Wisconsin Union: Sunburst Sparkler Bursts Onto the Madison Beverage Scene with Natural Caffeine, Fruity Flavor, and a Mission to Make a Difference 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 29, 2024

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Public Relations and Communications Officer
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/sunburstsparkler

SUNBURST SPARKLER BURSTS ONTO THE MADISON BEVERAGE SCENE WITH NATURAL CAFFEINE, FRUITY FLAVOR, AND A MISSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE 

MADISON – A new beverage burst into coolers and cafes at nonprofit Wisconsin Union’s locations on campus at UW–Madison with the debut of Sunburst Sparkler, a fruity, caffeinated, sparkling water available in four flavors.

After months of development with Madison-based beverage producer Karben4, the Wisconsin Union and Karben4 teams released the following Sunburst Sparkler flavors: cherry and lime-flavored Cherry SubLime; mango, blood orange and vanilla cream-flavored Flamango Tango; pineapple and peach-flavored Poppin’ Peach Punch; and raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, and strawberry-flavored Berry Burst.

Customers can purchase a Sunburst Sparkler at all Wisconsin Union-run dining locations. The Sunburst Sparklers contain real fruit juice concentrates and tea-derived caffeine and have between 15 and 30 calories per can. The Sparklers contain no added sweeteners; the only sweetener is from the beverages’ fruit juice. Patrons can currently purchase each Sunburst Sparkler for $3.69.

“We created Sunburst Sparkler to give University of Wisconsin–Madison students and others an energy beverage option that is locally made and natural,” said Wisconsin Union Associate Director for Dining and Hospitality Services Carl Korz. “Our new Sunburst Sparklers are the latest in our continual efforts to create delicious experiences. We have prior experience creating beverages with Terrace Sparkling Lemonades that we launched in August 2023.”

Purchase of the Sunburst Sparklers, Terrace Lemonade, and Terrace Strawberry Lemonade help support the nonprofit Wisconsin Union’s work to create free and low-cost events, community gathering spaces, and student leadership opportunities, some of which provide academic stipends of up to 80% of student leaders’ in-state tuition.

The Wisconsin Union team ensured students played a role in multiple parts of the Sunburst Sparkler creation process, including the naming and product testing.

Wisconsin Union Graphic Designer Kay Sakiya created the Sunburst Sparkler labels and collaborated with fellow Wisconsin Union Graphic Designer Maximilian Homstad to customize the labels for each flavor.

Sakiya’s design was inspired by the fruit-forward flavors, and it features rays of sunshine representing the naturally derived energy in each drink and a trademarked sunburst image that represents the drinks’ Wisconsin Union beginnings.

The Union team launched its first beverages, called Terrace Lemonade and Terrace Strawberry Lemonade, in August 2023 in collaboration with Karben4, which was founded by a team that includes UW–Madison alumnus Zak Koga. Patrons can continue to purchase the lemonades as well as the new Sunburst Sparklers at Wisconsin Union dining locations.

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About the Wisconsin Union

The non-profit Wisconsin Union strives to enhance and support student leadership and community engagement, including through recreational, cultural, educational and social opportunities and by providing world-class support services, such as in event management. The Wisconsin Union includes student leadership opportunities available through the Wisconsin Union Directorate, the Center for Leadership and Involvement, the Wisconsin Singers, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Wisconsin Homecoming Committee; Memorial Union; Union South; various dining options throughout downtown Madison; UW Conference Centers; and the Fluno Center. Learn more about the Union and its tradition of providing experiences for a lifetime: union.wisc.edu.

About Karben4 Brewing

Founded in 2012, Karben4 (K4) was built to make great beverages while never taking itself too seriously. The team is committed to brewing high-quality, innovative beers and other drinks that push the boundaries of traditional brewing. Check K4 out online at karben4.com.

Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP): Applications for City of Madison’s new BizReady program now open

Applications are now open for a new opportunity for small business owners in the City of Madison looking to receive training, mentoring, and networking opportunities to help their businesses innovate and thrive.

The City of Madison is partnering with the Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) and AFF Research to launch the BizReady program – an extensive suite of resources and activities specifically designed to meet the wide-ranging needs of Madison’s aspiring entrepreneurs and business professionals.

This resource is free for local business owners and is being funded by $300,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds that were already allocated to the City of Madison Economic Development Division’s Small Business Equity Recovery (SBER) program in July 2021.

The City of Madison Common Council approved the creation of the program last summer and approved the selection of MadREP as the City’s partner in the program earlier this year. City staff have been working with MadREP since then to design the program and get it ready for launch.

The BizReady program is being modeled after the successful MarketReady program that was created in 2017 and gave prospective Madison Public Market vendors training, technical assistance, and help in creating their business plans ahead of the opening of the Public Market opening.

Applications for the BizReady program open Monday, August 26, 2024 and close at 5:00pm on Friday, September 13, 2024. Interested business owners can apply online. Those with questions can contact AFF Research by sending an e-mail to aff@affresearch.com or by calling 920-844-5006.

Additional resources and opportunities for local business owners can be found on the Office of Business Resources’ website.

One Community Bank: Liz Deihs Promoted to EVP & Chief Experience Officer

August 16, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Ameilia Abraham
One Community Bank
608-838-3141
aabraham@onecommunity.bank

Liz Deihs Promoted to EVP & Chief Experience Officer

(August 2024) – One Community Bank is thrilled to announce the promotion of Liz Deihs to Executive Vice President & Chief Experience Officer. In this role, Liz will further enhance and elevate the client experience at OCB.

“Liz is an incredibly talented and driven banking professional. Since she joined us as a Teller through the school-to-career program in 2005, Liz has been focused on how we can better serve our clients. She has been instrumental in our journey of growth and evolution at One Community Bank. As Chief Experience Officer, Liz leads our Retail Banking, Client Contact Center, Digital Banking, and Treasury Management departments. We are excited to welcome Liz to our Executive Team with her promotion to Executive Vice President,” said Steve Peotter, President and CEO.

“One Community Bank has provided me with numerous opportunities for growth. I began as a teller and have steadily advanced, building valuable relationships throughout the way. I am excited for my expanded role within the organization allowing me to enhance our client experience and support colleagues,” stated Liz Deihs.

Liz is an Oregon, WI native and currently lives in Madison, WI. Liz recently finished her terms on several community boards including the One Community Bank Advisory Board. She also graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at UW-Madison in August of this year.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Liz finds joy in indulging her passions for golf, culinary exploration, traveling to tropical locations, and cherishing meaningful moments with her loved ones.

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One Community Bank is one of the largest community banks in south central Wisconsin. The locally owned bank has 16 bank locations and $2.1 billion in assets. It provides both personal and business banking solutions, with an intense focus on serving clients, supporting colleagues, and investing in its communities. Six years in a row named one of Madison’s best places to work, One Community Bank serves the communities of Oregon, McFarland, Cottage Grove, Waunakee, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Middleton, Adams, Oxford, Grand Marsh, Hillsboro, La Farge, Readstown, Wonewoc, and Union Center. Member FDIC.

Madison Metropolitan School District: A Special Message from Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard

We are excited to unveil the community’s new future-ready learning environments at our high schools. Please join me on Aug. 30, 2024 to celebrate the completion of the 2020 Facilities Referendum. We will hold ceremonial ribbon cutting events, host guided tours and our schools will be open for you to explore these incredible new spaces.

Celebration Schedule:

Robert M. La Follette High School – Aug. 30, 2024

Open house: 10 a.m. to noon • Ribbon cutting event: 10:30 a.m.

Guided 30-minute tours: 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., hosted by Findorff and MMSD students

East High School – Aug. 30, 2024

Open house: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Ribbon cutting event: 11:45 a.m.

Guided 30-minutes tours: 11 a.m and 12:30 p.m., hosted by Findorff and MMSD students 

West High School – Aug. 30, 2024

Open house: Noon to 2 p.m. • Ribbon cutting event: 1 p.m.

Guided 30-minute tours: Noon and 1:30 p.m., hosted by Findorff and MMSD students

Vel Phillips Memorial High School – Aug. 30, 2024

Open house 1-3 p.m. • Ribbon cutting and renaming event: 2:15 p.m.

Guided 30-minute tours: 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., hosted by Findorff and MMSD students

I am proud to be back in my hometown as the superintendent of MMSD. Our community believes in the value of providing an exceptional educational experience for our students in facilities that meet their needs while also providing buildings where educators can teach. Simply put, we care about the education kids receive in Madison. This is one of the reasons why Madison can be a destination school district. 

The transformation of our four comprehensive high schools is complete. The facility improvements at East, La Follette, Memorial and West high schools have a big impact on not only our students and staff, but our entire city. These remarkable upgrades were made possible through the generous support of Referenda 2020 and the unwavering commitment of our Madison taxpayers. Thank you, Madison community! 

Event Highlights:

• Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies: Mark the official opening of our newly upgraded facilities with ceremonial ribbon cuttings at each high school.
• Open House Format: Explore the new and improved learning spaces at your own pace, discovering the enhancements designed to support a dynamic and engaging educational experience.
• Guided Tours: Participate in guided tours to gain insights into the features and benefits of the new facilities.

We look forward to celebrating with you! This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with alumni, engage with current students and see firsthand the advancements in our schools that will benefit our community for years to come.

Please RSVP by Monday, Aug. 26 HERE. For more information about the event or the new facilities, visit mmsd.org/about/referendum.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joe Gothard
MMSD Superintendent

Naviant Named the First Hyland Partner to Achieve Hyland Cloud Competency Status

Premier Hyland Cloud Provider: Naviant Achieves Cloud Award

Naviant, an OnBase reseller and Hyland Cloud Provider, has announced that it has achieved its Hyland Cloud Competency Status from Hyland, and that it is the first and only Hyland Partner to achieve this milestone. This recognition demonstrates Naviant’s proven ability in this specific area when leveraging Hyland’s content services solutions. Naviant has embraced the Hyland Cloud and prioritized a cloud-first strategy due to the cloud’s ability to deliver a competitive advantage to its customers. This immense gain comes from the many benefits the Hyland Cloud offers, including cost reductions, enhanced security, increased productivity, and high scalability. 

“At Naviant, we are proud to have achieved Cloud Competency Status and believe this will support our dedication to providing our satisfied customers with high-quality service,” said Michael Carr, President and CEO, Naviant. “Over the past 23+ years of being a Hyland partner, we have seen that Hyland’s automation platforms have a direct and measurable impact on our customers, and the Hyland Cloud has played a pivotal role, providing immense value. We look forward to continuing to help our customers reach their business goals with a cloud-first strategy.”

The Hyland competency program recognizes partners’ expertise in demonstrating, selling, implementing, and supporting Hyland solutions. Competencies are categorized based on industries, capabilities, and solutions. To obtain each Hyland competency, partners are required to submit an application and participate in a thorough review process that validates their technical proficiency and customer success.   

“We’re happy to recognize Naviant for achieving the Hyland Cloud Competency, showcasing their expertise in deploying, managing, and optimizing solutions in the Hyland Cloud environment. Their commitment to promoting innovative cloud solutions and exceeding performance expectations, ensures that customers receive secure, scalable, and efficient solutions tailored to their specific needs,” said Eric Miller, Hyland’s associate vice president for Hyland Channel.

The Hyland Global Partner Community provides expertise and hands-on support for Hyland’s content services product portfolio, and the complementary technologies that make up automation solutions. Solution providers work with Hyland to give customers the highest level of technical support, while receiving continuous training to ensure successful programs from an industry leader and highly respected channel-friendly vendor.  

About Naviant

Naviant is a nationally recognized intelligent automation solutions integrator and business process consulting organization with over 35 years of experience. We help our clients do more with less by using technology to streamline processes and gain visibility into the data they need to make better decisions.

Our “process-first” approach emphasizes the importance of process improvement before implementing technology solutions such as OnBase, Brainware, the ABBYY intelligent capture platform, and Hyland RPA. We also offer flexible Managed IT Services, where our team of experts can manage, enhance, or expand our clients’ OnBase or ABBYY solutions.

We are proud to be a top-tier partner for Hyland’s OnBase, a single enterprise information platform for managing content, processes, and cases. OnBase combines ECM, case management, business process management (BPM), records management, compliance, and capture functionality on a single platform. To learn more about Naviant, please visit naviant.com. Process focus. Excellence

About Hyland

Hyland is a leading content services provider that enables thousands of organizations to deliver better experiences to the people they serve. Hyland offers a range of cloud-based technologies, solutions, and services that help its customers navigate the complex digital ecosystem that is essential for any thriving, modern organization.

Additionally, Hyland has been recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Content Services Platforms for 12 consecutive years. Gartner now also includes Hyland as a Representative Vendor in the new Gartner Market Guide for Content Services Platforms (CSP). Find us at Hyland.com.