Acton Madison Children’s Business Fair

Could a ten-year-old create the next Uber? Find out at the Acton Madison Children’s Business Fair, showcasing children’s entrepreneurial genius!

On Saturday, March 18 from 9 am – 12 pm, the 1st annual Acton Madison Children’s Business Fair will host 24 young entrepreneurs ages 6-12 at 4100 Nakoma Rd, Madison, WI 53711. This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Children from all over the greater Madison area will have the opportunity to create a product or service, develop a brand, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at this one-day marketplace. Each young entrepreneur is responsible for the setup, sales, and interaction with customers.

This event is sponsored by Acton Academy Madison West, Acton Academy, Next Great Adventure, local businesses within Madison, and the generous support of our donors and volunteers, who all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.

“Today’s youth are tomorrow’s business innovators and leaders. The Children’s Business Fair gives students the opportunity to spread their entrepreneurial wings and get a head start on promising business careers,” said Jeff Sandefer, founder of the Acton School of Business, one of the sponsors of the fair.

Cash prizes will be awarded in each of the three age groups (6-7, 8-10, and 11-12) for “Most Business Potential,” “Most Creative Idea,” and “Most Impressive Presentation.”

Every important step in the business process is meant to be tackled by the budding entrepreneurs themselves.

“We are thrilled to host the Children’s Business Fair and bring this kind of community-wide event to Madison,” said Marisa Palmer, Co-Founder of Acton Academy Madison West, a new K-5 school situated in the Nakoma neighborhood. “The children who participate show real courage in taking this on, and being willing to bring their ideas to life. We celebrate that willingness to take a risk and make things happen in life.”

Both adult sponsors and entrepreneurs are available for interviews on camera or off. For more information, please contact Marisa Palmer, Co-Founder at Acton Academy Madison West at marisa@actonmadison.com or Ellie Heiking, Director of Engagement at Acton Academy Madison West at ellie@actonmadison.com.

ArtLitLab: 2023 Summer Youth Arts Registration Opens February 1

Once again, we’re planning an exciting schedule of full-day and half-day camps. Spaces are limited, so early registration is encouraged.

ArtLitLab offers 10 weeks of summer arts for youth ages 7-10 and 11-14 taught by professional artists. Explore two new themes each week, such as printmaking, drawing, sculpture, Indigenous arts, photography, fiber arts, writing, letterpress, and more.

Summer youth arts is taught by professional artists. Stay tuned for the 2023 teacher roster!

Thanks to a partnership with Goodman Community Center, a snack and lunch (for all youth staying during lunchtime) will be provided every day!

Camp Tuition Assistance:

ALL seeks to make summer arts enrichment accessible to all youth. Please contact Education & Outreach Director Ceara Yahn at education@artlitlab.org to learn more about tuition assistance options prior to registering.

Schedule:

Summer Arts Camp will be held June 12 – August 18, 2023 at Arts + Literature Laboratory. Morning session will begin at 9:00am and end at 12:00pm. Youth can arrive no earlier than 8:40am and must be picked up promptly at 12:00pm unless the Lunchtime option is added.

During Lunchtime from 12:00-1:00pm, youth can enjoy lunch provided by the Goodman Commnity Center or a packed lunch from home, and teachers will lead campers on walks to nearby parks and playgrounds, or youth can relax and read, play games, or continue creative activities. If you register for a full day of camp, you must also register for Lunchtime Activities.

Afternoon session will begin at 1:00pm and end at 4:00pm. Youth should arrive at 1:00pm and must be picked up promptly at 4:00pm. Youth attending afternoon sessions are also wecome to add on Lunchtime for earlier arrival.

Camp participants will explore two different artforms each week – morning session 9:00am-12:00pm, and afternoon session 1:00pm-4:00pm. There may be some special camps that are only offered all day.

Campers are encouraged to bring water bottles clearly labled with their names each day. You may send your own snacks, or a snack provided by Goodman Community Center will be available. If your child has food allergies, please be sure to include this information in the registration form.

Registration Procedure & Policies:

Registration for individual weeks can be completed through our online registration platform on this page under Camps & Events.

TIP: Filter for the desired age group to simplify the options displayed!

Contact: Please email education@artlitlab.org or call 608-556-7415 if you have questions or need assistance with registration.

M3 Insurance Adds Seven New Shareholders

M3 Insurance recently announced seven new company shareholders: Keith Berry, Senior Retirement Plan Consultant; Jay Brown, Senior Account Executive; Lacey Endres, Vice President of Property & Casualty Operations; Matt Mekemson, Senior Account Executive & Managing Director; Rebecca Menefee, Vice President of M3 Elevate; Jesse Roberts, Senior Business Development Executive; and Kelsey Stacks, Senior Account Executive.

Berry provides guidance around employer-sponsored financial plan designs, drawing on his deep understanding of retirement plans, fiduciary obligations, and the regulatory environments. He joined M3 Financial in 2013.

Brown advises clients on plan design and risk management solutions with a focus on property & casualty for the construction & real estate industry. He joined M3 in 2022 with the Trottier Insurance Group acquisition.

Endres partners with executive leadership to set the strategy for the agency’s property & casualty operations. Her leadership focus includes M3’s property & casualty client services, brokerage, surety, and risk management teams. She joined M3 in 2007.

Mekemson specializes in property and casualty insurance with a focus on construction and real estate clients. He also acts as managing director of M3’s Kenosha office, overseeing overall office functions, facilitating cross-division growth strategies, and serving as a primary conduit from the Kenosha office to senior leadership. He joined M3 in 2022 with the Trottier Insurance Group acquisition.

Menefee provides sales leadership and employee development support, executing on various strategies to grow and retain M3’s client base within the M3 Elevate division. She joined M3 in 2016.

Roberts educates the business community about M3 services, including insurance and risk management, employee benefits and retirement planning. He joined M3 in 2016.

Stacks consults with and advises clients about the design, implementation, and management of their benefit programs. She joined M3 in 2016 as part of the M3YOU program.

Each of M3’s 57 shareholder partners is a current employee who is actively involved in our business and must sell his or her shares prior to retirement. This ownership structure ensures engagement while aligning with M3’s commitment to remain privately held.

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About M3

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.

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.”

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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.