WPS will assist TriWest Healthcare Alliance in serving additional regions for VA programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tom Enwright, (608) 977-7165 thomas.enwright@wpsic.com

WPS will assist TriWest Healthcare Alliance in serving additional regions for VA programs

Additional staff will be hired in Wausau, Wis., and Southern Illinois

MADISON, Wis.—Oct. 9, 2018—WPS Health Solutions is proud to announce that the company is taking on additional work to support two existing programs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

VA asked TriWest Healthcare Alliance – one of two VA contractors administering the Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3) and Veterans Choice Program (VCP) for Veterans – to bridge the gap in services created after Health Net Federal Services stopped administering these programs in its designated regions of the country. Health Net’s contract expired on Sept. 30. In addition, TriWest extended its contract with WPS to provide health care services until the next generation of VA community care is implemented via the Community Care Network (CCN) contracts.

WPS currently supports TriWest Healthcare Alliance in three of the nation’s regions, and this additional work adds the remaining three regions so that WPS will provide claims processing and customer service functions for PC3 and the VCP throughout the entire nation. The WPS Military and Veterans Health team will be hiring additional staff before the end of the year in Wausau, Wis., and Southern Illinois to accommodate the increased workload.

“WPS is proud to be able to continue serving Veterans across the country through these successful programs. Our partnership with TriWest Healthcare Alliance and the performance and hard work of our employees will continue as we expand into these additional regions,” said Brian Brugger, Executive Vice President of WPS Military and Veterans Health. “We look forward to working side by side with TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Veterans Affairs to make sure our nation’s Veterans receive the care they deserve and to continue delivering our already high level of service.”

TriWest Healthcare Alliance and WPS will ensure that Veterans have ready access to community care when needed until the next generation of community care contracts – Community Care Networks (CCN) – are awarded and implemented.

“We stand by VA’s commitment to provide access to community care when it is unable to provide care timely or conveniently, and we are confident in our ability to successfully and seamlessly transition into the new regions,” said David McIntyre, President and CEO of TriWest

Healthcare Alliance. “It has been a privilege to work collaboratively with VA over the past five years to provide Veterans in half the country with access to community-based health care, having now facilitated nearly 10 million appointments for care with our network of over 200,000 community providers, and we are pleased WPS is processing and paying their claims.”

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 2018, the international Ethisphere® Institute named WPS one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® for the ninth straight year. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

DeWitt Ross & Stevens is Approved for Membership in SCG Legal Network

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2018

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michelle M. Friedman
(262) 754-2877
mmf@dewittross.com

DeWitt Ross & Stevens is Approved for Membership in SCG Legal Network

MADISON|BROOKFIELD|MINNEAPOLIS – DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., and its affiliate DeWitt Mackall Crounse & Moore S.C., announced today it has been approved for membership in SCG Legal Network.

Membership is by invitation only and extended to firms after demonstrating the highest quality service, industry leadership and the value their membership would bring to the network. SCG Legal is an association of more than 140 independent law firms serving businesses in all 50 state capitals and major commercial centers around the world. There are more than 6,000 attorneys practicing in U.S. firms that are SCG members. The network was founded by 17 former state governors in 1989 to better serve their clients in sharing information about the practice of law before state legislative, judicial, and executive bodies.

Today, these firms serve many regional, national, and international companies in a full range of legal services. SCG Legal also helps identify local counsel and assists businesses with government relations matters, litigation coordination, and multi-jurisdictional regulatory concerns in the U.S. and around the globe.

“We are proud to be among the select few that belong to SCG Legal and look forward to a long and productive relationship with this elite network,” said Bradley Fulton, President & Managing Partner at DeWitt.

About DeWitt

DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., including its affiliate DeWitt Mackall Crounse & Moore S.C., is one of the ten largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota. It has nearly 140 attorneys practicing in Madison and Metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a variety of legal areas and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes. The firm is known for its work in several areas, including civil rights litigation, construction litigation, corporate law, employment, environmental, employee benefits, estate planning, family law, government relations, health care, intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, litigation, personal injury, real estate, and tax law.

Fairfield by Marriott Madison West/Middleton Reopens

CONTACT: Coni Duhr, General Manager, Fairfield by Marriott Madison West/Middleton, 608-831-1400, cduhr@ncghotels.com

Fairfield by Marriott Madison West/Middleton Reopens

Hotel completed a renovation after flooding

(Madison, WI – October 5, 2018) – Fairfield by Marriott Madison West/Middleton is reopening today, after being temporary closed to renovate after the floods in Middleton, WI this past August. The hotel went thru an extensive renovation and is ready to welcome back it’s loyal guests. The hotel will have the same modern and bright look, now with brand new furnishings, furniture, carpeting, beds, bedding, window coverings, fitness equipment and more.

“We are excited and thrilled to be able to welcome back our guests today. The hotel still has the same look and exceptional service, but almost everything in it is brand new,” said Coni Duhr, General Manager.

In the Fairfield by Marriott Madison West/Middletonlobby area, guests can choose to be productive, relax or enjoy breakfast or a snack in a modern and flexible environment featuring a vibrant, natural color palette of greens, blues and oranges. The spacious lobby gives guests ample connectivity options, as well as a “connect and print” area that offers both standing and seated Internet stations. Guests can also unwind in the lobby’s inviting living area ― whose focal points include a natural stone hearth, organic-shaped sofa and lounge chair, and unique local features — or they can grab a drink or snack item from the 24/7 Market.

The breakfast area’s signature farm table provides a central gathering place where guests can watch television, meet up with colleagues or get work done. In the morning, guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast, choosing from make-your-own waffles to scrambled eggs and other healthy items, such as fruit, yogurt, and whole grain cereals and breads.

The Fairfield by Marriott Madison West/Middletonsignature “smart” room décor warmly welcomes guests into a comfortable, productive and restful environment. Flexible and functional, the guest room includes a well-designed work area, an ergonomic chair, task lighting and electrical outlets where guests need them. A curved, mobile desk enables guests to create their own work space, while also optimizing their television viewing.

Inspired by nature, the hotel’s thoughtfully designed rooms and suites place the living and working area near the window to allow for more natural light and views. Building on this natural design, the room décor features organic patterns and fresh colors, blending wood tones with bright pops of color. The new design also places the sleeping area toward the middle of the room, helping to give guests a better night’s sleep on plush mattresses, as well as easier access to the bathroom and wardrobe.

Located at 8212 Greenway Blvd. the Fairfield by Marriott Madison West/Middleton offers convenient access to Greenway Station and downtown Middleton.

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About Fairfield by Marriott

Fairfield by Marriott is designed for today’s traveler who are looking to be productive on the road, whether for business or leisure. In addition to complimentary Wi-Fi and breakfast, Fairfield by Marriott offers thoughtfully designed rooms and suites that provide separate living, working and sleeping areas. With more than 950 properties throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, Fairfield by Marriott hotels participate in the award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information or reservations, contact the Fairfield by Marriott Madison West/Middleton hotel directly at 608-831-1400, call the Fairfield by Marriott toll-free number at 800-228-2800, visit www.fairfieldmadisonwest.com or become a fan at www.facebook.com/fairfieldmadisonwest.

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Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

Wisconsin Bank & Trust Introduces Security Brief, Aims to Heighten Cyber Security Awareness

Madison, Wisconsin – October 1, 2018 – The ever-changing landscape of cybercrime introduces new threats. Keeping up with cyber security best practices can be a little overwhelming, but the professionals at Wisconsin Bank & Trust created a list of the top three steps businesses and individuals can take to protect themselves. “We thought it would be helpful to cut through the clutter, and establish the most critical steps toward protecting families and businesses against cybercrime,” Curtis Chrystal, President and CEO of Wisconsin Bank & Trust, said.

While the cyber security industry has been making great strides, cyber criminals are becoming more creative and have diversified their attack strategies. For more than a decade, complex and sophisticated cybercrime organizations focused on large organizations. Today, cyber criminals are increasingly attacking small businesses and consumers with greater frequency, which means we all must take steps to safeguard our information.

“We invest in security technology and education 365 days a year,” Curtis Chrystal said. “The first step in protecting your family and/or business is cyber awareness,” Curtis Chrystal said. Wisconsin Bank & Trust introduced “Security Brief” for business and for families.

SECURITY BRIEF FOR BUSINESS

1. Make sure you’re paying an actual vendor. Always verify payment requests submitted to your business. Verify with a second individual or with the requestor, but through a different channel than the one used to submit the request. Always use a phone number on file, not a phone number contained in the request. Never feel pressured to initiate a payment without verification. It is safer to take a little longer and be sure the payment is legitimate, than to be quick and lose thousands of dollars to fraud. Always verify any change to vendor payment instructions (i.e., bank name or account number) and use dual control—establish a dual control requirement for all outgoing ACH or wire payments.

2. Reduce payment fraud risks by separation of Accounts Payable (AP) duties and account segregation. Once your process has the checks and balances you need to avoid duplicate and/or unauthorized payments, talk to your Treasury Management team to evaluate today’s tools and technology that not only help reduce payment fraud, but can also help you automate some of the AP process to save time and money.

3. Require multi-factor authentication when receiving initial payment information or a request to change payment information.

SECURITY BRIEF AT HOME

1. Use strong passwords and change them at least once per quarter. DO NOT use the same password for multiple log ins. Use multi-factor authentication whenever it’s available.

2. Avoid unknown links or attachments in email. When you receive a request for payment via email, review it carefully and if there is any doubt, contact the vendor via the phone number listed on a previous invoice or look up their number online to verify. Fraudsters can change any company’s email address by adding a letter, a period or another character that people may miss if they are not aware of the risk of fraud.

3. Use anti-virus software. Install and maintain current anti-virus software on all devices, including mobile phones and tablets.

For more information about cyber security, visit www.wisconsinbankandtrust.com/stopfraud.

Wisconsin Bank & Trust is also hosting “Recognizing the Danger and Minimizing the Threat,” a fraud seminar that will cover employee theft schemes commonly encountered in the workplace, in Monroe, Wisconsin and Madison, Wisconsin on Thursday, October 18. The fraud seminars will feature guest speaker Tim Tribe, Forensic Accountant, and occur at Turner Hall in Monroe from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. and Madison Club in Madison from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. If you wish to attend, please RSVP by Wednesday, October 10, here for Monroe or here for Madison.

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 seventeen banking centers and one loan processing office, WBT 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. WBT is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

For further information please contact:

Curtis Chrystal

President and CEO

608.203.1224

CChrystal@wisconsinbankandtrust.com

Bridget Hughes

Regional Marketing & Sales Support Director

608.203.1211

BHughes@wisconsinbankandtrust.com

Jesse Roberts Promoted to Business Development Executive at M3

Madison, WI – Jesse Roberts has been promoted to the position of Business Development Executive at M3 Insurance. Based in the Madison office, Jesse educates the business community about M3 offerings including insurance and risk management, employee benefits, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. He further assists customers and prospects during the sales process, presenting solutions and matching them with the appropriate service team to address their unique business insurance needs.

Jesse joined M3 as part of the pilot group of the M3YOU program in 2016 and, demonstrating strengths aligning with the business development team, moved into the role of a Business Development Specialist in January of 2017. From that role, Jesse quickly grew into the capacity of his newly appointed position as a Business Development Executive.

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 and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018.