DeWitt’s Wisconsin Super Lawyers & Rising Stars Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                     
November 15, 2019        

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

DEWITT’S WISCONSIN SUPER LAWYERS & RISING STARS ANNOUNCED

MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – DeWitt LLP announced today 11 of its attorneys were named by Wisconsin Super Lawyers® as top attorneys in Wisconsin for 2019. Additionally, 8 attorneys were recognized as Rising Stars®.

Attorneys selected for inclusion in 2019 Wisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are:

Super Lawyers:

• Shannon A. Allen – Business Litigation
• Jon P. Axelrod – Business Litigation
• Stephen A. DiTullio – Employment & Labor
• Eric A. Farnsworth – PI Plaintiff
• Douglas H. Frazer – Tax
• David J. Hase – Business Litigation
• Paul R. Hoefle – Business Litigation
• Ronald R. Ragatz – Insurance Coverage
• Joseph A. Ranney, III – Business Litigation
• Brian R. Smigelski – Business Litigation
• Michael W. Wilcox – Estate & Probate

Rising Stars:

• Matthew J. Hills – Business/Corporate
• Chase A. Horne – Civil Litigation – Defense
• Oliva M. Kelley – General Litigation
• Michael R. Kruse – Civil Litigation – Plaintiff
• Deborah H. Meiners – Business Litigation
• Scott M. Paler – Employment & Labor
• Brody C. Richter – Business/Corporate
• Barret V. Van Sicklen – Employment & Labor

The selections for Super Lawyers are made by the research team at Super Lawyers, which is a service of the Thomson Reuters legal division based in Eagan, Minnesota. Each year the team conducts a thorough selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area and a good-standing and disciplinary check.

The final list of Wisconsin Super Lawyers features the top five percent of attorneys in more than 60 practice areas. Lawyers featured on the Rising Stars list are selected based upon similar criteria as Super Lawyers; however, a candidate must either be under 40 years of age or in practice for 10 years or less, and a peer evaluation is not conducted.

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, health care, litigation, real estate, and tax law.  More information is available at dewittllp.com.

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Nolin Joins Alliance Board

Contact: Peggy Rynearson, Sr. Public Relations and Events Specialist

608.210.6658; prynearson@the-alliance.org, www.the-alliance.org/news-and-press

NOLIN JOINS ALLIANCE BOARD

MADISON, Wis. (November 13, 2019) ─ Jake Nolin, Director of Human Resources at Rice Lake Weighing Systems, has been appointed to The Alliance Board of Directors effective January 1, 2020.

Among his many duties at Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Jake is leading the charge to provide high-value health care at his company. He said, “Six years ago it became clear that the cost of fully insured health plans is unsustainable for our business, employees and their families. Since then, we have been able to offer better healthcare benefits at a lower cost.” Rice Lake Weighing Systems credits much of its success to its like-minded partners at The Alliance for access to contracted care, Alithias for healthcare pricing transparency and advocacy, and Neopath Health to run Cedar Ridge, a no-cost direct primary care Health Center for their members. Jake says, “once we had the basic tools in place, the most important part became educating and incentivizing our Take Control of Your Health Plan members to be smart healthcare consumers.”

Prior to joining Rice Lake Weighing Systems in 2011, Nolin held human resources leadership positions at Fortune Brands, Newell-Rubbermaid, and GKN. Jake was also a partner at Competitive Dynamics International and a Project Director at The Pacific Institute.

Jake graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management. Jake earned an M.B.A. in Human Resource Management and a master’s degree in Business Law with honors from the University of Miami, Florida. Jake is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, a Master Trainer for Mission Directed Work Teams, and a Master Facilitator for Investment In Excellence and Thought Patterns for High Performance.

The Alliance board also includes:

• Richard Campbell, head of human resources, ABS Global, a division of Genus PLC
• Diana Clark, benefits manager, Promega Corporation, Madison, Wis.
• Wendy Culver, chief human resources officer, Mead & Hunt, Madison, Wis.
• Mick Gronewold, owner, Fehr Graham, Rockford, Ill.
• Lisa Henke, risk/benefits manager, County of Walworth, Elkhorn, Wis.
• Brad Olm, vice president of human resources, Gordon Flesch Company, Inc., Madison, Wis.
• Craig Parsons, president, Palmer Johnson Power Systems, Sun Prairie, Wis.
• Kyle Reading, president, Spuncast, Watertown, Wis.
• Larry Pribyl, chief financial officer, Trachte Building Systems, Sun Prairie, 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. The Alliance is a not-for-profit cooperative that moves health care forward by controlling costs, improving quality, and engaging individuals in their health. Members include more than 250 self-funded employers, and multiemployer plans in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.

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

Infosec thanks military scholarship winners for their service

MADISON, Wis., Nov. 11, 2019 – In recognition of Veteran’s Day and as thanks for their service, Infosec and CompTIA today announced the military and veteran recipients for the 2019 Infosec Scholarship Program. The program provides scholarships intended for cybersecurity students and aspiring information security professionals. 

“I’m humbled by the service and sacrifice of our veterans and active-duty military,” said Jack Koziol, Infosec CEO and founder. “Our military has been on the front lines of the war on cybercrime here and internationally. We are indebted to them for helping to keep us safe and secure. 

“Those still serving and others transitioning out of the military can build exceptional cybersecurity careers because of skills learned in the service. Problem-solving, teamwork, making fast and accurate decisions, and adaptability are all skills many organizations seek in security professionals,” Koziol added.

Each scholarship is valued at $13,000 and gives recipients the skills, credentials and experience needed to secure a professional-level, cybersecurity position. The scholarship winners are: 

Military and Veteran Scholarship Recipients

• Alex Hardy — Madison (U.S. Army Reserves)
• Gary Henderson — Bowie, Maryland (Army)
• Jennifer Pack — Spotsylvania, Virginia (Army)

Nine women, minority and undergraduate cybersecurity Infosec scholarship recipients were recognized Sept. 30, 2019.

The scholarship recipients receive three award-winning cybersecurity training courses and certification vouchers thanks to a partnership with CompTIA, the world’s leading provider of IT certifications.

• CompTIA Network+ Flex Pro boot camp plus voucher
• CompTIA Security+ Flex Pro boot camp plus voucher
• Specialization course (student’s choice of online courses)

Security certifications like CompTIA’s Security+ and CompTIA’s Network+ are common requirements for many information-security roles. The Infosec 2019 Scholarship Program aims to bring awareness to workforce diversity challenges, while proactively working to reduce the number of open jobs in the cybersecurity industry.

The cybersecurity skills shortage is a growing crisis facing organizations. From September 2017 through August 2018 employers across the United States posted job openings for more than 313,000 cybersecurity-related positions, according to CyberSeek, a free resource on the nation’s cybersecurity workforce, job market and career opportunities.

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About InfoSec Institute

Infosec has been fighting cybercrime since 2004. Thousands of organizations and over 2.68 million learners trust the wide range of security-specific classes and enterprise security awareness and phishing training to stay a step ahead of the bad guys. Infosec IQ, Infosec Flex and Infosec Skills provide the most advanced and comprehensive education and training platforms. In 2019, Infosec was named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training. Founded by CEO Jack Koziol, Infosec is based in Madison, with offices in Chicago and Dulles, Virginia. infosecinstitute.com

About CompTIA

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the more than 50 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world’s economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. To learn more visit comptia.org

Contact:

Jeff McCollum

Infosec Media & PR Manager

608.509.9804

309.824.6387 mobile

jeff.mccollum@infosecinstitute.com

Mark Schmitz of ZEBRADOG to Receive Chamber’s 2019 “Ground Floor Award” for Small Business Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Nov. 7, 2019)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

MADISON – The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced today that Mark Schmitz, founder and creative director of ZEBRADOG, will receive the Chamber’s fourth annual Ground Floor Award for Small Business Leadership.

The award, which recognizes true champions for small business both within their business and in the community, will be presented during the Chamber’s nex7 Stage event Nov. 13 at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA). Previous recipients include Jim Garner of Sergenian’s Floor Coverings, Susan Bulgrin of Culver’s on Todd Drive and Echo Tap & Grill, and Jeff “JP” Patterson of JP Hair Design.

“Mark’s vision and innovation stretch far beyond ZEBRADOG’s offices. He and his team have created immersive experiences seen around the globe, yet he has also shared his gift and his passion with countless individuals and organizations in Greater Madison,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “For his enthusiasm, ambition, generosity and dedication to our businesses and our community, we are proud to honor Mark on the nex7 Stage with this year’s Ground Floor Award.”

A UW-Madison and Madison College graduate, Mark Schmitz formed the ZEBRADOG idea more than 25 years ago with an eye toward combining traditional and emerging design disciplines into engaging built environments. His initial vision has grown into a world-class team of exhibit architects, interior and graphic designers, producers, storytellers, writers and interactive media developers. He has directed hundreds of signature branded environment projects across the country and world and received more than 25 international design awards.

In addition to his work with ZEBRADOG, Schmitz has been deeply involved in defining design programs that escalate organizations and communities nationwide. He has worked with organizations including Taliesin Preservation, Inc.; StartingBlock Madison; Destination Madison; Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce; Goodman Community Center; and Henry Vilas Zoo and worked on projects including the Law Park redevelopment and State Street redesign. He has also donated hundreds of hours of design collaboration and instruction with Madison College students and helped improve environments for at-risk kids through Family Service Madison.

“It’s a great honor to receive this Ground Floor Small Business Leadership Award from the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. This is a tribute to my ZEBRADOG team of passionate community caregivers,” said Schmitz. “As the founder of this business, my job is to inspire everyone to see things differently, see things through others’ eyes and trust that we can make an inspirational difference in young businesses and young lives.”

In addition to the presentation of the Ground Floor Award, nex7 will also feature compelling pitches from the seven finalists for the Chamber’s fourth annual Most Innovative Company (MIC) award. The MIC finalists represent a diverse cross-section of industries, missions and locations across Greater Madison. The winner will be determined by audience vote.

To register for this free event, visit: madisonbiz.com

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.

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Beth Dettman Joins M3 Insurance as Chief Financial Officer

Stacy Paré, Marketing Communications Specialist, M3 Insurance
608.288.2779, stacy.pare@m3ins.com

Madison, WI – Beth Dettman has joined M3 Insurance as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a member of M3’s Executive Operating Committee.  In this role, Beth is responsible for developing initiatives to achieve strategic organizational plans with an emphasis in areas of finance, tax, mergers & acquisitions, and stakeholder alignment. She is committed to fostering key client, community, and professional services relationships on behalf of M3.

Beth has extensive experience in senior management and strategic visioning. Prior to joining M3, she served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Madison Investment Advisors, based in Madison, WI, leading operations, information technology, and cyber security as well as equity and compensation incentive programs. She was with the firm for 23 years, serving as CFO prior to transitioning to COO in 2018.  Beth is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a BA in Accounting from Valparaiso University.

“M3’s vibrant history, culture, and community involvement resonate with me professionally and personally,” Beth said. “I look forward to actively participating in the agency’s vision for exemplary client experiences, company growth, and making an impact on our communities.”

M3’s president and CEO, Mike Victorson said, “Beth’s experience, smarts, personality and culture fit make her the ideal person to step into this role. She will be integral to M3’s growth and ability to be a top private and independent agency in the country.”

Beth is an active member of the Madison CFO Roundtable, Middleton Outreach Ministries Resource Development Committee, Food Fight Inc. Board, and Madison Symphony Orchestra Foundation Board. She is a member of the United Way of Dane County’s Women United and Key Club and enjoys volunteering at her church.

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About M3

M3 is the largest insurance broker and risk management firm in the state of Wisconsin. As a top 50 broker in America, we’re leaders in the products we represent and the industries we serve. M3’s people are an extension of your team, providing world-class resources to help you manage risk, purchase insurance, and provide employee benefits. And our focus on community builds better places to live and work.