Trailblazing Nonprofit Leader Joins Creative Company as Senior Account Executive

FMI: Laura Gallagher
608.442.6336
laura@thecreativecompany.com

Trailblazing Nonprofit Leader Joins Creative Company as Senior Account Executive

MADISON, Wis. (Feb. 21, 2023) — The Creative Company is thrilled to welcome Sarah Schilling to our team. As Senior Account Executive, Sarah will provide strategic counsel for our clients in marketing, branding, and communications. She’ll also lead campaign project management.

For the last 13 years, Sarah served with an international nonprofit where she directed marketing initiatives vying for attention nationally and internationally. During her six years in Paris, France, Sarah trailblazed the development and marketing of leadership programs for university students abroad. When the COVID-19 lockdown abruptly halted in-person programs, Sarah led the rapid pivot to digital programs that impacted a global audience.

“Returning to the U.S. and championing clients in my hometown is an exciting change,” Schilling said. “It is a privilege to join a local company with such a strong reputation and values. The Creative Company has an impressive list of clients making a difference in the world, and I look forward to amplifying their stories.”

With her wealth of experience bringing people, programs, and projects to fruition, Sarah will help The Creative Company’s clients achieve their vision through her collaborative style.

“Sarah and I met nearly 15 years ago. In Sarah, we have a focused and talented marketing professional with extensive cross-cultural experience. Her first-hand work with the next generation makes her even more valuable for our clients. She sees all the steps necessary to make big ideas become finished products, and then assigns the right steps to the right people so that everyone thrives in the process,” the President of The Creative Company, Laura Gallagher, said. “We are confident Sarah’s qualifications and leadership are what we need to build our clients and the communities we serve toward greater outcomes.”

Sarah holds her bachelor’s from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Communications and her master’s in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College. She also speaks fluent French.

About The Creative Company, Inc.

The Creative Company is a leading PR and Digital Agency representing top nonprofits, businesses, and cooperatives, helping them evolve, promote, and protect their brands and reputations. The Creative Company is certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise by the State of Wisconsin and the 2022 Dane County Small Business of the Year Winner. Visit thecreativecompany.com for more information.

Lake Ridge Bank Announces Nine Promotions Within its Business and Ag Banking Groups

February 17, 2023 (MADISON, Wis.) – On February 13, Monona Bank and State Bank of Cross Plains officially merged to become Lake Ridge Bank. During the process of combining two banks into one cohesive team, nine associates in the Business and Agriculture banking divisions received promotions. 

The following individuals have been promoted to Senior Vice President-Business Banking Sales Managers. Each will lead a team of Business Relationship Managers and Administrative Assistants: 

• Mike Flynn – SVP Business Banking Sales Manager 
• Stan Koopmans – SVP Business Banking Sales Manager 
• Rob Reichert – SVP Business Banking Sales Manager 
• Jeff Zwettler – SVP Business Banking Sales Manager 

Mike Flynn applies more than 25 years of experience in banking and commercial lending to the community banking service model. He exemplifies the bank’s core belief that for the bank to thrive, so must its clients and communities. 

Stan Koopmans has extensive experience in credit analysis, loan underwriting and review, business development, regulatory examination, mentoring, instructing, and loan/deposit portfolio management. Stan’s desire to help his customers succeed is only matched by his vast knowledge of banking.  

Rob Reichert has more than 35 years of community banking experience in the Dane County market. He is committed to adding value to every client relationship through his in-depth knowledge of loan, depository, and treasury management products and services. 

Jeff Zwettler was born and raised in the community he serves. With more than 25 years of banking experience, his customers consider his extensive background with and knowledge of the area a valuable addition to his experience in commercial lending. 

Lake Ridge Bank is also excited to announce the promotions of the following Business Bankers and Ag Relationship Managers: 

• Dave Wyttenbach – Senior Vice President & Senior Business Relationship Manager 
• Rene Johnson – Senior Vice President Ag/Business Relationship Manager 
• Casey McClyman – Senior Vice President Business Relationship Manager 
• Jeff Schleis – Senior Vice President Business Relationship Manager 
• Klayton Brandt – Assistant Vice President Business Relationship Manager 

Dave Wyttenbach has spent more than 40 years assisting farmers and other agriculture businesses with their credit needs. He is an active volunteer helping young people develop the knowledge and skills to succeed in the farming and ag industry. 

Rene Johnson brings more than 20 years of agriculture banking experience to her role as the bank’s Ag Team Leader. Her extensive knowledge of farming comes from both family history and formal training, giving her a strong foundation to draw upon when serving her customers. 

Casey McClyman has more than 20 years of experience in business banking, with a special interest in working with family-owned and small businesses in particular. He believes there is nothing more rewarding than to helping someone who started with nothing build and grow a successful venture.  

Jeff Schleis has more than 15 years of experience specializing in commercial real estate, commercial lending, and venture capital. He brings first-hand, personal experience to solving many of the challenges his customers face. 

Klayton Brandt started at the bank as a Customer Service Associate in college, then worked as a Credit Analyst after graduation before becoming a trusted Business Banker. Locally born and raised in Verona, he enjoys rolling up his sleeves to help community businesses grow and reach their financial goals. 

Lake Ridge Bank is now the seventh largest bank headquartered in the State of Wisconsin, with 23 branch locations and nearly 400 associates serving almost 40,000 households across 17 communities. The goal was to create a bank with resources and services that compete with regional or national institutions but still maintains its focus on local communities and the businesses that help our area stay strong and vibrant places to live and work. 

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For additional information, please contact Mark Schellpfeffer at mschellpfeffer@lakeridge.bank.

The QTI Group: Operation Fresh Start Seeking Finance Manager

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Savant Wealth Management Announces Two Strategic Hires in Support of Growth Goals

ROCKFORD, Ill. (Feb. 14, 2023) — Savant Wealth Management, a nationally recognized, fee-only registered investment adviser (RIA), announced that Myles Cavell has joined the firm as director of new partner optimization, and that Brad Felix, CFA®, has joined as director, Ideal Futures Platform.

Myles Cavell has more than 15 years of experience with strategic problem solving and building effective business processes. Most recently he served as Regional Director for M&A Integrations for Edelman Financial Engines where he led, planned and implemented business optimization processes and expanded sales integration for a number of newly acquired entities. In his role at Savant, Cavell will guide leaders from acquired firms through the transition and integration process post-acquisition. In addition, he will serve as an advocate to newly acquired partners, ensuring a positive integration experience and quick adoption of Savant resources and process to achieve optimal growth. Cavell will be a member of Savant’s Advisory Leadership Team, reporting to Chief Advisory Officer Chris A. Walters.

Brad Felix joins Savant after serving as director of innovation for Truepoint Wealth Counsel, a fee-only, fiduciary financial advisory firm in Cincinnati, OH. He is also the founder of Commas, a fee-only RIA in the Cincinnati area. At Savant, Felix will collaborate with Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Rob Morrison, CFP® to develop and launch the firm’s Ideal Futures Platform, a fintech-based financial planning process designed to enhance client engagement and improve the overall client experience.

“In 2023, we are focused on growth and committed to making experiences more seamless and hassle-free, not only for clients, but also with the partner firms we acquire,” said Brent Brodeski, CPA, CFP®, CFA®, MBA. “Myles will be dedicated to smoothing the transition for firms partnering with Savant, from both an operational and cultural perspective. As director of our Ideal Futures Platform, Brad will be working to create a more impactful onboarding process and an easier way for clients to follow their progress toward their goals.”

Earlier this month, Savant announced that Patrick Lawlor, CFA®, CFP®, joined Savant as head of mergers and acquisitions, part of the firm’s efforts to expand its M&A activity in 2023. In 2021, Savant recapitalized to accelerate from incremental to exponential growth, and last year, it strengthened its advisory leadership team by naming Chris A. Walters to the position of chief advisory officer, hiring Jason R. English as director of growth, and naming John M. Hanley, CFA®, CAIA® as director of practice management.

About Savant Wealth Management

Savant Wealth Management is a leading independent, nationally recognized, fee-only firm serving clients for over 30 years with approximately $14 billion in assets under management and assets under advisement (as of 12/31/22). As a trusted advisor, Savant Wealth Management offers investment

management, financial planning, retirement plan and family office services to financially established individuals and institutions. Savant also offers corporate accounting, tax preparation, payroll and consulting through its affiliate, Savant Tax & Consulting.

Headquartered in Rockford, Illinois, Savant has offices in Bloomington, Chicago, Downers Grove, Freeport, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnshire, Naperville, Peoria, St. Charles, Sterling, and Wilmette, IL; Phoenix, AZ; Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, IA; Indianapolis, IN; Plymouth, MI; Santa Fe, NM; Doylestown, PA; Madison, Middleton, and Park Falls, WI; and Manassas, McLean, and Reston, VA.

Savant is a registered Investment advisor. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Please read our Important Disclosures at savantwealth.com.

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M3 Insurance Adds Seven New Shareholders

M3 Insurance recently announced seven new company shareholders: Keith Berry, Senior Retirement Plan Consultant; Jay Brown, Senior Account Executive; Lacey Endres, Vice President of Property & Casualty Operations; Matt Mekemson, Senior Account Executive & Managing Director; Rebecca Menefee, Vice President of M3 Elevate; Jesse Roberts, Senior Business Development Executive; and Kelsey Stacks, Senior Account Executive.

Berry provides guidance around employer-sponsored financial plan designs, drawing on his deep understanding of retirement plans, fiduciary obligations, and the regulatory environments. He joined M3 Financial in 2013.

Brown advises clients on plan design and risk management solutions with a focus on property & casualty for the construction & real estate industry. He joined M3 in 2022 with the Trottier Insurance Group acquisition.

Endres partners with executive leadership to set the strategy for the agency’s property & casualty operations. Her leadership focus includes M3’s property & casualty client services, brokerage, surety, and risk management teams. She joined M3 in 2007.

Mekemson specializes in property and casualty insurance with a focus on construction and real estate clients. He also acts as managing director of M3’s Kenosha office, overseeing overall office functions, facilitating cross-division growth strategies, and serving as a primary conduit from the Kenosha office to senior leadership. He joined M3 in 2022 with the Trottier Insurance Group acquisition.

Menefee provides sales leadership and employee development support, executing on various strategies to grow and retain M3’s client base within the M3 Elevate division. She joined M3 in 2016.

Roberts educates the business community about M3 services, including insurance and risk management, employee benefits and retirement planning. He joined M3 in 2016.

Stacks consults with and advises clients about the design, implementation, and management of their benefit programs. She joined M3 in 2016 as part of the M3YOU program.

Each of M3’s 57 shareholder partners is a current employee who is actively involved in our business and must sell his or her shares prior to retirement. This ownership structure ensures engagement while aligning with M3’s commitment to remain privately held.

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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.