RCU’s new corporate headquarters is leading a rebirth of the riverfront in downtown Eau Claire. On a blustery March day, Charlie Grossklaus looks out over the Chippewa River from what is to be his office in the new RCU corporate headquarters, and thinks about the workers who have been constructing the $10 million facility. Solitude of hunting gives Grossklaus time to escape, think They called him “The Grow Getter” in the January/February issue of “Dimensions” magazine. “USA Today” recently featured him as one of the growing number of adult tourists at some traditional college spring break havens. RCU project makes Phoenix Park possible Phoenix is a fitting name for the park to be developed on the riverfront in Eau Claire, where the Eau Claire River empties into the Chippewa River. In mythology, the Phoenix is a bird that bursts into flame, is consumed, then reborn from its own ashes. Forward: Rebirth, reinvention, revolution a sign of the times Spring is a wonderful time. Goldridge Group takes struggling commercial properties and gives them new life Mid-1990s: The Highland Shopping Center on Highway 53 in Eau Claire has fallen into disrepair; it looks old, and traffic through the complex is on the decline. Cray on the comeback The once-mighty supercomputer pioneer teetered on the edge of extinction, until some dedicated professionals brought it back. Foreword - Welcome to the premier issue of the Chippewa Valley Business Report! We’ve designed this publication with you in mind. Inside these pages, you’ll find interesting stories about the people, companies, institutions and issues that significantly impact the Chippewa Valley and beyond. DBD International helps companies refine their image — and the results can be dramatic Hold on to your hair. Leaner process has Huebsch looking sharp Eau Claire company reinvents itself in a way counter to industry trends Nanotechnology could be the next big wave in high tech, and the Chippewa Valley is positioning itself to take advantage. Cancer in all of its forms is nearly 100 percent curable if detected early enough. Detection, though, remains a challenge since existing technology can’t spot some forms until it is advanced enough to show up on an X-ray or an MRI. Transportation changes will bring business hot spots The “Field of Dreams” approach to development worked on the silver screen. But can reality mix with fantasy along a major highway project running through Eau Claire and Chippewa counties and make everyone’s dreams come true? Chippewa Valley pushes for rail service The Chippewa Herald Advocates for the Chippewa Valley Regional envision drawing passengers from Twin Cities suburbs. It's 9 a.m. and the terminal of the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport is void of travelers. 3M doing it right with the DNR Sometimes business and government go through frustrating times, where each is trying to get the other to do what it wants. The relationship could use some reinventing. It’s happening here in the Chippewa Valley. The cost of efficiency: Litigation and electronically stored data In the year 2000, it was estimated that over 6.6 trillion e-mail messages were generated in the U.S. workplace, triple the number that were sent in 1998. Imagine what it is now. The river runs through it: Pepin County joins the Chippewa Valley From its start in Ashland County, the Chippewa River twists and turns and meanders its way through northwestern Wisconsin. Entering Chippewa County, the river broadens to become a force to reckon with as it completes its course through Eau Claire, Dunn and Pepin counties. BUSINESS PEOPLE Sacred Heart Hospital has announced the appointment of Gil Padilla as director of biomedical engineering. His primary responsibility is to ensure Sacred Heart Hospital has the proper medical equipment to provide the best care for patients in a safe environment. “Outsourcing” eliminates jobs, but might create more “Outsourcing is a growing phenomenon, but it’s something that we should realize is probably a plus for the economy in the long run. Outsourcing is just a new way of doing international trade.” Benefits of lean operations require dedication, discipline The highly competitive global marketplace manufacturers operate in today demands adaptability to changes brought on by economic and competitive fluctuations far and wide. Efficiency and effectiveness throughout an organization have grown to become key success drivers in this environment, prompting companies to undertake lean initiatives in an effort to increase their flexibility while eliminating waste. Organizations Is your business or professional organization looking for new active members? Contact Business Report Editor Mark Gunderman at mgunderman@chippewa.com with information on your group’s purpose, regular meetings, activities and contact people. The cost of efficiency: Litigation and electronically stored data In the year 2000, it was estimated that over 6.6 trillion e-mail messages were generated in the U.S. workplace, triple the number that were sent in 1998. Imagine what it is now. Your People: Successful Employees Successful employees: Who doesn’t want them? Who doesn’t wonder how to get them? My own formula is pretty simple: Hire good people, give them what they need to succeed, and get out of their way. Having said that, let’s look a little more deeply at what’s involved in each of these steps. Guest column Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen Seeds for high-tech economy are being planted, but growth will take time It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Wisconsin’s high-tech sector suffered through a bad year in 2002. The same was true across the United States as the shock waves of the “dot.com” crash, investor retrenchment and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, battered the economy. The tech indicators for 2003 cannot help but improve. |
