WPS is named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies

WPS Health Solutions again is being recognized by the Ethisphere^® Institute as a World’s Most Ethical Company^®. This is the eighth time that WPS has received the award, which recognizes companies that continue to raise the bar on ethical leadership and corporate behavior.

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions) is one of 124 companies recognized this year.

“WPS is honored to again be recognized for having a comprehensive compliance program that fosters a culture of ethics in our work environment,” said Jane Keller-Allen, WPS Vice President of Internal Audit, Compliance and Risk. “The Ethisphere award is a testament to our commitment to good corporate citizenship, effective leadership, and solid governance.”

The Ethisphere Institute is a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. The World’s Most Ethical Company assessment is based upon the Ethisphere Institute’s Ethics Quotient^® framework. Scores are generated in five key categories: ethics and compliance program (35%), corporate citizenship and responsibility (20%), culture of ethics (20%), governance (15%) and leadership, innovation and reputation (10%).

The full list can be found at http://worldsmostethicalcompanies.ethisphere.com/honorees.

About WPS Health Solutions

WPS Health Solutions is a nationally regarded government contractor and a leading Wisconsin not-for-profit health insurer. The WPS Health Insurance division offers affordable health plans and benefits administration. The WPS Government Health Administrators division administers Part A and B Medicare benefits for millions of seniors in multiple states, and the WPS Military and Veterans Health division serves millions more members who are active in the U.S. military, veterans and their families. In 2017, the international Ethisphere^® Institute named WPS one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies^® for the eighth straight year. For more information, please visit www.wpsic.com.

NGL posts record 2016 sales results

Madison-based mutual life insurance company National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) and its affiliates, Settlers Life Insurance Company located in Bristol, Va. and Commercial Travelers Mutual Insurance Company located in Utica, N.Y., reported a record sales year of $732 million in 2016. Additionally, in the last eight years NGL has doubled its consolidated asset size. This is a reflection on NGL’s 107-year commitment to stability and offering high-quality products.

“There are many people who contributed to NGL’s 2016 results, including our dedicated employees, marketing partners, and the thousands of agents who sell our products. But most importantly, NGL is privileged to serve each of our 1.2 million policyholders,” said Mark L. Solverud, President and Chief Executive Officer at NGL.

The 2016 sales results contributed to the growth of the consolidated statutory assets to $4.1 billion. On a consolidated statutory basis, NGL achieved a net gain of $24.9 million which was very positive given the pressure that the unprecedented low investment rate environment continues to place on operating performance.

These key performance indicators reflect a financially strong company, as does NGL’s A- (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best Company, the leading provider of ratings and financial data for the insurance industry.

A complete 2016 Annual Report is located at: nglic.com/annualreport.

About NGL

Since 1910, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), a mutual insurance company, has been located in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products including specialty and student insurance. Additional information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company

Financials current as of 12/31/16. Ratings current as of 12/9/16.

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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Overture’s Local Legends 2017 Include Exact Sciences, Local Couples Continue Pledge of Half Million Dollars to Match Community Gifts

For immediate release: Monday, March 13, 2017
Contact: Lex Poppens, VP of Marketing and Sales, 608.258.4147 | lpoppens@overture.org

Sarah Knab, Communications Manager, 608.258.4438 | sknab@overture.org

Click here for group photo.

Overture’s Local Legends 2017 Include Exact Sciences, Local Couples Continue Pledge of Half Million Dollars to Match Community Gifts

Second Year of Largest-ever Challenge Grant Will Match Donations Until June 15, up to $500,000

Madison, Wis. — Ted DeDee, President and CEO of Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts, and the Overture Center Foundation (OCF) Board of Directors, announced today the list of Overture’s Local Legends for 2017. These are local companies, couples or individuals who’ve pledged $100,000 to challenge area residents and businesses to support the arts at Overture as part of the Spring Match Campaign.

• Exact Sciences Corporation

“Overture is a world-class facility, one of the best performing arts venues in the country, and truly makes a major impact on our community.  But it can’t survive without our community’s support,” commented Kevin Conroy, Chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences. Exact Sciences became a Local Legend this year after having long supported Overture by sponsoring its National Geographic Live! series. “Madison continues to become a more dynamic community economically, entrepreneurially, and culturally. As a cornerstone of our region, Overture helps make Madison one of the best cities in America to live, work, and start a business.”

• Judith and Nick Topitzes

“We became a Local Legend to help increase the programming of Overture to as many people as possible in Madison and surrounding communities,” said Judith Topitzes.  She joins the Local Legends with her husband Nick, founder and former owner of pc/nametag. “The arts contribute to the culture, health and balance of individuals. Overture has contributed to a downtown that other cities can only be envious of. But most importantly, we wanted to help make Overture free of politics and open to more Madisonians and south central Wisconsin residents.”

• Sandy and Jun Lee

“The arts are so vital for our community, and for our children,” said Sandy Lee, who, with her fellow-UW alum husband Jun, join Overture’s Local Legends this year. “By supporting Overture Center, we are helping to fuel the creativity required for our children to grow and flourish. Through Overture’s free and low-cost programming, including the OnStage Field Trip program, children have the opportunity to experience the arts first-hand.  Seeing a program and the excitement in the children’s eyes, we knew we had had invest in it.”

• Two couples who prefer to remain anonymous

“We made the decision to give this gift in honor of Glenda Noel-Ney, Overture’s VP of Advancement, and Tim Sauers, VP of Programming and Community Engagement, for their dedication to the arts throughout their careers, and their tremendous influence on making Overture this wonderful place to be introduced to, experience and enjoy the arts,” commented the anonymous couple who donated in the names of Noel-Ney and Sauers. “It is vital to the well-being of a community to ensure the arts are accessible to as many people as possible, and Glenda and Tim work tirelessly towards this at Overture, through outreach, engagement and arts programming in diverse forms and for all ages. As we see it, they are the legends – not us.”

“The main reason we made the donation is that we were able to at this moment in our lives and we think the Overture is a beautiful space that everyone should be able to enjoy,” commented one of this year’s Local Legends couples, who will remain anonymous. “We are hoping our donation will make it possible for those that might otherwise not have the opportunity, to be able to do so.”

The campaign grew last season with last year’s five Local Legends – Jim and Sue Bakke, Diane Ballweg, Jim Imhoff and Kitty Kuhl, Jonathan and Susan Lipp and Tom and Peggy Pyle – who challenged Overture’s fundraising efforts with a $500,000 total match of individual and corporate philanthropic gifts.

Previous Years’ Local Legends:

• 2015 – Ron and Deborah Krantz and an anonymous donor in honor of Ted & Gail DeDee
• 2014 – Joe and Mary Ellyn Sensenbrenner and Bea and Lau Christensen
• 2013 – MG&E Foundation, Kelly Family Foundation and Dianne Christensen

“The Local Legends program, now in its fifth year, is part of Overture’s Spring fundraising program where generous individuals, families and corporations have each pledged $100,000 as a match to contributions of any denomination from the Madison area community,” said Ted DeDee, Overture’s President and CEO. “All money raised in this Local Legends Match campaign, which runs through June 15th, supports Overture’s free and low-cost programs throughout the year. To date, twelve Local Legends have made this significant commitment. And now, five new Local Legends have just pledged their extremely powerful financial support in order that the contributions of others are doubled.”  DeDee concluded, “We couldn’t be more grateful for the meaningful gifts of our Local Legends and the resounding response of our entire community.”

To qualify for the match, gifts may be made by individuals or businesses and designated to the Overture Annual Fund or in support of a community program. Performance or program sponsorships will not be counted toward the match.

In 2012, Overture Center became a private non-profit organization, continuing its mission to engage the community in the arts and ensure access to the arts for all, regardless of their social or economic standing.

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 nearly seven hundred thousand educational and artistic experiences each year. Overture.org  

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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