The Diamond Center Le Vian Trunk Show happening April 15 and 16

The Diamond Center is excited to host the 2026 Le Vian Collection Trunk Show—one of our most anticipated events of the year! Join us in Janesville on Wednesday, April 15, and in Madison on Thursday, April 16, from 10am to 6pm. For two days only, explore one-of-a-kind diamond and gemstone pieces, including Le Vian’s signature Chocolate Diamonds® and bold, eye-catching designs you won’t typically find in-store. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to shop our largest Le Vian selection of the year!

Turning the key to homeownership: A community conversation on affordable housing

Join Habitat for Humanity of Dane County for a FREE, community discussion on tackling the affordable housing crisis head-on. Turning the Key to Homeownership, brings together leaders such as Becky Binz (City of Sun Prairie), Tiffany Malone (Own It: Building Black Wealth), Brian McMahon (Operation Fresh Start), and Eric Willman (Veridian Homes), who are helping shape the future of homeownership in Dane County.

With housing challenges at the forefront of local and national conversations, this event highlights the collaboration needed by businesses, nonprofits, and government to drive real change.

Enjoy a light breakfast and networking beginning at 8 a.m. with a panel to follow at 9 a.m. at the TruStage Lighthouse Auditorium.

Register: https://habitatdane.org/turningthekey/

Iconica named a 2026 Top Workplace for fifth year in a row

Iconica Named a 2026 Top Workplace for the Fifth Year in a Row

Iconica has been named a 2026 Top Workplace by the Wisconsin State Journal, marking our fifth consecutive year receiving this recognition.

What makes this award meaningful is simple: it comes entirely from employee feedback. Results are based on a confidential third-party survey conducted by Energage, an employee engagement technology partner. The survey measures core themes of the employee experience, including feeling respected and supported, enabled to grow, and empowered to execute.

Employee Survey Results: What Our Team Is Saying

This year’s results reflect a culture we are proud to keep building together:

• 93% of employees would recommend working at Iconica
• 95% say their supervisors support their learning and growth
• 98% say they have the flexibility to balance work and personal life
• 93% feel included and believe new ideas are encouraged

These results represent more than metrics. They reflect a workplace built on trust, support, and opportunities for people to grow and do meaningful work. As Leann Paull-Anderson, a Project Assistant at Iconica for the past 10 years, shared:

“A great workplace is a mix of teamwork, support, and coworkers who make the day more fun. Lucky to be part of a place like that!”

Why a Top Workplace Culture Matters in Design-Build

Iconica is a fully integrated design-build firm that provides architecture, engineering, and general contracting as a coordinated team or as separate services. We’ve worked hard to refine a process that reduces uncertainty, minimizes unnecessary handoffs, and keeps projects moving.

That kind of coordination starts with our people. When team members feel supported, heard, and empowered, it shows up in the work: stronger collaboration, clearer communication, and better outcomes for our clients.

About Iconica

Iconica is a full-service design-build firm providing architecture, engineering, and construction services as a single partner or separate services. By integrating design and construction expertise, we help clients bring their ideas to life with precision and efficiency.

PINK HEIFER FARMERS AND FAMILIES INITIATIVE

Strengthening the People Who Feed Our Communities

The Pink Heifer Farmers and Families Initiative is a purpose driven philanthropic platform established by Pink Heifer BBQ Group, Inc. to support Midwest farmers, agricultural families, and rural communities that form the backbone of our food system.

Rooted in Midwestern values of hard work, resilience, and community, and inspired by a multigenerational commitment to service, the Initiative is designed to deliver meaningful, practical support to those who work the land, raise livestock, and sustain the agricultural economy across generations.

A scalable, embedded giving model designed to turn everyday customer engagement into lasting support for Midwest farmers and agricultural families.

Our Purpose

Farming is more than an occupation. It is a way of life defined by long hours, financial volatility, and deep family responsibility.

When farmers or agricultural families face hardship, whether from economic pressure, unexpected events, or generational transition, the impact extends far beyond the individual operation. It affects families, local economies, and the long-term stability of the food system itself.

The Pink Heifer Farmers and Families Initiative exists to:
❖ Provide direct support to Midwest farmers during periods of hardship or transition
❖ Assist agricultural families facing short term or ongoing challenges
❖ Strengthen the long-term sustainability of farming operations and rural communities
❖ Support animal health and veterinary related needs that are critical to agricultural continuity

How the Initiative Is Funded

The Initiative is built on a scalable, embedded giving model designed to generate consistent and growing impact over time.

A core funding mechanism is tied directly to one of Pink Heifer’s highest volume menu items.

For every order of Pink Heifer’s signature brisket and cheddar egg rolls, known as Wagon Rolls, $1.00 is automatically allocated to the Initiative.

Additional funding is generated through guest round up contributions at the register, dedicated charitable promotions and campaigns, corporate partnerships and sponsorships, and community driven fundraising events.

All funds are deposited into a dedicated account with one of our banking partners to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper stewardship.

A Scalable Model for Impact

The Pink Heifer Farmers and Families Initiative is designed as a high efficiency, volume driven giving model that scales directly with customer engagement and brand growth.

By aligning a fixed contribution with a high frequency menu item and reinforcing it through guest participation and partnerships, the Initiative creates a consistent and expanding source of funding. This structure has the potential to generate $15,000 to $25,000 or more per location annually, with meaningful upside as additional BBQ Saloon locations are developed across the Midwest.

As the brand grows, so does the impact.

Strategic Vision

The Pink Heifer Farmers and Families Initiative is not designed as a one-time campaign or limited program. It is a long-term platform for sustained impact.

As Pink Heifer expands its BBQ Saloon model across the Midwest, the Initiative is positioned to scale alongside it, transforming everyday dining into a consistent source of support for the agricultural community.

Every location opened. Every Wagon Roll sold. Every guest interaction. All contribute to a larger mission.

Governance and Advisory Council

The Initiative is guided by an Advisory Council composed of experienced leaders across agriculture, animal health, philanthropy, and community leadership.

The Council plays a central role in identifying and prioritizing funding recipients, ensuring funds are distributed where they create the greatest real-world impact, and maintaining integrity, transparency, and mission alignment.

Advisory Council Members

Pam Jahnke

A highly respected agricultural broadcaster and longtime host of the Midwest Farm Report, Pam Jahnke is one of the most trusted voices in Upper Midwest agriculture. Raised on a Wisconsin dairy farm, she brings authentic, firsthand knowledge of farming life and deep relationships across the agricultural community. Her work has consistently focused on strengthening rural communities, supporting farmers, and elevating the importance of agriculture in everyday life.

Heidi Kramer

Senior Director of Development for the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Heidi Kramer brings extensive experience in strategic philanthropy, donor engagement, and institutional advancement. Through her leadership roles within the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association and the Women’s Philanthropy Council, she has helped drive meaningful impact across veterinary medicine, animal health, and agricultural systems.

Leadership and Legacy

The Pink Heifer Farmers and Families Initiative is rooted in a deeply personal and multigenerational commitment to service.

Levi Fox’s maternal grandfather, Sir Melvin Pinkham, was a longtime leader within the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization founded in 1864 and built on principles of friendship, charity, and benevolence, with a long history of supporting communities through charitable programs, youth initiatives, and service driven leadership.

He dedicated several decades to advancing the mission of the Pythian Youth Foundation of California. Through his stewardship, one of the nation’s most unique charitable models, a federally authorized youth camp in Sequoia National Forest, established in 1946 under the authority of President Harry S Truman’s administration, provided life changing experiences to thousands of underprivileged children who otherwise would not have had access to those opportunities. His work helped create a lasting environment of mentorship, structure, and hope for generations of youth.

Following Melvin’s passing in 2015, that commitment to giving continued within the family.

Levi Fox carried forward that legacy by working alongside organizations including Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach and Chai Lifeline in Chicago, supporting critically ill children and their families through both financial contributions and hands on involvement. These efforts focused on delivering meaningful, real-world support during some of the most challenging moments families face.

The creation of the Pink Heifer Farmers and Families Initiative represents the next evolution of that legacy.

Under Levi’s leadership, the Initiative transforms everyday business activity into a scalable platform for impact, one designed to support Midwest farmers and agricultural families with the same sense of purpose, consistency, and long-term commitment that has defined his family’s philanthropic efforts for decades.

About Pink Heifer BBQ Group, Inc.

Pink Heifer BBQ Group, Inc. is a Wisconsin based hospitality company focused on building a next generation BBQ brand rooted in authenticity, community, and scalable impact. With its Mothership location in Monticello and its Flagship Quick Service “BBQ Saloon” location at 567 State Street in Madison, the Pink Heifer is a rapidly expanding company focused on growing a regional footprint of several dozen locations across the Midwest over the next five years.

At its core, Pink Heifer is built on a simple principle: great food should bring people together and create something bigger than the meal itself.

Legal Note

At this stage of our expansion, the Initiative operates as a dedicated philanthropic platform within Pink Heifer BBQ Group, Inc. and is not currently a 501(c)(3) organization. We utilize a pass-through giving model where 100% of all funds are stewarded by our Advisory Council and directed to approved charitable organizations to ensure mission alignment and impact.

Madison College Seeks Employer Partners for Biotech Leadership Grant Program

Madison College Seeks Employer Partners for Biotech Emerging Leaders Grant Opportunity

Madison College is currently seeking employer partners in the biohealth, biotech and healthcare industries to participate in the development of a new Workforce Advancement Training (WAT) grant-funded program focused on leadership development.

The proposed Biotech Emerging Leaders Development Program is designed to strengthen leadership capacity among current and emerging leaders through competency-based, experiential training. The program will focus on key leadership areas such as effective communication, emotional intelligence, conflict navigation and leading people and processes.

Through this initiative, participating organizations will have the opportunity to invest in high-potential employees while helping shape a program tailored to industry-specific needs. Madison College will manage grant writing, administration and reporting, and will work with partners to align training schedules with business operations.

If awarded, the grant is expected to cover approximately 50% of training costs, with participating employers responsible for the remaining portion. Employees will not incur direct costs for participation.

Organizations interested in partnering should be willing to support employee participation and provide input on program development and outcomes.

Employer partners are currently being identified, with interest requested by March 18, 2026.

For more information or to express interest, please contact:
mabaldwin3@madisoncollege.edu or customizedtraining@madisoncollege.edu