The Milwaukee Post

14 • Milwaukee County Post • May 2, 2014 BUSINESS BRIEFS Shops of Grand Avenue grows MILWAUKEE – Several businesses have opened up in The Shops of Grand Avenue, with more planning to open their doors this summer, according to an announcement last week. The businesses are leasing more than 32,000 square feet in total. The already opened stores are: Pink Rebel, a locally owned and operated women's shoe boutique; TKO Fashions, a Milwaukee-based women's clothing store with fashion-forward apparel in a wide range of sizes; Celebrity Status Barber & Beauty, a barbershop and beauty salon; Active Nutrition MKE, a wellness center for Active Nutrition; Robbins Law Group, a law practice that provides legal guid- ance in navigating the regulatory and compliance maze for pharmacies, retail- ers, gas stations and convenience stores; and TRUE Skool, a nonprofit organization that uses urban arts as a tool to engage youths in social justice, community serv- ice and civic involvement. Opening in June will be: Kidz Closet, a casual children's clothing store that fea- tures apparel, shoes and toys; Memah's Kitchen, a bakery offering home-baked cookies, cakes, pies, tortes, and other sweet goods, plus gift baskets, flowers and greeting cards; and LipSplash by Kelvy B, a retailer that sells handcrafted flavored lip gloss made with natural ingredients. www.grandavenueshops.com Briggs reports moderate earnings WAUWATOSA – Briggs & Stratton Corp. reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $39.2 million, or 82 cents per share, up from $38.5 million, or 78 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. According to the Wauwatosa-based company, net sales were $628.4 million, down 1.4 percent from $637.2 million a year ago. The company said a colder-than- normal spring has resulted in a delay in retail sales. Briggs & Stratton said its U.S. ship- ments of large engines increased by over 10 percent in the quarter, reflecting its gains in retail placement. Briggs & Stratton produces lawn mower engines and small engines for out- door equipment. www.briggsandstratton.com Harley-Davidson recalls bikes MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson Inc. is recalling about 9,100 of its Softail motor- cycles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The bikes, which were manufactured from March 20, 2012, through March 10, 2014, are being recalled so Harley- Davidson can identify and fix a problem with the fuel level sensor signal. According to the NHTSA, the problem stems from an inaccurate fuel gauge, which can cause the motorcycle to run out of fuel unexpectedly, possibly before the low-fuel warning lamp illuminates. This could cause the motorcycle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. No crashes or injuries related to this issue have been reported, NHTSA offi- cials said. The source of the problem comes from suspension differences between different Softail models, which affect how the fuel tank is positioned on certain bikes. Dealers have been asked to apply a software update that will recalibrate the fuel level sensor signal on the affected bikes. www.harley-davidson.com Kohl's exec appointed to board MENOMONEE FALLS – Michelle Gass, Kohl's Corp.'s chief customer officer, has been named to Cigna Corp.'s board. Effective immediately, she will serve on the corporate governance and audit com- mittees for the health insurer, according to a Cigna statement. Kohl's hired Gass last year from Starbucks Corp., where she spent more than 16 years. Before Starbucks, Gass worked in marketing and new product development with Procter & Gamble Co. www.cigna.com Kohl's ranks 2nd in green power MENOMONEE FALLS – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ranked Kohl's second in the nation in its top 100 list of companies and organiza- tions using renewable energy. The Menomonee Falls-based company ranked higher on the list than any other retailer. According to the EPA, Kohl's bought 1.5 billion kilowatt-hours of elec- tricity per year from renewable sources, which is more green power than the total used by the next two retailers on the EPA's list, Whole Foods Market and Wal- Mart Stores Inc. Intel Corp. ranks first on the list, buy- ing 3.1 billion kwh, according to the EPA. The national ranking of the top 100 green power users also includes five other Wisconsin organizations: The state of Wisconsin, which ranked 36th overall and second highest among states; the University of Wisconsin ranked 77th nationally and 13th among universities; the Forest County Potawatomi Community ranked 93rd; Racine-based S.C. Johnson & Sons Inc. was listed at 94th; and Appleton Coated LLC ranked 100th. www.epa.gov Area banks to merge WAUKESHA – First Federal Bank of Wisconsin and Bay View Federal Savings and Loan Association are planning to merge, pending regulatory approval. After the merger is complete, both banks will go by the name First Federal Bank of Wisconsin, according to a state- ment released by Waukesha-based First Federal Bank. The result of the merger would be a combined federal savings asso- ciation, with assets totaling around $255 million. The merger will allow the banks to expand and better serve customers, said Gary Riley, president and CEO of First Federal Bank. First Federal Bank is in Waukesha at 1801 Summit Ave., 134 Wisconsin Ave. and 1617 E. Racine Ave. Bay View Federal's office is at 3974 S. Howell Ave. in Milwaukee. www.firstfederalwisconsin.com Oberland named president of NM MILWAUKEE – Northwestern Mutual announced last week that Greg Oberland has been named presi- dent of the company effective May 1. The decision will unite responsibility for sales, marketing and agencies under one function and it is intended to strengthen the company's strategic focus on growing and enhancing its field force and deliver- ing financial security to clients, according to the announcement. Currently, Oberland is executive vice president of products, sales and market- ing and will continue reporting to chair- man and CEO John Schlifske. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, headquartered in Milwaukee, and its subsidiaries. www.northwesternmutual.com First Business reports 1Q profit MILWAUKEE – First Business Financial Services, Inc. announced last week that it had a net income of $3.3 mil- lion during the first quarter, which ended March 31. The Milwaukee-based company, which is the parent company of First Business Bank and First Business Bank- Milwaukee, reported the strong first quar- ter profitability was a result of continued execution of its strategic objectives. During the quarter First Business' loans hit record levels, added low-cost deposits and delivered record trust and investment service fees, all while maintaining an effi- ciency ratio below 60 percent, according to the announcement. The net income increased $100,000 dur- ing the first quarter of 2014 when com- pared to the first quarter of 2013. First Business Financial Services is a $1.3 billion Wisconsin-based bank holding company that specializes in focused finan- cial solutions for businesses, key execu- tives, and high-net-worth individuals. www.firstbusiness.com Strattec's net sales increase MILWAUKEE – The net sales for Strattec Security Corporation increased by a little more than $10 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 when com- pared to the same period a year before. Net sales for Strattec's recently ending third quarter were $85.3 million, com- pared to net sales of $74.7 million for the third quarter ended March 31, 2013. Net income for the current quarterly period was $3.6 million, compared to net income of $1.1 million in the prior year quarter. Milwaukee-based Strattec designs, develops, manufactures and markets auto- motive access control products, including mechanical locks and keys, electronically enhanced locks and keys, door handles and related products. www.strattec.com ManpowerGroup reports jump MILWAUKEE – ManpowerGroup Inc. on Wednesday said its net ear nings jumped to $70.1 million, or 86 cents per share, from $23.9 million a year earlier, or 31 cents a share. The Milwaukee-based staffing compa- ny said the prior-year quarter was depressed due to a large one-time restruc- turing charge to cover office closures and severance costs. There were no restruc- turing charges in the current year's quar- ter, however. Revenues for the quarter rose 3 percent to $4.9 billion, the company said. www.manpowergroup.com Johnson Controls profits, sales up GLENDALE – Johnson Controls Inc. last week said net income in its fiscal sec- ond quarter was $261 million, or 39 cents a share, up from $164 million, or 24 cents a share. Total sales were $10.5 billion, up from $10.1 billion, which the company attrib- uted in part to a gain in sales of automo- tive seats and interior products. Those sales helped offset declines in the build- ing efficiency and air conditioners busi- ness and flat sales in the company's auto- motive battery business, the company said. Glendale-based Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and indus- trial company and serves customers in more than 150 countries. www.johnsoncontrols.com Oberland

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