ThirdSpace Certified by State as Qualified New Business Venture

TAX CREDITS FOR INVESTORS WILL HELP THIRDSPACE RAISE CAPITAL TO ACCELERATE COMPANY’S GROWTH

MADISON, WI. AUG. 8, 2017 – ThirdSpace, a Madison startup developing tools to improve employee engagement, has received Qualified New Business Venture (QNBV) certification from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

QNBV status allows investors in qualified startup and early-stage companies to receive a 25 percent state tax credit on the amount they invest in the business. The program, one of several WEDC initiatives aimed at supporting startups, helps early-stage companies secure new investment and accelerates their potential for growth and job creation in Wisconsin.

Investors in ThirdSpace, founded in 2014, are authorized to receive up to $187,500 in state income tax credits through March 2018.

“We are extremely excited to receive the QNBV certification from the WEDC,” said Zach Blumenfeld, who co-founded the company with Scott Kohl and Scott Jens. “This will not only help ThirdSpace as we are out fundraising, but it aligns with our goals of bringing more jobs to Madison as we continue to grow.”

ThirdSpace is an online workplace culture software that solves business challenges related to employee engagement, communication, onboarding and sharing workplace knowledge.

ThirdSpace is a finalist for the Greater Madison Area Chamber of Commerce’s Pressure Chamber pitch event and present to a panel of out-of-state investors on Aug. 21. The company also received an award for its innovative design from Marginalia, an online magazine that focuses on workplace culture.

In addition, ThirdSpace was a finalist in the 2017 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest sponsored by the Wisconsin Technology Council.

ThirdSpace is currently raising funds to accelerate growth and scale the company. Funds will be primarily used to hire on more sales and marketing personnel, with a small percentage reserved for feature enhancements of the ThirdSpace software. The company plans to create 18 new jobs over the next three years.

“Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial community is incredibly vibrant, and a core part of WEDC’s mission is to support that community and nurture its future health,” said Aaron Hagar, WEDC’s vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation. “Helping innovative Wisconsin companies like ThirdSpace secure access to capital is one way in which WEDC supports next-generation companies.”

The QNBV Program helps startups close a critical gap in their development by offering tax credits for investments made in QNBV-certified companies. Participating businesses innovate and commercialize products in numerous industries including biotechnology, manufacturing, health technology, energy, information technology and more.

In 2016, the program helped 84 startups throughout the state draw more than $250 million in total financing, with the help of $17.9 million in tax credits. Three industries in particular saw the largest share of funding in 2016: information technology ($105 million); biotechnology ($69 million); and health technology ($35 million).

The program is one component of WEDC’s suite of entrepreneurship resources, which includes support for startup accelerators, seed capital funds and technology loans. In addition, WEDC supports and engages an existing statewide network of partners that offers business training, mentorship and financing to aspiring entrepreneurs.

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ABOUT THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing and maximizing opportunities in Wisconsin for businesses, communities and people to thrive in a globally competitive environment. Working with more than 600 regional and local partners, WEDC develops and delivers solutions representative of a highly responsive and coordinated economic development network. Visit www.inwisconsin.com or follow WEDC on Twitter @_InWisconsin to learn more.

Jakob Loescher Ranked as One of America’s Top Millennial Advisors

 Savant Capital Management financial advisor recognized by Forbes 

Jakob Loescher, a financial advisor with Savant Capital Management, a leading independent, nationally-recognized fee-only wealth management firm, has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors. The first-ever ranking features 500 millennial advisors, naming Loescher #13.

Loescher has spent his entire financial services career with Savant. In 2007, he served as an intern, primarily responsible for assisting planners and advisors in the analysis of client investment portfolios. He joined the firm as a financial advisor the following year. Since 2008, he has been responsible for managing all aspects of the financial planning and investment process for Savant’s clients. In October 2016, Loescher became one of 47 employee-members of the firm.  Savant has more than 140 employees based throughout its 12 offices across the country.

Forbes is an American business magazine and a leading source for reliable business news and financial information. Its list of America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors was developed by SHOOK Research and represents individuals born in 1980 or later and are the top-performing young advisors at their respective firms.

“We are thrilled for Jake being named to the #13 spot on the list of American’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors,” said Brent Brodeski, CEO of Savant. “Jake’s goal is to develop strong relationships with his clients. He genuinely cares for people and focuses on making the complexities of financial planning clear and simple for his clients. Jake and the entire Savant team are what makes us one of the leading Registered Investment Advisory firms in the nation.”

With more than 19,500 nominations received, 500 millennial advisors were chosen based on a minimum of four years relevant experience and acceptable compliance records. In addition, telephone and in-person interviews were conducted to examine best practices such as client service models, investing process, business types, and leveraging team and firm resources. Credentials, revenue, and assets under management were also considered. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK received a fee in exchange for rankings. Click here to view the complete list of America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors.

Savant manages more than $5 billion in assets and employs more than 140 team members. Headquartered in Rockford, IL, Savant also has offices in Chicago, Freeport, Geneva, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Peoria, Sterling, Wilmette, IL; McLean, VA; and Madison and Park Falls, WI. For more information about savant, visit www.savantcapital.com.

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.

Savant Recognized Nationally as a Top Investment and Accounting Leader

 Industry trade publications release 2017 rankings of top RIA and CPA firms 

Savant Capital Management, a nationally-recognized fee-only wealth management firm headquartered in Rockford, IL, with offices in Madison and Park Falls, WI; Chicago, Freeport, Geneva, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Peoria, Sterling, and Wilmette, IL; and McLean, VA, has been recognized by Financial Advisor, Financial Times and InvestmentNews as one of the leading Registered Investment Advisors (RIA) in the nation and by Accounting Today magazine as one of the nation’s leading CPA firms by assets under management (AUM).

For the ninth straight year, Financial Advisor magazine has ranked Savant in its annual list of top RIA firms. The 2017 ranking includes nearly 650 RIAs from across the nation and is based on a survey of the firms’ discretionary AUM. Savant was named #53. To view the complete list, click here.

Savant has also been named to the Financial Times’ “FT 300: Top Registered Investment Advisers” list for the fourth year in a row. Savant is one of 20 Illinois RIA firms to be recognized. The results of the list were based on AUM, asset growth rate, the firm’s longevity, compliance record, industry certifications, and online accessibility. Click here to view the complete list.

Financial trade publication InvestmentNews recently released the results of its 2017 nationwide ranking of leading RIA firms, naming Savant #43 – jumping two spots from 2016. The list is based on total AUM and is the tenth time Savant has been in included in the list. To view the full list, click here.

For the fifth time, Savant has landed a top spot on the “Top Wealth Magnet” list by Accounting Today magazine. Ranked fifth out of 150 top CPA Financial Planning firms in the United States, Savant is part of the “Billion Dollar Club” category based on AUM. Today, the firm manages $5 billion in assets for its clients. According to the magazine, firms on this list pay close attention to the news and markets, seeking out or developing new investment vehicles, and closely monitoring and carefully tweaking their strategies to keep their clients’ financial plans on task. Click here for the complete list.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our dedication to our industry recognized nationally,” said Brent Brodeski, CEO of Savant. “We have provided independent, unbiased advice that we believe is truly in the best interest of our clients. Serving others as a fiduciary is what we have done for more than 30 years and is what allows Savant to pursue its vision of building ideal futures for our clients, our team, and the communities we serve.” 

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. For more information about Savant or to view our Important Disclosures, go to www.savantcapital.com/landing-pages/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.

Midwest Prototyping becomes first independent additive manufacturer to achieve ISO 9001:2015 Certification

Midwest Prototyping Achieves ISO 9001 Certification | July 11, 2017

BLUE MOUNDS, WI – Midwest Prototyping, LLC, announced today its operations have been certified compliant with the ISO 9001:2015 standard, an internationally recognized achievement for operational excellence. One of the nation’s largest additive manufacturers, it’s the first independent service bureau to achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification.

“For us, obtaining ISO certification is a natural next step,” said Steve Grundahl, President and founder of Midwest Prototyping. “As our operations and the additive manufacturing industry have continued to grow, we’ve seen an increasing number of production and end-use orders for printed parts. This [ISO 9001 certification] is a critical step to create a manufacturing facility for 3D printed, end-use products. If we are going to compete with traditional manufacturing processes, we need to meet them at their level.”

Midwest Prototyping has spent close to 18 months working to ensure its quality management system meets the extensive criteria associated with the standard, which centers on enhancing customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. National Quality Associates, Inc., an independent accredited registrar, verified Midwest Prototyping’s compliance to the standard.

“At its core, ISO 9001 is a business improvement standard,” explained Nate Schumacher, Project Leader and ISO 9001 implementation coordinator. “Realistically, what we’ve done is taken our existing QMS and reshaped it to let us take a closer look at our operations at every level, allowing us to improve them as we continue to grow.”

Centered in Geneva, Switzerland, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international organization which develops and publishes International Standards in collaboration with 163 national standards bodies. Its documentation provides guidelines that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose.

Founded in 2001, Midwest Prototyping is one of the nation’s largest independent additive manufacturing service bureaus. Named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing privately held companies for the last 5 consecutive years, the Blue Mounds-based organization was recently a 2016 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year award winner. Offering multiple 3D printing technologies, urethane casting, and extensive finishing services, Midwest Prototyping has consistently provided quality products and unrivaled customer support, enabling clients of all industries to make better parts, faster.

For more information, visit www.midwestproto.com.

CEC Selected for 2017 CRN Solution Provider 500 List

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CEC Selected for 2017 CRN Solution Provider 500 List

List ranks North America’s top 500 technology solution providers based on 2016 revenue

Hiawatha, IA (June 6, 2017) – CEC (Communications Engineering Company), a nationally recognized systems and technology integrator with locations in Iowa and Wisconsin, has been included on The Channel Company’s 2017 CRN Solution Provider 500 list. The SP500 list is CRN’s annual ranking of the largest technology integrators, solution providers, and IT consultants in North America by revenue. CEC moved up to No. 360 in this year’s annual ranking (up from No. 361 in 2016).

“The Solution Provider 500 list serves as an industry standard for recognition, and CEC is proud to be named to the list again in 2017,” said Jim Anderson, IT general manager at CEC. “It is thanks to our dedicated staff who take care of our customers, ensuring that they have the right technology solutions for their businesses.”

“CRN’s Solution Provider 500 list spotlights the North American IT channel partner organizations that have earned the highest revenue over the past year, providing a valuable resource to vendors looking for top solution providers to partner with,” said Robert Faletra, CEO of The Channel Company. “The companies on this year’s list represent an incredible, combined revenue of over $318 billion, a sum that attests to their success in staying ahead of rapidly changing market demands. We extend our sincerest congratulations to each of these top-performing solution providers and look forward to their future pursuits and successes.”

The complete 2017 Solution Provider 500 list is available online at www.crn.com/sp500.

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, 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 The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with its dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, it connects and empowers technology suppliers, solution providers, and end-users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, it draws from its deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. For more information, visit www.thechannelco.com.

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For more information:

Melissa Henderson, Director, Marketing & Business Development

mhenderson@cecinfo.com or 319-294-9000