Mead & Hunt acquires “boutique” transportation consulting firm Sabra & Associates, Inc.

Mead & Hunt, a large, well-known national architecture-engineering firm, has acquired Sabra & Associates, Inc. (SAI), a multi-disciplinary consulting firm with a strong emphasis on the transportation sector.

SAI has a heavy presence in the mid-Atlantic states with five offices spanning the area, including offices in Columbia, MD, Washington, DC, Vienna, VA, and two in Baltimore, MD. They have 120 team members.

This move gives both firms the opportunity to provide clients expanded consulting resources and service areas. SAI brings sophisticated multi-modal transportation planning, travel demand modeling, GIS, traffic engineering, and highway design and construction inspection to Mead & Hunt’s Transportation team, which excels at roadway and bridge design and construction inspection.

In addition, SAI brings strength in urban transit, freight logistics, signals and intelligent transportation systems planning and design, which is vital to many of our clients across the country. The two firms offer complementary services, making this combination beneficial for SAI and Mead & Hunt clients alike.

“The convergence of SAI and Mead & Hunt’s areas of expertise supports clients and communities by creating greater access to vital transportation services nationwide,” said Rick Plymale, Vice President for Mead & Hunt’s Transportation. “I’m confident that together we can do more for our clients than either of us could alone.”

The two firms are an ideal cultural fit, with both fostering people-first values. According to Andy Platz, Mead & Hunt’s CEO, “Keeping all of our clients, employees and communities at the forefront of our decisions is key to our overall success.”

Similarly, Ziad Sabra, former owner of SAI and now Mid-Atlantic Business Unit Leader at Mead & Hunt stated, “We remain committed to retaining the close client relationships we’ve fostered over the past several years, and we look forward to maintaining these relationships well into the future. Above all, this allows us to offer expanded resources to our clients and offers our employees additional opportunities to grow.”

Mead & Hunt is an employee-owned consulting firm and remains strong on ENR’s Top 500 design firm list with a national ranking of 119 in 2019. The firm employs nearly 900 employees from 35+ offices located across the nation. They were named by Zweig Group as one of the Best Firms to Work For, and by CE News as one of the top 10 engineering companies to work for in the nation.

Media Contacts:

• Andy Platz, CEO/President, andy.platz@meadhunt.com, 608-443-0600
• Rick Plymale, Vice President/Transportation, Richard.plymale@meadhunt.com, 681-313-4615
• Meghan Stiklestad, Marketing Director, Meghan.stiklestad@meadhunt.com, 608-443-0378

Madison World Music Festival will take attendees on a musical trip through much of the world

Aug. 23, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Information:

Shauna Breneman, Communications Director

Office: (608) 262-8862

Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu

MADISON WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL WILL TAKE ATTENDEES ON A MUSICAL TRIP THROUGH MUCH OF THE WORLD 

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union Theater’s free Madison World Music Festival will bring music from many parts of the world to Memorial Union and the Willy Street Fair in Madison Sept. 13-14.  

The Theater team is excited to announce the following festival lineup: 

• 13, Memorial Union
• 3 p.m., Festival Room – Southern Italian dance workshop with southern Italian folk music group Newpoli
• 5 p.m., Memorial Union Terrace – Traditional southern Italian music, Newpoli
• 5:45 p.m., Play Circle Theater – Cape Verdean music, Lucibela
• 7 p.m., Memorial Union Terrace – Psychedelic cumbia rooted in musical traditions of the Peruvian Amazon, Los Wembler’s de Iquitos
• 9 p.m., Memorial Union Terrace – Electronic Chadian music, Afrotronix
• 14, Willy Street Fair
• 2:15 p.m. – Brazilian and Brazilian-influenced music, Samba Novistas 
• 4:15 p.m. – Madagascar folk music, Toko Telo 
• 6:15 p.m. – Tuareg music from Niger, Les Filles de Illighadad 
• 8:15 p.m. – Music from Honduras, Nohe & Sus Santos 
• 14, Memorial Union Terrace 
• 9 p.m. – Angolan music blended with South American sound and American funk, Vivalda Dula  

“Right from the beginning, the mission of the festival was to bring new and unknown artists, from unique places, who may be working in unusual genres, and to expand the horizons of audience members. We hope the Madison World Music Festival inspires festival-goers to take time to learn about and further their understanding of the world and its many cultures,” said Esty Dinur, Wisconsin Union Theater community and campus relations director and Madison World Music Festival artistic director. “This is not another festival presenting audience favorites; rather, we create new favorites.” 

The festival began in 2004 as an effort to celebrate cultures from around the globe and create an unforgettable experience for the community. This will be the festival’s 16^th year of providing world music in the Madison area.  

The Wisconsin Union Theater presents this festival in collaboration with the student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee and the Marquette Neighborhood Association.  

This festival is made possible with support from the UW Credit Union; the Anonymous Fund; Dane Arts; Evjue Foundation, Inc.; Latin America, Caribbean and Iberian Studies; the Endres Manufacturing Company Foundation; the WUD Film Committee; the Wisconsin Arts Board; the State of Wisconsin; the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation; the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation; Capital City Hues; WORT-FM; and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

For more information about the Madison World Music Festival, visit union.wisc.edu/madison-world-music-festival. 

-###- 

About the Wisconsin Union Theater 

For more than 75 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an expansive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Theater: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater. 

[Note to the editor: Click here to download a high-resolution photo of the Madison World Music Festival. Pictured: Patrons enjoy music from Rajab Suleiman and Kithara on the Memorial Union Terrace during the Madison World Music Festival on Sept. 16, 2016. Photo provided by the Wisconsin Union. Photo by Dakota Mace.]

DeWitt Receives the “Compass Award” for Excellence in Retirement Plan Stewardship

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle M. Friedman / mmf@dewittllp.com / 262-754-2877

MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – DeWitt LLP announced today it was awarded the “Compass Award,” by Francis Investment Counsel (FIC) for its long-term commitment to excellence in the stewardship of its employees’ retirement assets. FIC is a nationally recognized expert retirement plan investment advisory organization.

“The leadership team at DeWitt has put in place, and maintained a system of in-depth due diligence, rigorous ongoing oversight, and consistent employee education that represents industry best practices,” said Mike Francis, President of FIC.  DeWitt’s oversight of its retirement plan has led to above average results. The plan boasts a participation rate of 90% and the average DeWitt employee saves 8.9% of income in their plan, well above the average of 7.2, nationally. DeWitt participants also exceed industry averages in terms of Roth utilization, with 45% of the DeWitt population taking advantage of this vehicle compared to 18% as an industry average.* 

Bradley C. Fulton, President and Managing Partner of DeWitt, said the firm has a “steadfast commitment to our employees’ long-term success during retirement.  Our Partner, Brian L. Anderson, who chairs the Savings Plan Committee, has done an outstanding job implementing best practices to assist with the firm’s investment platforms.”

DeWitt has applied best practices, investment features for its employees such as including auto-enrollment at 5% Roth.  Its investment menu features best-in-class funds from multiple fund families, while also offering alternative investment classes for greater diversification. “The care top executives at DeWitt have taken in managing their employees’ retirement benefits has been a priority, and it shows in their results. Their employees are better prepared for retirement than most,” reported Mike Francis, President, Francis lnvestment Counsel.

* Source: Vanguard, How America Saves 201 B: A Report on Vanguard 2017 Defined Contribution Plan Data. Survey included 4.6 million plan participants in 1,900 qualified plans. Data on participation and deferral rates drawn from a subset of Vanguard recordkeeping clients representing approximately one-third of clients of 800.000 participants in 400 plans. 

About DeWitt

DeWitt LLP 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 intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, civil rights litigation, construction litigation, corporate law, employment, environmental, employee benefits, estate planning, family law, government relations, litigation, real estate, and tax law.  More information is available at dewittllp.com.

###

Elizabeth Snodgrass Chosen as New Wisconsin Union Theater Director

Contact Information: Shauna Breneman, Communications Director
Office: (608) 262-8862
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu

ELIZABETH SNODGRASS CHOSEN AS NEW WISCONSIN UNION THEATER DIRECTOR

MADISON – Elizabeth Snodgrass will join the Wisconsin Union Theater team as the Theater’s director.

In this position, Snodgrass will lead the Wisconsin Union Theater in its efforts to present, promote and cultivate a lifelong appreciation of the performing arts, especially among University of Wisconsin-Madison students. She will also partner with the student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee, UW-Madison departments and local arts organizations to present quality programming that provides diverse experiences for the community.

“We are thrilled to have Beth join the Wisconsin Union staff as director of the Wisconsin Union Theater,” Wisconsin Union Deputy Director Susan Dibbell said. “The Union Theater has a long history of presenting world-class artists, and Beth brings an ability to blend tradition with relevant and cutting-edge performances. She is thoughtful and inclusive, which will serve her well in this position.”

Snodgrass succeeds longtime Theater Director Ralph Russo, who served in this position for 15 years. She will begin serving in the director role Sept. 3.

Snodgrass brings more than 20 years of experience in designing, producing and programming concerts, creative projects, and cultural initiatives with a focus on social justice, music education, and community engagement.

She most recently held the position of Summer Music Clinic director at UW-Madison’s Division of Continuing Studies. Her past positions include director, family programs and manager, community programs at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.

Snodgrass earned a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music and a master’s degree in piano performance from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.

“I am thrilled to join the committed leadership and programming team at this world-class arts institution. I am eager to work with the inspiring student-led Directorate to continue to bring diverse, exceptional voices to our storied Wisconsin Union Theater. Arts ground a community and give it shape and form. They also help to show us where we’ve been and where we’re going,” Snodgrass said. “I am honored to serve in this role that has been held by visionary leaders like Fan Taylor and Ralph Russo, and I can’t wait to get started.”

For more than 75 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity on the UW-Madison campus. The Theater has multiple performance spaces in which the Theater team presents a season with more than three dozen events, including classical, jazz, world and other music, dance, theater and more. Wisconsin Union Theater audiences have enjoyed performances by thousands of renowned artists, including Louis Armstrong, Yo-Yo Ma, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lizzo.

The Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, which was founded in 1907 and is one of the oldest college unions in the United States. More than 500 student leaders help produce thousands of events, such as the Theater’s performances, each year.

For more information about the Wisconsin Union Theater, visit union.wisc.edu/theater.

-###-

About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 75 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an expansive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Theater: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

[Note to the editor: Click here to download a photo of Wisconsin Union Theater Director Elizabeth Snodgrass.]

BACC Encourages Community Engagement in the EIS process

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 16, 2019

Contact: Chris “Desi” Arenz

Executive Director

(608) 287-6208

MADISON – The United States Air Force has posted the Draft of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Air National Guard F-35A Operational Beddown on its website http://www.angf35eis.com and will be hosting an Open House and public meeting on September 12^th at the Alliant Energy Center.  In an effort to ensure there is robust community engagement in this process and that the most impacted community members are aware of the process taking place, can engage in the process and make sure their voices are heard, the Badger Air Community Council (BACC) has sent a mailing to over 7,500 households in the areas surrounding the airport. A copy of the mailer is attached.

Executive Director of the BACC, and former pilot at the 115^th Fighter Wing, Chris “Desi” Arenz released the following statement:

“The purpose of the EIS is to identify the maximum potential for changes in impact because of the new mission. As these potential impacts are identified, work can begin between the Fighter Wing, our federal, state and local government partners and the community in addressing and mitigating those impacts, particularly as it relates to those residents near the airport who were identified in the Draft EIS as continuing to be most affected by airport operations.

We want to make sure everyone is engaged in the process and that their voices are heard, so we can move forward together, collaboratively, and continue to build on the rich 71-year history of the 115^th Fighter Wing being an active and outstanding community partner.”

We encourage all members of the public to stay engaged in the EIS process by visiting www.angf35eis.com and attending the Open House and public meeting on September 12^th at the Alliant Energy Center.

September 12, 2019
Open House – 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Formal Presentation – 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center 
1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713

For additional information please visit the Together Truax website www.togethertruax.com to learn more about the community support for the mission. To learn more about the Badger Air Community Council please visit www.badgerair.org.

About the BACC:

The Badger Air Community Council (BACC) was formed in 2012 by former members of the 115^th Fighter Wing and business and civic leaders, to act as a liaison organization between the community and the Fighter Wing. The BACC supports the mission of the 115th Fighter Wing by educating the public on the economic and social benefits of having the unit based in Madison while highlighting the contributions made by the more than 1,200 Airmen who serve there.