Executive new hires and promotion announced at National Guardian Life Insurance Company

National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is pleased to announce it hired two new executives, Marita LaChapell and Tim Schaefer and promoted Jessica Grann.

Jessica Grann, former Assistant Vice President and Director of Corporate Communications, has been promoted and is leading a new function as Chief of Staff and Vice President of Brand and Corporate Communications. Grann joined NGL in 2004 and has led the marketing communications team and managed all aspects of the NGL brand. She has more than 20 years of broad marketing experience encompassing strategic planning, creative design, media planning and purchasing, direct marketing, public relations and sales promotions.

In her new role she joins the executive team in advancing NGL’s mission to make NGL’s brand more visible in the insurance industry and consumer marketplace by engaging partners, agents, employees and policyholders.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to expand my role to promote NGL and our brand. NGL has a strong story to share and a great team of people who support it. It is an exciting time at NGL, we plan to launch a new brand and logo that will show our strong history and dedication to people. It’s been over 50 years since NGL updated its logo and I am thrilled to be a part of this positive change,” shared Grann.

Grann holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Communications and Public Relations. She is also a strong supporter of Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, through her daughter’s Izzy’s Books for Wishes campaign. Her family has helped grant six wishes to children over the past three years.

Marita LaChapell joined NGL in the newly created position of Vice President of Internal Consulting. As a CPA, LaChapell has a background and expertise in financial management across a wide variety of industries. In addition, during her 30-year career she broadened her leadership footprint by designing and implementing enterprise/information systems, compensation strategies, advising clients regarding their personal financial planning, growing advisory sales teams and driving organizational change through continuous improvement, Lean, Six Sigma and Operational Excellence programs.

She will lead NGL’s Lean Leadership program, coordinate organizational strategic planning and develop an approach to ensure effective project prioritization. As an internal consultant, LaChapell will be active in tackling the challenges and opportunities NGL will face as it continues to grow and be a leading employer in Madison.

“NGL is special place, an organization with great history, strong position in its industry and dedicated people who enjoy making a difference. It’s exciting to be able to join NGL at this juncture, knowing that together, we will have an opportunity to capitalize on that strength and help shape the future. NGL is a place where I can contribute while continuing to learn and experience new things,” said LaChapell.

LaChapell is the Founder and CEO of ALIGN Financial, a consulting firm that works with clients, teams and executives to improve profits, engage people and increase impact through each company’s unique purpose.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Michigan Technological University in public accounting, specializing in information systems. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Personal Financial Specialist, Certified Long-Term Care Consultant, and Certified Kingdom Advisor. Additionally, LaChapell earned a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt in 2009 by leading organizational cultural transformation.

LaChapell is also a professional speaker dedicated to eliminating financial illiteracy. She is a global volunteer for Habitat for Humanity International and serves as a Board member for the Missouri Baptist Foundation. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Gateway Region YMCA and Rotary International.

Tim Schaefer joins NGL in the new role of Senior Vice President & Chief Digital Officer. In his career, he has been a transformative leader in building and leading large, complex organizations spanning operations, technology, digital, marketing and analytics.

In his role at NGL, Schaefer will be leading customer experience, data and analytics, and enterprise architecture. Schaefer will also oversee relationships with emerging technology partnerships and develop NGL’s digital vision and roadmap.

“I am excited to join NGL because of its long-term commitment to focusing on the needs of its policyholders and its position as a leader in the market. I look forward to leading the digital transformation of the company to better serve its customers and partners with innovative solutions and a differentiated experience.”

Schaefer’s prior role was Managing Director of Lake Hill Advisors where he worked with organizations on the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation. Prior to that he spent more than 30 years at Northwestern Mutual, where he held several progressively more senior positions in technology and operations. He led a number of change efforts including rebuilding the digital consumer experience which increased users from 150,000 to 1.3 million.

Schaefer holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in information systems from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Master of Science degree in Management and Organizational Behavior from Silver Lake College. Schaefer is an Executive-in-Residence at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Lubar School of Business where he teaches courses in eBusiness and strategic management. He has also served on the Boards for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Foundation and Next Door Milwaukee.

About NGL

Established in 1909 National Guardian Life Insurance Company 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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Office Furniture Warehouse: Sneeze Guards and Panel Extenders

Office Furniture Warehouse of Madison Ribbon Cutting, Grand Opening, and Open House has been postponed. In the meantime, they are open and fully operational and have a lot of home office furniture available for those who are working from home and need any at home office furniture.

With the recent pandemic of COVID-19, Office Furniture Warehouse of Madison is trying to help stop the spread and keep everyone healthy and safe with their “Sneeze Guards” and “Panel Extenders.” Sneeze Guards are manufactured in house and can be cut to any size perfect for placing on your desk when meeting with clients/guests, receptionist counters, conference tables, and many other places. Panel Extenders are great for adding extra height to your cubicle panels to prevent germ spreading and and colleagues leaning over your cubicle walls and breathing on you. Sizes are fully customizeable.

Contact Zach for more information, questions and to get your quote today!

608-807-8787 – office

Goodman Community Center Launches Distance Learning for Students

Contact:
Becky Steinhoff, Executive Director
Goodman Community Center
149 Waubesa Street | Madison, WI 53704
608-204-8025 | becky@goodmancenter.org

GCC Launches Distance Learning for Students
Program staff at the Center have created classes and clubs to support 4K through high school

Madison, WI  April 6, 2020 – Goodman Community Center program staff have created virtual and distance learning opportunities to support its students and families of all school ages. Staff have been working diligently to plan and roll out this process, including, in some cases, getting families access to devices their children can use to take advantage of these learning opportunities.

“Working closely with MMSD is a big part of what our program staff does, and as the district moves to distance learning, we knew it would be important for us to step up and offer support for the families we serve,” said Becky Steinhoff, Executive Director of the Goodman Community Center. “I’ve always said we have some of the most committed staff working with our young people, and as they’ve shifted gears and made new plans, I’m reminded of it all over again. I’m so proud of what they’re all doing to step up and support our families.”

Here’s what each program is doing:

• Early Childhood Education: Staff are offering 1-1.5 hours of programming per day for preschool and 4K students, shared out via the SeeSaw app. They are also finding Chromebooks and tablets for families who don’t have access to devices.
• Elementary Afterschool: Staff are planning virtual clubs that will be filmed in their homes and uploaded to the Goodman YouTube channel.
• Middle & High School: Staff plan to continue many of the regular afterschool clubs students were able to participate in at the Center, and they are also creating art supply kits that they are then dropping off for families who need them.
• Transition Academy: This alternative to traditional high school has shifted to 100% distance learning, offering all the same classes students attended at the Center in a remote environment while maintaining the hands-on nature at the core of the Transition Academy. For students who do not have access to internet or devices, staff are dropping off study materials each week and collecting student work from the previous week.
• Girls Inc.: Staff are creating programming five days a week, many being offered live so girls can engage in conversation and find a safe space to express their concerns and have questions answered.

In addition to all of this, each program is also holding virtual office hours or reaching out to family and students to ensure that the Center continues to support their individual needs.

For more information about what the Goodman Community Center is doing in the wake of COVID-19, visit: goodmancenter.org/corona

About the Goodman Community Center

The Goodman Community Center is the largest community center in Dane County. The center offers many programs to strengthen the lives of preschoolers through teens, meals and social activities for older adults, a food pantry, a gymnasium and fitness center, catering services and community space. For more information about the Center, visit goodmancenter.org.

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MDC Raises More Than $6 Million for Venture Debt Fund

(MADISON, Wis.)—Madison Development Corporation’s (MDC’s) Venture Debt Fund, which provides financing for emerging growth companies in Dane County has successfully raised over $6.2 million for its sixth fund.

Since 2004, the MDC Venture Debt Fund has provided venture debt loans to over 60 Dane County companies that have created more than 1,400 high quality jobs in Dane County.

“Our goal is to keep high growth companies here in Dane County so they can create quality jobs that keep talent here in Wisconsin” said Lorrie Heinemann, Madison Development Corporation President & CEO and Venture Debt Fund Co-Manager.  “Our Venture Debt Fund continues to be a resource for many local companies when growth capital is critical.”

The Fund’s participants include MGE, Capitol Bank, Monona Bank, State Bank of Cross Plains, City of Fitchburg, First Business Bank, Middleton Area Development Corporation, Settlers Bank, Town Bank, Starion Bank, Bank of Sun Prairie, McFarland State Bank, Oak Bank, Old National Bank, Incredible Bank, Park Bank and MDC.

Companies that have received funding include TomoTherapy, Phoenix Nuclear, PerBlue Entertainment, EnsoData, Stemina Biomarker, Digsite and GrocerKey.

The MDC Venture Debt Fund typically provides financing for companies who reached revenue stage and have received an angel or seed round of funding. The venture loans are nondilutive to equity shareholders which allows companies to access capital at a predictable cost while maintaining ownership and control.

For more information about the MDC Venture Debt Fund program, visit https://www.mdcorp.org/venture-financing.

About Madison Development Corporation

Madison Development Corporation is a non-profit organization that owns and manages 305 affordable 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, helping to create over 5,000 quality jobs in Dane County.

Per Mar & Midwest Alarm Services Expand in Nebraska

DES MOINES, Iowa – Per Mar Security Service, a leading provider of total security solutions for residential and commercial clients and the parent company to Midwest Alarm Services, is pleased to announce it has acquired GT Fire & Security based in Grand Island, NE. GT Fire & Security was founded by Gary and Tracy Hesman in 2008.

Brian Duffy, COO of Per Mar, said, “GT Fire & Security is a great company founded by wonderful people.  We are happy to have found such a perfect mutual fit.”

Gary and Tracy Hesman and the technicians from GT Fire & Security will be joining the Midwest Alarm Services team, and will continue to provide service from the Grand Island, Nebraska office.

“This is a merger of two companies who prize their employees and customers above all else,” said Doug Richard, President of Midwest Alarm Services. “By combining operations, both Midwest Alarm Services and GT will be able to improve their delivery of products and services.”

About Per Mar Security Services

Established in 1953, Per Mar Security Services is the largest, family-owned, full-service security company in the Midwest with more than 2,300 team members, operating in 23 branch locations. The company provides full-service security solutions for homes and businesses including security officer services, smart home automation, burglar and fire alarms, access control, security cameras, alarm monitoring, investigative services and background checks. For more information about Per Mar Security Services, please visit permarsecurity.com.

About Midwest Alarm Services

Established in 1950, Midwest Alarm Services is a family-owned company specializing in life safety systems across four states. The company is a leading NOTIFER dealer, and provides life safety systems and services including card access systems, fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers/hoods, fire inspections, master clock systems, monitoring, nurse call systems, fire alarm system design/layout and video surveillance. For more information about Midwest Alarm Services, please visit midwestalarmservices.com