All Comfort Services: Local HVAC Firm Becomes Madison’s Newest Employee-Owned Company

MADISON, WI: 01-18-2023– Larry Davies, owner of All Comfort Services, sold all of his 100% percent stock to his own employees on December 31, 2022, creating an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). In doing so, All Comfort Services joins a unique group of companies that are 100% employee owned.

“Only a few of the heating contractors that were in business when I started are still around,” says Davies. “We’ve stood the test of time, and I think doing this will help us to keep doing so.”

Transitioning the company to an ESOP allows employees to benefit directly from profits and get involved in the many decisions that guide a company. It also grants employees a very real “piece of the pie.”

According to employee-owners of other ESOP companies, a new ownership role fundamentally alters the way they think about and do their jobs. Over a 10-year period, ESOP companies have 25%* higher job growth than comparable companies without an ESOP.

“This area has given me, my family and this company so much over the years,” says Davies. “This doesn’t just create an ESOP company for the employees of All Comfort, but an ESOP for the community. And that’s usually a pretty good thing.”

Davies and his wife Susan established the company in March 1973. There are currently over fifty employees. The company marks its fifty years by revitalizing its core values — Community, Expertise, and Respect — and purpose statement to “create awesome experiences every day.”

In 2019 Davies was awarded as the first Madison Area Mechanical and Sheet Metal Contractors and Madison Association of Plumbing Contractors (MSC/MAPC) Legacy Award recipient. The MSC/MAPC created the award to honor and recognize those individuals in the heating, cooling, and plumbing industry who have made significant contributions to the Madison Association.

All Comfort Services serves the greater Madison area offering heating, cooling, indoor air quality, plumbing, and electrical services to residential and commercial customers. The company is committed to providing the best-in-town customer experience, products, team, and work environment.

*Statistics from the National Center for Employee Ownership

Contact Information:
Kendall Richards
President
All Comfort Services
5245 Voges Road
Madison, WI 53718
Phone: 608-247-5587
Email: krichards@allcomfortservices.com

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SBCP and Monona Bank host Crop Insurance Info Meetings Jan. 26 & Feb. 9-10

January 18, 2023, EVANSVILLE, Wisconsin— The deadline to purchase or make changes to crop insurance for the 2023 growing season is March 15. To help local farmers fully understand their options, State Bank of Cross Plains (SBCP) and Monona Bank – combining in February to become Lake Ridge Bank – invite farmers to attend one of three Crop Insurance Info Meetings held in late January and early February:

Thursday, January 26
Begins @ 10 AM
Rex’s Innkeeper, 301 N. Century Ave.
Waunakee

Thursday, February 9
Begins @ 10 AM
Johnson Tractor, 1110 US 14
Janesville

Friday, February 10
Begins @ 10 AM
Koning event Center, N3051 WI 81
Monroe

This is a FREE public event. You do not need to be a customer of State Bank of Cross Plains or Monona Bank to participate. A complimentary lunch will be served after each presentation, and all attendees will be entered into a drawing to win a Grain Moisture Tester, valued at $200.

Space is limited, so anyone interested should visit sbcp.bank/crop-meetings or call 608-835-1248 to reserve a spot.

The meetings will be hosted by crop insurance specialists Jessica Sarbacker, Heather Golz, Rachel McDonald, Emily DeLong, and Lisa Runnels. Topics covered at each meeting include:

• FSA Updates: What is new in government programs?

• 2023 Crop Insurance and Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) Updates: Tips for evaluating your coverage as the cost to grow a crop continues to rise.

• Lake Ridge Bank tools for farmers, along with an overview of interest rates.

• What does the merger mean to you? As SBCP and Monona Bank become Lake Ridge Bank, learn about what changes, what stays the same, and what new benefits will be introduced.

In addition, each meeting will feature a local expert to discuss current ag industry topics: Yahara Pride Farms in Waunakee, Farmers on the Rock in Janesville, and Badger State Ethanol in Monroe.

“Like most business owners, farmers appreciate guidance on how to best tailor benefits to fit their unique needs,” says Sarbacker, who leads the bank’s crop insurance team. “The program options can be overwhelming, so we are here to answer questions, share insights, and help farmers determine the best path forward for their farm business.”

# # #

In February 2023, State Bank of Cross Plains and Monona Bank will merge to form Lake Ridge Bank, offering a full range of business and personal financial services, including business, real estate, agricultural, and consumer lending; crop insurance; wealth management; and financial advisory services. For more information, visit lakeridge.bank.

For additional information, please contact Mark Schellpfeffer at 608-223-5141.

Wisconsin Union: Music Virtuosos Geneva Lewis, Evren Ozel Will Perform Program Spanning Centuries and Continents Jan. 27 at Memorial Union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 18, 2022

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications Director
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

DOWNLOAD PHOTOS: https://www.genevalewisviolinist.com/copy-of-media-1.

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/geneva-lewis.

MUSIC VIRTUOSOS GENEVA LEWIS, EVREN OZEL WILL PERFORM PROGRAM SPANNING CENTURIES AND CONTINENTS JAN. 27 AT MEMORIAL UNION

MADISON – Pure, honest, remarkable and from the heart — these words have been used to describe the artistry of violinist Geneva Lewis. She will perform with pianist Evren Ozel on Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. CST at Shannon Hall in Memorial Union as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s Concert Series.

Patrons can purchase virtual and in-person tickets online, by phone at (608) 265-2787 or in person at the Memorial Union Box Office. Wisconsin Union members, guests under the age of 18, and University of Wisconsin–Madison students, staff and faculty are eligible for discounted tickets.

The program will feature the following compositions:

• Sonata for Violin and Piano, Op. 7 by Fazil Say
• Violin Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 96 by Ludwig van Beethoven
• Violin Sonata by Douglas Lilburn
• Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1, Sz. 75 by Béla Bartók

Lewis has become known in part for the incorporation of contemporary and lesser-known artists in her performances, both of which are reflected in the Jan. 27 program. For instance, while Lilburn is an influential composer and famous music figure in New Zealand, musicians rarely perform Lilburn’s music outside of New Zealand. And the program spans centuries of compositions, ranging from 1812 to 1997.

Audience members will hear her perform the program on a c. 1770 Zosimo Bergonzi violin on loan from the Guarneri Hall NFP and Darnton and Hersh Fine Violins.

This dynamic artist has captivated audiences since the age of 11 with a career that includes performing with ensembles around the world, such as the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

In an interview with the American Symphony Orchestra, Lewis said, “I just really want to make art that I believe in, and I want to connect with people and hopefully just share a lot of experiences through that music.”

Joining Lewis for this performance, Ozel began studying music at the age of 3, before most children even learn to read when his father discovered that the artist had perfect pitch. Hailing from the Midwest, this gifted, internationally renowned artist now performs with creativity and passion around the globe, earning praise for his smooth and engaging artistry and countless recognitions.

Ozel’s awards include scholarships from the Chopin Foundation of the United States and YoungArts Foundation, 1st prize at the Boston Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, and 2nd prize at the Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition.

Audience members will have the opportunity to experience his precise and passionate musical interpretations as he performs on the Wisconsin Union Theater’s historic Steinway Concert Grand Piano.

“The performance by Geneva Lewis and Evren Ozel promises to be nothing short of captivating with its bringing together of these two chamber music stars,” Wisconsin Union Theater Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said.

The Wisconsin Union Theater also invites the public to a free studio class featuring Geneva Lewis on Jan. 26 from 1-2:30 p.m. The team will provide additional details here.

Additional Wisconsin Union Theater 2022-23 season performances include PILOBOLUS Big Five-OH! on Feb. 1; Imani Winds on Feb. 5; Cécile McLorin Salvant on Feb. 7; Samara Joy on Feb. 16; Immanuel Wilkins on March 25; Anthony McGill with the UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra on April 4; and the Danish String Quartet on April 18.

The Wisconsin Union’s Wisconsin Union Theater co-presents its season with the UW–Madison student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Performing Arts Committee in a continuation of a decades-long performing arts collaboration and student leadership effort.

Patrons can click here to learn more about the Jan. 27 performance by Lewis and Ozel.

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About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 80 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an extensive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is committed to social justice and works to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive place for all who engage with the Theater’s programming, events, and activities. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee is part of the Wisconsin Union’s leadership development program for UW–Madison students and supports the Wisconsin Union Theater’s mission of serving students through the performing arts. By helping to program the Theater’s annual season of performing arts presentations, the students learn about program curation, relationship-building, marketing, communications, budgeting, and production. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/performing-arts.

Boardman Clark: Jennifer Mirus Elected as Chairperson of Executive Committee

Boardman Clark recently named Attorney Jennifer Mirus as Chairperson of the firm’s Executive Committee. The role, previously held by Attorney Richard Heinemann, is the firm’s foremost leadership position.

“It has been a privilege to practice law at Boardman Clark for more than 27 years and I look forward to this opportunity to help the Firm achieve its goals in serving its clients and the community,” Jennifer says. “I am excited and proud to be the first female Chair, and would like to thank Richard for his years of leadership and hard work in this role.”

Jennifer is also Co-Chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group and will continue to actively represent clients. In her legal practice, Jennifer represents employers in all aspects of employment relations, including wage and hour issues, discrimination, Family and Medical Leave, ADA, reductions in force, harassment, hiring, discipline and terminations. She is also a sought-out speaker on human resources issues.

“Jennifer is a natural leader and a true people person,” added Heinemann. “She brings the same thoughtful approach she applies in her practice to her role on the Executive Committee – she is an excellent choice to lead the firm moving forward.”

Boardman Clark’s Executive Committee is the governing extension of the Firm’s partnership. The Committee is responsible for maintaining the firm’s long-term vision as well as overseeing decisions related to day-to-day operations.

In additional to Jennifer’s transition to Chair, Doug Witte has been named to the Executive Committee. Doug is Co-Chair of the firm’s School Law Practice Group, is also a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group and has over 30 years of experience representing private and public sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Doug joins Sarah Zylstra, Jennifer Mirus, Pat Neuman and Richard Heinemann on the Executive Committee.

M3 Insurance Announces Strategic Partnership with The Employer Group

M3 Insurance (M3) announces the formation of a strategic partnership with The Employer Group (TEG), a human resources solutions company based in Verona, Wisconsin. In this partnership, TEG will function as a wholly-owned subsidiary of M3 and will continue to offer customized solutions to organizations of all sizes and industries, ranging from serving as a PEO (Professional Employer Organization) to providing full payroll services and a wide array of human resources administration and consulting.  

Effective January 1, 2023, Angie Heim, previous owner and president, will continue with TEG as a senior executive as part of the succession plan she created to ensure TEG continues to thrive into the future. Heim purchased TEG in 2007.

We’re thrilled to be able to operate independently while continuing to provide outstanding service to our clients. We couldn’t be more proud of the exceptional services, remarkable team, and stellar reputation we’ve built over the past 15 years.

— Angie Heim
Senior Executive | The Employer Group

Also effective January 1, 2023, Luke Anderson, current TEG vice president since 2019, will serve as president of TEG. In this role, Luke will oversee the management team, lead key initiatives, and work with M3 leadership to focus on TEG’s overall success.

Anderson’s role has evolved since he started with TEG in 2009, from payroll specialist to payroll manager, and most recently to vice president. His precise focus on quality payroll and HR services, along with his excellent client acumen and leadership skills will not only benefit TEG’s staff but also its clients and our community.

This partnership fits strategically with our desire to offer our clients a broad and extensive array of HR consulting support. M3 is committed to advising and supporting clients as they navigate complex and evolving topics, and we couldn’t be more excited to provide them such a high level of expertise and service through TEG.

— Mike Victorson
CEO | M3 Insurance

About The Employer Group

Since 1995, The Employer Group has provided expert human resources solutions to organizations of all sizes and across a number of industries. As The Human Resource Resource™, we specialize in all things payroll and HR-related, from providing direct deposits and preparing payroll tax forms to conducting HR assessments and creating employee handbooks. We’re also a registered PEO, which gives us the opportunity to provide a comprehensive level of service to our clients.

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About M3 Insurance

M3 is a top insurance broker and risk management firm in America. We’re leaders in the products we represent and the industries we serve. M3’s people are an extension of your team, providing world-class resources to help you manage risk, purchase insurance, and provide employee benefits. And our focus on community builds better places to live and work.