Kyle George joins Lake Ridge Bank as Vice President and Relationship Manager

July 7, 2025 (MADISON, Wis.) – Kyle George has joined the Lake Ridge Bank Wealth Management team as a Vice President and Relationship Manager. He will serve clients throughout South Central Wisconsin, working out of the bank’s Bridge Road location in Monona and Atwood Avenue location in Madison.

Kyle has been in banking for 14 years, advancing through various roles from personal banking to lending to financial planning and wealth management. With degrees in economics and philosophy from Augustana College, Kyle went on to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and is currently working on the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) credential. For the last decade, his primary focus has been on businesses, nonprofits, endowments, and high-net-worth individuals with complex estate planning needs.

“I really enjoy looking at a complicated financial puzzle and to provide clarity and direction in the context of [their] goals and aspirations,” he explains. “It’s such an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to craft a plan that gives a sense of stability while also moving families, organizations, and causes toward fulfilling their ultimate goals.”

Kyle has also expressed an affinity for civic and community engagement, with a strong commitment to support local economic development and wellbeing for his neighbors. He has served as an election official for the City of Madison for the last five years, as well as serving on the Boards of the Clean Lakes Alliance, the REAP Food Group, and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

“I have seen a lot of examples of Lake Ridge Bank reinvesting in our community, and it just felt like a natural fit for my own priorities and values,” he says. “It’s important to me to find ways to nourish my local neighborhood culturally and financially.”

For more information about how Lake Ridge Bank can help you organize and advise your complex financial planning needs, contact Kyle George at KGeorge@lakeridge.bank or call (608) 826-3530.

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Lake Ridge Bank’s mission is to “build prosperous communities, one relationship at a time.” For more than 100 years, this has meant getting to know each of our clients to offer personalized services to meet their specific financial goals. Lake Ridge Bank offers a full line of financial products and services. We focus on offering products and services to make your banking easy. Our business banking and mortgage lenders are trusted leaders in their field with the expertise to provide the right loan at the best rate possible for our clients. As a community bank, we are dedicated to reinvesting in, and making our communities great places to live, work and raise a family. Visit lakeridge.bank to learn more about how we can help you.

Investment Products: Are Not FDIC Insured | Are Not Bank Guaranteed | May Lose Value

Lake Ridge Bank. Go Far. Go Together!

For additional information, please contact Mark Schellpfeffer at mschellpfeffer@lakeridge.bank.

MMSD Statement on State Budget Agreement

MADISON, Wis. (July 1, 2025)—The bipartisan state budget agreement, described as “pro-kid,” shows a strong commitment to Wisconsin’s early childhood learners, K-12 students and college scholars in public schools and institutions of higher education. The district anticipates an increase of approximately $12 million. The proposed budget establishes the highest reimbursement rate in 30 years and a larger increase for special education than the combined increases in the last three state budgets.

“We’re grateful to the legislators and advocates who supported this historic increase in reimbursement for special education funding,” said Dr. Joe Gothard, Superintendent. 

In addition, approximately $1.4 billion in spendable revenue is slated for K-12 public schools and funding for comprehensive school-based mental health services was doubled to $30 million, building on the “Get Kids Ahead.” However, no increase in general aid is expected. Madison is estimated to see a decrease in general aid of nearly $12 million as compared to last year, which will result in a $12 million increase in property taxes.

“We also want to thank our community for voting yes to the November referenda,” Gothard said. “Without the support of the referenda, MMSD’s budget would need to be significantly reduced, even with the state aid increase.”

The additional funding made possible through increased special education reimbursement enables MMSD to plan strategically to help close the gaps for all students. Additionally,  MMSD can maximize resources to ensure it can sustain programs, practices, and staffing for lasting, positive impacts. Furthermore, MMSD will not need to rely on one-time funds to balance its 2025-2026 budget. 

Although the increase in special education reimbursement represents a positive step forward, considerable work is required to ensure adequate funding for public schools. For example, public school districts statewide had originally advocated for a 90% special education reimbursement rate. Even with this increase, MMSD faces a $64 million shortfall for the upcoming school year. 

“Stable, ongoing funding is critical not only for our students, but students across the state,” Gothard said. “It’s an investment in the long-term sustainability of public education in Wisconsin.” 

Gothard added, “As always we center our work on our students. MMSD remains committed to investing in early learning, literacy, multilingual education, mental health supports and the well-rounded opportunities every child deserves.”

MMSD, along with districts throughout the state, has long been facing significant funding gaps in special education reimbursement. Last year, the gap was $64.8 million, and it was most recently expected to be $76 million. 

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District: The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The District’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 4,500 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the District’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

New Name, Same Mission

Madison, Wis. (July 1, 2025) – Edgewood University proudly raised the new flag above campus for the first time at a brief ceremony this morning.

“In January of this year, we announced that Edgewood College will be renamed Edgewood University. That day has now arrived,” President Manion, said. “The change comes about as we approach our centennial year, and as we continue to expand the reach of our mission as a Catholic institution of higher education in the Dominican tradition.”

The President spoke to an energized group of students, faculty, staff, and several Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa – the sponsoring order of Edgewood University.

Edgewood University has been effectively operating as a university since 1986, when Master of Science and Master of Arts degrees including Business Administration, Education, and Religious Studies were added to the academic portfolio. In 2001, the Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership was added. Since that time, the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and the Doctor of Business Administration have been added. The newest doctoral programs, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia, will welcome their first cohorts of students in Fall 2025.

Institutional partnerships and strategic use of technology are fueling significant enrollment growth. As of 2025, Edgewood University is now home to more than 1,300 graduate students from the U.S. and 37 other countries.

About Edgewood University
Located in Madison, Wis., Edgewood University is a comprehensive, Catholic university in the Dominican tradition. We serve approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Edgewood University offers more than 40 academic and professional programs, including master’s degrees in business, education, and nursing, and doctoral degrees in educational leadership, nursing practice, and business administration. Edgewood University is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the National Collegiate Athletics Association and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. For more information about Edgewood University, please visit www.edgewood.edu, or call Ed Taylor at 608-663-2333.

Middleton Chamber of Commerce Searching for Next Executive Director

It’s a Wrap! Read(y) to Wear 2025 A Major Fundraising Success

Madison Reading Project’s recent Read(y) to Wear fundraiser, which supports local literacy, was the most successful one yet!

More than 420 attendees joined Madison Reading Project June 11 in celebrating an evening of Legends and Fairytales featuring 13 one-of-a-kind wearable paper fashions. Eleven design teams competed for the crown. And the winners are…

The top prize went to Phenomenal Woman, designed by Suzanne Sawyer. Her outfit was a collaboration between clothing brand Ashro and UMOJA Magazine of Madison.

Enchanted Forest, created by returning designer Laura Musecamp, came in second place, followed by ⁠Paper Dolls, designed by returning designer Pam Kilian.

“What an incredible evening,” exclaimed Stephanie Grenzer, community giving manager, Summit Credit Union. “From the moment you walked in, the energy was high, the venue was beautiful, the attendees were excited, and the designers and models did a phenomenal job. It was so great to see the community come together and support Madison Reading Project.”

Summit Credit Union was this year’s marquee sponsor, joining dozens of other local organizations supporting the annual event.

“We’ll soon announce the date for next year’s Read(y) to Wear, the state’s most memorable, one-of-a-kind fundraising event,” says Rowan Childs, Madison Reading Project founder/co-executive director. “The event continues to grow and bring in creatives from across the area to take the design challenge, and most importantly, funds raised will allow us to continue to provide another 130,000 free, high-quality books to kids and educators in the Dane County area in the coming year.”

Photos, below, by Crimson Sun Photography.