Tom Hefty has a way of landing big-paying jobs. As chief executive of Blue Cross Blue Shield, he raised his salary from a mere $75,000 in 1987 to $2.2 million in 2002 after turning it into the for-profit Cobalt Corp. Hefty went on to take a plum position with the Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren law firm and then got tapped to become the first president of the Kern Family Foundation, which insiders expect will become the state’s biggest foundation. Odds are the salary, which Hefty declined to disclose, won’t be small.
Waukesha native Brad Beyer will renew his role on the CBS drama “Jericho”when the second season airs this winter. He plays a wholesome Kansas farmer. “They were looking for a guy who looks like he’s from the Midwest,” says Beyer, who sees a lot of his father in his character. Beyer, 34, still comes back to visit family and indulge in the staples of Wisconsin cuisine.
Bobbie Webber has become the key guy to handle tricky labor-management disputes. As head of the Milwaukee firefighters union, he will negotiate with William Wentlandt, the city’s new fire chief.Wentlandt once provoked a no-confidence vote from the firefighters in St. Paul, Minn., where he was previously chief. Webber also serves on the board of Milwaukee Area Technical College, where he’s become the middleman between MATC President Darnell Cole and his critics on the board. All three men, by the way, are African-American.
The Milwaukee Showcase Chorus and its five barbershop quartets sang their way to St. Petersburg, Russia, in August for the 8th Annual International Russian Barbershop Harmony Festival. “It’s like the Summerfest of barbershop music,” says Heidi Sebald. She and 36 other members, ranging from high school students to retirees, made the trip. The chorus’ annual show here, on Nov. 17 at Mount Mary College, is entitled, ahem, “From Russia with Love.”
State Rep. Sheldon Wasserman (D-Milwaukee) says he’s already worn out two pair of shoes going door-to-door in the 8th district of incumbent state Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills). Wasserman says he’s averaging 1,000 doors a month in his bid to unseat Darling in the November 2008 election. Darling’s supporters scoff at his effort, pointing to her solid record of serving constituents. Both parties are expected to pour in tons of campaign money for this key race.
Milwaukee-based professional stage manager Meghan Gauger recently wrapped production on 33 Variations,a new play written and directed by Moisés Kaufman at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. “It’s not very often that stage managers are recruited for out-of-state productions,” Gauger says. For the past six years, the stage manager has freelanced shows – many of them Shakespearean – in Delaware, Utah, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
No freedom fries served at this affair. Milwaukee will play host to this year’s national convention of the Federation of Alliances Francaises. Mary Emory, past president of the 90-year-old local chapter, says it was chosen from 110 in North America because it has a thriving membership and passion for the French culture. She hopes for a visit from the newly elected French ambassador to the U.S., Pierre Vimont,at the convention, set for Oct. 24-28 at the Milwaukee Athletic Club.
What’s happened to Carl Gee, the former head of OIC who was convicted of conspiring on a kickback scheme with former state Sen. Gary George (D-Milwaukee)? Gee did his time in prison and says he’s now retired. “I’m 65. I have diabetes, high blood pressure.” But Gee says he’s doing volunteer work for a prison ministry program of New Covenant Baptist Church that works to give ex-cons a second chance.
Looking for a mansion? UW-Milwaukee is still trying to sell the old Chancellor’s Residence in Shorewood, which Carlos Santiago deserted nearly a year ago. Santiago purchased his own condo in Kilbourn Tower, where prices range from $650,000 to more than $2 million. He says he meets so often with Downtown business leaders that this location is more convenient.
Due to a medical condition, Muskego’s Jodi Pliszka lost all her hair by age 20. But she’s turned her “bald is beautiful” philosophy into a crusade. One of the top 12 finalists on TV’s “American Inventor” in 2005, Pliska used a $50,000 start-up prize to create and patent Headline It!, which is a hat, helmet and wig liner. Designed to prevent sweat from spoiling headwear, Pliska says the product will help anyone from Marines to cancer survivors to the Brewers.
