SVA Receives LEA Women’s Leadership Program Award

The SVA Companies is proud to announce that it has won the Leading Edge Alliance (LEA) 2017 Edge award for Outstanding Women’s Leadership Program. This is a new award category and it honors the most creative and productive internal and/or external firm initiative or program for women’s leadership. SVA has won this award for their Women in Business initiative.

The SVA Women in Business initiative was designed to recognize successful businesswomen by featuring three women and their success stories at the inaugural Women In Business Breakfast held in June 2017 where approximately 150 women business leaders were in attendance.  SVA partnered with WISC-TV3 and Madison Magazine for a three-month campaign to promote this initiative because of the need for increased recognition of the talented businesswomen in the Madison and Dane County markets.

“It is fantastic that SVA received the very first award for Women’s Leadership in LEA’s new category,” states Cindy Bong, Chief Operating Officer. “The hard work and dedication of our team of SVA women to launch this initiative made this award possible. From the idea, to the spark that ignited it, to the successful women’s event, we could not be more proud of this honor.”

To view more details on the SVA Women in Business campaign, visit www.sva.com/women.

About SVA

Since our inception in 1974, we have focused on developing long-standing business relationships.  As our clients’ businesses and personal interests have grown, we have increased our service offerings to meet their expanding needs.

Now over 40 years later, SVA and its affiliates are recognized leaders offering a wide range of professional services including audit and accounting, tax, business information technologies, wealth management, trust and estate administration services.

The cornerstone of SVA will always remain the same, providing service and value to help our clients achieve measurable results, while exceeding their expectations.  SVA is not only dedicated to the clients we serve, we are dedicated to the communities we serve, maintaining a long tradition of involvement and support.

SVA is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, employs over 300 staff, and has additional offices in Milwaukee and Appleton, Wisconsin and Rockford, Illinois. www.sva.com

About Leading Edge Alliance

Founded in 1999, LEA Global is the second largest international association in the world, creating a high-quality alliance of 226 firms focused on accounting, financial and business advisory services. LEA Global firms operate from 620 offices in 110 countries, giving clients of LEA Global firms access to the knowledge, skills and experience of more than 2,300 experts and 23,000 staff members.

LEA Global firms’ unique alliance enables them to maintain their independence while working together to provide the ultimate in client service and providing valuable access to understand the cultural and commercial norms across the globe.

All LEA Global firms must go through rigorous due diligence before being accepted into the alliance.

Working collaboratively, LEA Global firms focus on client service, meaning the partner in the original engagement stays involved. That connection provides consistency and intimate client knowledge – a practice indicative of the value LEA Global places on the qualities of thought leadership, in-depth knowledge, expertise and proactive advisory services.

Savant Certified for Fiduciary Excellence for 10 Straight Years

Savant Capital Management, one of the nation’s largest independent registered investment advisory firms, announced today that CEFEX, the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence, LLC, has renewed the firm’s certification to the standard described in the handbook “Prudent Practices for Investment Advisors.” This is the tenth year of certification for Savant, and it was among the first Investment Advisors to successfully complete the independent certification process.

The CEFEX standard describes how an Investment Advisor assumes the responsibility for managing a client’s overall investment management process, which includes the selection, monitoring, and de-selection of investment managers, as well as developing processes to implement investment strategies and fiduciary practices on an ongoing basis.

“Savant has demonstrated its commitment to fiduciary excellence for a decade,” said Carlos Panksep, managing director of the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence. “The firm has voluntarily undertaken third party audits to a rigorous best practice standard.”

Savant is certified for investment advisory services, including the role of 3(38) investment manager and non-discretionary 3(21) investment advisor for Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plans, 403(b)/church exempt, personal trusts, and high net worth individuals. Savant is registered at cefex.org/advisor, where the firm’s certificate can also be viewed.

The standard is substantiated by legislation, case law, and regulatory opinion letters from the ERISA, the Investment Advisor’s Act of 1940, Uniform Prudent Investor Act (UPIA), Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA), and the Uniform Management of Public Employee Retirement Systems Act (MPERS) in the U.S.

A full copy of the standard can be downloaded from CEFEX and a summary can be viewed by clicking on Savant’s on-line CEFEX certificate.

Savant employs more than 145 team members. Headquartered in Rockford, IL, Savant also has offices in Chicago, Freeport, Geneva, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Peoria, Sterling, and Wilmette, IL; McLean, VA; and Madison and Park Falls, WI. For more information about Savant, visit savantcapital.com.  

About CEFEX®

CEFEX®, Centre for Fiduciary Excellence, LLC is an independent certification organization. CEFEX works closely with industry experts to provide comprehensive assessment programs to improve the fiduciary practices of investment stewards, advisors, recordkeepers, administrators and managers. CEFEX has offices in Pittsburgh, PA and Toronto, Canada.

 About Savant Capital Management

Savant Capital Management is a leading independent, nationally-recognized, fee-only firm, serving clients for 30 years with $5 billion in assets under management. As a trusted advisor, Savant Capital Management offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan and family office services to financially established individuals and institutions. Savant also offers corporate accounting, tax preparation, payroll and consulting through its affiliate, Savant Tax & Consulting.

Savant is regularly recognized among the top wealth managers in the United States. Savant was the recipient of the 2015 Best-in-Business IMPACT Award™, part of Schwab’s IMPACT Awards® program to recognize excellence in the business of independent financial advice. Savant has consistently received other industry recognitions including recently being included on the Forbes top 200 financial advisors list, the Barron’s top 20 independent advisory firms list, being named the #9 rated RIA firm by Financial Planning magazine, and included in additional top advisors lists by Financial Advisor magazine and InvestmentNews.

Savant Capital Management is a Registered Investment Advisor. Savant’s marketing material should not be construed by any existing or prospective client as a guarantee that they will experience a certain level of results if they engage Savant’s services and may include lists or rankings published by magazines and other sources which are generally based exclusively on information prepared and submitted by the recognized advisor. Click here for more information about Savant or to view our Important Disclosures.

Savant Capital Management and its employees are independent of and are not employees or agents of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”). Schwab does not prepare, verify or endorse information distributed by Savant Capital Management. The Best-in-Business IMPACT Award™ is not an endorsement, testimonial endorsement, recommendation or referral to Savant Capital Management with respect to its investment advisory and other services.

Suttle-Straus Takes Home the “Benny” – Awarded Multiple Premier Print Awards

The Premier Print Awards, the graphic arts industry’s largest and most prestigious worldwide printing competition, recognizes outstanding achievements in print production. Suttle-Straus of Waunakee recently received four 2017 Premier Print Awards.

The Premier Print Awards are the printing industry’s oldest and largest worldwide graphic arts competition, hosted by Printing Industries of America. In its 68th year, the annual contest recognizes those responsible for the creation and production of superior print communications. The event promotes excellence in print communications and rewards companies and individuals who produce the very best in print media.

This year, more than 2,210 entries were received from printing and graphic arts firms from around the world, and judges awarded the Benny to the top entry in each category.

Suttle-Straus President Ted Straus said, “We are thrilled to be recognized by the international Premier Print Awards. Winning four Benny awards reinforces our commitment to providing the highest-quality products and delivering on our promise of value to our customers.”

Michael Makin, president and CEO of Printing industries of America, agrees. “The Benny winners represent the best our industry has to offer. This year’s entries were outstanding. There were entries from companies in eight countries. Despite the fierce competition, Suttle-Straus, through hard work and dedicated craftsmanship, produced multiple pieces worthy of the Benny.”

Suttle-Straus received a “Benny” for the following four projects:

SUB-ZERO WOLF M SERIES COOKBOOK

Sub-Zero Wolf compiled a cookbook with recipes for decadent meals prepared using their M Series ovens. It features a gloss dispersion effect on the cover, along with vibrant images, overall varnish, and spiral binding to bring the whole piece visual interest and a high-end look that the company is well known for.

GRESSCO GV PRO SELF-MAILER

This self-mailer features several unique finishing techniques, including a closed gate fold, creative die-cut shapes, and a UV dispersion coating to give it added dimension and intrigue. While the overall design appears clean and colorful, the additional panels on each page fold down to reveal detailed product information.

This mailer was also featured on Fold Factory’s Super Cool Fold of the Week.

SUB-ZERO WOLF WESTYE F BAKKE CENTER BOOK

This colorful book features striking images of Sub-Zero’s Bakke Center and highlights some of the artwork present throughout the building. The smyth sewn, case bound book features a debossed and foil stamped cover, and the body pages feature a spot gloss aqueous coating.

US SOYBEAN BOARD ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT BOOK

This book features over 200 pages and tabbed dividers with soft touch coating. Spiral binding finishes the piece, and a USB was tipped on the back cover to allow recipients access to the complete details of the report.

Suttle-Straus will receive their Benny at The Premier Print Awards Gala, which honors all the companies that had the top award conferred upon them. The 2017 Gala is scheduled for September 10th at the Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, IL.

Learn more about printing with Suttle-Straus.

WPS Health Solutions wins BBB International Torch Award for Ethics

MADISON, Wis.—Aug. 21, 2017—WPS Health Solutions is one of the winners of the 2017 BBB International Torch Award for Ethics from the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust.

Presented annually since 1996, the International Torch Awards are given to businesses that demonstrate superior commitment to exceptional ethics practices that benefit their customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, and surrounding communities.

“Being recognized for this award is an honor and a reflection of our company’s commitment to acting with integrity,” said WPS President and CEO Mike Hamerlik. “We are proud of our employees for consistently upholding our values and standards.”

WPS won in the category of companies with more than 500 employees. The award ceremony is Sept. 19 in Atlanta.

“WPS Health Solutions exemplifies what adhering to a fair and principled marketplace means,” said Jim Temmer, CEO and President of BBB Serving Wisconsin. “The Better Business Bureau congratulates this long-standing Wisconsin company, which showcases that ethical standards are key to business success and the trademark of a deep-rooted, successful company.”

The BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust is the educational foundation of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for over 100 local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. WPS became eligible for an international award after winning the local Torch Award competition from the BBB Serving Wisconsin in May 2016.

This is the fourth time a Wisconsin company has won an international award since its inception in 1996. Rockwell Automation won the award in 2012, Briggs & Stratton Corporation won in 2015, and Harley-Davidson won in 2016.

Finalists were selected by an independent panel of business ethics experts. Companies are evaluated against criteria including commitment to and demonstration of ethical practices in the marketplace; high standard of behavior toward customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, and communities; truthfulness and accuracy of advertising and sales practices; ethical reputation among industry peers and communities in which they do business; and training and communications programs to assist employees in carrying out established ethics policies.

About WPS Health Solutions

WPS Health Solutions is a nationally regarded government contractor and a leading Wisconsin not-for-profit health insurer. The WPS Health Insurance division offers affordable health plans and benefits administration. The WPS Government Health Administrators division administers Part A and B Medicare benefits for millions of seniors in multiple states, and the WPS Military and Veterans Health division serves millions more members who are active in the U.S. military, veterans and their families. In 2017, the international Ethisphere® Institute named WPS one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® for the eighth straight year. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

Betty Harris Custer receives Circle of Excellence award

Betty Harris Custer, Founding Managing Partner of Custer Plumb Financial Services, will receive the Women in Insurance & Financial Services’ (WIFS) annual “Circle of Excellence” honor for 2017 in October. The “Circle of Excellence” distinction is conferred upon a select number of women in the industry based upon their extraordinary achievements and given out at the WIFS national conference.