Spherion Expands Presence Across Wisconsin With New Appleton Office

Locally Owned Staffing and Recruiting Firm Invests to Support Wisconsin’s Evolving Workforce Needs

MADISON, Wis. – Spherion Staffing and Recruiting (Spherion) announced today that its South Central Wisconsin team, led by local President & Franchise Owner, Austin Kassner, will expand its presence to the Fox Valley and greater Green Bay area this summer while also extending services into the Milwaukee market. This expansion will allow the team to better support existing partners while continuing to build new relationships.
 
For Kassner, a Green Bay native, this represents both a professional milestone and a meaningful return to the community where he grew up. The local staffing and recruiting company will now operate as Spherion Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, reflecting its expanded service area and continued regional focus.
 
Kassner’s team currently operates offices in Madison, Wisconsin and Rockford, Illinois. Since acquiring the Madison branch in 2022, he and his team have built on a more than 35-year local legacy while continuing to strengthen long-term partnerships.
 
Over the past several years, Kassner has invested heavily in building and developing his internal team — an effort recently recognized when Spherion was named one of Madison Magazine’s “Best Places to Work”. As part of the expansion, the team also plans to add several internal positions in the coming months.
 
“We’re seeing increasing demand for skilled trades, along with a continued need for operational and professional talent across the communities we serve. At the same time, we’re expanding our capabilities in IT to better support clients as technology continues to shape workforce needs,” said Kassner. “As we grow into the Fox Valley, Green Bay, and Milwaukee markets, we’re looking forward to spending more time on the ground, getting to know local business leaders, and building the same kind of long-term relationships that have driven our success in Madison and Rockford.”
 
Spherion Wisconsin & Northern Illinois has been a trusted workforce solutions partner since its founding in 1990. With a track record of success in both temporary and direct hire placements across manufacturing and distribution, office and administrative, professional, IT, and scientific roles, Kassner and his team work closely with organizations across industries to develop tailored workforce solutions that support long-term business goals.
 
To learn more about Spherion Wisconsin & Northern Illinois, visit www.spherion.com/madison-wi.
 
About Spherion Wisconsin & Northern IL 

Driving careers. Growing businesses. Bettering the community. These tenets have been at the core of Spherion Wisconsin & Northern Illinois since its doors opened over 35 years ago. Locally owned, Spherion provides comprehensive staffing & recruiting services, including: flexible staffing, temp-to-hire, professional direct-hire placement, and workforce management solutions. The Spherion Wisconsin & Northern Illinois team invests the time to develop relationships with everyone they work with to deliver differentiated results. Its tenured team understands the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois markets and has a proven history of matching the right candidates for the right role across a wide array of industries.

Dupaco announces 2026 board election results

DUBUQUE, Iowa— During Dupaco Community Credit Union’s 77^th Annual Membership meeting held Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Denise Dolan, Andy Schroeder and Robert Wethal were elected to serve three-year terms on the credit union’s board of directors. 

Dolan has served on the Dupaco board since 1993. She is the retired Dubuque County Auditor. Schroeder has been with the Dupaco board since 2014 and is Vice President of Digital Services for Prenger Solutions Group in Dubuque. Wethal joined Dupaco’s board in 2012 and is Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer for MercyOne Medical Center in Dubuque. 

Following the membership meeting, the board of directors held its re-organizational meeting, at which these officer appointments were made: 

• Randy Skemp, chair of the board 
• Ellen Goodmann Miller, vice chair 
• Andy Schroeder, secretary 
• Renee Poppe, treasurer 
• Joe Hearn, president/CEO 

These directors were appointed to committee chair positions: 

• Denise Dolan, chair, Business Lending committee 
• Andy Schroeder, chair, CUSO Board of Managers 
• Ron Meyers, chair, Audit committee 
• Bob Wethal, chair, Nomination & Governance committee  
• Jeff Gonner, Asset Liability Management committee 
• Renee Poppe, chair, Personnel committee 
• Antonio Mouzon, chair, Credit/Delinquent Loan committee 
• Ellen Goodmann Miller, chair, Marketing committee 

As a member-owned, democratically-controlled cooperative, all Dupaco members have an equal say in their credit union. Each member has one vote, no matter how much money they have in deposits or loans at Dupaco. 

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ABOUT DUPACO COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION  

Dupaco Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. It is dedicated to the financial well-being of its members, and specializes in personalized financial counseling, money advice and education. It offers savings, loans, investments, insurance and wealth management products for individuals and businesses. Dupaco serves residents in 118 counties throughout Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin. Founded in 1948 by ten Dubuque Packing Company employees, membership has grown to more than 179,000 with assets exceeding $3.6 billion. It has over 600 employees and 23 branch office locations.  Learn more at www.dupaco.com.  

Wisconsin School of Business AI for Business Summit early bird pricing ends Feb. 27

On April 16-17, the AI Hub for Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will host Ground Truth: AI for Business Summit 2026.

Why Attend Ground Truth

AI is moving faster than most organizations can keep up. Ground Truth is designed for leaders who want to move beyond experimentation and deploy AI for real business value.

Leave with one idea you can use on Monday

• Where AI drives real bottom-line impact
• Lessons from leaders deploying AI at scale
• AI strategies grounded in research, not hype
• A room full of leaders solving the same problems you are

Registration

Early Bird Registration: $495

• Ends Friday, February 27

Regular Registration: $900

• Ends Friday, April 2

Special rates available for UW affiliated and UWEBC members.

Registration includes:

• Access to all sessions
• Refreshment breaks and lunch
• Thursday evening attendee reception

Learn more and register here.

Wisconsin World Trade Day set for May 19

The Wisconsin trade community comes together for Wisconsin World Trade Day to celebrate the vital role global commerce plays in Wisconsin’s economy, and to equip new and currently exporting businesses with practical insights to grow exports.

The event features a keynote address from Jason Turner, Wintrust Financial Corporation’s Chief Investment Strategist for Great Lakes Advisors, offering a forward-looking perspective on global markets and highlighting emerging export opportunities for Wisconsin companies seeking to expand internationally. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of where demand is growing, how global trends impact exports, and what this means for Wisconsin-made products and services.

The program showcases real-life experiences and lessons learned from successful Wisconsin exporters, providing candid insights into challenges, strategies, and best practices for entering and succeeding in international markets.

The day continues with interactive breakout sessions focused on the practical “how-to” of exporting, diving into actionable steps for growing exports. Sessions will introduce the tools, programs, and resources available to support companies at every stage of their export journey.

Whether you are new to exporting or looking to scale your global presence, Wisconsin World Trade Day offers valuable knowledge, connections, and guidance to help your business compete and succeed worldwide.

Event Date:

May 19, 2026

Event Time:

Program – 8:00am – 4:00pm

Closing Remarks/Networking – 4:00pm – 5:30pm

Location:

Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) RTA Education Center 800 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI 53072

Cost:

In-person only:

$125.00 Registration

$100.00 Early Bird by May 8, 2026

Contact:

Aleda Bourassa, aledabourassa@outlook.com, (262) 751-7769

MMSD Begins Early Planning for 2026–27 Budget, Outlines Priorities and Fiscal Outlook

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has begun early planning for its 2026–27 preliminary budget, outlining key priorities focused on supporting students, aligning resources to district goals and maintaining long-term fiscal stability amid rising costs and ongoing state funding challenges.

District leaders emphasized that budget development begins months in advance to ensure thoughtful planning, transparency and alignment with MMSD’s Strategic Framework. The process centers on meeting student and staff needs while remaining fiscally responsible stewards of public resources.

“Our budget reflects what we value most as a school district,” said Superintendent Joe Gothard. “We are committed to uplifting the student experience, supporting our staff and making strategic investments that move our schools forward. At the same time, we must plan responsibly for financial realities that continue to challenge public education.”

Potential cost increases for the 2026–27 fiscal year are significant. Current estimates include:

• Compensation step increases: $4.7 million
• Inflationary compensation increases (2.63%): $9.5 million
• Health insurance increases: $14 million to $16 million
• Salary compensation study outcomes: $2 million to $8 million
• Parental leave benefit expansion: To be determined

In total, MMSD is projecting between $30.2 million and $38.2 million in potential new cost pressures.

“These increases reflect contractual obligations, market conditions and our responsibility to remain competitive as an employer,” said Bob Soldner, assistant superintendent of financial services. “We begin planning early so we can evaluate multiple scenarios, manage risk and minimize disruption to schools and classrooms.”

The district’s financial outlook is shaped not only by rising costs but also by declining state support. MMSD expects to receive approximately $7 million less in general state aid, continuing a trend that places greater reliance on local property taxes to fund operations.

Because Madison’s property values exceed the state average, MMSD receives about 10 percent of its funding from general state aid. By comparison, other large urban districts in Wisconsin receive between 62 percent and 68 percent.

In addition, MMSD continues to face a $62 million gap between special education costs and state reimbursement. The district must cover those expenses to ensure students receive legally required services.

Early learning also remains a priority investment. Although 4K students are funded at 60 percent of a full pupil count, districts must cover the full cost of providing programming.

“We know early learning sets the foundation for long-term academic success,” Gothard said. “Even when funding formulas fall short, we remain committed to ensuring our youngest learners have access to high-quality, full-day experiences.”

Recent voter-approved facilities and operations referenda have helped stabilize MMSD’s financial position and allowed the district to move forward with rebuilding or reconstructing 10 schools. District leaders expressed gratitude for that community support while noting it does not eliminate structural funding challenges.

As planning continues, MMSD will evaluate expenditures, staffing needs and program investments while advocating alongside other districts for sustainable state funding solutions, particularly around special education reimbursement.

The preliminary budget will be refined in the coming months, with additional updates and opportunities for public engagement provided throughout the process.

MMSD stakeholders and community members are encouraged to provide feedback on the budget through the district’s Let’s Talk platform.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.