New Books for Kids this Holiday Season as Madison Reading Project Launches 5th Community Book Drive

November 1, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MORE INFORMATION:
Rowan Childs, Rowan@madisonreadingproject.com, (608) 347-7970
Emily Wills, Emily@madisonreadingproject.com, (608) 665-0055

New Books for Kids this Holiday Season as Madison Reading Project Launches 5th Community Book Drive

DANE COUNTY – For the fifth year in a row, Madison Reading Project is launching its annual Community Book Drive, promising to fill area children’s homes with new books this holiday season. 

The goal: Raise $110,000 and provide 20,000  new books before winter break to more than 12,000 children via Empty Stocking Club distributions, community partners, schools, and social workers. In addition to kicking off their fundraiser, the nonprofit is celebrating its 10th anniversary. This is the culmination of ten years of working and collaborating with hundreds of partners to bring literacy resources, engagement, and free books to children. 

Madison Reading Project staff and volunteers will place book collection bins and wish trees at public locations such as shopping malls and partner businesses.

Anyone can sign up to donate a new book online via a curated book wish list or at local bookstores. Cash donations are greatly appreciated and can be made online or by check.

“We believe it is important for children to have access to new books that reflect their unique identities as well as open their eyes to others’ lived experiences,” says Rowan Childs, co-executive director. “By supporting our Community Book Drive, you will help get thousands of new, high-quality books to kids, many of whom have few books in their homes. Children deserve that new book feeling, and books in the home are very important.”

Madison Reading Project is again partnering with schools across the county, Santas Without Chimneys, Boys & Girls Club, Reach Dane, and other community program partners to widen its reach. 

You can help by donating funds or buying books from local bookstores, such as Lake City Books, Mystery To Me, Leopold’s Books Bar Caffe, Kismet, or Books 4 School. The book lists make it easy to pick a book at any price point: www.madisonreadingproject.com/2024communitybookdrive

A business, book club, friend group, or neighborhood can organize a book drive or fundraiser to help reach the greater goal.  

“We want to shine a light on our amazing community and encourage people to not only help us collect books bought locally but also support local businesses when they visit our wish trees and bins,” says Emily Wills, development director. “To make it convenient, you can purchase from our wish list via our website or local bookstores.”

Madison Reading Project’s book drive partners with the Wisconsin State Journal’s annual Empty Stocking Club holiday toy distribution event. Open to all families regardless of their financial situation, the December giving event gives every child a new high-quality toy and a book. 

For public donation locations, link to make a cash contribution, and complete information, visit www.madisonreadingproject.com/communitybookdrive

The drive ends Dec. 6 to ensure books get to kids on time. The fundraiser is open until the end of the year. 

Madison Reading Project is a nonprofit organization that aims to connect our community with free books and literacy enrichment programs that ignite a love for reading. 

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Hilton Madison: Start Planning Your Holiday Party

The holidays are fast approaching and your colleagues will be asking you about a holiday party! Let us help you start planning for your holiday party now. We have many dates available for parties of 100 people or less, along with hotel rooms. You can create a room block to give your employees a safe way to end the evening or impress your out of town VIPs with a night on the town.

You can find our holiday menu here and more information about the spaces here.

We’re offering half off room rental when our chamber partners books with us!

Contact: Ada Hays at adahays@hiltonmadison.com or 608-260-2382

Boardman Clark Attorney Dan Gartzke Elected President-Elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin

Boardman Clark Attorney Dan Gartzke has been elected president-elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

The State Bar of Wisconsin is a professional association of attorneys that provides its 25,000 members with educational, career development, and other services. It also provides services to the public, including attorney referrals, public education, and reduced-fee legal assistance for low-income state residents.

Dan will serve as president-elect until July 1, 2025, when he will begin his one-year term as president. As president of the State Bar, Dan will assist in overseeing the policy-making, operations, and strategic planning of the association. One of Dan’s main goals as president will be to focus on attorney mentoring to aid the next generation of lawyers in improving their professional skills and civility both in and out of the courtroom.

In his 38 years as an attorney, Dan has practiced in both cities and small towns and has experience in a variety of legal fields, including criminal defense, worker’s compensation, and personal injury. His practice has spanned Wisconsin, and he has appeared in over a third of the state’s 72 counties. Since joining Boardman Clark in 2016, Dan has focused his practice on family law. He works on various matters like divorce, child custody, and property division. Dan has served his local legal communities in leadership roles as the Dane County Bar Association’s president from 2009-2010 and Green County Bar president in 2001, and is a Life Fellow with the Wisconsin Law Foundation.

Outside of his practice, Dan is active in his communities. Among other things, he’s the Bayview Foundation’s legal advisor, a member of Green County’s Forestry Education Center, treasurer of the Green’s Prairie Cemetery Association, and coached the New Glarus High School Mock Trial team for nearly 20 years. He and his wife Tracey Schwalbe have three adult children, and they live on their 15-acre farmette in rural New Glarus where they enjoy prairie restoration, sheepherding and woodlot management.

Boardman Clark Attorney Michelle Behnke, who previously served as the president of the State Bar of Wisconsin from 2004-2005, was also named president-elect of the American Bar Association earlier this year.

Boardman Clark is one of Madison’s largest and longest-standing law firms. The firm serves individuals, businesses, school districts, and local governments. Its areas of service include litigation, franchise and dealership law, business law, taxation, estate planning and probate, intellectual property, family law, municipal law, banking, labor and employment, land use, elder services, real estate, and school law.

Voyageur Stays: Madison Company Becomes Wisconsin’s First Interior Design Finalist at International Awards

Madison, WI – The Medallion, a Madison-based extended stay apartment, has made history as Wisconsin’s first-ever finalist for the prestigious  Dezeen Design Awards. Selected from over 4,000 entries worldwide, The Medallion is now one of five finalists on the global stage in the hotel and short stays category. The project stands out as just one of just four finalists from the United States across all interior design categories this year.

The project, which offers 21 fully furnished one- and two-bedroom apartments for stays of 30 days or more, is a collaborative effort between Madison’s Voyageur Stays and Voyageur Design Build. The team worked closely with Dutch designer Arno Hoogland, local master woodworkers, and Wisconsin craftsmen to create a cohesive, affordable, and innovative design.

“The Medallion is a testament to the creative energy and craftsmanship that make Madison a design hub,” said Jason Ilstrup, President of Downtown Madison Inc. “It’s exciting to see a local project receive international recognition, and we are immensely proud of the team behind it.”

Craftsmanship Meets Innovation in Mid-Term Hospitality

In the mid-term hospitality industry, high craftsmanship is uncommon due to tight profit margins. This project sought to challenge that notion, exploring how handcrafted production could be both valued by guests and achieved affordably.

Voyageur’s husband and wife team employed innovative fabrication techniques such as CNC robotics, laser cutting, plywood steamforming, and 3D printing to meet tight deadlines and budget constraints. They prioritized local artisans and sustainable materials, while their collaborations with emerging international designers allowed for fresh, inventive approaches.

They used non-traditional materials in unconventional ways—vehicle wraps, for example, were applied to cabinets for an affordable, custom design finish. They repurposed Industrial LED modules and used 3D-printed diffusers to enhance fixtures.

To further optimize efficiency and cost savings, they developed modular components for sofas, headboards, and ornamentation, streamlining production while maintaining a custom feel. Even custom light fixtures were partially pre-fabricated in collaboration with glass manufacturers and assembled on-site, balancing artistry and cost-effectiveness.

“We love pushing boundaries to create beautiful, cohesive designs that are both affordable and sustainable,” said Kristopher Steege-Reimann, owner of Voyageur Design Build. “Our goal is to prove that handcrafted furniture and thoughtful design can be integrated into hospitality without breaking the budget.”

Sustainability at the Core

Sustainability was a central focus of The Medallion’s design approach. The team emphasized durability and repairability, sourcing sustainably harvested local wood and using high-quality Axminster wool rugs. Furniture was designed to be easily repaired, reducing the need for full replacements, while existing cabinets were refreshed rather than discarded.

“Our commitment to enduring, repairable designs is the opposite of the fast-fashion mentality that dominates today’s hospitality design,” added Steege-Reimann. “We believe in creating pieces that last a lifetime.”

A ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ Approach

Dutch designer Arno Hoogland drew inspiration from The Medallion’s architectural features, particularly its signature diamond-pattern brickwork. This motif became the foundation for the visual language of the project, with nearly every piece of furniture and fixture custom-designed to harmonize with the building’s exterior. Heavily influenced by the philosophy of Wisconsin’s own Frank Lloyd Wright, Hoogland embraced the concept of a gesamtkunstwerk—a holistic approach where every design element works in harmony with the others.

“Working with The Medallion’s existing architecture allowed us to create a truly integrated design, from the furniture to the smallest fixtures,” Hoogland remarked.

About Dezeen Awards

The Dezeen Awards, organized by the world’s leading design website Dezeen, celebrate the best architecture and design projects globally. With low entry costs that encourage submissions from small studios, the awards focus on projects that are not only beautiful and innovative but also socially and environmentally conscious.

Photos of the Medallion
Photos of the Voyageur Design Build Team

For media inquiries, please contact:
Julia Steege-Reimann
Owner/Operator, Voyageur Stays and Voyageur Design Build
hello@voyageurstays.com | +1 (608) 205-8164

About Voyageur Stays and Voyageur Design Build
Voyageur Stays offers curated, furnished rentals for long and short stays in downtown Madison, WI. Its sister company, Voyageur Design Build, specializes in innovative, beautiful, and affordable custom designs. Learn more at voyageurstays.com and voyageurdesignbuild.com.

Big Lift Adds CMO and VP of Sales to its Management Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Big Lift Adds CMO and VP of Sales to its Management Team
Strategic Hires Help Support the Company’s Goals into 2025 and Beyond 

Madison, WI (Oct. 16, 2024) – Today, Big Lift, LLC announced the appointment of Martin Boyd as Chief Marketing Officer and Jason Dunigan as Vice President of Sales for its Big Joe and EP North America brands. Dunigan started in his role this week and Boyd will begin in January of 2025. These executive positions will support the company in its many objectives including a strong focus to expand its leadership in lift truck electrification.

“Big Lift has a clear focus on where our products will best serve our customers moving into 2025 and beyond, and the addition of both Martin and Jason to our team will help us be better positioned for success,” said Dan Rosskamm, President of Big Lift. “As the industry shifts to modernize warehouse equipment, these most recent executive appointments will help us continue to provide cleaner, more efficient technology that makes today’s supply chain run smoothly. We welcome them to the Big Lift brands and look forward to working together for the success of our company.”

With more than 30 years in the material handling industry, Boyd will lead all marketing functions for both brands. Prior to Big Lift, he worked with major OEMs such as Hyster-Yale Group, Cascade Corporation and Toyota Material Handling, holding leadership positions in engineering, technical service, product management and marketing.  As Big Lift’s newest addition to the senior executive team, Boyd will utilize his experience to strengthen the Big Joe and EP brands in the North American market. His customer-centric passion will serve to ensure the company’s resources are focused on delivering the right solutions, based on market trends.

As Vice President of Sales for Big Lift, Dunigan will lead the national account and dealer development teams for both brands. He comes to Big Lift with more than 25 years of sales management experience with more than 20 of those focusing on the industrial forklift industry. Dunigan is a US Army Veteran that most recently worked with KION North America where he was instrumental in increasing Linde’s market share in North America by transforming the Key Account Department and developing partnerships with distribution channel partners.

About Big Lift LLC:

Big Lift is a customer-driven North American material handling equipment company, that distributes innovative products and in-between-handling applications, purpose-built counterbalanced lithium forklifts and market-leading autonomous solutions. The company distributes Big Joe and EP brands in North America. Based in Wisconsin, Big Lift provides engineering expertise, customer service, aftermarket parts, and warranty support to the brands it distributes.

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Media Contact:

Kirsten Brundahl
(714) 366-6003
kirsten@masterplancommunications.com

or

Rachel Leadholm
(847) 602-1578
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