Telisa Yancy named president of American Family Group

Yancy, president of American Family Direct, begins the new position on Jan. 1, 2023

Telisa Yancy, president of American Family Insurance Direct, has been named president of the American Family Insurance Group of companies. Yancy’s appointment reflects the organization’s ongoing focus on growth, innovation and customer preference.

This position was previously held by CEO and President Bill Westrate who succeeded Jack Salzwedel upon Salzwedel’s retirement at the end of 2021. Naming Yancy to this position is a return a structure the company has had before. Westrate served as president beginning in 2017, before moving into the CEO role in 2022.

Yancy joined the organization as a marketing director in 2009, leading a major rebranding effort for American Family Insurance and subsequently becoming Marketing Vice President and then Chief Marketing Officer. In 2019, Yancy was named Chief Operating Officer, and in 2021, she became president of the organization’s direct sales channels, which include insurance companies CONNECT, Homesite and The General.

Yancy has been recognized for her leadership skills, marketing expertise and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. These honors include a Silver EFFIE, Ebony Magazine Power 100, AdAge Woman to Watch, GlobalMindeED Inclusive Leader Award and multiple inclusions in Savoy Magazine’s most influential Black Executives. She serves on the boards of directors for National Public Radio and Deluxe Corp. Yancy is a graduate of the University of Illinois and earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business.

Yancy brings her vast experience to this new role, in which she will oversee the group’s direct and agency business operations. In addition to the direct sales companies, American Family Group includes American Family Insurance and Main Street America Insurance which sell and service products through exclusive and independent agency owners, respectively.

“Telisa’s strong focus on evolving customer preferences, combined with her broad and deep organizational experience, position her to lead operations across the diverse American Family Insurance Group,” said Westrate. “She’s built strong relationships with our agency owners and distribution partners, and has clearly demonstrated the flexibility, resilience and innovative thinking needed to lead during an ever-changing business and economic landscape.”

Yancy’s new role will begin Jan. 1, 2023. Westrate will remain CEO.

About the American Family Insurance group
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family Insurance has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investment and creative partnerships to address societal challenges. We act on our belief in diversity and inclusion by constantly evolving to meet customer needs and preferences. American Family Insurance group is the nation’s 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 251 on the Fortune 500 list. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite and Main Street America Insurance. Across these companies the group has more than 13,000 employees nationwide.

One City Scholars to Tour Microsoft Corporation & Starbucks

Will Explore Careers in STEM Fields and Entrepreneurship

This week, 12 One City Scholars enrolled in One City Preparatory Academy will fly to Washington state with our Founder and CEO, Kaleem Caire, to tour Microsoft Corporation and Starbucks. They will also meet with some amazing leaders in the fields of Technology, Education and Philanthropy, and tour the University of Washington as well. Specifically, our Scholars will:

• Learn about careers at one of some World’s leading STEM and Growth Companies 
• Learn about the interests and programs of major philanthropy
• Connect with some of the nation’s leaders in educational technology and education reform 
• Tour one of the world’s leading universities and model cities 
• Broaden our Scholars’ geo-cultural experiences through visits to cultural and national landmarks 

Products of the Trip:

• Each Scholar will write a 3-5 page paper about their experience, what they learned, and new thoughts they have about possible career opportunities for themselves. They will also share how each company they have visited, and each leader they have met with, are having a positive social impact in the United States and/or globally. 
• Scholars attending will host a presentation about their trip to other One City Scholars, staff and families.
• Each Scholar will earn credit for completing a Field Expedition through One City’s Mastery Transcript.

We are so grateful for our local sponsors, Jaeckle Distributors, American Family Insurance Corporation, American Family Dreams Foundation, Summit Credit Union and Starion Bank, for their financial support of this important Career Expedition.

We are also thankful for Mr. Raghu Ramakrishnan, the CTO of Data at Microsoft Corporation, who also serves as a Board member of One City Schools Foundation, and Ms. Tyra Mariani, the President of the Schultz Family Foundation, and their team members, for their support in helping us arrange this trip. We are still looking for additional local sponsors to cover the cost of each Scholar taking this trip: it costs $2,100 per Scholar for flight, lodging and meals from November 9 – 12, 2022.

If you or your business/organization can help us, please email Eliza Waters at ewaters@onecityschools.org. You can also click the “Donate” button below to make your contribution online. Additionally, if our Scholars can take a tour of your business or organization, please email Gail Wiseman at gwiseman@onecityschools.org.

About One City Schools

One City Schools is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization that provides high quality educational opportunities for young children. Our mission is to seed a new model of public education that ensures young children are on track to succeed in a college or career preparatory program from birth through high school graduation. We currently operate three schools: a tuition-based independent preschool that serves 2 and 3-year-olds, and two tuition-free public charter schools, authorized by the University of Wisconsin System, that presently enroll children in 4K through 10th grade. We will eventually enroll 926 children from age 2 through through 12th grade and serve as a national model for the transformation of PK-12 education in the United States. 

Award Winning Journalist and Anchor Joins Creative Company

FMI: Laura Gallagher
608.442.6336
laura@thecreativecompany.com

Award Winning Journalist and Anchor Joins Creative Company

MADISON, Wis. (Nov. 3, 2022) — The Creative Company is thrilled to welcome Cassandra Bretl, an award-winning journalist, to our team. Cassandra will support public relations services at The Creative Company as a Public Relations Media Specialist.

For the last three years, Cassandra has appeared in the homes of thousands of people as an on-air anchor and multi-media journalist at 13 WREX-TV in Rockford, Illinois. Cassandra’s efforts helped bring home a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for coverage of racial injustice protests and a 2022 Upper Midwest Emmy nomination for coverage of a local chemical plant fire. 

Her delivery of thorough and accurate information has given her trusted credibility that she will use at The Creative Company to move clients forward in their goals. 

“We’re excited to have Cassandra join our team. Her experience as a journalist and storyteller shows she knows how to create award-winning and impactful work. She will continue that work here in partnership with our clients, expanding their reach through public relations and communications,” President of The Creative Company, Laura Gallagher, said.

Cassandra holds her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies. She also has a certificate in Digital Arts and Culture and is proficient in American Sign Language. 

About The Creative Company, Inc.

The Creative Company is a leading PR and Digital Agency that represents 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.

Heartland Credit Union Announces Angela Hanson as President and Chief Executive Officer

Read the full press release here

Black poet and performance artist Jasmine Mans returns to UW–Madison as Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence with the Division of the Arts and Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 20, 2022

Media Contact: aryn kresol, Arts Residency Programs Coordinator at UW–Madison Division of the Arts, akresol@wisc.edu

URL: go.wisc.edu/Mans

Link to media kit: https://uwmadison.box.com/s/wevmw4kmr8ueol0udc30qnugjm3hz9es

Link to article: https://artsdivision.wisc.edu/2022/10/20/mans-nov-22-iarp/

Black poet and performance artist Jasmine Mans returns to UW–Madison as Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence with the Division of the Arts and Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives

Madison, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of the Arts and the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) welcome Black poet, performance artist and UW–Madison alumna Jasmine Mans to campus October 31–November 5, 2022, through the Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program.

The 2022–2023 Division of the Arts’ Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program presents a series of short-term residencies with artists in collaboration with OMAI. Each artist-in-residence in the series will represent the three pillars of OMAI: academics, arts and activism.

The second in this series, Mans’ residency will include presentations and workshops in partnership with various departments on campus and a panel discussion with the 2022–23 Go Big Read author Clint Smith. Mans, who holds a B.A. in African American Studies from UW–Madison, will also cast and direct a small group of UW–Madison scholars to debut a choreopoem performance at OMAI’s Just Bust! Open Mic at the Wisconsin Historical Society on Friday, November 4.

Public Events

Monday, October 31 | 7–9 p.m.

Residency Welcome Reception

Cafe Coda (1224 Williamson St)

A Halloween meet and greet with Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence Jasmine Mans with faculty, students (21+), staff and community members. Please register in advance. First 20 guests in costume get a free drink ticket!

Free, 21+ and open to the public

Friday, November 4 | 8–10 p.m.

Just Bust! Open Mic

Wisconsin Historical Society (816 State Street)

Madison’s long-running, all-ages open mic, Just Bust! Open Mic, includes community performances, First Wave and alumni spotlight performance, and a debut performance of a choreopoem by Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence Jasmine Mans, with a cast of UW–Madison scholars. Interested in performing during the open mic portion of the event? Sign up (in-person) begins at 8 p.m. and goes on throughout the night until all slots are filled. Make sure to arrive early to guarantee a spot in the lineup!
Free, all ages and open to the public

Saturday, November 5 | 1–3 p.m.

Just Bust! Workshop at the Level Up! Music Conference

MYArts – Madison’s Youth Arts Center (1055 E Mifflin Street)

A poetry workshop led by Interdisciplinary Artist-in-Residence Jasmine Mans, followed by residency closing reception from 3–3:30 p.m. The Level Up! Music Conference, presented by the Urban Community Arts Network, continues 3:30–5 p.m. Register here with promo code: OMAI.

About the Artist

Jasmine Mans is a Black poet and performance artist from Newark, New Jersey. Jasmine’s poetry book, “BLACK GIRL, CALL HOME” (Penguin Random House) has been named one of Oprah’s Most Anticipated LGBTQ Books and a TIME Magazine Must Read, to name a few; and Jasmine herself named as Essence’s #1 Contemporary Black Poet to Know. Jasmine most recently collaborated with the Brooklyn Ballet on an original performance piece titled “Unnatural Surrounding” at the prestigious Brooklyn Academy of Music. Prior to this, she opened for Nikole Hannah-Jones at the launch of “The 1619 Project” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and co-hosted The Kennedy Center’s Arts Across America digital series alongside renowned poet, Jason Reynolds. Jasmine’s poetry has gone viral many times over on YouTube. Jasmine is a MUSE100 icon and can currently be heard as the voice of Ulta Beauty’s national “Muse” campaign, honoring Black women in the hair and beauty industry. She has opened packed shows for Mos Def, Janelle Monae and Goapele, and performed at such esteemed venues as the Kennedy Center, Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theater, the Wisconsin Governor’s Mansion and the Sundance Film Festival. Mans also participated in “Brave New Voices”, an 8-episode poetry documentary on HBO.

About the Presenters

The Division of the Arts’ Interdisciplinary Arts Residency Program (IARP), originated through the Cluster Hiring Initiative of the Office of the Provost, brings innovative, world-class artists to the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Since 1999, the program has hosted over 40 residencies involving more than 100 guest artists from 20 different countries, engaging over 60 university units and community organizations.

All residencies center interdisciplinary arts, recognizing that interdisciplinarity can break down barriers and silos, advance intellectual artistic diversity and give opportunities to people who do not fit into the traditional modes of inquiry and practice (see the Division of the Arts’ guiding principle of The Arts for Everyone, Everywhere). The program often brings together artists, faculty, staff and students from various disciplines across the arts, sciences and humanities. Integrated with curricular activities, all arts residencies in this program are proposed by academic departments or officially recognized interdepartmental programs, centers or institutes at UW–Madison.

While in residence, artists teach interdisciplinary workshops and participate in public programming with campus and Madison communities. The program provides students with extended learning experiences with a working artist, including options to earn course credit; increases diversity of teaching staff on campus; and strengthens programmatic ties among individual departments, programs and other campus and community arts entities.

The Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) within the Division of Diversity, Equity, & Educational Achievement provides culturally relevant and transformative arts programming to promote positive social dialogue and to give cultural art forms a legitimate academic forum. By harnessing the broad cultural influence of spoken word, hip hop and emerging as well as traditional art forms, OMAI’s events and programming create learning environments that directly affect UW–Madison’s campus climate, improving retention and graduation success, preparing future leaders to reinvest in their communities. By continually refreshing this paradigm that integrates traditional academics and cutting edge arts activism, OMAI empowers transnational leaders with new tools for inclusive community building.

One of OMAI’s most prominent initiatives is the First Wave Hip Hop and Urban Arts Learning Community, a cutting-edge multicultural artistic program for incoming students which offers a four-year full tuition scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Bringing together young artists and leaders from across the United States and beyond, the First Wave Learning Community offers students the opportunity to live, study and create together in a close-knit, dynamic campus community. First Wave is the first university program in the country centered on urban arts, spoken word and hip-hop culture.

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