Savant Wealth Management Named to Inc. 5000 List

ROCKFORD, Ill. (Aug. 15, 2023) – Inc. announced today that Savant Wealth Management, a nationally recognized, fee-only registered investment advisor (RIA), has been named to the Inc. 5000 annual list of fastest-growing private companies in America. Ranking No. 4,589 overall and No. 248 in the financial services industry, this is Savant’s inaugural year of being recognized on the prestigious list. Savant and all companies paid an entry fee to be considered for the recognition but did not pay to be included on the list.

The Inc. 5000 class of 2023 represents U.S. companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and hiring challenges. This year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 1,187,266 jobs to the economy over the past three years.

“We are honored to be recognized by Inc. as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S.,” said Brent Brodeski, CPA, CFP®, CFA®, MBA, CEO of Savant Wealth Management. “The honor is a direct reflection of Team Savant’s long-term and accelerated growth plan that’s focused on impacting the lives of a million people through retaining and recruiting top-tier talent, investing in new technology, and focusing on strategic acquisitions, marketing, and practice management.”

A three-year revenue growth of 89 percent helped Savant earn a spot on the Inc. 5000 list, and the firm’s projected growth is expected to continue to climb as Savant focuses on achieving its goal of three-to-five times growth over the next five years.

“Running a business has only gotten harder since the end of the pandemic,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “To make the Inc. 5000—with the fast growth that it requires—is truly an accomplishment. Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that are building our future.”

Savant, headquartered in Rockford, IL, has 35 offices in 13 states, and employs 464 team members with 136 employee owners.

Savant and all the honorees will be celebrated at the Inc. 5000 Gala in San Antonio, Texas, on Nov. 2. To view the complete list of Inc. 5000 companies, visit inc.com/inc5000.

About Savant Wealth Management

Savant Wealth Management is a leading independent, nationally recognized, fee-only firm serving clients for over 30 years with approximately $20 billion in assets under management and assets under advisement (as of 7/20/2023). As a trusted advisor, Savant Wealth 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, and estate planning document preparation and other legal services through its affiliated law firm, Savant Legal LLP.

2023 Inc. 5000: This annual ranking was published in August 2023. Companies on the 2023 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2019 to 2022. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2019, be based in the U.S., and be privately held, for-profit, and independent (not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies) as of December 31, 2022. The minimum revenue required for 2019 was $100,000 and the minimum for 2022 was $2 million. Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. Savant paid an entry fee to be considered for this ranking.

Savant is a registered Investment advisor. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Neither rankings and/or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license, or any amount of prior experience or success, should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Savant is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. Please read our Important Disclosures at savantwealth.com.

About Inc.

Inc. Business Media is the leading multimedia brand for entrepreneurs. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of our community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating our future. Inc.’s award-winning work reaches more than 50 million people across a variety of channels, including events, print, digital, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Its proprietary Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to rank the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The recognition that comes with inclusion on this and other prestigious Inc. lists, such as Female Founders and Power Partners, gives the founders of top businesses the opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

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Blain’s Farm & Fleet® Announces New President

MEDIA CONTACT: Gayla Kirshner
Email: gayla@gcomworks.com

Blain’s Farm & Fleet® Announces New President

Janesville, WI – Blain’s Farm & Fleet® has announced the promotion of Mark Hasting to President and Chief Commerce & Operating Officer. This promotion supports the company’s desire to continue to grow as a family-owned organization where customers are treated as neighbors and associates are treated like family.

Jane Blain Gilbertson will remain CEO and sole owner of Blain’s Farm & Fleet and Blain Supply, Inc. Under Jane’s leadership, Blain’s has driven huge growth in their national Ecommerce business and opened 10 new stores, including 5 in Michigan, for a total of 45 stores. The company’s distribution capacity and investment in technology enhancements has increased significantly as well. “We are at the point where it just makes sense for me to share more of the leadership responsibilities so that we can increase our capacity for continued growth,” says Jane Blain Gilbertson. “I am extremely proud of the strong leadership team we have here at Blain’s, including Mark, and I have full confidence in their abilities to continue to guide this organization as a team, always focused on our neighbors, our associates, our strong vendor partnerships and our communities. Mark quickly earned our whole company’s confidence with his authentic care and vision and has shown he is a leader of real substance.”

Mark Hasting has been with Blain’s Farm & Fleet for over 3 years and previously held the role of Chief Commerce & Operating Officer. In this role, he has had responsibility for all Stores and Service Centers, Ecommerce Operations, Real Estate, Construction and Facilities and the Customer Service Center of Excellence. In his new role as President, he will increase his responsibility to include Demand Planning and Supply Chain in addition to acting as a strategic partner to Jane Blain Gilbertson in leadership of the company. Since coming to Blain’s, Mark has made an impact on enhancing store experience by supporting store associates with training and tools and improving processes and standards within the stores. “Mark always has the customer experience in mind,” said Sarah Gilbertson, daughter of Jane Blain Gilbertson and the Customer Relationship Marketing Specialist at Blain’s. “He has proven that he really understands the Blain’s Farm & Fleet culture. I am so happy to have him take on a greater role within our organization.”

Blain’s Farm & Fleet has been family owned for all of its 68 years, and this will be the first time a non-family member has taken on the role of President, but this does not mean that the company is backing away from its strong commitment to remain family owned. “My sister and I have made a commitment to keep Blain’s Farm & Fleet family owned. That is important to us and to the company culture,” says Nicole Gilbertson, daughter of Jane Blain Gilbertson. “I remain invested in the future of this special company my grandfather and great uncle founded in 1955. The way we treat our associates like family and our customers like neighbors is at the core of our family culture at Blain’s. I’m confident Mark will continue to do a wonderful job of stewarding that culture as he moves into his new role as President.”

Mark Hasting brings impressive experience to this new role with a strong background in retail leadership. He spent over 20 years at Target, where he had many roles including Store Manager, Group Manager, District Team Leader, Group Vice President and Vice President of Store Operations. Mark has also served as Regional Vice President at Starbucks and Chief Operating Officer at Kum & Go. He has a BS in Marketing from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from Oklahoma City University. “I am humbled and excited to take on this new role. It is my desire to continue to support the growth of Blain’s Farm & Fleet and the amazing associate family that works together here,” says Mark Hasting. “This is a special place, and I have learned so much about leadership from Jane since joining the company. It is my honor to be a strategic partner to her and her family in continuing to help this amazing organization to thrive.” And Jane Blain Gilbertson seconds that thought: “It is not enough to survive as a family company, we must continue to grow and thrive. Our future is so bright, and this promotion is one step toward achieving it.”

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Founded in 1955, Blain’s Farm & Fleet is a retailer with nationwide ecommerce business and 45 store locations throughout Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. This Modern General Store® offers a wide variety of categories and services and unique experiences such as Toyland®.

• Clothing: Carhartt, Columbia, Under Armour, Ariat, Work N’ Sport, Levi’s, Lee, Kuhl
• Footwear: Skechers, Hey Dude, Keen, New Balance, Work N’ Sport, CAT, Crocs, Birkenstock, Sorel, Dansko
• Tools & Hardware: DeWalt, Milwaukee, Stanley, Craftsman, Festool
• Paint & Supplies: Benjamin Moore, Valspar, MinWax, Rustoleum, Graco, Purdy
• Automotive: Pennzoil, Valvoline, Mobil 1, Mystik, Fram, Prestone, Sea Foam, Meguiar’s, Thule
• Tire & Auto Repair Service: Michelin, Goodyear, Cooper
• Sporting Goods: Realtree, Scent Blocker, Yeti, Coleman, Rapala, Plano, Shimano, Browning
• Home & Housewares: KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Keurig, T-Fal, Lodge, Dyson
• Pet Department: Purina, Blue Buffalo, Hill’s Science Diet, Iams, Canidae, Diamond, Taste of the Wild, Kong
• Agriculture: King Kutter, Nutrena, Agrimaster, Behrens, Guardian, Manna Pro, Ware, Weaver Leather
• Lawn & Garden: Scotts, Miracle-Gro, Estate, Fiskars, Weber, Char-Broil
• Outdoor Power Equipment: Stihl, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Milwaukee, DeWalt
• Toyland®: Barbie, Hot Wheels, LEGO, ERTL, Melissa & Doug
  Visit http://www.farmandfleet.com or download the Blain’s Farm & Fleet mobile app.

Maydm Receives $500,000 Grant from American Family Insurance Institute for Social and Corporate Impact 

Maydm, a Madison-based nonprofit organization, has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the American Family Institute for Social and Corporate Impact. The Institute supports efforts to close equity gaps including partnering with organizations, governmental entities, and nonprofits to create stronger communities. With this grant, the American Family Insurance Institute will become the largest donor in Maydm’s history.

Maydm provides girls and youth of color in grades 6-12 with the skills, experiences, and connections to pursue careers in and change the face of STEM. As part of this mission, Maydm offers one-day workshops, afterschool and partner programs, immersive summer programs, and paid internships in various topics within STEM primarily to Dane County youth. For many students, these are their first formal experiences in STEM, and Maydm comes alongside them to host or coordinate training, workshops, immersive programs, advising, and work towards holistic success in the fields. 

This year has been an exciting year of growth for Maydm. In the third year of their internship program, Maydm placed 23 students in highly paid internships across the surrounding Dane County area, and even Milwaukee. This year they were able to host remote internships at their new Youth Innovation Space in downtown Madison which is designed for Maydm staff and interns, STEM program interns, and Maydm educational program students to be able work together in a communal coworking atmosphere. 

“Maydm exemplifies what we strive for at the Institute, in supporting girls and kids of color in their pursuit of STEM careers,” said Nyra Jordan, community and social impact investment director. “This investment will help Maydm continue their mission supporting our communities for years to come.” 

Over the next five years, the Institute will donate $100,000 to Maydm in support of Maydm’s career based programming. Maydm plans to use this funding to help administer and grow their STEM high school internship program, and develop additional youth apprenticeship and summer instructor   employment opportunities. This funding will also support additional co-working space and equipment in the Maydm office for youth to work in virtual internships and space for training. 

Dr. Christina Outlay said in speaking about the multi-year commitment from the Institute, “Maydm is focused on providing intentional programming that prepares our youth to pursue careers in STEM. We are expanding our career programming to deliver a more intentional pathway to move our girls and our youth of color from STEM awareness to inspiration to innovation and, finally, achievement of a STEM career. We want to support the whole student, not just their technical prowess. That means providing safe spaces for learning, career exploration and guidance, soft skill development, access to resources and equipment, earned income, and financial literacy. We are grateful to the American Family Insurance Institute for supporting our vision for the future and enabling us to develop our future STEM leaders. The Institute, along with American Family Insurance, and American Family Dreams Foundation, have been incredible strategic partners with Maydm.” 

Learn more about Maydm at maydm.org, including sponsorship opportunities that can support their work. Maydm is located at 203 S. Paterson St. Madison, WI. They host year round programming at a variety of sites, including their primary office, after school and community organization sites, and other partner sites throughout Dane County. Maydm is currently Celebrating Their Students through their 2023 Mid-Year Campaign. Each week a new Maydm student is highlighted to showcase the work that they are doing to change the face of STEM. You can help them reach their goal by donating here. 

Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce: LGBTQ+ Entrepreneur Bootcamp

APPLY NOW

The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber is proud to put on the LGBTQ+ Entrepreneur Bootcamp.

This interactive training program is aimed at helping LGBTQ+ and allied individuals launch and accelerate their own businesses.

The 2023 Entrepreneur Bootcamp will be held September 14 – 15 in Downtown Milwaukee.

What will be learned through the Entrepreneur Bootcamp?

Participating in the Entrepreneur Bootcamp will provide LGBTQ+ and allied individuals with the skills and information they need to launch and grow their business.

Each of the sessions will be facilitated by industry experts, certified trainers, and other business leaders from the community. Topics that will be covered include:

• Getting to your Why
• Starting with the Right Legal Structure
• Ideation & Planning
• Market and Customer Research
• Marketing & Branding
• Business Financials & Human Capital
• Raising Start Up Money & Launching
• Supplier Diversity

Through the program, you’ll be connected to an exceptional network of other entrepreneurs and form long-lasting and impactful professional relationships that will aid in your business development journey.

Benefits of Completing the Entrepreneur Bootcamp

At the conclusion of the Entrepreneur Bootcamp, all those that complete the program will leave with the tools they need to develop a comprehensive business plan to launch their business.

Participation in the program does not imply or guarantee corporate sponsors, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber, and other support organizations are under any obligation to provide contracts, offers or specific business support outside of this program.

Eligibility

Any individual in any industry is eligible to apply to participate in Entrepreneur Bootcamp. Ideal participants are those who have an idea for a business but have not yet started it OR have started a business but have less than 2 years in operation and less than $1 million in annual revenue. If you have questions about eligibility, please feel free to reach out and let us.

Application Process and Timeline

Applicants for the Entrepreneur Bootcamp will be required to submit an online application on the Chamber’s website. Applications will be reviewed by a committee made up of Chamber members supporting the program and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Tuition

The cost for each participant in the program is $50. This fee covers all program fees and materials. Scholarships are available. Contact Jessa Michie for more information.

Further Information

If you have additional questions on the program, please contact Jessa Michie, Supplier Diversity Program Manager, at jessa@wislgbtchamber.com.

Wisconsin Union, Karben4 Launch Terrace-Inspired, Non-Alcoholic Collab Beverages Called “Terrace Strawberry Lemonade” and “Terrace Lemonade”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 10, 2023

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

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/lemonades

WISCONSIN UNION, KARBEN4 LAUNCH TERRACE-INSPIRED, NON-ALCOHOLIC COLLAB BEVERAGES, CALLED TERRACE STRAWBERRY LEMONADE AND TERRACE LEMONADE

MADISON – The nonprofit organization the Wisconsin Union and Madison beverage company Karben4 have released two non-alcoholic, gluten-free, sparkling beverages, called Terrace Lemonade and Terrace Strawberry Lemonade, at the Union’s Memorial Union.

For the first time, customers can purchase Terrace Strawberry Lemonade and Terrace Lemonade exclusively at Memorial Union and, beginning in the fall, at all Wisconsin Union-run dining locations.

Handcrafted in Madison, Wisconsin, the creation of the lemonades combines the culinary expertise of Karben4 and the Wisconsin Union as well as the summery inspiration from its namesake, the Union’s summertime destination the Memorial Union Terrace. The teams collaborated for more than six months, spending time testing ingredients and trying numerous flavor combinations before finalizing the recipes. 

Both lemonades contain real lemon juice and no artificial colors. The teams crafted the beverages to be vegan, non-alcoholic and gluten-free to ensure as many customers as possible could enjoy them. 

“These lemonades are like summer in a can,” said Ryan Koga, Karben4 co-founder, co-owner and brewmaster. “The project was a fun challenge, and it was an honor to collaborate with the Wisconsin Union on what I hope becomes an iconic mainstay for the Terrace.”

The collaboration began when the Wisconsin Union dining and hospitality team approached the Karben4 crew about creating Terrace-inspired beverages. With UW–Madison alumnus Zak Koga among its founders, the founders’ love of the Terrace, and the teams’ shared passion for creating high-quality products and flavorful recipes for its customers, a partnership quickly formed. 

“This was such a cool project to collaborate on. I’m a UW–Madison alum and lifetime Wisconsin Union member,” Karben4 Co-founder and Co-owner Zak Koga said. “It’s been a labor of love to create something for the Wisconsin Union and the University that everyone can enjoy.”

The Wisconsin Union team will give patrons free samples of the Terrace-themed lemonades at the Memorial Union Terrace during a surprise pop-up in the near future. The team will not announce the pop-up in advance.

“Terrace Strawberry Lemonade and Terrace Lemonade taste like sunshine,” said Carl Korz, Wisconsin Union associate director for dining and hospitality services. “These are the perfect beverages for people of all ages to enjoy at the Terrace and will help us all hang on to Terrace vibes during colder months while we await each Terrace season.” 

            Patrons can purchase the Terrace Strawberry Lemonade and Terrace Lemonade exclusively at the Wisconsin Union’s Memorial Union at this time. By early fall, the teams anticipate the lemonades being available for purchase at all Wisconsin Union dining locations, including at Union South and the Union’s markets and cafes throughout Madison. 

Wherever patrons purchase Terrace Strawberry Lemonade or Terrace Lemonade, they support the nonprofit Wisconsin Union’s spaces, low-cost and free events and student leadership opportunities as well as local employment opportunities and beverage production at Karben4.

“The Union saw the opportunity to create something unique, and then it was up to us to find a great local partner, which we did in Zak and Ryan Koga at Karben4,” Korz said. “Our team also did an amazing job on the graphics and capturing the Terrace vibe of summer fun.”

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About the Wisconsin Union

The non-profit Wisconsin Union strives to enhance and support student leadership and community engagement, including through recreational, cultural, educational and social opportunities and by providing world-class support services, such as in event management. The Wisconsin Union includes student leadership opportunities available through the Wisconsin Union Directorate, the Center for Leadership and Involvement, the Wisconsin Singers, the Senior Class Office, StudentPrint, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Wisconsin Homecoming Committee; Memorial Union; Union South; various dining options throughout downtown Madison; the University Club; UW Conference Centers; and the Fluno Center. Learn more about the Union and its tradition of providing experiences for a lifetime: union.wisc.edu.  

About Karben4 Brewing

Founded in 2012, Karben4 (K4) was built to make great beer while never taking it too seriously. The team is committed to brewing high-quality, innovative beers that push the boundaries of traditional brewing. Find K4’s lineup of beers, including Fantasy Factory IPA, Hawk Jones Session IPA, and Midwesty Pilsner, at the taproom in Madison, Wisconsin, or at retail stores throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. Check K4 out online at karben4.com.