Host a Fundraiser Night at Portillo’s

When you host a fundraiser night at Portillo’s, you will receive 20% of the fundraiser sales back to your organization. All you have to do is promote it!

If you are interested, please apply online at Donations & Fundraisers | Portillo’s (portillos.com) to set one up at our new West Madison location!

Leadership Greater Madison accepting applications for 2022 program

Great civic leadership starts with Leadership Greater Madison. Leaders are change makers and motivators. They get involved and empower others to get involved. They make a difference.

Leadership Greater Madison equips future leaders with transformative and innovative knowledge and skills. Participants benefit from exploring vital community issues and leadership skills; connecting with local experts and fellow class members; and engaging in experiential learning.

Leadership Greater Madison members come from diverse backgrounds and experiences and share a passion for community service. During monthly sessions held over a 10-month program year, participants are exposed to new ways of viewing the community and analyzing issues, develop significant connections with local leaders and engage in experiential learning opportunities as they discover their individual capacities and plot their personal leadership pathways

In its nearly 30 years. Leadership Greater Madison has helped approximately 750 community leaders discover how they can make a difference.

Be a part of the next generation of community leaders. Apply to Leadership Greater Madison today. The online application form can be found at www.leadershipgreatermadison.org.

Julie Redders Named Vice President of Marketing at M3 Insurance

Julie Redders has been named Vice President of Marketing at M3 Insurance, effective January 10, 2022. In this role, she is responsible for developing, directing, and overseeing M3’s marketing, brand, and public relations strategies.

Redders joined M3 in 2011 as a marketing & communications manager and advanced to director of marketing in 2014. Throughout her time with M3, she has worked to enhance the M3 brand, creating alignment and a strong partnership with sales to strengthen M3’s image and reputation in the marketplace. Together with agency leadership and sales teams, Redders continues to find creative and innovative ways to showcase M3’s brand, people and specialization, and ensures the agency is well-positioned across the regions and markets we serve.

Redders is passionate about her service to our industry and community. She is actively engaged in CIAB’s Marketing & Communications Group as well as our national C2 Solutions network. And her involvement with the National W Club, Girls on the Run Scholarship Committee, and as a board member of the Middleton High School Cardinal Booster Club exemplifies M3’s commitment to making the communities in which we live and work stronger. 

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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.

KW2 Receives National Women’s Business Enterprise Certification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2022

Contact: Molly Vidal
(608) 334-0406
mvidal@kw2madison.com

KW2 Receives National Women’s Business Enterprise Certification
Certification recognizes CEO Jennifer Savino’s leadership and KW2’s continued operational excellence

MADISON, Wis.—KW2, one of Wisconsin’s longest-running full-service strategic marketing and communications agencies, announced today the company is now certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)—the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. The national recognition is in addition to the certification KW2 received from the State of Wisconsin as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise in 2021.

“We are extremely honored to be certified both nationally and by the State of Wisconsin as a WBE,” said Jennifer Savino, KW2’s CEO and primary owner.

WBENC-Certified WBEs must go through a rigorous process to validate the business is owned, managed, and controlled by a woman or women. The certification standard is accepted by more than 1,000 corporations representing America’s most prestigious brands, in addition to many states, cities, and government entities. More information about WBENC and the in-depth certification process is available HERE.

“KW2 is rooted in the belief that every individual, regardless of life stage or circumstance, deserves to live a healthy and vibrant life,” said Savino. “We are excited at the partnership opportunities this national WBE certification brings to expand this important work.”

With women-owned businesses making up only 19.9% of firms that employed people in the United States in 2018 (according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2021), the national and Wisconsin WBE certifications enable businesses, government agencies, and organizations seeking or needing to diversify their partners for strategic marketing and communications efforts to utilize KW2 to fulfill those requirements.

BACKGROUND:
KW2 is a 35-year-old full-service digital and marketing agency with a long history of success in public health, higher education, and business services. We are a Wisconsin and nationally-certified WBE company that tackles some of society’s most challenging issues for leading organizations like The Wisconsin Departments of Health Services, Children and Families, and Natural Resources, as well as The University of Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Technical College System, and First Choice Dental. With a mission of empowering and improving lives, we believe our people grow in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where their valued insights and experiences help us build authentic relationships. Learn more about KW2’s values, results, services, and clients at kw2madison.com.

StartingBlock Madison Enhances Member Benefits with Health Insurance Offering – Partnership with M3 Insurance and Quartz

January 19, 2022

Communications Manager: Mary Cait McManamon
Executive Director: Nora Roughen-Schmidt
StartingBlock Madison, Inc
Email: nora@startingblockmadison.org
marycait@startingblockmadison.org
Phone: 608.606.6231 or 701.630.4865

For Immediate Release
Madison, WI  

StartingBlock Madison Enhances Member Benefits with Health Insurance Offering – Partnership with M3 Insurance and Quartz

StartingBlock Madison, a coworking space and entrepreneurial hub in downtown Madison, is enhancing member benefits by offering Health Insurance through a new pilot project and partnership with M3 Insurance and Quartz. Entrepreneurs who operate their startups and social impact nonprofits out of StartingBlock now get to add health insurance plans to the list of membership perks and amenities at 821 E Washington Ave. in Madison.  

For entrepreneurs and small businesses, the second most costly expense after payroll is offering an Employee Benefits program.  To attract and retain talented staff, startups need to be able to offer Employee Benefits. However, the cost associated with offering benefits is often out-of-reach for start-ups and the traditional “one size fits all” benefits package may not necessarily satisfy the needs of entrepreneurs, startups, and the gig economy. The defined contribution benefits program will be available to all members at StartingBlock, where memberships begin at just $150/month for 24×7 access.

“Access to health care should not be a barrier to entry for people wanting to start businesses and especially not for people who want to work for startups,” says StartingBlock Executive Director, Nora Roughen-Schmidt. “By partnering with Quartz and M3 Insurance, we are offering affordable healthcare to StartingBlock Madison members and their employees, making entrepreneurship as a whole more accessible.”

The addition of health insurance completes a package for members that includes vision, dental, life insurance, and telehealth services with 24×7 mental health support. The benefits are offered in a cafeteria-style format, meaning members can pick and choose what they would like to participate in based on entity size and employee needs. 

Quartz offers an innovative approach to health insurance products and wellness programs designed to improve the health and well-being of people in the communities they serve.

“This partnership allows us to bring accessible, high-quality health care to more of our neighbors in Wisconsin,” said Quartz Vice President of Product Innovation, Christina Ott. “Bringing plans to StartingBlock gives local entrepreneurs more choices to meet their needs and budgets.”

“We are excited to partner with Quartz in an effort to make health insurance more accessible for StartingBlock Madison members.  It’s important that entrepreneurs have access to resources such as affordable health insurance, which can help them to attract and retain talent.  Our team is ready to guide members through the insurance process.” Rebecca Menefee, Vice President of M3 Elevate, M3 Insurance

“Entrepreneurs face so many challenges when trying to scale or launch a business. It can be even harder when you are inundated with the challenges we face in everyday life. StartingBlock Madison continues to provide resources for all entrepreneurs to succeed and that will allow more people to chase their dreams. This is another example of just that!” Max Fergus, CEO LUM

Heather Wentler, StartingBlock’s Entrepreneur in Residence, adds “Being able to afford high-quality benefits as an entrepreneur is a challenge; and the same goes for small business and early-stage venture owners who are trying to support their staffing benefit options to be able to retain talent. The fact that all membership types have this option too, and not only the companies who are using physical office spaces within StartingBlock, shows that StartingBlock supports entrepreneurs at every level of business development and believes in their growth and success.” 

StartingBlock members will have the ability to sign up for benefits starting January 2022 and new members will be able to access benefits of membership with applications being processed on a rolling basis. With this partnership, StartingBlock members will have access to office hours with M3 and Quartz along with resources to make the process accessible and straightforward.

As we continue to navigate a global pandemic, the need for affordable and accessible health care is essential for both physical and mental well-being. According to a McKinsey and Company study, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 42 percent of employees globally have reported a decline in mental health. Symptoms of burnout are increasing among employees and leaders alike, according to press reports. These kinds of effects can be detrimental to small teams and startups, making access to telehealth services all the more necessary. 

“If we want to make the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Madison and Dane County truly accessible for all people interested in entrepreneurship, we have to start totally supporting entrepreneurial needs–not just talking about supporting them– and that includes providing healthcare options,” says Roughen-Schmidt.

To learn more about StartingBlock Madison and their new partnership with Quartz and M3, visit www.startingblockmadison.org.

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. 

About Quartz:

Quartz Health Solutions, Inc. (Quartz) is jointly owned by UW Health, Gundersen Health System, and UnityPoint Health. The company manages four nationally recognized, provider-sponsored health insurance plans: Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation, Quartz Health Plan Corporation, Quartz Health Plan MN Corporation, and Quartz Health Insurance Corporation. As a third-party administrator, Quartz also services self-funded health plans. Through an extensive provider network, Quartz focuses on local, community-based health care and services for more than 350,000 customers who live in southern and western Wisconsin, parts of Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. Quartz maintains offices in Madison, Sauk City, and Onalaska, Wisconsin. Quartz Health Solutions, Inc., Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation, Quartz Health Plan Corporation, Quartz Health Plan MN Corporation, and Quartz Health Insurance Corporation are separate legal entities. For more information, visit QuartzBenefits.com.

About M3:

M3 is the largest insurance broker and risk management firm in the state of Wisconsin. As a top 50 broker in America, they are leaders in the products they represent and the industries they 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. Their focus is on building better communities to live and work.