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.

Madison Ballet Awarded $15,000 by Madison Community Foundation to Increase Opportunities for Choreographers of Color

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2022

Madison Ballet Awarded $15,000 by Madison Community Foundation to Increase Opportunities for Choreographers of Color 

Madison, WI – Madison Ballet is honored to receive a generous $15,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation. The grant will support expanding the organization’s opportunities for choreographers of color, serving as one way to address systemic problems in dance that have led to a lack of diversity on stages locally and nationally.

Madison Ballet is a pillar of the Dane County creative community, celebrating 40 years of inspiring Madison with the magic of dance. The vibrant arts company commits itself to providing “ballet without boundaries” by breaking down barriers to the artform throughout all facets of the organization.

With the generous support of the Madison Community Foundation, Madison Ballet aims to create new opportunities in every aspect of its organization for the encouragement, advancement, and inspiration of choreographers of color at all career levels.

Aided by the creation of a new curriculum focused on expression through dance, students will be equipped to articulate their artistic vision and gain the technical tools to actualize it on stage. The return of 2021’s successful Lift Every Voice film series will challenge emerging choreographers of color to expand their collaborative circles by including artists working in different mediums. Commissioning more choreographers to build new works that will permanently enter Madison Ballet’s repertoire will bring much-needed diversity in artistic leadership and representation to Madison’s most celebrated stages.

“By creating advanced opportunities for choreographers of color throughout the organization, we seek to build programming of artistic voices that increasingly reflect the diversity of the city we serve,” says CEO Jonathan Solari. The residual impact of these programs will expose over 7,500 audience members to the choreographers’ work.

“If anything, nonprofits have become more innovative during the COVID pandemic, pivoting to expand services and find creative ways to provide resources,” said Tom Linfield, Madison Community Foundation’s Vice President of Community Impact. “These agencies combine vision and tenacity as they propel our community forward.”

About Madison Ballet:

For 40 years, Madison Ballet has been an integral part of the vibrant Dane County arts community. Full-scale productions of inspiring traditional ballets, innovative contemporary performances, and the timeless holiday tradition of “The Nutcracker” reach more than 13,000 people each year. The School of Madison Ballet empowers students of all ages and skill levels with the poise, confidence, discipline, and fundamental life skills intrinsic to the study of dance. Outreach programming, presented in partnership with dozens of local school and community groups, enriches thousands of young people’s lives by introducing them to the joy of dance. Learn more about Madison Ballet at www.madisonballet.org.

About Madison Community Foundation:

Madison Community Foundation encourages, facilitates and manages long-term philanthropy. Since 1942, the foundation staff has helped people realize their philanthropic goals, allowing them to support charitable interests anywhere in the world. The community foundation also awards grants throughout Dane County to build communities. More information is available online at www.madisoncommunityfoundation.org.

Contact: Lexi Janssen, Marketing Manager

Phone: 262-402-2358

Email: lexi@madisonballet.org

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M3 Adds Seven New Shareholders

M3 Insurance recently announced seven new company shareholders:  Beth Dettman, Chief Financial Officer; Brad Winchester, Director of Construction & Real Estate Practice; Brian Meyer, Director of Risk Management-Employee Benefits; Chris Halverson, Risk Management Sales Director/Director of Disaster Response & Recovery; Jeff Anderson, Senior Account Executive; Katie Ott, Director of Worksite Practice; and Tom Schmidt, Business Development Executive.

Dettman is responsible for developing initiatives to achieve strategic organizational plans with an emphasis in areas of finance, tax, mergers & acquisitions, and stakeholder alignment. She is committed to fostering key client, community and professional services relationships on M3’s behalf. She joined M3 in 2019.

Winchester serves as a subject matter expert, strategist and thought leader for M3’s construction & real estate practice, and is responsible for sharing information on trends and issues that specifically impact this industry. He joined M3 in 2016.

Meyer joined M3 in 2014. He oversees a specialized risk management team for M3’s employee benefits services in the areas of data analysis, compliance, health promotions and wellness and employee communication.

Halverson supports M3’s risk management sales efforts as well as education and processes which enhance client risk mitigation programs. In the capacity of director of disaster response & recovery, he works closely with clients who experience catastrophic events to assess the damage, consult with them on next steps, and coordinate the resources they need in order to move forward. He joined M3 in 2003.

Anderson supports the agency’s efforts to gain new business and build lasting client relationships. Specializing in employee benefits, he minimizes, monitors and controls the impact of his clients’ risk through effective insurance program design. He joined M3 in 2009.

Ott advises clients on complementary voluntary benefits programs, supporting carrier selection, implementation, employee education and engagement, and benefit enrollment technology. She joined M3 in 2016.

Schmidt educates the business community about M3 services, including insurance and risk management, employee benefits and retirement planning. He joined M3 in 2015.

Each of M3’s 51 shareholder partners is a current employee who is actively engaged in our business and must sell his or her shares prior to retirement. This ownership structure aligns with M3’s commitment to remain privately held. 

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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.

Barry Ray and Bryan Cook of Legacy Senior Living Excited to Open Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale in Madison

Legacy Senior Living is committed to serving seniors with honor, respect, faith and integrity.

MADISON, Wis. (January 7, 2022) –  Barry Ray and Bryan Cook, industry veterans and founders of the Cleveland, TN-based Legacy Senior Living family of assisted living and memory care communities, are leading in the redevelopment and opening of Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale. The totally redesigned and remodeled senior living facility across from Hilldale Shopping Center is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2022.

Empowered by their mission to make each senior’s golden years the best of their lives, Ray and Cook have been committed since founding Legacy in 2006 to providing exceptional senior living communities where residents can live each day full of purpose, experience meaningful connection and embrace their personal stories with others. Now, they are excited to share this “Life, Love, Legacy” lifestyle with Madison-area seniors.

“Since forming our management company, Legacy Senior Living, we have been fortunate to expand our footprint and serve seniors and their families throughout the eastern portion of the United States. It is now an honor to be able to serve the incredible people of Madison, and our entire Renaissance Senior of Living of Hilldale team is counting down the days until we welcome our first residents to their new home,” Ray said.

Ray and Cook collectively have over 60 years of senior living experience and feel what they get to do every day in serving seniors and their families is truly a calling.

Ray joined the senior living profession in 1988 and has been able to serve in key leadership roles during his career. Initially working for a large national provider, he served in various capacities, including director of facility accounting, director of asset management, vice president of assisted living development, vice president of finance and then as president of a subsidiary that operated 40 retirement facilities in 28 states.

Cook is also a veteran of the senior housing and long-term care industry. He entered the profession in 1992 and has served continuously in the industry for the entirety of his career. He began as a skilled nursing facility administrator and progressively grew to responsibility for 63 nursing facilities as a division vice president. Additionally, he was involved as vice-president of a startup assisted living company that grew to nearly 20 assisted living communities across the U.S. He is a Certified Administrator with the American College of Health Care Administrators.

“I joined the Legacy family late in 2021, and over the short period of time that I have been working with this exceptional organization, both Bryan and Barry have been deeply invested in helping prepare Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale and our entire team to be a huge success. I am grateful to have their support, and I know our residents are going to love getting to know them,” Kim Kay, Executive Director of Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale, said.

Seniors interested in being the first to experience all the exciting amenities at Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale are encouraged to quickly join its Founders Club, which provides a variety of perks for its members.

“Barry and I are eagerly waiting for our newest residents to move into this wonderful community. Currently, Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale is nearing the end of a multi-million-dollar renovation. Once work is complete, it is going to be a state-of-the-art, gorgeous facility that we know seniors and their families are going to love. Thank you, Dane County, for the wonderful welcome. It is an honor to serve you, and we look forward to providing you with exceptional care for years to come,” Cook said.

For more information about The Harbor, to schedule a tour of Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale or to join the Founders Club, call (608) 949-7550 or visit the community’s website, RenaissanceHilldale.net.

About Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale 

Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale is an 85,000-square-foot premier assisted living and memory care facility opening in Madison, WI, in early 2022. Located at 602 Segoe Road, the community encompasses 10 stories featuring 92 well-appointed units, of which 64 will be designated for assisted living and 28 for memory care. Residents will have access to luxurious amenities including underground parking, a full-service bistro, state-of-the-art Badger and Packer media rooms and the 10th Floor Madison View Room, which will overlook picturesque views of the State Capitol and Lake Mendota. 

More information is available by calling (608) 949-7550 or by visiting renaissancehilldale.net. 

Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale is part of a family of senior living communities throughout the eastern United States owned and/or operated by Legacy Senior Living of Cleveland, Tenn. Legacy Senior Living specializes in offering independent living, assisted living, and specialized memory care services. More information is available at legacysl.net.

WPS health plans to cover at-home COVID-19 tests

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WPS health plans to cover at-home COVID-19 tests
New coverage is effective as of Jan. 15, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Jan. 14, 2022—To help slow the spread of COVID-19, the federal government recently passed guidelines making at-home testing more accessible. WPS Health Insurance and WPS Health Plan will cover the costs of home testing kits in accordance with the new requirements.

Individuals with private health insurance coverage or covered by a group health plan who purchase an over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic test authorized, cleared, or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—online or at a store—can be reimbursed for the full cost beginning Jan. 15, 2022.

This coverage will apply until the end of the public health emergency.

• WPS customers can purchase up to eight tests per month for each person with coverage.
• There is no limit on the number of tests, including at-home tests, that are covered by WPS when the tests are ordered or administered by a health care provider following an individualized clinical assessment. That includes WPS customers who need testing due to underlying medical conditions.
• There are no cost-sharing requirements, such as deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance, nor prior authorization or other medical management requirements.

For those on Medicare, the Department of Health and Human Services offers free, at-home tests to community health centers and Medicare-certified health clinics for distribution at no cost to patients and community members.

For more information on how the program works for WPS customers, please visit wpshealth.com/covid19. More information is also available on the Department of Health and Human Services website.

About WPS Health Insurance

As one of the largest health benefits providers in the state, Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Insurance) remains not-for-profit and offers high-quality health plans to the public and private sectors. Headquartered in Madison, Wis., WPS Health Insurance has more than 3,400 employees. WPS Health Insurance offers Preferred Provider Organization health plans for individuals and groups, third-party administrator services, plus Medicare supplement plans and Medicare prescription drug plans. Visit wpshealth.com for more information.

About WPS Health Plan

WPS Health Plan, Inc. (WPS Health Plan) is a fresh choice in a crowd of big, impersonal, national health insurance giants. Based in Green Bay, Wis., WPS Health Plan continues its tradition of Wisconsin-based service and is always looking for ways to make owning and using health insurance easier. WPS Health Plan offers Health Maintenance Organization and Point-of-Service plans to the group and individual markets in eastern and north-central Wisconsin, plus third-party administrator services. Visit wpshealth.com/healthplan for more information.

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