Solt Completes WBA BOLT Leadership Academy

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – Mike Solt, VP business solutions manager of Bank of Sun Prairie, was recognized by the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) for completion of the WBA BOLT Leadership Academy, a 15-month program of extensive industry and leadership education.

The Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow (BOLT) Leadership Academy is a program designed for highly motivated emerging bank leaders who have a desire to grow their leadership skills and grow a trusted network of community banking peers from across the state. The selected cohort members come from diverse business functions within the banking industry and various locations from throughout Wisconsin.

“The mission of the academy is to build a community of future banking leaders who are committed to advancing our industry and their banks while serving the financial needs of their communities,” said Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO. “I am proud of what these bank leaders have accomplished and am excited for the impact they will continue to make.”

The BOLT Leadership Academy reflects WBA’s ongoing commitment to professional development of the industry’s future leaders.

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Founded in 1892, the Wisconsin Bankers Association is the state’s largest financial industry trade association, representing 180 commercial banks and savings institutions, their branches, and nearly 30,000 employees. The Association represents banks of all sizes in Wisconsin, and 96 percent of banks in the state are WBA members. 

Hope & A Future Earns Generations United Intergenerational Program of Merit Award

Based in Washington, D.C., Generations United is a network of organizations, partners and stakeholders committed to improving the lives of children, youth and older adults.

Hope & A Future are the only Wisconsin organization on the list of award winners, joining just 30 other organizations from all parts of the United States who have earned this honor for their intergenerational
programs.

Like Generations United, the goal of Hope & A Future is to use intergenerational collaboration to enrich the lives of children, youth and older people in our area! Hope & A Future is honored to be recognized for their vision and efforts over the last 20+ years.

There’s another local honor that Hope & A Future would like to earn, and you can help them earn it: Best of Madison 2025. The organization already earned a “top six” spot in the nominating (round one) voting in February. Final voting happens from June 1 to June 30…and they would appreciate your endorsement.

To vote: search online for “Best of Madison 2025” and find the Health and Medical category. Hppe & A Future is in the Best Assisted Living sub-category. You will need to register (to be sure everyone only votes once) and you can vote in as many categories as you like.

Final field announced for 2025 AmFam Champ: Former champions and fan favorites headline event

76 PGA TOUR Champions players in 38 teams of two will vie for the “Dream Achieved” trophy June 6-8

MADISON, Wis. (May 30, 2025) – The final field for the 2025 American Family Insurance Championship was announced today and features a star-studded field of 76 players that includes tournament host and 2023 champion Steve Stricker, defending champion Ernie Els, and two-time champion Jerry Kelly.

The annual PGA TOUR Champions stop will take place for the first time at TPC Wisconsin, beginning next Friday, June 6. The second 18-hole round will be played on Saturday, with the final round on Sunday. In addition to a new location, this year introduces a unique team format, with 38 teams of two playing two days of best ball and one day of scramble format.

Tickets are available at www.amfamchampionship.com for this year’s tournament, which will include all seven former champions of the AmFam Champ returning: 2024 defending champion Els, host Stricker (2023), Thongchai Jaidee (2022), two-time winner Kelly (2021, 2019), Scott McCarron (2018), Fred Couples (2017), and Kirk Triplett, the inaugural champion (2016).

This year’s tournament will also see returning players such as Steven Alker, Angel Cabrera, John Daly, David Duval, Retief Goosen, Lee Janzen, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Bernhard Langer, Davis Love III, Jose Maria Olazabal and Vijay Singh.

“The AmFam Champ field is as strong as ever, showcasing some of the finest talent on the PGA TOUR Champions schedule,” said Nate Pokrass, tournament director. “Hosting this year’s event at our new home at TPC Wisconsin, along with a new team format, sets the stage for dynamic play and thrilling moments. The community has embraced the AmFam Champ, and this year’s tournament offers fans the chance to witness golf legends compete at a high level on a new course and with a fun and unique format.”

Who’s playing in the 2025 American Family Insurance Championship

This year’s AmFam Championship field features an exciting lineup of both U.S. and international golf legends that includes:

• Five members of the World Golf Hall of Fame: Fred Couples, Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Jose Maria Olazabal, Vijay Singh.
• Five former No. 1 players in the world: Fred Couples, David Duval, Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh.
• Sixteen winners of the Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship or PGA Championship: Angel Cabrera, Stewart Cink, Darren Clarke, Fred Couples, John Daly, David Duval, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Lee Janzen, Bernhard Langer, Davis Love III, Jose Maria Olazabal, Corey Pavin, Vijay Singh, David Toms, Y.E. Yang.
• Nine of the top 10 players on the current Charles Schwab Cup money list: Miguel Angel Jimenez (1), Angel Cabrera (2), Steven Alker (3), Stewart Cink (4), Ernie Els (5), Retief Goosen (6), Jerry Kelly (7), Y.E. Yang (8) and Thomas Bjorn (9).
• Seven players with multiple PGA TOUR Champions wins in 2024 and 2025: Ernie Els (4), Angel Cabrera (3), Steven Alker (2), Paul Broadhurst (2), Stewart Cink (2), Miguel Angel Jimenez (2), Jerry Kelly (2).
• Eight recipients of the Payne Stewart Award, an honor presented annually by the PGA TOUR to a player who best exemplifies Stewart’s steadfast values of character, charity and sportsmanship: Billy Andrade (2022), Bernhard Langer (2018), Stewart Cink (2017), Ernie Els (2015), Steve Stricker (2012), David Toms (2011), Davis Love III (2008), Jay Haas (2004).
• Jay Haas, with 18 PGA TOUR Champions titles and 84 top five finishes since joining the tour in 2004; Kirk Triplett with eight PGA TOUR Champions wins and 40 top five finishes; Rocco Mediate with five PGA TOUR Champions titles and 17 top five finishes; Darren Clarke with four PGA TOUR Champions wins and 16 top five finishes.
• Two winners of the former Greater Milwaukee Open/U.S. Bank Championship: Jay Haas, Corey Pavin.
• Five first-time players at the 2025 AmFam Champ: Stewart Cink, Hiroyuki Fujita, Brendan Jones, Soren Kjeldsen, Mark Wilson.

2025 American Family Insurance Championship Player Field

The entire player field of 38 teams is listed below and posted on the American Family Insurance Championship website. The field is subject to change pending any player withdrawals prior to official play.

Mia Hamm, Justin Herbert and Charles Woodson join North for celebrity foursome event

The second round of the tournament on Saturday, June 7, will feature the annual AmFam Champ Celebrity Foursome hosted by Andy North. Joining North, a Wisconsin native and two-time U.S. Open champion, will be soccer legend Mia Hamm, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Charles Woodson. The group will play a 9-hole exhibition for charity starting on hole one following the final grouping of tournament play. The expected tee time is 2 p.m. CST. 

Tournament ticket information

Tickets for the American Family Insurance Championship are available for purchase at www.amfamchampionship.com. Tickets, which can be used for any one day of the tournament, and prices include:  

• Adult general admission ticket: $25 
• Champions ticket (age 50 years or older): $20 
• Youth general admission ticket (with paid adult): Free 
• Active duty, reserve and retired military personnel ticket: Free 
• First responder ticket: Free 

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2025 AmFam Championship Final Field

Team pairings

Vijay Singh / Tom Pernice	Thomas Bjorn / Darren Clarke
Bernhard Langer / Steven Alker	Rod Pampling / John Senden
Davis Love III/Scott Verplank	Doug Barron / Dicky Pride
Ernie Els / Tim Herron	Rocco Mediate / Lee Janzen
Retief Goosen / Mark Wilson	Greg Chalmers / Steve Allen
Paul Goydos / Steve Flesch	Bob Estes / Wes Short Jr.
Fred Couples / Jay Haas	Joe Durant / Billy Andrade
J. M. Olazabal / Miguel Angel Jimenez	Ken Duke / Shane Bertsch
Richard Green / Mark Hensby	Tim Petrovic / Harrison Frazar
Y.E. Yang / Charlie Wi	Thongchai Jaidee / Brendan Jones
KJ Choi / Hiroyuki Fujita	Stuart Appleby / Michael Wright
Stewart Cink / David Toms	Cameron Percy / David Bransdon
Ricardo Gonzalez / Angel Cabrera	Jason Caron / Brett Quigley
Steve Stricker / Mario Tiziani	Corey Pavin / Paul Stankowski
Paul Broadhurst / Kirk Triplett	David Duval / Matt Gogel
Jerry Kelly / Justin Leonard	Fred Funk / Gene Sauers
Alex Cejka / Soren Kjeldsen	Kenny Perry / John Huston
Ken Tanigawa / Scott McCarron	John Daly / Michael Allen
Tim O’Neal / Robert Karlsson	Woody Austin / Scott Parel

About the American Family Insurance Championship
The American Family Insurance Championship was created in 2016 by American Family Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions and PGA TOUR player and Wisconsin native Steve Stricker. Since its inception, the championship and associated events have raised $19.7 million for the American Family Children’s Hospital and other charities. The 2025 championship will be held June 2-8 at TPC Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin with tournament play June 6-8.  For more information: Web: www.amfamchampionship.com; X: @AmFamChamp; Threads: @AmFamChampionship; Facebook: American Family Insurance Championship; Instagram: amfamchampionship. TikTok: @amfamchampionship #AmFamChamp 

About PGA TOUR Champions 
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 35 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, on Facebook, on X (@ChampionsTour), on Instagram (@pgatourchampions) and on TikTok (pgatourchampions).

All events are televised in the United States on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, PGA TOUR Champions coverage is available in more than 170 countries and territories via 22 media partners.

Carnelian Art Gallery Announces Four New Solo Shows

MADISON, WI – Carnelian Art Gallery, located at 221 King St., Suite 102, in downtown Madison, is pleased to announce its third art exhibition of the year, which is a collection of four solo shows.

“Synchronized Burn” by Madison artist Maria Schirmer is all about finding togetherness amidst chaos. “Expressions of Home” by Madison artist Mark Soderling tells stories about belonging. “Found Forms” by New Mexico artist Camille Davis celebrates her connection to nature. “Trial and Error” by Madison artist Dylan Waddell explores the value of taking risks and experimentation with collaging.

This collection of shows opens on Thursday, July 3, with a reception to officially kick it off set for Friday, July 11, starting at 5 p.m. The exhibition will last until the end of August.

For the first time, Carnelian Art Gallery has partnered with cocktail bar, Oz by Oz, 113 King St., to offer the first 25 visitors to the reception a ticket for a free drink at Oz by Oz. Light refreshments will otherwise be served, and as always, admission is free.

At 6 p.m. on the night of the reception, Schirmer is set to deliver a half-hour artist talk regarding her solo show, which includes an interactive piece titled “Murmuring.”

The work is a representation of how large flocks of birds, specifically starlings, create and coordinated almost hypnotizing aerial formations as they fly together in the sky.

This behavior, scientists say, is meant to prevent predators from singling out and attacking a specific bird. Reception visitors will be able to interact with “Murmuring” starting at 6:30 p.m. by designing their own bird-shaped plastic mirror and affixing it to a large batik 8’ by 8’ canvas — becoming part of the larger flock of birds.

Schirmer will also invite reception visitors to reflect on their own contributions to their community, as well as how we might synchronize our actions at a time when many societal structures are “burning,” she said.

“Before colonization, fire was used strategically by indigenous land stewards to support thriving ecosystems,” said Schirmer. “If we take this concept and apply it metaphorically to the political and economic landscape of 2025, What do we want to see burn? And what do we hope grows in its place? How can we synchronize our actions like a flock of murmuring birds?”

“It’s been a fun experience to work with Schmirer to put this artist talk together,” said Emilie Heidemann, Carnelian Art Gallery marketing director. “I can’t imagine a more timely theme.”

About each artist

Davis grew up in the mountains of Wyoming, and has painted natural ephemera for decades. Her recent work celebrates the desert and her connection to it. The earthy tones, pops of vibrant color and layered texture offers dynamic harmony. As a nature-based artist, Davis is interested in the rhythm of the land- light and shadow, line and form, pattern and color. Davis attempts to capture the natural cadence, flow, and life of the desert through movement, and emotional tone. She currently resides in southwestern New Mexico.

Soderling was born in Madison, Wisconsin. He attended University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he earned undergraduate degrees in art and biology. Soderling then moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended the Maryland Institute College of Art. Those three years in Baltimore really cemented his interest in art and his need to be a painter. New Hampshire would be Soderling’s subsequent home for five years where he received his graduate degree from the University of New Hampshire. During graduate school, Soderling traveled to Italy to explore his passion for painting outside. He continued painting outdoors when he returned to New Hampshire, re-creating scenes of water bodies and mountains, among other things. Now, and for the past 10 years, Soderling has been painting in and around Madison. The Capitol, lakes, ponds, bridges and streets are all part of his visual language. This visual language is backed up by mark making, color, composition and light. The formal elements are stressed in his painting to give the viewer a feeling of place and season.

Schirmer is a social practice artist based in Madison, Wisconsin. Her work, grounded in printmaking, letter press and book arts, embodies collaborative, participatory creative processes, and is driven by a deep-seated belief in the power of storytelling, collective imagination and the possibility of healing. Schmirer works predominantly with youth in the court system and uses art as a medium for dialogue; witnessing grief in tandem with a yearning for a world of possibility, connection and change. She earned her graduate degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee specializing in trauma-informed care and will be attending the University of Alabama in the fall to earn a graduate degree in book arts. 

Waddell grew up in Columbus, Wisconsin. He now lives and works in Madison as a collage artist. He did not start taking his art practice seriously until after college, and works on the same easel he bought at a Goodwill 17 years ago. When not making art, Waddell enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Elizabeth, and their two dogs.

“Carnelian Art Gallery is proud to work with a pool of such talented artists for this summer show,” said Evan Bradbury, Carnelian Art Gallery head curator. “We are also excited to have partnered with Oz by Oz, a staple cocktail bar on King Street. We hope you stop by our gallery to not only view this incredible collection of exhibitions, but to experience the eclectic culture King Street has to offer.”

Madison Night Market Celebrates Madison Sports

Showcase of 50+ Local Businesses, 100+ Unique Vendors, Live Music and Food Trucks

DOWNTOWN MADISON, WI – Madison’s Central Business Improvement District (BID) welcomes the entire community to the return of the expanded Madison Night Market on June 12, from 5-9 p.m. Last year’s expansion onto N. Carroll and W. Mifflin Streets on Capitol Square is back, along with State Street and Gilman Street, showcasing more local artisans and food vendors in the heart of Madison’s fast-growing downtown district.

Celebrating Madison Sports!

Get ready to meet some of Madison’s favorite mascots at the Madison Night Market! Forward Madison FC’s “Strut” and the Madison Mallards’ “Maynard” will be on-site bringing the energy and handing out goodies to eager fans. Plus, the Madison Nightmares women’s softball team will be there repping the city’s newest sports sensation. Come snap a selfie, score some goodies, and show your hometown pride. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind chance to hang with your favorite local teams!

Madison is known for great shopping, amazing food and a talented arts scene, and the Madison Night Market brings our urban experience together in celebration. Vendors and State Street retailers combine to showcase handmade products, local art, artisan gifts, artisanal foods, and fresh produce. The event includes live music, special visiting food carts, and pop-up restaurant experiences.

NEW: Family Activity Zone

Fun for the whole family! Where State Street meets Capitol Square, you’ll find the Madison Night Market Family Activity Zone, filled with a rotating slate of family-friendly activities to keep kids (and their grown-ups!) engaged and entertained. Stay tuned for a new batch of activities for each market in 2025. The June 12 market will feature:

• Madison Mallards, Forward Madison & Madison Nightmares

Layer on your hometown sports gear and head down to the market to meet your favorite teams. Participate in pop-up activities with Forward Madison and the Madison Mallards on the Capitol Lawn and find your favorite teams’ mascots roaming the market. Fun for the whole family!

• Madison School & Community Recreation Mobile Programs

Visit Play on the Go and the mobile Art Cart for kid-friendly activities that channel your child’s creativity and imagination.

Live music lineup

Peace Park Music Stage – 452 State Street

5:00 – 6:30pm – Mona Augustin
7 – 9pm – Kat & the Hurricane

Capitol Square @ State Street

5:00-9:00 p.m. – Eric De Los Santos

200 Block of State

5:00-7:00 p.m. – Wendy Lynn Marcus

Frances Street Plaza

6:00 p.m. – Becca Murray

The most up-to-date market details, including vendors and participating businesses, can be found here: https://madisonnightmarket.com

Follow along on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/madisonnightmarket/

And on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/madisonnightmarket/

Stay up to date on ALL downtown events here: https://visitdowntownmadison.com/events/

The Madison Night Market is brought to you by Madison’s Central Business Improvement District and the City of Madison. Special thanks to our generous sponsors: Madison Gas & Electric, Steve Brown Apartments, Bubbl’r, Henry Vilas Zoo and Findorff.

ABOUT MADISON’S CENTRAL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)

The BID represents more than 370 businesses and 250 property owners. It is dedicated to supporting the economic vitality, safety and vibrancy of downtown Madison. We serve the greater State Street, Capitol Square and First Settlement district, working collaboratively with property owners, small businesses and city stakeholders to make downtown Madison the best place to shop, dine, work, live and explore. As a special assessment district, we provide important services, including marketing, public programming, small business support and storefront advocacy to ensure a thriving downtown.

Image Credits: Beth Skogen Photography