Scientific Survey Research Firm Merges with Civic Engagement Technology Company

NRC and Polco merger offers local governments the best in performance management research and civic engagement services.

Digital engagement platform Polco and survey research firm National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) are pleased to announce their merger. Together, NRC and Polco offer the best in civic engagement through resident surveys and communication technology to local governments and other public sector entities.

“Community leaders need good data, both to make immediate decisions and to measure performance over time. We are bringing together two companies, under one roof, that have each defined public engagement,” said CEO Nick Mastronardi. “It’s time to expand the ways organizations communicate with their stakeholders and serve their needs.”

NRC and Polco have combined at a pivotal time. Shoehorning tech platforms into civic applications they were not designed for has led to increased polarization and fractured communications. “Now, more than ever, local government officials must understand residents’ needs,” said Tom Miller, current Polco Board Director and Founder of NRC. “City staff have become more tech savvy and reliant on data. They need better and more accessible information to succeed in creating the livable communities that residents deserve and expect.”

Mastronardi agrees that Polco and NRC’s joint services are essential for today’s decision-makers. “Well designed platforms, structured communications, and quality data can bring communities back together and also highlight new opportunities for cities to increase resident satisfaction and quality of life. There are a lot of thoughtful people who are busy and can’t always make it to a town hall or city council meeting. But now they can lend their voices in a civil, organized way.”

About National Research Center, Inc. (NRC)

Both companies share the mission to help communities move forward through resident input, which has motivated National Research Center over the last 25 years. NRC has become a thought-leader in the survey industry and the gold standard for public opinion research and evaluation methodology.

NRC staff are leading experts and experienced practitioners. They are authors of numerous articles and books, and public speakers who present research findings and facilitate trainings for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the American Evaluation Association (AEA), and National League of Cities (NLC), to name a few.

Hundreds of public-sector organizations across the country use NRC surveys for performance measurement, budgeting, strategic planning, and decision-making. NRC’s nationwide, benchmark database holds hundreds of thousands of resident opinions – making it the largest of its kind.

NRC is also a long-standing Strategic Partner of ICMA, a charter member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Transparency Initiative, a Corporate Partner of the Alliance for Innovation (AFI), and has been named a Top Local Government Vendor by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL).

The firm will continue to provide clients with top-quality survey research, consulting, and benchmark comparisons. Now the merger creates new opportunities for NRC to produce actionable results in convenient and innovative ways.

About Polco

Polco represents the next generation of civic engagement and communication technology. The four-year-old technology company tripled in size over the last two years. They have worked with  cities in more than 23 states.

Polco’s online platform takes policy polling to the next level. Their unique verification capabilities  and key design features add reliability to results and foster civility. Polco produces organized data, dashboards, and maps in real-time for city officials. The platform is especially useful for clients with immediate decision-making needs, including local and state governments, special districts, schools and universities, and nonprofit organizations.

Polco also takes special measures to preserve respondent privacy. After verifying respondents, Polco only shares aggregated, de-identified results with city officials. Individual level data are never shared with the city or any third party.

This award-winning civic engagement platform has been profiled in numerous publications, including Governing Magazine. Polco is also the only technology firm ever to be named a Savings and Solutions Enterprise Partner for the National League of Cities (NLC).

Polco staff have strong backgrounds in city management, public policy, communications technology, data, and software engineering. The team itself has been a major component to Polco’s ingenuity and fast-growing success. “We are committed to continue working hard to put the best products, technologies, and services into the hands of city officials. We truly want to give them and their residents a great experience, and to empower communities to take next steps confidently,” Mastronardi expressed.

NRC and Polco: Merger for the Future of Civic Engagement

Moving ahead, National Research Center and Polco will continue to provide the staple services and features they are known for. Current surveys being conducted by NRC will remain unchanged, and clients will keep the same access to the Polco platform.

Now NRC and Polco are looking toward the future. Their combined R&D team is already working on digital reports, interactive dashboards, new uses of Polco’s online engagement tool, and other innovations.

Miller observed, “Both companies saw clearly the synergies of merging, as the world of survey research and resident engagement are melding. Rapid policy sounding and long-term performance trends are equally essential to the success of our public-sector clients.”

Polco and NRC plan for new and expanded services to make surveys and polls easier to administer, promote faster feedback, and produce deeper analytics. Cities, towns, and counties may also be able to host two-way communications more frequently.

As the technology and survey industries evolve, Polco and NRC promise to move forward with the needs of their public-sector and non-profit clients first in mind.

“Some of these changes are inevitable,” said Mastronardi. “We are committed to doing it the right way that’s best for cities and residents.”

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For more information about Polco and National Research Center, Inc. (NRC), visit them online at www.polco.us and www.n-r-c.com.

Hilton Madison Monona Terrace to Undergo Full Renovation

MILWAUKEE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apr. 23, 2019– Marcus^® Hotels & Resorts, a nationally recognized hotel management company and division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), today announced extensive renovations are underway at the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace, in Madison, Wis. to be completed in time for the busy 2019 summer travel season. The Hilton Madison Monona Terrace is owned and operated by Marcus Hotels & Resorts.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190423005127/en/

“Since its opening in 2001, the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace has been the city’s first choice for business and leisure travelers. The current changes underway will provide guests with more amenities and conveniences to make their travel experience easy and fun, while offering high-level service guests expect when staying at our hotel. We are very thankful to be a part of the community and downtown Madison, and we look forward to continuing to maintain our excellent reputation as Madison’s leading hotel,” said Skip Harless, general manager.

All 240 spacious guest rooms and suites will be renovated with a fresh new design, inspired by the vibrant university community. New features and amenities include brand-new bedding, stone-topped furniture, and state of the art 55” smart TVs. All double rooms will be converted to two queen beds, and king rooms will be updated with rejuvenating walk-in showers. All rooms will receive exquisite new tile surrounds and double headed showers for a soothing and calming wellness experience.

The lobby will be completely transformed to include a free-standing services desk for a more personalized check-in experience. Additionally, a grab-n-go option will be available for busy travelers to enjoy a quick caffeine boost from the Starbucks^® coffee kiosk or travel friendly foods to cure hunger day or night.

Harless said the renovations also include reimagining the hotel’s food and beverage options to better meet travelers diverse dining preferences. “In late April, we will say farewell to the longstanding Capitol ChopHouse. In its place, we will create the city’s most unique, one-of-a-kind private event space. To be called The Liberty Room, the event space features the historic façade of the Madison Catholic Diocese building first established in 1938, and will serve as a gracious and elegant gathering space for weddings, private events and important meetings. We are very excited to unveil this intimate and exclusive meeting and event space at a key location in the heart of Madison’s busy capital city center.”

The Liberty Room will feature a seasonal outside patio, 1,900 square feet of event space to accommodate up to 125 guests, a pre-function area, and private street entrance with valet and self-parking available. An exciting array of culinary selections will be available, ranging from interactive food stations to elegant, customized four-course meals using only the highest quality local ingredients. The Liberty Room is expected to open by August 1, 2019 and the Hilton Sales Team is already accepting reservations at 608-260-2363.

Additional food and beverage renovations include reconfiguring Olive Lounge into The Audrey Kitchen & Bar. Named after Audrey Munson, who modeled for the statue on the dome atop the State Capitol building, the new restaurant will offer a collection of classic and progressive cocktails, alongside a menu of lighter fare, tasty shareables and after-five entrees. Executive Chef Jeff Orr has designed a diverse menu of comfortable favorites infusing world flavors.

Additional renovations include maximizing the event space in the 14^th floor Capitol Club and the Hilton Honors members’ lounge, as well as updates to the pool and fitness areas.

“For over 18 years, the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace has always been one of the preferred destinations for guests visiting Madison. As time evolves, so do travelers’ preferences. With these renovations, we are excited to create new and fresh experiences for our guests and local residents to explore,” said Gregory S. Marcus, president and CEO of The Marcus Corporation. “This hotel has played a meaningful role in the evolution of the state’s capital city. We are proud of our history in Madison and look forward to contributing to its growth and visibility as a desirable destination with so much to offer.”

Located in the heart of Madison’s busy capital, and overlooking the shimmering shores of Lake Monona, the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace is connected via a climate-controlled skywalk to the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired, Gold LEED certified Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, and is just blocks away from the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and Madison’s dining, shopping, entertainment, art and theatre districts. The hotel offers complimentary transportation to and from Dane County Airport, has a fully-equipped fitness center, indoor pool and whirlpool, and offers self and valet covered parking. The hotel will remain pet-friendly for furry Fido travelers as well.

Since its opening in 2001, the Hilton Madison has earned numerous hospitality and dining awards including the TripAdvisor^® Certificate of Excellence Award, Best Hotel by Madison Magazine, AAA Executive Choice Award, Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and numerous best meetings awards.

For more information on the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace or to make reservations, please visit: www.hiltonmadison.com. For more information on the latest news and updates from Marcus Hotels & Resorts, please visit: http://media.marcushotels.com.

About Marcus Hotels & Resorts

Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), owns and/or manages 22 hotels, resorts and other properties in the U.S. The company’s distinctive portfolio includes city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts, historic properties, and premium branded and independent first-class hotels. Marcus Hotels & Resorts is an approved operator for all major lodging brands. A leader in the hospitality industry since 1962, Marcus Hotels & Resorts creates asset value for hotel owners through its expertise in management, development and product repositioning. This includes hotel food and beverage concepts developed by its Marcus Restaurant Group, featuring premier brands such as Mason Street Grill, ChopHouse, Miller Time Pub & Grill and SafeHouse Restaurants. For more information, please visit: http://www.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter(@MarcusHotels).

About The Marcus Corporation

Headquartered in Milwaukee, The Marcus Corporation is a leader in the lodging and entertainment industries, with significant company-owned real estate assets. In addition to its lodging division, its theatre division, Marcus Theatres^®, is the fourth largest theatre circuit in the U.S. and currently owns or operates 1,098 screens at 90 locations in 17 states. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.marcuscorp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190423005127/en/

Source: Marcus Hotels & Resorts

Jessica Huebner
jessica@reputationpartners.com
(414) 376-2348

My Choice Family Care to acquire Trilogy Health Insurance

My Choice Family Care is pleased to announce it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Trilogy Health Insurance, a Wisconsin‐based HMO.

As a Managed Care Organization, My Choice has nearly two decades of experience serving older adults and persons with disabilities. Through the Family Care program, My Choice serves enrolled members in twenty‐six counties with emphasis on helping people live independently in the community rather than institutional settings. The company, now a nonprofit entity, was an original pilot partner for the Wisconsin Family Care program in 2000.

Trilogy’s lines of business are closely aligned with My Choice’s mission to serve vulnerable populations with a focus on quality of services to its members.

“As an organization that continues to experience sustained, planned growth while maintaining high levels of member satisfaction, we are very happy for the opportunity to expand our breadth of services to improve the quality of life for a broader group of consumers”, said Maria
Ledger, My Choice CEO. “We look forward to collaborating with the current Trilogy leadership to ensure smooth transition and continuity of services for clients and members alike. We are also committed to continued development of effective working relationships with our network
providers,” Ledger added.

My Choice currently serves approximately 8,600 Wisconsinites through the Family Care program. Trilogy serves approximately 11,600 members.

This transaction is subject to acquiring the necessary regulatory approvals.

Services to persons currently served by both My Choice and Trilogy Health Insurance will be uninterrupted. Family Care members served by My Choice and BadgerCare Plus clients served by Trilogy will remain fully intact with no changes to service, coverage or service plans.

For more information, please contact Maria Ledger at 414-287-7600.

S.B.C.P. Bancorp, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Union Bancorp of Evansville, Inc.

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

S.B.C.P. Bancorp, Inc.: Jim Tubbs, (608) 798-3961

Union Bancorp of Evansville, Inc.: Steve Eager, (608) 490-2251

S.B.C.P. Bancorp, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Union Bancorp of Evansville, Inc.

CROSS PLAINS, WI – S.B.C.P. Bancorp, Inc. (“SBCP”) and Union Bancorp of Evansville, Inc. (“Union Bancorp”), the bank holding company for Union Bank & Trust Company (“UB&T”), jointly announced today the signing of an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization under which SBCP will acquire Union Bancorp and its subsidiary bank, UB&T, in a cash and stock transaction. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each company and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the shareholders of Union Bancorp and bank regulatory authorities.

The transaction will result in the merger of two strong and like-minded community banks, expanding the presence of State Bank of Cross Plains—a Wisconsin state-chartered institution and wholly-owned subsidiary of SBCP—from 10 locations in Dane County to a combined 15 locations operating in three southern Wisconsin counties. The five additional cities include Belleville, Brooklyn, Evansville, Janesville, and New Glarus, Wisconsin. Both organizations currently operate locations in Oregon, Wisconsin.

Jim Tubbs, President and CEO of State Bank of Cross Plains, said, “We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to join forces with the UB&T team and to continue the bank’s success and long-standing commitment to the communities it serves. We have an immense respect for the UB&T management and board of directors, and we look forward to continuing to work with the management team after consummation of the proposed merger. We intend to capitalize on the existing footprint of UB&T and to strategically grow the bank’s presence in Wisconsin, all while honoring the bank’s emphasis on building long-term relationships and providing exceptional levels of service.”

Just recently completing its 110-year anniversary celebration, State Bank of Cross Plains currently operates 10 locations throughout Dane County and offers a full range of business and personal financial services, including business, real estate, and consumer lending, as well as wealth management and financial advisory services.  UB&T was established in 1897 and operates from six locations.  As of September 30, 2018, UB&T had approximately $258.61 million in assets, $205.69 million in total loans and leases, and $214.90 million in deposits. The combined organization will have more than $1.25 billion in assets, $1.00 billion in total loans and leases, and $1.03 billion in deposits.

“This merger is a tremendous opportunity, and we are excited about the potential this partnership will bring to our customers, employees, and communities going forward,” said Stephen J. Eager, President and Chief Executive Officer of UB&T. “For us, it was about finding the right partner, someone who would mirror our image and help us expand our relationships throughout the bank’s market area. To team up with a group that has shown a very strong commitment to the state will not only strengthen our banking relationships, but will provide the resources for continued growth in this highly competitive marketplace.”

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP acted as legal advisor and Bank Advisory Group, LLC, acted as financial advisor to SBCP.  Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., acted as legal advisor and The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc., acted as financial advisor to Union Bancorp.

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Madison’s Oldest Law Firm Announces its Reorganization to DeWitt LLP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 1, 2019

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

Madison’s Oldest Law Firm Announces its Reorganization to DeWitt LLP

MADISON|MILWAUKEE|MINNEAPOLIS – The Wisconsin-based law firm DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., and its Minnesota affiliate DeWitt Mackall Crounse & Moore S.C., announced today they have reorganized to DeWitt LLP (DeWitt), effective January 1, 2019.

“Reorganizing our two entities into DeWitt LLP follows our strategic business goals and is also conducive to a more effective branding strategy by creating a consistent corporate identity across our markets,” said Bradley C. Fulton – President & Managing Partner of DeWitt.

During the past several years the firm has expanded its practice into Minnesota and grown its Metro Milwaukee office to one of the largest in Waukesha County. Founded in 1903, Dewitt is the oldest law firm in Madison, Wisconsin. While the firm’s name is changing, its commitment to its clients’ success remains the same.

Fulton notes, “In addition to the strong business reasons for reorganizing, we also recognize that the old-school tradition of long law firm names simply doesn’t match what consumers prefer: short brand names that are more memorable.”

About DeWitt

DeWitt LLP, is one of the 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 civil rights litigation, corporate law, employment, environmental, employee benefits, estate planning, family law, government relations, health care, intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, litigation, personal injury, real estate, and tax law.