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Photo by Richard Hurd

WPS Health Solutions: Army Col. Izzy Thompson saluted for Operation Fan Mail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Vice President of Communications
608-512-5754
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

Army Col. Izzy Thompson saluted for Operation Fan Mail
Program is sponsored by WPS Health Solutions and the Green Bay Packers

MADISON, Wis.—Oct. 18, 2022—The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Solutions paid special tribute this week to U.S. Army Col. Israel “Izzy” Thompson and his family in conjunction with the Oct. 16 game against the New York Jets. Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game, marks its 16th season in 2022.

A native of south Milwaukee and a lifelong Packers fan, Thompson was an Eagle Scout and played for Marquette University High School’s 1995 state championship football team. He earned an ROTC scholarship and was a Distinguished Military Graduate from Marquette University.

Following his college graduation in 1999, Thompson continued his military career, going on to serve three tours in Afghanistan, two tours in Korea and one to Iraq during which he commanded a company in combat. Most recently, he was deployed to Germany to support current operations in Ukraine. Thompson also served two no-notice deployments to the Pentagon immediately following 9/11. He has served in the Army for 23 years.

His family says he has always exemplified selfless service, one of the seven Army values, and he has always prioritized the safety and comfort of his team over his own, whether that team be his unit or family. Thompson has also earned many awards throughout his career, including two Bronze Star Medals and a Legion of Merit; however, what he values the most is when the soldiers he has led in the past reach out to him as a mentor.

Thompson attended Sunday’s game with his mom, Susan, his wife, Janet, who nominated him for Operation Fan Mail, as well as their son, Sam.

As the honorees for Operation Fan Mail this week, the Thompson family also received four tickets to the game and a $150 Packers Pro Shop gift card, courtesy of WPS.

The program, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor families with a member who is on active duty or a member who is a veteran. The Packers and WPS Health Solutions will host a family at each 2022 season home game and recognize the members on the video boards during pregame activities. A total of 152 individuals, families, or groups have been recognized through the program since it began.

The Packers and WPS Health Solutions invite interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular family should be saluted this year. Families intended for recognition are those that have a member serving on active duty, or a member who is a veteran. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter, or sibling.

Essays can be sent to Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628 or online at packers.com/lambeau-field/operation-fan-mail.

About WPS Health Solutions®

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 3,100 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

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Photo by Richard Hurd

Restaino & Associates: Gail Johnson nominated for HR Lifetime Leadership Award

Gail Johnson of Restaino & Associates ERA Powered has recently been nominated for the HR Lifetime Leadership Award given by the Wisconsin State Council SHRM. She was nominated by her peers at the local Madison GMA SHRM Greater Madison Human Resource Association.

The nomination noted, “Gail has been an outstanding, active and engaged member of the GMA SHRM Chapter since 2008. She has been an active board member for the last four years.

“Gail has played a critical role in expanding her role and support of the communications committee, she has done so by growing the team of volunteers, providing great ideas and implementing the necessary protocols & collaboration to expand communication to members through the increased use of social media, chapter newsletter content and more. Throughout the years, she has worked diligently to generate and support collaboration across the chapter’s various committees. Such collaboration has assisted with additional recognition and interest in our corporate partnership & sponsorship program, events, member/volunteer recognition and more!

“Gail is active on the One Day Conference committee and facilitates roundtable discussions. Gail has been an incredible asset to our chapter and members alike. We feel very grateful to have had her as a part of the board and leadership team over the years and look forward to her continued contributions as a lifetime member moving forward.”

Photo by Richard Hurd

One City and Fetch Rewards Announce Signature Partnership

Will Work Together to Prepare the Next Generation of STEM Leaders

Yesterday, One City was honored to host Wes Schroll, the founder and CEO of Fetch Rewards, and his team when they visited our new Pleasant T. Rowland Leadership Campus to announce a new signature partnership between Fetch and One City Schools that will engage and benefit our young scholars and community for years to come. 

Fetch Rewards will work with us to prepare the next generation of leaders, innovators and contributors in STEM fields enrolled at One City Preparatory Academy, a new early college and career middle/high school located in Dane County, Wisconsin. Together, we will help fill the need for more technology developers, engineers, scientists and systems thinkers who are dedicated to making the world better, for everyone.

Fetch Rewards staff will work with our Scholars on their STEM projects, provide job shadowing and internship opportunities, and will help keep our staff and Scholars current on the latest needs and innovations in STEM industries and occupations. Fetch Rewards is also naming our school’s co-working space and making a $50,000 contribution to our STEM program. We are excited to begin this journey together. 

For more information or to discuss your interest in partnering with us, and supporting the education of our young scholars, please contact Gail Wiseman, One City’s VP of External Relations, at gwiseman@onecityschools.org or (608) 531-2128.

About Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards is a mobile shopping platform that rewards shoppers for buying the brands they love. The Fetch Rewards app gives users the easiest way to save on everyday purchases by simply scanning their receipt. For our brand partners, the platform allows them to understand a 360 degree view of shopping habits, and to meaningfully reward a customer’s individual loyalty.

About One City Schools

One City Schools is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization that provides high quality educational opportunities for young children. Our mission is to seed a new model of public education that ensures young children are on track to succeed in a college or career preparatory program from birth through high school graduation. We currently operate three schools: a tuition-based independent preschool that serves 2 and 3-year-olds, and two tuition-free public charter schools, authorized by the University of Wisconsin System, that presently enroll children in 4K through 10th grade. We will eventually enroll 926 children from age 2 through through 12th grade and serve as a national model for the transformation of PK-12 education in the United States. 

Photo by Richard Hurd

Nezih Hasanoglu Jr. Named Chief Growth Officer at M3 Insurance

Nezih Hasanoglu Jr. has been named the first chief growth officer of M3 Insurance, effective immediately. 

He joined M3 in 2004 as a business development executive. Hasanoglu served in various sales roles from 2004-13, becoming a partner in 2013. In 2014, he was promoted to leadership as the director of business development, later progressing to vice president, and in 2020 was named executive vice president. 

As the chief growth officer, Hasanoglu Jr. has responsibilities for key growth efforts which include business development, marketing, mergers & acquisitions, and organic growth initiatives. 

M3’s leadership structure represents continued agency growth and commitment to building a strong infrastructure from which to serve all M3 clients. 


About M3

M3 is a top insurance broker and risk management firm 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.

Photo by Richard Hurd

Angela Johnson named finalist for 2022 Forward Art Prize

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