UScellular Donates $30,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Dane County

Grant Focuses on Providing Access to STEM Learning and Experiences

Madison, Wis. (August 2, 2022) – UScellular has announced a $30,000 investment in the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County to provide educational opportunities and experiences to local youth. The company has invested in the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County to support K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and academic enrichment programs.

The STEM learning and experience provided is designed to prepare students for the careers of tomorrow, and according to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth Outcomes survey, the youth at Clubs display far greater interest in pursuing STEM careers than their peers nationally (52% vs. 27%).

This year the funding will support the Club with field trips, staff training and STEM activity kits.

“We’ve heard from parents and students that they think STEM is good for their future careers but 48% of students and 41% of parents don’t know enough about the opportunities a STEM education would afford,[1]”  said Christine Paulsen, director of sales. “The Boys and Girls Club of Dane County provides this critical access so that we can build a future of bright and enthusiastic tech leaders.”

We are very happy to continue this work with UScellular in order to support STEM education at the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County,” said Michael Johnson, President & CEO, BGCDC. “We know that shaping the future of young people starts with providing them access to what’s possible and with UScellular’s commitment, we are opening doors for today’s youth.”

Last year, UScellular also donated 2,845 hotspots and services – a value of nearly $2.6 million – to 35 Boys & Girls Clubs as a part of the After School Access Project, a program that provides free mobile hotspots and service to nonprofits that support youth after the school day has ended.

Since 2009, UScellular has donated nearly $21.4 million along with countless experiences and technology items to nonprofit organizations across the country. For more information about the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, please go to https://newsroom.uscellular.com/community/.

About UScellular

UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier provides a strong, reliable network supported by the latest technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, visit newsroom.uscellular.com. Connect with UScellular on social media at facebook.com/uscellular, twitter.com/uscellular, instagram.com/uscellular, YouTube.com/uscellularcorp and linkedin.com/company/uscellular.

About The Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County is a local non-profit youth development organization serving thousands of youths in eleven locations, including eight school-based sites and three traditional Club sites. The Clubs fuel kids with the inspiration to dream and teach them the skills to achieve when they are most impressionable through quality programs in five core areas: Character & Leadership Development; Education & Career Development; Health & Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness & Recreation. See the impact we make in the life of each Club member here: www.bgcdc.org.

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For more information, contact:
JULIE EMBLING, public relations counsel
414-270-7187
jembling@laughlin.com

Carl Bernstein, Jamie Raskin Announced as Cap Times Idea Fest Speakers, Tickets Now on Sale

MADISON, Wis. –– A few months back the Cap Times announced that the sixth annual Cap
Times Idea Fest will once again be a hybrid of virtual and in-person events from Sept. 12-17
across Madison. This morning, Cap Times publisher Paul Fanlund announced speakers
including Carl Bernstein and U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, and session topics ranging from the
election to climate change.

Read more here

McAllen Properties: 2nd Annual Barks, Beats & Brews Fundraiser

Local Businesses plan 2^nd Annual Barks, Beats & Brews Fundraiser to benefit Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin on September 10, 2022

Madison, WI, July 28, 2022: Kessenich’s, Rusty Dog Coffee, Working Draft Beer Company, McAllen Properties, and AdMadison have joined forces once again this year to host Barks, Beats & Brews 2022 in the common area outside the Kessenich’s and Rusty Dog Coffee office building, at 3226 Progress Road, Madison, WI 53716., from 11 am – 4 pm.

This will be a fun Saturday afternoon with two live bands (Straight Skinny and Taylor Schereck), 4 Food Trucks (Freeman Brothers BBQ, Chocolatte Shoppe, Jason’s Jerk, and Tortillas Los Angeles), a Rusty Dog Coffee Stand, a Working Draft Beer Stand, and Underdog Pet Rescue will be on site with adoptable animals ready to meet and greet. There will be no same-day adoptions, but the process can be started at the event.

Event T’s will be given out to anyone making a donation of their choice to Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin at the event while they last! In addition, Rusty Dog and Working Draft Beer will donate a portion of their sales from the event directly to Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin.

It’s a great family event with plenty of free parking, tents, tables, and chairs and lots of room to enjoy the music, food, and other treat.

Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin is a 501©3 all-breed companion animal rescue based out of Dane County, WI. They offer veterinary services at their Fair Oaks Avenue building 4 days a week by appointment. Underdog is currently raising funds to secure a larger building with the intent to help even more local homeless companion pets.

A Facebook Event Page has been set up: https://www.facebook.com/events/580748836796597

www.kessenichs.com, www.rustydogcoffee.com, www.workingdraftbeer.com, www.mcallenproperties.com, www.admadison.com

WPS Health Solutions President and CEO Mike Hamerlik to retire in 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

WPS Health Solutions President and CEO Mike Hamerlik to retire in 2023

MADISON, Wis.—Aug. 1, 2022—WPS Health Solutions announces the planned retirement of its President and CEO, Mike Hamerlik. The WPS Board of Directors will identify WPS’ next president and CEO following an established succession and transition plan. A board-appointed transition committee is ready to begin the process.

“I’ve long said that my tenure at WPS would be a maximum of 10 years given the stage of my career. I intend to retire by this time next year,” Hamerlik said. “Change is good for organizations and provides new leaders opportunities.”

The WPS Board has ample time to identify a successor and complete a seamless transition over the next 12 months.

“Mike has been an exceptional leader at WPS for the past 10 years,” WPS Board Chair Kristine Euclide said. “Now, our job is to identify his successor and allow him time to lead the transition, so WPS can continue its tradition of providing exceptional customer care within a nationally recognized top workplace.”

Hamerlik has been at the helm of WPS since 2012. He serves on the boards of Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation; WPS Health Plan, Inc.; The EPIC Life Insurance Company; and the WPS Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Mike is also a board member of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and is the Immediate Past Chair of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he serves on the boards of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the UW-Madison La Follette School Board of Visitors, and the University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation. He is a member and past president of the Alliance of Health Insurers, U.A., Wisconsin, a state health insurance industry and consumer group. He is also a member of the Chi-Matic, Inc. Advisory Board. Mike previously served on the board of United Way of Dane County.

During Mike’s tenure, WPS Health Solutions received numerous awards, including being named a Top Workplace by the Wisconsin State Journal, making the Achievers’ 50 Most Engaged Workplaces list and its Elite 8 in the category of Culture Alignment, and winning Top Workplaces’ Culture Excellence Awards for Work-Life Flexibility and Remote Work.

In 2021, he joined approximately 2,000 CEOs across the nation to pledge action on supporting a more inclusive workplace for employees, communities, and society at large. He proactively champions pledge commitments by co-chairing the WPS Health Solutions Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Executive Council.

Prior to joining WPS, Mike was President and CEO of Noridian Administrative Services. He previously was Executive Vice President of Government and Corporate Operations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, where he began as Associate General Counsel. Prior to working at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, he practiced law with Lewis and Roca in Phoenix, Ariz. He also served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives for six years.

Mike graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in marketing. He earned his law degree at the University of North Dakota School of Law. His hobbies include classical music, aviation, collecting antiques, and classic car restoration, which he intends to enjoy a lot more of during his retirement.

About WPS Health Solutions^®

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 2,700 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

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Equity Strategic Action Plan on Student Leadership and Involvement Launches at University of Wisconsin–Madison

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2022

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

EQUITY STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN ON STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT LAUNCHES AT UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN–MADISON

MADISON – An equity action plan more than a year in the making, called the Equity Strategic Action Plan (ESAP), will kick off soon with campus stakeholders’ feedback driving the actionable ways the University of Wisconsin–Madison Center for Leadership & Involvement (CfLI) will work to further improve policies, practices and support of marginalized campus community members.

CfLI engaged in an in-depth organizational review of student leadership and student organization programs, resources, and services through a social justice lens in partnership with the diversity, inclusion and equity firm CultureBrokers. The teams conducted the review with multiple goals in mind, including further improving the accessibility of CfLI’s leadership and student organization resources and ensuring they are meeting the needs of marginalized communities.

The review included surveying more than 300 UW–Madison students, staff, faculty, and alumni as well as holding several focus groups. 

CfLI and CultureBrokers used the information to identify areas for improvement and to create CfLI’s inaugural ESAP.

Throughout the next year, the CfLI team will implement ESAP and share notable progress as it works toward achieving the plan’s goals, such as identifying additional programs, services and outreach that are needed for diverse students, faculty and staff.  

“We appreciate the insightful feedback provided by our campus community, and we are committed to meeting the needs of all students – especially those most marginalized,” CfLI Director Mark Kueppers said. “The Center for Leadership & Involvement team recognizes the critical need to address racism and dismantle systems of oppression. The Equity Strategic Action Plan serves as a key resource in this effort.”

CfLI helps more than 16,000 UW–Madison students in connecting with the far-ranging leadership and involvement opportunities on campus. UW–Madison’s current leadership opportunities include both in and out-of-the-classroom experiences, such as registered student organizations, Willis L. Jones Leadership Center experiential learning, the Leadership Certificate Program, Adventure Learning Programs (ALPs) adventure-based workshops, and the Student Leadership Program (SLP). Additionally, CfLI is responsible for registering and advising more than 900 student organizations each year.

Those with questions about the ESAP or campus leadership and involvement opportunities can contact the CfLI team at cfli@studentlife.wisc.edu. 

Those interested in learning more about this effort and reading ESAP can visit cfli.wisc.edu/esap.

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About the Center for Leadership and Involvement

The Center for Leadership & Involvement (CfLI) assists University of Wisconsin–Madison students in intentionally connecting with the far-ranging leadership opportunities throughout campus, including student organizations. The Center supports students in making meaning of their leadership experiences and in developing leadership capacity and the ability to affect positive change. Learn more about CfLI at cfli.wisc.edu. 

To read this release online, visit union.wisc.edu/about/news/esap-2022.