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Fiskars Americas
Mike Miller
Just Coffee Coop
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Career Momentum
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Meeting Life's Challenges, LLC

Timothy McIlwain
Lincoln Financial Advisors
IB’s Executive of the Week is the premier way to meet area executives. This week features Timothy McIlwain, Financial Planner and Partner at Lincoln Financial Advisors.

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Natasha Vora: Setbacks fuel determination; preparation leads to business ownership.
A professional figure skater for 10 years, from the tender ages of 6 to 16, Natasha Vora says operating a store with furnishings marked by exotic woods and textured material may not give her quite the same opportunity for self-expression that executing a double axel to music from Madame Butterfly in a kimono-style costume once did, but it's expressive nonetheless. In fact, Vora sees a number of parallels between her figure skating past and her home decor present. The artistic expression that helped her develop a passion for figure skating has also influenced her selection of Asian-style furnishings and textiles at Indocara, her Madison store. full story

Is there any hope for meaningful job creation?

This Friday, the February jobs report will be released by the U.S. Department of Labor, against the backdrop of Congressional attempts to jump-start job creation. To assess whether the legislative Cavalry is really on the way, at least in terms of what the federal government can do to incentivize hiring, IB spoke to local accounting executive Peter Oettinger, partner in charge of Wegner CPAs' Baraboo office. Full Story

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Behind the Scenes: 40 Under 40 Photo Shoot

IBTV is your all-access pass to the 40 Under 40 photo shoot - with candid comments you won't see in print. Join us backstage.

The 311 — Food Tweets & Treats
Given my interest in food and professional persona as the Web Chef, I though it only appropriate to contribute to the conversation on how restaurants, food purveyors and other retailers can put Twitter to use. The topic is timely as evidenced by the "Social Media 101" session on the menu for the Wisconsin Restaurant Association's Expo 2010 Tech Training on March 9th. As a supplement to the 101 session and as tips for many types of businesses, here's a Twitter 311, covering five key areas for using Twitter in your social media mix. Full Story

RTA Begins Work
submitted by Jennifer Alexander, President, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and Thrive
+1 Gregg. Now Madison wants to do away with the ramp on Doty street and replace it with..... no not another ramp....a market. So, with the parking problems the city creates, it becomes their way of forcing the trains down our throats. – Brian, Madison

RTA Begins Work
submitted by Jennifer Alexander, President, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and Thrive
"Transit" is for 2 or 3% of the population. Fix the roads please (and plan better ones). The RTA is stacked with 8 of 9 members on record as supporting the trains. Several are completly unqualified to discuss 'transit'. All are unelected by us, yet hold incredible power for 4 years. The fix is in. What a waste of time and money. Why the Chamber doesn't stand out from the croud & support common sence (and business) is beyond me. And now, a Referendum 'some time in the future'?....oh that makes sence......about as much sence as the RTA being ceated in a Doyle budget......incredible. – Gregg, Madison

Is there any hope for meaningful job creation?
It doesn't take a Ph.D. to answer the question "Is there any hope for meaningful job creation". Given the approach being taken the answer is clearly NO. Given that two of the major growth areas are biotechnology and health care we as a country do not have the educational structure to meet the current demand. Even if a layed-off GM employee wanted to pursue either one of those fields there doesn't exist enough educational venues to received the appropriate training. The same is true for other areas. What that GM worker and the country needs are fair paying manufacturing jobs. What citizens of this country have done because of our pursuit of paying the lowest price is to push all of our manufacturing base overseas and we need to bring it back. So rather than spend billions saving the banking world which will only screw it up again, that money should go to small and medium size manufacturing concerns as tax incentives for bring job back to this country and for training new employees. The days where manufacturing only required a strong back are gone. Todays manufacturing requires a strong mind to deal with the technology of manufacturing. Putting people back to work in manufacturing will raise the tax revenue, lower the debt, and when the bankers screw things up again there will be no need to bail them out, rather let them fail. – Rick, Madison, WI