Sara Kekula Promoted to Account Executive at M3 Insurance

Madison, WI – Sara Kekula was recently promoted to Account Executive at M3 Insurance. Specializing in property and casualty insurance for the senior living and social services industry, Sara works with her clients to customize insurance and risk management solutions based on their current and future business needs.

Sara earned a Bachelor of Arts in advertising from Marquette University in 2010.  She joined the M3’s senior living and social services team in November of 2012 as a Support Specialist and soon became an Account Manager. She was promoted to Senior Account Manager in February 2016 and served in that role until this, most recent, promotion.  Sara’s focus on senior living and social services has provided her with valuable industry insight which she will draw on and continue to develop as she serves and counsels her clients.

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About M3

M3 Insurance offers insight, advice and strategies to help clients manage risk, purchase insurance and provide employee benefits. We are committed to being experts in both the products we represent and the industries we serve. Our people advance M3’s competitive advantage in the marketplace, and our focus on community builds better places to live and work. M3 is consistently ranked a top 100 broker in America.

Chamber VP Named to DCI’s “40 Under 40” List Recognizing Economic Development Success

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Feb. 1, 2017)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

MADISON – The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced today that Chamber Vice President Kevin Little has been named as one of the Development Counsellors International (DCI) “40 Under 40” for 2017. The list is comprised of 40 people from across North America who have achieved success in economic development before turning 40 years old.

Little is the third person from Wisconsin to make the biennial list, following then-City of Madison Alder Scott Resnick in 2013 for spearheading just the second open data ordinance in the nation and Kenosha Area Business Alliance President Todd Battle in 2015 for his role in bringing in 4,000 jobs, $800 million in capital investment, and seven million square feet of development to the Kenosha area within the prior two years.

“The people chosen by the selection committee represent a bright future for the economic development world,” said DCI President Andy Levine. “They are a new breed of results-driven place makers. We’re very pleased to see Kevin Little among the winners.”

“This honor shows the depth of talent we have in our organization and validates the work the Chamber is doing to drive economic growth in Greater Madison,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “From initiatives like Accelerate Madison and HealthTech Capitol to programming our annual Pressure Chamber pitch competition, Kevin has been a vital asset to the Chamber’s efforts to accelerate business growth for our members, attract world-class talent to our community and position Greater Madison for sustained success.”

In his role as Chamber Vice President, Little leads the Chamber’s external relations, including its political advocacy, economic development, communications, programming and events. He has also served as the Chamber’s Director of Public Policy and Managing Director of Economic Development.

“It is an honor to be named to this list, but the work being recognized is really a tribute to a lot of people – from our incredible Chamber staff to our leadership and community partners,” Little said. “There is an overused expression that economic development is a team sport, but it’s true. We have a lot of collaboration and momentum going on right now in our community, and I am proud to be a part of it.”

DCI officially announced the winners Monday night at an awards ceremony during the International Economic Development Council Leadership Summit in Jacksonville and will feature an in-depth profile of each on its website during 2017.

Considered the leader in marketing places, DCI specializes in economic development and tourism marketing.  The agency has worked for more than 400 cities, regions, states and countries since it was established in New York City in 1960. www.aboutdci.com

For more information on DCI’s 40 Under 40 winners, visit www.aboutdci.com/40under40.

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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Gretchen Flueckiger Joins M3 as Account Executive

Gretchen Flueckiger recently joined M3 Insurance as an Account Executive. Specializing in employee benefits, Gretchen oversees and manages benefit compliance, strategy, design, and implementation for employers of all sizes nationwide. Gretchen also specializes in Service Contract Act consulting and advising for government contractors including strategic planning and management oversight.

Gretchen is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Wisconsin. She holds her life and health insurance licenses in Illinois and Wisconsin. Gretchen also has her FINRA Series 6 and is currently enrolled in the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist program through the International Foundation and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.  Gretchen volunteers at Camp HOPE for Kids and supports the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

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About M3

M3 Insurance offers insight, advice and strategies to help clients manage risk, purchase insurance and provide employee benefits. We are committed to being experts in both the products we represent and the industries we serve. Our people advance M3’s competitive advantage in the marketplace, and our focus on community builds better places to live and work. M3 is consistently ranked a top 100 broker in America.

Visit www.m3ins.com for more information.

Bastian named Senior Associate at Strang

Mark Bastian, Vice President and Senior Project Director at Strang, was named Senior Associate in January.

In announcing the promotion, Strang President Larry Barton praised Mark for his leadership, performance and design skills. Larry also pointed to the great job Mark has done in managing Strang’s largest projects productively and on-time, within defined construction budgets.

“Mark has strong design awareness and has done a superb job mentoring the staff assigned to his projects. Client feedback has been equally positive. We feel he will bring added management strength to our board meetings and improve our overall leadership effectiveness,” Larry said.

A licensed architect in the State of Wisconsin, Mark has more than 20 years of experience working on a variety of corporate, cultural, education and residential projects throughout the nation and the world. Mark’s experiences range from the design of commercial interiors to construction oversight for multi-million dollar mixed-use projects.

In 2014, working as Project Architect for the Alliant Energy Center’s New Holland Pavilions in Madison, it was named one of the top projects of the year by the Daily Reporter.

He worked as Project Manager and Lead Designer on the restoration of the 109-year-old Delta Upsilon Chapter House on Frances Street in 2015, a project which was recognized with the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation’s Rehabilitation Award.

Currently, Mark is Senior Project Manager for several performing arts centers including the Confluence Center for the Arts in Eau Claire, American Player’s Theater in Spring Green, Northern Sky Theater in Door County, and the Hamel Music Center at the UW-Madison Mead Witter School of Music.

Mark has a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology and is a registered member of the American Institute of Architects.

Established in 1935, Strang is an award-winning integrated architecture, engineering, interior design and planning firm. This inclusive project approach allows us to provide exceptional design for the most unique and challenging projects within the science and technology, commercial, higher education and civic + cultural sectors.

Clark and Henke Join Alliance Board; Culver Elected Board Chair, Pribyl Vice Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Teri Van Tassel, Vice President, Marketing & Member Services

608.210.6633

E-mail: tvantassel@the-alliance.org

www.the-alliance.org/press

CLARK AND HENKE JOIN ALLIANCE BOARD; CULVER ELECTED BOARD CHAIR, PRIBYL VICE CHAIR

MADISON, Wis. (January 30, 2017) ─ Diana Clark, benefits manager of Promega Corporation, Fitchburg, Wis. and Lisa Henke, risk/benefits manager of County of Walworth, Elkhorn, Wis. have been elected to The Alliance Board of Directors. Mary Kay Brooks, general manager, corporate attorney and owner of Brooks Tractor, Inc., Sun Prairie, Wis.; Kyle Reading, president of Spuncast, Inc., Watertown, Wis. and Mark Stevens, vice president for business affairs of Maranatha Baptist University, Watertown, Wis. have been re-elected to The Alliance Board of Directors.

Wendy Culver, human resources director at Mead & Hunt, Madison, Wis. was elected board chair. Culver became a member The Alliance Board of Directors in 2008. She joined Mead & Hunt in 1996 as human resources director. In her position she is responsible for human resources policies, strategic planning, training, recruitment, retention and benefits.

Larry Pribyl, CFO at Trachte Building Systems, Sun Prairie, Wis. was elected vice chair. Pribyl became a member of The Alliance Board of Directors in 2014. He joined Trachte Building Systems in 2012 as CFO. He has a background in quality processes and has held senior-level positions at previous companies.

The Alliance board also includes:

• Janette Berry, benefits manager, Miniature Precision Components (MPC) Inc.,
• Walworth, Wis.
• Annette Mikula, human resources director, County of Rock, Janesville, Wis.
• Brad Olm, vice president of human resources, Gordon Flesch Company, Inc., Madison, Wis.
• Shirley Reif, secretary-treasurer, Crest Foods Company, Inc., Ashton, Ill.

The Alliance Board of Directors works together with staff to set the direction for The Alliance. Founded in 1990, The Alliance is a not-for-profit cooperative that moves health care forward by controlling costs, improving quality and engaging individuals in their health. The Alliance provides a network of health care access in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa to its 240 member-employers.

To learn more about The Alliance Board, including biographies, visit: www.the-alliance.org/board.

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Photos can be downloaded at: http://www.the-alliance.org/press_room/press_releases/