Agrace Dane County Volunteer & Grief Opportunities for February 2017

Agrace to Offer Orientation for Prospective Volunteers in February

Volunteering for Agrace can be a very rewarding experience. In February, Agrace will offer orientation for people interested in volunteering to make a difference in the lives of patients with advanced illnesses. Agrace has opportunities for volunteers who would like to work directly with Agrace patients, as well as support roles that do not involve patient care. Areas of most immediate need are for customer-service volunteers at the Agrace Thrift Store on East Springs Drive, Madison, and café and kitchen help at Agrace’s campus on East Cheryl Parkway, Madison.

Agrace’s next volunteer orientation opportunities will be held Monday, February 6, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Wednesday, February 22, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Agrace’s Madison campus. Before they attend orientation, prospective volunteers will complete an application and an interview process with Agrace’s Volunteer Services staff to identify skills and interests. Call (608) 327-7163 to begin the pre-orientation process.

Agrace to Offer Grief Support Groups Beginning in February

• Bridges Weekly Support Group is held every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Agrace, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison. This ongoing group is for adults who are grieving the death of a loved one. Pre-registration is not required.
• Spouse/Partner Loss Support Group is a six-week grief support group series for adults whose spouse or partner has died. Be comforted and build a consistent, natural support system. Held at Agrace, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, each Tuesday, February 21 through March 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. To register, call Jody at (608) 327-7118 or visit agrace.org/griefgroups.

For details on all Agrace grief support groups, visit agrace.org.

Madison-Based 115th Fighter Wing One of Five Finalists for State-of-the-Art F-35A Aircraft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (December 7, 2016)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

MADISON – Today the United States Air Force announced it has selected the Madison-based 115^th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard as one of five finalist sites for the F-35A aircraft. The Air Force will announce at a later date the two bases that will receive the next-generation jets.

In response to today’s announcement, Chamber President Zach Brandon released the following statement:

“Today’s news is not only great for the 115^th but also for the Greater Madison economy. Being chosen for the F-35s would mean a tremendous investment in the base, adding to its already-substantial effect on the region. With $100 million in annual economic impact, as well as providing emergency response services for Dane County Regional Airport and tuition support for area students who serve in the Guard, the 1,200 airmen of the 115^th make significant contributions to our community.

“We are thrilled but not surprised by this announcement. The Air Force has rightfully recognized the incredible work being done at the 115^th Fighter Wing and the base’s tremendous potential going forward.

“With its exceptional facilities, infrastructure and personnel – as well as its strategic proximity to Volk Field and the Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee – the 115^th is uniquely positioned to be the future home of the F-35. The Chamber and the Badger Air Community Council look forward to working with our federal, state and local leaders over the coming months to help make that case.”

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 9,500 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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Sergenian’s CEO Garner to Receive Chamber’s Inaugural “Ground Floor Award” for Small Business Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (November 30, 2016)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

MADISON – The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced today that Jim Garner, CEO of Sergenian’s Floor Coverings, will receive the Chamber’s inaugural Ground Floor Award for small business leadership. The award, which recognizes true champions for small business both within their business and in the community, will be presented during a special nex7 event Dec. 14 at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMOCA).

“The Chamber’s motto is ‘Business. Community. Leadership.’ and that is Jim Garner personified,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “Throughout his career, Jim has been a mentor, an advocate and a major contributor in Greater Madison’s small business community. His hard work, innovation and leadership have made the Chamber, our businesses and our economy stronger.”

Jim Garner joined Sergenian’s in 1963 and today serves as the company’s CEO and a majority partner. Under Garner’s leadership, Sergenian’s has won numerous awards based on quality and service and is now one of the top 50 floor covering retailers in the country. Garner and Sergenian’s started Wisconsin’s first and only comprehensive carpet reclamation program, which has kept more than 11 million pounds of carpet and padding out of landfills.

Garner serves on the Chamber’s Executive Committee and has been a Chamber Board member for more than 20 years. As founding chairperson of the Chamber’s Small Business Advisory Council (SBAC), an advisory committee to the Chamber’s leadership and the Mayor of the City of Madison, he led several citywide initiatives to support small businesses, including development of the Madison Small Business Conference and implementation of process changes to improve road construction in addition to the creation of a nationally adopted road construction survival guide for small businesses.

Garner has also held leadership roles with the Metropolitan Neighborhood Business Council and South Metropolitan Business Association. He was inducted into the InBusiness Hall of Fame in 2012.

“It is a great honor to receive the Chamber’s first-ever Ground Floor Award,” said Garner. “It means a lot to be commended by an organization that serves as the voice of nearly 1,300 businesses in the Greater Madison area.”

In addition to the presentation of the Ground Floor Award, nex7 will also feature compelling pitches from the seven finalists for the Chamber’s inaugural Most Innovative Company (MIC) Award. The MIC finalists represent a diverse cross-section of industries, missions and locations across Greater Madison. The winner will be determined by audience vote.

To register for this free event, visit: www.greatermadisonchamber.com.

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 9,500 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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Greater Madison Startups Meeting with Investors in Silicon Valley

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (October 11, 2016)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

MADISON – Some of Greater Madison’s most promising startups are in Silicon Valley this week to meet with prominent venture capital firms as part of an exclusive delegation led by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the five companies, the delegation features state economic development partners and Chamber leaders including Board Chair Beth Donley of Stemina Biomarker Discovery.

“The Chamber is proud to provide an opportunity for these growing companies to meet with top investors as we promote Greater Madison’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “Our economic momentum is real, and it is important that we continue to tell Greater Madison’s story as a world-class place to build and invest. We are thrilled to be able to do that by showcasing an exciting group of companies and helping them make important connections in Silicon Valley.”

The Silicon Valley trip is the culmination of the Chamber’s popular Pressure Chamber startup pitch competition, which took place in August during the Forward Festival, an eight-day celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation in Madison. This year’s Pressure Chamber winner, the top vote-getter from both the audience and a panel of investor judges, is POLCO, a platform that improves civic engagement by connecting members of the community with their local representatives on active policy proposals.

It has been an exciting year for POLCO. In addition to their Pressure Chamber victory, they also won the best presentation award at the Madworks business accelerator pitch night and the “Peoples’ Choice” award at the Wisconsin Innovation Awards. They also won in the Information Technology category at the statewide Governor’s Business Plan Competition and are the first company-in-residence at Bunker Labs Wisconsin, a nonprofit that helps military veterans start and grow businesses.

Joining POLCO on the trip are four other exciting, emerging companies representing diverse industries driving Greater Madison’s economy. They include:

• AkitaBox (Madison) – A SaaS application for proactive building management that automates maintenance, planning and inspections, AkitaBox is a gener8tor company and 2016 Pressure Chamber finalist.
• GrocerKey (Madison) – Another gener8tor company, GrocerKey helps grocery and convenience stores leverage their brand through eCommerce by providing a mobile optimized online store, management dashboard and a back-end app for operational efficiency.
• Markable (Madison) – A fashion technology company and member of 100state that helps social network users shop using visual search technology to connect photos and products.
• Moxe (Madison) – A technology-driven, service-oriented group helping vendors and health systems navigate the challenges of interoperability.

The trip began with a tour of YouTube, led by the founder of Vidmaker, a Madison company acquired by YouTube in 2014. Later in the evening, an exclusive invite-only dinner provided an opportunity for investor interaction and private discussion with business partners. The second day includes company pitches with a dozen global investment firms, followed by a reception sponsored by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation with support from the Badger Entrepreneurship Forum, a Bay Area organization of UW-Madison alumni.

Pressure Chamber and the Silicon Valley trips are supported by Michael Best & Friedrich, with support from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, American Family Ventures, Baird Capital, 4490 Ventures, HealthX Ventures, Lindsay, Stone & Briggs, Three Oaks Venture Capital and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 9,500 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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Chamber Announces Finalists for Pressure Chamber

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (July 28, 2016)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

MADISON – Today the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced the five finalists competing in this year’s Pressure Chamber startup pitch event, which will take place Aug. 23 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center during the Forward Festival, an eight-day celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation in Madison.

Pressure Chamber is a “Shark Tank”-style contest in which emerging companies will pitch in front of a panel of regional investors, business executives and a live audience. The winning company is decided based on a combination of judges’ scoring and audience votes.

The 2016 Pressure Chamber finalists are:

• Akitabox (Madison) – A SaaS application for proactive building management that automates maintenance, planning and inspections.
• Lynx Biosciences (Madison) – Developing technologies enabling the prediction of clinical treatment response for multiple myeloma and other blood cancer patients.
• Manifestly (Madison) – Mobile and web software that uses visual checklists and Slack integration to manage companies’ recurring workflows.
• POLCO (Madison) – A platform improving civic engagement by connecting members of the community with their local representatives on active policy proposals.
• Rigbot (Madison) – A product suite that uses telematics and big data analytics to improve revenue and reduce costs for the trucking industry.

“This year’s Pressure Chamber finalists are a diverse and exciting group of companies,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “Their work and their innovations are a reflection of some of the big problems being solved in our community, and they show how well-positioned Greater Madison is for success in the Third Wave of the economy.”

In addition to receiving the coveted “golden suitcase,” the winning company will also receive an all-expenses paid spot on the Chamber’s exclusive Madison-area startup delegation to Palo Alto in October for meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms. Both the 2014 Pressure Chamber winner, Fishidy, and the 2015 winner, bluDiagnostics, closed successful funding rounds following their presentations at Pressure Chamber.

Pressure Chamber returns this year as part of a popular evening of programming, including neXXpo, Startup Showcase and the “Make it a Double” Happy Hour sponsored by Zendesk. To register for these events, visit http://greatermadisonchamber.com/programs-events/nexxpo/

Pressure Chamber is presented by Michael Best & Friedrich, with support from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, American Family Ventures, Baird Capital, 4490 Ventures, HealthX Ventures, Lindsay, Stone & Briggs, Three Oaks Venture Capital and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

Pressure Chamber finalists can be available for interviews upon request.

For more information about Forward Fest, please visit http://www.forwardfest.org/

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 9,500 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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