National Guardian Life Insurance Company Names Joseph Celentano as New CEO

MADISON, WI (April 2, 2024) — National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) Board of Directors announced that Joseph (Joe) Celentano will join the Madison Wisconsin-based mutual life insurance company as President & CEO effective May 6. Celentano will also serve on the NGL Board of Directors.

Celentano is an experienced life insurance industry professional with more than 30 years in leadership positions at Pacific Life, a mutual based insurer. He most recently served as Executive Vice President of Pacific Life’s Retirement Solutions Division during which he managed the impacts of the Covid pandemic while increasing profitable annuity sales through the launch of new and innovative annuity products.

“Joe’s extensive mutual life experience and risk management expertise combined with his leadership skills will serve us well as he leads NGL’s next phase of growth,” said Gary Wolter, chair of NGL’s Board of Directors. “He knows the mutual insurance culture, understands the important role our preneed products have in helping families, and values building partnerships.”

While at Pacific Life, Celentano held a variety of positions ranging from product development officer to divisional CFO, to enterprise-wide Chief Risk Officer. His most recent position was Executive Vice President with overall responsibility for the Retirement Solutions Division. Joe’s experience includes co-chairing the company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, leading digital transformation efforts and participating in setting overall company strategy.

“I am honored to lead NGL and become part of the team,” said Celentano. “NGL’s strong financials, leading position in the preneed market and mutual company culture make NGL poised for future success.  My wife Kathy and I look forward to moving and settling in Madison.”

Kim Shaul, who served as interim CEO, will return to her position as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, working with Celentano for a seamless leadership transition. “On behalf of the NGL Board of Directors I would like to thank Kim for her leadership in keeping the company focused and profitable during the time of the search,” said Wolter.

About NGL

Established in 1909 National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is an insurance company headquartered in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products. Information about NGL can be found at http://www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company.

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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NewBridge Madison Board of Directors Job Announcement

NewBridge is an innovative non-profit organization that provides a bridge to successful aging, for older adults aged 60 and older, in the Madison area.

• We offer comprehensive, wholistic services for adults 60 years and older, www.newbridgemadison.org.
• We provide over 40,000 community meals provided annually.
• We serve more than 10,000 participants each year.
• We assist over 1,200 low-income older adults in accessing critical services (housing, food, health and wellness) and address racial disparities.
  Join our board and become a champion for older adults! Become an influential voice for one of the most underserved and underfunded populations in our community. We are seeking board members to be active advocates and ambassadors for older adults and our agency. This is a great opportunity to play an instrumental role in helping secure the financial resources and partnerships necessary for NewBridge to remain the best agency serving older adults.
  Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  We know that to achieve our goals, fulfill our mission, and realize our vision, we need to include Board members with perspectives drawn from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, skill sets, areas of expertise, and lived experience. At NewBridge our commitment is to create and maintain a board that is diverse in its composition, inclusive in its culture, and equity-focused in its approach to how it views our mission, our work, and the communities we serve.
  Open Positions
  1) Volunteer Board Member: Area of Expertise – Fund Development/ Fund Raising
  2) Volunteer Board Member: Area of Expertise – Advocacy/Community Connections
  3) Volunteer Board Member: Area of Expertise – Lived Experiences and/or Older adult NewBridge Board members play a crucial role in corporate governance, guiding strategic
  decisions, fostering accountability, and shaping our agency’s future.
  Board responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
• know our agency’s mission, policies, programs, and needs
• determine which programs are consistent with our mission and monitor their effectiveness
• ensure strong fiduciary oversight and financial management
• ensure adequate resources (financial and otherwise) for our agency to fulfill its mission
• ensure NewBridge builds and maintains an internal culture of inclusion and representation across all levels of our agency
• ensure legal and ethical integrity
  Expectations of individual Board Members include but are not limited to:
• commitment to the mission of NewBridge and understand its collective purpose
• attend 70% of our Board meetings
• prepare for, attend, and participate in board meetings
• participate fully in one or more committees or task forces
• respect the experiences of all who bring their voices and lived experiences on to the board and our agency
• NewBridge Madison values diversity and inclusion, and actively promotes anti-racism. We expect all staff, contractors, and board members to be intentional about honoring these values and to commit to advancing equity and inclusion in our work with older adults.
• serve as active advocate and ambassadors for the agency
• leverage connections, networks, and help secure financial resources and partnerships necessary for our agency to advance its mission
• identify give a meaningful personal financial donation and/or of your time and talent
• maintain confidentiality about all internal matters of NewBridge
  The NewBridge Board is a volunteer board. Members are not paid and dedicate their time and expertise to support our agency and our work with older adults.
  To receive an application or for more information contact Executive Director Jim Krueger, jimk@newbridgemadison.org
  NewBridge Madison intentionally values and promotes diversity, inclusion and anti-racism in serving older adults.

Longtime Legal Leader Michelle Behnke To Join Boardman Clark Law Firm

MADISON, WI, March 25, 2024 – Boardman Clark has announced that Michelle Behnke, who was recently named by the American Bar Association (ABA) Nominating Committee to become the 2025-2026 president of the ABA, will join Boardman Clark this August. Behnke is an attorney with 35 years of experience focused primarily on business transactions, real estate, and estate planning.

“Michelle is an exceptional addition to our team,” said attorney Jennifer Mirus, chair of Boardman Clark’s Executive Committee. “She is an accomplished attorney, renowned for her skilled leadership in raising the bar for the legal profession and a dedicated advocate in our community. We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome her to Boardman Clark.”

In addition to managing her own firm for the past 26 years, Behnke holds leadership positions with several community organizations and industry associations. She currently serves on multiple boards, including Capitol Bank, the University of Wisconsin Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin Law School Board of Visitors. She is also an active member of the Dane County Bar Association, the Wisconsin Association of African American Lawyers, and the State Bar of Wisconsin—where she formerly served as president and treasurer.

In February, Behnke was named by the Nominating Committee of the ABA to become the 2025-2026 president. An association of over 400,000 legal professionals, the ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. The ABA serves as the legal profession’s national representative and supports the public and the legal community by promoting justice, professional excellence, and respect for the rule of law. Pending a formal vote by the ABA House of Delegates, Behnke will begin a one-year term as president-elect in August 2024 before taking office as president in August 2025.

“I am excited to serve the legal profession and our communities across the country and around the world,” Behnke said. “This service is important, but I also want to ensure that my clients have quality legal representation. I’m very glad to join Boardman Clark, a firm I know shares my commitment to serving the legal profession and is superbly equipped to help support the needs of my clients.”

Boardman Clark is one of Madison’s largest and longest-standing law firms. The firm serves individuals, businesses, school districts, and local governments. Its areas of service include business, banking and finance, estate planning and probate, family law, franchise and dealership, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation, municipal, real estate, school law, and taxation.

Taliesin Preservation Seeking Steward, Kitchen Lead

Taliesin Preservation of Spring Green, WI, is looking to hire a seasonal Steward to support our world-class Tour Program by assisting Tour Guides and safeguarding assigned spaces on the estate. If this sounds like something for you, please read on!

This seasonal position pays an hourly rate of $12.25 plus retention bonus eligibility. We are open Friday through Sunday in April and November and 7 days a week, May through October. The position supports our tour program by assisting Tour Guides during guest tours and caring for interior and exterior spaces on the estate. There are opportunities to cross-train with other departments if you are looking to increase your hours.

In addition, Taliesin Preservation is looking to hire a seasonal Kitchen Lead to join our team. This position pays an hourly rate of $20.00 over a 35-hour workweek from April 1st through November 30th.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR AN ESTATE STEWARD

Strong oral communication skills
Ability to be flexible when dealing with unexpected events
A passion for customer service
The ability to manage a group
Do you love working with the public? Enjoy seeing people smile while they learn and experience the immersive opportunities provided by Taliesin? Do you have good interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with diverse groups of employees and customers? If so, you might just be perfect for this position!

WORK SCHEDULE

This is a seasonal position from May through October and averages 16-32 hours per week. In season, we are a seven-day-a-week operation, and this position would require a flexible schedule. Seasonal, non-exempt positions at Taliesin Preservation are subject to the recreational/amusement exemption under the FLSA and analogous Wisconsin law. Employees hired for these positions will not be entitled to overtime pay for hours worked over 40 hours per week.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR A KITCHEN LEAD

Previous kitchen experience
Passion for exceptional service
Superb communication and interpersonal skills
Experience training kitchen staff

WORK SCHEDULE

This is a seasonal position from April 1st through November 30th. In season, we are a seven-day-a-week operation, and this position would require a flexible schedule, including weekends. This position will work 35 hours per week from April through October. Seasonal, non-exempt positions at Taliesin Preservation are subject to the recreational/amusement exemption under the FLSA and analogous Wisconsin law. Employees hired for these positions will not be entitled to overtime pay for hours worked over 40 hours per week.

ABOUT TALIESIN PRESERVATION

As stewards of the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center, our dual mission is to preserve the cultural, built, and natural environments that comprise the Taliesin property and to conduct educational and cultural programs that provide a greater understanding of his architecture and ideas. We are different from other historic sites because we are not satisfied with just being a museum. We want the estate to stay filled with life.

There is an energy here that captures and engages people. And the staff, without exception, are creative people who care passionately about their work and are full of ideas. We are a small organization and, as such, we offer a lot of flexibility and opportunity for people to develop within their areas of interest–and we are invested in their success!

Edgington and Versluys Appointed One Community Bank Advisory Board Ambassadors

March 20, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Edgington and Versluys Appointed One Community Bank Advisory Board Ambassadors

(March 2024) – One Community Bank is proud to announce the addition of Shelley Edgington, SVP – Retail Banking, and Jeff Versluys, EVP and Chief Strategy Officer, as Ambassadors to the One Community Bank (OCB) Advisory Board. With enthusiasm, they step into the roles previously held by Liz Deihs, Chief Experience Officer, and Shauna Gnorksi, EVP and Chief Financial Officer. Jeff and Shelley will contribute to the board’s endeavors and bring valuable perspectives.

“Liz and Shauna were the inaugural members of the OCB Advisory Board and played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork and assembling the initial board members. Their dedication and service have been invaluable in shaping the foundation of the board. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Liz and Shauna for their exceptional commitment and contributions,” said Steve Peotter, President and CEO.

The OCB Advisory Board is comprised of OCB’s President and CEO, Steve Peotter, Jim Walker, retired OCB Colleague as Independent Chair, and a cohort of industry experts. Among these notable individuals are Mike Kriefski, Dave Martin, Valerie Renk, Dr. Katie Schmitt, and Isaac Showaki, each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise in their respective fields.

“I am thrilled to welcome Shelley Edgington and Jeff Versluys to the One Community Bank Advisory Board. Their remarkable expertise in retail banking and proven track record of spearheading expansion efforts at One Community Bank bring invaluable insights to our team. With their wealth of experience and strategic vision, I am confident that together, we will navigate through changes in the financial industry,” said Jim Walker.

“I am excited to be an appointed member of the OCB Advisory Board. I look forward to contributing my knowledge to the board while also learning from esteemed members of the community. As One Community Bank continues to expand, the ever-evolving landscape provides a constant opportunity for personal and collective growth. I look forward to the journey ahead,” said Shelley Edgington.

“I am truly honored to serve on the OCB Advisory Board. As a group, the board members are top-notch leaders in a variety of industries. They are offering valuable insights to help OCB aspire to our vision of being the best billion-dollar bank in the world. I’m excited to be a part of this, and look forward to sharing my perspectives which are shaped by over 30 years in banking,” said Jeff Versluys.

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One Community Bank is one of the largest community banks in south central Wisconsin. The locally owned bank has 15 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. Five years in a row named one of Madison’s best places to work, One Community Bank serves the communities of Oregon, McFarland, Waunakee, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Middleton, Adams, Oxford, Grand Marsh, Hillsboro, La Farge, Readstown, Wonewoc, and Union Center. Member FDIC.