Month: February 2019
Photo by Richard Hurd
WUD Society and Politics Committee Will Host Discussion on Pop Culture and Politics with Kara Brown
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information: Tanvi Tilloo, Director of Wisconsin Union Directorate Society and Politics Committee, societyandpolitics@union.wisc.edu
WUD SOCIETY AND POLITICS COMMITTEE WILL HOST DISCUSSION ON POP CULTURE AND POLITICS WITH KARA BROWN
Writer and podcaster Kara Brown to give keynote address followed by moderated Q&A
MADISON — The Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Society and Politics (SoPo) Committee will welcome writer and pop culture podcast “Keep It” cohost Kara Brown for a discussion on pop culture and politics to kick off Women’s History Month on March 1 at 7 p.m. in Varsity Hall at Union South.
In addition to cohosting “Keep It”, Brown is a Los Angeles-based writer who has written for the sitcom “Grown-ish” and was a senior writer at Jezebel,where she specialized in writing about race, television and pop culture. One of her many accomplishments is being named to Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 in Hollywood and entertainment list in 2018.
The March 1 event will include a keynote address by Brown followed by approximately an hour of moderated questions and answers with opportunities for audience participation.
“It can be hard for students to be engaged in politics and see how it impacts their lives,” said Ellen Bart, WUD Society and Politics Committee associate director of events. “This event is an opportunity to have thoughtful discussions about the intersection of race, media, gender, pop culture, and politics on campus, in the state, and in the country.”
The Wisconsin Union’s WUD Society and Politics Committee is a non-partisan, student-run group devoted to creating opportunities to spark discussions about social issues, news, current events and more. The views and opinions expressed during Committee events do not necessarily represent the views of the Committee.
Additional information about this free event is available atunion.wisc.edu/events-and-activities/event-calendar/event/politics-and-pop-culture-with-kara-brown.
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About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Society and Politics Committee
The Wisconsin Union Directorate Society and Politics Committee is a non-partisan, student-run group devoted to creating opportunities to spark discussions about social issues, news, current events and more. The Committee provides regular events and weekly discussions that allows members to interact with, listen to, and learn from others. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/society-and-politics. Updates regarding Committee events can also be found on the Committee’s Facebook and Instagram (@wudsopo) accounts.
Photo by Richard Hurd
Second Harvest Foodbank CEO to Retire at End of Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kris Tazelaar, Communications Manager, Second Harvest Foodbank, 608-216-7206, krist@shfbmadison.org
SECOND HARVEST FOODBANK CEO TO RETIRE AT END OF YEAR
MADISON, Wis., February 15, 2019 – Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, southwestern Wisconsin’s largest hunger-relief organization, announced today that after leading the organization for more than 10 years, president and CEO, Dan Stein is retiring at the end of the year. In addition to performing the duties required by his current role, Stein will use his remaining time with the organization to help ensure a smooth and successful transition for his successor.
“For the past 10 years, Dan has provided outstanding leadership to Second Harvest and its mission to end hunger in southwestern Wisconsin,” said Mark Thompson, Second Harvest’s Board Chair. “I am confident because of his demonstrated passion to serve those challenged by food insecurity, that Second Harvest will be well served with Dan’s guidance through this transition.”
Stein is the fifth leader in Second Harvest’s 33-year history. During his tenure at the helm, the organization experienced unprecedented growth; nearly tripling the number of meals it provides each year to those facing hunger in southwestern Wisconsin. In 2018 they provided 14.2 million meals to those most vulnerable in our community, including children, seniors, families and those with a disability.
Under Stein’s leadership the organization implemented numerous innovative ways to serve individuals facing food insecurity, including FoodShare (formerly known as food stamps) Outreach, the HungerCare Coalition, School Food Pantries, Mobile Pantries, Field to Foodbank, and the Diabetes Wellness Program.
Additionally, in the last 10 years Second Harvest has been recognized nationally by Feeding America for their SNAP (FoodShare) Outreach, and their Adopt-a-Dairy-Cow promotion (a creative approach to raising funds to provide milk to those served by Second Harvest). Second Harvest is a member of Feeding America – the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization.
“The past 10 years have been the most rewarding of my 43 year business career,” said Stein. “I am grateful for having the opportunity to lead this organization with such an important mission. I am confident in the continued success of the organization because the next CEO will get to work with our strong and focused Board of Directors, and our dedicated and creative staff who are driven to end hunger in southwestern Wisconsin. Finally, I am humbled when I think of the thousands of incredible volunteers, partners and generous food and financial donors who have advanced our mission over the years.”
The Board of Directors for Second Harvest will conduct a search for Stein’s successor in the coming months.
About Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin began working with local hunger-relief agencies in 1986. It helps end hunger in 16 southwestern Wisconsin counties through food distribution to its partner agencies, promotion of outside food assistance programs like FoodShare, and raising awareness of hunger. As southwestern Wisconsin’s largest hunger-relief charity it meets nearly one million requests for help each year. From July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 Second Harvest, together with its partner agencies and programs, provided 14.2 million meals. It is one of 200 members of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. For more information, visit SecondHarvestMadison.org.
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Photo by Richard Hurd
Scherer Recognized for Excellence in Intellectual Property Client Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2019
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michelle M. Friedman
262-754-2877 / mmf@dewittllp.com
SCHERER RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CLIENT SERVICE
MILWAUKEE|MADISON|MINNEAPOLIS – DeWitt LLP (DeWitt) today announced its partner Christopher M. Scherer, Co-Chair of DeWitt’s Intellectual Property (IP) Group, was recognized by Lexology in its 2019 Client Choice Awards – Excellence in Client Service.
The Client Choice Awards recognize those partners around the world that stand apart for the excellent client service they provide. The criteria for the awards focus on the ability to add real value to clients’ businesses, above and beyond other players in the market. Uniquely, these awards survey senior corporate counsel only, with this year’s winners chosen from a pool of more than 2,000 individual client assessments. Client Choice Awards recognized 369 winners across 67 jurisdictions worldwide, which included 160 winners across 30 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces.
About Christopher Scherer
Scherer is the Co-Chair of DeWitt’s IP Group. His domestic and international practice involves all facets of IP law, especially patent and trademark prosecution. In particular, he is skilled in electrical and electronic circuits and systems, computer software, medical devices, medical patient monitoring and treatment technology, device fabrication, optical devices and systems, and mechanical devices. Scherer also serves as In-House Corporate Counsel on a contract basis for clients, where he manages IP portfolios, outside counsel and any litigation matters which may arise.
His clients include universities, small and large corporations, privately held businesses, and foreign law firms. He is actively involved in the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), and serves on the AIPPI-US National Steering Committee. The Executive Committee of AIPPI has also appointed Scherer to its International Standing Committee on the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Scherer, who earned his J.D. from the John Marshall Law School, and his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University, is a prolific speaker having given dozens of presentations to a variety of groups on the topic of IP law, and created and taught an Intellectual Property Law course in the Marquette College of Engineering. He is a past President of the Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association (WIPLA), and he is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Milwaukee Bar Association (MBA). He is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and Illinois.
About DeWitt
DeWitt LLP is one of the ten largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota. It has nearly 140 attorneys practicing in Madison and Metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a variety of legal areas and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes. The firm is known for its work in several areas, including civil rights litigation, construction litigation, corporate law, employment, environmental, employee benefits, estate planning, family law, government relations, health care, intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, litigation, real estate and tax law. More information is available at dewittllp.com.
About 2019 Client Choice Awards Methodology
Research for the awards begins with a readership survey of in-house counsel subscribers to Lexology, and also gathers feedback at several international in-house counsel events. Clients are asked to rate individual lawyers and law firms on the following client service criteria: quality of legal advice, commercial awareness, industry knowledge, strategic thinking, billing transparency, tailored fee structures, value for money, responsiveness, effective communication, clarity of documentation, sharing of expertise, appropriate staffing, project management, use of technology, loyalty and ethics. To ensure that the results cannot be influenced, law firms are not informed when this initial round of research is conducted. The results of the survey are used to draw up shortlists for each work area. Shortlisted candidates are then invited to submit up to five referees. The research team conducts follow-up interviews and additional research where necessary.
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Photo by Richard Hurd
Country Inn & Suites (Monona) Hiring New General Manager
Photo by Richard Hurd
Alliant Energy names John Larsen Chairman and CEO
MADISON, Wis. – February 13, 2019 – Alliant Energy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Patricia L. Kampling announced her intent to retire from the company effective July 1, 2019. Kampling has been with Alliant Energy since 2005 and has served as Chairman and CEO since 2012.
The Board of Directors appointed Alliant Energy President and Chief Operating Officer John O. Larsen to succeed Kampling. Larsen was also appointed as a member of the Board of Directors effective February 13, 2019. Larsen will become Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board of Alliant Energy, effective July 1, 2019.
