Wisconsin Union: Sunburst Sparkler Bursts Onto the Madison Beverage Scene with Natural Caffeine, Fruity Flavor, and a Mission to Make a Difference 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 29, 2024

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

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/sunburstsparkler

SUNBURST SPARKLER BURSTS ONTO THE MADISON BEVERAGE SCENE WITH NATURAL CAFFEINE, FRUITY FLAVOR, AND A MISSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE 

MADISON – A new beverage burst into coolers and cafes at nonprofit Wisconsin Union’s locations on campus at UW–Madison with the debut of Sunburst Sparkler, a fruity, caffeinated, sparkling water available in four flavors.

After months of development with Madison-based beverage producer Karben4, the Wisconsin Union and Karben4 teams released the following Sunburst Sparkler flavors: cherry and lime-flavored Cherry SubLime; mango, blood orange and vanilla cream-flavored Flamango Tango; pineapple and peach-flavored Poppin’ Peach Punch; and raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, and strawberry-flavored Berry Burst.

Customers can purchase a Sunburst Sparkler at all Wisconsin Union-run dining locations. The Sunburst Sparklers contain real fruit juice concentrates and tea-derived caffeine and have between 15 and 30 calories per can. The Sparklers contain no added sweeteners; the only sweetener is from the beverages’ fruit juice. Patrons can currently purchase each Sunburst Sparkler for $3.69.

“We created Sunburst Sparkler to give University of Wisconsin–Madison students and others an energy beverage option that is locally made and natural,” said Wisconsin Union Associate Director for Dining and Hospitality Services Carl Korz. “Our new Sunburst Sparklers are the latest in our continual efforts to create delicious experiences. We have prior experience creating beverages with Terrace Sparkling Lemonades that we launched in August 2023.”

Purchase of the Sunburst Sparklers, Terrace Lemonade, and Terrace Strawberry Lemonade help support the nonprofit Wisconsin Union’s work to create free and low-cost events, community gathering spaces, and student leadership opportunities, some of which provide academic stipends of up to 80% of student leaders’ in-state tuition.

The Wisconsin Union team ensured students played a role in multiple parts of the Sunburst Sparkler creation process, including the naming and product testing.

Wisconsin Union Graphic Designer Kay Sakiya created the Sunburst Sparkler labels and collaborated with fellow Wisconsin Union Graphic Designer Maximilian Homstad to customize the labels for each flavor.

Sakiya’s design was inspired by the fruit-forward flavors, and it features rays of sunshine representing the naturally derived energy in each drink and a trademarked sunburst image that represents the drinks’ Wisconsin Union beginnings.

The Union team launched its first beverages, called Terrace Lemonade and Terrace Strawberry Lemonade, in August 2023 in collaboration with Karben4, which was founded by a team that includes UW–Madison alumnus Zak Koga. Patrons can continue to purchase the lemonades as well as the new Sunburst Sparklers at Wisconsin Union dining locations.

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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, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Wisconsin Homecoming Committee; Memorial Union; Union South; various dining options throughout downtown Madison; 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 beverages while never taking itself too seriously. The team is committed to brewing high-quality, innovative beers and other drinks that push the boundaries of traditional brewing. Check K4 out online at karben4.com.

Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP): Applications for City of Madison’s new BizReady program now open

Applications are now open for a new opportunity for small business owners in the City of Madison looking to receive training, mentoring, and networking opportunities to help their businesses innovate and thrive.

The City of Madison is partnering with the Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) and AFF Research to launch the BizReady program – an extensive suite of resources and activities specifically designed to meet the wide-ranging needs of Madison’s aspiring entrepreneurs and business professionals.

This resource is free for local business owners and is being funded by $300,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds that were already allocated to the City of Madison Economic Development Division’s Small Business Equity Recovery (SBER) program in July 2021.

The City of Madison Common Council approved the creation of the program last summer and approved the selection of MadREP as the City’s partner in the program earlier this year. City staff have been working with MadREP since then to design the program and get it ready for launch.

The BizReady program is being modeled after the successful MarketReady program that was created in 2017 and gave prospective Madison Public Market vendors training, technical assistance, and help in creating their business plans ahead of the opening of the Public Market opening.

Applications for the BizReady program open Monday, August 26, 2024 and close at 5:00pm on Friday, September 13, 2024. Interested business owners can apply online. Those with questions can contact AFF Research by sending an e-mail to aff@affresearch.com or by calling 920-844-5006.

Additional resources and opportunities for local business owners can be found on the Office of Business Resources’ website.

The QTI Group’s 2025 Human Resources Trends Survey

For more than a decade, QTI’s annual survey results have guided employers through the ever-evolving landscape of HR. Tackling topics such as DEI, compensation, benefits, employee well-being, and workforce planning, the HR Trends Survey provides invaluable insight into the future of HR.

The survey takes just 15-20 minutes to complete. All individual responses will be kept confidential. Survey participants gain insider access to aggregate results that will be shared following the survey’s completion.

Please click on the survey link to get started: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HRtrends2025

All responses must be submitted by August 26, 2024.

M3 Insurance’s 2024 Health Care Trend Report

The M3 Health Care Trend Report is M3 Insurance’s annual review, highlighting costs and plan designs for employer-sponsored health insurance.

The 2024 Health Care Trend Report shares the trends we are seeing across M3’s book of business, which encompasses employers ranging in size from three to more than 10,000 employees in a variety of major industry sectors. We’ve categorized the data based on geography, employer size, private vs. public sector, and plan structure. For more than 20 years, we’ve gathered data to provide valuable insights to the business community.

This year’s edition follows a similar pattern to the 2023 edition: the trendline continued for overall benefit plan premiums and costs per employee continued, with some notable regional shifts.

ACCESS THE REPORT >>

M3 Insurance Announces the Launch of Ethica Pharmacy Advisors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Media Inquiries:
Angela Joyce, Director of Communications
M3 Insurance
Phone: 608.229.6409
Email: angela.joyce@m3ins.com

M3 Insurance Announces the Launch of Ethica Pharmacy Advisors

(Milwaukee, WI) – M3 Insurance is proud to announce the launch of Ethica Pharmacy Advisors, a pharmacy solutions consultancy created to bring a new level of expertise, specialization, transparency, and service to clients. Ethica Pharmacy Advisors will leverage M3’s extensive knowledge and resources to deliver unparalleled services in the pharmacy benefits consulting industry.

Ethica Pharmacy Advisors is a pharmacy benefits consultancy dedicated to helping plan sponsors manage prescription drug costs through advice, financial analysis, and clinical resources.

“M3 is proud to announce the establishment and launch of Ethica Pharmacy Advisors,” said Mike Victorson, CEO of M3 Insurance. “In the complex and often opaque universe of pharmacy benefit management, we are committed to being a trusted partner, continually finding innovative ways to manage risk and support our clients in running successful companies.”

Ethica Pharmacy Advisors will continue to uphold the values and standards that M3 Insurance is known for, ensuring a seamless experience for clients while expanding its reach and capabilities nationally.

“Our mission at Ethica is to prioritize patient care so our clients can confidently navigate the complex pharmaceutical landscape, achieving financial control and quality care.” said Connie Perry, PharmD, and Managing Director of Ethica Pharmacy Advisors. “We are excited about this important launch and are committed to delivering top-tier solutions clients have come to expect from M3’s risk and insurance advisory services.”

Ethica is set to redefine pharmacy benefit consulting by offering a comprehensive suite of services, including prescription (Rx) diagnostic assessments and Pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) contract management, custom pricing arrangements, transparent pharmacy procurements and negotiation advice, full-service Rx directorship, and in-house PBM audit capabilities.

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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.

About Ethica Pharmacy Advisors

Ethica Pharmacy Advisors is an innovative pharmacy consulting firm. Using in-house expertise, 21st-century tech and real-time insights, Ethica empowers clients to see costs, understand usage and negotiate better terms by exploring beyond the typical vendors who dominate the marketplace. Learn more at m3ins.com/pharmacy-solutions/.