Dane Buy Local’s Holiday Shopping Season Kick-Off

Contact: Colin Murray, Executive Director, Dane Buy Local
(608) 729-7342/office • (608) 712-3440/cell • colin@danebuylocal.com • danebuylocal.com

Dane Buy Local’s Holiday Shopping Season Kick-Off
228 East Main St., Downtown Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Monday, November 21 at 11:30 a.m.

Madison, WI – Dane Buy Local Executive Director Colin Murray, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, and Bank of Sun Prairie Senior Vice President Retail John Loeffler join other local business leaders to commemorate Dane Buy Local’s 13th Shop Indie Local campaign. The event highlights Dane Buy Local’s 600 members and the importance of supporting local businesses throughout the holiday season.

“Bank of Sun Prairie is proud to be a presenting sponsor for Shop Indie Local for the third year,” says Chief Retail Officer John Loeffler. “We encourage you to support local, independent businesses. They’re the lifeblood of our communities. They support our local events, nonprofits, school fundraisers and provide services vital to our everyday life.” Loeffler continues, “As Bank of Sun Prairie, a locally owned, independent community bank celebrates our 125^th anniversary, we are thrilled to do our part is supporting this initiative at such an important time of year.”

“Our small businesses are unique and help define Dane County’s culture,” said County Executive Joe Parisi. “By participating in Small Business Saturday and Shop Indie Local, Dane County residents do their part to keep our community vibrant and local economy healthy through the holiday season and beyond.”

Small Business Saturday focuses on local business. Has Small Business Saturday made a difference?

  U.S. shoppers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday reported spending a record high total of an estimated $23.3 billion, up from $19.8 in 2020.

  66% reported that the day makes them want to Shop Small all year long.

  Online shopping at a small business on Small Business Saturday was up slightly, with 58% of shoppers reporting that they made a purchase online, compared to 56% in 2020 and 43% in 2019.

  More shoppers were eager to support independent restaurants with 54% reporting they dined or ordered takeout from a small restaurant, bar, or café, up from 48% in 2020.

  70% of respondents reported Small Business Saturday makes them want to encourage others to shop at small, independently owned retailers.

“Small Business Saturday is the perfect time to look for holiday gifts for loved ones or yourself while supporting local businesses,” says Colin Murray, Executive Director for Dane Buy Local. “When you spend your dollars at locally owned retail businesses rather than a chain store, more money returns to the local economy.”

According to Civic Economics, when you spend a dollar at an independent business, approximately 47 cents return to the local economy. When spent at a chain store, only 14 cents return. Spent at an online giant, only a few pennies return. The 47 cents also recirculate through the local economy, generating a ripple effect that strengthens jobs, charitable contributions, and community prosperity.

Shop Indie Local activites go through December, including The Passport Program (November 1-December 18), Plaid Friday (November 25), Small Business Saturday (November 26), Artist Sunday (November 27), Local Cyber Monday (November 28), and Giving Tuesday (November 29), Shopping Local (all year long).

For more information, contact Colin Murray at colin@danebuylocal.com or (608) 712-3440, or visit danebuylocal.com.

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Total Awards & Promotions: The Nationwide Trophy Recycling Program is looking for volunteers

Total Awards & Promotions in Madison, Wisconsin has been recycling trophies for over 30 years. The program went nationwide in 2007 where it has been giving FREE rebuilt trophies to 501(c)(3) nonprofits across the country.

During Covid, when people were at home cleaning their attics and basements, the trophies came in by the thousands, filling up all the extra space they had. They needed to make it into a nonprofit and move it into a space where volunteers could come in and recycle.

The new space for the non-profit is at 6670 Odana Rd. in Market Square. And they are in great need of volunteers to help open the boxes, recycle the parts and make new trophies to donate back to non profits.

If you know of anyone in your organization that is interested in Paying it Forward to nonprofits around the country by volunteering to recycle, please contact Janet at Total Awards & Promotions 608-833-1716 or totalawards@gmail.com.

Support Sustain Dane’s Year-End Giving Campaign

Support Sustain Dane through our 2022 Year-End Giving Campaign. With your help, we are making a powerful impact in the sustainability and climate movement.

Your support makes this possible.  Sustain Dane’s work amplifies sustainable actions in the workplace, at home, in schools and throughout the community. Please consider donating to Sustain Dane today to accelerate equity and sustainable actions for community well-being.  

Donate here

Telisa Yancy named president of American Family Group

Yancy, president of American Family Direct, begins the new position on Jan. 1, 2023

Telisa Yancy, president of American Family Insurance Direct, has been named president of the American Family Insurance Group of companies. Yancy’s appointment reflects the organization’s ongoing focus on growth, innovation and customer preference.

This position was previously held by CEO and President Bill Westrate who succeeded Jack Salzwedel upon Salzwedel’s retirement at the end of 2021. Naming Yancy to this position is a return a structure the company has had before. Westrate served as president beginning in 2017, before moving into the CEO role in 2022.

Yancy joined the organization as a marketing director in 2009, leading a major rebranding effort for American Family Insurance and subsequently becoming Marketing Vice President and then Chief Marketing Officer. In 2019, Yancy was named Chief Operating Officer, and in 2021, she became president of the organization’s direct sales channels, which include insurance companies CONNECT, Homesite and The General.

Yancy has been recognized for her leadership skills, marketing expertise and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. These honors include a Silver EFFIE, Ebony Magazine Power 100, AdAge Woman to Watch, GlobalMindeED Inclusive Leader Award and multiple inclusions in Savoy Magazine’s most influential Black Executives. She serves on the boards of directors for National Public Radio and Deluxe Corp. Yancy is a graduate of the University of Illinois and earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business.

Yancy brings her vast experience to this new role, in which she will oversee the group’s direct and agency business operations. In addition to the direct sales companies, American Family Group includes American Family Insurance and Main Street America Insurance which sell and service products through exclusive and independent agency owners, respectively.

“Telisa’s strong focus on evolving customer preferences, combined with her broad and deep organizational experience, position her to lead operations across the diverse American Family Insurance Group,” said Westrate. “She’s built strong relationships with our agency owners and distribution partners, and has clearly demonstrated the flexibility, resilience and innovative thinking needed to lead during an ever-changing business and economic landscape.”

Yancy’s new role will begin Jan. 1, 2023. Westrate will remain CEO.

About the American Family Insurance group
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family Insurance has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investment and creative partnerships to address societal challenges. We act on our belief in diversity and inclusion by constantly evolving to meet customer needs and preferences. American Family Insurance group is the nation’s 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 251 on the Fortune 500 list. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite and Main Street America Insurance. Across these companies the group has more than 13,000 employees nationwide.

WPS Health Solutions: Navy Petty Officer First Class Matthew Kuzicki saluted for Operation Fan Mail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

Navy Petty Officer First Class Matthew Kuzicki saluted for Operation Fan Mail
Program is sponsored by WPS Health Solutions and the Green Bay Packers

MADISON, Wis.—Nov. 15, 2022—The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Solutions paid special tribute this week to Navy Petty Officer First Class Matthew Kuzicki and his family in conjunction with the Nov. 13 game against the Dallas Cowboys. Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game, marks its 16th season in 2022.

Kuzicki grew up in Sobieski, Wis., about 20 miles from Lambeau Field. The green-and-gold gene has been passed down for generations in his family. He grew up a Packers fan, with early cherished memories of his family gathering at his Grandpa Ed’s house to watch the games together. When the Packers went to Super Bowl XXXI in 1997, Kuzicki collected every newspaper clipping possible and got a Packers Super Bowl Champion hat, which he still has all these years later.

Kuzicki joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 in 2005, making 2023 his 18th year of service to the country. During his service, he has completed five tours that have taken him to several countries including Cameroon, Ukraine, Germany, Spain, Sicily, Guam, and more. He will begin his sixth tour in February. He has earned four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals and the Afghanistan Campaign medal. He has also been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal. Currently, he is stationed in Gulfport, Miss., and is serving with the Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 13.

Kuzicki attended Sunday’s game with his wife, Danielle, his parents, Mike and Marie Kuzicki, as well as his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joyce and Mike Maszka, who nominated him for Operation Fan Mail. As the honoree for Operation Fan Mail this week, Kuzicki received four tickets to the game and a $150 Packers Pro Shop gift card, courtesy of WPS.

The program, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor families with a member who is on active duty or a member who is a veteran. The Packers and WPS Health Solutions will host a family at each 2022 season home game and recognize the members on the video boards during pregame activities. A total of 153 individuals, families, or groups have been recognized through the program since it began.

The Packers and WPS Health Solutions invite interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular family should be saluted this year. Families intended for recognition are those that have a member serving on active duty, or a member who is a veteran. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter, or sibling.

Essays can be sent to Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628 or online at operationfanmail.com.

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 3,100 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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