Madison Ballet Names Verónica Castillo Director of Outreach

FOR MORE INFORMATION

CONTACT: JONATHAN SOLARI, (608) 278-7990, Jonathan@MadisonBallet.org

Madison Ballet Names Verónica Castillo Director of Outreach

Advocate for Equal Access for Arts Education Builds a Vision for Dance for All

MADISON, WI – Madison Ballet is proud to announce that Verónica Castillo has been named the organization’s Director of Outreach after having previously serving as Outreach & Education Coordinator. Ms. Castillo will build opportunities for future audiences and dancers alike by overseeing collaborative educational programs with community centers, libraries, schools, and senior centers. Additionally, she will build curriculum that is culturally-appropriate and provide training to the faculty of the School of Madison Ballet, under Director Rachelle Butler’s leadership.

“We are thrilled for the future of our outreach programs. It has already become clear that the impact of Verónica’s work will reverberate well beyond the walls of our new studios. Our whole community is poised to benefit from her dedication and vision.” said Jonathan Solari, the company’s CEO.

“I am a teacher and advocate at heart and am excited to bring this perspective to Madison Ballet.”, said Castillo. “When we allow a student to become a dancer for even an hour, we provide space for them to express their emotions and plant a seed to blossom into a new path through the arts.”

Veronica Castillo is a native of El Paso, Texas and was raised in Iowa City, Iowa. She holds a BA in Art History and Non-Profit Organization from the University of Iowa, and a Master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Edgewood College. She relocated from San Francisco to Madison in 2011, where she worked as a bilingual classroom teacher for K-4 through fifth grade at Kennedy Elementary, Schenck Elementary and Glendale Elementary. She was also an ESL/TAG Instructional Resource Coach at Leopold Elementary and Nuestro Mundo. Before joining Madison Ballet, she worked in the administrative offices for the Madison Metropolitan School District. Currently, she takes Flamenco classes with Tania Tandias Flamenco & Spanish Dance.

For nearly 40 years Madison Ballet has been an integral part of the vibrant Dane County arts community.  Professional ballet education and training with the School of Ballet assures that students of all ages and skill levels gain the poise, confidence, discipline, and fundamental life skills intrinsic to the study of classical ballet.  Full scale productions such as the acclaimed Nutcracker and imaginative contemporary performances by the professional repertory company reach tens of thousands of people each year, while scholarships and neighborhood outreach programs connect hundreds of families and young people with the joy of dance.  

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Wisconsin Union Will Host Pop-Up Holiday Sale in Memorial Union Dec. 10-12

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

WISCONSIN UNION WILL HOST POP-UP HOLIDAY SALE IN MEMORIAL UNION DEC. 10-12

Wisconsin Union will offer Terrace and University of Wisconsin-Madison merchandise and apparel at a 30 percent discount

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union will host a pop-up holiday sale Dec. 10-12 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in Memorial Union’s Paul Bunyan Room with Terrace and University of Wisconsin-Madison merchandise and apparel at a 30 percent discount. 

The sale will include customer favorites, from hoodies and t-shirts to water bottles and coffee mugs. The Union team will include mini Terrace chairs in the sale, including limited edition, cow-print chairs, while supplies last. A portion of each Holstein-inspired chair sale goes towards the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and its work to improve the lives of animals and people all over the world. 

“Our first-ever holiday pop-up sale is a chance to not only buy discounted items but also to support student leadership and have a fun shopping experience at Memorial Union,” Wisconsin Union Communications Director Shauna Breneman said. “We have all of the ingredients for a fun lunchtime or evening shopping experience, from can’t-miss gifts to multiple dining options and cozy places to relax.”

Purchases at this pop-up sale and purchases throughout the entire year at Union South, Memorial Union and the Union’s markets and cafes across campus help the Wisconsin Union provide more than 2,000 events annually as well as hundreds of student leadership opportunities each year.

More information about the sale is available at union.wisc.edu/events-and-activities/event-calendar/event/merch-and-apparel-holiday-sale. 

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About the Wisconsin Union

The Wisconsin Union enhances the lives of members and visitors through recreational, cultural, educational and social opportunities. Formed in 1907, the Wisconsin Union is a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Union and its tradition of providing experiences for a lifetime: union.wisc.edu.

[Note to the editor: Click here to download a photo of mini Terrace chairs. Photo by Meghan Roberts Wollack. Photo provided by the Wisconsin Union.]

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/pop-up-holiday-sale. 

National Guardian Life Insurance Company and Insurance Capital Group launch strategic partnership

National Guardian Life Insurance Company and Insurance Capital Group launch strategic partnership

Creation of BrightBenefits and investment in Commercial Travelers to be initial transactions

MADISON, WI (November 20, 2019) – A new strategic partnership was launched by National Guardian Life Insurance Company (“NGL”), a Madison-based life insurer with a rich heritage dating back to 1909 and assets of over $5 billion, and New York-based Insurance Capital Group (“ICG”), the leading strategic investor in the mutual insurance industry.

NGL and ICG, through its Federal Life Group, Inc. (“Federal Life”) affiliate, have jointly developed and launched a national dental and vision insurance business called BrightBenefits, which will be led by insurance industry veteran Danny Bentley. BrightBenefits policies will be issued by Commercial Travelers Insurance Company, an A.M. Best A- (Excellent) rated affiliate of NGL, in which Federal Life will make a significant equity investment, subject to receiving regulatory approval.

“This new strategic partnership with ICG allows NGL to diversify its investments into new markets without losing its focus on being a leading provider of preneed insurance for customers nationwide. ICG brings exceptional talent and additional capital to this partnership that will allow growth in new and exciting ways,” said Knut A. Olson, NGL President & CEO.

“We are honored to have been selected by NGL as its strategic partner and we are extremely excited about the launch of BrightBenefits and the broader strategic partnership with NGL. We are confident that BrightBenefits, led by its talented management team, will develop into one of the nation’s leading vision and dental platforms,” said Matt Popoli, founder and CEO of Insurance Capital Group and Director of Federal Life.

“Our goal for BrightBenefits is to be a trusted partner and leading provider of employee benefits products and services that help employers and their employees protect their families,” said Danny Bentley, President of BrightBenefits. BrightBenefits will offer both employer and employee paid dental and vision insurance and will look to expand the product offerings as the company grows.

Bentley is a leader in fostering innovation, driving organizational change and delivering profitable growth. Bentley most recently served as President of Davis Vision, the nation’s third largest vision insurer with approximately 22 million members.

Bentley began his career at Protective Life where he created and pioneered the voluntary, ancillary benefits products industry by introducing the nation’s first voluntary dental product. He later joined A.G. Edwards Investment Banking, serving as a Managing Director and Head of the firm’s Insurance Practice before rejoining the insurance industry.

The closing of the investment by Federal Life is subject to certain regulatory approvals, including the approval by the New York Department of Financial Services and the Wisconsin Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Foley & Lardner LLP are serving as legal counsel, and Grace Global Capital LLC as financial advisor to NGL. Purrington Moody and Debevoise & Plimpton are serving as legal counsel, and Insurex, LLC as financial advisor to ICG and Federal Life.

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About National Guardian Life Insurance Company and Commercial Travelers

Established in 1909 National Guardian Life Insurance Company is an insurance company headquartered 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. NGL is rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best. 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.

Commercial Travelers Life Insurance Company (CT) has been providing insurance coverage since 1883. CT is rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best and became a wholly-owned, stock subsidiary of NGL in 2017.

About Insurance Capital Group
Insurance Capital Group is a holding company which acquires and makes investments in insurance businesses across targeted sectors with a focus on sponsored demutualizations and other complex conversion transactions. Our objective is to create long term shareholder value as measured by growth in tangible book value through the ownership and oversight of our partner companies. For more information about us, visit  www.insurancecap.com.

About Federal Life Group, Inc.

Federal Life Group, Inc. (OTCMKTS:  FLFG) is the parent of Federal Life Insurance Company (“FLIC”), an independently operated provider of quality life insurance and annuity products, incorporated in 1899. FLIC is headquartered in Riverwoods, Illinois, a suburb approximately thirty miles north of Chicago. FLIC is proud of its longstanding tradition of financial strength and stability and serves over 28,000 policyholders. For more information, go to www.federallife.com.

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NGL reported $4.1 billion in consolidated liabilities for 2018. Financials current as of 12/31/18. Ratings current as of 02/21/19.

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

Jodi Lyon-Grams Brings More Than 20 Years of Experience to The Creative Company

MADISON, WI – The Creative Company welcomes Producer and Publicist Jodi Lyon-Grams to the team. As a former TV news correspondent and producer, Jodi’s work has been on Lifetime, Big Ten Network and numerous PBS affiliates across the country. She has specialized in medical news and health & wellness content as well as travel stories for broadcast and web. Effective media pitching is all about finding the right news hook and Jodi’s experience helps our clients get the media placements they need to move their projects forward.

“Jodi’s decision to join us is a huge boost to The Creative Company. She provides senior-level counseling and expertise that our clients have come to expect,” said Laura Gallagher. “The addition of Jodi to the team strengthens our public affairs team securing our position to help clients achieve their communication and business goals.”

Previously, Jodi worked as a producer for America’s longest-running travel show, Discover Wisconsin, a freelance video producer and editor for regional corporate clients, an on-air reporter for local tv news and a freelance host/producer at Milwaukee Public Television. She’s also produced numerous video news releases for major pharmaceutical companies nationwide.

“I’m thrilled to be working at The Creative Company with a team of wonderfully talented people who serve our clients so well,” said Jodi. “Whether it’s helping a business build a brand or manage a crisis, The Creative Company is a rewarding place to work.”

About The Creative Company, Inc.

The Creative Company is a Public Relations, Web Development, Interactive Digital Media and Marketing Agency located in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1989, The Creative Company is an award-winning team of senior-level, award-winning, branding strategists, designers, artists, digital developers, and PR pros, led by company founder and State of Wisconsin Trailblazer, Laura Gallagher.

Health Equity Symposium Will Provide Information About Current Health Issues in Madison Area

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

HEALTH EQUITY SYMPOSIUM WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT HEALTH ISSUES IN MADISON AREA

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union Social Justice Hub, the Student Pre-Health Committee, and the Center for Pre-Health Advising will co-host the Health Equity Symposium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Dec. 5. The goal of the symposium is to educate undergraduates about current health issues in the Madison area, what is currently being done, and how students can get involved both now and in their future careers.

The symposium will consist of a keynote address by Quinton Cotton, a current doctorate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who is working with the UW School of Medicine and Public Health to enhance its diversity efforts. Four breakout sessions will follow the keynote address, and each will be held twice.

The Health Equity Symposium will take place Dec. 5 from 5-8 p.m. and be based in the George L. Mosse Humanities Building in room 1121. Breakout sessions will occur in other Humanities Building classrooms.

Event organizers encourage all students interested in health and social justice issues to attend this free event. Those who are interested are invited to fill out this interest form. 

Established in 2019, the Wisconsin Union Social Justice Hub (SJH) provides purposeful, out-of-classroom education for students seeking resources and skill-building opportunities related to social justice. SJH creates opportunities for skill development in teamwork, creative problem-solving, communication, leadership and being an effective member of society.

The non-partisan Social Justice Hub is funded by Wisconsin Union operating revenue and private donations. No taxpayer dollars are used in the Hub’s operations, staffing or programming.

The Student Pre-Health Committee is made up of student leaders from health-related student organizations that work with the UW Center for Pre-Health Advising (CPHA) to connect and strengthen student relationships in their organizations, cultivate awareness of CPHA resources, plan and promote campus events that raise awareness about health inequities and to provide UW pre-health students with professional development opportunities. 

To learn more about this event, visit https://union.wisc.edu/events-and-activities/event-calendar/event/health-equity-symposium/.

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About the Wisconsin Union

The Wisconsin Union enhances the lives of members and visitors through recreational, cultural, educational and social opportunities. Formed in 1907, the Wisconsin Union is a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Union and its tradition of providing experiences for a lifetime: union.wisc.edu.

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/health-equity-symposium.