Iconica Names New President

Change is inevitable, and at Iconica, we embrace it as an opportunity for growth and evolution. We’re excited to share a significant milestone in our journey. Jim Pienkta, CEO and President, has decided to transition away from his role as President while maintaining leadership as CEO, and we are thrilled to announce the promotion of Mike Walters, former Vice President, to the position of President.

Having joined as an entry-level project manager 12 years ago, Mike’s journey is a testament to his dedication, growth, and the values that define Iconica’s culture. This transition reflects our commitment to fostering talent from within. In his new role as President, Mike will take the reins of day-to-day operations, while Jim, as CEO, will continue to guide our overarching strategy and long-term goals.

We express our gratitude to Jim for his outstanding leadership as President of Iconica and look forward to his continued guidance as CEO. Please join us in congratulating Mike on his well-deserved promotion to President. We eagerly anticipate the innovation and success that will unfold under his leadership.

About Iconica: 

Located in Madison, Wisconsin, Iconica provides full-service architecture, engineering, and general contracting. Offering fully integrated solutions or individual services, Iconica has refined a process that eliminates uncertainty and streamlines commercial building projects. Whether tasked with a small remodel or a large complex commercial building, Iconica closely collaborates with clients, subcontractors, and vendors to provide results that support project goals. We apply every lesson learned on the job to the next, impacting each client’s business, One Revolution at a Time. https://iconicacreates.com/

Ten Years of Free Wi-Fi at Dane County Regional Airport: SupraNet and Nordic Consulting Extend Partnership to Provide Complimentary Wi-Fi at MSN

For Immediate Release

Madison, WI – March 7, 2024

SupraNet Communications, Inc., a local leader in high-speed fiber and Wi-Fi Internet services, and Nordic Consulting, a global health and technology consulting company based in Madison, are extending their partnership to offer unlimited free Wi-Fi services at Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) – making it the 10th year of free Wi-Fi for travelers.

“We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with Nordic Consulting. I am truly grateful for Nordic’s long-term commitment to SupraNet and Dane County Regional Airport as they have helped us build and continuously improve one of the fastest free Airport Wi-Fi networks in the country,” said Bryan Chan, President of SupraNet.

The partnership, which began in 2014, provides passengers traveling through MSN with seamless, high-speed Internet access, enhancing their travel experience. The continued collaboration between SupraNet and Nordic Consulting demonstrates their commitment to community service and technological advancement in the Dane County area.

SupraNet Service Leads Free Airport Wi-Fi Nationally

To put the local business’ efforts in perspective on the national scene, O’Hare and Midway airports in Chicago didn’t offer unlimited free Wi-Fi until 2018. JFK International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and New York Stewart International airports also started offering unlimited free Wi-Fi in 2018.

“As an organization dedicated to connecting people, data, and technology, Nordic is pleased to continue our partnership with SupraNet at Dane County Regional Airport,” said Terri LeFort, international president at Nordic. “Committed to advancing healthcare IT around the globe, we’re proud to support a vital service that benefits both residents and visitors to our headquarters city of Madison and its surrounding communities.”

Last year Supranet implemented Wi-Fi 6 at MSN. The upgrade offered 250 x 250 symmetrical speed, making it one of the fastest in the country when compared to data from a PCMag article from May 2023.

The free Wi-Fi 6 service, named “msnairport,” is easily accessible to all passengers in the airport terminals. It offers a fast and secure connection, allowing business travelers to continue their responsibilities of attending virtual meetings, uploading content and more while families browse the Internet, check emails, and stay connected with friends and family while waiting for their flights.

“Dane County Regional Airport is proud to partner with SupraNet for the exceptional speed and convenience offered through their industry-leading Wi-Fi 6 services,” said airport Director of Marketing and Communications Michael Riechers. “Their commitment to providing passengers with free, high-speed connectivity enhances the overall travel experience, aligning perfectly with our commitment to delivering a world-class experience to all passengers using our airport.”

For more information contact:

Bryan Chan
Founder & President, SupraNet Communications
Phone: (608) 836-0282
Email: bryanc@supranet.net

Michael Riechers
Dane County Regional Airport
Phone: 608.220.5454
Email: riechers.michael@msnariport.com

The Creative Company Wins Platinum in the 2023 MarCom Awards

FMI: Cassandra Bretl
608.442.6336
cassandra@thecreativecompany.com

The Creative Company Wins Platinum in the 2023 MarCom Awards
This marks the fourth MarCom Award for the public relations, marketing, and web development firm

MADISON, Wis. (March, 2024) – In the 2023 international creative competition for marketing and communications professionals, The Creative Company wins a Platinum MarCom Award in the video campaign category. 

The Creative Company was one of 6,500 entries in 2023, submitting materials from its recruitment video campaign for One City Schools in Madison. The campaign featured creative illustrations, strategic messaging, the production of seven compelling videos, and a Google Ads campaign.

“A successful campaign begins with first defining the goals, creating a budget, determining the target audience, selecting the media, developing the message, and then creating something worth watching,” The Creative Company President and Founder Laura Gallagher said. “I’m very proud of our team and their results for One City School. Sarah Schilling established the messaging and creative direction; Tyler Grimh and Cassandra Bretl led the filming and editing; and Craig Hadley orchestrated the Google Ads campaign.”

MarCom Awards recognize outstanding achievement by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design, and production of marketing and communication materials and programs. 

Sponsored and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), MarCom is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected creative competitions in the world.

Not only did Creative Company’s campaign win an award, but their work also exceeded One City Schools’ initial goal: to boost enrollment numbers. The school continued running the video series past its expected air date so more community stakeholders could watch and understand what sets their school apart.

“They captured the exact same things that we really needed to; the messages that we needed to get across to people, and they nailed it,” One City Schools CEO Kaleem Caire said.

Video Campaign Metrics

• Watch Time: 1,216.5 hours or over 50 days!
• Average Percent Viewed: 92%
• Total Local Views: 100,000+

About The Creative Company: The Creative Company is a leading PR and Digital Agency representing top nonprofits, businesses, and cooperatives, helping them evolve, promote, and protect their brands and reputations. The Creative Company is certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise by the State of Wisconsin and the 2022 Dane County Small Business of the Year Winner. Learn more.

See the award-winning campaign

Kraus-Anderson Companies’ years-long succession plan promotes Peter Diessner to Chief Executive Officer

Bruce Engelsma remains Chairman

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (March 7, 2024) – Peter Diessner has been named chief executive officer of Kraus-Anderson Companies, Inc., the holding company for KA’s 127-year-old family of companies.  Diessner has been chief operating officer of KA Companies since 2023.  He succeeds Bruce Engelsma who has been CEO since 1997.  Engelsma remains chairman of KA Companies and will continue to serve on various committees within the enterprise, which includes KA Construction, KA Realty & Development, KA Insurance and KA Financial Services Group. 

Diessner’s appointment to the top leadership role is a seamless transition and natural progression of many years of intentional and thoughtful planning for the family-owned company. 

“This third generation of leadership comes at a time of continuing prosperity at Kraus-Anderson,” said Bruce Engelsma, KA Companies’ visionary leader, who joined KA in 1975 and has served as chairman and CEO for 27 years.   Engelsma’s father, Lloyd, led the company from 1937 until his death in 1997. 

Each of KA’s family of companies works independently and together to achieve KA Companies’ continued growth and prosperity. 

“You can see the results all around us,” said Engelsma. “New and growing regional offices and areas of expertise; a robust properties portfolio; redevelopment and new development activities; longstanding clients and tenants along with exciting new opportunities — these are among the many synergies emerging as our people work together to build KA’s brand and the communities we serve.”

In his new role, Diessner will join and lead the executive leadership team at KA Construction, one of the nation’s premier commercial general contractors and construction managers, as it continues to strategically grow and expand.  The company has operations in nine cities, including the opening of new regional offices this year in Fargo, N.D. and Phoenix, Ariz.  Managing $1.4 billion in construction, its vast portfolio in numerous building sectors comprises education, healthcare, commercial, hospitality, offices, retail, housing and mixed-use developments, as well as buildouts and special projects.

Diessner will serve as CEO and continue to serve as president of KA Realty & Development.  KA Development provides comprehensive development services for KA’s real estate portfolio and third- party owners.  In the past five years KA Development has completed over 700,000 square feet of development and multi-family housing, including 1,275 apartment units.

KA Realty owns and manages a portfolio of 5.73 million square feet of more than 70 commercial real estate properties throughout Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. 

As CEO, Diessner will also oversee KA Insurance, the fifth largest privately held insurance brokerage in Minnesota and a national leader in risk management services; and KA Financial Services Group, which manages over $300 million in financing related to KA Realty’s portfolio of properties and provides treasury management for all the KA entities.

Diessner, an attorney, joined KA Financial Services Group in May 2018 as director and was named vice president in February 2019.  In April 2019, he became president of KA Realty & Development to provide high level oversight of the company’s existing and prospective portfolio of real estate, as well as financial analysis for KA interests and partners. He was named COO of KA Companies in March of 2023.  Prior to joining KA, Diessner was a Twin Cities real estate attorney first at Fredrikson & Byron and then at Speeter & Johnson.  He focused his practice on transactions and disputes involving real estate.

Diessner received his J.D. from the William Mitchell College of Law and his B.A. in Financial Economics from Gustavus Adolphus College.  He is on the board of the Children’s Theatre Company.

“Kraus-Anderson maintains an extraordinarily high level of collaboration and innovation throughout our companies and teams,” said Diessner.  “I’m excited about new geographic horizons as we continue to grow and the opportunities for our people to engage in personal and professional development.”

About Kraus-Anderson Companies

Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson (www.krausanderson.com) is an integrated construction management and real estate development enterprise working independently and in collaboration with a family of companies and services, including facilities assessment, K-12 pre-referendum planning, strategic facility planning, sustainability and insurance operations. Kraus-Anderson, an EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wis., Fargo and Bismarck, N.D., Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn. and Phoenix, Ariz.

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Casey Liakos Joins The QTI Group as Vice President of Executive and Professional Search

Madison, WI – March 06, 2024 (The QTI Group) – The QTI Group (QTI), the Madison-based staffing and human resources consulting firm with expertise in industrial, administrative, professional, and executive recruitment as well as compensation consulting, announced the appointment of Casey Liakos to Vice President of Executive and Professional Search.

In his role, Liakos will oversee QTI’s Executive, Professional, and Board of Directors Search Team as it continues to expand and partner with companies across Wisconsin and the Midwest to recruit for high-level executive roles. Liakos is excited to join a team that can broadly address talent and people needs, with staffing, recruiting, and consulting solutions that bring value to clients.

Liakos brings 14 years of staffing and talent searching experience to QTI, with just over six years experience as president of a local talent acquisition firm, where Liakos was named the 2020 InBusiness Small Business Executive of the Year. A Wisconsin native and an avid Badgers, Brewers, and Packers fan, Liakos’ industry expertise and local connection are the perfect combination to drive QTI forward.

“I see The QTI Group as a cornerstone in the Madison community. I have a passion for connecting with people and connecting people to one another, which has driven my entire career. I believe The QTI Group is the best place for me to continue to grow in the industry and support my community,” says Liakos.

QTI’s new leadership is the result of thoughtful preparation as the company positions itself for growth and success in 2024.

About The QTI Group

Founded in 1957 as a small staffing agency, The QTI Group has grown to be a full-service, privately owned human resources firm. QTI’s key service areas include staffing, professional, technical, and executive search, and HR consulting. With a QTI has a people first focus and a commitment to helping business reach their full potential through people, The QTI Group is headquartered in Madison, WI and has four branch locations in Wisconsin.

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