Savant Wealth Management Reaches $10 Billion Milestone

MADISON, Wis. (March 9, 2021) – Savant Wealth Management, a nationally recognized, fee-only wealth management firm headquartered in Rockford, IL, with locations also in Madison and Park Falls, has hit a major milestone in its 35-year history. The firm has reached $10 billion in assets under management (AUM).

The milestone can be attributed to Savant’s long-term growth strategy and its client-centric model offering comprehensive wealth management services with a deep bench of professionals to support its services.

From 1993, when Savant began managing money, until 2011, Savant grew to nearly $2 billion in AUM entirely through organic growth. The firm made its first acquisition in 2012 and has since closed seven additional partnerships to expand its presence in the greater Chicagoland region and in new markets like Santa Fe, NM and Bloomington, IL.  In addition, the firm recently opened an office in Arizona.

“This milestone is a direct result of Team Savant and the relationships developed throughout our 35 years in business,” said Brent Brodeski, CEO and co-founder of Savant. “Despite the challenges and other curve balls we’ve faced along the way, Savant stands ready to serve, adapt, and inspire.  We remain persistent in our long-term growth strategy and commitment to providing clients wise counsel to help build ideal futures for our clients, our team, and the communities we serve.”

Savant aspires to continued growth and success in the future with an overarching goal within the next 25 years to improve more than 1 million lives.

Savant employs more than 200 team members and serves 6,500 families, over 150 companies and over 5,000 retirement plan participants.  For more information about Savant Wealth Management, visit savantwealth.com.

About Savant Wealth Management

Savant Wealth Management, formerly known as Savant Capital Management, is a leading independent, fee-only firm serving clients for 30 years with $10 billion in assets under management. Savant Wealth Management offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan, and family office services to financially established individuals and institutions. Savant also offers corporate accounting, tax preparation, payroll and consulting through its affiliate, Savant Tax & Consulting.

Savant is headquartered in Rockford, IL, with locations in Bloomington, Chicago, Downers Grove, Freeport, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnshire, Naperville, Peoria, St. Charles, Sterling, and Wilmette, IL; Phoenix, AZ; Santa Fe, NM; Madison and Park Falls, WI; and McLean, VA. Please see Important Disclosures at savantwealth.com.

Savant Wealth Management (“Savant”) is an SEC registered investment adviser headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk.

As of 3/3/21. Includes both assets under management and assets under advisement. Assets under management represent the aggregate fair value of all discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios. Assets under advisement represent advisory-only assets where Savant does not have trading authority over the portfolio.

Overture Forums Panel Discussion: The COVID-19 Vaccine and the Black Community

For the next Overture Forum on MON, MAR 29, 7:30 PM, we are excited to have a distinguished panel of doctors and public health experts provide perspectives about the coronavirus vaccine as it relates to the Black community and beyond.

Panel Members:

· Aaron Perry, president & CEO of Rebalanced-Life and Wellness Association of Madison

· Dr. Sheryl L. Henderson, MD, PhD, pediatric infectious disease specialist – UW School of Medicine and Public Health

· Dr. Jasmine Zapata, MD, MPH assistant professor, researcher and educator in the UW Dept. of Pediatrics with an affiliation with the UW Institute for Clinical and Translational Research

· Dr. William Hartman, MD, PhD, principal investigator for the UW COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Program (Adult and Pediatric Programs), principal investigator for the UW-Regeneron Monoclonal Antibody (Antispike) Clinical Trials, assistant professor of anesthesiology, School of Medicine and Public Health and medical director of UW Health Pre-Op Clinic – School of Medicine and Public Health

Moderator: Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, professor emerita, University of Wisconsin-Madison and former Kellner Family Distinguished Chair in Urban Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction

Please join us for this free forum, open to the public.

WATCH THE FORUM

Transportation Law Attorney Jason E. Engkjer Joins DeWitt LLP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2021

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

Transportation Law Attorney Jason E. Engkjer Joins DeWitt LLP

MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP announced attorney Jason E. Engkjer has joined the firm’s Minneapolis office as a member of its growing Transportation & Logistics Practice Group.

Engkjer’s practice is primarily devoted to corporate planning, transactions and complex commercial litigation with a unique focus in transportation and supply chain law. He represents a diverse array of clients ranging from small, closely held companies to multi-national organizations on a nationwide basis, but primarily in the upper Midwest.

Engkjer is active with the Minnesota Trucking Association, North Dakota Motor Carrier Association, Transportation Lawyer’s Association and is a member of the Conference of Freight Counsel. He is a current board member and general counsel for Farm Rescue and Farm Rescue Foundation.   He is a former board member and general counsel for the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota and continues to actively support the organization. He regularly provides volunteer pro bono legal services through a variety of organizations and is a former ethics investigator for Hennepin County’s Fourth District Ethics Committee. Jason has also been listed as a Rising Star by Minnesota Super Lawyers.

He earned a J.D., from William Mitchell College of Law and a B.S. from the University of Kansas.  He is admitted to practice in Minnesota and North Dakota state courts, as well as Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota federal courts.

About DeWitt

DeWitt LLP was founded in 1903 and is one of the ten largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota. It has nearly 130 attorneys practicing in Madison and Metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a variety of legal areas and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes. The firm is known for its work in several 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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Dane County companies boosted through Madison Development Corporation loans

For Immediate Release
March 8, 2021

Dane County companies boosted through Madison Development Corporation loans

Firms on the upswing receive $1.6 million infusion

MADISON, WI — Five growing Dane County businesses have received a capital infusion of $1.6 million through Venture Debt Fund loans from the Madison Development Corporation (MDC).

Among the enterprises receiving 2020 loans through MDC’s Venture Debt fund are: 

• Image Mover: $250,000 for development of an app that allows images to be uploaded directly to the Epic Systems platform without breaking HIPPA rules. 
• StartingBlock Madison: $250,000 for space for start-up and early-stage companies located in American Family Insurance’s SPARK building on East Washington Avenue.
• Simple Machines: $400,000 to develop a chip technology that provides software-controlled hardware that is fast, power-efficient, and area-efficient.
• Mobile22: $250,000 for development of Transport-as-a-Service technology platform that manages and optimizes mobility. It’s designed to help organizations manage their fleets, drivers, demand and fulfillment.  
• SmartUQ: $400,000 for a predictive analytics and uncertainty quantification software tool that incorporates real world variables.

“This loan through MDC will help us leverage resources in creating software solutions that will improve the patient experience and make life more convenient,” said Kevin Houlihan, Chief Executive Officer of Image Mover. “Having access to a local entity like MDC focused on helping businesses grow and create jobs is a real plus for the Madison business community.”

Since the Venture Debt Fund was founded in 2004 by MDC and over a dozen institutional investors (including local banks, MGE, and area Economic Development Corporations), the Fund has made 67 loans totaling $19.6 million to 56 Madison companies. In 2020, investment from the Fund helped create 329 new jobs. Since inception, fund loans have helped create over 2,000 jobs in Dane County. The average loan size is $350,000. 

“Our Venture Debt Fund has assisted entrepreneurial companies grow and invest in talented people who live and work here,” said Lorrie Heinemann, MDC president and chief executive officer. “In turn, these enterprises are driving innovation and further solidifying Madison as an entrepreneurial, high-tech growth hub.”

Fostering creative start-up businesses and creating high quality jobs in Dane County is key for the community banks and local institutional investors who participate in the Venture Debt Fund.

“Our community benefits when local companies innovate, grow and hire new employees,” said John Drury, Senior Business Development Manager at Madison Gas and Electric, a lead investor in the Fund. “We’re proud to invest in our community through the Venture Debt Fund, which gives promising businesses resources at pivotal times so they can grow and thrive.”

The Venture Debt Fund draws collaborative funding from local organizations including: Bank of Sun Prairie, Capitol Bank, City of Fitchburg, First Business Bank, Madison Gas and Electric, Middleton Area Development Corp, Monona Bank, Oak Bank, Old National Bank, One Community Bank, Park Bank, River Valley Bank, Settlers Bank, Starion Financial, State Bank of Cross Plains, and Town Bank. The Fund also just received a $300,000 Capital Catalyst investment from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

“These are challenging and exciting times for companies driving change,” Fund Chair Mary Strickland said. “The MDC Venture Debt Fund is proud to partner with visionary leaders who are growing their companies here in Dane County.”

Madison Development Corporation is a non-profit organization that owns and manages 348 affordable workforce housing units in the Madison area and provides financing for hard-to-finance businesses in Dane County. Since 1977, MDC has provided loans to more than 450 businesses totaling over $35 million, which helped them create over 5,000 quality jobs in Dane County.

DoorDash Announces Winners of the Madison COVID-19 Restaurant Relief Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2021

Contact: press@doordash.com

DOORDASH ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE MADISON COVID-19 RESTAURANT RELIEF GRANTS

Winners will use funds provided by DoorDash’s Main Street Strong effort to help offset the costs associated with running a restaurant amid the ongoing pandemic and local dining restrictions.

MADISON, WI – Today DoorDash announced the winners of the COVID-19 Restaurant Relief Grant program provided through its Main Street Strong effort. These grants are a part of DoorDash’s five-year, $200 million Main Street Strong Pledge to empower local communities, which included a $10 million grant effort across select cities, states, and counties in the U.S. and Canada.

The grants are being administered by Hello Alice and can be used to cover operating costs during this challenging time, including rent, payroll, purchasing PPE, expanding outdoor dining capacity, and other expenses.

The below Madison restaurants have been selected to receive $5,000 grants through the program:

• Bierock
• Bistro 525
• Cafe Domestique
• Cranberry Creek Cafe & Catering
• Crostini Sandwiches 
• Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry
• El Rancho Dos Mexican Grill 
• Estacion Inka
• Fair Trade Coffee House
• Gates & Brovi
• Green Owl Cafe
• Harvest
• La Taguara
• Lazy Oaf Lounge
• Madison’s
• Mad Seafood Boiler 
• Mickie’s Dairy Bar
• Nick’s Restaurant 
• Off Broadway Drafthouse 
• Orient House Chinese Restaurant 
• Osteria Papavero
• Parkway Family Restaurant 
• Pizza Extreme
• Roll Play
• Salads UP
• Sconniebar
• Teddywedgers 
• The Jet Room
• Tutto Pasta State Street
• Valentia Coffee

All restaurants who applied for a grant will receive free access to the Hello Alice platform, which offers peer-to-peer networking, mentorship, and tools such as the COVID-19 Restaurant Resource Center, a curated list of industry-specific resources, information from fellow restaurant and food service owners about the challenges they’re facing, and how-to guides designed to help restaurants reopen the doors and get back to business.  Hello Alice will begin grant distribution in March, with all restaurants receiving their grant by early May. 

“We are very excited to have been selected as recipient,” said Sofia R. Pezua, Manager, Estacion Inka. “As we are struggling to cover our business expenses, this grant will allow us to meet those needs and continue to keep our doors open for takeout and delivery while more measures are put in place for restaurants to be able to open for dine-in safely. Thank you!”

When launching the program, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said, “COVID-19 has been devastating nationwide, and has taken a serious toll on our small businesses. Restaurants have searched tirelessly for resources to keep their doors open during the pandemic, as they’ve faced a number of hurdles. I’m thrilled about DoorDash’s relief contributions which will help safeguard our local restaurants during this time of crisis.”

“Restaurants have faced unprecedented challenges in the last year, and DoorDash is proud to support them,” said Alexi Madon, Senior Manager, Government Relations, Central at DoorDash. “It is our hope that these grants will help restaurants as they continue to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis.”

During the first round of DoorDash’s Main Street Strong COVID-19 relief grants in 2020, 85% of restaurants stated that one of the biggest impacts on their business was reduced sales due to COVID restrictions, and 82% cited lost revenue attributed to the declining economy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, DoorDash has taken significant active steps to ensure the safety of its entire community, including providing:

●   $120 million in commission relief and marketing investments

●  50% reduction in commissions for local restaurants with five or fewer locations in the first months of the pandemic, plus 0% commissions for the first 30 days for restaurants new to DoorDash

●   Free personal safety equipment for Dashers, including hand sanitizer, gloves, wipes, and masks

●   Two weeks of earnings replacement for eligible Dashers affected by COVID-19

●   COVID-19 screenings and telemedicine appointments for just $4 for Dashers, per visit

●   Partnering with BlueVine, a leading provider of small business banking solutions, to provide a customized Payment Protection Program (PPP) application for merchant partners to help make PPP loans more accessible.

For a full list of winners across the U.S. and Canada, see Hello Alice’s blog here. Read more about DoorDash’s latest efforts to help the local merchants, Dashers and communities it serves here. 

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About DoorDash

DoorDash is a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local and national businesses in more than 4,000 cities and all 50 states across the United States, Canada, and Australia. Founded in 2013, DoorDash enables local businesses to address consumers’ expectations of ease and immediacy and thrive in today’s convenience economy. By building the last-mile logistics infrastructure for local commerce, DoorDash is bringing communities closer, one doorstep at a time.