Summit Credit Union Named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2025

Media Contact:
Mary Fanning-Penny
Vice President Communications
(608) 243-5000 ext. 9662
publicrelations@summitcreditunion.com

Summit Credit Union Named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2025 

Madison, Wisc. – Summit Credit Union, a member-owned financial cooperative, announced today that it is recognized, for the second consecutive year, as one of America’s Best Credit Unions 2025 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group. America’s Best honor is awarded to financial institutions that have demonstrated financial health, operational performance, and metrics pointing toward long-term stability. 

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as one of the best credit unions in the country,” said Summit Credit Union CEO & President Kim Sponem. “We are particularly dedicated to helping women and their families secure a strong future through a dedicated team delivering proven financial wellness techniques, value and earning our members’ trust.”

Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group recognized top regional banks and credit unions in the United States, by conducting a large-scale study based on the analysis of over 9,000 institutions, more than 70,000 customer surveys and millions of social media reviews.

“Regional banks and credit unions are the financial backbone of communities nationwide as they support small businesses, fund local projects and ensure easy access to essential banking services. Newsweek and market-data research firm Plant-A Insights are proud to introduce ‘America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2025,’ highlighting companies utilizing a community and customer-centric approach to make a big financial impact in their neighborhoods,” said Newsweek Global Editor in Chief Nancy Cooper. 

For more information, visit SummitCreditUnion.com or call 608-243-5000 or 800-236-5560.  

About Summit Credit Union  

Established in 1935, Summit Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative. Summit holds $7.7billion in assets and has more than 265,860 members and 952 employees across 58 locations throughout Wisconsin. Since 2002, Kim Sponem has been CEO & President of Summit Credit Union, formerly known as CUNA Credit Union/Great Wisconsin Credit Union. 

In 2024, Summit was recognized for continued excellence in employee engagement as a Top Workplace USA by USA Today for the fourth consecutive year and a Top Workplace in the Madison area by the Wisconsin State Journal the fifth year in a row. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel named Summit a Top Workplace in Milwaukee in both 2023 and 2024. Additionally, and representative of its focus on financial education, Summit received the Governor’s Financial Literacy Award in 2010, 2014, and 2016 and the Governor’s Financial Literacy Award – Legacy in 2019.   

For additional media information, visit summitcreditunion.com/about-summit/press-room or follow Summit on Facebook and Instagram.

Pellitteri Waste Systems Ranks 31st on Largest Haulers List

FMI:
Joleen Engeseth
Marketing Coordinator
608-257-6232 ext. 346
Joleene@pellitteri.com

Pellitteri Waste Systems Ranks 31st on Largest Haulers List

DANE COUNTY, Wis. (Jan. 7, 2025) — Pellitteri Waste System, Inc. — Southern Wisconsin’s leading independent, family-owned and operated waste and recycling service provider — ranks 31st on Waste Today’s list of largest haulers, which is based on companies’ 2023 revenues. 

Waste Today notes the waste industry continued its strong performance in 2023 thanks to an active mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market as interest in sustainability continues to grow. 

“We’re proud of our ranking, which is a testament to our ability to compete with larger haulers by providing high-quality customer service,” says President David Pellitteri. “We continually hear that our customer service is what sets us apart. We salute our employees for delivering on that tradition of service, which has been central to our company since its founding more than 40 years ago.” 

The editors of Waste Today compiled the list by combing through public records, surveying companies in the publication’s database and soliciting feedback via the publication’s website and e-newsletter. 

Haulers making it in the top 12 include WM, Republic Services and GFL Environmental. These companies operate in more than half the states in the United States, plus Canada.

The only other Wisconsin-based company to make the Top 50 list at No. 37 is Eagle Disposal Inc. in Franksville, Wisc., which serves the Milwaukee area. 

The last time the list was published in 2021, Pellitteri Waste Systems ranked No. 30.  View the Waste Today article for the full list.

About Pellitteri Waste Systems

Pellitteri Waste Systems provides waste and recycling collection, specialty recycling services, on-site confidential data destruction, and state-of-the-art single-stream recycling processing to commercial, industrial, and residential customers throughout Southern Wisconsin. It is a family-owned company based in Madison with a proud tradition of service and community involvement. Pellitteri services around 80,000 households. The company sorted over 163 million pounds of mixed recycling at their local Material Recovery Facility, recycled over 28 million pounds of specialty recyclables from manufacturers and industrial customers, hauled over 11 million pounds of construction materials to be recycled, and shredded and recycled over 3 million pounds of confidential data in 2023. Pellitteri received the following awards in recent years: the Recycling Excellence Award from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Outstanding Achievement in Education Award from the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin, and the Business Friend of the Environment Award from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. For more information, visit www.pellitteri.com.

DeWitt Announces Attorneys Hovden and Schuchardt Promoted to Partner

MADISON, Wis. (January 2, 2025)—DeWitt LLP today announced that Kai Hovden and Sarah Schuchardt were promoted to Partner status effective January 1, 2025.

About Kai Hovden

Hovden is a civil litigation attorney in DeWitt’s Madison office. While he has litigated in numerous practice areas in state and federal courts, Kai’s primary practice areas are: (a) intellectual property litigation, including representing businesses and individuals in patent, trademark, and copyright lawsuits; and (b) trusts and estates litigation, including probate contests and complex fiduciary litigation. Kai also frequently litigates in the transportation and logistics sector, representing shippers, carriers, and brokers.

He earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a B.A., cum laude, from Winona State University. He is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern & Western Districts of Wisconsin.

About Sarah Schuchardt

Schuchardt is a member of the Divorce and Family Law team, practicing from the Madison office. She helps individuals in all walks of life, specializing in representing individuals in family law proceedings. She handles matters such as divorce, paternity, custody and placement, child support, adoption, prenuptial agreements and more. Her experience includes representing a client in a 7-day contested divorce trial on issues involving legal custody, physical placement, child support, maintenance, and property division. Sarah also has experience representing clients in mediation. 

She earned a J.D., from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a B.A., with honors, from Hamilton College. She is admitted to practice in Wisconsin, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern & Western Districts of Wisconsin, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7^th Circuit.

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 more than 130 attorneys practicing in Green Bay, Madison and Greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Minneapolis, Minnesota and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes. DeWitt is known for its work in a variety of legal areas including background screening, business law, employee stock ownership plans, employee benefits, intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, construction litigation, employment relations, environmental, estate planning, family business, family law, litigation, real estate, tax law, and more. Additional information is available at dewittllp.com.

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Carnelian Art Gallery to host art workshops starting Jan. 23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARNELIAN ART GALLERY
221 KING ST., SUITE 102
MADISON, WI 53703
CARNELIANART.COM

CONTACT: EMILIE HEIDEMANN
MARKETING DIRECTOR
EMAIL: EHEIDEMANNCAG@GMAIL.COM
PHONE: 920-763-6980

MADISON, Wisconsin, Jan. 3 – Carnelian Art Gallery, located at 221 King St., Suite 102, in downtown Madison, is pleased to announce that it will for the first time ever host art workshops starting on Thursday, Jan. 23, with a course in coffee painting.

“Our brand new roster of workshops represents a culmination of months of work researching how we as an art gallery can best serve our clients and the artists we host,” said Emilie Heidemann, Carnelian Art Gallery marketing director. “Visitors to and residents of downtown Madison deserve a space where they can learn about the many facets of art. We also wanted to find an additional way to support local artists besides selling their art in our gorgeous gallery space.”

“Carnelian Art Gallery is pleased to offer educational programming for the first time,” said Evan Bradbury, Carnelian Art Gallery owner and acrylic painter. “We wanted these workshops to be fun, engaging and accessible. There’s something for everyone.”

Here is the gallery’s educational programming schedule as it stands:
• “Learn How to Paint With Coffee” from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, with art instructor Chele Ramos
• “Intro to Oil Painting” from 6-9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28, with art instructor Kim Strittmater
• “Websites for Artists” from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30 with instructor Julie Raasch
• “Watercolor Painting for Beginngers” from 6-8:30 p.m. from Tuesday, Feb. 4, to Thursday, Feb. 6 with Ramos

Chele Ramos is a self taught portrait artist raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She has been painting since 2016 and teaching for a couple of years. Ramos works with a variety of mediums such as watercolor, oils, acrylics, graphite, charcoal, pastels, and coffee.

Kim Strittmater is an artist living on the Wisconsin River. She finds inspiration in the natural world around her. She is fortunate to be near ancient land that has been carved by glaciers and is surrounded by healing waters, which she often goes to for grounding and reflection. Her style of

painting blends the fluidity and emotion of impressionism with the detail and accuracy of realism.

Julie Raasch is a Madison jewelry artist and photographer. She has always been a creative person, loving art and making since she was a child. Julie studied anthropology and biology in college, but after graduation realized she enjoyed creating the covers and making the graphics and diagrams for the papers she turned in more than writing them. With that in mind she returned to school to study graphic design.

After graduation, Raasch worked for years as a graphic and web designer. She designed for real estate agents, for Brava Magazine, several small businesses, and at UW-Madison. Raasch has also designed and built websites for several arts organization and artists. She is versed in various web platforms. Raasch has been a working artist since 2012 so she is well versed in what makes a good artist website.

Classes will take place inside Carnelian Art Gallery’s open studio space, which is in the back of the building after you walk through the gallery.

Private rentals

In addition, Carnelian Art Gallery is now offering up its gallery and open studio space for private rentals.

Organizations and businesses are now able to rent out both spaces for private events like fundraisers, or art classes of their own.

“Renting out Carnelian Art Gallery for a private event offers a dynamic and inspiring experience,” Bradbury said. “Event attendees may network and socialize while viewing the beautiful fine art that adorns our walls.”

For more information about class pricing, event rental pricing, square footage of the gallery and open studio space, capacity limits, parking, and more, please reach out to Emilie Heidemann or visit our website at carnelianart.com.

M3 Promotes Alicia Kiser to Executive Vice President of Human Resources

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Media Inquiries:
Angela Joyce, Director of Communications
M3 Insurance
Phone: 608.229.6409
Email: angela.joyce@m3ins.com

M3 Promotes Alicia Kiser to Executive Vice President of Human Resources

Milwaukee, WI – M3 Insurance is proud to announce the promotion of Alicia Kiser to Executive Vice President of Human Resources. Kiser, who has been a valued member of the M3 team since 2011, will assume an expanded leadership role, joining the company’s Executive Operating Committee.

Alicia Kiser’s career at M3 began over a decade ago where she has consistently demonstrated excellence and dedication to M3’s mission, progressing through roles including HR Business Partner, HR Manager, HR Director, and most recently, Vice President of Human Resources—a position she earned in 2020.

Kiser holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wisconsin. She is also a shareholder of M3, reflecting her commitment and impact within the organization.

In her new role as Executive Vice President of Human Resources, Kiser will contribute to shaping M3’s strategic direction at the highest level. Her visionary leadership, business acumen, and collaborative approach will play an integral role in driving M3’s continued success and ensuring it remains a workplace of choice for top talent. Kiser will continue to lead M3’s HR strategy, ensuring M3’s most valuable resource—its people—thrive in an environment that supports growth and innovation.

“Alicia has been instrumental in fostering a culture that prioritizes people and innovation,” said Mike Moore, Chief Operating Officer, and Partner at M3. “Her promotion to Executive Vice President is a recognition of her exceptional leadership and the tremendous impact she has had on M3. We are excited to see her bring her vision and expertise to the Executive Operating Committee as we work to achieve our strategic goals.”

For more information about Alicia Kiser and her role at M3 Insurance, visit her digital portfolio.

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About M3
M3 is a top insurance broker and risk management firm in America. We’re leaders in the products we represent and the industries we serve. M3’s people are an extension of your team, providing world-class resources to help you manage risk, purchase insurance, and provide employee benefits. And our focus on community builds better places to live and work. For more information on M3, visit www.m3ins.com.