page 9
‘Shoe geek’ turned
passion into career
Page 19 Economic impact of
tourism on region’s counties
Linzmeyer Dunn
THE BUSINESS NEWSServing Brown, Calumet, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano & Winnebago counties
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