AkitaBox Continues Rapid Growth with New Office Space

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Todd Hoffmaster, CEO, thoffmaster@akitabox.com

AkitaBox Continues Rapid Growth with New Office Space

MADISON, WI – November 8, 2017 – In order to accommodate a rapidly growing team for their facilities management software solution, Madison-based tech company AkitaBox has moved to 212 East Washington Avenue. This new space offers three times the square footage of their previous office to accommodate for further expansion.

Quadrupling in size since 2016, AkitaBox now employs over 60 facility innovators and has successfully provided software implementation in over 250 million square feet of building space across the United States.

“We’ve come a long way in the last two years alone” says Co-Founder and CEO Todd Hoffmaster. “When evaluating a move for the new office, we had to look at two pieces of the puzzle – how our new space will improve our customer experience and how will it help maintain our company culture and values.”

The 10,200 square foot suite offers plenty of space for collaboration and features a large number of dedicated, department-specific breakout spaces, conference rooms and windows with downtown city views.

Staying in the downtown Madison area was crucial for the company’s culture and allowed the growing team to remain close to the evolving entrepreneurial hub and heart of Wisconsin.

“We knew staying in the heart of downtown Madison was important to us because the city’s hard-working, innovative culture aligns with our core values,” said Hoffmaster. “Madison is a great place to work and live. We’ve capitalized on both the growing business landscape and community to help grow our company and ultimately attract more talent for our recruiting efforts.”

AkitaBox is the leading facility management software and implementation services provider dedicated to improving the way people manage and think about the buildings they occupy. Founded in 2015, AkitaBox currently supplies accurate data management tools and implementation services to over 250 million square feet of educational, healthcare, and governmental organizations in the United States. For more information, visit home.akitabox.com.

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MSCR Get Fit For the Holidays

November 8, 2017

For Immediate Release

Contact: Nicole Graper at 608-204-3017 or  ngraper@madison.k12.wi.us or Jessica Cady-Bartholomew at 608-442-1341or jjcadybartho@madison.k12.wi.us

MSCR Fit for the Holidays – Great way to try a new fitness program

Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) is holding the annual Fit for the Holidays – three weeks of unlimited fitness for $40! This fitness program is a great opportunity to get in shape and to try a new type of class.  Whether you are beginning fitness or looking for a more challenging workout, there is something for every level – classes include 45 Strength, Turbokick, Core de Force, Zumba and much more.

Fit for the Holidays takes place November 27 – December 20, six days a week at three MSCR facilities – East, Hoyt and Odana.   View the complete schedule at http://ow.ly/GCjx30gq1a3

Register today at mscr.org or call 608-204-3000 for more information.

MSCR is Madison’s public recreation department and offers a wide variety of recreation programs for all ages. Go to mscr.org or call 608-204-3000 for more information.

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gener8tor Announces Partnership with Microsoft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Maggie Brickerman, (608) 698-5711, maggie@gener8tor.com

gener8tor Announces Partnership with Microsoft

Coalition Includes UW-Oshkosh Business Success Center, Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College, WiSys, UW-Green Bay Cofrin School of Business and Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation

gener8tor, Microsoft Corp., UW-Oshkosh Business Success Center, Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College and a coalition of Wisconsin institutions including WiSys, UW-Green Bay Cofrin School of Business and Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation announced a new partnership to fuel the growth of startups emerging from Northeast Wisconsin. The Microsoft-led coalition will sponsor gBETA – a free version of gener8tor’s nationally ranked accelerator program that will provide individualized mentorship and coaching to ten Northeast Wisconsin startups each year.

“Emerging companies need more than just a great idea to take off. They need great coaching, a strong network of partners, and financial investors,” said Brad Smith, president of Microsoft. “gBETA’s accelerator program gives startups the boost they need to be successful, ultimately creating more jobs in Northeast Wisconsin.”

gBETA is a free accelerator for early-stage startups with local roots. The program provides participants with intensive and individualized coaching and access to gener8tor’s national network of mentors, potential customers, corporate partners and investors. The program is designed to help startups gain early customer traction on their product or idea, and establish metrics that make them competitive applicants for full-time accelerators or angel investment. Through gBETA, Microsoft and gener8tor hope to spark technology, drive local economic growth, and spur innovation in various industries, including traditional Northeast sectors such as paper, agriculture, and manufacturing.

“Northeast Wisconsin has all of the raw materials needed to build a high growth startup ecosystem. This vision is shared by Microsoft, UW-Oshkosh Business Success Center, Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College, WiSys, UW-Green Bay Cofrin School of Business and Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation. We are excited to work with this broad and diverse coalition to support entrepreneurs in Northeast Wisconsin,” said Maggie Brickerman, Managing Director of gBETA.

gBETA Northeast Wisconsin will run two times per year, and is capped at five companies per cohort to ensure a high level of individualized attention. gBETA participants must have roots in Northeast Wisconsin. gBETA works with companies across all industries and business models. Startups interested in applying should contact gBETA Northeast Wisconsin Director Adrienne Palm (adrienne@gener8tor.com). For more information, visit www.gbetaaccelerator.com.

About gBETA

gBETA is a program of nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor. gBETA is a free, accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams, and requires no fees and no equity. gBETA currently operates in five locations: Beloit, Madison, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and now Northeast Wisconsin. gBETA graduates have collectively raised nearly $4M since 2015, and 50% have either gone on to participate in a full-time, equity-based accelerator or raised at least $50,000 in seed financing. For more statistics, visit https://www.gbetaaccelerator.com/statistics/.

About gener8tor

gener8tor is a nationally ranked accelerator that invests in high-growth startups. Three times a year gener8tor invests up to $140K in each of five startups who receive a concierge experience during our 12-week accelerator program. gener8tor supports the growth of these startups through its network of experienced mentors, technologists, corporate partners, angel investors and venture capitalists.

To date, gener8tor’s 59 alums have cumulatively raised more than $120M in follow-on financing. Of these 59 alums, 57% have raised more than $1M in follow-on financing or have been acquired.

gener8tor invests in high-growth startups, including software, IT, web, SaaS, life science, medtech, e-commerce and hardware. Accepted startups receive up to $140K and 12 weeks of mentorship-driven programming. gener8tor is a proud member of the Global Accelerator Network (GAN) and is sponsored by American Family Insurance.

gener8tor is a GOLD-tier accelerator in the U.S. as ranked by the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project: http://seedrankings.com.

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Midwest Alarm Services Hires New Account Executive

Contact: Jennifer VanGenderen, Per Mar Security Services, 563-344-7313

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 7, 2017

Midwest Alarm Services Hires New Account Executive

DES MOINES, Iowa – Midwest Alarm Services, a leading provider of life safety systems based in Des Moines, IA, is pleased to announce it has hired Tom Christensen as an Account Executive.

As an Account Executive, Christensen will be responsible for growing business in the Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska markets. Christensen brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role with over 15 years of industry and sales experience. Most recently, Christensen worked at Primex and while working there he partnered with Midwest Alarm Services on projects.

“I’m thrilled to have Tom Christensen join our team. He is a respected expert in the wireless clock market and I really look forward to Tom growing our wireless markets in our existing footprint.” said Doug Richard, President of Midwest Alarm Services.

About Midwest Alarm Services

Established in 1950, Midwest Alarm Services is a family-owned company specializing in life safety systems across four states.  The company is a leading Notifier dealer, and provides life safety systems and services including card access systems, fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers/hoods, fire inspections, master clock systems, monitoring, nurse call systems, system design/layout and video surveillance. For more information about Midwest Alarm Services, please visit midwestalarmservices.com.

Raihle Joins The Alliance as Provider Network Manager

Rick Raihle has joined The Alliance^®, an employer-owned, not-for-profit cooperative of more than 240 members.

As provider network manager, Raihle will be responsible for contracting with health care providers in Illinois and Iowa to help expand The Alliance’s provider network. His role will include meeting with providers to negotiate contracts and create organizational objectives.

Raihle has significant experience in provider contracting and network development most recently as the manager of contract negotiations at Health Net in Tempe, Ariz. He also has experience at health plans in Oregon and Minnesota.

Raihle has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Stout. He also served on the Skylark Opera Board of Directors during his tenure in Minnesota.

“We are more than thrilled to welcome Raihle to our team,” said Heather Oliva, Alliance director of provider relations. “He brings a great deal of provider contracting experience that will be invaluable to the expansion of our cooperative.”

More than a provider network, The Alliance moves health care forward by controlling costs, improving quality and engaging individuals in their health. Members of the employer-owned, not-for-profit cooperative provide coverage to more than 80,000 individuals in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. The Alliance uses its purchasing power as a cooperative to negotiate with and provide access to an extensive network of doctors and hospitals paid to improve quality by performing better not doing more.