Midwest Prototyping Wins Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award

Midwest Prototyping was announced as a Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award Winner for Emerging Technology. Nominated in both 2015 and 2016 as a manufacturer of the year, the award was presented February 23, 2017 at the annual reception dinner honoring the 26 nominees.

The annual Manufacturer of the Year Awards Program recognizes Wisconsin companies that demonstrate a commitment to business excellence, for their positive impact, making Wisconsin a better place to live, work and play.

“First and foremost, being recognized as a Manufacturer of the Year award winner is a testament to the incredible efforts put forth by the Midwest team.  Every day, our clients trust us to bring their projects to life, and every day, the entire staff at Midwest rises to the challenge,” said Steve Grundahl, President and Founder of Midwest Prototyping. “For additive manufacturing to be recognized at this level, on the same stage with so many strong traditional manufacturing companies is a breakthrough moment for our industry as well as our company – one that has us even more excited for the future.”

In its 29th year, the Manufacturer of the Year Awards Program recognizes companies of all sizes for all they do to drive Wisconsin’s economy. Companies were evaluated in areas such as financial growth or consistency, technological advances, product development, environmental solutions and sustainability, operational excellence and continuous improvement, commitment to employees and effective research and development. Award winners were selected by an independent panel of judges.

“Our state’s manufacturers are a critical part of Wisconsin’s heritage and Wisconsin’s future,” said Kurt R. Bauer, President/CEO of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. “We are proud to honor many of the manufacturers at this program that are utilizing new technologies and innovation that will change the way we look at the industry.”

Founded in 2001, Midwest Prototyping is a leading force in the additive manufacturing industry. Offering six distinct 3D printing technologies on 17 machines, and extensive in-house urethane casting and finishing services, Midwest Prototyping continues to provide innovative, cost-effective, and time-efficient solutions to organizations and individuals in a wide variety of industries and professions. To learn more, visit www.midwestproto.com.

Starion Bank donates to local charities, organizations

In 2016, Starion Bank donated nearly $1.02 million to local charities and organizations in the Wisconsin and North Dakota communities it serves.

During the year, major donations were given to Dane County organizations including Attic Angel Association, American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer, Madison Winter Festival, Madison Opera and the Second Harvest Foodbank.

“Giving back to the community is a core value of Starion Bank,” explained Craig Larson, CEO and chairman of the board for Starion. “These organizations help make the community strong and vibrant. Starion is proud to support so many groups that share our mission to build a better community.”

The bank also supports its employees’ work to make a difference in the community. “As a supercommunity bank, we believe it’s important to support our employees and their volunteer efforts. It’s an honor to work with individuals who care so much about making the community a better place to live and work,” added Larson.

About Starion Bank

Starion Bank is a $1.2 billion family-owned community bank with a full line of commercial, personal and mortgage banking services. Started in Oakes, N.D., in 1969, Starion opened in the Madison area in 2006 and has three locations: 1651 John Q. Hammons Drive, Middleton; 5900 Gisholt Drive, Monona; and 350 South Grand Avenue, Sun Prairie. The bank has 12 branches in North Dakota.

Online

• www.starionbank.com
• www.facebook.com/starionbank

Urban safety improvements achieve engineering excellence

Mead & Hunt received an Engineering Excellence Award for their role on the $10 million, environmentally-sensitive roadway reconstruction of USH 14 in the Village of Cross Plains. The American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin’s Engineering Excellence Awards competition honors outstanding engineering design and pays tribute to exemplary achievements around the state.

This highly-traveled 1.2-mile segment of USH 14 needed major repairs. Mead & Hunt enhanced the natural environment using innovative engineering techniques and made safety upgrades.

Mead & Hunt’s public involvement and stakeholder coordination efforts sought to understand issues and concerns before proposing solutions. The USH 14 project involved collaboration between multiple government agencies and the public. The highway is owned by Wisconsin Department of Transportation but recognized locally as Main Street by the citizens of Cross Plains. As a result, Mead & Hunt worked closely with these entities to coordinate concerns and design a roadway that best fit their needs.

This project required comprehensive environmental documentation. Black Earth Creek is located near USH 14 on federally-funded and protected conservation lands. It is a Class 1 cold water fishery considered to be one of the best trout streams in Wisconsin. As Mead & Hunt completed the environmental document and project plans, the firm understood the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources needed to be deeply involved in this phase.

The unique stormwater detention basin design mitigates the environmental impacts. The new basin keeps the creek’s temperature low to create a more sustainable environment for trout to flourish. It accommodates a cold water environment essential to a healthy trout ecosystem. The underground rock cribs eliminate costly and time-consuming repairs.

The cohesive design evolved from a coordinated collaboration with WisDOT, Dane County, Village of Cross Plains, WDNR, private businesses and the public. Infrastructure upgrades to USH 14 include new intersections with added traffic signals to improve safety and operations, and the removal of numerous access points to steady traffic flow. Further improvements eliminated on-street parking to increase pedestrian and vehicular visibility. Final upgrades involved replacing two bridges over the Black Earth Creek and Brewery Creek that were in severe disrepair, and reconstructed sewer and water utilities located under Main Street.

Through five public meetings, a public hearing, site visits, business walks and attendance at village board meetings, Mead & Hunt gained an understanding of the community this project serves. By working closely with the business community, Mead & Hunt aligned project goals with the Village’s vision for economic and community development along this corridor. The project team was able to keep existing businesses open during construction and help the village create redevelopment areas along their Main Street, attracting new businesses, which increased their tax base by $10 million.

Mead & Hunt is an employee-owned engineering and architectural firm with more than 525 staff, who provide professional consulting services to clients nationwide. Mead & Hunt is ranked as one of the top 150 consulting firms in the country by Engineering News Record.

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Contact: Scott Hasburgh, Project Manager, 608-443-0436, scott.hasburgh@meadhunt.com

High resolution project photos and a short video are available. Contact Brittany Williams with how you would like those delivered. Brittany Williams, Marketing & Communications, 803-520-2993, brittany.williams@meadhunt.com

Park Ridge/Park Edge Employment & Training Center Open House

Employment and Training Opportunities — Enhancing Greater Madison’s workforce diversity and inclusion

Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Training (START) Starts April 3   Start your career in construction! Prepare for 19 different trades, including carpentry, electrical, painting, and more. Math tutoring, apprenticeship exam prep, blueprint reading, more! Contact trades@ulgm.org or call 608.729.1200    Foundations for the Trades Starts May 1   Get the foundational skills for careers in the construction and utilities industries. Over 90 hours of hand-on training on a real construction site. Earn OSHA 10, National Flagging, and First Aid/CPR certifications. Contact trades@ulgm.org or call 608.729.1200

Customer Service Academy Starts April 3 Train for jobs starting at $15+/hour in customer service and support, reception, call center, order taking, sales, sales support, and more! Enroll now Insurance Academy Starts April 4 Learn how to get into and grow your career in the insurance industry! You will earn a nationally recognized certification to show future employers. Contact Mariam at mmaldonado@ulgm.org or 608.729.1240 for more information