Category: Member News
Learn who’s growing, changing, moving and more! Stay on top of what’s new with your neighboring businesses. We share news releases and announcements from your peers in the Madison area. Want to toot your own horn? Use our Submit Member News form to share your own stories.
Photo by Richard Hurd
WPS Charitable Foundation donates to Stand Down Madison
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com
WPS Charitable Foundation donates to Stand Down Madison
Main fundraising event is Oct. 21
MADISON, Wis.—Sept. 25, 2023—On Sept. 22, the WPS Charitable Foundation presented a $5,000 check to Wayne D. Horner Memorial Stand Down Madison, a local organization that provides relief to veterans experiencing homelessness.
Vice President of Communications DeAnne Boegli and Charitable Foundation Program Administrator Amy Callender awarded the check to Angie Nickels, President of Stand Down Madison, and other Stand Down Madison representatives.
“At WPS, we seek to support organizations that share our mission of helping veterans get needed health care,” Boegli said. “Stand Down Madison’s holistic care of veterans experiencing homelessness is an effort we are proud to support.”
The Stand Down Madison fundraising main event is Oct. 21, and the organization still needs about 100 volunteers for the event. Vendors can register online at standdownmadison.org/become-a-vendor. Volunteers can sign up to help at standdownmadison.org/volunteer.
About the WPS Charitable Foundation
The WPS Charitable Foundation was formed in 1986 to honor WPS’ first president, Ray Koenig. The Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization that focuses on enhancing the communities we call home by supporting organizations focused on health and wellness, especially of women and children, seniors, military and veterans, and underserved populations. The Foundation also funds the Ray Koenig Memorial Scholarship program. Each year, the program makes educational opportunities available through scholarship awards to children of employees of WPS Health Solutions and its subsidiaries.
###
Photo by Richard Hurd
Dane Buy Local Announces New Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2023
Contact:
Curt Fuszard, Dane Buy Local Board President, (608) 345-5147, curt.fuszard@reachachild.org
DANE BUY LOCAL ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dane Buy Local is pleased to announce that Paula Severson will begin serving the association and its members in the role of Executive Director commencing October 1, 2023. Dane Buy Local is extremely fortunate to have Paula fill the role vacancy after learning that Colin Murray, an integral part of Dane Buy Local since the association’s inception in 2004, and Executive Director since 2013, shared that he would retire on September 30, 2023.
Paula brings a wealth of experience to the Executive Director position, having previously served as Executive Director of the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce and in a variety of roles for a major trade organization. “Paula’s skill set is perfectly aligned with our commitment to serving independent businesses in Dane and contiguous counties,” says Curt Fuszard, President of the Dane Buy Local board. “In serving our membership, Paula will continue to focus on our core principles of collaboration, education, and advocacy. She is a passionate, inspiring leader.”
In anticipation of her new role, Paula Severson shares, “I’m humbled to lead such an amazing organization. The local businesses Dane Buy Local serves are owned by our friends and neighbors. They work hard and give back to their employees and community. I can’t wait to tell their stories and share the value of buying local. I will strive to ensure Dane Buy Local’s business members have access to the association’s tools and resources to help the businesses be successful.”
Curt adds, “Dane Buy Local embarks on this new chapter with gratitude—for Colin Murray’s contributions, and enthusiasm for our future under Paula Severson’s capable leadership.”
About Dane Buy Local:
Dane Buy Local is a local business association dedicated to supporting and promoting locally owned and operated businesses in Dane and contiguous counties. Since its inception in 2004, the organization has grown to serve over 580 business members, making it a leading force in promoting the benefits of buying local to foster a thriving local economy. For more information, visit danebuylocal.com.
Photo by Richard Hurd
StartingBlock wins 2023 SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Phase 2
StartingBlock + 7 Partners are winners of the Phase 2 2023 SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. You can read the official announcement from SBA here.
Why this matters:
- SBA recognizes the entrepreneurial strengths of the Madison region.
- The prize money allows us to align our programming with regional strengths.
- We will be able to expand our programmatic reach across the state.
- We are bringing Federal dollars to Wisconsin to support local startups.
What’s next:
- We will launch the Wisconsin HardTech accelerator next spring.
- We will be focusing on Advanced Manufacturing and on Food, Bev and Ag.
Our Ecosystem Partners include:
Photo by Richard Hurd
Vogel Bros. Building Co.: Hickory Hill Academy Expands to Offer Enhanced Educational Opportunities
MADISON, WIS. – Hickory Hill Academy is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its highly anticipated new building expansion. A ribbon-cutting ceremony, which took place Tuesday, September 19, 2023, marked a significant milestone for the school. The expansion, designed to provide a more comprehensive educational environment, adds an impressive 50,000 square feet of cutting-edge facilities.
Photo by Richard Hurd
New WPS Health Insurance network helps self-funded employers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com
New WPS Health Insurance network helps self-funded employers
Companies across Wisconsin now have a more robust network choice
MADISON, Wis.—Sept. 19, 2023—WPS Health Insurance, powered by Auxiant, is partnering with Health Payment Systems (HPS) to create an integrated network of health care providers for employers choosing its self-funded, or Administrative Services Only, group health plans. Group members’ claims will access the HPS network of providers first and, if not in-network, will then go to the WPS Statewide Network, creating a statewide broad network solution.
The HPS Network includes 96 hospitals and 27,000 individual providers while the WPS Statewide Network has 165 hospitals and more than 63,000 individual practitioners. These networks will work together to give employers across Wisconsin even more health care provider choices for their employees.
The new partnership includes HPS’ consumer financing tool, the PayMedix SuperEOB®. Members who visit an in-network PayMedix provider get credit up to their out-of-pocket (OOP) maximum, regardless of credit history, with the option to pay over time without any interest charges or fees.
“This new network choice gives our self-funded group health customers a better way to meet the needs of their employees and their families,” WPS Vice President of Health Insurance Economics and Business Development Jeremy Ott said. “Our customers will have access to a broad network of health care providers and to the patient financing PayMedix brings. Adding HPS/PayMedix to our network makes getting health care easier for our customers.”
“’We look forward to working with WPS to bring a more cost-effective, statewide health plan that can save employers and their employees money,” HPS/PayMedix CEO Tom Policelli said. “In addition, including the PayMedix consumer engagement and patient financing solution for HPS providers ensures patients aren’t avoiding care due to cost.”
The new HPS Network paired with the WPS Statewide Network will be available to select self-funded group health plan customers for the 2024 plan year.
About WPS Health Insurance®
As one of the largest health benefits providers in the state, Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Insurance) offers a variety of services and coverage with Preferred Provider Organization health plans for individuals, fully insured and self-funded group health plans for employers, and Medicare supplement insurance plans. Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, and with employees throughout the state, WPS Health Insurance is deeply committed to Wisconsin and its residents. Visit wpshealth.com for more information.
About Auxiant
Auxiant is an independent third-party administrator with more than 200 full-time employees and offices in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Madison, Wis., and Milwaukee, Wis. Auxiant has been in business since 1982 and is dedicated to providing its clients with the best possible service. Auxiant specializes in customization, cost control, health management, and technological tools for self-funded clients and members. Auxiant is known for its innovation and technology, constantly evolving to meet the needs of its clients.
About Health Payment Systems, Inc.
Health Payment Systems (HPS) is a privately held PPO network in the state of Wisconsin. HPS is the parent company to PayMedix, an EOB consolidation tool that serves all contracted providers and enrolled members. The PayMedix single-statement billing helps families combat confusing and unaffordable medical bills, while its guaranteed payment model eliminates provider collection costs and risk. HPS is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To learn more, visit Health Payment Systems.
###