Wisconsin Grown: Celebrating 68 Years of QTI

Founded in 1957 in Madison, Joe and Jeanne Silverberg began a legacy of staffing and HR excellence that still serves organizations and job seekers across the state of Wisconsin today. In 2025, we are celebrating 68 years of QTI!

For 68 years, QTI has evolved alongside Wisconsin industries, providing our community members and local businesses with top talent, secure jobs, and the HR Consulting support needed to succeed.

In addition to our Madison location, QTI has opened a branch in Baraboo in 1982 and branches in Portage, Milwaukee, and Beaver Dam from 1994-1996. From our foundation in Madison, to our locations across Southcentral Wisconsin, and now clients across the nation, QTI has been a proud partner to Wisconsin manufacturers, nonprofits, educational systems, businesses, and everything in between.

We asked our employees what being a “Wisconsin Grown Business” meant to them.

“Wisconsin has a reputation for a strong work ethic, for a genuine care to make the communities we serve to grow and thrive, and I am proud to say that’s true,” said Charyl Uptegraw, Senior Consultant with QTI’s HR Consulting team.

Casey Liakos, QTI’s VP of Executive and Professional Search, said QTI’s tenure within the state of Wisconsin originally drew him to join our organization.

“After almost 70 years in the business, QTI is really part of the fabric of our community. I really wanted to be a part of that,” said Liakos.

“Above all, we owe our success to our people. At QTI, our slogan is, “our work is people, because people are at the heart of what we do.” We work hard to understand what our customers and job seekers need from us, and are extraordinarily proud that for nearly seven decades, we have delivered,” said QTI’s CEO and President, Londa Dewey, who has led The QTI Group since 2007.

We are proud to be a Wisconsin-grown, family-owned business.  Dave Silverberg, son of QTI’s founders, serves as Chairman of the Board, Jay Loewi, who joined QTI in 1989, serves on the Board, while his son, Jason Loewi, serves as QTI’s Vice President of Staffing today.

As we look ahead, we want to say thank you to the people in this great state who have trusted us to find exceptional talent, find stable jobs, and make certain their compensation and benefits are competitive. In true Wisconsin fashion, we are looking “forward” to many more years of business here at QTI!

M3 Expands Surety Expertise with the Addition of Babcock Solutions

M3 is pleased to announce we have joined forces with Babcock Solutions, strengthening our surety expertise and our commitment to delivering best-in-class surety solutions. This partnership aligns with M3’s focus on providing comprehensive risk management backed by deep industry knowledge and a client-first approach.

“We are excited to join M3 and look forward to working with the M3 Surety team to continue building trusted relationships and best-in-class surety services for our current and future clients,” said Brad Babcock, founder of Babcock Solutions and now managing director of M3 Surety. “I believe joining with M3 allows us expand our team and reach throughout Wisconsin, Rockford, and the Upper Peninsula.”

Since 2012, Babcock Solutions has been a trusted provider of surety bonds. Brad Babcock and team are known for their dedication to client success and personalized service. By integrating their expertise with M3’s broad capabilities, clients will benefit from an even stronger foundation of resources, industry insight, and tailored surety solutions.

“Welcoming Babcock Solutions to M3 is pivotal for our surety practice,” said Mike Victorson, CEO and partner at M3. “Their legacy of trusted relationships and expertise aligns with our promise to deliver unmatched value to clients. Together, we’re not just expanding services, we’re raising the bar for what’s possible for our clients.”

Babcock Solutions’ clients will continue to receive the same high level of service they have come to expect. In the coming months, all services will be fully integrated under the M3 brand, providing a seamless experience with expanded support and solutions.
For more information about this transition and how it benefits our clients, please visit m3ins.com/surety.

About M3
M3 is a top insurance broker and risk management firm in America. We’re leaders in the products we represent and the industries we serve. M3’s people are an extension of your team, providing world-class resources to help you manage risk, purchase insurance, and provide employee benefits. And our focus on community builds better places to live and work. For more information on M3, visit www.m3ins.com.

Gov. Evers Honors the 2024 Governor’s Financial Literacy Award Recipients

Awards Recognize Individuals & Organizations including the Bank of Sun Prairie for Elevating the Financial Literacy, Capability, and Financial Inclusion of Wisconsin’s Residents

MADISON, Wis. – Today Gov. Tony Evers honored 11 individuals and eight organizations as recipients of the 2024 Governor’s Financial Literacy Awards in a ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol. The recipients were honored for their efforts in helping Wisconsinites build their financial literacy and capability skills.

“Financial education gives people the tools they need to achieve their goals, expand new opportunities, and help attain financial security for themselves and their families,” said Gov. Evers. “These dedicated individuals and organizations are doing important work to help Wisconsinites become more financially secure and prepare for their futures, which is a critical part of strengthening the financial well-being of our entire state. I thank these dedicated individuals and organizations for all they have done to help advance financial wellness in Wisconsin, and I congratulate them for receiving this prestigious award.”

The 2024 Governor’s Financial Literacy Awards honored recipients in one of three categories, individual, organization, or legacy, for providing exceptional financial literacy and capability education in an inclusive and innovative manner. The legacy award is given to an organization, business, or individual whose purpose and heritage is ingrained in sustained financial literacy and capability efforts. This lifetime recognition is intended to be conferred only once to recipients.

The recipients of the 2024 Governor’s Financial Literacy Awards are:

Individual Category:

• Lily Alvarado, Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation, Milwaukee
• Kerri Herrild, De Pere High School, De Pere
• Ana Melo, Old National Bank, West Allis
• Kristen Ruhl, SecureFutures, Milwaukee
• Matthew Vandre, Francis LLC, Brookfield
• Todd Williams, Plymouth High School, Plymouth
• Jessica Zarnke, School District of Loyal, Marshfield

Organization Category:

• Bank of Sun Prairie, Sun Prairie
• Blackhawk Community Credit Union, Janesville
• Capital Credit Union, Green Bay
• College Goal Wisconsin, Madison
• Delavan-Darien High School and the Delavan-Darien Technical School, Delavan
• Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, Madison
• Francis LLC, Brookfield
• Simplicity Credit Union, Marshfield

Legacy Category:

• Scott Christy, Green Bay East High (retired), Green Bay
• Janeen Dietsche, Marshfield High School (retired), Marshfield
• Victor Frasher, Educators Credit Union, Mt. Pleasant
• Kelli Send, Francis LLC, Brookfield

The recipients were selected by the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy and Capability from the nominations submitted for consideration. Criteria used to judge nominations included: innovative implementation of an effective financial literacy and capability program or program element within the last two years; emphasis on financial inclusion, demonstrated measurable results; collaboration with partners; and scalability of the program design. Visit the Council’s webpage to read a synopsis of the recipients’ efforts.

The Council serves as a continuous sounding board for the Office of the Governor, the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), and the DFI’s Office of Financial Literacy. The Council provides guidance and strategies to measurably improve the financial literacy, capability, and financial inclusion of Wisconsin’s residents. To learn more about the Council, visit the Council’s webpage or contact Council Executive Director David Mancl by phone at (608) 572-5794 or by email at David.Mancl@dfi.wisconsin.gov.

Greenwoods State Bank Promotes James Hegenbarth to President Amid Growth and Strategic Vision

Lake Mills, WI – Greenwoods State Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of James “Jim” Hegenbarth to President, effective immediately. This leadership transition reflects the bank’s continued growth and commitment to strong, experienced guidance. Hegenbarth succeeds Rob Cera, who will now serve as Co-Chief Executive Officer alongside Bill McDonald.

Hegenbarth brings over 30 years of experience in community banking, strategic development, and civic engagement to his new role. Since joining Greenwoods, he has played an instrumental role in advancing the bank’s mission of delivering relationship-based, community-focused financial services.

“Jim is a respected and forward-thinking leader whose expertise, vision, and values align perfectly with our mission,” said Rob Cera, Co-CEO of Greenwoods State Bank. “This promotion is not only a recognition of Jim’s contributions, but creates a clear succession for leadership within Greenwoods that will reinforce our focus on the communities and customers we serve in our local markets.”

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a degree in economics, Hegenbarth began his career as a credit analyst with First Bank N.A. (now US Bank). In 1991, he returned to Madison to lead the business banking group at Park Bank, where he was named President and CEO in 1998. During his tenure, he guided the bank’s growth from $150 million to $1.5 billion in assets, achieving record earnings from 2020 to 2022.

In addition to his professional success, Hegenbarth is widely regarded as a leader in the banking industry. He has served on the Board of the Wisconsin Bankers Association, was named Banker of the Year in 2020, and is currently Vice Chair-Elect of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.

Beyond the boardroom, Hegenbarth is deeply committed to public service, holding leadership and advisory roles with organizations including Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison, Edgewood High School, Fitchburg Community and Economic Development Authority, Blessed Sacrament Church, Middleton Youth Football and Basketball, and the American Family Children’s Hospital at UW–Madison, among many others.

“I’m honored to take on this role at such a pivotal time,” said Hegenbarth. “Greenwoods is a bank with deep community roots and a bold vision for the future. I look forward to building on that foundation — strengthening our relationships, investing in innovation, and continuing to deliver the kind of personalized service our customers count on.”

Hegenbarth’s promotion signals a strong and stable leadership transition as Greenwoods State Bank continues to expand its impact across Wisconsin communities and beyond.

For more information, visit www.greenwoods.bank.

About Greenwoods State Bank
Founded in 1893, Greenwoods State Bank is a locally focused, community-driven financial institution headquartered in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. With branch locations across southern and central Wisconsin, Greenwoods offers a full range of personal and business banking services with an emphasis on relationship banking and personalized support. As of 2025, the bank manages over $662 million in assets and remains committed to investing in the communities it serves through innovation, integrity, and local leadership. Learn more at www.greenwoods.bank.

Capitol Bank Welcomes Jessica Piatt, SVP of Commercial Lending

Capitol Bank is pleased to announce that Jessica Piatt has joined as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending. Jessica has over 15 years of experience in sourcing, structuring, closing, and managing commercial loan and deposit relationships. She has a wide range of knowledge across commercial real estate, industrial loans and more, with many years of experience in the greater Madison area.

“It’s really exciting to have Jessica join our team,” said Justin Hart, CEO. “Her deep experience and knowledge of the commercial loan industry, combined with her connections in our local market will be a fantastic addition to the Bank.”

While Jessica will join the commercial lending team, she’ll also be contributing across all the Bank’s business lines. Outside of the office, she sits on boards and committees with Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin and Downtown Madison, Inc. Jessica enjoys hiking, traveling, and reading. She lives with her husband, son, and black lab.