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Category: Member News

Learn who’s growing, changing, moving and more! Stay on top of what’s new with your neighboring businesses. We share news releases and announcements from your peers in the Madison area. Want to toot your own horn? Use our Submit Member News form to share your own stories.

Photo by Richard Hurd

One Community Bank: Austin Zellner Promoted to AVP – Commercial Banking Officer

January 22, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Ameilia Abraham
One Community Bank
608-838-3141
aabraham@onecommunity.bank

Austin Zellner Promoted to AVP – Commercial Banking Officer

(January 2024) – One Community Bank is excited to announce the promotion of Austin Zellner to AVP – Commercial Banking Officer at its Oregon location.

“Austin has done a tremendous job assisting current clients and developing new business relationships. He has become a key contributor to our commercial PACE program. His primary focus will continue to be establishing and developing relationships with business owners in the community by providing a wide range of financial products and knowledge. We are excited for Austin to take the next step in his career at One Community Bank,” said Dan Carey, Chief Commercial Officer.

“I am thrilled to continue to grow at One Community Bank. I am grateful to be a part of such a client focused, dynamic, and forward-looking team. I look forward to continuing to expand my
business relationship network, and embracing new challenges and opportunities that come,” exclaimed Austin.

Austin has been with One Community Bank for over seven years and started as a Bank Teller.

Over time, he grew a strong passion for commercial banking. He enjoys assisting clients with financing their projects.

In his personal life, he enjoys traveling, watching Wisconsin athletics, golfing, and spending time with his wife, Claire, and their dog.


One Community Bank is one of the largest community banks in south central Wisconsin. The locally owned bank has 15 bank locations and $2.1 billion in assets. It provides both personal and business banking solutions, with an intense focus on serving clients, supporting colleagues, and investing in its communities. Five years in a row named one of Madison’s best places to work, One Community Bank serves the communities of Oregon, McFarland, Waunakee, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Middleton, Adams,
Oxford, Grand Marsh, Hillsboro, La Farge, Readstown, Wonewoc, and Union Center. Member FDIC.
Austin Zellner NMLS #2175576. OCB NMLS #4106989.

Photo by Richard Hurd

Bank of Sun Prairie’s Customer Just for Me Family Center Awarded $25,000 Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2024

Contact: Jimmy Kauffman, President and CEO
608.837.4511 ● jimmy.kauffman@bankofsunprairie.com

Bank of Sun Prairie’s Customer Just for Me Family Center Awarded $25,000 Grant
FHLBank of Chicago’s Community First Accelerate Grant Benefits Local Small Business

Sun Prairie, Wis. bankofsunprairie.com — Just for Me Family Center based in Sun Prairie was awarded a $25,000 Community First Accelerate Grant for Small Business by the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) of Chicago offered to Bank of Sun Prairie small business customers.

Established in 2005, Just for Me Family Center is a family-oriented childcare center and pre-school with specialization in early childhood and infant care. Just for Me Family Center Owner Melissa Wayland intends to use the funds for building new fencing structures in the outdoor play area and making additional upgrades and repairs inside the building constructed in 1974. Wayland shared, “Bank of Sun Prairie is a real partner who stands by your side. This grant award would not have happened without them. We are eternally grateful to Bank of Sun Prairie and FHLBank for these critically needed dollars. Our kids will benefit in the end.”

“It is wonderful Just for Me Family Center received this grant award from FHLBank of Chicago,” shared Chris Cox, Bank of Sun Prairie’s senior vice president, chief business banking officer. “Bank of Sun Prairie values our membership in the FHLBank of Chicago. Their focus on strengthening small businesses and lifting up our local communities directly aligns with our tireless work to do the same right here in our backyard.”

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago

FHLBank Chicago is a regional bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to ensure access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with a focus on providing solutions that support the housing and community development needs of members’ customers. FHLBank Chicago is a self-capitalizing cooperative, owned by its Illinois and Wisconsin members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions, and community development financial institutions. To learn more about FHLBank Chicago, please visit fhlbc.com.

About Bank of Sun Prairie

Bank of Sun Prairie is a locally owned, full-service community bank with $719.3 million in assets and five locations in Sun Prairie and Cottage Grove, Wis. Its mission is to be trusted advisor for families, businesses and communities offering a complete range of services, while delivering fair returns for stockholders. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

Photograph: Bank of Sun Prairie’s Rob Stelzer and son; and Just for Me Family Center Owner Melissa Wayland.

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Photo by Richard Hurd

Level Set by StartingBlock: Validate Your Business Model

Don’t navigate the startup world alone. StartingBlock’s Level Set program is an intense 6 week program designed to help you explore and validate a business model.  Offered 6x per year, we help you explore the pros and cons of different business models, model revenue and get real world feedback on your business ideas.

This program is for you if you:
— want to explore a business idea
— are thinking about starting a company
— have a side hustle you want to take full time
— are thinking about quitting your day job and going out on your own
— are a student with a great business idea
— a faculty member who has never thought about running a business

SCHEDULE FOR 2024
— February 21 – Mar 27 StartingBlock Wednesday 6pm – 7:30pm
— April 10 – May 15 Virtual Wednesday 6pm – 7.30pm
— June 1 – July 6 StartingBlock Saturday 9am – 10:30am
— July 24 – Aug 28 StartingBlock Wednesday 1pm – 2.30pm
— Sept 7 – Oct 12 StartingBlock Saturday 6pm – 7:30pm
— Nov 6 – Dec 18 StartingBlock Wednesday 6pm – 7:30pm

PROGRAM BENEFITS
— Tolls and techniques to rapidly validate your business model
— Access to StartingBlock member benefits, including 90% discount on Hubspot CRM and over $1m in pre-negotiated discounts
— Regular access to StartingBlock staff and connections to their network of mentors and experts

Apply here

Photo by Richard Hurd

Lake Ridge Bank: 2024 Crop Insurance Info Meetings Help Local Farmers Understand Coverage Options

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2024 Crop Insurance Info Meetings Help Local Farmers Understand Coverage Options
Meetings Held January 24 and February 9

January 17, 2024, EVANSVILLE, Wisconsin— The deadline to purchase or make changes to crop insurance for the 2024 growing season is March 15. To help local farmers fully understand their options, Lake Ridge Bank invites farmers to attend one of two Crop Insurance Info Meetings held in late January and early February.

Wednesday, January 24 at 10:00 AM

Rex’s Innkeeper, 301 N. Century Ave.

Waunakee

Friday, February 9 at 10:00 AM

Red Barn Tavern & Banquet Hall, 7530 N. County Rd M

Evansville

This is a FREE public event and includes lunch. You do not need to be a customer of Lake Ridge Bank to participate. Each info meeting begins at 10:00 AM, with a complimentary lunch served after the presentation. Space is limited, so anyone interested should email kklitzman@lakeridge.bank or call 608-490-2225 to reserve a spot.

The meetings will be hosted by the Lake Ridge Bank Agricultural Team. Topics covered at each meeting include:

  • FSA Updates: Local FSA staff will share what’s new in government programs
  • 2024 Crop Insurance Updates: Tips for evaluating your coverage as the cost to grow a crop continues to rise, with information on how to customize your policy to fit the specific needs of your operation

In addition, each meeting will feature a local expert to provide a commodity update:

“Like most business owners, farmers appreciate guidance on how to best tailor benefits to fit their unique needs,” says Jessica Sarbacker, who leads the bank’s crop insurance team. “The program options can be overwhelming, so we are here to answer questions, share insights, and help farmers determine the best path forward for their farm business.”

Disclosures:  This entity is an equal opportunity provider. Insurance contracts are products of the Insurance Agency and are:

— Not FDIC Insured
— Not Bank Guaranteed
— Not a Deposit
— Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

# # #

Lake Ridge Bank’s mission is to “create extraordinary banking experiences where everyone prospers.” For more than 100 years, this has meant getting to know each of our clients to offer personalized services to meet their specific financial goals. Lake Ridge Bank offers a full line of financial products and services. We focus on offering products and services to make your banking easy. Our business banking and mortgage lenders are trusted leaders in their field with the expertise to provide the right loan at the best rate possible for our clients. As a community bank, we are dedicated to reinvesting in, and making our communities great places to live, work and raise a family. Visit lakeridge.bank to learn more about how we can help you. Member FDIC

Lake Ridge Bank. Go Far. Go Together!

For additional information, please contact Mark Schellpfeffer at mschellpfeffer@lakeridge.bank.

Photo by Richard Hurd

StartingBlock Madison: Madworks Winter 2024 Applications Close FRIDAY!

January 17, 2024

There only 2 days left to apply for the Madworks Winter 2024 Cohort.

  • Applications are open through January 19th
  • We help founders create a strong, sustainable foundation for their growing companies
  • Get your strategic financials in order, learn to run an effective board meeting, tackle legal issues, build strategic financial acumen – all while working with experienced mentors and Madworks + StartingBlock staff
  • Companies must be based in WI

SCHEDULE FOR WINTER 2024

  • February 14 – April 25 (10 weeks of programming)
  • Weekly group meeting on Wednesday afternoons
  • Individual team meetings on Thursday afternoons

PROGRAM BENEFITS

  • $6,500 in grant funding per participating team
  • 1 year membership to StartingBlock (24×7 access), with an exclusive space at StartingBlock dedicated to Madworks companies
  • Access to StartingBlock member benefits, including 90% discount on Hubspot CRM and over $1m in pre-negotiated discounts
  • Regular access to Madworks & StartingBlock staff and connections to their network of mentors and experts

LOCATION

StartingBlock, 821 East Washington, Madison

MORE INFORMATION 

Expectations and further details are available on our website at startingblockmadison.org. Contact the StartingBlock Program staff with questions or to learn more: programs@startingblockmadison.org