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By Matt Masterson Freeman Staff PEWAUKEE – The Wauke- sha County Business Alliance honored its top 10 businesses of 2014 on June 6, but only one could be named as the group's top business of the year. Waukesha Metal Products took home the honors this year for the first time thanks in large part to its dedication to its employees and a focus on exporting. The small Sussex-based manufacturer beat out other companies such as Centare, EmbedTek LLC, Hunzinger Construction and Hydro- Thermal for the award. Waukesha Metal President and CEO Jeffrey Clark said his business made the top 10 list in 2012 and has remained on the same track ever since. "Probably not a whole lot different than years before," he said when asked if any- thing had changed about his company this year. "It is a good group. We have steady business and a good business model that allows us to be successful in up and down economies." Exporting makes up a large chunk of Clark's busi- ness and he said understand- ing the different cultures that he deals with has been a major asset. During the program, Clark shared an old story about a meeting with foreign investors where he attempt- ed to be polite, but may have unwittingly offended them because of his lack of under- standing of their culture. Since then, he said, he has done his best to learn about the people he is doing busi- ness with. "I think that is a big oppor- tunity for Wisconsin busi- nesses going forward," he said. "We really have to export capability – and whether that is on a plant here in North America or plants out of other countries – you still have to be able to deal culturally with a global market." Suzanne Kelley, president of the WCBA, said the Mil- waukee 7 – a cooperative eco- nomic development platform comprised of seven neigh- boring counties, including Waukesha – is looking to double exports in the next five years and Waukesha Metal Products has been a major contributor. "Jeff's is one of those com- panies (that) is really leading the way in that area," she said. "It is really important to the ongoing growth of this region to ensure that we are making products here and moving them outside of our boundaries." www.waukesha.org www.waukeshametal.com Email: mmasterson@conleynet.com The premiere personal watercraft, speed boat & luxury pontoon boat rental company in Southeastern WI Delivered to the lake of your choice - or - JOIN THE CLUB to enjoy luxury pontoon boats on Pewaukee or Okauchee lakes all summer long. Visit us at www.goodtimerentalswi.com or call us to discuss your options 262-691-8632 238603005 LAKE COUNTRY AESTHETIC MEDICINE John E. 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The "Study" is reviewing data that has been collected, while the "Act" is analyzing that data to understand what can be improved. "When I was a teacher you went over a chapter, gave a test and moved on regardless of whether or not all the stu- dents were ready," Pugh said. "Now, because we have so much more data and are bet- ter at using it ... we teach and assess at the same time, then we may move some on, but we may need to support oth- ers on this particular skill before moving them on." An individual experience Students take three Mea- sures of Academic Progress assessments online each year. These give teachers immediate feedback, allow- ing them to make decisions about instruction that are timely and can impact stu- dent learning. PSD Chief Academic Offi- cer Mike Cady said computer programs such as Carnegie Learning Cognitive Tutor and Fountas & Pinnell's tiered reading system are used to put students on a spe- cific level based on their achievement. This helps make the education process at the PSD more individual- ized, he said. "In the reading, you might have an anchor text that focuses on certain themes or concepts that the teacher might share and do a read- along with students at the start of the lesson," Cady said. "But as the kids move down into an independent piece, then they are in texts that are of their level and of their choosing. The motiva- tion is higher and it is more personalized." This type of customized education is one reason why the Pewaukee School Dis- trict was one of two recipi- ents of the 2013 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Pugh said the criteria for the Baldrige Award – a busi- ness-like approach – has played a big role in refining the PSD's analytical process. "School districts did not tend to see themselves as a business," she said. "But really, we are in education, that is our business. Our cus- tomers are our students and our parents and our commu- nity members. It is a differ- ent way of thinking when you take that business-model framework and put it into education." Comparing PSD with other districts Due to the massive amounts of data taken in, the district hired Candice Bentley as its data and assessment specialist – a position created less than two years ago specifically to review and analyze data. Bentley goes over all large- scale testing data and search- es for trends. She believes this is part of the reason why Pewaukee has succeeded in its analytical efforts where other districts have failed. "I think a lot of (other dis- tricts) try (data analysis) and a lot of them struggle with not having someone to work on it specifically for them," she said. "It is very time-con- suming, (and) detail-orient- ed." Graphs and data charting student progress and action pieces related to the PDSA process are available and regularly updated on the dis- trict's website, to remain as transparent as possible with students, parents and the public. Pugh said this too is part of the Baldrige framework and is done to make sure all those in the district know what is going on from top to bottom. This process helps the PSD keep track of not only its own progress, but also that of other districts. "I can compare our teach- ers and students to Wiscon- sin and national students at the same level," Pugh said. "(To) see how we are doing compared to the districts around us, but also some ones we call 'best in practice' – those higher achieving dis- tricts, and they may be national districts, but other Baldrige Award-winning school districts – and we compare ourselves to them to make sure we are living up to those standards." Email: mmasterson@conleynet.com Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Waukesha Metal Products President/CEO Jeff Clark receives the #1 Business of the Year award from Waukesha Business Alliance President Suzanne Kelley on June 6. 'We are in education, that is our business' Pewaukee School District embraces analytics Business Alliance names Waukesha Metal Products its No. 1 company of 2014 Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Waukesha Metal Products President/CEO Jeff Clark speaks after receiving the #1 Business of the Year award Fri- day afternoon.