Scientific Survey Research Firm Merges with Civic Engagement Technology Company

NRC and Polco merger offers local governments the best in performance management research and civic engagement services.

Digital engagement platform Polco and survey research firm National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) are pleased to announce their merger. Together, NRC and Polco offer the best in civic engagement through resident surveys and communication technology to local governments and other public sector entities.

“Community leaders need good data, both to make immediate decisions and to measure performance over time. We are bringing together two companies, under one roof, that have each defined public engagement,” said CEO Nick Mastronardi. “It’s time to expand the ways organizations communicate with their stakeholders and serve their needs.”

NRC and Polco have combined at a pivotal time. Shoehorning tech platforms into civic applications they were not designed for has led to increased polarization and fractured communications. “Now, more than ever, local government officials must understand residents’ needs,” said Tom Miller, current Polco Board Director and Founder of NRC. “City staff have become more tech savvy and reliant on data. They need better and more accessible information to succeed in creating the livable communities that residents deserve and expect.”

Mastronardi agrees that Polco and NRC’s joint services are essential for today’s decision-makers. “Well designed platforms, structured communications, and quality data can bring communities back together and also highlight new opportunities for cities to increase resident satisfaction and quality of life. There are a lot of thoughtful people who are busy and can’t always make it to a town hall or city council meeting. But now they can lend their voices in a civil, organized way.”

About National Research Center, Inc. (NRC)

Both companies share the mission to help communities move forward through resident input, which has motivated National Research Center over the last 25 years. NRC has become a thought-leader in the survey industry and the gold standard for public opinion research and evaluation methodology.

NRC staff are leading experts and experienced practitioners. They are authors of numerous articles and books, and public speakers who present research findings and facilitate trainings for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the American Evaluation Association (AEA), and National League of Cities (NLC), to name a few.

Hundreds of public-sector organizations across the country use NRC surveys for performance measurement, budgeting, strategic planning, and decision-making. NRC’s nationwide, benchmark database holds hundreds of thousands of resident opinions – making it the largest of its kind.

NRC is also a long-standing Strategic Partner of ICMA, a charter member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Transparency Initiative, a Corporate Partner of the Alliance for Innovation (AFI), and has been named a Top Local Government Vendor by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL).

The firm will continue to provide clients with top-quality survey research, consulting, and benchmark comparisons. Now the merger creates new opportunities for NRC to produce actionable results in convenient and innovative ways.

About Polco

Polco represents the next generation of civic engagement and communication technology. The four-year-old technology company tripled in size over the last two years. They have worked with  cities in more than 23 states.

Polco’s online platform takes policy polling to the next level. Their unique verification capabilities  and key design features add reliability to results and foster civility. Polco produces organized data, dashboards, and maps in real-time for city officials. The platform is especially useful for clients with immediate decision-making needs, including local and state governments, special districts, schools and universities, and nonprofit organizations.

Polco also takes special measures to preserve respondent privacy. After verifying respondents, Polco only shares aggregated, de-identified results with city officials. Individual level data are never shared with the city or any third party.

This award-winning civic engagement platform has been profiled in numerous publications, including Governing Magazine. Polco is also the only technology firm ever to be named a Savings and Solutions Enterprise Partner for the National League of Cities (NLC).

Polco staff have strong backgrounds in city management, public policy, communications technology, data, and software engineering. The team itself has been a major component to Polco’s ingenuity and fast-growing success. “We are committed to continue working hard to put the best products, technologies, and services into the hands of city officials. We truly want to give them and their residents a great experience, and to empower communities to take next steps confidently,” Mastronardi expressed.

NRC and Polco: Merger for the Future of Civic Engagement

Moving ahead, National Research Center and Polco will continue to provide the staple services and features they are known for. Current surveys being conducted by NRC will remain unchanged, and clients will keep the same access to the Polco platform.

Now NRC and Polco are looking toward the future. Their combined R&D team is already working on digital reports, interactive dashboards, new uses of Polco’s online engagement tool, and other innovations.

Miller observed, “Both companies saw clearly the synergies of merging, as the world of survey research and resident engagement are melding. Rapid policy sounding and long-term performance trends are equally essential to the success of our public-sector clients.”

Polco and NRC plan for new and expanded services to make surveys and polls easier to administer, promote faster feedback, and produce deeper analytics. Cities, towns, and counties may also be able to host two-way communications more frequently.

As the technology and survey industries evolve, Polco and NRC promise to move forward with the needs of their public-sector and non-profit clients first in mind.

“Some of these changes are inevitable,” said Mastronardi. “We are committed to doing it the right way that’s best for cities and residents.”

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For more information about Polco and National Research Center, Inc. (NRC), visit them online at www.polco.us and www.n-r-c.com.

Building Community in Wake of August Floods

Kickapoo River Valley was hit hard by the flooding that affected much of Southwest Wisconsin last August. Several commercial and residential buildings experienced significant damage necessitating demolition. The August flooding has taken a significant toll on the community. The incident spurred local resident and Mead & Hunt employee Scott Lind to action.

As an involved member of the community, Scott could see the emotional, environmental, and physical toll the flooding had on the area surrounding the Kickapoo Valley River. With the help of fellow employee Mark Sauer, Scott was able to enact positive change in his community by creating a team of Mead & Hunt employees dedicated to removing flood debris from the Kickapoo River.

The project struck a chord for many within the company who were themselves affected by the flooding. Due to the high level of interest and dedication, the company provided time off for employees to participate as well as funding for the project. This funding allowed the Kickapoo Valley River to hire a local logging company to remove a large walk-in cooler from the center of the river, along with multiple log jams and other debris.

This cleanup project is vital to the community as the local topography makes farming and transportation difficult, so visitors to the area represent a large source of income. Kayaking, canoeing and tubing in the Kickapoo River is a significant driver of tourists to the area. Keeping the river as beautiful as possible is therefore critical from an environmental, social and financial perspective.

Mead & Hunt believes in empowering employees to enact positive change within their own communities where they see need. For the Kickapoo Valley River community, seeing people come together to rise above the effects of the flooding to actively move forward is a vital morale boost, and also has the potential to drive sorely-needed revenue to the area.

Mead & Hunt is an employee-owned consulting firm and remains strong on ENR’s Top 500 design firm list with a national ranking of 119th in 2019. The firm employs over 750 employees from 30+ offices located across the nation and was named by CE News one of the top 10 engineering companies to work for in the nation.

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Media Contacts:

• Kathy Schumann, Employee Communications, schumann@meadhunt.com 608-443-0374
• Chloe McKenzie, Corporate Communications, mckenzie@meadhunt.com 608-443-0389

gBETA Social Impact Seeks Applications from Social Entrepreneurs and Change Makers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact

Lauren Usher

lauren@gener8tor.com

(305) 607-3265

gBETA Social Impact Seeks Applications from Social Entrepreneurs and Change Makers

Five teams making a positive difference in the community will be chosen to participate

MADISON – Nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor and the American Family Institute for Corporate and Social Impact are taking applications for the second cohort of gBETA Social Impact, a free accelerator for startup companies and emerging nonprofits making a positive impact in the community.

gBETA Social Impact is a free, seven-week program that provides participants with intensive and individualized coaching, social entrepreneurship- and nonprofit-centered curriculum,  and access to gener8tor’s national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners, funders, and investors.

Five teams will be selected for the program, which will be focused on groups making a positive impact in various areas, including K-12 education, healthy youth development, economic opportunity for underserved communities, and initiatives for sustainable and resilient cities. gBETA Social Impact is based out of the Spark – Madison’s entrepreneurial hub. The location creates opportunities for collaboration with the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Applications for gBETA Social Impact are open and startups and nonprofits can apply at https://www.gbetasocialimpact.com/gbeta-social-impact-app.

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gener8tor is a nationally ranked accelerator that invests in high-growth startups. gener8tor supports the growth of these startups through its network of experienced mentors, technologists, corporate partners, angel investors and venture capitalists. gener8tor is a proud member of the Global Accelerator Network (GAN) and is sponsored by American Family Insurance. gener8tor is a GOLD-tier accelerator in the U.S. as ranked by the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project. Learn more about gener8tor at www.gener8tor.com.

gBETA is a program of nationally ranked startup accelerator, gener8tor. gBETA is a free, seven-week accelerator for early-stage startups. Each program is capped at five teams, and requires no fees and no equity.

American Family Insurance is the nation’s 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group and ranks 311 on the Fortune 500 list. The company sells American Family-brand products, including auto, homeowners, life, business and farm/ranch insurance, primarily through its exclusive agents in 19 states.

Attic Angel Association celebrates 130th birthday year with release of book and LIFE IS A PLAYGROUND! event and fundraiser

For more information, contact:
Kelly.Cheramy@AtticAngel.org
608-662-8886

Madison’s historic Attic Angel Association of philanthropic women will celebrate its 130^th birthday by giving a gift to the greater community: a playground to support children affected by early trauma.

Just as the Attic Angels, back in 1898, invited the whole city to the University Armory (now the UW Red Gym) to have a good time and raise money to build Madison’s badly needed first hospital, today’s Angels repeat the call for the entire city to come together for a time of play and fundraising. This time, though, it’s a mostly-outdoor birthday party, themed Life is a Playground!, on the nonprofit Attic Angel Community campus, and their yearlong fundraising goal of $50,000 is for a playground that will serve homeless children and others enrolled at The Playing Field early learning center of Madison.

The birthday party will be Sunday, July 28, 2019, from 1 to 4 pm, kicking off with members of the UW Marching Band performing their famous 5^th Quarter. A map and listing of all activities is online at www.atticangel.org/130. Gifts to the fundraiser will be accepted at the July 28 event and now through December online at www.atticangel.org/130.

“Our fundraising and partnerships of the past and for this event reflect the building of our community, but the event itself is even more about community-building,” says Mary Ann Drescher, president/CEO of the nonprofit Attic Angel Association.

The sponsor lineup reads like a Who’s Who of Madison history: Wisconsin State Journal (1839), Gallagher Tent and Awning (1880), Findorff (1890), UnityPoint Meriter (1903), Smart Motors (1908), Klein-Dickert (1919),  Kessenich’s (1929), Summit Credit Union (1935), Chocolate Shoppe (1962), Culver’s (1984) and the nation’s oldest commercial playground manufacturer, Burke of Fond du Lac (1920). Businesses founded more recently also support the event.

The Association’s Madison roots run deep, as storied in the newly released commemorative book THE ONE AND ONLY: Attic Angel, a Madison Original Since 1889. It tells of two sisters whose concern for children blossomed into a 130-year tradition of philanthropy that shaped a city by focusing on improvements to health and well-being.

Today, more than 500 dues-paying volunteers from all walks of life make up today’s Attic Angel Association. Their mission is to identify community needs affecting children and seniors, and then do something about them. That pattern of progress is shown through their list of accomplishments and is reflected in the decision to raise The Playing Field’s need for a sensory playground to the level of being a fundraising focus for their milestone anniversary year.

– 30 –

Attic Angel’s Contributions to the Madison of Today:

• 1898 – The Angels held their first charity ball in the UW Red Gym, raising the equivalent of $15,000 to help build Madison’s first hospital.
• 1899 – Madison’s first children’s library was the work of the Angels, who donated all their materials to the Madison Public Library when it opened a children’s reading room in 1902.
• 1903 – Madison General Hospital (now UnityPoint Health – Meriter) opened, and the Angels provided for and maintained the children’s ward.
• 1908 – Before organized health care, the Angels raised money to hire the city’s first nurse to serve Madison families. The Attic Angel Visiting Nurse Service is now known as SSM Health at Home.
• 1915 – The Angels began what became a network of well-child clinics and is today overseen by Public Health – Madison & Dane County.
• 1953 – Seeking better care for seniors, the Angels opened the city’s first non-government nursing home and set the gold standard for senior care. In 1975, they pioneered the idea of a “well-retirement” community in Madison. Their work lives on in the nonprofit Attic Angel Community of senior living and health care, located on the border of Madison and Middleton.
• 1969 – The Angels took up the cause of high-quality early education for low-income children by constructing and maintaining a building for a south Madison child care center. Now a charter school, it is known as One City Schools.
• The Angels’ affinity for playgrounds and parks comes from a desire for wellness. In 1908, they made possible the city’s first supervised playground at Burr Jones Field, in 1998 they made a large grant to help build Warner Park Community Center, and in 2019 they are raising money to build a sensory playground for children experiencing trauma and other challenges.

Additional Historical Links to Today:

• Charity Balls/Galas – The Angels may well have begun this tradition back in 1898!
• Historic Madison names of streets, parks and businesses have “Angel” in their DNA: Women from these families were members of Attic Angel Association: Atwood, Brittingham, Fairchild, Findorff, Kayser, Main, Proudfit, Rennebohm, Smart and Vilas. In addition, Sen. William Vilas is an honorary member of Attic Angel Association, along with General EE Bryant, who is the father of the two founders. Both of these men were influential Madison citizens whose own impact reached a federal level.
• The home of the founders (now called General Bryant Manor) still stands on Mansion Hill.
• The Bryant graves are in Forest Hill and Resurrection Cemeteries
• The Annie Stewart Fountain by Vilas Zoo, which has been a target for restoration, is linked to one of the very earliest Attic Angels.
• Angel Marge Davenport is a 50-year halo award honoree (Association member who has served half a century); she lives at Attic Angel Place and is still active as a volunteer after 54 years!

Causes:
Each year, Attic Angel Association selects a community issue to focus on and then, from the funds raised largely through their signature sales each year, awards grants to Dane County nonprofits that meet the outlined needs. 2019-20’s focus is support for families of children from birth to age 13 who are experiencing stress and trauma. In spring 2019, they provided nearly $220,000 in grants to Dane County nonprofits that serve children and seniors. Since recording began in 1983, their grants exceed $7 million.

Special Birthday Cause:
For Attic Angel’s 130^th anniversary year, they are adding a special cause: a playground that will meet the unique needs of homeless children and others enrolled in The Playing Field early learning center (www.playingfieldmadison.org). The Playing Field specializes in an approach to learning called Conscious Discipline®, and they are pioneers in trying to solve some societal issues based in homelessness and mental health issues.

The Angels invite the whole city and beyond to join in their mission by giving to this playground fundraiser: www.atticangel.org/130.

130^th Anniversary Commemorative Book:
To be released April 30, THE ONE AND ONLY: Attic Angel, a Madison Original Since 1889 is a beautifully written and designed tribute to our own local “American girl” story! It tells about two sisters whose concern for children blossomed into a 130-year Madison tradition of philanthropy and progress to benefit both children and seniors. You’ll also learn how they came up with their most unusual organizational name, and how it still applies today!

Hilton Madison Monona Terrace to Undergo Full Renovation

MILWAUKEE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Apr. 23, 2019– Marcus^® Hotels & Resorts, a nationally recognized hotel management company and division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), today announced extensive renovations are underway at the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace, in Madison, Wis. to be completed in time for the busy 2019 summer travel season. The Hilton Madison Monona Terrace is owned and operated by Marcus Hotels & Resorts.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190423005127/en/

“Since its opening in 2001, the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace has been the city’s first choice for business and leisure travelers. The current changes underway will provide guests with more amenities and conveniences to make their travel experience easy and fun, while offering high-level service guests expect when staying at our hotel. We are very thankful to be a part of the community and downtown Madison, and we look forward to continuing to maintain our excellent reputation as Madison’s leading hotel,” said Skip Harless, general manager.

All 240 spacious guest rooms and suites will be renovated with a fresh new design, inspired by the vibrant university community. New features and amenities include brand-new bedding, stone-topped furniture, and state of the art 55” smart TVs. All double rooms will be converted to two queen beds, and king rooms will be updated with rejuvenating walk-in showers. All rooms will receive exquisite new tile surrounds and double headed showers for a soothing and calming wellness experience.

The lobby will be completely transformed to include a free-standing services desk for a more personalized check-in experience. Additionally, a grab-n-go option will be available for busy travelers to enjoy a quick caffeine boost from the Starbucks^® coffee kiosk or travel friendly foods to cure hunger day or night.

Harless said the renovations also include reimagining the hotel’s food and beverage options to better meet travelers diverse dining preferences. “In late April, we will say farewell to the longstanding Capitol ChopHouse. In its place, we will create the city’s most unique, one-of-a-kind private event space. To be called The Liberty Room, the event space features the historic façade of the Madison Catholic Diocese building first established in 1938, and will serve as a gracious and elegant gathering space for weddings, private events and important meetings. We are very excited to unveil this intimate and exclusive meeting and event space at a key location in the heart of Madison’s busy capital city center.”

The Liberty Room will feature a seasonal outside patio, 1,900 square feet of event space to accommodate up to 125 guests, a pre-function area, and private street entrance with valet and self-parking available. An exciting array of culinary selections will be available, ranging from interactive food stations to elegant, customized four-course meals using only the highest quality local ingredients. The Liberty Room is expected to open by August 1, 2019 and the Hilton Sales Team is already accepting reservations at 608-260-2363.

Additional food and beverage renovations include reconfiguring Olive Lounge into The Audrey Kitchen & Bar. Named after Audrey Munson, who modeled for the statue on the dome atop the State Capitol building, the new restaurant will offer a collection of classic and progressive cocktails, alongside a menu of lighter fare, tasty shareables and after-five entrees. Executive Chef Jeff Orr has designed a diverse menu of comfortable favorites infusing world flavors.

Additional renovations include maximizing the event space in the 14^th floor Capitol Club and the Hilton Honors members’ lounge, as well as updates to the pool and fitness areas.

“For over 18 years, the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace has always been one of the preferred destinations for guests visiting Madison. As time evolves, so do travelers’ preferences. With these renovations, we are excited to create new and fresh experiences for our guests and local residents to explore,” said Gregory S. Marcus, president and CEO of The Marcus Corporation. “This hotel has played a meaningful role in the evolution of the state’s capital city. We are proud of our history in Madison and look forward to contributing to its growth and visibility as a desirable destination with so much to offer.”

Located in the heart of Madison’s busy capital, and overlooking the shimmering shores of Lake Monona, the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace is connected via a climate-controlled skywalk to the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired, Gold LEED certified Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, and is just blocks away from the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and Madison’s dining, shopping, entertainment, art and theatre districts. The hotel offers complimentary transportation to and from Dane County Airport, has a fully-equipped fitness center, indoor pool and whirlpool, and offers self and valet covered parking. The hotel will remain pet-friendly for furry Fido travelers as well.

Since its opening in 2001, the Hilton Madison has earned numerous hospitality and dining awards including the TripAdvisor^® Certificate of Excellence Award, Best Hotel by Madison Magazine, AAA Executive Choice Award, Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and numerous best meetings awards.

For more information on the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace or to make reservations, please visit: www.hiltonmadison.com. For more information on the latest news and updates from Marcus Hotels & Resorts, please visit: http://media.marcushotels.com.

About Marcus Hotels & Resorts

Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), owns and/or manages 22 hotels, resorts and other properties in the U.S. The company’s distinctive portfolio includes city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts, historic properties, and premium branded and independent first-class hotels. Marcus Hotels & Resorts is an approved operator for all major lodging brands. A leader in the hospitality industry since 1962, Marcus Hotels & Resorts creates asset value for hotel owners through its expertise in management, development and product repositioning. This includes hotel food and beverage concepts developed by its Marcus Restaurant Group, featuring premier brands such as Mason Street Grill, ChopHouse, Miller Time Pub & Grill and SafeHouse Restaurants. For more information, please visit: http://www.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter(@MarcusHotels).

About The Marcus Corporation

Headquartered in Milwaukee, The Marcus Corporation is a leader in the lodging and entertainment industries, with significant company-owned real estate assets. In addition to its lodging division, its theatre division, Marcus Theatres^®, is the fourth largest theatre circuit in the U.S. and currently owns or operates 1,098 screens at 90 locations in 17 states. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.marcuscorp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190423005127/en/

Source: Marcus Hotels & Resorts

Jessica Huebner
jessica@reputationpartners.com
(414) 376-2348