Starion Bank names Morgan president

Starion Bank has named Don Morgan president, with Craig Larson continuing in the roles of CEO and chairman of the board for the bank. As president, Morgan manages the day-to-day operations of the bank, while Larson focuses on the overall strategy and vision for Starion Bank.

Morgan, a certified public accountant, has been with Starion since 2012 when he joined the bank as vice president for credit administration. The next year he was promoted to chief credit officer. In 2014, he became a member of Starion’s Executive Committee which is responsible for initiating key actions within the organization, reviewing financial data and setting major project priorities.

“With Don’s exceptional finance background and commitment to serving our communities, I’m confident that under his leadership Starion will continue to be a strong organization committed to taking our employees, customers and communities farther,” said Larson. “Starion has been a family-owned bank for 50 years and we look forward to Don leading the team into the next 50.”

In this new role, Morgan will partner with and develop Starion’s high-performance leadership teams, focusing on all operational aspects of the bank and building relationships within the bank, with customers and all the communities Starion serves. He is based out of corporate headquarters in Bismarck, N.D.

“Starion Bank is filled with great people and is based on timeless values,” explained Morgan. “As we begin the next chapter in our story, we will be leaders in financial innovation while maintaining our ‘small town’ values of exceptional customer service, being a great place to work and supporting our communities.”

Morgan has extensive banking and leadership experience, which includes 18 years in the areas of credit administration, commercial lending, market president and internal auditing. A Wyoming native, he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance with an accounting minor from University of Wyoming and a master’s in accounting from the University of Phoenix. Morgan is active in the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, local 4H, and the Soil Conservation District. He has been a guest presenter for college business classes and was treasurer of the North Dakota Rodeo Association Finals Committee for seven years.

Madison Ballet Names Verónica Castillo Director of Outreach

FOR MORE INFORMATION

CONTACT: JONATHAN SOLARI, (608) 278-7990, Jonathan@MadisonBallet.org

Madison Ballet Names Verónica Castillo Director of Outreach

Advocate for Equal Access for Arts Education Builds a Vision for Dance for All

MADISON, WI – Madison Ballet is proud to announce that Verónica Castillo has been named the organization’s Director of Outreach after having previously serving as Outreach & Education Coordinator. Ms. Castillo will build opportunities for future audiences and dancers alike by overseeing collaborative educational programs with community centers, libraries, schools, and senior centers. Additionally, she will build curriculum that is culturally-appropriate and provide training to the faculty of the School of Madison Ballet, under Director Rachelle Butler’s leadership.

“We are thrilled for the future of our outreach programs. It has already become clear that the impact of Verónica’s work will reverberate well beyond the walls of our new studios. Our whole community is poised to benefit from her dedication and vision.” said Jonathan Solari, the company’s CEO.

“I am a teacher and advocate at heart and am excited to bring this perspective to Madison Ballet.”, said Castillo. “When we allow a student to become a dancer for even an hour, we provide space for them to express their emotions and plant a seed to blossom into a new path through the arts.”

Veronica Castillo is a native of El Paso, Texas and was raised in Iowa City, Iowa. She holds a BA in Art History and Non-Profit Organization from the University of Iowa, and a Master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Edgewood College. She relocated from San Francisco to Madison in 2011, where she worked as a bilingual classroom teacher for K-4 through fifth grade at Kennedy Elementary, Schenck Elementary and Glendale Elementary. She was also an ESL/TAG Instructional Resource Coach at Leopold Elementary and Nuestro Mundo. Before joining Madison Ballet, she worked in the administrative offices for the Madison Metropolitan School District. Currently, she takes Flamenco classes with Tania Tandias Flamenco & Spanish Dance.

For nearly 40 years Madison Ballet has been an integral part of the vibrant Dane County arts community.  Professional ballet education and training with the School of Ballet assures that students of all ages and skill levels gain the poise, confidence, discipline, and fundamental life skills intrinsic to the study of classical ballet.  Full scale productions such as the acclaimed Nutcracker and imaginative contemporary performances by the professional repertory company reach tens of thousands of people each year, while scholarships and neighborhood outreach programs connect hundreds of families and young people with the joy of dance.  

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Jodi Lyon-Grams Brings More Than 20 Years of Experience to The Creative Company

MADISON, WI – The Creative Company welcomes Producer and Publicist Jodi Lyon-Grams to the team. As a former TV news correspondent and producer, Jodi’s work has been on Lifetime, Big Ten Network and numerous PBS affiliates across the country. She has specialized in medical news and health & wellness content as well as travel stories for broadcast and web. Effective media pitching is all about finding the right news hook and Jodi’s experience helps our clients get the media placements they need to move their projects forward.

“Jodi’s decision to join us is a huge boost to The Creative Company. She provides senior-level counseling and expertise that our clients have come to expect,” said Laura Gallagher. “The addition of Jodi to the team strengthens our public affairs team securing our position to help clients achieve their communication and business goals.”

Previously, Jodi worked as a producer for America’s longest-running travel show, Discover Wisconsin, a freelance video producer and editor for regional corporate clients, an on-air reporter for local tv news and a freelance host/producer at Milwaukee Public Television. She’s also produced numerous video news releases for major pharmaceutical companies nationwide.

“I’m thrilled to be working at The Creative Company with a team of wonderfully talented people who serve our clients so well,” said Jodi. “Whether it’s helping a business build a brand or manage a crisis, The Creative Company is a rewarding place to work.”

About The Creative Company, Inc.

The Creative Company is a Public Relations, Web Development, Interactive Digital Media and Marketing Agency located in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1989, The Creative Company is an award-winning team of senior-level, award-winning, branding strategists, designers, artists, digital developers, and PR pros, led by company founder and State of Wisconsin Trailblazer, Laura Gallagher.

Nolin Joins Alliance Board

Contact: Peggy Rynearson, Sr. Public Relations and Events Specialist

608.210.6658; prynearson@the-alliance.org, www.the-alliance.org/news-and-press

NOLIN JOINS ALLIANCE BOARD

MADISON, Wis. (November 13, 2019) ─ Jake Nolin, Director of Human Resources at Rice Lake Weighing Systems, has been appointed to The Alliance Board of Directors effective January 1, 2020.

Among his many duties at Rice Lake Weighing Systems, Jake is leading the charge to provide high-value health care at his company. He said, “Six years ago it became clear that the cost of fully insured health plans is unsustainable for our business, employees and their families. Since then, we have been able to offer better healthcare benefits at a lower cost.” Rice Lake Weighing Systems credits much of its success to its like-minded partners at The Alliance for access to contracted care, Alithias for healthcare pricing transparency and advocacy, and Neopath Health to run Cedar Ridge, a no-cost direct primary care Health Center for their members. Jake says, “once we had the basic tools in place, the most important part became educating and incentivizing our Take Control of Your Health Plan members to be smart healthcare consumers.”

Prior to joining Rice Lake Weighing Systems in 2011, Nolin held human resources leadership positions at Fortune Brands, Newell-Rubbermaid, and GKN. Jake was also a partner at Competitive Dynamics International and a Project Director at The Pacific Institute.

Jake graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management. Jake earned an M.B.A. in Human Resource Management and a master’s degree in Business Law with honors from the University of Miami, Florida. Jake is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, a Master Trainer for Mission Directed Work Teams, and a Master Facilitator for Investment In Excellence and Thought Patterns for High Performance.

The Alliance board also includes:

• Richard Campbell, head of human resources, ABS Global, a division of Genus PLC
• Diana Clark, benefits manager, Promega Corporation, Madison, Wis.
• Wendy Culver, chief human resources officer, Mead & Hunt, Madison, Wis.
• Mick Gronewold, owner, Fehr Graham, Rockford, Ill.
• Lisa Henke, risk/benefits manager, County of Walworth, Elkhorn, Wis.
• Brad Olm, vice president of human resources, Gordon Flesch Company, Inc., Madison, Wis.
• Craig Parsons, president, Palmer Johnson Power Systems, Sun Prairie, Wis.
• Kyle Reading, president, Spuncast, Watertown, Wis.
• Larry Pribyl, chief financial officer, Trachte Building Systems, Sun Prairie, Wis.
• Shirley Reif, secretary-treasurer, Crest Foods Company, Inc., Ashton, Ill.

The Alliance Board of Directors works together with staff to set the direction for The Alliance. The Alliance is a not-for-profit cooperative that moves health care forward by controlling costs, improving quality, and engaging individuals in their health. Members include more than 250 self-funded employers, and multiemployer plans in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.

To learn more about The Alliance Board, including biographies, visit: https://the-alliance.org/about-the-alliance/board-of-directors

Beth Dettman Joins M3 Insurance as Chief Financial Officer

Stacy Paré, Marketing Communications Specialist, M3 Insurance
608.288.2779, stacy.pare@m3ins.com

Madison, WI – Beth Dettman has joined M3 Insurance as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a member of M3’s Executive Operating Committee.  In this role, Beth 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 behalf of M3.

Beth has extensive experience in senior management and strategic visioning. Prior to joining M3, she served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Madison Investment Advisors, based in Madison, WI, leading operations, information technology, and cyber security as well as equity and compensation incentive programs. She was with the firm for 23 years, serving as CFO prior to transitioning to COO in 2018.  Beth is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a BA in Accounting from Valparaiso University.

“M3’s vibrant history, culture, and community involvement resonate with me professionally and personally,” Beth said. “I look forward to actively participating in the agency’s vision for exemplary client experiences, company growth, and making an impact on our communities.”

M3’s president and CEO, Mike Victorson said, “Beth’s experience, smarts, personality and culture fit make her the ideal person to step into this role. She will be integral to M3’s growth and ability to be a top private and independent agency in the country.”

Beth is an active member of the Madison CFO Roundtable, Middleton Outreach Ministries Resource Development Committee, Food Fight Inc. Board, and Madison Symphony Orchestra Foundation Board. She is a member of the United Way of Dane County’s Women United and Key Club and enjoys volunteering at her church.

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About M3

M3 is the largest insurance broker and risk management firm in the state of Wisconsin. As a top 50 broker 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.