Link to NBHRC.org
More than 600 employers in
the city of New Berlin plan to pool their resources in a
buying consortium that will negotiate for lower employee
health insurance costs. The New Berlin HR Committee (NBHRC),
which was formed six months ago, will create the consortium,
according to the organization's president, Jessica Ollenburg,
who also is the president of Human Resource Services Inc.,
Greenfield. The NBHRC kicked off its New Berlin
revitalization programs during a breakfast event Sept. 9.
The organization was designed by Ollenburg's firm and is
reacting to the interests expressed by the New Berlin
Industrial Association (NBIA), which represents about 600
New Berlin businesses, Ollenburg said.
A primary mission of the NBHRC will be to establish the
buying consortium to generate better leverage in
negotiations for health care insurance, she said.
"That's one of the areas of greater demand. It's
definitely a primary factor," Ollenburg said.
The industrial association has grown and is now representing
businesses beyond the traditional manufacturing companies in
its membership, she said. "The industrial parks in New
Berlin have been attracting other businesses, in addition to
manufacturing," she said. Human Resource Services has
provided significant resources, contributing the originating
strategic plan, mission statement, initial research and
committee invitations for the New Berlin organization, she
said.
The startup committee for the group includes Ken Matheson,
representing the NBIA, and former New Berlin Mayor Tim Tully
of Personnel Dynamics.
Focus group participants and/or new committee members
include representatives from Schroeder Cos., Tekra Corp.,
Velvac, New Berlin Plastics, Sax Arts & Crafts,
LindenGrove Health Care Centers, Payne & Dolan, Sells
Printing, Midland Plastics, Christopher Morgan LLC, OSI
Outsourcing, Security Insurance & Financial and the New
Berlin Chamber of Commerce. The NBHRC offers seven startup
programs, including an HRM buying consortium, a shared
training initiative, an assessment center and a dedicated
talent pool. The programs are designed in both anticipation
of and reaction to economic changes, anticipated growth and
preservation of corporate resources, Ollenburg said.
Sept.
19, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee, by Steve Jagler,
SBT executive editor
