Renee Fleming Gala Concert Tickets Will Go On Sale to the Public Feb. 3

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

RENÉE FLEMING GALA CONCERT TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC FEB. 3

MADISON – Tickets to world-renowned vocalist Renée Fleming’s Gala Concert will go on sale to the public Feb. 3 for $120.

The concert will take place on May 2 at 6 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union. Fleming will make her Shannon Hall debut with pianist and Wisconsin Union Theater Concert Series veteran Inon Barnatan.

This is the first opportunity to purchase tickets to Fleming’s performance without purchasing a subscription for all eight Concert Series performances.

Fleming is one of the world’s most celebrated sopranos. The Tony Award-nominated singer has performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the Diamond Jubilee Concert for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace and the 2014 Super Bowl. In 2013, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts. Her voice can be heard in best picture Oscar winner “The Shape of Water” as well as operas, indie rock, jazz, and the “The Lord of the Rings” soundtrack.

“She is an incredible musician who rarely performs in settings as intimate as Shannon Hall these days,” said Amanda Venske, Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee Concert Series coordinator. “With many days of fame singing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Ms. Fleming still performs and also promotes arts advocacy and arts leadership. She has many talents that are a true testament to her commitment to the arts.”

Student-priced tickets for her performance will go on sale on a to-be-announced date in spring 2020.

This concert will mark the finale of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s 100th Anniversary Concert Series, which includes seven other performances primarily focused on recitals and chamber music. The Concert Series is the longest running classical music series in the Midwest. For the past 99 years, nearly every important concert artist and chamber ensemble that has toured the U.S. has appeared as part of the Concert Series.

The Wisconsin Union Theater will announce the schedule for the 2020-21 Concert Series in spring 2020.

The Wisconsin Union Theater is a cultural activity hub that has had an extensive history of appearances by extraordinary individuals, including Louis Armstrong and Eleanor Roosevelt. Actors, dancers, political figures, philosophers, scientists and more have graced the Wisconsin Union Theater’s stages and engaged the minds of Wisconsin Union Theater audiences for more than 75 years.

The student-led WUD Performing Arts Committee plans events at the Wisconsin Union Theater, including the Concert Series. The Committee provides UW-Madison students with leadership and hands-on learning opportunities, including marketing, communications, programming, event management, budget planning and more.

More information about Renée Fleming’s performance, including how to purchase tickets, is available here.

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About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee plans and promotes events for the historic Wisconsin Union Theater stages. The student-led committee programs a variety of events to provide a diverse and cultural experience for students, faculty, alumni, community members and visitors. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/performing-arts.

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 Renée Fleming. Photo by Andrew Eccles.]

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/renee-fleming.

Infosec Skills Wins 2020 BIG Innovation Award

MADISON, Wis., January 22, 2020 — Infosec, the global leader in cybersecurity education, today announced its Infosec Skills learning platform is a winner in the 2020 BIG Innovation Awards presented by the Business Intelligence Group. 

“At Infosec, we are relentless innovators,” said Jack Koziol, Infosec CEO and founder. “Cybercriminals are evolving and changing attack methods in real-time. Infosec anticipates and innovates courseware to help our clients stay ahead of the bad guys. We listen to IT and security pros and constantly refine our education solutions to best fit their lives and learning styles.”

Infosec Skills was developed after hearing from IT and security professionals who asked for a program designed to help them learn to build defenses to counter tomorrow’s cyber threats — while laying out a clear path to take control of and advance their careers. Infosec Skills’ 500+ courses are mapped to the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, which contains entry, mid and advanced cybersecurity roles backed by research into the actual skills requested by employers. 

With Infosec Skills and NICE, users have the roadmap necessary to identify what employers want and the tools needed to follow that career path, whether brand new to information security or established infosec professional. 

The platform covers cybersecurity knowledge across 50+ skill and certification learning paths. Each learning path contains a collection of courses structured to progress knowledge and close skill gaps — along with cloud-hosted cyber ranges, hands-on projects, custom practice exams and skills assessments. The successful program launched in April 2019.

Infosec’s full portfolio of three role-based SaaS platforms delivers cybersecurity skills and security awareness training — Infosec IQ and Infosec Flex, in addition to Infosec Skills.  Award-winning cybersecurity education is available for every level of an organization, from IT and security professionals to the general workforce and C-suite. 

“Innovation has become a major theme for organizations across virtually all industries and this year’s winners are a testament to the creativity, passion and perseverance of individuals worldwide,” said Maria Jimenez, chief operating officer of the Business Intelligence Group. “We are thrilled to be honoring Infosec as they are leading by example and making real progress on improving the daily lives of so many.”

In addition to the international 2020 BIG Innovation Award, Infosec recently won the 2019 Wisconsin Innovation Award in the Software category and has been honored as one of Madison Magazine’s Best Places to Work.

Organizations from across the globe submitted their recent innovations for consideration in the BIG Innovation Awards. Nominations were then judged by a select group of business leaders and executives who volunteer their time and expertise to score submissions.

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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. Learn more at www.infosecinstitute.com

About Business Intelligence Group

The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, these programs are judged by business executives having experience and knowledge. The organization’s proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.

Alicia Kiser Promoted to Vice President of Human Resources at M3

Alicia Kiser, MBA, PHR, has been promoted to vice president of human resources at M3 Insurance, effective January 1, 2020. In this role, Alicia leads M3’s company-wide human resources strategy including workforce development, compensation, benefits, recruiting and retention, human resources information systems (HRIS), and employee engagement work. With this promotion, Alicia becomes a member of M3’s senior leadership team and will work to develop and support M3’s strategic s.

Alicia joined M3 in April 2011 as a human resources generalist and was named M3’s director of human resources in 2017. She has been an integral part of M3’s inclusion and diversity committee and chairs the agency’s women’s business resource group.

M3’s evolving leadership structure represents continued agency growth and a commitment to building a strong infrastructure from which to serve M3’s clients while remaining independent and privately owned.

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About M3

M3 is a top 50 insurance broker and risk management firm 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.

Wisconsin Union Adds New Events, Activities to 2020 Winter Carnival Lineup

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

WISCONSIN UNION ADDS NEW EVENTS, ACTIVITIES TO 2020 WINTER CARNIVAL LINEUP

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union’s Winter Carnival will return Feb. 3-9 with new events that encourage University of Wisconsin-Madison students and other community members to get outside and enjoy Wisconsin’s winter season.

One new addition to the Winter Carnival experience is Terrace Wonderland, an evening of winter-themed activities at the Memorial Union Terrace Feb. 6 from 4-7 p.m. This free debut event will include live music, cotton candy, family-friendly games, gingerbread house-making, a hot chocolate bar, Valentine’s Day card-making, an ice skating rink and more.

The annual celebration will also include Carnival community favorites, such as Lady Liberty on Lake Mendota Feb. 6-8. The tradition of placing portions of a Statue of Liberty Styrofoam replica on the lake began with a prank in 1979 by the Pail and Shovel Party, which was led by UW-Madison alumni Leon Varjian and Jim Mallon ’79. The Wisconsin Union team continues that tradition with an inflatable version of the Statue’s head, arm and torch.

The Carnival will include a flurry of additional events throughout the week, including but not limited to the following:

• Flannel Day, Feb. 3, 4-5 p.m.: A guest wearing a flannel shirt is eligible to receive a small order of deep fried cheese curds from der Rathskeller for $1.
• Free Snowshoe Rentals, Feb. 4, noon-5 p.m.: Guests can rent snowshoes for free through Outdoor UW at Memorial Union with a valid Wiscard.
• Virtual Reality Experience, Feb. 4, 3-6 p.m.: Attendees can hike to the top of a mountain or scuba dive without ever leaving the comfort of Mendota Lodge and meet Wisconsin Hoofers leaders.
• Leave No Trace Workshop, Feb. 5, 6-8 p.m.: New this year, visitors are invited to attend an Outdoor UW-hosted Leave No Trace Workshop focusing on sustainable habits and ethics in the outdoors for $5.
• Weathering the Winter Blues, Feb. 5, 5-6:30 p.m.: Join the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Society and Politics Committee along with Jack Nitschke, UW-Madison associate professor of psychology and psychiatry, and Felix Savino, training director and psychologist at University Health Services — Mental Health Services, and discover strategies to stay healthy during Wisconsin winters.
• Candlelight Ski and Snowshoe Hike, Feb. 6, 5-8 p.m.: Led by the Hoofer Outing Club, participants can snowshoe, cross-country ski or hike along a candlelit path and then enjoy a campfire at Picnic Point.
• Free Art Friday: Button-Making, Feb. 7, 5-7 p.m.: Attendees can enjoy free button making, hot cocoa and cookies with Wheelhouse Studios.
• Snow Ball, Feb. 7, 8-11:55 p.m.: Guests can join the Hoofer Sailing Club for a free night of music, dancing, appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages.
• Broomball Tournament, Feb. 8, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.: University Recreation & Wellbeing will host its annual broomball tournament on Lake Mendota. Registration is available for those with a Rec Well membership.
• Connolly Classic Pond Hockey Tournament, Feb. 8-9: University of Wisconsin-Madison students can take part in University Recreation & Wellbeing’s pond hockey competition. Registration is available for those with a Rec Well membership.
• Family Fun in Alumni Park, Feb. 8, noon-3 p.m.: Badgers and Badgers-at-heart of all ages will come together for an afternoon of family-friendly, winter-themed activities in Alumni Park, including art-making and complimentary hot cocoa.
• Rail Jam, Feb. 8: Witness freestyle skiing and snowboarding up close through Rail Jam, an aerobatic skill and trick competition, which will return to the Memorial Union Terrace for the first time since 2016.

“Everyone looks forward to warm weather activities, but there’s also plenty to do outside during Wisconsin’s winters,” Outdoor UW Director Joseph Webb said. “We invite our community and visitors to learn about and celebrate wintertime through outdoor recreation, outdoor activities, and cozy indoor activities.”

Additional events are expected to be announced in the near future. All Winter Carnival events are subject to change.

2020 marks the 80th year members of the Wisconsin Union team have made Winter Carnival possible. Many Carnival events are hosted by WUD student leaders from the Directorate’s committees and Hoofer clubs at the Wisconsin Union. These leaders organize, promote and execute thousands of events throughout the year, including cultural events and outdoor recreation and education.

Purchases made at Memorial Union during this celebration and all year long help make events, like the Carnival possible, and help fund student leadership opportunities.

To learn more about the Winter Carnival, including the full schedule of events and activities, visit union.wisc.edu/wintercarnival or the Winter Carnival Facebook event.

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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 the Statue of Liberty on Lake Mendota during the 2019 Winter Carnival. Photo by Owen Desai. Photo provided by the Wisconsin Union.]

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/2020-winter-carnival.

Brad Reitzner Named Vice President of Sales – Property & Casualty

Brad Reitzner has been promoted to vice president of sales-property & casualty at M3 Insurance, effective January 1, 2020. In this role, Brad is responsible for the overall direction, growth and development of M3’s property & casualty product line, practice groups and specializations, including account executive development and support, new business development and M3’s business insurance captive practice.

Brad joined M3 in October 2013 as an account executive, and soon expanded his role to include directing both the manufacturing & distribution and P&C captives practice groups. Prior to M3, he was a producer at TRICOR Insurance.

M3’s evolving leadership structure represents continued agency growth and a commitment to building a strong infrastructure from which to serve M3’s clients while remaining independent and privately owned.

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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.