Beth Ridley and Lauren Anderson join Arthur Thomas to talk about diversity and inclusion coverage from the July 19 issue of BizTimes Milwaukee. Beth works as a consultant helping companies with D&I issues. For the issue, she wrote a column highlighting how she is focusing on having tough conversations when the opportunity arises. She also discussed how these conversations can help companies foster a more inclusive culture. Lauren, an associate editor at BizTimes, discussed some of her coverage from the issue, including a story that takes stock of how well companies are doing on their D&I commitments made in the summer of 2020.

The D&I coverage in the July 19 issue is part of BizTimes' Business Cares series and was supported by the 45 companies represented on the cover of the print edition. More information about the Business Cares series, including additional coverage, is available here.

Coverage mentioned in this episode:

Beth Ridley: Fostering a culture of inclusion

So your company denounced racism. Now what?

BizCompass: What does Milwaukee need to do to attract and retain diverse talent?

Previous D&I focused podcasts:

Beth Ridley on lessons learned from diversity series podcasts

BizTimes editor Andrew Weiland joins associate editor Arthur Thomas to talk about the Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA Finals. Andrew reflects on the cooperation and bipartisan work that made Fiserv Forum and the Deer District possible, a topic he addressed in his commentary for the July 19 issue of BizTimes Milwaukee. Andrew and Arthur also bring up reporter Alex Zank's Real Estate Spotlight from May, which explored possible development opportunities for the Milwaukee Brewers as Komatsu Mining moves to its new Harbor District in the coming years.

Commentary: Bucks' rise shows benefits of teamwork

Real Estate Spotlight: Komatsu site in West Milwaukee could present opportunity for baseball-centered development district

Commentary: Brewers should develop land along Miller Park Way

Fiserv Forum brings Milwaukee together

Enerpac Tool Group's Jeff Schmaling and Barb Bolens join BizTimes Media associate editor Arthur Thomas to discuss lessons learned from helping the Menomonee Falls-based company navigate through the COIVD-19 pandemic over the past year.

Enerpac, previously known as Actuant, had just completed a series of moves, including a major divestiture and a name change, aimed at setting the company on a new strategic direction when the pandemic hit. In April 2020, Enerpac CEO Randy Baker talked with Arthur about how the sudden onset of the pandemic required the company to take quick actions to preserve the business. 

In this episode, Schmaling, Enerpac's chief operating officer, and Bolens, chief strategy officer, discuss how the company approached restoring some of the cuts forced by the pandemic, how they studied the business' data for signs of recovery and acted on those to get ahead of rising demand, the important role increased communication with employees played during the pandemic and what business practice changes they expect to continue post-pandemic. 

BizTimes Media real estate reporter Alex Zank joins associate editor Arthur Thomas to talk about the cover story in the July 19 issue of BizTimes Milwaukee. Alex's story explores how The Couture, a long awaited residential, retail and transit development along Milwaukee's lakefront, serves as the missing piece for a number of other projects and site in downtown Milwaukee. Alex took a closer look at a recent run of downtown housing projects and whether the city can support the increased supply. His Real Estate Spotlight in the July 19 issue also explores how the office market in metro Milwaukee is performing.

The latest episode of the BizTimes MKE Podcast features editor Andrew Weiland's conversation with Carl Rick at the BizTimes Family & Closely Held Business Summit. Rick is a training manager and third generation family spokesperson for La Crosse-based Kwik Trip. Their conversation touches on the culture at Kwik Trip, the importance of profit sharing with employees, navigating the pandemic, handling family business topics at home and much more.

The remainder of the Family Business Summit is available on demand at biztimes.com/family. 

The event, held in late June, was made possible by sponsorship from Davis│Kuelthau, The Riverwood Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley, National Exchange Bank & Trust, SVA Certified Public Accountants, supporting sponsor Vistage and event partners Family Business Leadership Partners and the Family Business Center at the Wisconsin School of Business. 

As president of Brookfield-based QPS Employment Group, Ryan Festerling has a front row seat to how the labor force is reacting as the economy ramps up again. QPS provides staffing services to more than 1,000 companies across seven Midwestern states, many in light industrial, warehousing and manufacturing settings. 

Festerling said that while the enhanced benefit is likely keeping some people on the sidelines, QPS hasn’t seen a dramatic shift in applicants in states where the benefit has been ended. 

"I would love to tell you that it was this big light switch that all of the sudden candidates came out of the woodwork, it's just not the case," Feseterling said on the latest BizTimes MKE Podcast. 

He joined BizTimes associate editor Arthur Thomas to discuss what QPS is seeing in the labor market and offer some strategies for businesses to consider 

Arthur Thomas, Brandon Anderegg and Andrew Weiland from BizTimes Media discuss the news of the week, starting with Oshkosh Corp.'s decision to build the next generation of postal delivery vehicles in South Carolina, not Wisconsin. Andrew says the decision is disappointing. The group also discusses the continued growth in flights out of Mitchell Airport with Spirit adding more flights this week. Finally, Arthur reviews the latest data on Wisconsin's GDP, which was up 6% in the first quarter but still isn't quite back to pre-pandemic levels. 

Arthur Thomas, Andrew Weiland and Maredithe Meyer from BizTimes Media preview the upcoming Family and Closely Held Business Summit. The event marks the return of live events for BizTimes Media and will take place June 29 at the Brookfield Conference Center.

To register for the event, visit biztimes.com/family

Joel Brennan, secretary of Wisconsin Department of Administration, joined the Milwaukee Rotary Club last week. He discussed Gov. Tony Evers' plans to shrink the state's real estate portfolio over the next decade and what was lost when lawmakers removed plans for a new state office building at 27th and Wisconsin in Milwaukee from the state budget. Brennan also touched on the state budget process and how he has become "a little more cynical" after two years of working in state government.

In partnership with the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. 

BizTimes Media associate editor Arthur Thomas is joined by reporter Brandon Anderegg and editor Andrew Weiland to discuss the news of the week. Brandon describes the friction over the proposed $100 million state venture capital fund that was cut from the state budget and then previews a story he wrote in the latest issue of BizTimes Milwaukee highlighting the work of SHINE Medical Technologies and NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes. Both companies are making progress in developing a U.S. supply chain for the materials used in certain medical imaging procedures. Arthur discusses a big acquisition by Brady Corp. to fuel its push into track-and-trace technology in industrial markets.