Clark and Henke Join Alliance Board; Culver Elected Board Chair, Pribyl Vice Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Teri Van Tassel, Vice President, Marketing & Member Services

608.210.6633

E-mail: tvantassel@the-alliance.org

www.the-alliance.org/press

CLARK AND HENKE JOIN ALLIANCE BOARD; CULVER ELECTED BOARD CHAIR, PRIBYL VICE CHAIR

MADISON, Wis. (January 30, 2017) ─ Diana Clark, benefits manager of Promega Corporation, Fitchburg, Wis. and Lisa Henke, risk/benefits manager of County of Walworth, Elkhorn, Wis. have been elected to The Alliance Board of Directors. Mary Kay Brooks, general manager, corporate attorney and owner of Brooks Tractor, Inc., Sun Prairie, Wis.; Kyle Reading, president of Spuncast, Inc., Watertown, Wis. and Mark Stevens, vice president for business affairs of Maranatha Baptist University, Watertown, Wis. have been re-elected to The Alliance Board of Directors.

Wendy Culver, human resources director at Mead & Hunt, Madison, Wis. was elected board chair. Culver became a member The Alliance Board of Directors in 2008. She joined Mead & Hunt in 1996 as human resources director. In her position she is responsible for human resources policies, strategic planning, training, recruitment, retention and benefits.

Larry Pribyl, CFO at Trachte Building Systems, Sun Prairie, Wis. was elected vice chair. Pribyl became a member of The Alliance Board of Directors in 2014. He joined Trachte Building Systems in 2012 as CFO. He has a background in quality processes and has held senior-level positions at previous companies.

The Alliance board also includes:

• Janette Berry, benefits manager, Miniature Precision Components (MPC) Inc.,
• Walworth, Wis.
• Annette Mikula, human resources director, County of Rock, Janesville, Wis.
• Brad Olm, vice president of human resources, Gordon Flesch Company, Inc., Madison, Wis.
• Shirley Reif, secretary-treasurer, Crest Foods Company, Inc., Ashton, Ill.

The Alliance Board of Directors works together with staff to set the direction for The Alliance. Founded in 1990, The Alliance is a not-for-profit cooperative that moves health care forward by controlling costs, improving quality and engaging individuals in their health. The Alliance provides a network of health care access in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa to its 240 member-employers.

To learn more about The Alliance Board, including biographies, visit: www.the-alliance.org/board.

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Photos can be downloaded at: http://www.the-alliance.org/press_room/press_releases/

Wisconsin Aviation Flight School Reaches 100 Flight Students

Wisconsin Aviation has recently enrolled their 100th flight student.

Wisconsin Aviation continues to recognize the pilot shortage here in the USA. Airlines and other aircraft operators are having a hard time finding qualified pilots. Wisconsin Aviation continues to hire FAA Certified Flight Instructors to meet the demand.

Wisconsin Aviation offers anyone interested in exploring becoming a pilot an introductory lesson for one hour, at each of their locations. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a pilot for a career or for recreation, please contact us.

Wisconsin Aviation has operations at Dane County Regional Airport (Madison, WI), the Watertown Municipal Airport (Watertown, WI) and Dodge County Airport (Juneau, WI). It is the largest full-service general aviation services provider in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Aviation is proudly celebrating 35 years in business.

Web: www.wisconsinaviation.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wisav
Twitter: Wisconsinaviation@WisconsinAviat1
Phone: Trevor Janz – 920-261-4567
trevorj@wisav.com

Jason Nordby Announced As New M3 Shareholder

M3 Insurance recently announced Jason Nordby, Account Executive and Director of Employee Benefits Captive Practice, as a new company shareholder. Jason joined M3 in 2003 and is a licensed life and health insurance agent as well as a designated Group Benefits Disability Specialist. In his role at M3, he consults with and advises clients about the design, implementation and management of their employee benefits programs. He also educates clients and other M3 staff members on employee benefit captives, serving as a resource on this emerging benefits solution.

Jason belongs to the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He is an active board member for the March of Dimes of Wisconsin and also dedicates his time to teaching financial literacy to high school students through Junior Achievement.

M3’s ownership team currently stands at 29 employees. The group is committed to reinvesting in the agency and its people and remaining privately held for the long-term.
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About M3
M3 Insurance offers insight, advice and strategies to help clients manage risk, purchase insurance and provide employee benefits. We are committed to being experts in both the products we represent and the industries we serve. Our people advance M3’s competitive advantage in the marketplace, and our focus on community builds better places to live and work. M3 is consistently ranked a top 100 broker in America.

LeewardBA Helps to Revitalize and Bring New Opportunities to Madison

Cassandra Lee
Leeward Business Advisors
262.358.4116 x 204
cpolzin@leewardba.com

LeewardBA Helps to Revitalize and Bring New Opportunities to Madison
Private Company Expands into Madison Data Center Market, Brings Business Framework Expertise

MADISON, WI: On February 8th, Leeward Business Advisors is hosting a ribbon cutting event which will include data center tours, a musical performance by The Kissers, happy hour, and a keynote speech from Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch.

After the Quality Inn at 4916 E Broadway was abandoned, the area was left to struggle and become a home for crime. Around five years later, Facility Gateway Corporation took over and gave the space new purpose as a modern data center. Leeward Business Advisors ‘checked in’ to the new facility on November 4th as part of their westward expansion plan.

LeewardBA will use the facility to host the newest node of their Stratus Data Center cloud offering. Additionally, they are offering co-location services for other companies to benefit from housing their computer systems in a secure, resilient, and professionally managed data center.

Expanding business means a lot more than hanging a sign on the wall to LeewardBA’s CEO.

“You have to understand we are a new kind of technology service provider and a different kind of company. We put our company resources to work creating new learning opportunities for civic organizations, as well as for-profit businesses. When we show up, we show up to make a difference and create value for the communities that support us.”

Leeward Business Advisors has done a lot to engage with the community in Kenosha, like running coding clubs and business programs for local schools, donating services to local non-profit organizations, and hosting an annual event to drive engagement for nonprofit organizations. Plans are already being made to set up a hackathon, arcade night, STEM competitions, and more in the new space. The goal is to engage the community, start involving young professionals, and offering enhanced education opportunities to youth in the area.

The ribbon cutting on February 8th is open to the public and press coverage of the event is invited. Speakers include Matthew B. Mikolajewski, Director Economic Development Division City of Madison, James McPhaul, Director, WI Small Business Development Center, and Warren Laube, President Greenwoods State Bank. LeewardBA employees will be giving tours of the facility and make introductions to the community. Pre-registration is requested by visiting LeewardBA.EventBrite.com

About Leeward Business Advisors
Recent winners of the Fast Five 2016 Ovation awards, 2016 Lake County Community Impact Award, and KTEC 2016 Partner of the Year – Leeward Business Advisors is a Wisconsin based corporation that provides business strategy planning, business improvement implementation, and full IT operational support. They offer world class Cloud Computing services, Cloud brokerage, Managed IT services, and a full US based Support Service Desk (called Quick Answers). Michael Polzin, CEO has 20+ years of enterprise business and
technology experience gained while working at Allstate Insurance and Microsoft Corporation. Jason Klein, CTO has 15+ years delivering effective and efficient technology to Midwest companies.

About Facility Gateway Corporation
Facility Gateway Corporation, with home offices in Madison, WI, has over 80 years of combined industry experience. They provide professional data center services in all 50 U.S. states. Composed of 4 specialty divisions including Data Center Real Estate, Data Center Design, Critical Power Equipment Sales and Critical Facility Management, FGC is moving towards its goal of being the number one data center management company in the U.S.

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Madison Ballet Presents Three New Works – February 3 & 4

*For Immediate Release*

Madison Ballet Presents Three New Works In Bare:

A Mixed Bill Program At The Bartell Theatre

Friday, February 3 – 8:00pm

Saturday, February 4 – 2:00pm

Saturday, February 4 – 8:00pm

(Madison, WI – January 24, 2017)—Following the success of Madison Ballet’s 2016 performances of The Nutcracker, the company takes the stage again with a very different selection of short works that showcase the diverse talents of the company’s artists. In contrast to the lush setting of the traditional holiday performances of The Nutcracker, “Bare” captures what is eclectic, playful, and new in ballet by presenting three works by emerging choreographers alongside two favorites by Artistic Director W. Earle Smith.

Mr. Smith says: “The intimate Bartell Theatre provides a simple setting for an exploration of the pure joy of dance ‘stripped bare.’ This diverse program is an opportunity to really highlight the talents of Madison Ballet’s dancers and to have fun. We are especially excited to present three new works by choreographers who are like family to Madison Ballet, our dancers, and our audiences. We are proud provide a platform for audiences and artists to experience the breadth of the creativity in dance here in Madison.”

The three new works are: Somewhere Between Grit and Grace by Jacqueline Stewart, a Chicago based choreographer, who returns with her third work for the company; Re-Place by local UW Dance Department professor Jin-Wen Yu, also his third work for the company; and Limelight by Shea Johnson, a favorite guest dancer for Madison Ballet, who is staging his first work here.

The program also features Groovy (2014) and Palladio Pas de Deux (2011): both works by Mr. Smith that have not been performed in Madison since their premieres, and are strikingly different in tone and style. The Palladio Pas is an excerpt from a longer work set to a modern orchestral score by Welch composer Karl Jenkins. This is neoclassical ballet at its best: clean, precise lines, athleticism, artistry, and a minimalist aesthetic that focuses on the music and movement. Groovy is an explosion of color that celebrates the music of the 1960’s. Groovy has the feel of a lively dance party with references to popular dances of the era and the costumes are equally bright—right down to the day-glo pointe shoes.

PERFORMANCE & TICKET INFORMATION

The Bartell Theatre
113 E. Mifflin St
Madison, WI 53703

Tickets
Advance tickets are processed through The Overture Center; tickets are available at the Bartell 2 hours prior to curtain.

Single Tickets: $25 for children and seniors, $30 for adults, $10 day-of student rush.

Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.overture.org/events/bare or by calling The Overture Center Box Office at 608.258.4141.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Primavera – Repertory Program
*Featuring Two World Premieres
Drury Stage, Bartell Theater
March 31 – April 1, 2017

ABOUT MADISON BALLET

Founded in 1981, Madison Ballet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization based, led by Artistic Director W. Earle Smith. Its mission is to promote appreciation of and access to ballet by providing training and performing opportunities through public performances and educational initiatives.

Now in its 36th year, Madison Ballet is the second-largest dance organization in Wisconsin. Over 12,000 people attend Madison Ballet’s original production of The Nutcracker each year. In addition, Madison Ballet presents a varied repertoire of other performances each season, from intimate mixed-bill programs to elaborate full-length productions. Community outreach programs such as Madison Ballet: Offstage & Personal and Behind the Curtains bring the magic of Madison Ballet to both the young and young-at-heart, providing new perspectives on this timeless art form.

The School of Madison Ballet (SMB) opened in September 2005 and has become one of the most highly respected dance education programs in the Midwest. SMB provides classes and pre-professional training for over 450 students from children to adults. Alumni of the school and studio company have gone on to prestigious companies and schools, such as Sacramento Ballet, Miami City Ballet, School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and Ballet Chicago.

For more information, please contact:
Gretchen Bourg, General Manager
Madison Ballet
gretchen@madisonballet.org
608-278-7990 x672

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