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 15^th 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

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.

Madison Ballet Cancels Indoor Performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Due to Rising COVID-19 Concerns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 25, 2021

Madison Ballet Cancels Indoor Performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Due to Rising COVID-19 Concerns
Company is exploring safer alternatives to bring Midsummer to audiences this fall

Madison, WI – Madison Ballet is saddened to announce the cancellation of its upcoming performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Overture Center, originally scheduled to run September 17-26. After closely monitoring the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Dane County, the organization plans to pivot to safer alternatives for audiences to experience this magical production. 

This difficult decision results from the growing health and safety concerns as COVID-19 and Delta variant cases rise. “The health and safety of our audiences, artists, staff, and community remains our top priority,” says CEO, Jonathan Solari. “We are particularly concerned with the safety of our youngest audience members and dancers who, because of their age, are not yet eligible to be vaccinated.” Given that Midsummer is a show filled with magical characters and storylines, the audience was expected to include many families with children under the age of 12.

Though Madison Ballet has cancelled the performances at the Overture Center, the company is continuing to rehearse and is exploring safer ways to present the show, possibly in an outdoor setting. “We are committed to honoring the work of our artists, many of whom were in the cast for this production when the lockdown began in 2020. For them, bringing this to the stage–however it happens–will be a true triumph of the creative spirit,” says Solari. The organization plans to share filmed performances of Midsummer for freeonline, and is also exploring the possibility of inviting smaller in-person audiences to free outdoor performances.

Madison Ballet will contact all current Midsummer ticket holders directly to offer a full refund or an opportunity to donate the cost of their ticket as a gift to Madison Ballet.  All donated ticket funds will directly support Madison Ballet’s artists and offset the cost of producing A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a non-paid, public performance. 

For the most up-to-date information on Madison Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, please visit www.madisonballet.org/performances.

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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30 interns at WPS Health Solutions ‘Pay it Forward’ through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

30 interns at WPS Health Solutions ‘Pay it Forward’ through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives

MADISON, Wis.—Aug. 25, 2021—The 12-week summer internship program at WPS Health Solutions was held virtually for the second year, concluding at the end of August.

This year’s program was led by Casey Schmidt, Corporate Recruiter-Internship Coordinator, and Talent Acquisition Director Tina Wallace. 

Each year, the interns are tasked with a Pay it Forward project as a part of their overall responsibilities, something they can leave for the next class of interns or other employees at WPS. After an extraordinary year of social unrest, the 2021 class decided to take a deep dive into the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at WPS.

The students researched, explored, and made recommendations to expand the existing DEI programs. Working hand-in-hand with different departments and Jihan Bekiri, Vice President of DEI, they evaluated current initiatives, sought out gaps or places for opportunity, researched, and prepared recommendations.

The interns identified four areas of interest: Employee Resource Groups, Mentorship and Sponsorship, Military and Veteran Inclusion Strategy, and Diverse Talent Partnerships. Then, the interns divided into four teams and designed a well-researched presentation that they presented to WPS leadership.

“Working on the project with the rest of my intern class was super rewarding,” said Erica Casper, Marketing and Communications Intern. “All summer, we researched and put together an hour and a half presentation on four different initiatives to learn about and improve the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at WPS. DEI is such an important topic, and I am super proud to be able to contribute my ideas and research.”

Bekiri commented on their work, “I am incredibly proud of our summer interns and appreciate the recommendations they have provided. Their thorough research, thoughtful approach, and relevant perspectives will be critical in informing our DEI journey—we will be a stronger, more inclusive WPS because of their guidance.”

The Pay it Forward project is just one part of the internship program. WPS interns focused on:

• Gaining skills in their functional area of study.
• Gaining exposure to a corporate culture through professional development trainings hosted by the Talent development team, Executive Speaker Series, and daily meetings.
• Gaining project management and team-building skills by working on the Pay it Forward project.
• Gaining public speaking and leadership skills by presenting their projects to their managers and the executive team.

About WPS Health Solutions

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 3,100 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

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Army veteran Douglas Wirth saluted by WPS Health Solutions and the Packers for Operation Fan Mail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Army veteran Douglas Wirth saluted by WPS Health Solutions and the Packers for Operation Fan Mail

MADISON, Wis.—Aug. 24, 2021—The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Solutions paid special tribute this week to U.S. Army veteran Douglas Wirth and his family in conjunction with Saturday’s preseason game against the New York Jets. Operation Fan Mail, sponsored by WPS, is the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game. The program marks its 15th season in 2021.

Wirth, a native of Ridgeland, Wis., served in the Army from 1967–69. He was deployed to Vietnam in 1968 as part of the 9th Infantry Division in the 43rd Scout Dog Platoon. He served as a dog handler, and his job was to take a squad of eight to 10 soldiers to ambush sites safely, securing their perimeter with his dog, a German Shephard named Alex. They kept the group from tripping booby traps and ensured the bases and bridges were secure.

Wirth earned the rank of Sergeant, and during his time in the military, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge in October 1968 and a Purple Heart in April 1969.

Wirth, who has been a Packers fan since he was 12 years old, comes from a military family; his father served during World War II and his nephew served recently in the U.S. Air Force. He is looking forward to being honored on the Freedom Honor Flight in October. He was nominated for Operation Fan Mail by his sister, Julie Sanders, and was accompanied at Saturday’s game by his fiancée, Lana.

As the honoree for Operation Fan Mail this week, the Wirth family also received four tickets to the game and a $150 Packers Pro Shop gift card, courtesy of WPS.

The program, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor families with a member who is on active duty, or a member who is a veteran. The Packers and WPS Health Solutions will host a family at each 2021 home game and recognize the members on the video boards during pregame activities. A total of 138 individuals, families, or groups have been recognized through the program.

If you know someone whose bravery, sacrifice, and dedication deserves to be honored, WPS Health Solutions and the Packers invite you to submit an application. To apply, share an essay of 500 words or less describing why a particular family should be saluted at operationfanmail.com.

Essays can also be sent to Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628.

About WPS Health Solutions

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 3,100 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

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