Year: 2017
Photo by Richard Hurd
Farwell Continues Rapid Growth
“Lower cost and ubiquitous technology has caused massive disruption regardless of industry. It is a fast-paced mix of increased competition, a multitude of vendor solutions, and aggressive growth goals,” said McQuin. “From that comes a wide breadth of transformation including modernization, organizational restructuring, consolidation, customer experience redesign, partnerships and automation. These efforts succeed when Change Management best practices are applied.”
Farwell Senior Change Consultant Rachel Breitbach noted that the increased emphasis on dedicated Change Management is also a result of leaders learning from programs that were not successful. “Employee engagement, executive support and proper expectation-setting are key components of managing the pace and breadth of change we see today,” she stated. “Leaders that dedicate teams to help their organizations navigate these changes increase their probability of success and gain competitive advantages.”
For the third straight year, Farwell will be sponsoring the Madison/South Central Wisconsin Project Management Institute’s Annual Professional Development Day (PDD). The Farwell team will be meeting with hundreds of professionals and leaders responsible for planning and executing strategic projects during an unprecedented period of innovation, change and transformation.
The Farwell team enjoys engaging directly with companies and learning more about their successes and challenges. “PDD is a great opportunity to talk with our clients and other Wisconsin companies about their strategies to compete during this time of rapid change,” said Nick Lombardino, a senior member of the Farwell Client Solutions team. “Scaling to meet customer demand, prioritizing projects, technical modernization and becoming more agile are common discussions for our clients.”
Meet the Farwell Team at PDD on Friday, May 12th at the Madison Marriott West, 1313 John Q Hammons Dr, Middleton, WI 53562.
About Farwell
After being a consultant for other firms since the 1990’s, Jason Potter started Farwell as an independent consultant in 2012. Steve McQuin joined him a year later to help Farwell grow, and Nick Lombardino joined at the end of 2013. Farwell now has over 30 consultants working on projects with clients in the Midwest.
Farwell focuses on Change, Risk and Vendor Management. Service categories include Strategy and Planning, Project Execution and Partner Services. The Farwell consulting team includes Project, Program and Portfolio Managers, Process Improvement Experts, Business Analysts, and Solution Architects. Farwell’s Partner Services include managed service providers, technical staffing firms, data experts, application development teams, and IT security consultants, among others. Farwell and its partners work together to develop custom, client-focused solutions.
Photo by Richard Hurd
SupraNet is hiring – Field Network Engineer
Field Network Engineer
Position Description
The Field Network Engineer is primarily responsible for wireless and fiber installations, also providing internal and external customer technical support and troubleshooting for those systems. Additional duties include performing fiber optic splicing and wireless radio configuration. The Field Network Engineer must comply with established policies, procedures and overall Company Core Values.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform rooftop wireless Internet installations
- Perform fiber optic and copper Internet installations
- Design and install customer demarc for Internet installations
- Pull fiber and copper cable for Internet installations
- Setup and splicing of indoor and outdoor fiber optic cable
- Provide excellent customer service and support, promptly responding to questions via phone/email
- Assist in troubleshooting of fiber and wireless circuits internally and with customers
- Create and maintain accurate technical procedures
- Participate in and contribute to after-hours scheduled maintenance and outage tasks
- Knowledge of and active adherence to the Company’s Security and Acceptable Use, Records Management and Retention
Job Requirements
- 3-5+ years field technician experience preferred
- Degree in computer related or networking field a plus
- Physical ability to climb ladders, carry 20+ pounds and work outdoors in adverse weather conditions
- Must have a valid driver’s license for company work van
- Coordinate and perform installs for customers (maintenance staff, landlord, managers and clients)
- Experience with fiber optic splicing a plus
- Knowledge of racks, switches, patch panels and demark installation
- Basic Internet Networking knowledge and troubleshooting (traceroute, ping) and switch configuration skills
- Basic configuration of Cisco iOS and wireless point-to-point and point-to-multipoint technologies (on-site training available)
- CCENT/CCNA certification a plus
- Familiarity with ticketing systems and escalation procedures
- Creative thinking and problem-solving skills, ability to learn quickly and simultaneously coordinate multiple projects and tasks
- Ability to work independently
About SupraNet
SupraNet Communications, Inc., founded in 1994, is a local, award-winning, Madison-based company providing fast, direct and reliable Internet services to businesses across southern Wisconsin. We are a fun, innovative, growth-oriented company with a social conscience and a strong community presence. We compete on relationships, and we constantly strive for long-term customer and employee loyalty. We believe in open and honest communication with our clients and with each other and work together to build a culture of transparency and constant improvement that leads to strong and trusting client relationships. We do not shy away from change, we embrace innovation. By helping our clients to succeed and our employees to prosper, we enable our community to flourish as a vibrant and competitive entrepreneurial ecosystem that fuels our collective long-term success. If you want to be part of the SupraNet team and have great communication and problem-solving skills, work well in a fast-paced environment, and have a positive upbeat attitude, then we invite you to apply.
Please email your resume and cover letter to:
Photo by Richard Hurd
Solar Evaluation for Business Owners
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solar-evaluation-for-business-owners-tickets-34119270657
Business owners will gather to learn about solarizing their facilities.
The Commercial & Industrial (C&I) solar PV market is the fastest growing and most underserved energy sector in the country. Find out why it’s poised to expand more rapidly than any other sector over the next 2-3 years.
SunPeak invites you to attend an informational forum and mingle with solar system owners.
Comfortable table seating, complementary beverages and snacks will be provided during the sessions with a break in between to mingle with the other attendees and speakers.
Photo by Richard Hurd
Wisconsin Bank & Trust Recognized as a Forbes Best Bank in America For 2017
Wisconsin Bank & Trust Recognized as a Forbes Best Bank in America For 2017
Wisconsin Bank & Trust’s Parent Company, Heartland Financial USA, Inc., Recognized Among America’s Leading Financial Institutions
Madison, WI, May 9, 2017 — Wisconsin Bank & Trust, a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:HTLF), has been named a “Forbes Best Bank 2017.”
In its annual review of the largest publicly traded banks and thrifts, Forbes ranked Heartland Financial USA, Inc. 44th among a nationwide group of 100 leading banking organizations with assets ranging from under $8 billion to over $2.5 trillion.
“We are proud to be named among the best banks in America for 2017,” said Kevin Tenpas, Chairman and CEO of Wisconsin Bank & Trust. “As a community bank, what sets us apart is our strong commitment to our customers, combined with access to ‘big-bank’ products and services as part of Heartland. The Forbes ranking underscores the benefits of our unique structure—the strength and capabilities of a big bank, combined with the personal touch and local decision-making of a community bank.”
To compile the rankings, Forbes used data collected by S&P Global Market Intelligence through the third quarter of 2016 on the country’s largest publicly traded banks and thrifts. The data covered 10 metrics related to growth, profitability, capital adequacy and asset quality. Metrics included return on average tangible equity, return on average assets, net interest margin, efficiency ratio and net charge-offs as a percent of total loans. Nonperforming assets as a percent of assets, risk-based capital ratio and reserves as a percent of nonperforming assets were also factored in.
“We attribute our strong performance to both our loyal and satisfied customers and our disciplined financial management,” said Tenpas.
In 2016, Heartland’s net income increased by 35 percent over 2015, with earnings per share growing by 14 percent. That strong shared success provides Wisconsin Bank & Trust with an outstanding platform for continued growth.
About Wisconsin Bank & Trust
Wisconsin Bank & Trust (WBT), a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., (NASDAQ: HTLF), is a business-focused community bank with assets of more than $1 billion. With eighteen banking centers and two mortgage origination offices, Wisconsin Bank & Trust serves customers in the Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Sheboygan, Monroe and southwest areas of Wisconsin. WBT offers a wide range of personal and business banking, private client and mortgage lending services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinbankandtrust.com or call 608.203.1214. Wisconsin Bank & Trust is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.
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Photo by Richard Hurd
David Sedaris Returns to Overture Center
For immediate release: Monday, May 8, 2017
Contact: Sarah Knab | 608.258.4438
Click here for photos.
Best-Selling Author, Humorist and Contributor to This American Life Live at Overture Center
Madison, Wis. – Overture Center presents David Sedaris, author of the previous bestsellers Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and regular National Public Radio contributor will be appearing for one night only in Overture Hall on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. following the release of his newest book, Theft By Finding Diaries (1977 – 2002). His new book is a collection of diaries that will be released on May 30, 2017.
Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, June 2 at 11 a.m. at overture.org, in person at 201 State Street or by phone at 608.258.4141.
This is a unique opportunity to see the best-selling humorist in an intimate setting. As always, Sedaris will be offering a selection of all-new readings and recollections, as well as a Q&A session and post-show book signing.
Tweaking the familiar until it warps, David Sedaris mines poignant comedy from his peculiar childhood in North Carolina, his bizarre career path, and his move with his lover to France. Including his recent releases, the New York Times’ bestselling books When You Are Engulfed in Flames and Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, David Sedaris’ wickedly witty observations of the ordinary-bizarre are always sure to deliver insights and laughs. One of six children in a second-generation Greek family, he grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1977, he dropped out of Kent State University to hitchhike around the country. Aside from working as an elf, Sedaris has worked a number of charmingly quirky jobs such as a house painter, an apple picker, an aide in a mental hospital, a creative writing teacher at the Art Institute of Chicago, and an apartment cleaner.
Sedaris made his comic debut recounting his strange-but-true experiences of being a Macy’s elf, reading his Santaland Diaries on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition in 1992. His sardonic humor and incisive social critique have made him one of NPR’s most popular and humorous commentators. In 2001, he was named Humorist of the Year by Time magazine and received the Thurber Prize for American Humor.
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OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS in Madison, Wisconsin features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and five galleries where national and international touring artists, ten resident companies and hundreds of local artists engage people in over half a million educational and artistic experiences each year. Overture.org