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Ralph Sanchez joins Domino as Regional Service Manager

Domino continues to grow its digital printing business with the addition of Ralph Sanchez, as Regional Service Manager for Domino North America. He joins the company with over 25 years’ experience in management positions, with a focus on senior level operations leadership and customer engagement roles.
Ralph knows success.

Ralph has built a career optimizing processes and managing teams to better support customers. He spent 32 years with Xerox in positions that included Operations Manager – Technical Escalations, Program Manager – Strategy & Optimization, Field Manager – Technical Services, and Field Service Engineer. In addition, Ralph was also a Corporate Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – a subject matter expert in process optimization, leading multiple enterprise-wide projects to successful completion in shorter than expected cycle times.

After more than three decades with Xerox, Ralph joined AGFA Graphics in 2018 as Western Region Service Manager. In that role, he led a customer-facing organization that supported customers and service requests. His responsibilities also included cultivating the technical and career growth of field service engineers and developing and administering performance reviews of the team; translating customer requirements into supplier specifications with responsibility for implementation, inspection, and evaluation; providing direct support to the sales organization; delivering corporate training initiatives ensuring compliance, and P&L responsibility.

Joining Domino.

Why is now is the perfect time for Ralph to join Domino? With record sales in each of the past five years, the Domino North America Digital Printing business has continued to grow its install base significantly with digital presses and printers being added by converters from coast to coast. In parallel, the Service & Support team has grown by leaps and bounds. Less than four years ago, Service Manager Tom Grencik joined Domino to lead a team of field service engineers, and present day that team has multiplied fivefold. With the outstanding work that Tom and the field service team have done, ‘strength in numbers’ continue with the addition of Ralph. Tom will focus on the eastern region, and Ralph will oversee the western region.

On joining Domino, Ralph says, “I jumped at the opportunity to join a company that is growing and is committed to continuing to build a world-class service organization.”

Mark Meyer, Technical Manager of Domino Digital Printing North America says, “It’s easy to see why we are  very excited to have Ralph on our team. He brings tremendous perspective, experience, and success and he will  continue to thrive at Domino. Ralph will build on what has already been started, focusing on the provision of exceptional service to our customers and our field service engineers. With the outstanding foundation that Tom Grencik and our field service team have established, coupled with our tremendous growth, now is the perfect time for  Ralph to join Domino.”  

Ralph has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management and Operations from the University  of Southern California. He lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife Melinda Jo, son Luke, and daughter Sophia  Jo.  

Domino is a leading manufacturer and distributor of digital printing and product identification solutions.  Celebrating its 44^th year in business, Domino is a global organization with world headquarters in the UK, and  North America headquarters in Gurnee, IL. Domino has 25 subsidiaries, representation in over 120  countries, and over 2,900 employees worldwide. For more information on Domino, please visit  dominodigitalprinting.com

First Business Bank Promotes Bryson Machonga to Assistant Vice President – Treasury Management

APPLETON, WI – March 4, 2021 – First Business Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Bryson Machonga from Treasury Management Officer to Assistant Vice President – Treasury Management.
“Bryson is an incredibly hard-working and knowledgeable banker who is especially adept at finding answers and connections for our clients to help them achieve success,” said Rick Hearden, President – Northeast Wisconsin Market of First Business Bank. “Whether he’s helping clients implement best practices to avoid fraud at their businesses or showing them how to maximize their operating cash, Bryson is a valuable team player who has also become an important contributor to our community in the Fox Cities.”

Bryson Machonga joined First Business Bank in 2017 as a Credit Analyst. In April 2019, Bryson was promoted to Treasury Management Officer and relocated from the Madison office to Appleton. Prior to working at First Business Bank, Bryson worked at Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce in business development with an emphasis on servicing manufacturing, food and beverage, specialty packaging, agricultural, and service sector companies.
Bryson serves on a variety of boards and committees across the Fox Cities and volunteers through Leadership Fox Cities, United Way Emerging Leaders, YMCA Fox Cities/Appleton, and other nonprofit organizations.

About First Business Bank

First Business Bank specializes in business banking, including Commercial Banking and Specialty Finance, Private Wealth, and Bank Consulting services, and through its refined focus delivers unmatched expertise, accessibility, and responsiveness. Specialty Finance solutions are delivered through First Business Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary First Business Specialty Finance, LLC. First Business Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Business Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: FBIZ). For additional information, visit firstbusiness.bank.

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is Home for the Holidays 

GREEN BAY, Wis. (December 23, 2021) – Jones Architectural Creations and Jones Sign Company celebrate its 2021 custom venue work that brings music this holiday season at the new home of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Bradley Symphony Center. The work was a collaborative effort with other Wisconsin-based companies, C.D. Smith Construction, and the architect of record, Kahler Slater,. 

“Thanks to the stunning designs created by Kahler Slater, we were able to be part of a truly special and historic remodel of the Warner Grand Theatre,” said Todd Patrickus, Executive Vice President of Jones Sign. “Our work included signage, donor walls, music profiles, posters, and exquisite historic exhibits,” shared Patrickus. 

Jones Architectural Creations and Jones Sign worked with the general contractor, C.D. Smith Construction and Kahler Slater, to preserve the historic elements of the Warner Grand Theatre and create new elements that enrich and engage the community in the musical experience. The Warner Grand Theatre was once an opulent movie palace. The Great Depression meant difficult times for 1930s’ Milwaukee, and this affordable but luxurious space was a place where people could escape from their daily lives. The Warner Grand Theatre was originally designed according to an architectural vision of providing what most ordinary Milwaukee citizens in the 1930’s would think of as fancy. 

The newly remodeled Bradley Symphony Center opened in October of this year and is located at 212 West Washington Street in downtown Milwaukee. 

About Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra 

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is among the finest orchestras in the nation. Since its inception in 1959, the MSO has found innovative ways to give music a home in the region, develop music appreciation and talent among area youth, and raise the national reputation of Milwaukee.

About Jones Architectural Creations 

Jones Architectural Creations, a division of Jones Sign Company Inc., provides architectural façades, custom metalwork and design features for all building types, including sports and entertainment venues. Recent jobs include Gateway at Wynwood in Miami, four massive projects at LAX airport, University of California at Riverside, and Circa Las Vegas. 

About Jones Sign 

From custom façades and canopies to complete structures and other non-signage related architectural elements, Jones Sign has been transforming buildings, complexes and more since 1910. Headquartered in De Pere, Wis. with 14 locations across North America, the Jones team of designers, engineers, fabricators, installers and project managers can assist with any or all parts of a project for a streamlined process. 

Georgia-Pacific Begins Work on Regional Distribution Center

The I-41 Business Park in De Pere is seeing the beginnings of a new occupant. Georgia-Pacific has begun construction on a 1.1 million-square-foot distribution center that should be complete by the end of 2022.

The facility will warehouse and distribute products from several GP facilities, including tissue products such as toilet paper, napkins and paper towels from the company’s Green Bay Broadway mill. “Although this warehouse could have been built elsewhere in the Midwest, it made sense to locate it close to one of our largest plants in Green Bay,” says Jim Stauffer, GP senior director of warehousing. “The distribution center is a key piece of our supply chain, which will help our products reach customers as efficiently and timely as possible.”

Georgia-Pacific is investing more than $50 million in the new distribution center, which will feature 110 loading docks for trucks and capacity for more than two million cases of products. It will allow the company to consolidate the space it currently leases at four warehouses into one facility it owns.

Georgia-Pacific is one of the world’s leading makers of tissue, pulp, packaging, building products and related chemicals. It has more than 30,000 employees at 180-plus locations worldwide and invests 90 percent of its earnings back into the business for growth. In Green Bay, GP employs more than 1,100 people in its four manufacturing facilities, as well as several hundred additional employees in business support roles such as engineering and customer service.

WEB HANDLING: The Keys to Optimal Control

Presentation on February 17th at 3-4 PM Discussion and drinks to follow 

Every manufacturer’s goal is precise, repeatable control. Whether you’re coating, printing or laminating, your winder plays a crucial role in overall efficiency. Tension controls are key to both the quality of the product and reliability of the machine. 

To better help our customers and business partners, Sure Controls developed a comprehensive web handling teaching tool, you can see here. 

Join GBIG and Sure Controls for an interactive presentation on Thursday, February 17th and we will cover the following: 

• Design & System Build 
• Selecting Components 
• Maintaining Optimal Control
• Diagnose & Repair

Location: Sure Controls Office – N981 Tower View Drive, Greenville, WI 54942 Parker is making T-slot aluminum 

Time: Presentation 3-4 PM, Discussion and drinks to follow. 

We have a limited number of spots available. To save your seat, make sure to assembly design. 

register at https://greenbayinnovationgroup.com/events/

Converted Products Inc. Acquires Equipment and HACCP Management Program

Milwaukee, WI:  Converted Products Inc., a custom converter since 1993, is excited to announce the expansion of their offerings in the food packaging/film slitting arena. CPI has acquired an additional duplex center slitter rewinder and 17-position spool winder.

Quality-Assured HACCP Food Packaging 

Along with these assets, CPI has teamed with Muse Food Safety Solutions to develop and implement a HAACP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) food packaging plan. Combining the additional line time with an HACCP food packaging plan allows for increased productivity. Additionally, the HACCP plan provides the assurance of meeting or exceeding the quality standards required for this market.    

“Today’s customers desire rapid turnaround and on-demand response time,” said CPI’s Vice President Jay Olszewski. “Investing in new equipment, maintaining a quality work force, and providing personal customer service prove to our partners that we are committed to meeting their needs. The additional equipment and our HACCP food packaging plan are great additions to our already robust list of service.”

Duplex Center Slitter

The capabilities of the duplex center slitter rewinder include:  

*  72” Max Width

*  32” Max Rewind OD

*   54” Max Unwind OD

*  Differential Rewinding

 17-Position Spool Winder

 The specifications for the 17-position spool winder include:  

*  18” spool width and 20” max OD

*  40” max unwind OD

*  Shear, Razor, and Score Cutting

*  Level and/or Taper Winding

* Side by Side or Overlap Winding 

Contact Us for Custom Contract Converting

Converted Products Inc. is a toll converter based in Milwaukee, WI. Founded in 1993, CPI is a fixture in the contract converting market and serves a wide array of industries both domestically and globally. CPI is ISO 9001:2015 certified and offers slitting/rewinding, hot melt laminating, and spool winding. To partner with a leader in innovative, custom-contract converting, visit convertedproducts.com or call 414-354-4433.

Key Actions to Fighting Inflation

Don’t tolerate being surprised with a large increase just days from your renewal. Your agent is likely avoiding a difficult discussion with you. 

After 16 consecutive quarters of commercial insurance price increases, there are several key actions buyers can be taking to eliminate, or at the very least, reduce the inflation in your insurance costs this renewal cycle: 

• Understand the paid losses on your account
• Know how to position your account correctly to an Underwriter
• Selecting the right carrier is key

As one of the largest family owned, independent insurance agencies in the Midwest, R&R also brings unique value to the table and will sit down with you and outline how to achieve your insurance renewal goals.  Not all agents take the time to fully prepare a renewal strategy nor outline a negotiation plan with carriers. At R&R Insurance, we do this better than anyone. 

If your commercial insurance renewal is approaching and you have not worked on a renewal strategy with your agent, or if you insurance premium seems too high, R&R Insurance can assist you with your strategy, understand your goals for renewal and plan your renewal negotiations.  It is not too late to explore better options!

We are The Knowledge Brokers™, let one of our commercial insurance consultants help you.  Give me a call or get more information at:  https://www.myknowledgebroker.com/

Matthew Prickette | R&R Insurance Services, Inc.
Commercial Insurance Consultant
Matthew.Prickette@rrins.com | MyKnowledgeBroker.com
phone: 920-585-6022

APPVION STRENGTHENS RESPONSIBLE FIBER PROCUREMENT WITH SFI CERTIFIED SOURCING

Appleton, Wisconsin, December 14, 2021 – Appvion Operations, Inc., a leading provider of advanced materials and  specialty coated solutions, has achieved Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Certified Sourcing for their operation in  Appleton, Wisconsin, which was confirmed after an independent audit with internationally recognized third-party  environmental certification body SCS Global Services (SCS).  

“Appvion is dedicated to the long-term health and viability of our forests and is committed to responsible forestry  management practices. Given that about 90% of the world’s forests are uncertified, there needs to be a reliable mechanism to promote responsible procurement from non-certified lands. Our adoption of SFI Certified Sourcing  supports this level of responsibility,” said Graeme Hodson, Executive Vice President and President, Advanced Materials  and Solutions.  

Third-party certifiers verify Appvion’s responsible forest management and fiber sourcing practices to globally  recognized standards, including certifications from the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) for Chain of Custody, held  for nearly a decade, and the newly completed Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) for Certified Sourcing.  

“We enhance our commitment to sustainable forestry with the SFI Certified Sourcing achievement, which ensures our products flow through the supply chain with the confidence of legally sourced fiber,” adds Michelle Miller, Chief  Sustainability Officer. “We certify our entire fiber supply chain to ensure working forests for the future.” 

Appvion recognizes that encouraging responsible stewardship is one of the keys to protecting forestlands. As a fiber based products company, we rely on healthy and abundant forests in our operation. In 2022, Appvion intends to build  upon our SFI achievement and complete the SFI Chain of Custody certification. 

About the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.  

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative^®(SFI) is a sustainability leader that stands for future forests. SFI^® is an independent,  non-profit organization that provides supply chain assurances, produces conservation outcomes, and supports  education and community engagement. SFI works with the forest sector, brand owners, conservation groups, resource  professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous peoples, governments, and universities. SFI  standards and on-product labels help consumers make responsible purchasing decisions. SFI believes caring for forests  improves everyone’s quality of life. Learn more. 

About Appvion Operations, Inc.  

Appvion, founded in 1907, is a pioneer in material science, providing full-service specialty and high-performance  coating solutions. Headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, Appvion develops innovative, water-based, and  environmentally responsible coating solutions for consumers’ everyday life. Primary product offerings include direct  thermal paper and film solutions and renewable, fiber-based consumer and industrial packaging solutions. Appvion applies functional coating solutions to a variety of flexible substrates, including products from an FDA-compliant  facility. As a leading manufacturer in North America, you can count on Appvion to tackle your customers’ biggest  challenges. Connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn to learn more.