OPN-built Polk County Justice Center honored by AIA

The Polk County Justice Center Annex has been honored by the Justice Facilities Review with a Citation Award.

Thirteen projects demonstrate the latest trends in the design and construction of justice facilities in the United States. Seven of the recipients were awarded a Citation; the other six were selected for publication in Justice Facilities Review 2019. These projects demonstrate quality of form, functionality, and current architectural responses to complex justice design issues.

The juvenile justice center is the first of three projects that will address Polk County, Iowa’s  overcrowded court system, improve safety, and reduce the county’s reliance on leased property. Juvenile court is just one of several user groups housed within the 174,000-square-foot abandoned office building, originally built in 1971 as a JC Penney. Strategically placing high activity spaces on first floor with the quieter functions on adjacent floors allowed a multi-user facility to operate cohesively.

“Brings a customer service model to the courtroom-metaphor works on many levels.”

— Jury Comment

M3 Named IIABA Best Practices Agency for 21st Consecutive Year

M3 Insurance has been named a Best Practices Agency by Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) in 2019 for the 21^stconsecutive year. M3 was selected out of over 1,300 nominated agencies to receive the coveted designation in 2019.

To be named a Best Practices Agency, an organization must be nominated either by an IIABA affiliated state association or an insurance company. Qualification is based on exceptional customer retention, growth, stability, and financial management. Nominated agencies must be among the top-performing agencies in one of six revenue categories to be chosen for this designation.

The Best Practices Agency designation identifies M3 as an industry leader. IIABA partners with Reagan Consulting, Inc., Atlanta, each year to document the business practices of “best” agencies and encourages others to adopt similar practices.

M3 is proud to have retained this title for over two decades. We strive to lead the way in the insurance industry with innovative strategies and solutions. This designation validates that aim and motivates us to continue to provide world class resources and individual attention to our clients.

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About IIABA

Founded in 1896, IIABA is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance – property, casualty, life and health – as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products.

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About M3

M3 Insurance offers insight, advice and strategies to help clients manage risk, purchase insurance and provide employee benefits. We are committed to being experts in both the products we represent and the industries we serve. Our people advance M3’s competitive advantage in the marketplace, and our focus on community builds better places to live and work. M3 is ranked a top 50 broker in America.

DeWitt Receives the “Compass Award” for Excellence in Retirement Plan Stewardship

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

MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – DeWitt LLP announced today it was awarded the “Compass Award,” by Francis Investment Counsel (FIC) for its long-term commitment to excellence in the stewardship of its employees’ retirement assets. FIC is a nationally recognized expert retirement plan investment advisory organization.

“The leadership team at DeWitt has put in place, and maintained a system of in-depth due diligence, rigorous ongoing oversight, and consistent employee education that represents industry best practices,” said Mike Francis, President of FIC.  DeWitt’s oversight of its retirement plan has led to above average results. The plan boasts a participation rate of 90% and the average DeWitt employee saves 8.9% of income in their plan, well above the average of 7.2, nationally. DeWitt participants also exceed industry averages in terms of Roth utilization, with 45% of the DeWitt population taking advantage of this vehicle compared to 18% as an industry average.* 

Bradley C. Fulton, President and Managing Partner of DeWitt, said the firm has a “steadfast commitment to our employees’ long-term success during retirement.  Our Partner, Brian L. Anderson, who chairs the Savings Plan Committee, has done an outstanding job implementing best practices to assist with the firm’s investment platforms.”

DeWitt has applied best practices, investment features for its employees such as including auto-enrollment at 5% Roth.  Its investment menu features best-in-class funds from multiple fund families, while also offering alternative investment classes for greater diversification. “The care top executives at DeWitt have taken in managing their employees’ retirement benefits has been a priority, and it shows in their results. Their employees are better prepared for retirement than most,” reported Mike Francis, President, Francis lnvestment Counsel.

* Source: Vanguard, How America Saves 201 B: A Report on Vanguard 2017 Defined Contribution Plan Data. Survey included 4.6 million plan participants in 1,900 qualified plans. Data on participation and deferral rates drawn from a subset of Vanguard recordkeeping clients representing approximately one-third of clients of 800.000 participants in 400 plans. 

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

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DeWitt Announces Lawyers of the Year and Best Lawyers Named in Best Lawyers 2020 Edition

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

DEWITT ANNOUNCES LAWYERS OF THE YEAR AND BEST LAWYERS NAMED IN BEST LAWYERS 2020 EDITION

MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – DeWitt LLP announced today four of its attorneys were recognized as Lawyers of the Year in the Best Lawyers 2020 Edition.  Additionally, 35 attorneys in the firm were named to the 2020 Best Lawyers Edition.

Lawyers of the Year Awards – Best Lawyers 2020 Edition

Madison Office

• Brian L. Anderson – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Jordan K. Lamb – Government
• Ronald R. Ragatz – Environmental Law

Metro-Milwaukee Office

• Brian R. Smigelski – Construction Law

Best Lawyers 2020 Edition   

Metro-Milwaukee Office

• Douglas H. Frazer (2007) – Litigation and Controversy – Tax Law
• Paul R. Hoefle (2017) – Litigation – Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Brian R. Smigelski (2013) – Construction Law
• John P. Yentz (2013) – Corporate Law

Madison Office

• Brian L. Anderson (2005) – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
• Jon P. Axelrod (1995) – Commercial Litigation
• Donald Leo Bach (2007) – Water Law
• Denis P. Bartell (1989) – Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Law
• Frederic J. Brouner (2005) – Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law
• Paul A. Croake (2006) – Corporate Law
• Michael R. Davis (2005) – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Stephen A. DiTullio (2007) – Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management
• Peter R. Dohr (2006) – Corporate Law
• Bryan C. Esch (2011) – Real Estate Law
• Eric A. Farnsworth (2005) – Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Bradley C. Fulton (2013) – Commercial Litigation
• Jeff A. Goldman (2016) – Trusts and Estates
• Henry J. Handzel, Jr. (1989) – Environmental Law
• Hugh J. Hayes (2011) – Family Law
• Stuart C. Herro (2005) – Real Estate Law, Trusts and Estates
• Christopher S. Krimmer (2014) – Family Law
• Ronald W. Kuehn (2009) – Government Relations Practice
• Jordan K. Lamb (2009) – Government Relations Practice
• Joseph T. Leone (2007) – Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, Trademark Law
• Troy A. Mayne (2005) – Corporate Law, Real Estate Law
• William E. McCardell (2007) – Construction Law, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management
• Ronald R. Ragatz (2006) – Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law
• Joseph A. Ranney III (2010) – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent
• John Rashke (1987) – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Gregory E. Scallon (2013) – Corporate Law
• Mark R. Sewell (2009) – Land Use and Zoning Law, Municipal Law
• Wrede H. Smith, Jr. (2005) – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Trusts and Estates
• Timm P. Speerschneider (2006) – Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law
• Michael W. Wilcox (1983) – Trusts and Estates

Minneapolis Office

• Robert W. Due (2014) – Family Law

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

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Infosec Named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training

MADISON, Wis., July 24, 2019 — Infosec, the leading provider of information security education and workforce security awareness, today announced Gartner recognized it as a Leader in the 2019 Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training. This year Infosec’s placement has shifted from the Challengers quadrant to the Leaders quadrant, based on ability to execute and completeness of vision. Thirteen other vendors were evaluated in the report.

“We believe Infosec is positioned as a Leader because we can offer the largest and most diverse variety of security training and education topics covering both enterprise workforces and IT and security professionals,” said Jack Koziol, Infosec CEO and founder. “Our personalized approach to security education and awareness intentionally differs from traditional one-size-fits-all training.

“We’re proud of moving to the Leader’s quadrant in the Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training, and we’ll continue our efforts to remain one of the fastest-growing providers in the industry,” Koziol added.

Gartner defines Leaders as, “the security education CBT Leaders quadrant is composed of vendors that: provide products that are a good match to market requirements, have been the most successful in building a customer base and revenue stream within the computer-based training (CBT) market, and have relatively high viability (due to CBT revenue). In addition to providing CBT that is a good match to customer requirements, Leaders also show evidence of superior vision and execution for anticipated requirements. They typically have relatively high market share and/or strong revenue growth and provide a range of CBT capabilities that target education and behavior management. Leaders have a demonstrable track record of content revision and expansion to meet market requirements. They have demonstrated positive customer feedback for effective CBT and related services, as well as focusing intently on anticipating market needs and evolving accordingly.”

Earlier this year, Infosec received customer recognition and was named a January 2019 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training Software. Infosec has an Overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 in the Security Awareness Computer-Based Training market, based on 253  reviews, as of July 23, 2019. Peer Insights customers shared these review comments about the Infosec IQ platform:

“They not only have the ability to increase phishing awareness but also provided a vast library of videos & resources to increase security awareness overall.” — Systems Administrator

“We needed a complete platform for delivering more tailored information security awareness training, to specific groups or teams, and we needed to train our employees to be as vigilant as possible on avoiding and actively reporting suspicious emails.” — Information Security Analyst

“The content that is provided to use for the awareness campaigns is always evolving which is good for end users. We are able to “target” our training to the various departments within the organization and provide relevant training.” — Network Security Professional

A complimentary copy of the Gartner 2019 Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training research report is available here.

¹Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training, Joanna Huisman, 18 July 2019

Gartner Disclaimers

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose

Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice

Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice constitute the subjective opinions of individual end-user reviews, ratings, and data applied against a documented methodology; they neither represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Gartner or its affiliates.

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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. Founded by CEO Jack Koziol, Infosec is based in Madison, with offices in Chicago and Dulles, Virginia. Learn more at www.infosecinstitute.com