Bank of Sun Prairie Recognized for Excellence in Financial Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             December 18, 2023
Contact:

Hannah Flanders, WBF Coordinator                        Jimmy Kauffman, Bank of Sun Prairie President and CEO

hflanders@wisbank.com                                              608.837.4511| jimmy.kauffman@bankofsunprairie.com

Bank of Sun Prairie Recognized for Excellence in Financial Education

Bank’s Pam Blattner and Pamela Sanderson also recognized for Financial Literacy Achievements

Sun Prairie, Wis. – On November 16 at an event held in Wisconsin Dells, the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) honored Bank of Sun Prairie with the Foundation’s Excellence in Financial Education Award for the bank’s organization-wide dedication to financial education. Two of their team members, Assistant Vice President Senior Branch Manager Pam Blattner and Trust Assistant Pamela Sanderson were also recognized for their efforts in promoting financial literacy to Wisconsin’s consumers and each received WBF Certificates of Recognition for their individual efforts in advancing financial literacy.

As the nonprofit arm of the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA), WBF’s mission is to promote financial literacy and capability to the public and to broaden consumer empowerment in the financial services industry through research, education, grants, and scholarships. During the 2022–2023 fiscal year, more than 360 bankers across the state participated in financial education-focused presentations helping to reach more than 24,700 consumers of all ages. This outstanding effort is underscored in the efforts of the Bank of Sun Prairie team.

“Throughout Wisconsin, bankers go above and beyond in their commitment to their communities,” said Chair Rose Oswald Poels of the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation. “We thank the team at Bank of Sun Prairie — with special thanks to Pam and Pamela — for their outstanding work in helping individuals and families to build foundational financial skills.”

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About the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation

The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) is a Wisconsin non-stock corporation organized for charitable and educational purposes. WBF is dedicated to promoting financial literacy and financial responsibility to the public and to broadening consumer empowerment in the financial services industry primarily through research and education. (IRS Public Charity Employer Identification Number 46-3791061)

About the Wisconsin Bankers Association

Founded in 1892, WBA is the state’s largest financial industry trade association, representing more than 200 commercial banks and savings institutions, their branches, and over 30,000 employees. The Association represents banks of all sizes in Wisconsin, and nearly 98 percent of banks in the state are WBA members.

About Bank of Sun Prairie

Bank of Sun Prairie is a locally owned, full-service community bank with $719.3 million in assets and five locations in Sun Prairie and Cottage Grove, Wis. Its mission is to be trusted advisor for families, businesses and communities offering a complete range of services, while delivering fair returns for stockholders. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

Wisconsin Union: Winter-Themed Event Series Winter Carnival Brings Back Community Favorite Activities, Debuts New Events Feb. 7-10, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 13, 2023

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu 
Phone: (608) 262-8862

Read release online: union.wisc.edu/about/news/wintercarnival2024

WINTER-THEMED EVENT SERIES WINTER CARNIVAL BRINGS BACK COMMUNITY FAVORITE ACTIVITIES, DEBUTS NEW EVENTS FEB. 7-10, 2024

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union’s winter-themed event series, called Winter Carnival, will make its return to Madison for its 84th year Feb. 7-10, 2024, bringing with it both indoor and outdoor winter-themed activities, including the appearance of a beloved Carnival tradition: Lady Liberty on Lake Mendota.

The Winter Carnival lineup currently includes:

• Feb. 7
  • Curling
  • Open ice skating
  • $1 cheese curds
  • Family ice skating and games night
• Feb. 8
  • Open ice skating
  • New: Taylor Swift music ice skating night
  • Ice fishing derby presented by the Wisconsin Fishing Team in partnership with the Wisconsin Union
  • University Recreation & Wellbeing’s Connolly Classic Pond Hockey Tournament, open to University of Wisconsin–Madison students only
• Feb. 9
  • Inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty’s head, arm and torch on Lake Mendota
  • Open ice skating        
  • Learn to Skate, instructed by University Recreation & Wellbeing
  • New: Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games tournament, presented by University Recreation & Wellbeing
  • New: Winter Beats: a rhythm game challenge
  • Luminary-making
  • Nighttime snowshoeing on Lake Mendota
  • Snow Ball: live music, dancing, and swing dancing instruction
  • Introductory ice climbing
• Feb. 10
  • Inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty’s head, arm and torch on Lake Mendota
  • Fireworks
  • Skiing and snowboarding competition, called Rail Jam
  • Maple taffy-making
  • Scavenger hunt, called Secret Agent
  • New: Valentine’s Day and kindness greeting card-making as well as hot chocolate
  • New: snow shelter viewing
  • Family Fun in Alumni Park, presented by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, featuring family-friendly activities
  • Ice and alley games: curling, human bowling and cornhole
  • New: sock snowperson-making
  • New: mini horses photo opportunities and meet-and-greet
  • Open ice skating
  • Limited-time menu options for purchase: mac and cheese as well as chili
  • Viewing of the 39-foot iceboat, called the Mary B, built in 1945 in Madison

Most Winter Carnival events are free and open to the community. The event lineup is subject to change, including due to weather conditions. Some events include age restrictions, a registration requirement or other limitations.

“Winter is too long to not get outside and make the most of the season, and Winter Carnival is an opportunity to experience lots of winter fun and find out what you enjoy while making memories,” Outdoor UW Director Dave Elsmo said. “When an event series lineup includes an inflatable Statue of Liberty head and torch, a Taylor Swift-themed ice skating event, and ponies, you know it’s something you have to check out.”

2024 will mark the 84th year the Wisconsin Union team has hosted Winter Carnival. Each year, the team works with UW–Madison students and community partners to make the winter celebration series possible.

One historic Winter Carnival event brings an iconic New York City destination to Madison: the Statue of Liberty. The Wisconsin Union team brings out a to-scale, inflatable replica of the Statue of Liberty’s head, arm and torch to frozen Lake Mendota each year. The Lady Liberty tradition began in 1979 with a prank by the Pail and Shovel Party members and UW–Madison alumni Leon Varjian and Jim Mallon ’79, who made a Wisconsin Student Association campaign promise that they would bring the Statue of Liberty to Madison. The Pail and Shovel Party erected a Styrofoam Lady Liberty head, arm and torch on Lake Mendota.

Lady Liberty first returned to Lake Mendota as an inflatable Statue of Liberty in 2019. Those interested in learning more about its history can read about it here.

The Wisconsin Union team offers indoor spaces to warm up as well as indoor dining options at its building Memorial Union, which Winter Carnival guests can enjoy. Purchases at Memorial Union and Union South as well as donations to the Union help support the Union’s low-cost and free events, such as the Carnival, as well as Wisconsin Union student leadership opportunities. Wisconsin Union student leaders organize many Winter Carnival events.

The Wisconsin Union team will share details about Winter Carnival events at union.wisc.edu/wintercarnival in the coming weeks.

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About the Wisconsin Union

The Wisconsin Union enhances the lives of members and visitors through recreational, cultural, educational and social opportunities. Formed in 1907, the Wisconsin Union is a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Union and its tradition of providing experiences for a lifetime: union.wisc.edu.

Honkamp acquires top St. Louis firm

Honkamp, P.C., a Top 10­­­­ Midwest CPA and business advisory group, recently added one of the 20 largest CPA firms in the St. Louis metro area to its growing team.

Effective December 2, 2023, Schowalter & Jabouri, P.C. merged into Honkamp.

Schowalter & Jabouri is a full-service attest, tax, and business advisory firm in St. Louis with more than 30 employees, all of whom are being retained. They will continue to serve their current clients out of their St. Louis office.

The new location will be the first office in Missouri for Honkamp, which is headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa, and now has about 300 employees. In addition to St. Louis, the firm has eight offices in Iowa and Wisconsin.

“This merger represents another step in Honkamp’s growth, and we are thrilled to welcome a firm with such established roots in an exciting new market for us,” said Honkamp President and CEO Katie Thomas. “We are excited to announce this expansion, which will enable us to extend world-class service and groundbreaking solutions to an even broader spectrum of clients.”

Schowalter & Jabouri was founded in 1976 and has a longstanding reputation in the St. Louis area for providing outstanding client service to a wide range of industries. The merger into Honkamp only bolsters that service to clients, according to Schowalter & Jabouri President Jamie Jabouri.

“This is an ideal partnership,” Jabouri said. “Honkamp shares the same values we do. They exceeded our hopes for a firm that we can combine with, while also continuing our tradition of high-quality service of valued expertise, and of fostering an environment that our clients and colleagues are excited to be a part of, while providing greater opportunities for continued growth and a more secure future together.”

Art Kuesel and Marc Rosenberg consulted on the acquisition.

This marks Honkamp’s fourth acquisition in two years. Honkamp added Nigl Accounting LLP, based in Oshkosh, Wis., in December 2021. In November 2022, Honkamp acquired Vaassen, Pluemer CPAs, LLC, of Platteville, Wis., and the Cedar Falls, Iowa, office of Gosling & Co., P.C.

ABOUT HONKAMP

Honkamp, P.C. is a Top 10 Midwest CPA and business advisory group (Accounting Today, 2023) that was formerly known as Honkamp Krueger & Co., P.C. Founded in 1947 and serving client organizations from coast to coast, Honkamp’s clients range from privately held organizations to individuals and nonprofits. We specialize in industries including construction and real estate, dental practices, home health care, restaurants, manufacturing and distribution. Honkamp is headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa, with additional locations in Cedar Falls, Davenport, Hiawatha and Waukee in Iowa; Madison, Platteville and Oshkosh in Wisconsin; and St. Louis, Missouri.

Press contact: Honkamp Content Director Dustin Kass, 563-556-0123 or dustin.kass@honkamp.com

Potter Lawson Announces Leadership Transition

Madison, WI, December 12, 2023 – Building upon their history as Madison’s oldest architecture and interior design firm, Potter Lawson is excited to announce their next chapter as Rebecca Prochaska has transitioned to President and CEO from Beth Prochaska, as of December 1, 2023. Beth Prochaska has moved into her new role as Chairman of the Board.

In her role as President, Rebecca is responsible for spearheading strategy, driving innovation, business development, and overall management of the firm. Since joining the firm in 2004, Rebecca has demonstrated unwavering dedication and passion not only to the firm but the design profession as a whole. Rebecca is eager to carry on the firm’s heritage of client-focused award-winning design while executing a strong vision for the future of Potter Lawson. 

Beth Prochaska will remain active in the firm as Chairman of the Board where she will focus on client service strategy, business development, civic leadership, and market positioning. In her 43 years at Potter Lawson, Beth has championed efforts to build and maintain long term relationships with clients and business partners and will continue her strong presence as a community leader. 

“I am proud of what we’ve achieved together over the years, and am excited about the future,” said Beth. Rebecca’s vision brings a fresh perspective and I have a full confidence in her leadership.”

Rebecca Prochaska shared, “I am humbled and honored to be appointed as President and CEO of Potter Lawson and am excited to see our firm continue to deliver exceptional design with the best designers, architects and clients while also embracing technology and leading innovation, a hallmark of the firm for the last 110 years.”

About Potter Lawson

Located in Madison, WI, Potter Lawson has built a reputation for excellence dating back to 1913. Potter Lawson delivers award-winning architecture, interior design, planning, sustainable design, and construction administration services under one roof. A Certified Women Owned Business in the State of Wisconsin, we strive to add value to projects through innovation and creativity, aligning with client goals and delivering services that consistently meet and exceed expectations, and strengthen the fabric of the communities in which we live and work. Learn more by visiting www.potterlawson.com.

Media Contact:
Blake Sabatke, Marketing & Communications
Potter Lawson
blakes@potterlawson.com
608-274-2741

Madison Reading Project’s Community Book Drive Is Close to Reaching Goal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MORE INFORMATION:
Rowan Childs, Rowan@madisonreadingproject.com, (608) 347-79790
Ann Christianson, Ann@madisonreadingproject.com, (608) 345-0792

Madison Reading Project’s Community Book Drive Is Close to Reaching Goal

DANE COUNTY –  The Madison Reading Project’s fourth annual Community Book Drive is asking for your support to reach its goal of $100,000.

“Our organization is committed to increasing book ownership for children in Southern Wisconsin. MRP is dedicated to giving away new books this holiday season. Monetary donations help contribute to our larger goal of year-round book-giving,” says Rowan Childs, Madison Reading Project’s Executive Director and Founder.

“Your support will help get thousands of new books that children want, many of whom have few books in their homes,” Childs adds. “We’re confident we’ll reach our donation goals. Everyone deserves that new book feeling, especially our children.”

Books given to MRP then get funneled out to numerous school districts, social workers, educators, and large toy and book-giving events such as Empty Stocking Club, Toys for Tots, Gifts for Christmas, and Santas Without Chimneys during December, ensuring that every child has a new book to take home with them. 

Local bookstores participating in Community Book Drive include Lake City Books, Mystery To Me, Leopold’s Books Bar Cafe, Room of One’s Own, Book Deal, and Books 4 School. 

“Books can be donated online or via various local bookstores across Dane County or by stopping by the Book Center, 1337 Greenway Cross, in Madison,” Childs adds.

Donations can be made throughout December. Visit the website for more information on the book drive, book suggestions, book-giving programs, or to make a monetary contribution:  www.madisonreadingproject.com/communitybookdrive

Madison Reading Project is a nonprofit organization with a mission to connect our community with free books and literacy enrichment programs that ignite a love for reading. 

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