Eric Weiner, Journalist, Best-Selling Author and World Traveler, to Keynote Chamber’s 65th Annual Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Aug. 22, 2017)

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

MADISON – Best-selling author and global traveler Eric Weiner will be the keynote speaker at the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce’s 65^th Annual Dinner on Sept. 27 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. His latest book, The Geography of Genius, explores the history of places from ancient Athens to Renaissance Florence to modern-day Silicon Valley to show how creative genius flourishes in specific places at specific times.

“As a foreign correspondent who has traveled the world seeking answers to life’s biggest questions, Eric Weiner is the perfect speaker to examine how place inspires creativity, produces innovators and encourages curiosity,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “Eric’s travels have given him fascinating insights into how and why certain places are well-positioned to cultivate genius, and we are excited to welcome him to the ground level for the next big thing.”

In addition to The Geography of Genius, Weiner is also the author of The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World, a New York Times best-selling memoir of his travels to countries that are known for their happy people, and Man Seeks God: My Flirtations with the Divine, a book based on his travels of the world in search for an experience of the divine. He has also traveled the globe as an award-winning correspondent for National Public Radio, the BBC and The New York Times, and his commentaries have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Slate and The New Republic. Learn more at http://www.ericweinerbooks.com/

Presented by Wells Fargo, the Chamber’s 65^th Annual Dinner will bring together 1,000 business and community leaders for an engaging program featuring speakers, networking, music and more. To register, visit here: http://greatermadisonchamber.com/programs-events/annual-dinner/

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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Madison-based Tech Startup Tackles $37B Problem

Media Contact Information:

info@tlnetworx.com

608-960-7242

Direct Contact Information:

Cameron C. Smith

csmith@tlnetworx.com

608-225-8012

Date for Release:

August 17, 2017

Madison-based Tech Startup Tackles $37B Problem

Madison, WI – Business professionals and educators understand how cumbersome technology can be. Meetings, lessons and lectures are quickly derailed when the in-room display won’t power up or a laptop won’t transmit video.

It’s estimated that 20% of corporate meetings in the United States start late thanks to technology issues, costing businesses over $37 billion per year in lost productivity. Worse yet, businesses are spending north of $100 billion each year on meeting room technology – and still 88% of attendees voice frustration.

Schools and universities face a similar problem. 55% of educational spaces are incorporating presentation technology; however, the majority of teachers refrain from use due to “discomfort” or “lack of confidence.”

Madison-based tech startup TechLogix Networx aims to solve the problem. Founded by two audio-visual industry veterans, TechLogix seeks to automate collaborative spaces—the general term used for any area where two or more people share ideas and often digital content.

“For years we were part of the problem,” explains Cameron Smith, TechLogix CEO, about him and co-founder, Christopher Melendy. “We developed technology because we could, not necessarily because we should. The electronics industry in general stacked devices together to create Frankenstein systems when all users really needed was to share a simple PowerPoint. We founded TechLogix on the basic premise that technology must be affordable and deployable for every school and business, and it must be simple enough for anyone to use.”

This philosophy led TechLogix to develop several platforms which incorporate automation and hands-free control.

“Some of our solutions are extremely simple, like locking laptop adapters to presentation cables so they never get lost,” continues Mr. Smith. “But our flagship technology replaces the complex and expensive control system which is the failure point for most botched meetings.”

Earlier this year, TechLogix began shipping four product lines designed to streamline corporate and education presentations. Their most popular solution replaces the need for remote controls altogether—computers automatically connect to displays, and the room automatically turns on when people launch their presentation and off when they are done. This concept won TechLogix three technology awards at international trade events.

Simplifying audio-visual devices has pushed TechLogix into some unexpected markets. They’ve seen sales into retirement communities seeking to automate home theaters and retail stores looking to save energy by automatically powering down displays.

When asked about their technology philosophy, Mr. Smith responded “It’s all about simplicity. We’re not necessarily reinventing the wheel, just making it easier to use. Technology should make people more confident, not nervous. Presenting is already hard enough.”

About TechLogix Networx:

Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, TechLogix designs, develops and manufactures technology for the custom installation and commercial audio-visual markets. They are uniquely focused on collaboration products, as well as emerging technology such as fiber optics, automated controllers, AV over IP, and 18G digital video. Additional information is available online at www.tlnetworx.com

M3’s 2017 Health Benefits Trend Report Released

M3 has released the M3 2017 Health Care Trend Report. This is an annual publication highlighting the position of health insurance costs and plan designs throughout the state of Wisconsin. The report contains data collected from M3 clients across a variety of industries, sectors, sizes and markets.

The information within the report provides private and public sector organizations with a benchmark to compare their own employee benefit plan types, costs, deductibles, co-payments, and more, with the rest of the state. The report includes insight as to how employers are using benefit plan design to keep costs down, as well as how different size employers are proceeding through the current marketplace.

According to this year’s report, health plan premiums experienced a 7.7% growth change over the last year. This is the highest rate of change since 2011.

If you’d like to have a discussion on specific report findings in relation to your organization, contact your M3 Account Executive. Hard copies of the report are available upon request.

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About M3

M3 Insurance offers insight, advice and strategies to help clients manage risk, purchase insurance and provide employee benefits. We are committed to being experts in both the products we represent and the industries we serve. Our people advance M3’s competitive advantage in the marketplace, and our focus on community builds better places to live and work. M3 is consistently ranked a top 100 broker in America.

Economic Empowerment of Women in Business in Wisconsin to be the Focus for Inaugural Event

Madison, WI – On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, women leaders in tech, business, science, non-profit, and education will come together to celebrate, empower and support each other at Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WEDWisconsin). The conference will be held at Monona Terrace.  It is part of a week long celebration culminating in the global recognition of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day on November 19th.

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) ignites women leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to initiate startups, drive economic expansion, and advance communities worldwide. The flagship United Nations event is live-streamed and celebrated in 144 countries and by 110 universities/colleges internationally. This is the first time the event will happen in Wisconsin.

“I attended WED last year at the United Nations and knew it was something we needed to make happen in Wisconsin. We will be the first state outside of New York to host a day long event but we will be joining women from Kenya to Egypt, all across Europe and around the world helping to eliminate poverty and providing hope and opportunity.” explained Laura Gallagher, WEDWisconsin Ambassador and Chair.

Women in the U.S. are now starting businesses at twice the rate of men. Between 2007 and 2016, the number of women-owned firms increased by 45%, compared to just a 9% increase among all businesses according to American Express Open’s research. Therefore, over the past nine years, the number of women-owned firms has grown at a rate fully five times faster than the national average.

At the WEDWisconsin conference, attendees will:

• Learn from entrepreneurial greats about the triumphs and trials of being a business owner.
• Enjoy high-value content and unique social experiences, with a focus on authentic relationship building.
• Participate in a live “think tank” where entrepreneurs are pulled from the crowd to share a challenge they are facing that is then turned over to the tables to solve.
• Hear real stories about funding.
• Connect with countless other business owners and those who support them.
• Grow as a leader.
• Be inspired.
• Be a part of making history here in Wisconsin.

The WEDWisconsin Advisory board includes women in various fields with diverse backgrounds and experiences. From technology to the sciences, education to social good initiatives, from start-ups to businesses that are expanding, the board is made up of leaders who are familiar with entrepreneurship eco-systems, education and policy creation that will help women in business to thrive.

For more information please visit  WEDWisconsin.

About Laura Gallagher, Ambassador and Chairman of the Board for WEDWisconsin

Laura Gallagher is a community, local and national business leader serving successful entrepreneurial companies and nonprofit organizations primarily in Wisconsin. In 2016, she was recognized by the Governor as a Trailblazer in Wisconsin. She is the founder and CEO of The Creative Company and is a 2017 Alumni of Babson College’s 10,000 Businesses Program with a Certificate of Entrepreneurship and a 2016 graduate of Harvard Professor Michael Porter’s Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.

The Creative Company is certified by the State of Wisconsin as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise.

About Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) is the world’s largest entrepreneurial and financial empowerment initiative dedicated to celebrating, supporting and empowering women worldwide. WED encourages four billion women worldwide to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, with the goal of bringing hope alleviating poverty.

WED is committed to gathering a think tank of inspiring women leaders who will amplify our message of expanding businesses with social good initiatives in communities around the world.

Packers and WPS Health Solutions present ‘Operation Fan Mail’ for 2017

GREEN BAY, Wis.—Aug. 3, 2017—Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families at each Packers home game, will mark its 11th season in 2017, and the ninth year it has been presented by WPS Health Solutions or its affiliates.

The program, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor families with a member who is on active duty. The Packers and WPS Health Solutions will host a family at each 2017 home game and recognize the members on the field during pregame activities. A total of 99 families have been saluted during the past nine seasons.

“We are proud to salute military families through Operation Fan Mail for the 11th year,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “So many remarkable men and women and their families make tremendous sacrifices for our country each day, and we’re honored to have the opportunity to recognize them at Lambeau Field alongside our fans.”

“For the ninth consecutive year, WPS Health Solutions is privileged to join the Green Bay Packers in saluting outstanding military personnel and their families through the Operation Fan Mail program,” said WPS President and CEO Mike Hamerlik. “Their selfless dedication to our nation is an inspiration to all of us, and we thank them.”

The Packers and WPS Health Solutions are asking interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular family should be saluted.

Essays can be sent to Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628 or online at http://nfl.packers.com/gameday/gameday_promotions/operation_fan_mail/.

Families intended for recognition are those that have a member serving on active duty. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter or sibling. Purple Heart recipients are also eligible for recognition, even if they cannot return to active service status.

In addition to being recognized on-field prior to the game, selected families will receive four tickets to the game and a $150 Packers Pro Shop gift card courtesy of WPS Health Solutions.

About WPS Health Solutions

WPS Health Solutions is a nationally regarded government contractor and a leading Wisconsin not-for-profit health insurer. The WPS Health Insurance division offers affordable health plans and benefits administration. The WPS Government Health Administrators division administers Part A and B Medicare benefits for millions of seniors in multiple states, and the WPS Military and Veterans Health division serves millions more members who are active in the U.S. military, veterans and their families. In 2017, the international Ethisphere® Institute named WPS one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® for the eighth straight year. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.