KW2’s Andy Wallman retiring after 33 years in advertising

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2023

Contact: Molly Dillman
(608) 334-0406
mvidal@kw2madison.com

KW2’s Andy Wallman retiring after 33 years in advertising

MADISON, Wis.—Andy Wallman, one of Wisconsin’s most beloved advertising leaders and co-owner of KW2, recently announced his retirement after 33 years in the industry and 23 years as a leader at KW2.

“Dr. Seuss once said, ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened,’” said Wallman. “I proud to say that I have professionally achieved what I wanted to over the past three decades. I have a ridiculous amount of stuff to smile about.”

His first priority in retirement: starting to edit his dad’s book which details his WWII and POW experiences.

“Being able to dedicate time to my dad’s story is a lifelong dream of mine. I’m ecstatic that I will finally have time to dig in,” said Wallman.

His retirement from his position as President and Executive Creative Director of KW2, as well as his stepping down as co-owner of the agency was final end of June.

“From the moment Andy started over two decades ago, he has had a tremendous and positive impact that has ultimately shaped KW2 into the values-driven agency we are today,” said Jennifer Savino, KW2 CEO and Co-Owner. “He is in our agency’s DNA and will continue to impact the creative work we do.”

“KW2 is a very special place. The core of our work is helping people, and we do it with a straight-up all-star team,” said Wallman. “There is nothing greater or more satisfying one could ask for in life. I am so proud of what we at KW2 have accomplished, and I know the team will get more and more special over time.”

Although he is retiring from full-time, day-to-day agency duties, Wallman’s passion for creative endeavors and the advertising industry remains. He also looks forward to spending more time with wife Jen and his three daughters, as well as continuing to volunteer for non-profit organizations in Cambridge.

BACKGROUND:
KW2 is a 37-year-old full-service digital and marketing agency with a long history of success in public health, higher education, and business services. We are a Wisconsin and nationally-certified WBE company that tackles some of society’s most challenging issues for leading organizations like The Wisconsin Departments of Health Services, Children and Families, and Natural Resources, as well as The University of Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Technical College System, and First Choice Dental. With a mission of empowering and improving lives, we believe our people grow in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where their valued insights and experiences help us build authentic relationships. Learn more about KW2’s values, results, services, and clients at kw2madison.com.

Tracy Odegaard Promoted to Assistant Bank Manager at OCB-Stoughton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2023

Contact:
Ameilia Abraham
One Community Bank
608-838-3141
aabraham@onecommunity.bank

Tracy Odegaard Promoted to Assistant Bank Manager at OCB-Stoughton

Stoughton, WI (July 2023) – One Community Bank is thrilled to announce the recent promotion of Tracy Odegaard as Assistant Bank Manager of its Stoughton location.

“Tracy has consistently shown dedication to our clients, colleagues, and the community she lives in. Tracy will continue to develop relationships within our community and assist in developing our teller team,” said Amie Edgington, AVP-Bank Manager.

Tracy has been with One Community Bank for over 7 years. She has gained experience in a variety of retail positions including Teller, Relationship Banker, and Relationship Banking Officer.

Tracy is passionate about serving her community and creating a positive work environment for her colleagues. “I love that through helping my colleagues and clients, I can make them happy. I find it extremely rewarding to be able to find solutions for clients and assist them with all of their banking needs,” said Tracy.

Tracy is passionate about giving back to the Stoughton community through her volunteer efforts with One Community Bank. She is also the President of the Kiwanis Club of Stoughton and a member of the Youth Services Committee.

In her free time, Tracy enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her animals. She loves being outside fishing and going to the races. She also enjoys reading.

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One Community Bank is one of the largest community banks in south central Wisconsin. The locally owned bank has 10 bank locations and $1.9 billion in assets. It provides both personal and business banking solutions, with an intense focus on serving clients, supporting colleagues, and investing in its communities. Five years in a row named one of Madison’s best places to work, One Community Bank serves the communities of Oregon, McFarland, Waunakee, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Middleton, Adams, Oxford, and Grand Marsh. Member FDIC.

Amy Squitieri Named Mead & Hunt COO/President

Amy Squitieri has been selected as Mead & Hunt’s next Chief Operations Officer (COO)/President. In this role, Amy will help lead the firm toward its strategic goals and vision, helping Mead & Hunt become a future-ready firm today.

Amy has been with Mead & Hunt for 30 years and has held many roles throughout the company. Upon joining the firm, Amy established a dedicated Cultural Resource Management (CRM) practice that fit seamlessly within the firm’s legacy of infrastructure design work. Since then, the practice has grown significantly in size and services. Most recently, Amy has served as the Environment and Infrastructure Group Leader since 2007, greatly expanding the company’s water practice and leading multidisciplinary staff to deliver engineering and technical services to clients nationwide. Amy’s business operations, client relationships, and people development skills have helped the business grow significantly both organically and through mergers and acquisitions. Her proven ability to take calculated risks necessary to enter new markets and geographies have shown her to be an ideal champion for Mead & Hunt’s strategic pursuit of growth. This skillset will be invaluable as the firm continues to grow into new markets and geographies.

In addition to her leadership roles in the company, Amy has been actively involved in numerous initiatives and projects that move both Mead & Hunt and the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry forward.  Amy has spearheaded Mead & Hunt’s Foresight + Innovation + Technology (FIT) initiative, which helps to navigate potentially disruptive changes in the AEC industry through advancing technology, innovation, and market growth. She sponsored Project Confluence, an employee-driven program dedicated to learning new approaches for equitable infrastructure that supports our position as an industry leader in innovation and ESG. In addition, she serves on the board of Engineering Change Lab-USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to unlocking the full potential of engineering for the benefit of society.

Amy has a clear vision for how to lead Mead & Hunt into the future. She says, “As we move forward, culture will be front and center. This means talking to people, understanding perspectives, listening, taking feedback, and aligning everyone around a common vision. This will allow us to continue to attract the best talent and provide exceptional solutions to clients as our markets evolve.”

Andy Platz, Mead & Hunt CEO and Board Chair echoes this sentiment, stating, “I have worked with Amy for the past 30 years and seen her leadership skills in action as she has led us through multiple acquisitions and strategic growth initiatives. I am excited to work with Amy as COO/President, and I have no doubt that great things are in store for our firm, industry, clients, and the communities we serve.”

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Additional quotes or background information

• Amy Squitieri, Mead & Hunt COO/President, Amy.squitieri@meadhunt.com, 608-443-0400

• Andy Platz, Mead & Hunt CEO and Board Chair, andy.platz@meadhunt.com, 608-443-0600

General media inquiries and photo requests:

• Meghan Stiklestad, Marketing Director, meghan.stiklestad@meadhunt.com, 608-443-0378

WPS hires new Vice President of Execution, Service Delivery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

WPS hires new Vice President of Execution, Service Delivery
WPS Health Insurance^® division adds a new role

MADISON, Wis.—July 10, 2023—The WPS Health Insurance division has a new Vice President of Execution and Service Delivery. Nicole Oishi brings with her more than 30 years of health care experience, with more than 15 years in executive leadership roles.

“I am incredibly excited and honored to join WPS and become part of the team,” Oishi said.

Oishi was the Chief Operating and Experience Officer at Asserta Health in Salt Lake City, Utah, prior to joining WPS. There, she was responsible for increasing revenue, creating and deploying products, strategic planning, and more. Prior to that, she held leadership positions at other large health care companies such as Matrix Medical Network in Scottsdale, Arizona; Collective Medical in Salt Lake City; and Cambia Health Solutions/The Regence Group in Portland, Oregon, where she was the General Manager for self-funded group health plans and Vice President of Clinical Services across all lines of business.

With a broad health care background, Oishi, who began her career as a nurse, is skilled in using innovative technology platforms and tools to solve challenges. She knows all about the development and growth of health insurance products, including self-funded/ASO, fully insured, and individual health plans as well as Medicare and Medicaid. She also has experience in customer success, service delivery, operations, moving culture forward, closing sales, driving growth, and advancing customer relationships and strategic partnerships.

“I am thrilled for Nicole to join the Health Insurance division leadership team,” John Stephens, Chief Commercial Officer, said. “Nicole has a fantastic track record and will be a big asset for WPS on our path to building a thriving business.”

About WPS Health Solutions^®

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 2,700 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

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 and groups, third-party administrator services, and Medicare supplement insurance plans. Headquartered in Madison, Wis., and with employees throughout the state, WPS Health Insurance is deeply committed to Wisconsin and its residents. Visit wpshealth.com for more information.

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Jerie Olson promoted to Vice President, Operations at National Guardian Life Insurance Company

Jerie Olson has been promoted to Vice President, Operations at National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL). Olson started at NGL in 1999 and throughout her tenure at the company has worked with a variety of areas supporting our partners and policyholders.

“During my 24 years at NGL I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with and get to know team members across all departments while a member of the Legal/Compliance team. I have always had a close connection and deep appreciation for the Operations team since I work with them daily on issues that impact our customers. They are a wonderful group of people who are collaborative and dedicated to serving our policyholders and helping each other. I look forward to guiding them as they strive to achieve their goals and continuing to support the excellent work, they do each and every day,” said Olson.

In her new role as Vice President, Operations, Olson joins NGL’s Senior Leadership Team as she leads the operations area and end-to-end processes to align with corporate strategies and provide exceptional customer service. Additionally, she will draw on her background in legal and compliance as she manages the operational and workforce risks to ensure NGL processes adhere to industry, regulatory and workplace compliance standards.

“We are excited to have Jerie step into this position at NGL. With over two decades of experience at NGL she is knowledgeable of regulatory requirements, and our processes, as well as is understanding and compassionate when working with policyholders on their needs. I look forward to working with her on enhancing our customer support areas as we grow in the Preneed and AssetGuard spaces and implement a new administration system,” said Kim Shaul, Interim President and CEO at NGL.

Prior to joining NGL, Olson worked in Government Relations for Great Lakes Health Plan in Michigan.

Olson earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She lives in DeForest, Wis. with her husband of 27 years and their two dogs. Olson is an avid pickleballer and enjoys spending time on the water kayaking, as well as visiting her daughter in Colorado. Olson also gives back to her community through volunteering and supporting local organizations. She has organized employee fundraising events benefiting United Way of Dane County and is an active member of the Women’s Initiative Network, one of NGL’s Employee Resource Groups.

About NGL

Established in 1909 National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is an insurance company headquartered in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products. Information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company.

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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