M3 Adds Seven New Shareholders

M3 Insurance recently announced seven new company shareholders:  Beth Dettman, Chief Financial Officer; Brad Winchester, Director of Construction & Real Estate Practice; Brian Meyer, Director of Risk Management-Employee Benefits; Chris Halverson, Risk Management Sales Director/Director of Disaster Response & Recovery; Jeff Anderson, Senior Account Executive; Katie Ott, Director of Worksite Practice; and Tom Schmidt, Business Development Executive.

Dettman is responsible for developing initiatives to achieve strategic organizational plans with an emphasis in areas of finance, tax, mergers & acquisitions, and stakeholder alignment. She is committed to fostering key client, community and professional services relationships on M3’s behalf. She joined M3 in 2019.

Winchester serves as a subject matter expert, strategist and thought leader for M3’s construction & real estate practice, and is responsible for sharing information on trends and issues that specifically impact this industry. He joined M3 in 2016.

Meyer joined M3 in 2014. He oversees a specialized risk management team for M3’s employee benefits services in the areas of data analysis, compliance, health promotions and wellness and employee communication.

Halverson supports M3’s risk management sales efforts as well as education and processes which enhance client risk mitigation programs. In the capacity of director of disaster response & recovery, he works closely with clients who experience catastrophic events to assess the damage, consult with them on next steps, and coordinate the resources they need in order to move forward. He joined M3 in 2003.

Anderson supports the agency’s efforts to gain new business and build lasting client relationships. Specializing in employee benefits, he minimizes, monitors and controls the impact of his clients’ risk through effective insurance program design. He joined M3 in 2009.

Ott advises clients on complementary voluntary benefits programs, supporting carrier selection, implementation, employee education and engagement, and benefit enrollment technology. She joined M3 in 2016.

Schmidt educates the business community about M3 services, including insurance and risk management, employee benefits and retirement planning. He joined M3 in 2015.

Each of M3’s 51 shareholder partners is a current employee who is actively engaged in our business and must sell his or her shares prior to retirement. This ownership structure aligns 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.

Jacob Ashley Announced as the Director of School of Madison Ballet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2022

Jacob Ashley Announced as the Director of School of Madison Ballet
“Seeing the students’ love and joy to grow in what they’re doing – that’s what inspires me”

Madison, WI – Madison Ballet continues a momentous 40th Anniversary Season with the announcement of Jacob Ashley EL as the Director of the School of Madison Ballet. This season is defined as a “turning point” by the organization, marked with larger stages and audiences, more performances, and leadership transitions that include the appointment of Ashley as well as a new Artistic Director, to be announced this spring.

A Chicago native, Ashley began his dance training in 2002 at the Chicago Academy for the Arts. He studied at Columbia College Chicago’s modern dance program, later becoming an apprentice for Gus Giordano Dance and Luna Negra Dance Theater and attending Ballet Chicago under the tutelage of Daniel Duel and Patricia Blair. As a guest artist, Ashley has danced with such companies as the West Indian Folk Dance Company, Momenta, Ballet Chicago, Chicago Festival Ballet, Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Les Ballet Grandiva, Madison Ballet, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, and San Diego Opera.

Ashley has danced with Madison Ballet for 15 years and has been a beloved faculty member at the School of Madison Ballet (SMB) since 2018, where his lessons have been instrumental to the development of students ranging from 4 years old to pre-professional.  Recently, Ashley was highlighted as a choreographer in Madison Ballet’s first-ever dance film production, Lift Every Voice, a project which began in 2021 to help amplify the works of emerging local choreographers of color. The project, which includes professional and SMB student performers, continues this February with Lift Every Voice 2022, where Ashley will premiere another brand-new work with filmmaker John Urban of Big Dreamers United.

“Jacob is a constant source of encouragement and inspiration for his fellow dancers and the students of the School of Madison Ballet. His commitment to the personal growth and artistry of each individual student will no doubt permeate the whole organization and be at the center of his vision for our educational programs,” says Madison Ballet CEO, Jonathan Solari.

“Seeing the students’ wonder for ballet, their love and joy to grow in what they’re doing, knowing they’re dedicated and want to learn, that’s what inspires me,” says Ashley. “I want to build SMB’s prestige as this city’s school for ballet, and continue our work to provide the best access to ballet in Madison.”

Madison Ballet is a pillar of the Dane County creative community, dedicating itself to providing “ballet without boundaries” by breaking down barriers to the artform throughout all facets of the organization. Madison Ballet gives back to the community, participating in local arts events, providing performance tickets free of charge to area nonprofits, and granting scholarships to SMB students. The vibrant arts company continues their philanthropic mission as they grow, thrive, and celebrate 40 years of inspiring Madison with the magic of ballet.

Learn more about Madison Ballet at www.madisonballet.org, and the School of Madison Ballet at www.madisonballet.org/school.

For 40 years, Madison Ballet has been an integral part of the vibrant Dane County arts community. Full-scale productions of inspiring traditional ballets, innovative contemporary performances, and the timeless holiday tradition of “The Nutcracker” reach more than 13,000 people each year. The School of Madison Ballet empowers students of all ages and skill levels with the poise, confidence, discipline, and fundamental life skills intrinsic to the study of dance. Outreach programming, presented in partnership with dozens of local school and community groups, enriches thousands of young people’s lives by introducing them to the joy of dance.

Contact: Lexi Janssen, Marketing Manager

Phone: 262-402-2358

Email: lexi@madisonballet.org

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DeWitt Promotes Laura Davis, Matthew Hills, and Jordan Rohlfing to Partner

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:  
Michelle M. Friedman   
262-754-2877 / mmf@dewittllp.com

DeWitt Promotes Laura Davis, Matthew Hills, and Jordan Rohlfing to Partner

GREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced the promotions of Laura Davis, Matthew Hills, and Jordan Rohlfing to Partner. 

Davis practices from DeWitt’s Madison office and is an experienced litigator in DeWitt’s Litigation, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment Relations, and Background Screening practice groups.  Her practice focuses on enforcing and defending violations of federal statutory laws in federal courts and administrative agencies nationwide.  She earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and a B.A. & B.A.S.W. from the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign.  Davis is admitted to practice in the State Bar of Wisconsin, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7^th Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.  She is a member of the American Bar Association, Dane County Bar Association, and Western District of Wisconsin Bar Association.

Hills practices from DeWitt’s Greater Milwaukee – Brookfield office and is a member of the Business and Intellectual Property practice groups.  He has expertise in mergers and acquisitions, with a special focus on Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) transactions and using ESOPs as a succession-planning tool.  Hills advises clients at all stages, from business formation to well-established companies both large and small.  He earned a J.D., cum laude, from Marquette University Law School and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  Hills is admitted to practice in the State Bar of Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin ESOP Association, the National Center for Employee Ownership, the Milwaukee Bar Association, the United Performing Arts Fund and is a volunteer with the Milwaukee Justice Center Mobile Legal Clinic.

Rohlfing practices from DeWitt’s Madison office where she is an active member of the firm’s Litigation, Labor & Employment Relations, and Background Screening practice groups.  She regularly advises businesses in a variety of industries including healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, restaurant/food service, construction, transportation/trucking, retail, engineering, information technology, and real estate.  She earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and a B.A. & B.S., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Loyola University Chicago.  Rohlfing is admitted to practice in the State Bar of Wisconsin, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin.  She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Dane County Bar Association, and the Legal Association for Women.

About DeWitt

DeWitt LLP was founded in 1903 and is one of the 10 largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota. It has more than 130 attorneys practicing in Green Bay, Madison and Metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes. The firm is known for its work in a variety of legal areas including intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, construction litigation, corporate law, employment, environmental, employee benefits, estate planning, family business, family law, government relations, health care, litigation, real estate, and tax law.  More information is available at dewittllp.com.

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Leah Urso Joins State Bank of Cross Plains as Agriculture & Business Relationship Manager

November 18, 2021, MADISON, Wisconsin— State Bank of Cross Plains welcomes Leah Urso to its Ag Lending and Business Banking Team. She serves farmers, agribusiness owners, and local businesses throughout Dane County.

“Leah brings such a genuine love for the agriculture industry to her work,” says Steve Eager, State Bank of Cross Plains’ Market President. “Her ability to connect with customers and her drive to truly understand how she can help makes her not only incredibly competent but also a joy to have on our team.”

Having grown up on a registered Holstein farm and eventually owning and showing registered AQHA horses and registered Holsteins, Urso has in-depth knowledge and expertise in a variety of agricultural areas. As FFA President in high school, she was awarded Wisconsin’s Outstanding Agriculture Girl scholarship.

Urso earned her Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Communications/Public Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. While at UW-Eau Claire, she co-founded and served as a representative for Student United Way-UWEC and was nominated by her professor into the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success for her academic achievement, community service, and campus participation.

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State Bank of Cross Plains is known for our modern, progressive approach to supporting businesses and consumers by offering services more typical of larger financial institutions in an environment that values one-on-one personal relationships and community involvement. State Bank of Cross Plains is a $1.6 billion institution, offering a full range of business and personal financial services including business, real estate, and consumer lending, as well as wealth management and financial advisory services. We now also provide Crop Insurance and Ag Lending Services. SBCP has 14 convenient locations in Dane, Rock, and Green Counties. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

For additional information, contact Marketing Communications Manager Ian Folger at 608-826-3515.

Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale Names Kim Kay as Executive Director Ahead of 2022 Grand Opening

Kim Beverly
Director of Communications & Public Relations
(423) 478-8070, ext. 328
kbeverly@legacysl.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale Names Kim Kay as Executive Director Ahead of 2022 Grand Opening
With more than a decade of experience overseeing health care communities, Kay brings a vast amount of knowledge and expertise to Legacy Senior Living’s first Wisconsin-based community.

MADISON, Wis. (November 18, 2021) – Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale, the newest member of the Cleveland, Tenn.-based Legacy Senior Living family of assisted living and memory care facilities, has named Kim Kay as its executive director ahead of its grand opening in early 2022.

With over 13 years of management experience overseeing health care communities, Kay brings her knowledge and expertise to Legacy Senior Living’s first Wisconsin-based assisted living and memory care community. Most recently, she served as the executive director of a 232-bed senior living community, in Grafton.

“When Legacy Senior Living decided to open its first Midwestern community in Wisconsin, our executive team was passionate about finding someone who not only had the experience but who also knew the ins and outs of senior care in the area. When we met Kim, we knew she was the right person for the role. Our team has absolute faith that she is going to do an outstanding job serving Madison seniors with honor, respect, faith and integrity,” Jason Gibson, Vice President of Operations for Legacy Senior Living, said.

“​​I am grateful to be a part of a family of senior living communities that shows such compassion for our seniors and appreciation to its employees. I started my career in 2003 and quickly learned it was my calling. Having also had the blessing of caring for my mother, I understand what it feels like to be the child who becomes the caregiver. I also understand the emotions that accompany the decision to move into assisted living or memory care and I’ll be right here to help others through those same feelings I experienced,” Kay said.

With renovations expected to be completed by early 2022, Kay said she is looking forward to welcoming residents and their families into the 92-unit, 75,000-square-foot community.

“I always tell people when they are touring communities to pay attention to how they feel the moment they walk through the door. They should immediately feel welcomed and have a sense of home. I am counting down the days until I get to see the smiles on the faces of seniors as they choose to call this premier community their home,” Kay added.

Kay resides in Madison with her husband and dog, Max. She enjoys spending time with her two children and two granddaughters.

More information about Kim Kay and Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale are available by calling (608) 949-7550 or visiting the community’s website.

About Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale

Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale is a 75,000-square-foot premier assisted living and memory care facility opening in Madison, WI, in early 2022. Located at 602 Segoe Road, the community will encompass 10 stories featuring 92 well-appointed units, of which 64 will be designated for assisted living and 28 for memory care. Residents will have access to luxurious amenities including underground parking, a full-service bistro, a state-of-the-art media room and the Penthouse Crown Room, which will overlook picturesque views of the State Capitol and Lake Mendota.

More information is available by calling (608) 949-7550 or by visiting renaissancehilldale.net.

Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale is part of a family of senior living communities throughout the eastern United States owned and/or operated by Legacy Senior Living of Cleveland, Tenn. Legacy Senior Living specializes in offering independent living, assisted living, and specialized memory care services. More information is available at legacysl.net.