Category: Member News
Learn who’s growing, changing, moving and more! Stay on top of what’s new with your neighboring businesses. We share news releases and announcements from your peers in the Madison area. Want to toot your own horn? Use our Submit Member News form to share your own stories.
Photo by Richard Hurd
Photo by Richard Hurd
Agrace Offers In-Person and Virtual Grief Group Options in March
In March, Agrace is offering professionally led, in-person and virtual (accessible with a tablet, computer or smartphone) grief support groups.
Family Grief Support Program is for families with children aged 5 to 18 who are grieving the death of a primary caregiver or child. It meets in-person every other Tuesday, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Agrace Grief Support Center. For dates and to register, call (608) 327-7135.
Journey Through Grief is a six-week grief support group series for adults. It meets Tuesdays, March 22 to April 26, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Agrace Grief Support Center.
Bridges is for adults grieving the death of any loved one. Meetings are held every other Wednesday.
- Virtual meetings are March 2, 16 and 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- In-person meetings are March 9 and 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Agrace Grief Support Center.
Spouse/Partner Loss Support is a six-week grief support group series for adults whose spouse or partner has died. It meets online Mondays, March 15 to April 19, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
There is no fee for these programs if a participant’s family member was in hospice care in the past 12 months; fees for others can be lowered or waived, if needed. Pre-registration is required; call (608) 327-7118 with questions or to register.
Photo by Richard Hurd
Capitol Bank Announces Promotions of Aybazova, Bauer
Madison, WI: Ken Thompson, President and CEO of Capitol Bank, is pleased to announce the following promotions:
Dina Aybazova has been promoted to Office Coordinator. Dina joined Capitol Bank over two years ago. In that time, she has grown in her role by taking on additional responsibilities with the day-to-day coordination of the Bank’s internal needs. Dina’s hobbies include hiking, anything outdoorsy, trying new food and coffee, traveling with family and friends, meeting new people, exploring new cultures, good movies, listening/singing to 60s music and Bon Jovi. Congratulations, Dina!

Evan Bauer has been promoted to Assistant Branch Manager – Verona. Evan has been with Capitol Bank for over a year. In his time here, he has taken on additional responsibilities by tracking the Bank’s referral program and he continues to pursue banking courses to mold his skillset into what best serves our customers. In Evan’s free time, he enjoys basketball, football, soccer, weightlifting and has taken various mission trips with his church to help rebuild areas after disasters. Congratulations, Evan!

About Capitol Bank: Capitol Bank, locally owned and operated since 1995, is committed to serving the communities in which we live, work and do business. We are proud of the partnerships we have established with organizations, businesses and individuals in the Dane County area. Our philosophy of community support is demonstrated at the corporate level, as well as in the time and energy our employees devote to our community each year. Capitol Bank is Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.
Natalie Gregerson
AVP / Marketing
Capitol Bank
710 N. High Point Road
Madison, Wisconsin 53717
608.836.1616
Photo by Richard Hurd
StartingBlock Madison announces 4th Social Impact Cohort
For Immediate Release
February 2, 2022
Contact: Nora Roughen-Schmidt, Executive Director
Email: nora@startingblockmadison.org
Press contact: Mary Cait McManamon, Communications Manager
Email: marycait@startingblockmadison.org
Company: StartingBlock Madison, Inc
Phone: 608.467.4949
Web: https://www.startingblockmadison.org/programs
StartingBlock Madison announces 4th Social Impact Cohort
Are you a small company looking to make a big impact? Then StartingBlock Madison’s Social Impact Cohort is for you.
Social entrepreneurs will benefit from mentoring, legal assistance and a curriculum designed to establish and grow a business.
In partnership with Associated Bank and the American Family Institute, StartingBlock Madison opened applications for its fourth Social Impact Cohort on February 2nd.
StartingBlock is looking for the best and brightest social entrepreneurs to join the 2022 Social Impact Cohort. These changemakers will solve significant social, healthcare and environmental challenges that our communities are facing every day. Social Impact Cohort participants will demonstrate how social entrepreneurship can serve as a model for creating a sustainable impact in Wisconsin.
“I’ve had the good fortune of being a part of StartingBlock Madison’s Social Impact Cohort since the beginning, both participating in the program’s inaugural year as a cohort member representing Sustain Dane and serving as a mentor in the two following years,” says Karen Crossley.
“The content knowledge, coaching and interaction with fellow cohort members proved invaluable when Sustain Dane plunged into a new era of its organizational life. And then serving as a mentor and cheerleader, working closely with two extraordinary, talented, visionary women entrepreneurs, was highly rewarding and inspiring – proving to be a meaningful reciprocal learning experience for us all.” continues Crossley.
Other previous participants include Bravebird, whose vision is to develop and produce impactful, meaningful, and memorable stories with diverse creatives from the top-bottom and bottom-up. NovoMoto is also an alumnus of the Social Impact Cohort. NovoMoto provides reliable solar-powered electricity to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Over the course of the 9-month program, cohort members will receive…
- Free membership to StartingBlock Madison for nine months (March to December) with a dedicated workspace in StartingBlock’s Social Impact Cohort Hub
- Free programming focused on building strong, viable social impact enterprises Topics include: design thinking, lean startup, sales and marketing, measuring social impact, telling your story, finding investors, and more
- 1:1 mentorship by social entrepreneur experts
- 1:1 financial mentorship provided by Associated Bank
- Legal assistance provided by UW Law & Entrepreneur Clinic
- Access to all of StartingBlock’s resources, amenities and support services
The deadline to apply for this year’s cohort is February 27th, 2022. Learn more about eligibility criteria and apply at https://www.startingblockmadison.org/programs/social_impact_cohort/.
About StartingBlock Madison
StartingBlock Madison’s 50,000 square-foot entrepreneurial hub occupies the second, third, and fourth floors of the American Family Spark Building, providing a collaborative community for Madison area startups and entrepreneurs. StartingBlock’s mission is to put Madison on the national map for entrepreneurship and innovation by creating the intersections that cultivate entrepreneurs, accelerate growth and drive innovation. StartingBlock offers low-cost, flexible leases, programming, education, mentorship, benefits and access to a network of entrepreneurs. Learn more at www.startingblockmadison.org.
Photo by Richard Hurd
Girls on the Run Seeks Volunteer Coaches
Girls on the Run of South Central Wisconsin is seeking coaches in a number of communities to ensure that kids will have an opportunity to participate in their after-school empowerment program this season. Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that inspires girls in 3rd through 8th grade to be joyful, healthy and confident. The eight-week program teaches critical life skills, encourages personal development, and fosters team building and community service. Volunteer coaches utilize a psychology-based curriculum to engage small teams of girls in fun, interactive lessons. This spring, Girls on the Run will be offered at nearly 70 sites throughout the 8-county South Central Wisconsin territory. Coaches are still needed to support teams at many locations throughout Madison in addition to Middleton, Oregon, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona and Waunakee.
Volunteer coaches facilitate lessons to small teams of girls during practices held twice weekly after-school for 90 minutes. The program culminates with the girls creating and executing a community impact project and completing a celebratory 5K (3.1 mile) run. This season, practices will begin during the week of April 11th and the Girls on the Run 5K will be held on Saturday, June 4th in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Coaches can be of any gender identity and they can be parents, school staff, or community members. Coaches do not need to be athletes or “runners” – they just need to be 18 and have a passion for motivating and empowering girls to realize their limitless potential. Applicants must complete a background check and on-line and in-person training sessions. Coach registration is open now. For more information or to sign-up to coach visit www.girlsontherunscwi.org/coach.