Rising to the top
Bought out of bankruptcy 20 years ago, Oshkosh company continues to grow

Outsiders may have thought Ron Detjen and his partners were barking up the wrong tree when they purchased ImproMed Inc. out of bankruptcy more than 20 years ago.
They aren't laughing anymore.
ImproMed, a 31-year-old Oshkosh company focused exclusively on business and medical management software and associated products for veterinary practice management, has experienced record growth each year for the past four years in spite of the recession.
Some of that growth is attributable to the company's acquisitions of competitor practice management software, Sunpoint Software, Inc., in 2009, and pet picture-postcard interface RmCards.com (which allows veterinarians to send photo-quality images of customers' pets on reminder postcards) in 2007.
But it's also the result of the rallying spirit of ImproMed's employees, the company's swift ingenuity in an industry of 30 or so competitors, many of whom are owned by huge conglomerations, its focus on educating veterinarians on everything from human resources to social media in addition to providing software, and several other factors.
"We are the only company in our industry, at least in the nation, that does everything internally, from marketing to development to support, with the exception of printing," said Detjen, president and CEO of the company.  "We control the environment completely, and that puts us in the position to have a good sensitivity about [what's working] for our customers." More 

Grille has grown strong Rootz
Despite the struggling economy, customer base continues to grow

By Amanda Lauer
alauer@thebusinessnewsonline.com

It's been a challenge for young businesses to survive in today's economic environment, but a restaurant that opened six years ago in Appleton is not only surviving but thriving as well.
GingeRootz Asian Grille was the creation of sisters Doris and Alice Ng, who were in their mid-20s when its doors first opened. This full-service Asian restaurant features a menu with dishes from China, Thailand, Japan, Korea and other Pacific Rim countries.
In 2008, the business was one of 10 recipients out of 1400 candidates to earn the Make Mine a Million Business Award.
"This is a national organization to help women business owners achieve a million dollar sin sales,"  Doris said. "We won the award and they gave us $50,000 worth of coaching and resources to really grow our business. Since then, this has always been a million dollar business."
In 2009, the women were top 10 finalists for the Stevie Award for Best Young Entrepreneur. Recently, GingeRootz was presented with the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry 2010 Small Business of the Year award in the wholesale/retail category.
"This has been a tremendous ride for us - a lot of opportunities, a lot of growth," Doris said. "We've been very fortunate." The siblings were raised in the restaurant industry working with their parents Julia and Tony Ng. "We grew up in the daily operations and we have academic experience, but to actually run a business, how much can you apply that to real life?" More 

People who make a difference
Maier has touched many lives, many organizations

Enthusiasm. Longevity. Dedication. All describe Harry Maier, a tireless volunteer who has touched many lives through numerous organizations in Green Bay. Maier, who works as a freelance writer, continues to make an impact in the Green Bay community after a long career as a journalist. After retiring from the Green Bay Press-Gazette, he also worked nearly 11 years at St. Norbert College as consultant to the president for community relations and in communications and public relations.
"I've retired twice, and I have one white shirt left for my next  retirement party," quips Maier. "I think a good part of my volunteering comes from being in the newspaper business for 42 years, first in Portage for five years and then in Green Bay for 37 years. My job got me into the community an awful lot. I think that by having the experience of relating and participating in the community really got me involved in programs and projects.
"I think that Green Bay really has been great over the years in the large number of people who have given time and effort to make this a better community," he said. "It takes people to make a community a really good place in which you want to live. I have heard of so many people who have had  opportunities to move elsewhere who have elected to stay here. People just like this area. " More 

Growth Strategies
Orthopedic & Spine Therapy moves into areas that are underserved

By Betty Wall
bwall@thebusinessnewsonline.com

On the logo for Orthopedic & Spine Therapy, the ampersand portrays a person in motion, to represent the motion that the firm's physical therapists give to their patients. But the logo also could represent the continuous motion that has propelled Orthopedic & Spine Therapy to become the largest independently-owned provider of physical therapy in Wisconsin. The company's growth has resulted in four divisions and 14 clinics with a total of 50 employees.
Orthopedic & Spine Therapy has gone into markets that were underserved, sometimes in smaller rural areas. Clinics are located in  Appleton, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, Kaukauna, Brillion, Oshkosh, Menasha, Waupaca, New London, Clintonville, Shawano, Ashland, Poplar and Ladysmith. Orthopedic & Spine Therapy was recently recognized as the Cornerstone Business of the Year award winner from the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
Owner Steve Barnett, a physical therapist, opened the first Orthopedic & Spine Therapy clinic in Green Bay in 1990 to provide specialized physical-therapy treatment to patients with spine-related conditions, including backs, necks, TMJ and headaches.  More 

The List
Highest-paid school officials More