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Category: Member News

Learn who’s growing, changing, moving and more! Stay on top of what’s new with your neighboring businesses. We share news releases and announcements from your peers in the Madison area. Want to toot your own horn? Use our Submit Member News form to share your own stories.

Photo by Richard Hurd

WEA Trust and Health Tradition Health Plan Announce Vaughn Vance as New President and CEO

MADISON, WI – The WEA Trust Board today announced Vaughn Vance as the new Executive Director of the WEA Trust and President and CEO of WEA Insurance Corporation, Health Tradition Health Plan, Inc., and NeuGen, LLC. The announcement came as part of a planned transition.

Mr. Vance is currently Vice President and General Counsel. He joined the WEA Trust in 2005 as an External Affairs Specialist and has since served in several executive leadership roles.

“The WEA Trust was created over 50 years ago to provide quality health insurance and to deliver value to our members. Today, the WEA Trust, WEA Insurance Corporation, Health Tradition Health Plan Inc., and NeuGen, LLC all share that same commitment. I am honored to lead this organization as we look forward.  One of our top priorities as an organization will continue to be expanding our innovative plan offerings and growing our enrollment,” Vance stated.  “But our core values to our members, customers, and employees will not change,” continued Vance.

“In his numerous roles with the organization over nearly two decades, Vaughn Vance has always made our members his number one priority.”  said Mary Theisen, Chair of the Board of Trustees.  “On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, we are very excited that Vaughn has agreed to lead us into the next chapter of our story,” continued Theisen.

Vance concluded by stating, “Our members will continue to see our commitment to innovation, superior customer service, and high-quality products and services for those we serve.”


 In 1970, the not-for-profit WEA Trust was founded by the Wisconsin Education Association Council. Over time the organization has expanded to include the WEA Insurance Corporation, Health Tradition Health Plan, Inc. and NeuGen, LLC.  Together these companies provide a diverse choice of PPO and HMO group health plans throughout Wisconsin.

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Litigation Associate Jacob Simon Joins DeWitt LLP

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michelle M. Friedman                                                                                                                                    mmf@dewittllp.com / 262-754-2877

Litigation Associate Jacob Simon Joins DeWitt LLP

GREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP announced Jacob Simon joined the firm as an associate in the Madison office.

Simon is a member of DeWitt’s Litigation Practice Group.  He has experience conducting research, drafting legal documents, and conducting discovery in state and federal courts.  He has authored multiple appellate briefs and a successful Petition for Review in Wisconsin.  While in law school, he was a judicial intern for Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. 

Simon earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a B.B.A. from Temple University.  Simon is admitted to practice in Wisconsin.  He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Claims Litigation Management and the Property and Liability Research Bureau. 

About DeWitt

DeWitt LLP was founded in 1903 and is one of the 10 largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota. It has more than 130 attorneys practicing in Green Bay, Madison and Metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes. The firm is known for its work in a variety of legal areas including intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, construction litigation, corporate law, employment, environmental, employee benefits, estate planning, family business, family law, government relations, health care, litigation, real estate, and tax law.  More information is available at dewittllp.com.

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Photo by Richard Hurd

Madison Ballet Presents Outdoor, In-person Performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 3, 2021

Madison Ballet Presents Outdoor, In-person Performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Madison, WI – Madison Ballet is thrilled to announce it will present four performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a free, outdoor production for in-person audiences. Performances will take place at Delafield’s SummerStage and at Madison’s Warner Park later this month.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

SummerStage – Delafield, WI

Friday, September 17 | 7:30pm

Saturday, September 18 | 7:30pm

Warner Park – Madison, WI

Wednesday, September 22 | 7:30pm

Thursday, September 23 | 7:30pm

Over 18 months have passed since the Madison Ballet has performed on stage. “After everything our dancers, audiences, and communities have been through, being able to bring this production to the stage is a true triumph of the creative spirit,” says Artistic Director Sara Stewart Schumann. “There’s nothing as rewarding as dancing for a live audience. It’s what our dancers train and prepare for, and it’s what they live for.”

Madison Ballet’s production of Midsummer was set to take the stage in March 2020 before its pandemic-forced closure. “As a dancer, it means the world to get back on stage,” says principal dancer and Ballet Master Shannon Quirk. “As artists, we now have a different appreciation for this work after such a long hiatus. There’s just genuine excitement to get to do what I love again, and share it with the community.”

Midsummer tells the story of four star-crossed lovers who find magic and folly in an enchanted forest home to mischievous fairies and sprites. “The outdoor setting is an ideal backdrop for this magical story,” says Schumann. “These shows will create an immersive experience for our guests while allowing the dancers to draw from the energy of a live audience. This unique combination will surely make for a memorable performance for everyone involved.”

“We at Madison Ballet are always looking for ways to break down barriers and increase access to dance. After all this time away, we are so grateful to invite our whole community to share in this celebration free of charge,” says Jonathan Solari, CEO.

While this performance is free, making online reservations is recommended. To register, visit madisonballet.org/midsummer. SummerStage is located in Lapham Peak Unit Kettle Moraine State Forest, with $5 parking per vehicle or free parking with a State Park sticker. Free parking is available at Warner Park. In the case of inclement weather, Madison Ballet has reserved SummerStage on September 19th and Warner Park on September 24th for rainchecks.

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.

Contact: Lexi Janssen, Marketing Manager

Phone: (262) 402-2358

Email: lexi@madisonballet.org

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National Guardian Life Insurance Company Sponsors the 2021 Conference of African American Financial Professionals

National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) was a Platinum Sponsor of the 15th Annual Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP). Hosted by The American College of Financial Services, the virtual conference was held August 10-11 and is the largest gathering of African American financial professionals that provides an opportunity for education, networking, and engagement.

“NGL is committed to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion not only on a local and employee level, but also through our efforts in the community and in the financial services and insurance industries. The wealth gap is real and we need to work together toward creating a solution. At NGL, we are proud to be an ally to advance and foster change in the industry and Black communities across the U.S.,” said Knut Olson, NGL President & CEO and member of The American College of Financial Services Board of Trustees.

This year the conference focused on Four Steps Forward – Investing in Our Community, a plan from The College’s Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality to foster upward mobility and wealth-building in America. The goal is to support Black financial professionals, leadership programs and close the racial wealth gap.

Click here to learn more about the virtual CAAFP.

About NGL

Established in 1909 National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is an insurance company headquartered in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products. Information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company.

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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PRCAAFP92021

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Artisan Dental Receives B Corp Certification; Dr. Nicole Andersen Named topDentist

Fantastic news about our B Corp Certification!!! 

Thanks to our AMAZING team members, their collaboration, creativity and dedication to introducing a range of new initiatives, our collective efforts have allowed us to re-certify and to increase our score from 82.3 to 95.7!!

We’re thrilled to be a Certified B Corporation.

Dr Nicole Andersen named topDentist

We are happy to share that Dr. Andersen has again been named one of Madison’s best dentists by her peers in topDentist polls for 2021 as featured in Madison Magazine. This is the eleventh consecutive year Dr. Andersen has been named a topDentist. Area dentists and oral healthcare specialists are asked to consider their peers’ years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients as well as the incorporation of new techniques and technology.

Past awards and standing in various dental academies (Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) and the actual physical outcomes of their clinical work are also factored into the selection process. Listings in topDentists can not be purchased and no payment is required to be listed. As a result, inclusion in topDentists is considered an honor.

What is topDentists? topDentists was started in January 2007 with the intent of identifying the best dentists and oral health care specialists in the country. topDentists is the only list of its kind, chosen by dental professionals themselves.