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Category: Chamber Updates

Our members are shaking things up. The entrepreneurial spirit in our community means our members are always looking for ways to grow and improve their businesses. Keep up with the movers and shakers to see what they’ve been up to lately.

Photo by Richard Hurd

The Alliance® Receives $50,000 Grant to Develop QualityPath® for Colonoscopies

MADISON, Wis. (March 22, 2017) – The Alliance® has received a matching grant of up to $50,000 to expand its QualityPath® program to create a pathway to high-value colonoscopies.

The matching grant was made by the Purchaser Value Network (PVN), an initiative of the Pacific Business Group on Health, San Francisco, Calif. PVN aims to accelerate the adoption of high-value health care delivery and payment models through policy advocacy, education and purchaser engagement.

The Alliance received one of eight PVN grants made nationwide with funding provided by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. PVN announced the grants in press releases on Feb. 6 and March 21.  The grants provide funding of up to $50,000 for regional business coalitions implementing innovative practices in value-based purchasing and health care payment reform.

The Alliance plans to introduce QualityPath for colonoscopies in June 2018. Launched in 2015, the QualityPath program currently guides patients to high-quality providers for CTs and MRI scans and knee replacement, total hip replacement and coronary artery bypass graft surgeries.

QualityPath offers these benefits:

  • For surgeries, using a bundled payment approach, which means that all participating doctors, clinics and hospitals receive a single, pre-determined payment. In a traditional approach, each component of the surgery is billed separately.
  • Eliminating out-of-pocket costs or deductibles for patients on a traditional health plan when using QualityPath (savings vary for patients with a plan that has a health savings account).
  • Identifying high-quality care based on national quality measures. For surgeries and for colonoscopies, quality measurements are based on the combination of a specific doctor working at a specific hospital.
  • Providing a warranty for care provided as part of QualityPath.

Employers who are members of The Alliance can enroll in QualityPath, which is then offered to employees and family members enrolled in health plans that use The Alliance network. A list of participating doctors, hospitals and clinics is available on The Alliance website (www.the-alliance.org).

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 240 self-funded employers and multiemployer plans in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.

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Alliance President and CEO Cheryl DeMars is available for interviews on request.

ABOUT THE PURCHASER VALUE NETWORK

The Purchaser Value Network, an initiative of the Pacific Business Group on Health, aims to accelerate the adoption of high value health care delivery and payment models through policy advocacy, education and purchaser engagement. The network seeks to inject purchaser perspectives and innovative best practices into federal and state policy decision making, educate employers about value-based purchasing and advocacy opportunities, and aligns three critical purchaser sectors – private employers, states, and the federal government – around evidence-based practices. For more information, visit www.pvnetwork.org.

 

 

Photo by Richard Hurd

Circle of Friends Luncheon

Now in its 12th year, the annual Circle of Friends luncheon provides an opportunity for Madison individuals, business leaders and supporters to come together and learn about the work of the Foundation in Madison’s public schools. The Circle of Friends Luncheon showcases innovative and creative programs that enrich classroom learning and generates a shared enthusiasm for what we can do as a community to support our 27,000 students. For the past several years, the event has hosted over 700 attendees at the Alliant Energy Center for lunch, networking and inspirational videos and speeches.

https://circleoffriends2017.splashthat.com/

Photo by Richard Hurd

First Business’ Enterprising Nonprofits Event to Take Place in Madison June 2, 2017

MADISON, WI – March 14, 2017 – First Business is pleased to partner with United Way of Dane County to bring Enterprising NONPROFITS to Madison. Enterprising NONPROFITS is an annual all-day interactive conference that allows for-profit and nonprofit business leaders, executive directors, business development directors and volunteer coordinators to collaborate and share best practices. The concept of this event has been proven for the last three years in Appleton, Wisconsin, drawing over 1,000 attendees.

As popularity grew, an interest sparked for the event to be hosted in Madison to serve South Central Wisconsin nonprofits and trade associations. “We approached United Way of Dane County about the value of doing this conference. I was delighted to find they were 100% behind this idea. Our mutual goal is to help build a stronger community through providing education and opportunities for collaboration among the many Non-Profits and Trade Associations of South Central Wisconsin” stated Beth Korth, Senior Vice President at First Business Bank.

“We are thrilled to partner with First Business on this endeavor to facilitate a conversation about innovation and the future of nonprofits, and to create another intersection between local nonprofits and businesses.   This conference is an opportunity for all of us to be inspired, educated and connected and we appreciate that First Business recognizes United Way’s role as the intersection where the community meets to change lives.” commented Renee Moe, President and CEO at United Way of Dane County.

The event will take place June 2, 2017 at The Madison Concourse Hotel, located at 1 W Dayton St, Madison, WI 53703. Local for-profit and nonprofit leaders can find out more about the event at www.enterprisingnonprofits.org.

About First Business
First Business Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: FBIZ) is a Wisconsin-based bank holding company, focused on the unique needs of businesses, business executives, and high net worth individuals. First Business offers commercial banking, specialty finance, and private wealth management solutions, and because of its niche focus, is able to provide its clients with unmatched expertise, accessibility, and responsiveness.

Member FDIC, First Business’ corporate headquarters are at 401 Charmany Drive in Madison, WI. For additional information, visit www.firstbusiness.com or call 608-238-8008.

The First Business logo is available at http://www.firstbusiness.com/logo/.

United Way of Dane County fights for the education, financial stability, and health of everyone in Dane County.

Through strategic partnerships and collaborative work, United Way brings the many voices of Dane County together to find common ground, develop a strategic architecture for change, and make measurable progress, while engaging organizations and individuals with the opportunity to give, advocate and volunteer to change lives in Dane County.

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Contacts:
Angela Roidt
Communications Coordinator
First Business Financial Services, Inc.
Phone 608-238-8008
aroidt@firstbusiness.com  

Jocelyn Harmon
EVP of Community Engagement and Marketing
United Way of Dane County
(608) 246-4366
Jocelyn.harmon@uwdc.org

Photo by Richard Hurd

Employment and Training Opportunities — Enhancing Greater Madison’s workforce diversity and inclusion

Upcoming opportunities
Looking for a new or better job, or know someone who is? Urban League has several upcoming workshops and academies available at no cost. Learn more by calling 608.729.1200 or attend an upcoming informational session for an overview of employment services offered by the Urban League, including upcoming Customer Service Academy, Insurance Academy Training, START, and Trades programs.
Upcoming informational sessions: 
Monday, March 13 |  5pm to 7pm
Park Edge/Park Ridge Employment and Training Center, 658 S. Gammon Rd., Madison
Tuesday, March 14 |  5pm to 7pm
Urban League of Greater Madison, 2222 S. Park Street, Madison
Wednesday, March 15 |  12pm to 2pm
Urban League of Greater Madison, 2222 S. Park Street, Madison
Thursday, March 16 |  12pm to 2pm
Park Edge/Park Ridge Employment and Training Center, 658 S. Gammon Rd., Madison
Saturday, March 18 |  10am to 2pm
SS Morris Community AME Church, 3511 Milwaukee Street, Madison
Friday, March 24 | 9am to 11am
Dane County Job Center, 1819 Aberg Avenue, Madison
Advance Employment Services Courses- enroll soon!
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Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Training (START)
Starts April 3
 
Start your career in construction! Prepare for 19 different trades, including carpentry, electrical, painting, and more. Math tutoring, apprenticeship exam prep, blueprint reading, more!

Contact trades@ulgm.org or call 608.729.1200   

Foundations for the Trades
Starts May 1
 
Get the foundational skills for careers in the construction and utilities industries. Over 90 hours of hand-on training on a real construction site. Earn OSHA 10, National Flagging, and First Aid/CPR certifications.

Contact trades@ulgm.org or call 608.729.1200   

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Customer Service Academy
Starts April 3

Train for jobs starting at $15+/hour in customer service and support, reception, call center, order taking, sales, sales support, and more!

Insurance Academy
Starts April 4

Learn how to get into and grow your career in the insurance industry! You will earn a nationally recognized certification to show future employers.

Contact Mariam at mmaldonado@ulgm.org or 608.729.1240 for more information

Photo by Richard Hurd

Ho-Chunk’s Dan Brown Elected to Chamber Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Feb. 23, 2017)

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

MADISON – Today the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced the election of Dan Brown, Executive Manager of Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison, to its board of directors. Brown joins 48 current business and community leaders representing a broad cross-section of the Greater Madison economy on the Chamber board.

Dan Brown has worked for the Ho-Chunk Nation for more than 23 years and has been the Executive Manager of Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison since 2000. He also served a four-year term as an elected legislator for the Ho-Chunk Nation from 2007 to 2011 and was subsequently elected to serve as Vice President by the Legislature.

“Seats on the Chamber board do not open up very often. In fact, this year there is only one seat available, and the board wanted to seize this opportunity as a way to honor and recognize the Ho-Chunk Nation’s rich history and vital role in building this community,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “Dan Brown’s experience and business perspective will be a tremendous asset to the Chamber board, and we look forward to working with him as we write the next chapter in Greater Madison’s story.”

“I am honored to join the Chamber board and represent Ho-Chunk Gaming in Greater Madison’s business community in a new way,” Brown said. “I want to thank the members of the board for valuing the qualities I bring to this role, and I am excited to continue to work on the important issues facing our regional economy and the Ho-Chunk people.”

Click here for the full roster of the Greater Madison Chamber Board of Directors.

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 10,000 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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