Technology industry executives who responded to the fourth-quarter WisBusiness.com Tech Leaders Survey continued to temper how they rated the condition of the state's economy - even as they ranked the prospects for their own companies as good.

Those same executives weighed in on the national health-care debate through three questions tied to Capitol Hill discussions of how to reform the current system....Read more.

 

Tech Council President Tom Still shares insights on technology, the economy and politics though Inside Wisconsin. Here are some recent releases:

 

 

How a non-profit's investment is keeping a for-profit company in Wisconsin: Logistics Health Inc. needed to cash out a major early investor. Gundersen Lutheran wanted to diversify its portfolio and open doors to new markets, preferably by investing close to home.  The resulting match will strengthen the La Crosse area economy and provides an innovative example for other investment-minded health-care systems in Wisconsin....Read more  

 

The Wisconsin economy: Ten trends to follow in 2010: Good riddance to 2009, a bruising year for the Wisconsin and national economies; welcome to 2010, which can hardly be more punishing - and which may even bring renewed vigor to the innovation economy. Still's column cites 10 trends to watch in 2010....Read more 

Give market forces a chance to meet energy and climate change needs: Some days, it seems the only certainty about the U.S. economy is uncertainty. Three of the economy's largest sectors - health care, finance and energy - are in varying degrees of flux, in part because Washington seems bent on keeping it that way....Read more 

 

Controlling costs must be a part of federal health care solution: To say small business owners in Wisconsin are nervous about the outcome of the debate over health-care reform is like saying a football quarterback is jittery just before a 300-pound defensive end grinds him into the turf. Both know what's coming - and both can only hope to get back on their feet once it's over....Read more 

* Tech Council board member Eric Apfelbach becomes CEO at ZBB Energy Corp.  Read more.

 

* Four people have been recently elected to the Tech Council board of directors: Jay Bayne, executive director of the Milwaukee Institute; Paul Eberle, CEO of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek; Katina Kravik, CEO of Northwire Inc.; and Devin Mathews, managing director of Baird Venture Partners.  

 

* The Tech Council will be among the sponsors of the Governor's Economic Development Conference Feb. 10-12 in Madison. Richard Bendis, founder of Innovate America, is the keynote speaker.

 

* Tom Still will speak on the state's economic development efforts Jan. 21 at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network meeting at Chula Vista in the Wisconsin Dells and on the value of education to the tech economy at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards meeting in Milwaukee.

 

* The Wisconsin Technology Council and Wisconsin Angel Network have released the 2009 Wisconsin Portfolio. An annual publication designed to inform investors about updates in Wisconsin's risk capital economy. Available online.

* The Tech Council Board of Directors  met Jan. 12 at the Medical College of Wisconsin; Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was among the guest speakers. The next meeting is set for April 13 at the Waisman Center in Madison. Contact Sarah Williams. 

 

* Tech Council helps teachers integrate science and techonology into middle and high school business classes through the Dane County YES! youth business plan contest. Website.

 

 

Joining your local Wisconsin Innovation Network (WIN) Chapter offers networking connections with a variety of industries and professionals in technology, law, banking, government, public relations, manufacturing, and local entrepreneurs.