MADISON (Jan. 29) — GUILD.com, a Madison direct marketer of original art, has named Michael Baum to the new position of president. Baum is the former chief executive officer of Renaissance Learning, a Wisconsin Rapids educational software company, which staged an initial public stock offering under his leadership. Baum will manage GUILD.com while its founder and chief executive officer, Toni sikes, will focus on long-term strategies for growth.


WISCONSIN RAPIDS (Jan. 28) — Renaissance Learning announced increases in both its 2003 fourth-quarter and year-end results. The provider of information technology for schools reported fourth quarter net income of $7.6 million, or 25 cents per share, on revenues of $31.4 million, up from net income of $7.2 million, or 22 cents per share, on revenues of $30.9 million for the same period in 2002. Net income for 2003 was $32.5 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, on revenues of $130.5 million, up from net income of $31.4 million, or 92 cents per diluted share, on revenues of $131.2 million in 2002.


MIDDLETON (Jan. 28) — Bone Care International is continuing its drive toward profitability. It reported a net loss for its second fiscal quarter of 2004 of $478,025, or 3 cents per diluted share on sales of $9.1 million, compared with a net loss of $4.1 million or 29 cents per share on sales of $3.7 million a year ago. The company, which sells Hectoral and Hectoral Capsules, reported its third consecutive quarter of double-digit sales growth, said Paul L. Berns, president and chief executive officer.