How a hand-dipped chocolate shop turned "don't change anything" into a 135-year competitive advantage Located on Oregon Street in Oshkosh, a candy shop houses a machine that has been mixing chocolate for nearly a century. The molds, even older, were crafted in Germany during the 1800s. The recipe for the shop's most popular item has remained unchanged since the presidency of Benjamin Harrison. In most industries, such a statement might be perceived as a critique. At Oaks Cand

Founding on a Four-Wheel-Drive Idea (1914–1918) Old Betsy Oshkosh Corporation traces its origins to a pivotal mechanical innovation by engineer William R. Besserdich and businessman Bernhard A. Mosling, who patented advancements in four-wheel-drive technology in 1914 and 1915. After major automakers declined to license their designs, the duo opted to produce the vehicle independently. Mosling secured $250,000 through stock sales, while Besserdich developed the prototype. On M

Serial Industrial Reinvention: An Economic and Business History of Oshkosh, Wisconsin Few mid-sized Midwestern cities have managed the structural decline of their foundational industries as effectively as Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Situated on the western shore of Lake Winnebago at the intersection of the Fox and Wolf rivers, Oshkosh has transitioned through various economic phases: from an indigenous fur-trading area to a nineteenth-century timber extraction center, a twentieth-cen

Institutional Resilience and Strategic Pivots at Viterbo University The narrative of higher education in the Upper Midwest is often centered around large, public land-grant university systems. However, some of the region's most resilient, agile, and culturally unique institutions were established through a different approach—one crafted by communities of religious women. These pioneers navigated frontiers, developed healthcare infrastructure, and founded centers of learning d

From Steamfitting to Industry Leader: The Evolution of The Trane Company James Alex Trane, originally Jens Alexander Martin Trane from Norway, commenced his career in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1864 as a steamfitter and plumber. By 1885, he had established a plumbing shop renowned for its superior service. An inventor at heart, James developed the Trane vapor heating system, a low-pressure steam heating solution well-suited for Wisconsin's harsh winters. His son, Reuben, gradua

The City Brewing Company, situated at the intersection of Third and Mississippi Streets in La Crosse, Wisconsin, boasts a historical presence on a site with an industrial heritage dating back to 1858. The company has undergone three major transformations: it began as the original City Brewery, evolved into the renowned G. Heileman Brewing Company, and re-established itself as the contemporary City Brewing Company in 1999. Throughout its history, the company has transitioned f

Overview Torrance Casting, founded in 1876, is a prominent family-owned iron foundry that has been integral to the manufacturing sector in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Located at 3131 Commerce Street, La Crosse, the company boasts a rich history exceeding a century, during which it has continuously evolved to meet the industry's shifting demands. The Evolution and Impact of Wisconsin's Foundry Industry A foundry is a facility dedicated to melting and casting metal into specific shap

In the early 1900s, La Crosse, Wisconsin, faced a shortage of nearby financial services, leading six local bankers to establish the La Crosse Trust Company on June 30, 1913. By its 100th anniversary, the company, now known as Trust Point, continued to be privately owned by the founding families. Why Trust Point Was Founded — and Its Initial Market and Product Offering In the early 1900s, La Crosse, Wisconsin, lacked a local trust company, necessitating residents to rely on d

Gundersen Lutheran Hospital, La Crosse, WI In 1891, Norwegian physician Adolf Gundersen arrived in La Crosse, Wisconsin, holding a medical degree from the Royal University of Oslo. Over the subsequent 50 years, he established a practice, hospital, and a family legacy of community-trusted medicine, which developed into a unique health system in the United States. Today, known as Emplify Health, the organization operates seven hospitals and 65 clinics, employing 15,000 individu

From Fur Trades to Fortune: The Untold Business Story of La Crosse, Wisconsin Long before La Crosse, Wisconsin became a thriving Midwest hub, three rivers — the Mississippi, the Black, and the La Crosse — carved out a natural crossroads that would define the city's destiny. The Ho-Chunk Nation recognized this geography for what it was: a place of extraordinary strategic value. French fur traders figured it out next. And then, in 1841, a nineteen-year-old entrepreneur named Na

Emeritus Professors Alan C. Filley and Robert Pricer, who taught entrepreneurship at the Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin - Madison for many decades, consistently emphasized the critical importance for small businesses and non-profits to identify their "DOMAIN" to increase their chances of success. This blog post will explore the significance of taking the necessary steps to identify, develop, and execute on their domain. "Mastering Your Business Domain":

The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA), which came into effect on July 4, 2025, shakes up the rules for Qualified Small Business Stock...

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