ThirdSpace Certified by State as Qualified New Business Venture

TAX CREDITS FOR INVESTORS WILL HELP THIRDSPACE RAISE CAPITAL TO ACCELERATE COMPANY’S GROWTH

MADISON, WI. AUG. 8, 2017 – ThirdSpace, a Madison startup developing tools to improve employee engagement, has received Qualified New Business Venture (QNBV) certification from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

QNBV status allows investors in qualified startup and early-stage companies to receive a 25 percent state tax credit on the amount they invest in the business. The program, one of several WEDC initiatives aimed at supporting startups, helps early-stage companies secure new investment and accelerates their potential for growth and job creation in Wisconsin.

Investors in ThirdSpace, founded in 2014, are authorized to receive up to $187,500 in state income tax credits through March 2018.

“We are extremely excited to receive the QNBV certification from the WEDC,” said Zach Blumenfeld, who co-founded the company with Scott Kohl and Scott Jens. “This will not only help ThirdSpace as we are out fundraising, but it aligns with our goals of bringing more jobs to Madison as we continue to grow.”

ThirdSpace is an online workplace culture software that solves business challenges related to employee engagement, communication, onboarding and sharing workplace knowledge.

ThirdSpace is a finalist for the Greater Madison Area Chamber of Commerce’s Pressure Chamber pitch event and present to a panel of out-of-state investors on Aug. 21. The company also received an award for its innovative design from Marginalia, an online magazine that focuses on workplace culture.

In addition, ThirdSpace was a finalist in the 2017 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest sponsored by the Wisconsin Technology Council.

ThirdSpace is currently raising funds to accelerate growth and scale the company. Funds will be primarily used to hire on more sales and marketing personnel, with a small percentage reserved for feature enhancements of the ThirdSpace software. The company plans to create 18 new jobs over the next three years.

“Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial community is incredibly vibrant, and a core part of WEDC’s mission is to support that community and nurture its future health,” said Aaron Hagar, WEDC’s vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation. “Helping innovative Wisconsin companies like ThirdSpace secure access to capital is one way in which WEDC supports next-generation companies.”

The QNBV Program helps startups close a critical gap in their development by offering tax credits for investments made in QNBV-certified companies. Participating businesses innovate and commercialize products in numerous industries including biotechnology, manufacturing, health technology, energy, information technology and more.

In 2016, the program helped 84 startups throughout the state draw more than $250 million in total financing, with the help of $17.9 million in tax credits. Three industries in particular saw the largest share of funding in 2016: information technology ($105 million); biotechnology ($69 million); and health technology ($35 million).

The program is one component of WEDC’s suite of entrepreneurship resources, which includes support for startup accelerators, seed capital funds and technology loans. In addition, WEDC supports and engages an existing statewide network of partners that offers business training, mentorship and financing to aspiring entrepreneurs.

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ABOUT THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing and maximizing opportunities in Wisconsin for businesses, communities and people to thrive in a globally competitive environment. Working with more than 600 regional and local partners, WEDC develops and delivers solutions representative of a highly responsive and coordinated economic development network. Visit www.inwisconsin.com or follow WEDC on Twitter @_InWisconsin to learn more.

The Alliance Makes it Easier for Businesses to Start Self-Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Teri Van Tassel, Vice President, Marketing & Member Services

608.210.6633

E-mail: tvantassel@the-alliance.org

www.the-alliance.org/press

ALLIANCE MAKES IT EASIER FOR BUSINESSES TO START SELF-FUNDING

Auxiant, Serve You Rx will provide key services
MADISON, Wis. (Aug. 15, 2017) The Alliance has launched Single Source Self-Funding to help small- to mid-sized businesses start self-funding their health benefits for greater savings and flexibility.

Single Source Self-Funding provides a package of services that employers need to start self-funding. Partners in providing critical services for this product are:

• Auxiant (www.auxiant.com), a third-party administrator (TPA) of self-funded health benefit plans based in Madison, Wis.
• Serve You Rx (www.serve-you-rx.com), a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) based in Milwaukee, Wis.

Additional information about Auxiant and Serve You Rx is provided below.

The Alliance provides the remaining Single Source Self-Funding components, including:

• A broad provider network that offers significant discounts for 90 hospitals, 9,500 medical doctors and 18,300 professional service providers.
• Discounts from stop-loss reinsurance carriers based on evaluation of Alliance network performance.
• A blueprint for transitioning to self-funding.
• A dedicated implementation team.

Single Source Self-Funding is available from brokers who complete a certification focused on helping employers successfully offer a self-funded health benefit plan.

The Alliance moves health care forward by controlling costs, improving quality, and engaging individuals in their health. Members include more than 240 self-funded employers and insurance trusts covering more than 85,000 individuals in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. The Alliance uses the purchasing power of cooperative members to negotiate with and provide access to an extensive network of doctors and hospitals paid to improve quality by performing better not doing more.

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ABOUT SERVE YOU

Serve You Rx (www.serve-you-rx.com) is a full-service pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company based in Milwaukee, Wis., that has been empowering self-funded plans to manage drug spend for 30 years. In addition to providing clients with customized plan designs and comprehensive utilization management programs, Serve You Rx has a national retail pharmacy network comprised of more than 66,000 pharmacies, as well as owns and operates Serve You DirectRx Mail Service Pharmacy, New England Mail Order Pharmacy and Serve You DirectRx Specialty Pharmacy.

ABOUT AUXIANT

Auxiant (www.auxiant.com) is a Third Party Administrator (TPA) of self-funded benefit plans, specializing in customization, technological tools, and a cost-control approach to medical management, including our propriety FocusHealth product. Auxiant is known for its innovation and technology constantly evolving to meet the needs of its clients.

Auxiant works with more than 270 clients across the Midwest and nearly 100,000 member lives. Auxiant works with a very diverse group of clients, all having customized benefit plans. Each client is given unmatched personalized service by a dedicated service team. Auxiant’s strength in the marketplace provides a powerful advantage to any self-funded employer group.

Jakob Loescher Ranked as One of America’s Top Millennial Advisors

 Savant Capital Management financial advisor recognized by Forbes 

Jakob Loescher, a financial advisor with Savant Capital Management, a leading independent, nationally-recognized fee-only wealth management firm, has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors. The first-ever ranking features 500 millennial advisors, naming Loescher #13.

Loescher has spent his entire financial services career with Savant. In 2007, he served as an intern, primarily responsible for assisting planners and advisors in the analysis of client investment portfolios. He joined the firm as a financial advisor the following year. Since 2008, he has been responsible for managing all aspects of the financial planning and investment process for Savant’s clients. In October 2016, Loescher became one of 47 employee-members of the firm.  Savant has more than 140 employees based throughout its 12 offices across the country.

Forbes is an American business magazine and a leading source for reliable business news and financial information. Its list of America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors was developed by SHOOK Research and represents individuals born in 1980 or later and are the top-performing young advisors at their respective firms.

“We are thrilled for Jake being named to the #13 spot on the list of American’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors,” said Brent Brodeski, CEO of Savant. “Jake’s goal is to develop strong relationships with his clients. He genuinely cares for people and focuses on making the complexities of financial planning clear and simple for his clients. Jake and the entire Savant team are what makes us one of the leading Registered Investment Advisory firms in the nation.”

With more than 19,500 nominations received, 500 millennial advisors were chosen based on a minimum of four years relevant experience and acceptable compliance records. In addition, telephone and in-person interviews were conducted to examine best practices such as client service models, investing process, business types, and leveraging team and firm resources. Credentials, revenue, and assets under management were also considered. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK received a fee in exchange for rankings. Click here to view the complete list of America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors.

Savant manages more than $5 billion in assets and employs more than 140 team members. Headquartered in Rockford, IL, Savant also has offices in Chicago, Freeport, Geneva, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Peoria, Sterling, Wilmette, IL; McLean, VA; and Madison and Park Falls, WI. For more information about savant, visit www.savantcapital.com.

About Savant Capital Management
Savant Capital Management is a leading independent, nationally-recognized, fee-only firm, serving clients for 30 years with $5 billion in assets under management. As a trusted advisor, Savant Capital Management offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan and family office services to financially established individuals and institutions. Savant also offers corporate accounting, tax preparation, payroll and consulting through its affiliate, Savant Tax & Consulting.

Savant is regularly recognized among the top wealth managers in the United States. Savant was the recipient of the 2015 Best-in-Business IMPACT Award™, part of Schwab’s IMPACT Awards® program to recognize excellence in the business of independent financial advice. Savant has consistently received other industry recognitions including recently being included on the Forbes top 200 financial advisors list, the Barron’s top 20 independent advisory firms list, being named the #9 rated RIA firm by Financial Planning magazine, and included in additional top advisors lists by Financial Advisor magazine and InvestmentNews.

Savant Capital Management is a Registered Investment Advisor. Savant’s marketing material should not be construed by any existing or prospective client as a guarantee that they will experience a certain level of results if they engage Savant’s services and may include lists or rankings published by magazines and other sources which are generally based exclusively on information prepared and submitted by the recognized advisor. Click here for more information about Savant or to view our Important Disclosures.

Savant Capital Management and its employees are independent of and are not employees or agents of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”). Schwab does not prepare, verify or endorse information distributed by Savant Capital Management. The Best-in-Business IMPACT Award™ is not an endorsement, testimonial endorsement, recommendation or referral to Savant Capital Management with respect to its investment advisory and other services.

Andrew Gunderson Joins Wisconsin Bank & Trust as Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking

Andrew Gunderson, an experienced commercial lender in the Madison area, has joined Wisconsin Bank & Trust as Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking.

Previously, Gunderson held commercial banking roles at FirstMerit Bank and Associated Bank, both in the Madison market.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Andy Gunderson to our Madison banking team,” said Craig Aderhold, who serves as Wisconsin Bank & Trust’s statewide Senior Commercial Banker. “Over the course of his career, Andy has helped business owners manage and upgrade their business potential and profitability. He is a seasoned professional who brings great energy and an excellent business perspective to each business relationship.”

In his work as a Madison-based commercial banker, Gunderson will build relationships with business owners and executives as he helps them meet their business goals through tailored financing including commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans and small-business (SBA) loans.

Gunderson is based at Wisconsin Bank & Trust’s Main Banking Center, located at 119 Junction Road in Madison. Gunderson can be reached at agunderson@wisconsinbankandtrust.com.

About Wisconsin Bank & Trust
Wisconsin Bank & Trust (WBT), a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., (NASDAQ: HTLF), is a business-focused community bank with assets of more than $1 billion. With eighteen banking centers and one mortgage loan origination office, Wisconsin Bank & Trust serves customers in the Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Sheboygan, Monroe and southwest areas of Wisconsin. WBT offers a wide range of personal and business banking, private client and mortgage lending services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinbankandtrust.com or call 608.203.1214. Wisconsin Bank & Trust is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

About Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
Heartland is a diversified financial services company with assets exceeding $9.5 billion. The Company provides banking, mortgage, private client, investment, treasury management, card services, insurance, and consumer finance services to individuals and businesses. Heartland currently has 121 banking locations serving 88 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California. Additional information about Heartland is available at www.htlf.com.

Full-service locksmith company plans ribbon cuttings, open houses

For immediate release

Pat Mack (608) 371-1626

Full-service locksmith company plans ribbon cuttings, open houses

Celebrations to mark the opening of The Flying Locksmiths – Madison are planned for this month.

The full-service locksmith company offers traditional services such as rekeying and unlocking doors but also door repairs, from closers to hinges to exit devices.

The Middleton Chamber of Commerce will host the first ribbon cutting and open house on Wednesday, Aug. 16, from 5-6 p.m.

The second will be held by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Aug. 30, from 4-5 p.m.

Both will be held at the Flying Locksmiths office, 7818 Big Sky Drive, Suite 106, Madison, WI 53719.

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