MILWAUKEE, Wis, Aug. 3, 2009 – The Walmart Foundation today presented a $550,000 grant from its Green Jobs Training Initiative to the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) program. The grant, presented in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, will support local job training and youth employment experience in conservation projects.

The Milwaukee CLC, created and sponsored by Johnson Controls, is a partnership program operated by the Student Conservation Association, Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board and Johnson Controls.
“With the Walmart Foundation Green Jobs Training Initiative grant, the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps will expand the number of local youth able to receive job training and gain exposure to a range of green sector jobs,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said today at a press conference in the Menomonee Valley Community Park. “Preparing students with the right skills to succeed in the green workforce will directly support our community’s economic development.”

The Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps consists of crews of urban high-school students who spend six weeks during the summer completing vital conservation projects to preserve public lands and improve access to Milwaukee parks. During the program, members complete hands-on conservation projects, build job skills, develop a strong work ethic and gain a personal sense of stewardship for the environment.
The program focuses on preparing economically and socially disadvantaged high-school age youth for the job market. Key components of the program include:

· Paid summer employment in a difficult job market.
· Job-readiness skills training for jobs in the green economy.
· Hands-on conservation work experience.
· Developing a “green jobs pipeline” for businesses and government agencies.
· Strengthening an awareness of environmental sustainability.

The grant check was presented to Mayor Barrett, Donald Sykes, President and CEO of the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, and Mark Bodin, Chief Operating Officer of the Student Conservation Association based in Charlestown, N.H. The location of the presentation is one of 10 site locations where students are working this summer.

“The Walmart Foundation is committed to supporting job-training programs that address the need for a green job-ready workforce to support this growing economic engine,” said Lisa Nelson, senior manager of Public Affairs for Walmart. “Mayor Tom Barrett’s innovative leadership and his partnership with the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps stand out as an exemplary program that will help build a strong green economy in Milwaukee.”

According to the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps program coordinators, the Walmart Foundation Green Jobs Training Initiative will support the following:
· Expansion of the summer program to 100 participants from its current 50 participants.
· Launch a school-year program for 30 youth participants.
· Strengthen recruitment and retention processes.
· Prepare crew leaders to deliver green jobs training curriculum and report the results.
· Ensure the delivery of the highest quality of green jobs training.

The Walmart Foundation donated $5 million to the U.S. Conference of Mayors to support the Green Jobs Training Initiative. The grant to the U.S. Conference of Mayors will work to create jobs in an array of emerging green industries. In the spring of 2009, through a competitive selection process led by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, six grants were awarded to non-profit organizations that have a history of working with mayors to train people for green jobs. In early 2010, three additional grants will be given to cities with newer commitments to providing green workforce training.

Walmart’s Sustainability Commitment

As part of its company-wide sustainability goals, Walmart is committed to being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, creating zero waste and selling environmentally-friendly products. The company is moving toward these goals by using sustainable sourcing practices including energy efficiency, waste reduction, renewable energy and lifecycle management. These initiatives are making Walmart a more sustainable company and helping create a favorable environment for green job creation.

MILWAUKEE, Wis., June 29, 2009 – CGK Investment Banking has partnered with The Falk Group to develop and implement a public relations program that elevates awareness of the company’s merger and acquisition advisory services.

“We are looking forward to helping CGK Investment Banking gain recognition for their unquestionable expertise and diligence that exceeds client expectations when closing a deal,” said Susie Falk, president and CEO of The Falk Group.

Located in Waukesha, Wis., CGK Investment Banking provides merger and acquisition advisory services to privately-held, middle market businesses. The company also specializes in arranging private equity recapitalizations, as well as providing clients with acquisition search services, formal business valuations and strategic planning services.
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MILWAUKEE, Wis., June 25, 2009 –The Falk Group Public Relations agency today announced the expansion of its cornerstone product, TrendTracker, to include a social media tracking component. TrendTracker, a proven media tool that identifies editorial focuses of consumer and trade media over a 12-month period, has focused on print and broadcast media until now. The new product is called TrendTracker Cyber.

“Thousands upon thousands of conversations in every industry are taking place online,” said Susie Falk, president of The Falk Group. “In an effort to ensure our clients are active participants in those conversations, we decided to expand our editorial tracking capabilities to include social media.”

According to Falk, TrendTracker has been an extremely effective tool for their clients because it allows those companies to proactively work with media in the early planning stages of editorial development. “Our clients have helped shape stories in the trades and other print publications because of the useful nature of this tool,” said Falk. “This increased visibility for clients has helped to build stronger brands for them and increased interest in their products and services.”

Here’s how TrendTracker works. A business or organization provides The Falk Group with information on targeted businesses and industries, demographics or other targeting information. Using its extensive media resources, The Falk Group compiles a thorough report that shows, at a glance, what media are focusing on throughout the course of a year. Deadlines are included in the report, along with editorial contact information. Either The Falk Group or the client may execute an effective media relations program using the report as a planning and tracking tool.

TrendTracker Cyber includes the service above, along with a new report that details where on the web industry- and product-specific conversations are taking place that are pertinent to that business. Blogs, Twitter and social web sites such as LinkedIn will be included in the report.

Until today, TrendTracker had been offered only as a part of an overall media relations program implemented by Falk and her team. The Falk Group is offering TrendTracker as a stand-alone product. Businesses can order the report for $795. TrendTracker Cyber, which includes the social media component, is available as a stand-alone product for $995. Nonprofit organizations receive a 20% discount.

The Falk Group, located at 241 N. Broadway, is a strategic public relations firm that specializes in custom-tailored public relations programs in the areas of community relations, government affairs, special events, cause marketing, social media, media relations and crisis communications. For more information, please visit www.thefalkgrouppr.com.

I love this:

From the Wires today:
SHOREWOOD, WIS. -- A group of Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and North Shore community activists plans to open and operate a cooperative bookstore, to be located in Shorewood. “It will be a bookstore for the community, created by the community, said organizer Keith Schmitz. “The closing of the Harry W. Schwartz bookstore on Oakland Ave. created a big void in the community. “It’s a void we plan to close,” said Schmitz. “We see it as an important quality of life issue.”

The new store, known as Open Book, is expected to open by fall 2009. Open Book will offer new books, including a children’s section, as well as a limited quantity of quality used books, magazines and books on CD, all at competitive prices. Open Book will also provide customer searches for hard-to-find titles.

The group’s preliminary business plan calls for a quality store with a comfortable atmosphere that promotes browsing, exploration and community involvement, says manager Lisa Zupke. Zupke previously managed the Schwartz store on Oakland.

Open Book will be more than just a bookstore, Zupke added. “We want it to be a community gathering place where friends and neighbors meet for coffee, and small groups hold meetings. That’s something the community sorely needs.”

Open Book’s organizers see the East Side and North Shore as the ideal location for a community-based bookstore. “It’s an area chock-full of literate people who understand the importance of a local independent bookstore in the community, and who choose to support well-run local businesses,” says Kit Vernon, a retired marketing executive.

Plans for the store are for 3,500-4,000 sq. ft., to be used for the store, a café/coffee shop, office and storage. The store’s inventory will be tailored specifically for the market, based on Zupke’s local experience. Open Book will also host special events such as author readings, children’s story hours, music and book clubs.

Open Book will be a limited liability corporation, run on a cooperative model like the Outpost stores, REI or the Packers. Cooperative members will help provide start-up capital and operating funding with their memberships. They will receive discounts on purchases and an annual dividend when possible, plus invitations to special events.

In the approximately one month the group has been planning, it has attracted nearly 400 people who have expressed interest in becoming coop members.

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Walmart, Wisconsin’s largest retailer and employer -- and one of our favorite accounts -- was named one of the state’s top environmental companies May 14 in competition sponsored by the Wisconsin Manufacturer’s & Commerce.

The judges awarded Walmart first place for pollution reduction in its “Business Friend of the Environment Award” contest for Walmart’s efforts to dramatically improve its energy efficiency, reduce waste and minimize its environmental impact.

“Walmart has become a national and state leader in sustainability because it makes excellent business sense by reducing costs and enabling us to offer lower prices to customers,” said Lisa Nelson, Wisconsin public affairs manager for Wal-Mart.

Walmart, the judges said, was awarded the prize for its sweeping set of programs including new energy-saving store designs represented by its new Supercenter in Monona. The store includes its new, patented waste-recycling system, the use of LED, computer-controlled lighting and water-saving technologies. “We’re working on sustainability in just about every aspect of our operation,” said Monona Walmart Store Manager Chad Wyman.

Walmart has publicly stated that its sustainability goals for the company are; to use 100 percent renewable energy, produce zero net waste, and improve to sell products that sustain our resources and our environment.

“We’re not just changing how we do things, we’re changing our entire culture to embrace sustainability, ranging from education of our employees, offering more sustainable products, and reducing the environmental impact of our operations,” Nelson said.