‘WPS Diversity in Insurance’ scholarship expands to include programming and additional financial support

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Corporate Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

‘WPS Diversity in Insurance’ scholarship expands to include programming and additional financial support

MADISON, Wis.—Sept. 23, 2021—WPS Health Solutions has expanded its support of five Madison College students currently enrolled in the Risk Management and Insurance Program through the ‘WPS Diversity in Insurance’ scholarship. 

In 2020, The WPS Charitable Foundation established the scholarship to allow underrepresented students the opportunity to earn an insurance certificate through Madison College. The Urban League of Greater Madison worked with Madison College to enroll students in the 14-credit Insurance Certificate for the Business Professional program under full scholarships.

A second financial commitment of $25,000 to the Madison College Foundation from the WPS Charitable Foundation broadens the depth and breadth of WPS’ impact to more than a financial contribution. Programming will now include additional support for the scholarship recipients, including:

• Continued financial commitment
• Academic support
• Mentorship and networking
• Designated internships at WPS Health Solutions

Additionally, the scholarship will now fund a 35-credit technical diploma for the students instead of a professional certificate. With this change, students will:

• Qualify for additional financial aid, if necessary
• Receive additional time to be integrated with WPS Health Solutions
• Complete an internship as a required component of the program
• Gain a deeper and broader background in insurance with the additional programming and internship

“The additional academic support and funding from WPS Health Solutions will provide five full scholarships to students who have been historically underrepresented in the insurance industry,” said Dr. Jack Daniels, president of Madison College. “These scholarships will allow students to attain a broad knowledge of the industry and increased knowledge of career opportunities that will lead to successful employment in the insurance industry.”

“We are proud to partner with Madison College and the Urban League of Greater Madison to intentionally increase representation across a field that has historically been homogenous,” said Jihan Bekiri, WPS Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “We are inspired by our 2021/22 scholarship recipients and are committed to their future success.”

This scholarship program is a key component of WPS Health Solutions’ investment in diversity, equity, and inclusion. The scholarship is intended to help diversify the pipeline of talent while building authentic relationships with community organizations.

About WPS Health Solutions
Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 3,100 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

About Madison College
Madison College serves more than 33,000 students throughout a 12-county district in south-central Wisconsin, offering nearly 180 diverse career programs, diplomas, and certificates. Its mission is to provide open access to quality higher education that fosters lifelong learning and success in the communities it serves. Madison College is the second-largest institution in the Wisconsin Technical College System.

About the Urban League of Greater Madison
The mission of the Urban League of Greater Madison is to ensure that African Americans and other community members are educated, employed, and empowered to live well, advance professionally, and contribute to the common good in the 21st century. The Workforce Development team provides connections between high-demand industries and job seekers in the community. For more information, please visit ulgm.org.

WPS Health Solutions donates to assist Afghan refugees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

WPS Health Solutions donates to assist Afghan refugees

MADISON, Wis.—Sept. 21, 2021—WPS Health Solutions recently donated $2,500 in support of Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy in Monroe County. In addition, WPS employees throughout Wisconsin made a substantial number of individual donations of clothing and supplies at WPS facilities and via an Amazon list set up by Team Rubicon, a national organization that mobilizes veterans to provide disaster relief. Team Rubicon collected the donations Monday at the National Guard Armory in Sparta.

Initially, the money and donations will support the efforts of Team Rubicon to meet the humanitarian needs of Afghan refugees. Donations collected by WPS were dropped off at the Sparta Armory.

“We’re proud to support these Afghans who helped our military during our years in Afghanistan,” said Tim La Sage, Military and Veteran Inclusion Lead at WPS. “They were our allies there and it’s our turn to be their allies here.”

WPS has also partnered with the Milwaukee Harley-Davidson Museum and Concerned Veterans for America to collect donations. Additional donations of goods will go to support refugees through Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, which delivers directly to Fort McCoy.

About WPS Health Solutions

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 3,100 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

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One Community Bank Leader in C-PACE Financing

One Community Bank is proud to announce the closing of a $7.5 million C-PACE transaction (Commercial
Property Assessed Clean Energy) with Madison-based hotel developer, North Central Group. The new
boutique hotel project known as, “The Trade Milwaukee”, is a 205 room Autograph Collection Hotel by
Marriott located within the Deer District Entertainment Area in downtown Milwaukee, WI, which
surrounds the Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Read more here

Gebhardt Development multifamily proposal approved by Village of Windsor

This month, The Village of Windsor Board unanimously approved Gebhardt Development’s latest multifamily proposal; the project will consist of 122 market-rate, workforce housing apartments located in Windsor at the intersection of Lake and Gray Roads.

Read more here

Building Views

Conservancy

Wisconsin Technology Council: Calling all companies! Sign up for Early Stage Symposium; learn a lot, meet with investors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (9-13-21)
Contact: Joe Kremer or Tom Still at 608-442-7557
Or visit wisearlystage.com to learn more

Calling all companies! Sign up for Early Stage Symposium; learn a lot, meet with investors

MADISON, Wis. – Applications are being accepted now from young companies that want to tell their stories to investors at our annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, planned for an in-person format Nov. 3-4 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.

The 2021 format includes two pitch opportunities – the Tech Council Investor Networks track (five-minute presentations) and the popular Elevator Pitch Olympics. All registered companies are eligible for “Investor Intros,” which will allow pre-selected companies brief, one-on-one meetings with targeted angel and venture investors.

Instructions for how to apply for all or a mix of the investor presentation opportunities can be found at wisearlystage.com on the “ESS Application” tab.

General registration is also now open by clicking here!

At least one applicant must register in advance for the conference at a discounted rate of $179. Additional team members may register at the rate of $129. All meals, breaks and reception included. Companies selected for the Tech Council Investor Networks track presentations will also receive a complimentary individual membership to the Tech Council’s Innovation Network for one year (a $120 value).

The deadline to apply online is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24.

Here are the three company forums; companies may apply for one, two or all three opportunities to be seen, heard and make a splash!

Tech Council Investor Networks Track – Wednesday, Nov. 3:

These tracks will feature more than 20 companies from the Midwest representing an array of industries, such as advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, health care, information technology, medical device and mobile application sectors.

Companies selected will have many opportunities to interest investors: a five-minute presentation, networking receptions and an executive summary published in the investor-only program. Selected companies will also be invited to participate in a pre-conference practice session with a group of mentors.

Elevator Pitch Olympics – Thursday, Nov. 4:

Companies or entrepreneurs selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics will give a 90-second pitch in front of conference attendees and a panel of investors. The investors will score the presenter on a scale of 1 to 5, focusing on whether the pitch was compelling enough to arrange a follow-up meeting, and will offer immediate feedback.

About 15 companies will be selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics. In past years, these have been companies just forming, seeking a smaller investment round or planning to do so within the next year. There are crystal awards for the top presenters!

Investor Intros – Thursday, Nov. 4:

Companies selected for the popular Investor Intros will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with investors from Wisconsin and beyond. To foster this type of communication, the Investor Intros will feature pre-scheduled, strategic meetings between investors and emerging companies. This format will resemble a “speed dating” exercise, allowing both parties to learn more about each other and explore potential relationships.

The conference will feature a number of opportunities for young companies to learn:

• Keynote speakers and targeted panel discussions featuring leading entrepreneurs, investors and others tied to the tech sector making an impact nationwide.
• The 8^th annual “Excellence in Entrepreneurial Education” award presentation and luncheon.
• Exhibit hall showcasing more than 40 innovative Wisconsin companies.
• A Nov. 3 conference reception, two luncheons, two breakfasts and other networking opportunities, including an investors-only dinner.

The Tech Council produces the conference. Sponsors so far include: Aberdean Consulting, Advanced Materials Industrial Consortium, Advocate Aurora Health, American Family Insurance, American Transmission Co., AT&T, Baird Capital, Baker Tilly, BDO, City of Fitchburg, CUNA Mutual, Dedicated Computing, DeWitt, Exact Sciences, Findorff, First Business Bank, Godfrey & Kahn, Google, HealthX Ventures, Husch Blackwell, Idea Fund of La Crosse, KW2, M3 Insurance, Madison Development Corp., Madison Gas & Electric, Makin’ Hey Communications, Marquette University, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Michael Best, Mobile22, Morgridge Institute for Research, N29 Capital Partners, Neider & Boucher, One City Schools, Perkins Coie, Quarles & Brady, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, RSM US, State of Wisconsin Investment Board, TASC, University Research Park, UWM Research Foundation, UW-Madison Computer Sciences, Venture Investors, Versiti, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Wipfli, WEA Trust, Zendesk and Ziegler.

To learn more about sponsorship information, please reach out to Angela Schlobohm at angela@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.  

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