DeWitt Welcomes Associate Attorney Connor Peterson to the Firm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DeWitt LLP
Michelle M. Friedman – Director of Marketing
mmf@dewittllp.com | 262-754-2877

DeWitt Welcomes Associate Attorney Connor Peterson to the Firm

Madison¸ Wis. – Today DeWitt LLP announced associate attorney Connor Peterson joined the firm’s Madison office.

Peterson is a member of the Labor & Employment and Litigation practice groups. He assists with family law, labor and employment, litigation, and estate planning matters. He is adept at legal research and frequently assists partners with locating case law relevant to their matters.

He earned a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Peterson is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and previously clerked at DeWitt.

About DeWitt

DeWitt LLP was founded in 1903 and is one of the ten largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota. It has more than 130 attorneys practicing in Green Bay, Madison and Greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes. DeWitt is known for its work in a variety of legal areas including background screening, business law, employee stock ownership plans, employee benefits, intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, construction litigation, employment relations, environmental, estate planning, family business, family law, litigation, real estate, tax law, and more. Additional information is available at dewittllp.com.

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SupraNet hosts Forward Fest launch party, reveals annual pint glass by award-winning cartoonist and game designer, John Kovalic

Madison, WI – SupraNet Communications kicks off The Forward Festival, Wisconsin’s largest technology and entrepreneurship festival, at Delta Beer Lab on Monday, Aug. 21, 4 -7 p.m., as host of the Forward Fest Happy Hour Launch Party. Bryan Chan, founder and president of SupraNet Communications, is the co-founder of the Forward Festival that began 14 years ago.

“We want to encourage people who are interested in starting a business, support new entrepreneurs, and provide a welcoming and supportive environment for startups in Madison. Forward Fest is a time to learn, work, and celebrate all at the same time,” said Chan.

SupraNet will reveal their 12th annual company pint glass by John Kavolic, Madison’s award-winning cartoonist and game designer (Apples to Apples and other popular games) during the Launch Party.

“The arts are a form of communication and we support artists and performers in the community. The arts connect us and make it a more vibrant, interesting place to live. John’s work provides something unique that we love to share with our community. His work has become a part of who we are as a business,” said Chan.

The first 70 attendees will receive one of the new glasses and a free beer from Delta Beer Lab.

SupraNet also co-hosts the largest networking event of the year, the High Tech Happy Hour Anniversary Celebration, as a part of Forward Fest. The event will take place at the Memorial Union on Thursday. Aug. 24, 5-8 p.m. This is the 14th year of the HTHH Anniversary Celebration.

About The Forward Festival: The Forward Festival is Wisconsin’s largest technology and entrepreneurship festival, attracting more than 5,000 attendees and serving as host for more than 40 events over 5 days every August. https://forwardfest.org/

For more information about Supranet Communications and its commitment to the greater Madison community, visit their website at https://www.supranet.net/community-involvement/ or contact Bryan Chan.

Contact:
Bryan Chan
Founder & President, SupraNet Communications
Phone: (608) 320-4218, Email: bryanc@supranet.net

Savant Wealth Management Named to Inc. 5000 List

ROCKFORD, Ill. (Aug. 15, 2023) – Inc. announced today that Savant Wealth Management, a nationally recognized, fee-only registered investment advisor (RIA), has been named to the Inc. 5000 annual list of fastest-growing private companies in America. Ranking No. 4,589 overall and No. 248 in the financial services industry, this is Savant’s inaugural year of being recognized on the prestigious list. Savant and all companies paid an entry fee to be considered for the recognition but did not pay to be included on the list.

The Inc. 5000 class of 2023 represents U.S. companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and hiring challenges. This year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 1,187,266 jobs to the economy over the past three years.

“We are honored to be recognized by Inc. as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S.,” said Brent Brodeski, CPA, CFP®, CFA®, MBA, CEO of Savant Wealth Management. “The honor is a direct reflection of Team Savant’s long-term and accelerated growth plan that’s focused on impacting the lives of a million people through retaining and recruiting top-tier talent, investing in new technology, and focusing on strategic acquisitions, marketing, and practice management.”

A three-year revenue growth of 89 percent helped Savant earn a spot on the Inc. 5000 list, and the firm’s projected growth is expected to continue to climb as Savant focuses on achieving its goal of three-to-five times growth over the next five years.

“Running a business has only gotten harder since the end of the pandemic,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “To make the Inc. 5000—with the fast growth that it requires—is truly an accomplishment. Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that are building our future.”

Savant, headquartered in Rockford, IL, has 35 offices in 13 states, and employs 464 team members with 136 employee owners.

Savant and all the honorees will be celebrated at the Inc. 5000 Gala in San Antonio, Texas, on Nov. 2. To view the complete list of Inc. 5000 companies, visit inc.com/inc5000.

About Savant Wealth Management

Savant Wealth Management is a leading independent, nationally recognized, fee-only firm serving clients for over 30 years with approximately $20 billion in assets under management and assets under advisement (as of 7/20/2023). As a trusted advisor, Savant Wealth 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, and estate planning document preparation and other legal services through its affiliated law firm, Savant Legal LLP.

2023 Inc. 5000: This annual ranking was published in August 2023. Companies on the 2023 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2019 to 2022. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2019, be based in the U.S., and be privately held, for-profit, and independent (not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies) as of December 31, 2022. The minimum revenue required for 2019 was $100,000 and the minimum for 2022 was $2 million. Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. Savant paid an entry fee to be considered for this ranking.

Savant is a registered Investment advisor. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Neither rankings and/or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license, or any amount of prior experience or success, should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Savant is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. Please read our Important Disclosures at savantwealth.com.

About Inc.

Inc. Business Media is the leading multimedia brand for entrepreneurs. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of our community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating our future. Inc.’s award-winning work reaches more than 50 million people across a variety of channels, including events, print, digital, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Its proprietary Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to rank the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The recognition that comes with inclusion on this and other prestigious Inc. lists, such as Female Founders and Power Partners, gives the founders of top businesses the opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

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Blain’s Farm & Fleet® Announces New President

MEDIA CONTACT: Gayla Kirshner
Email: gayla@gcomworks.com

Blain’s Farm & Fleet® Announces New President

Janesville, WI – Blain’s Farm & Fleet® has announced the promotion of Mark Hasting to President and Chief Commerce & Operating Officer. This promotion supports the company’s desire to continue to grow as a family-owned organization where customers are treated as neighbors and associates are treated like family.

Jane Blain Gilbertson will remain CEO and sole owner of Blain’s Farm & Fleet and Blain Supply, Inc. Under Jane’s leadership, Blain’s has driven huge growth in their national Ecommerce business and opened 10 new stores, including 5 in Michigan, for a total of 45 stores. The company’s distribution capacity and investment in technology enhancements has increased significantly as well. “We are at the point where it just makes sense for me to share more of the leadership responsibilities so that we can increase our capacity for continued growth,” says Jane Blain Gilbertson. “I am extremely proud of the strong leadership team we have here at Blain’s, including Mark, and I have full confidence in their abilities to continue to guide this organization as a team, always focused on our neighbors, our associates, our strong vendor partnerships and our communities. Mark quickly earned our whole company’s confidence with his authentic care and vision and has shown he is a leader of real substance.”

Mark Hasting has been with Blain’s Farm & Fleet for over 3 years and previously held the role of Chief Commerce & Operating Officer. In this role, he has had responsibility for all Stores and Service Centers, Ecommerce Operations, Real Estate, Construction and Facilities and the Customer Service Center of Excellence. In his new role as President, he will increase his responsibility to include Demand Planning and Supply Chain in addition to acting as a strategic partner to Jane Blain Gilbertson in leadership of the company. Since coming to Blain’s, Mark has made an impact on enhancing store experience by supporting store associates with training and tools and improving processes and standards within the stores. “Mark always has the customer experience in mind,” said Sarah Gilbertson, daughter of Jane Blain Gilbertson and the Customer Relationship Marketing Specialist at Blain’s. “He has proven that he really understands the Blain’s Farm & Fleet culture. I am so happy to have him take on a greater role within our organization.”

Blain’s Farm & Fleet has been family owned for all of its 68 years, and this will be the first time a non-family member has taken on the role of President, but this does not mean that the company is backing away from its strong commitment to remain family owned. “My sister and I have made a commitment to keep Blain’s Farm & Fleet family owned. That is important to us and to the company culture,” says Nicole Gilbertson, daughter of Jane Blain Gilbertson. “I remain invested in the future of this special company my grandfather and great uncle founded in 1955. The way we treat our associates like family and our customers like neighbors is at the core of our family culture at Blain’s. I’m confident Mark will continue to do a wonderful job of stewarding that culture as he moves into his new role as President.”

Mark Hasting brings impressive experience to this new role with a strong background in retail leadership. He spent over 20 years at Target, where he had many roles including Store Manager, Group Manager, District Team Leader, Group Vice President and Vice President of Store Operations. Mark has also served as Regional Vice President at Starbucks and Chief Operating Officer at Kum & Go. He has a BS in Marketing from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from Oklahoma City University. “I am humbled and excited to take on this new role. It is my desire to continue to support the growth of Blain’s Farm & Fleet and the amazing associate family that works together here,” says Mark Hasting. “This is a special place, and I have learned so much about leadership from Jane since joining the company. It is my honor to be a strategic partner to her and her family in continuing to help this amazing organization to thrive.” And Jane Blain Gilbertson seconds that thought: “It is not enough to survive as a family company, we must continue to grow and thrive. Our future is so bright, and this promotion is one step toward achieving it.”

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Founded in 1955, Blain’s Farm & Fleet is a retailer with nationwide ecommerce business and 45 store locations throughout Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. This Modern General Store® offers a wide variety of categories and services and unique experiences such as Toyland®.

• Clothing: Carhartt, Columbia, Under Armour, Ariat, Work N’ Sport, Levi’s, Lee, Kuhl
• Footwear: Skechers, Hey Dude, Keen, New Balance, Work N’ Sport, CAT, Crocs, Birkenstock, Sorel, Dansko
• Tools & Hardware: DeWalt, Milwaukee, Stanley, Craftsman, Festool
• Paint & Supplies: Benjamin Moore, Valspar, MinWax, Rustoleum, Graco, Purdy
• Automotive: Pennzoil, Valvoline, Mobil 1, Mystik, Fram, Prestone, Sea Foam, Meguiar’s, Thule
• Tire & Auto Repair Service: Michelin, Goodyear, Cooper
• Sporting Goods: Realtree, Scent Blocker, Yeti, Coleman, Rapala, Plano, Shimano, Browning
• Home & Housewares: KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Keurig, T-Fal, Lodge, Dyson
• Pet Department: Purina, Blue Buffalo, Hill’s Science Diet, Iams, Canidae, Diamond, Taste of the Wild, Kong
• Agriculture: King Kutter, Nutrena, Agrimaster, Behrens, Guardian, Manna Pro, Ware, Weaver Leather
• Lawn & Garden: Scotts, Miracle-Gro, Estate, Fiskars, Weber, Char-Broil
• Outdoor Power Equipment: Stihl, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Milwaukee, DeWalt
• Toyland®: Barbie, Hot Wheels, LEGO, ERTL, Melissa & Doug
  Visit http://www.farmandfleet.com or download the Blain’s Farm & Fleet mobile app.

Maydm Receives $500,000 Grant from American Family Insurance Institute for Social and Corporate Impact 

Maydm, a Madison-based nonprofit organization, has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the American Family Institute for Social and Corporate Impact. The Institute supports efforts to close equity gaps including partnering with organizations, governmental entities, and nonprofits to create stronger communities. With this grant, the American Family Insurance Institute will become the largest donor in Maydm’s history.

Maydm provides girls and youth of color in grades 6-12 with the skills, experiences, and connections to pursue careers in and change the face of STEM. As part of this mission, Maydm offers one-day workshops, afterschool and partner programs, immersive summer programs, and paid internships in various topics within STEM primarily to Dane County youth. For many students, these are their first formal experiences in STEM, and Maydm comes alongside them to host or coordinate training, workshops, immersive programs, advising, and work towards holistic success in the fields. 

This year has been an exciting year of growth for Maydm. In the third year of their internship program, Maydm placed 23 students in highly paid internships across the surrounding Dane County area, and even Milwaukee. This year they were able to host remote internships at their new Youth Innovation Space in downtown Madison which is designed for Maydm staff and interns, STEM program interns, and Maydm educational program students to be able work together in a communal coworking atmosphere. 

“Maydm exemplifies what we strive for at the Institute, in supporting girls and kids of color in their pursuit of STEM careers,” said Nyra Jordan, community and social impact investment director. “This investment will help Maydm continue their mission supporting our communities for years to come.” 

Over the next five years, the Institute will donate $100,000 to Maydm in support of Maydm’s career based programming. Maydm plans to use this funding to help administer and grow their STEM high school internship program, and develop additional youth apprenticeship and summer instructor   employment opportunities. This funding will also support additional co-working space and equipment in the Maydm office for youth to work in virtual internships and space for training. 

Dr. Christina Outlay said in speaking about the multi-year commitment from the Institute, “Maydm is focused on providing intentional programming that prepares our youth to pursue careers in STEM. We are expanding our career programming to deliver a more intentional pathway to move our girls and our youth of color from STEM awareness to inspiration to innovation and, finally, achievement of a STEM career. We want to support the whole student, not just their technical prowess. That means providing safe spaces for learning, career exploration and guidance, soft skill development, access to resources and equipment, earned income, and financial literacy. We are grateful to the American Family Insurance Institute for supporting our vision for the future and enabling us to develop our future STEM leaders. The Institute, along with American Family Insurance, and American Family Dreams Foundation, have been incredible strategic partners with Maydm.” 

Learn more about Maydm at maydm.org, including sponsorship opportunities that can support their work. Maydm is located at 203 S. Paterson St. Madison, WI. They host year round programming at a variety of sites, including their primary office, after school and community organization sites, and other partner sites throughout Dane County. Maydm is currently Celebrating Their Students through their 2023 Mid-Year Campaign. Each week a new Maydm student is highlighted to showcase the work that they are doing to change the face of STEM. You can help them reach their goal by donating here.