Two Greater Madison Distilleries Up For USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards

Two distilleries in Greater Madison have been nominated for USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

J. Henry & Sons in Dane is nominated for Best Whiskey, and Dancing Goat Distillery in Cambridge is nominated for Best Distillery Tour.

The distilleries were nominated to the Top 20 lists in their respective categories by a panel of USA Today editors. You can vote for each one to be included in the final Top 10 list until voting ends on Monday, October 13 at 11 a.m. CT. You can vote up to once per day in both categories. The 10 winners for each list will be announced on Wednesday, October 22.

Learn more and cast your votes for J. Henry & Sons here, and for Dancing Goat Distillery here.

Dupaco’s Commitment to Workplace Excellence Earns Statewide Honor

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Dupaco Credit Union has once again been recognized as a Top Workplace by the Des Moines Register, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to fostering a people-first culture and continuously improving the employee experience.

This Top Workplace recognition is based on results from an employee engagement survey conducted earlier this year from over 550 employees. The survey, administered by Energage, captures authentic feedback from employees and evaluates key aspects of workplace culture including alignment, execution and leadership.

“Being named a Top Workplace is a reflection of our employees’ voices—and we take those voices seriously,” said Joe Hearn, Dupaco President and CEO. “We don’t just participate in these surveys to check a box. We use the insights to grow, to get stronger and to ensure we’re living up to our commitment to be a great place to work.”   

Team Dupaco is part of Dupaco’s strategy and one of the financial cooperative’s four Areas of Focus.  

“We’re proud of this recognition, but even more proud of the intentional work our team puts in every day to make Dupaco a great place where people thrive,” Hearn continued.  

Participation in the Top Workplace survey is a strategic decision for Dupaco. The results are more than just data points—they’re a roadmap for growth. Dupaco uses it to identify areas for improvement, reinforce what’s working and stay accountable. The credit union uses the survey results to measure progress and continuously evolve to better support our employees.   

As a people-centric organization, Hearn said he is proud of how engaged employees are at the financial cooperative. “Every employee lends a hand to make our culture special. This is what helps us work towards our vision of a brighter community for all.”     

Dupaco has earned Top Workplace recognition from the Des Moines Register in multiple years, including 2023, 2021, 2019, 2016, and 2011.

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ABOUT DUPACO COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION 

Dupaco Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. It is dedicated to the financial well-being of its members, and specializes in personalized financial counseling, money advice and education. It offers savings, loans, investments, insurance and wealth management products for individuals and businesses. Dupaco serves residents in 118 counties throughout Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin. Founded in 1948 by ten Dubuque Packing Company employees, membership has grown to more than 176,000 with assets exceeding $3.6 billion. It has over 600 employees and 23 branch office locations. Learn more at www.dupaco.com.

Madison Physician Leader Helps Set National Standards for Obesity Care

Madison, WI — [9/18/2026] — Madison physician Dr. Leslie Golden, MD, MPH, FOMA, founder and CEO of Weight In Gold Wellness, is earning national recognition for her leadership in shaping the future of obesity care.

Dr. Golden, who serves on the Board of Trustees of the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA), is first author on newly published national standards for safe, evidence-based use of obesity medications through digital and online platforms. She was also recently honored as a Fellow of the OMA (FOMA) and received the Vernon Astler Award, one of the OMA’s highest recognitions for contributions to the field.

Obesity affects nearly two out of three adults in Wisconsin and is a leading driver of diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. With the Madison area now served by Weight In Gold Wellness, Dr. Golden brings national expertise directly into the local community.

“As clinicians, we have a responsibility to make sure patients receive care that is integrated, coordinated, and rooted in long-term health,” said Dr. Golden. “It’s exciting to bring that level of comprehensive, evidence-based care to Madison.”

Weight In Gold Wellness is a physician-led, multi-disciplinary practice providing obesity and weight health services to patients across Wisconsin. By expanding in Madison, the practice is not only improving access to care for individuals and families, but also helping to support a healthier workforce and community.

For more information, visit www.weightingoldwellness.com.

MMSD Phase 1 Referendum Projects Honored as Dane County Climate Champions

MADISON, Wis.—Two Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) referendum projects—Samuel Gompers Elementary/Black Hawk Middle schools, and Sherman Middle/Malcolm Shabazz City High schools—have earned 2025 Dane County Climate Champion awards, receiving four-star recognition in the Building Design category. The awards highlight MMSD’s commitment to building sustainable, energy-efficient learning environments for students and staff.

The two projects are part of Phase 1 of MMSD’s voter-approved 2024 facilities referendum and reflect the district’s focus on modernizing schools while reducing environmental impact. In addition to supporting 21st Century programming, teaching and learning, each is being designed with high-performance energy standards, efficient mechanical systems and building envelopes that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

“This recognition reinforces that our referendum projects are not only addressing critical facility needs, but also leading the way in sustainable school design,” said Scott Chehak, MMSD’s senior executive director of building services. “By integrating efficiency and sustainability into every stage of planning, we’re ensuring our schools are healthier, more comfortable and more cost-effective to operate for years to come.”

The Climate Champion awards are presented annually by Dane County’s Office of Energy and Climate Change to organizations that make measurable progress toward the goals of the county’s Climate Action Plan. MMSD joins a diverse group of businesses, nonprofits and public entities recognized for reducing emissions and promoting sustainable practices.

Bryanna Krekeler, MMSD’s sustainability manager, said the honor reflects a strong partnership between school leaders, project team members and community stakeholders. “We are proud to see our projects recognized at this level,” Krekeler said. “Our work demonstrates what’s possible when school districts take bold steps to align educational spaces with climate responsibility. These buildings are a model for what sustainable learning environments can and should be.”

The referendum projects also aim to serve as a teaching tool for students, providing real-world examples of climate solutions in action. Energy-efficient design, renewable-ready infrastructure and improved indoor air quality will create healthier environments while inspiring students to think critically about sustainability in their own lives.

MMSD leaders emphasized that the recognition is both a milestone and a motivator. “The Climate Champion awards validate our efforts so far, but also remind us of the responsibility we carry,” Chehak said. “We will continue to innovate and push for even greater efficiency and sustainability as we plan future projects.”

For information regarding 2024 referendum work, please visit the MMSD website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

Vote for Verona Fall Fest in USA Today’s Best Fall Festival Poll

Fall festivals are a great way to mark the changing of the seasons, celebrate the harvest, enjoy the outdoors, and have some fun with friends and family. And there’s something magical about being surrounded by colorful leaves as the sounds of merriment fill the crisp air. 

USA Today put together a list of 20 of the country’s best fall festivals — nominated by an expert panel — including Verona’s Fall Fest. You can vote once per day until voting ends on Monday, September 8 at noon ET. The 10 winning festivals will be announced on Wednesday, September 17.

Learn more and cast your votes here.