Vote for Verona Fall Fest in USA Today’s Best Fall Festival Poll

Fall festivals are a great way to mark the changing of the seasons, celebrate the harvest, enjoy the outdoors, and have some fun with friends and family. And there’s something magical about being surrounded by colorful leaves as the sounds of merriment fill the crisp air. 

USA Today put together a list of 20 of the country’s best fall festivals — nominated by an expert panel — including Verona’s Fall Fest. You can vote once per day until voting ends on Monday, September 8 at noon ET. The 10 winning festivals will be announced on Wednesday, September 17.

Learn more and cast your votes here.

MMSD Engages Improve Your Tomorrow to Support College-Focused, Historically Underserved High School Students

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has contracted with Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT), a national educational nonprofit that specializes in supporting young men of color on their journey to and through college, to provide mentoring, academic supports and culturally responsive programming in select MMSD schools for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years.

The organization’s mission is to dramatically increase the number of Black male students who graduate from college. The organization’s model is rooted in building long-term, trusting relationships with students, strengthening their connection to school and helping them see themselves as college-bound and career-ready. 

“We see this as a direct investment in a demographic of our high school students who have historically been underserved,” said Mary Jankovich, MMSD’s executive director of college, career and community readiness. “IYT’s approach provides the mentorship and support that help students envision themselves as college graduates and leaders in their communities.”

Through its College Academy program, the nonprofit works with students across multiple years to build a foundation for success. Year one emphasizes relationships and belonging; year two focuses on improved attendance and positive behavior; and year three highlights measurable academic growth. This staged approach helps schools and districts track progress over time and ensures that the work leads to sustainable outcomes.

“We know that students thrive when they feel connected, affirmed and supported,” said Dr. Carlettra Stanford, MMSD’s assistant superintendent of schools and learning. “IYT’s programming is designed to create those conditions while also addressing key drivers of student success, from attendance to academics. It’s a holistic model that aligns with our district’s goals.”

In addition to mentoring and academic support, IYT also provides enrichment opportunities designed to expose students to college campuses, career pathways and leadership development. These experiences help students build confidence, expand their networks and prepare for life after high school.

The district selected IYT after reviewing its proven success in other districts, where participants demonstrated higher levels of engagement, improved graduation rates, and increased enrollment in postsecondary education. MMSD will work closely with IYT to track outcomes and ensure that the program is meeting the needs of Madison students. All services will be provided at no cost to families, and outcomes will be reviewed annually to guide future improvements. 

To learn more about the opportunities available to MMSD high school, including its early college academies, please visit the MMSD website. 

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison Seeking Donor Engagement Manager

Organization: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison (RMHC-Madison)
Position Title: Donor Engagement Manager
Reports To: Director of Development
Classification: Salaried, full-time (40 hours per week)
Work Location: Primarily In Person
Salary Range: $50,000-$60,000

Job Purpose
Since 1993, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison (RMHC-Madison) has been dedicated to keeping families close when it matters most—while their child receives medical care at area hospitals. Through our core programs—the Ronald McDonald House and the Ronald McDonald Family Room at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Madison—we provide thousands of families each year with access to quality healthcare and the support they need to remain actively involved in their child’s care.

RMHC-Madison offers a true home-away-from-home with cozy rooms, nourishing meals, and compassionate assistance for families who may have traveled hours—or even flown across the country—for their child’s treatment. Guided by our core values, every member of our team is committed to delivering compassionate care and unwavering support to the families we serve, our partners, and one another.

The Donor Engagement Manager advances RMHC-Madison’s mission by curating impactful donor experiences and touchpoints. This includes developing and implementing a comprehensive stewardship plan to foster loyalty, deepen mission understanding, inspire further engagement, and increase revenue. Additionally, the Donor Engagement Manager will collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams to enhance donor communications, highlight program impact, and drive organizational growth.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement donor cultivation and stewardship strategies for major, mid-level recurring and new donors. This includes giving societies and processes that ensure timely, consistent, and meaningful engagement through personalized outreach and conversations.
• Collaborate with the Director of Development and CEO to support the stewardship of their key donor portfolios, assisting with meeting preparation, follow-up, and personalized correspondence when necessary.
• Manage individual portfolio of donors with a focus on creating lasting relationships and making strategic asks for general operating support, campaigns or special initiatives, aligning donor interests with organizational priorities.
• Develop donor impact reports and custom stewardship deliverables to represent donor impact visually and narratively.
• Plan and execute small-scale donor engagement events to deepen relationships and highlight donor impact.
• Oversee and support gratitude volunteer(s) to ensure timely and meaningful acknowledgment of lower-level gifts, reinforcing a culture of appreciation and making all donors feel valued and connected to the mission.
• Maintain detailed records in donor CRM (Raiser’s Edge), ensuring all interactions, follow-ups and moves management steps are documented to support overall fundraising success.
• Partner with the Development Department to plan and shape fundraising campaigns, appeals, and donor communications, contributing to strategic messaging that aligns with organizational priorities and resonates with key audiences.
• Collect and curate family stories to support donor engagement efforts.
• Collaborate with Director of Administration on the development, review and implementation of donor lists used for communication and mailings.
• Lead the growth and retention of GEMs program, RMHC-Madison’s monthly giving program.
• Research grant opportunities that align with RMHC-Madison’s mission and assist with drafting, editing, and preparing grant proposals and supporting materials.
• Track grant deadlines, deliverables, and funder requirements in collaboration with the CEO and Director of Development.
• Represent RMHC-M at community engagement and networking events.
• Attend RMHC-M events, including signature events, applicable donor events and House events.

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work expected in this role. It is not a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills that may be required.

Ideal Characteristics

• A friendly, positive, and professional demeanor, combined with strong attention to detail.
• A proactive willingness to assist in areas beyond the core responsibilities of the role.
• Authentic commitment to RMHC’s Core Competencies: Mission-Driven, Collaboration, Integrity, Inclusion, and Adaptability.
• Forward-thinking, innovative and energetic professional with proven success in donor stewardship, capable of developing and orchestrating the implementation of a multi-year plan.
• Willingness to help in areas that do not fall directly within position’s responsibilities

Knowledge, Experience, Skills, and Abilities Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in event or non-profit management, public relations or related field and/or 5+ years of experience in successful event management, donor database management, or non-profit development.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Must be able to present oneself professionally at public events.
• Ability to work well as part of a small, dynamic team, as well as independently.
• Demonstrates strong judgement skills and attention to detail while meeting deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products, database, and event management software.
• Ability to identify and maintain confidential information.
• Ability to travel locally or regionally occasionally. Valid driver’s license required.
• Knowledge and skills working with a diverse clientele from different cultures, languages, and religious beliefs.

Preferred

• Experience with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, GiveSmart, and Mailchimp, or compatible software preferred
• Previous experience working in a donor-focused or nonprofit organization.

We encourage all interested candidates to apply—even if you don’t meet every listed requirement. While the following qualifications are helpful, we value diverse backgrounds and experiences that strengthen our team and our work.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential job responsibilities.
• Position is full-time with primary hours falling during stated business hours. However occasional evenings and weekend hours will be required.
• Work is primarily performed in an office environment with minimal exposure to injury.
  • This position is primarily on-site, with the majority of responsibilities requiring a regular presence in our administrative offices inside the Ronald McDonald House. However, there is some flexibility for remote work, depending on business needs and in coordination with your supervisor.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 30 pounds.
• Ongoing daily use of computers and telephone.
• Walk, sit, stand, bend, climb, and use hands to, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk, hear, read, count, and write.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
• Must be able to work with frequent interruption.
• Low to moderate noise level.

Benefits

• To support our team members and their families beyond the workplace, RMHC-M offers a supportive work environment along with a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, a generous retirement contribution, and paid time off to promote work-life balance.

How to Apply

• If interested in this opportunity, please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references by Wednesday, September 10 via email to: jobs@theemployergroup.com.

Big Joe Donates Custom Walkie Stacker to University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Engineering

Madison, WI (August 19, 2025) – When a 1960s-era Big Joe walkie stacker was discovered still in use at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Engineering, the team at Big Joe Forklifts knew they had to do something special. In honor of the decades-old workhorse still serving the university’s engineering department, Big Joe donated a brand new IBH stacker, branded with the University of Wisconsin’s signature red and white, to support and empower the next generation of engineers.

Big Joe’s New Product Development Engineer and former intern and alumni at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Zach Skelton noted, “I was walking through the basement of the engineering building and did a double take. I thought, ‘Wait a minute…that’s a Big Joe!’ At that moment, I knew there was an opportunity not just to celebrate this equipment standing the test of time, but to help the university modernize its processes. I’m glad to be a part of making this a reality and providing new resources to students and faculty alike.”

The new Big Joe stacker will be used in instructional and operational settings within the College of Engineering, giving students hands-on experience with modern material handling equipment.

“We are truly excited to not only help the University of Wisconsin at Madison continue on its mission to train future engineers, but to see the full life cycle of Big Joe products in action,” said Big Joe’s VP of Engineering, Mat McEachern. “We look forward to working with our dealer partner Wolter as well as university staff and students as a part of the Madison community.”

“As a Big Joe dealer, this opportunity to support UW Madison is a huge priority as Wolter is focused on supporting the future of Wisconsin industry and the community at large,” said Ross Jeremiah, president of Wolter Midwest. “We are happy to continue to support UW Madison as this new stacker provides support and dependability to the engineering department for years to come.”

Wisconsin-born and built, the Big Joe IBH is proudly manufactured about an hour northwest of the university, in the Wisconsin Dells. Staying true to its Wisconsin roots, the original forklift will be moved from the university to a new home at Big Joe’s Madison headquarters, where it will serve as a testament to the longevity of Big Joe equipment, the spirit of innovation, and partnership that powers progress.

About Big Joe

Established in 1951, Big Joe is a customer-centric, North American material handling solutions company, offering a variety of purpose-built integrated lithium-ion forklifts designed to replace internal combustion, innovative material handling equipment for warehouse and distribution centers, and market-leading autonomous solutions. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, we provide world-class market-driven solutions with a reputation for exceptional customer service through our nationwide dealership network.

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Capitol Bank Announces Ken Thompson’s Retirement

Madison, WI (August 15, 2025): After 29 years of distinguished service, Ken Thompson
will be retiring from Capitol Bank on October 9th. Ken will remain on the Capitol Bank
Board of Directors as Chairman.

“My journey with Capitol Bank has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Ken. “Reflecting on
nearly three decades of growth, I am filled with pride. From humble beginnings, our Bank has
become a strong, stable, and respected community institution. This is all thanks to the trust of
our customers, the support of our shareholders, and the unwavering commitment of our
employees.”

Ken joined the Bank in 1996, helping lead the growth of the organization to $600 million
in assets and three Madison-area locations. After shepherding a thoughtful leadership
transition these past few years, Ken has positioned Capitol Bank for continued success
and growth. Ken’s commitment to the community is evident in the countless hours he
spent supporting numerous non-profit organizations and holding leadership roles within
the banking industry.

“Ken’s long-term commitment to Capitol Bank and his dedication to giving back are textbook
examples of what it means to be a community banker. While he won’t be going far, I’m excited for
Ken to take this well-earned retirement as we celebrate a banking career spanning four decades
of success,” said Justin Hart, CEO.

About Capitol Bank: Capitol Bank, a locally owned and operated community bank, is
committed to serving the communities in which we live, work, and do business. We are
proud of the partnerships we have established with organizations, businesses, and
individuals in the Greater Madison area. Our philosophy of community support is
demonstrated at the corporate level, as well as in the time and energy our employees
devote to our community each year. Capitol Bank is Member FDIC and an Equal Housing
Lender