Starion Bank Welcomes Kildahl as Chief Operations Officer

Starion Bank is pleased to announce that Chris Kildahl has been named Chief Operating Officer. With more than two decades of experience in financial leadership and operational expertise, Kildahl brings a dynamic and disciplined approach to the bank’s executive team.

“I’m honored to join Starion Bank and help advance Starion’s vision for community banking and innovation through embedded finance,” said Kildahl. Their commitment to serving local communities aligns perfectly with my own values, and together we can continue delivering outstanding results for our customers.”

Kildahl has a strong background in executive leadership. Throughout his career, he has played pivotal roles in building and mentoring high-performance teams across multiple disciplines, as well as driving strategic initiatives and guiding transformational growth.

“Chris brings a wealth of experience and a strategic instinct that perfectly matches Starion Bank’s mission, said Dave Rogstad, Starion Bank President. “We’re excited to welcome him to our leadership team and look forward to the impact he’ll make in taking our customers and communities even farther.”

Kildahl is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant. He holds an MBA from North Dakota State University and dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Management Information Systems and Finance from Minnesota State Moorhead.

About Starion Bank

Starion Bank, a family-owned $2 billion asset super-community bank, has been a pillar of North Dakota’s financial landscape since its establishment in 1969. With 16 locations spanning North Dakota and Wisconsin, Starion remains dedicated to providing top-notch financial services to individuals, businesses, and communities. Learn more at StarionBank.com.

MMSD’s Superintendent, Dr. Joe Gothard, Exceeds Expectations in Annual Performance Review

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education has completed its annual evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard. This review process, which covered the first year of the superintendent’s tenure, was a collaborative effort between the Board of Education and the superintendent, utilizing a comprehensive framework that included the Wisconsin Association of School Boards’ First-Year Evaluation prompts and elements from the Superintendent Job Description.

The evaluation found that the superintendent exceeded expectations in all six key areas: 

• Community Relationships and Engagement
• Teaming, Management, and Oversight
• Educational Excellence
• Ethical Decision-making 
• Board Relationships and Leadership Skills

“We’re grateful for Dr. Gothard’s strong commitment to students and to strengthening community relationships, partnerships and pride in the district,” said Board President Nichelle Nichols. “We also appreciate the collaborative way that he works with the Board. Our shared leadership is critical to the district’s success, and together, we set the tone for the district and drive our vision forward.”

The Board’s statement is as follows: 

On behalf of the Board of Education, we are pleased to share an overview of Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard’s recent annual evaluation. 

We were pleased to see several academic achievements. One example is the notable growth we’ve seen in literacy and math, showing that more students are now meeting grade-level expectations. We were also pleased to see that MMSD’s most significant gains are among students who have historically been underserved, showing that opportunity gaps are beginning to close. While these are important successes, we stress that work to address long-standing disparities must continue, and that these persistent challenges remain at the forefront of the superintendent’s work moving forward at MMSD. 

We’d also like to highlight the increase in students participating and excelling in Advanced Placement (AP) exams. This spring, over 2,000 high school students took more than 4,200 Advanced Placement exams, and 80% of them scored three or higher (up from 76% last school year). We know that these opportunities benefit our students by saving them time and money, and also may lead to them earning college credit and even an associate’s degree while in high school. Additionally, we are pleased that more students are coming to school because attendance is a strong predictor of student success. When they are in class, they are engaged, learning and developing the skills they need to thrive. 

We appreciate the initiative the superintendent took to quickly expand full-day 4K programming at Huegel, Lapham, Midvale, and Muir, along with introducing a pilot five-day 4K offering at Olson. The ability to grow the 4K program within a limited amount of time speaks to his dedication to early learning and commitment to ensuring that students have the foundation they need for educational success. In addition, “Mad for Reading,” a citywide literacy initiative, was launched, and MMSD offered the first Freedom School in Wisconsin at Mendota Elementary. 

We were particularly impressed by the superintendent’s dedication to community engagement, which has been vital in strengthening public support and led to the successful passage of two historic referendums, garnering approximately 70% of the vote. In addition, he is committed to further building that support through advocacy and raising awareness of the financial challenges public schools are facing at the state and federal levels. The superintendent’s commitment to visiting schools and engaging with students, staff and families has fostered a strong sense of partnership among all stakeholders, and this is evident as he continues to lead with People, Purpose and Pride. 

We also recognize the significant progress he has made in district operations, including streamlining key functions to maximize efficiency, using data-driven dashboards to improve staffing and establishing an Enrollment Strategy Team. He has launched our much needed boundary review, “Building for the Future,” and we are currently finalizing our strategic framework, “MMSD: Excellence Together.” All of these efforts are crucial for the long-term sustainability and success of our district, and we are pleased to see this work moving forward. 

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue our partnership with the superintendent as we work together on the district’s new strategic plan. Our shared priorities are centered on ensuring that all students are valued, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. We are committed to building a learning community that delivers high-quality instruction, strengthens positive relationships and partners with families to achieve educational excellence for all.

We look forward to our continued work together. We will provide updates on our progress and the measurable objectives we will set to guide the district’s future.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

Weight In Gold Wellness Dietitian Earns Advanced Obesity Training Certificate

Weight In Gold Wellness is proud to celebrate Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Aryn DeGrave, RDN, for earning her Certificate of Training in Obesity for both pediatric and adult patients. This nationally recognized program equips dietitians with advanced skills to support individuals and families through evidence-based obesity care.

At Weight In Gold Wellness, we believe obesity is a complex, chronic disease that requires a compassionate and comprehensive approach. Aryn’s dedication to achieving this additional credential ensures that our patients—children, teens, and adults alike—have access to the highest standard of nutrition care. Her advanced training further strengthens our mission to transform mind and body to find health beyond the scale.

Eric Lindaas Brings 27 Years of Experience to Expand raSmith’s Madison Survey Team

MADISON, Wis. — Eric Lindaas, P.L.S., has joined raSmith as a senior project manager in the survey division at the firm’s Madison, Wis., office. Lindaas brings over 27 years of survey experience including Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) right-of-way plats and construction projects, local/county surveys, ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys, hydrographic surveys, topography maps, easements, and subdivision platting. raSmith’s Madison office continues to grow its portfolio of clients and projects, creating an opportunity to add more staff to the team.

Lindaas is an FAA-certified UAS pilot, performing drone LiDAR and photogrammetry mapping and processing to complement his land surveying skill set. In addition to field surveying, Lindaas has extensive experience with office management. He has supervised and trained survey crews, provided technical quality assurance/quality control, and collaborated with multi-discipline teams to successfully complete a variety of projects.

“Eric’s deep experience with WisDOT and local government make him a perfect fit for our growing Madison survey team,” said Eric Sturm, P.L.S., raSmith director of survey services. “With Eric’s expertise and leadership, we are better positioned to serve clients in Dane County and the surrounding areas.”

Lindaas is a professional surveyor licensed in Wisconsin. He holds an associate degree in civil engineering
technology from Madison Area Technical College.

raSmith’s survey team in Madison is part of one of the largest land surveying groups in the Midwest. With a total of 35 survey professionals, raSmith operates 13 field crews across Wisconsin and includes 12 licensed surveyors, eight project managers, seven certified unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) pilots, and one certified floodplain surveyor (CFS).

About raSmith
raSmith is a multi-disciplinary engineering consulting firm established in the city of Brookfield, Wisconsin, in 1978. Our services include civil engineering, structural engineering, transportation and traffic, land surveying, geographic information systems (GIS), development management, landscape architecture, ecological services, construction services, LiDAR (3D laser scanning), and UAS (unmanned aircraft systems). We work on projects nationwide from our six locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, and California. The firm employs a staff of 220. For more information about raSmith, visit www.rasmith.com.

Capitol Bank Announces Ken Thompson’s Retirement

Madison, WI (August 15, 2025): After 29 years of distinguished service, Ken Thompson
will be retiring from Capitol Bank on October 9th. Ken will remain on the Capitol Bank
Board of Directors as Chairman.

“My journey with Capitol Bank has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Ken. “Reflecting on
nearly three decades of growth, I am filled with pride. From humble beginnings, our Bank has
become a strong, stable, and respected community institution. This is all thanks to the trust of
our customers, the support of our shareholders, and the unwavering commitment of our
employees.”

Ken joined the Bank in 1996, helping lead the growth of the organization to $600 million
in assets and three Madison-area locations. After shepherding a thoughtful leadership
transition these past few years, Ken has positioned Capitol Bank for continued success
and growth. Ken’s commitment to the community is evident in the countless hours he
spent supporting numerous non-profit organizations and holding leadership roles within
the banking industry.

“Ken’s long-term commitment to Capitol Bank and his dedication to giving back are textbook
examples of what it means to be a community banker. While he won’t be going far, I’m excited for
Ken to take this well-earned retirement as we celebrate a banking career spanning four decades
of success,” said Justin Hart, CEO.

About Capitol Bank: Capitol Bank, a locally owned and operated community bank, is
committed to serving the communities in which we live, work, and do business. We are
proud of the partnerships we have established with organizations, businesses, and
individuals in the Greater Madison area. Our philosophy of community support is
demonstrated at the corporate level, as well as in the time and energy our employees
devote to our community each year. Capitol Bank is Member FDIC and an Equal Housing
Lender