Starion Bank receives highest rating from BauerFinancial

Starion Bank has received a five star “superior” rating from BauerFinancial, the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating firm.

BauerFinancial has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. Star ratings are assigned on a scale of zero-to-five stars, with five being the strongest, and are based on the overall financial picture of the financial institution. The ratings are independent, meaning no institution is able to pay to be rated or excluded.

“We are proud to repeatedly receive Bauer’s top rating,” says Craig Larson, CEO at Starion Bank. “This recognition is possible thanks to the commitment Starion employees make to providing exceptional service to each and every customer. That dedication makes Starion a great place to bank and to work.”

NGL receives Business Supporter Award from Operation Fresh Start

National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) was honored to receive the Business Supporter Award presented by Operation Fresh Start (OFS). NGL accepted the award during the Fresh Start Awards Luncheon on May 12.

OFS is a nonprofit that provides and promotes employment training, mentoring and education opportunities to Dane County youth ages 16 to 24. Founded in 1970, OFS has offered its services to more than 8,000 youth and adults who were looking to better their lives. NGL has supported OFS programming for five years.

“We understand the value and the need to support an organization like Operation Fresh Start. It’s a beneficial community resource that provides an opportunity for youth to learn not only job training, but leadership skills, education and a solid work ethic. For youth it’s a fresh start down the path to become a productive member of society. It’s an organization that truly makes a life changing impact on a person’s life,” said Mark Solverud, NGL President & CEO.

Solverud continued, “NGL is proud to be recognized for its support of OFS. We want to share that recognition with the corporations and individuals who donate to OFS. In addition, we want to acknowledge and thank all of the employees, the Board, the officers, the volunteers and anyone connected to the organization.”

About Operation Fresh Start

A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, Operation Fresh Start has provided comprehensive employment and training services to over 8,000 youth and adults in Dane County, Wisconsin since 1970. For more information, visit www.operationfreshstart.org.

About NGL

Since 1910, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), a mutual insurance company, has been located in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products including specialty and student insurance. Additional information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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Five Recipients Win The Alliance Health Transformation Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Teri Van Tassel, Vice President, Marketing & Member Services

608.210.6633

E-mail: tvantassel@the-alliance.org

www.the-alliance.org/press

FIVE RECIPIENTS WIN THE ALLIANCE HEALTH TRANSFORMATION AWARD

MADISON, Wis. (May 17, 2017) ─ Five awards were given to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to transforming health care in their community when The Alliance held its Annual Seminar on May 16.

This year’s award recipients are:

• Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, Wis.

Gundersen Health System has changed how traditional health care services have been sold and delivered in northwestern Wisconsin. Gundersen provides quality care; works to be a collaborative partner with employers and the community; makes cost-conscious decisions; and has won national attention for its environmental practices.

Gundersen Health System is being recognized for exploring new approaches to delivering and paying for care. They are improving the quality of care using a systematic, process-oriented approach that can be adapted and implemented by other organizations. And they are collaborating with other organizations to develop solutions to significant health care problems as well as advancing their own understanding of how to engage consumers.

• John Nygren, Wisconsin State Representative, Marinette, Wis.

Representative John Nygren represents northeastern Wisconsin’s 89^th Assembly district and pushed the state of Wisconsin to recognize the opioid addiction problem before it became a national headline. Rep. Nygren learned about the high cost of opioid addiction when his daughter nearly died of a heroin overdose. Her struggles with addiction started with the opioid medication OxyContin and eventually led to heroin.

Rep. Nygren started the Heroin, Opiate Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda, which has led to significant legislative awareness and policy changes that aim to strengthen Wisconsin efforts to counter the epidemic of opioid abuse. As part of the HOPE Agenda, Rep. Nygren has successfully introduced 17 bills since 2013 to help combat the opioid addition problem.

Rep. Nygren is being honored for improving the quality of care using a systematic and process oriented approach that can be adapted and implemented by other organizations.

• OpenNotes, Catherine DesRoches, Brookline, Mass.

OpenNotes is a growing national movement that invites patients, families and clinicians to come together and improve communication through shared clinician notes and fully transparent medical records.

Today, more than 11 million U.S. patients have access to their notes. One early study showed that OpenNotes has the potential to decrease costs, with patients who read their notes doing a better job of managing their medical regimen and taking medication as prescribed.

OpenNotes is being recognized for exploring new approaches to delivering care as well as paying for care; and for improving the quality of care using a systematic, process-oriented approach that can be adapted and implemented by other organizations. It also allows other organizations to develop solutions and advance our understanding of how to engage consumers in making better health care decisions.

• Miniature Precision Components, Walworth, Wis.

Miniature Precision Components (MPC) is a manufacturing company that produces automotive parts. Based in Walworth, Wis. with nine other locations they consistently create opportunities to engage consumers in decisions about better health and better health care.

Over the years, MPC has:

• Created a robust wellness program;
• Proven its ability to help employees adopt healthy behaviors;
• Modeled good employee communications; and
• Offered incentives to capture greater savings through the QualityPath program. More than 12 MPC employees have used QualityPath for joint replacements, which is the highest participation achieved by any QualityPath employer.

MPC is being recognized for both advancing our understanding of how to engage consumers in making better decisions about their care and for providing extraordinary leadership among employers related to health benefits.

• Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ), Madison, Wis.

The Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ) is pushing the envelope to measure, publicly report and improve the quality of care for the people of Wisconsin. WCHQ has made it a priority to meet the needs of purchasers and consumers by making changes to measures in their portfolio to accommodate the interests of purchasers. They also have committed to adopting measures prioritized by a group of purchasers and payers. To broaden their efforts they are now exploring the possibility of including delivery systems in other states.

WCHQ is being honored for meeting two award criteria: improving the quality of care using a systematic, process-oriented approach that can be adapted and implemented by other organizations, and collaborating with other organizations to develop innovative solutions to significant health care problems.

The Alliance moves health care forward by controlling costs, improving quality, and engaging individuals in their health. Members include more than 240 self-funded employers and insurance trusts covering more than 85,000 individuals in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. The Alliance uses the purchasing power of cooperative members to negotiate with and provide access to an extensive network of doctors and hospitals paid to improve quality by performing better not doing more.

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*Please contact us if you would like photos of the award recipients.

*We can connect journalists with award winners and The Alliance Board of Directors upon request.

Wisconsin Bank & Trust Recognized as a Forbes Best Bank in America For 2017

Wisconsin Bank & Trust Recognized as a Forbes Best Bank in America For 2017

Wisconsin Bank & Trust’s Parent Company, Heartland Financial USA, Inc., Recognized Among America’s Leading Financial Institutions                                                                                  

Madison, WI, May 9, 2017 — Wisconsin Bank & Trust, a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:HTLF), has been named a “Forbes Best Bank 2017.”

In its annual review of the largest publicly traded banks and thrifts, Forbes ranked Heartland Financial USA, Inc. 44^th among a nationwide group of 100 leading banking organizations with assets ranging from under $8 billion to over $2.5 trillion.

“We are proud to be named among the best banks in America for 2017,” said Kevin Tenpas, Chairman and CEO of Wisconsin Bank & Trust. “As a community bank, what sets us apart is our strong commitment to our customers, combined with access to ‘big-bank’ products and services as part of Heartland. The Forbes ranking underscores the benefits of our unique structure—the strength and capabilities of a big bank, combined with the personal touch and local decision-making of a community bank.”

To compile the rankings, Forbes used data collected by S&P Global Market Intelligence through the third quarter of 2016 on the country’s largest publicly traded banks and thrifts. The data covered 10 metrics related to growth, profitability, capital adequacy and asset quality. Metrics included return on average tangible equity, return on average assets, net interest margin, efficiency ratio and net charge-offs as a percent of total loans. Nonperforming assets as a percent of assets, risk-based capital ratio and reserves as a percent of nonperforming assets were also factored in.

“We attribute our strong performance to both our loyal and satisfied customers and our disciplined financial management,” said Tenpas.

In 2016, Heartland’s net income increased by 35 percent over 2015, with earnings per share growing by 14 percent. That strong shared success provides Wisconsin Bank & Trust with an outstanding platform for continued growth.

About Wisconsin Bank & Trust
Wisconsin Bank & Trust (WBT), a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., (NASDAQ: HTLF), is a business-focused community bank with assets of more than $1 billion. With eighteen banking centers and two mortgage origination offices, Wisconsin Bank & Trust serves customers in the Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Sheboygan, Monroe and southwest areas of Wisconsin. WBT offers a wide range of personal and business banking, private client and mortgage lending services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinbankandtrust.com or call 608.203.1214. Wisconsin Bank & Trust is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

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CEC receives BICSI Presidential Eagle Award

Hiawatha, IA (April 28, 2017) – CEC, a nationally recognized systems and technology integrator, received BISCI’s annual Presidential Eagle Award for its BICSI Authorized Training Facility (ATF).

Accredited since 2015, CEC’s Authorized Training Facility offers training on the proper methods for installing data, voice, and video cabling in commercial buildings to CEC staff as well as customers and other industry professionals.

“Two years ago, CEC envisioned a program that allowed people to develop in their career through levels of certification,” said Brian Morrow, director of PMO and BICSI certified trainer. “We now have a program that not only trains on best practices, it empowers participants with the resources to find answers for the rest of their career.”

“The BISCI Authorized Training Facilities embody the criteria of the Presidential Eagle Award ensuring the highest degree of excellence for BICSI training,” said BICSI President Brian Ensign, RCDD, NTS, OSP, RTPM, CSI. “It is important to recognize all they have done for BICSI and the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) cabling installation industry.”

The Presidential Eagle Award is presented to individuals who have exhibited leadership, sacrifice, faith in the BICSI association, and dedication to the industry.

For more information about BICSI training contact CEC training at 319-731-4811.

About CEC

With offices in the Midwest serving local and national customers, CEC offers solution design, integration, and technical services specializing in audio/video, safety and security, IT, structured cabling, and two-way communications. Focused on the customer experience, the CEC teams partner with clients to understand their business, tailor solutions, and plan for future technology needs. To learn more, visit www.cecinfo.com or contact CEC at 800.377.0721.

About BISCI

BICSI is the worldwide association for cabling design and installation professionals. BISCI strives to provide information, education, and knowledge assessment for individuals in the information and communications technology (ICT) community. For more information visit www.bicsi.org

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For more information:

Melissa Henderson, Director, Marketing & Business Development

mhenderson@cecinfo.com or 319-294-9000