Kraus-Anderson Madison names Marissa Young Director of Business Development

MADISON, Wis. (August 2024) – The Madison office of Kraus-Anderson (KA) has hired Marissa Young as director of business development. 

Young comes to KA from commercial contractor JP Cullen, where she was director of business development in Southwest Wisconsin.  Prior to JP Cullen she was the residential portfolio manager for Urban Land Interests in Madison.

Young received a B.S. in Sport and Recreation Management from North Dakota State University.  She serves on the boards of Downtown Madison Inc., Wisconsin Innovation Awards, Kids Building Wisconsin and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

About Kraus-Anderson

Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson (www.krausanderson.com) is an integrated construction management and real estate development enterprise working independently and in collaboration with a family of companies and services, including facilities assessment, K-12 pre-referendum planning, strategic facility planning, sustainability and insurance operations. Kraus-Anderson, an EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wis., Fargo and Bismarck, N.D., Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn. and Phoenix, Ariz.

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One Community Bank Announces Promotion of Brenda Homeister to VP Manager of Commercial Loan Administration

July 25, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

One Community Bank Announces Promotion of Brenda Homeister to VP Manager of Commercial Loan Administration

(July 2024) – One Community Bank is delighted to announce the promotion of Brenda Homeister to the position of Vice President, Manager of Commercial Loan Administration.

“Brenda joined the Organization in September of 2021 and has been instrumental in the development and evolution of the Commercial Loan Administration Division, enhancing procedures and processes as well as building and strengthening relationships within the Commercial Credit Community. Brenda will continue to manage the Commercial Loan Administration colleagues,” said Mark Barberino, Chief Credit Officer.

“I am passionate about building strong colleague relationships at OCB and have been fortunate to mentor and grow the Administration team. Together, we are dedicated to serving our clients and ensuring their loans are processed in a timely manner. I am excited to continue growing with One Community Bank,” shared Brenda.

Brenda is passionate about making the game of golf accessible to everyone. She serves as the Chapter President of the LPGA Amateurs of Madison, where she excels at event coordination.

Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys an active lifestyle of playing volleyball and golf and spending time with her family.

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One Community Bank is one of the largest community banks in south central Wisconsin. The locally owned bank has 16 bank locations and $2.1 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. Six years in a row named one of Madison’s best places to work, One Community Bank serves the communities of Oregon, McFarland, Cottage Grove, Waunakee, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Middleton, Adams, Oxford, Grand Marsh, Hillsboro, La Farge, Readstown, Wonewoc, and Union Center. Member FDIC.

WWBIC: Kathryn Dunn Named New Vice President of Programs and Operations

WWBIC is pleased to announce the return of Kathryn Dunn to WWBIC as Vice President of Programs & Operations.

Dunn began her career in the Milwaukee community serving as Vice President of WWBIC from 1993-1997. Kathryn was part of the dream team that began WWBIC over 38 years ago alongside President, Wendy K. Baumann. Kathryn’s work within the Milwaukee community as well as the State of Wisconsin has been instrumental to women’s economic empowerment movement as well as community based programming to serve the underserved.

Kathryn is leaving one of WWBIC’s long standing partners, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (GMF) after 13 years of providing leadership and partnership in developing several key programs and initiatives. Kathryn’s work is reflected in the current GMF strategic plan, and the “Milwaukee for All” vision. She served as a key partner in the development of ThriveOn King Community HUB and supported the Greater Together Campaign.

Kathryn’s work has deepened strategic partnerships within the broader Milwaukee region. Most recently, her work on ThriveOn Community HUB, a historic partnership between Greater Milwaukee Foundation, The Medical College of Wisconsin and Royal Capital ensured the community’s vision and voice was reflected.

Ms. Dunn has partnered across teams at the Foundation throughout her time on projects such as creation of the Centennial Plan and Gifts to the Community, Match Day, On the Table, Impact Investing and the early work of the Foundation’s role in addressing racial inequities. After WWBIC and prior to her work with the GMF, Kathryn served as Community Investment Officer for the Helen Bader Foundation.

In her role as Vice President of Programs and Operations, Kathryn will complement the work and talent of WWBIC’s continuing Vice Presidents – Jon Gaines, Vice President of Business Services and Finance; and Christina Knudsen, Vice President of Development and Communication.

Baumann, Dunn, Gaines & Knudsen will work as a team to lead a staff of over 50 employees and continue forward with the WWBIC strategic plan under the supervision of WWBIC’s Board of Directors. Since 1987, WWBIC has served 72,709 individuals and loaned $107 million to small business owners. Their technical and capital support has created or retained 18,027 jobs with 9,009 businesses started, strengthened, or expanded.

Coming this fall, WWBIC is eagerly anticipating the opening of their 6th regional office in the state thanks to funding from the Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership. The new North Central office will be based in Hayward and operated in partnership with Native Tribal support and offices on the campus of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University.

Dunn will start in her new role with WWBIC on August 5th. Please join us in welcoming Kathryn back to WWBIC! WWBIC looks forward to continuing its mission of “Putting Dreams to Work” through 2024 and beyond.

Do you want to be WiscNet’s next Chief Technology Officer?

We are seeking a collaborative and innovative Chief Technology Officer to lead our team of highly skilled network engineers and technicians. This role is responsible for daily operations and the planning and execution of long-term strategic technologies. The ideal candidate will have a strong mission-oriented mindset, excellent leadership skills, a deep understanding of advanced networking technologies, and a dedication to service.

If you are passionate about leveraging technology to serve educational and community institutions, and you thrive by working with others to solve problems, explore new ideas, and keep innovating, we encourage you to apply for this exciting leadership opportunity at WiscNet.

Apply now

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership

Develop and implement high-level strategies for managing and expanding WiscNet’s network infrastructure

Oversee the research, evaluation, and implementation of emerging technologies, making definitive recommendations on their integration into WiscNet’s operations and infrastructure.

Collaborate with partner research and education entities in-state, regionally and nationally on strategies and shared services

Ensure successful deployment and ongoing operation of these advanced technologies to enhance service offerings and operational efficiency with a member-centric approach.

Collaborate with executive management to align technological resources with strategic goals

Focus on building and maintaining positive and supportive relationships with WiscNet members, Board of Directors, staff, community, and beyond

Platform Team Management

Provide direction and structure to a group of highly advanced technical staff responsible for WiscNet’s network and infrastructure platform

Foster a positive and productive team environment, with intentional efforts to support not just the work, but the people doing it

Leverage the team’s abilities to innovate and create value for our membership

Encourage professional growth and development within the team

Operational Oversight

Oversee daily operations of network and related services with a member-centric approach

Manage technology budgets and project timelines efficiently

Provide daily oversight and escalation for the 24/7/365 Network Operations Center (NOC)

Oversee service-provider class technologies for optical and packet networking, data center infrastructure, next-generation firewalls, and network management systems

Oversee integration of cloud services, peering, and caching providers

Oversee the development and management of strategic partnerships with service providers to ensure cost-effective and diverse connectivity options for members

Oversee the administration of WiscNet’s headquarters enterprise applications and technology needs

Innovation and Advancement

Drive technology advancement and innovations, including the creation of new technical services and solutions, that benefit our member organizations

Work with other WiscNet leaders to deliver ongoing value to the membership

Be intentional in embracing and moving through challenges, and fostering organizational growth

Member Relations and Value Proposition

Manage the budget for the Member Platform team

Ability to navigate the complexities of making technological decisions and providing high-quality services while being mindful of members’ budget constraints

Work closely with other teams to develop strategies that reflect both the quality of our services and the varying needs of our membership

Clearly articulate the value proposition of our services

Qualifications

Proven leadership experience in a technology-focused role, preferably in a non-profit or research and education-related environment

Deep understanding of advanced networking technologies and infrastructure

Strong written and oral communication skills

Ability to balance technical expertise with strategic thinking, including a willingness to stay open-minded and adapt, pursue unconventional ideas, and think creatively and cooperatively

Experience managing and motivating high-performing technical teams

Commitment to working collectively toward organizational goals, cross-collaborating internally and externally

Track record of successful project management and budget oversight

Familiarity with cloud services

Conceptual understanding of Internet transit, peering and caching technologies

Strong financial acumen and ability to make strategic technology investments that balance innovation with cost-effectiveness

Commitment to a service-oriented mission and non-profit values

Commitment to work onsite at WiscNet World Headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin

Education and Experience

Total of 10 years of education and practical experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field and/or;

5+ years of progressive experience in IT and network management roles

Compensation

Salary starting at $140,000/year based on qualifications.

Benefits

Excellent health insurance

Group Life insurance

Long-term disability

Flexible Spending Plan employer contribution

401K employer contribution

Paid vacation, personal time, holidays, and sick leave

Work-from-home flexibility

Apply now

As Madison Reading Project Grows, New Leadership Team Formed

July 10, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information:
Rowan Childs, (608) 347-7970, Rowan@MadisonReadingProject.com

As Madison Reading Project Grows, New Leadership Team Formed

MADISON—Madison Reading Project’s board of directors announces a new leadership model designed to continuously shape its future, strengthen its literacy programs’ viability, and increase capacity to inspire more children to read. 

Rowan Childs, founder, and Deirdre Steinmetz, long-time team member, are now Co-Executive Directors of the Madison-based nonprofit. To share responsibility, sustainability, productivity, and building on strengths, Steinmetz will spearhead Programs and Operations, while Childs will focus on Communications and Development. 

Childs’ strong background in communications, her vision for the future, and social entrepreneurship will coincide well with Steinmetz’s extensive experience in education, programming, operations, and staff development.

“As an organization that values collaboration and innovation, our progression to a co-leadership model feels right on many levels,” Childs says. “It’s a strong platform for continued growth.

“Through strategic planning, leadership coaching, listening, and learning, we’ve taken a deeper look into what has been working throughout our immense growth during our 10 years of operations,” Childs adds. “Our team’s differences in style, experiences, strengths, and limitations make us thrive. In addition, we found that our work doesn’t happen without strong relationships, trust, and collaboration; all values we want to be infused into all areas of our work and organization.”

“Our staff and Board of Directors are excited to continue providing impactful services to the community to propel our mission forward,” adds Steinmetz. “This year, we’re celebrating our 10th year of providing free literacy programming for children. The new structure will give us fresh insights for expanding our outreach.”

Additional organizational leadership changes include Natalie Holdahl, Program Director, and Emily Wills, who joined in April as Development Director. Other new roles include Mellisa Hornung, Little Free Library Coordinator, and Haley Borgrud,  Communications and Events Specialist.

Madison Reading Project is a thriving organization with 15 full- and part-time staffers and nearly 250 volunteers. It operates a book center (near an area of the city’s most economically challenged households). It serves nine (9) South Central Wisconsin counties. More than 123,900 books were given to over 100,600 children during 2023. As a facilitating partner with entertainer Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Foundation, more than 11,300 Dane County children receive one free book mailed monthly.  

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