BRAVA September October 2025

women shaping madison

Ripple Effect

Leaders Driving Change Across the Region and Beyond

Meander

Mineral Point

A Dream

Madison Meal

Elevated Book

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ROOTED IN OUR community

At Park Bank, community is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that by serving and caring for one another, we can build stronger communities and create a brighter future, together.

Kelly Powell Market Manager Volunteer Firefighter/EMT

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

SAY YES TO A CAPITOL VIEW.

Where history holds your hand and the Capitol crowns your vows, your wedding becomes more than a day—it becomes a story woven into Madison’s most iconic setting.

At Best Western Premier Park Hotel, every celebration reflects the warmth, charm, and timeless elegance of a place that’s hosted love for over 150 years. From rooftop views that shimmer with city lights to the stately grandeur of the Hall of Wisconsin, our venues set the stage for weddings that are as effortless as they are unforgettable.

Your Madison Symphony Orchestra’s 100th Anniversary season is here!

Your Madison Symphony Orchestra’s 100th

Anniversary season is here!

Music is a universal language for everyone. Experiencing the thrill of live music together is uplifting and unforgettable. The Madison Symphony Orchestra’s story of innovation, passion for music, education, resilience, and vision, spans a century — breaking barriers, and setting new standards of excellence. This month, your Symphony begins its 100th year anniversary celebration of joy bringing music to life in Madison.

“100 Years Together in Music” opens with the “Centennial Celebration” on September 19 and 20. “Pure Joy Opening Night: Magical Tchaikovsky & Maestro’s Dinner.” On Friday night, John DeMain conducts the MSO and pianist Olga Kern returns for the all-Tchaikovsky concert in Overture Hall, followed by a cocktail reception and formal dinner in the Lobby. On Saturday night, “Soar with Cirque de la Symphonie & Party into the Night” brings together the magic of circus arts and MSO performing music from famous film scores. An after-party with food stations, DJ Terrence J, and dancing, follows the concert. The 25/26 season presents eight triple-performance subscription concerts featuring orchestral music performed by MSO musicians and world-renowned guest soloists, plus two MSO at the Movies liveto-film concerts , from October 2025 through May 2026. This season celebrates Maestro John DeMain’s 32nd and final year as Music Director, before the next artistic leader takes the baton and begins shaping the future of the orchestra.

A highlight of the season is the creation of an original composition for orchestra, by Jake Heggie in collaboration with librettist Gene Scheer and John DeMain, featuring combined choirs, and Metropolitan Opera superstar Ailyn Pérez. This major new work, “EARTH: A Choral Symphony,” premieres at the final symphony subscription concerts in May 2026. It will celebrate our beautiful planet and humanity’s place on it — inspired by the past, present, and future — exploring themes of truth and possibility.

The “Centennial Festival Weekend” is the culmination of “100 Years Together in Music,” June 13-14, 2026. “A Community Gift and Dream – for the Love of Music” is a free, two-day open house celebration featuring MSO musicians and diverse community groups performing throughout Overture Center for the Arts each day. Main stage events include a Family Concert and Overture Concert Organ performance on Saturday, June 13, and MSO concert on Sunday, June 14, presenting many of the “greatest hits” of classical music. The Sunday concert features a special appearance by one of the top violinists in the world, Julian Rhee, winner of the 2017 Bolz Young Artist Competition. The Madison Symphony Orchestra takes pride in its evolution and a clear vision to compose a new future connecting community and expanding musical horizons. You’re invited to share your love of live music together — everyone can be part of the experience.

Subscribe to 5-8 concerts & save up to 25% off single ticket prices ($90-$660).

madisonsymphony.org

Cre at e Your Own

4 Concert Classical Se ries & save 10% off single t icket prices. Any 4 of 8 symphony s u bscription concerts. Any day. Any seat. Any price level. madisonsymphony.org/ c re ateyourown

Sing le T i ck ets On Sale Now!

Purchase single tickets ($20-$115) by phone at (608) 258-4141 , in-person at the Overt u re B ox Office, online at madisonsymphony.org or ove rture.org.

YEARS OF

To celebrate 10 years of shining bright, this year’s GLEAM exhibit centers on the concept of reflection.

Light artists from all over the world are gathering to illuminate the Gardens’ landscape, reflecting a language of love for the natural world. Take a magical stroll through the Outdoor Gardens and tropical Bolz Conservatory to view large-scale installations created by light artists from around the globe. Don’t be left in the dark — come see the Gardens in a whole new light.

Tickets Available Online

Advanced timed tickets (required) and a one-way exhibit route will ensure a smooth traffic flow at each viewing.

Elevated Experiences

Sept 11: Adults Only Night

Sept 19: Family Night

Sept 26 & 27: Cycropia Aerial Dance Night

Oct 9: Adults Only Night

Join us for special evenings featuring various themes and pop-up performances. Times and prices vary for these exclusive viewings.

Evening Viewings

Wed–Sat, Sept 3–Oct 25

Times and prices vary by month. Visit in September and save!

Sponsors

The Bradbury Family

Art

a New Light

Presented by Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Ripple Effect

From hospitals to high-speed tracks, these women are driving change across Madison — and beyond.

A Custom Creation

A light-filled, welcoming design gave this homeowner exactly the look she dreamed of.

Beyond Goodbye

Grief changes us — but it can also reveal new depths of connection, community, compassion and healing.

The performances, exhibits and cultural happenings that will keep the city buzzing this season.

L-R: Anne Neujahr Morrison, Sarah Neujahr and Anna Spiekerman

DEPARTMENTS

KYLE KNOX

Conductor

Madison Symphony Orchestra’s MSO at the Movies presents Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story in Concert featuring a screening of the groundbreaking complete film with Oscar® and Grammy®-winning composer Randy Newman’s musical score performed live to the film in Overture Hall.

The “Toy Story” films are beloved worldwide for their compelling characters, extraordinary storytelling, stunning visuals and the music of Randy Newman. The composer and songwriter is behind signature songs including “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “Strange Things” and “I Will Go Sailing No More.”

Ever wonder what toys do when people aren’t around? “Toy Story” answers that question with a fantastic fun-filled journey, viewed mostly through the eyes of two rival toys — Woody, the lanky, likable cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear, the fearless space ranger. Led by Woody, Andy’s toys live happily in his room until Andy’s birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy’s heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the comically mismatched duo must learn to put aside their differences and form an uneasy alliance if they are to survive a hilarious adventure-filled mission back home to Andy.

STORIES SHAPED BY COMMUNITY

cannot do our jobs in a bubble — it requires our staff going out and talking to folks in the community and learning about the people, places and topics we should be covering.

This is especially true for this year’s Women in Business Issue. Each woman was purposefully selected for her “ripple effect” on the greater Madison region. Take our cover woman, Victoria Thomas. Madisonians might be surprised to know that Kellymoss, the highly successful Porsche restoration and racing company that Thomas co-owns, is in Fitchburg. I was. But Thomas’ efforts to recruit more females to the automotive industry, which not only includes racecar drivers but technicians and other behind-thescenes roles, is admirable. We were given the heads up about Thomas from the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, an organization that’s been a great ally to BRAVA.

Maggie Brickerman of gener8tor suggested that we check out New Year

Investments (NYI), a female-owned boutique real estate development firm. NYI is working on a massive, 10-acre development in downtown Madison that will add 850 new apartment units to the area to address the city’s housing shortage. Deb Archer, former president and CEO of Destination Madison, informed us of the American Family Children’s Hospital’s (AFCH) plan to expand its pediatric intensive care unit by building out its currently unused sixth floor. Because of limited capacity, the hospital is often forced to turn pediatric patients away. Leading the effort to fund this critical project is Nikki Stafford, president of AFCH and system vice president of UW Health Kids. It’s yet another ripple effect that will position the greater Madison region as a leader in critical care. We’re so proud to feature all of these women — and many more — throughout this issue. I also wanted to give a huge thank you to the women who contributed to our “Beyond Goodbye” feature on P. 129. This story was the result of talking to a few women who had experiences they wanted to share on the topic of grief. Grief isn’t only tied to death — it can mean mourning the loss of a body once able to do the sport we loved, or even “feeling powerless in the face of the unknown,” as Rebecka Crandall writes on P. 138. It’s a poignant read because inevitably, all of us experience grief in our lifetime.

Please enjoy this issue and let us know what you think!

Shayna Mace Editorial Director @shaynamace

NEW! BRAVA BUSINESS MONTHLY

We’re excited to introduce our new monthly newsletter, debuting in mid-September. BRAVA Business Monthly will feature exclusive online content and the latest business and networking events, curated by our staff. Scan the QR code to sign up

gener8ator, who was named as the next president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. Brickerman will succeed Tom Still, who is retiring after 23 years of leadership. Brickerman was featured in our March/ April 2025 issue and remains an incredible resource for us because of her deep knowledge on the startup and venture capital world.

Our Perspective shoot and article starting on P. 14 is in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15 to October 15. We’re honored that all of these Latina and Hispanic leaders made it a priority to participate in our shoot and share their thoughts on leadership with us!

WOMEN MAKING WAVES

BUSINESS

PUBLISHER

Barbara Krause bak@ntmediagroup.com

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Shayna Mace shayna@ntmediagroup.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Melissa Moody mmoody@ntmediagroup.com

Meredith Johnson meredith@ntmediagroup.com

FACT - CHECKER

Mason Braasch

DIGITAL

DIGITAL DIRECTOR

Kristen Rouse krouse@ntmediagroup.com

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Cici Rindy cici@ntmediagroup.com

SALES

SALES MANAGER

Dena Frisch

dena@ntmediagroup.com

CLIENT SERVICES SPECIALIST

Amy Jacobs ads@ntmediagroup.com

ACCOUNTING accounting@ntmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Jazmynn Appleton, Laura Anne Bird, Rebecka Crandall, Kristine Hansen, Nicole Hansen, Tania Ibarra, Nikki Kallio, Maura Keller, Betsy Korbinyr, Michelle Kullmann, Sagashus Levingston, MaryBeth Matzek, Melanie Radzicki McManus, Shelby Rowe Moyer, Lisa Peyton, Kevin Revolinski, Katy Ripp, Hillary Schave, Jessica Steinhoff, Sue Sveum, Katie Vaughn, Amanda Wegner, Hannah Wente, Shanna Wolf

BRAVA Magazine is a publication of Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. Gary E. Nei, Chairman, William Turner, President.

This issue or any part thereof may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. ©2025

951 Kimball Lane, Suite 122, Verona, WI. (608) 848-6700

SUBSCRIBE AT BRAVAMAGAZINE.COM

Subscription information: (262) 729-4471 or nadine@ntmediagroup.com.

BRAVA (ISSN 1934-4317) SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025, Volume 26, Number 05, is published bimonthly (six times a year) by Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. Periodicals postage paid at 3902 Milwaukee St., Madison, WI 53714 and additional offices. Postmaster send address changes to: BRAVA Magazine, 951 Kimball Ln., Ste. 122, Verona, WI 53593-1786.

GLP-1

What You Need to Know

We have developed a comprehensive approach to weight loss that includes medication, nutrition support and monthly one-on-one support to help you reach your health priorities.

— Amy Bernards PA-C, Owner

1001 Arboretum Drive Suite 139, Waunakee 608.886.0022 loureaesthetics@yahoo.com

LOURE Aesthetics in Waunakee answers your questions about the GLP-1 Revolution.

GLP-1 medications are changing the conversation around weight loss. With all of that buzz comes plenty of questions. We sat down with the team at LOURE Aesthetics to get the facts and to learn more about how GLP-1 works.

What are GLP-1 medications, and how do they work?

GLP-1 medications are powerful, oncea-week injections that reduce cravings, help you feel full fast and reduce appetite. They are designed to help you lose weight while also preventing other risk factors, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Who’s a good candidate for GLP-1 medications?

Most people benefit from these medications, especially those that want to lose 20 pounds or more. Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women see success with these medications as well as men who want to lose stubborn belly fat. We treat patients over the age of 18 who do not have diabetes and meet our medical criteria.

What results can someone expect, and how quickly?

With semaglutide, patients typically lose 1-2 pounds per week — up to 15% of their body weight. With tirzepatide, patients typically lose 2-3 pounds per week — up to 25% of their body weight. Patients lose weight in their first month of treatment with us.

What are the side effects or risks?

The most common side effects are nausea, constipation and heartburn. GLP-1 medications are also not for people who have had thyroid cancer.

What wellbeing support does LOURE Aesthetics offer beyond GLP-1 medications?

We also offer nutrition counseling, oral medications, B12 injections, hormone health counseling, an infrared sauna, LED phototherapy and IV hydration.

Are you ready to take control of your wellness?

The experts at LOURE Aesthetics are here to guide you through every step of your weight loss journey with safety, science and style. Book your consultation at loureaesthetics.com or call today.

Amy Bernards,PA-COwner

L-R: Dr. Nydia Martinez, Brenda S. González, Araceli Esparza, Karen Menendez Coller, Geraldine (Gery) Paredes Vásquez,Virginia Gittens Escudero, Sandy Morales and Tania Ibarra

POWER IN COMMUNITY

Madison’s Latina and Hispanic leaders are making their mark.

BY SHAYNA MACE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HILLARY SCHAVE

Gather eight influential Latina and Hispanic leaders in one room, and it becomes clear just how connected they are: Many have collaborated professionally or serve on each other’s boards. Yet each brings a distinct perspective — often shaped by their experiences as immigrants and their deep commitment to advocating for their communities. Read on to discover more about each of these remarkable women.

KAREN MENENDEZ COLLER

Executive director, Centro of Dane County

Centro is the leading organization in Dane County prioritizing a thriving, resilient Latinx community through holistic familycentered programs and services.

What motivated you to pursue your career path?

I’m Madison transplant. I’m originally from El Salvador, via Los Angeles — and many other cities in the U.S. I’ve lived in Madison for 13 years, and since then I’ve been at Centro.

My journey has not been direct. I have always loved science and social sciences. My path into public health provided the perfect blend for both. I hold a doctoral degree in maternal and child health and have been trained in community-based work as well as have expertise in different methods typically used in research to create and assess community programs and initiatives. I’ve worked in academia, in government and in the community. [This is all] instrumental in what I do at Centro. I understand the assets the Latinx community has, and policies and programs should respect the needs of our people. We owe this to the Latinx families who are the future of this country.

What’s one of your proudest career moments?

Earning my PhD. Latinas compromise only 1% of doctoral degree holders. It was not easy. And I hold it with pride because it gave me the knowledge that I needed to work in the community.

VIRGINIA GITTENS ESCUDERO Executive director, UNIDOS

UNIDOS supports victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault through services, prevention and education.

What motivated you to pursue your career path?

I found my path as a legal advocate about 10 years ago. With a background in law and human services — and through years of working with international students and immigrant families — I came to understand both the barriers that our community faces and the kinds of support that truly make a difference.

I’ve been fortunate to learn from many people along the way, and today, I’m honored to lead UNIDOS, where we provide a safe and welcoming space for individuals impacted by domestic abuse and sexual violence. This work is deeply personal to me, and it keeps me grounded in what really matters: community, healing and justice.

How have you made an impact for Hispanics and Latinas in Madison?

Through my involvement with Nuestro Mundo, Inc. (NMI), a nonprofit organization that serves as the governance board for Nuestro Mundo Community School. During my time at NMI, I had the privilege of connecting with parents. I also helped coordinate fundraising events and parent workshops designed to empower families to advocate for their children’s access to higher education.

I also helped with the Family Center located at the school, as well as the parent satisfaction survey — a tool that gives parents a voice in shaping the educational aspirations they hold for their children.

ARACELI ESPARZA Founder and director, Midwest Mujeres

Inc.

Midwest Mujeres empowers Latinas and Black women through storytelling, financial wellness and personal branding to close the wage gap and build community.

How do you advocate for inclusion and representation in your field?

As a consultant and poet, I create healing-centered, culturally grounded spaces where people can speak their truths. Through my nonprofit, Midwest Mujeres, I train women to share their stories on stage, brand themselves and build their financial futures. I also consult with nonprofits and institutions on how to move from performative allyship to real inclusion. My advocacy is both practical and poetic — rooted in lived experience and shared dreams.

What’s one of your proudest career moments?

Publishing my book, “Healing from Racial Discrimination: ¿Ahora Qué? Now, What?” was a turning point. It’s a deeply personal exploration of being fired, dismissed and made to question my worth. But it’s also a love letter to my mother, my abuelitas and all of the women of color who have experienced that pain. It stands as both a personal healing and a guide for others seeking their voice.

BRENDA S. GONZÁLEZ Director of community relations, University of Wisconsin–Madison

UW-Madison is Wisconsin’s flagship public university, committed to education, research and community engagement that serves both the state and the world.

What’s one of your proudest career moments?

Receiving the 2022 Wisconsin Leadership Community Choice Woman of Excellence Award. That honor affirmed the trust and relationships built through authentic engagement and collaboration and reminded me that recognition truly rooted in community resonance is deeply meaningful.

How has your heritage shaped who you are as a leader?

Growing up in Mexico City and later

THRIVE | PERSPECTIVE

working across cultures in the U.S. taught me resilience, empathy and the power of storytelling. My roots ground me in values of family, community and collective uplift. Being Latina reminds me daily that leadership is about amplifying others’ voices and ensuring that no one is left at the margins.

TANIA IBARRA CPA and co-founder, Step Up: Equity Matters, LLC

Step Up: Equity Matters, LLC is a boutique management firm focused on embedding equity in strategy, culture and operations.

What’s one of your proudest career moments?

I’m incredibly proud that Step Up: Equity Matters has earned its place among the fewer than 5% of businesses of our size that reach this level of success. This achievement reflects not only my resilience and vision, but also my commitment to creating space and opportunity for others. As a Latina entrepreneur, I see my success as a form of advocacy — and I’m determined to help grow that 5% to better reflect the 19.5% of the U.S. population that identifies as Latino. We are more than capable of achieving that level of representation, and I’m committed to making it a reality.

What does being a Latina or Hispanic leader mean to you?

In light of the challenges that our community faces, being a Latina leader requires full presence, active engagement and a willingness to speak hard truths. I’m especially inspired by Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino, whose leadership is both bold and energizing.

As Latines, we must lead by example and confront sexism, racism and homophobia within our own culture — biases that, while deeply rooted, must be addressed. Though Latinas have

Success starts early. We’re here every step of the way.

Girl Scouts prepares them to take on the world with

confidence.

Join today:

often been encouraged to stay silent to preserve family dynamics, I reject that narrative and see breaking the silence as essential to dismantling colonial and oppressive practices.

DR. NYDIA MARTINEZ Executive director, Latino Academy of Workforce Development

The Latino Academy of Workforce Development provides adult education, workforce training and support services that help individuals develop skills, secure quality jobs and access familysustaining careers and greater economic opportunities.

What motivated you to pursue your career path?

My career has always been rooted in serving immigrant Latino communities because I am a first-generation immigrant Latina woman finding her way in the U.S. The work we do at the Latino Academy is deeply personal to me; it reflects my own journey and that of my family when we first arrived here. What inspires me every day is witnessing the strength, perseverance and dreams of our community in action. Our students juggle multiple responsibilities — including jobs, family, a new culture and a second language — yet they show up with determination to learn, grow and build better opportunities for themselves and their loved ones. Our work extends beyond education and training; it’s about creating a more just and inclusive community in Wisconsin, where everyone has a genuine opportunity to thrive.

What does being a Latina or Hispanic leader mean to you?

In the midst of political and economic uncertainty, it means showing up with courage, clarity and a deep sense of responsibility to my community. It

means holding space for our stories, our struggles and our aspirations, even when the systems around us feel unstable or unjust. Simply having a seat at the table is not enough — we need to be in the kitchen, where the decisions are actually being made, shaping the recipe rather than just being served the dish. As a Latina, I carry the legacy of those who came before me and the obligation to help pave a more just path for those who come after me.

SANDY MORALES CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County (BBBS)

BBBS creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

What motivated you to pursue your career path?

I began my career in the for-profit sector, working for a corporate dental organization. During one of their outreach events, I was asked to interpret for Spanish-speaking families — a moment that sparked something in me. It felt deeply rewarding and made me think about how I could use my business background to better serve my community. As a first-generation college graduate, I rarely saw leaders who looked like me, and while that’s slowly changing, representation still matters — kids need to see it to believe it.

What Latina or Hispanic leader inspires you?

City of Fitchburg Mayor Julia ArataFratta is a leader I’ve long admired, having served alongside her on the Latino Chamber of Commerce board. She made bold moves in her career, first as an alderwoman and now as mayor. Her leadership is rooted in a deep commitment to building Fitchburg [into a place] where everyone can live, work

and play safely. Julia champions inclusive growth, fiscal responsibility and longterm community sustainability.

GERALDINE (GERY)

PAREDES VÁSQUEZ CEO, YWCA Madison

YWCA Madison is a 118-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women, promoting peace, justice, and dignity for all.

What motivated you to pursue your career path?

From an early age, I always felt drawn to stories of social change, justice and liberation. I think this was partly due to my granduncle Antonio Paredes Candia, who was a self-taught writer and puppeteer whom I witnessed shaping social change through art, culture and critical thinking in Bolivia, my birth country.

I’m also very grateful to my parents for supporting my passion through all the versions of myself, from the playful and reflective child that I was, to the young activist, then community organizer, social justice educator and program director. Their support endures today, as I have the honor of being the first Latina to serve as YWCA Madison’s CEO.

What does being a Latina or Hispanic leader mean to you?

Being a Latina leader means to denounce the violence of massive deportations ripping families and communities apart and the ongoing genocides in Palestine, Congo and Sudan. It’s discouraging the spread of antisemitism and islamophobia, and all of the deliberate actions to dismantle hard-fought civil rights and social protections for BIPOC people, women, disabled people, immigrant communities, workers, low to no income, and other marginalized communities.

Freeze, Tone & Sculpt: The New Era of Body Sculpting

Your most confident body — no surgery, no downtime!

If you’ve ever felt stuck with stubborn fat or loose skin despite diet and exercise, body sculpting might be your next step. We asked the team at The Cosmetic Laser Center, to explain how its threestep protocol is transforming bodies — safely and naturally.

Q : What makes your body sculpting approach unique?

A: Our body sculpting approach is truly one of a kind as we created the process ourselves by combining three powerful steps into one comprehensive system that you won’t find anywhere else. This unique approach is more than just a treatment — it is a custom transformation with unmatched efficiency.

Q: Who would benefit from body sculpting treatments?

A: Body sculpting is perfect for anyone struggling with stubborn areas of fat (abdomen, back, arms, etc.). Whether you’re looking to slim down, tone up or boost confidence, our approach helps you target trouble spots and supports a total lifestyle change for lasting results.

Q: How soon after will I see results?

A: Results from body sculpting treatments can vary from person to person depending on factors like current lifestyle, body composition and individual goals. Things like diet, hydration, activity level and consistency all play a role in how quickly and effectively results appear. While some may notice changes sooner, most people can typically expect to start seeing visible improvements around their third session. For the best results, body sculpting should be paired with healthy habits and a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Q: Is there any downtime or risk?

A: Body sculpting is considered a safe, noninvasive, no-downtime procedure, but like any treatment, it does come with

Body Sculpting at a Glance

Noninvasive and safe

Targets fat, tightens skin and tones muscle

No downtime

Custom packages available

some potential risks and side effects. Common temporary side effects include redness, swelling, bruising, tingling, numbness or slight discomfort in the treated area, which resolve on their own.

Visit cosmeticlasercenterswi.com or 2317 International Lane, Ste. 102, Madison.

Book your free consultation today! Contact us at laserassistant@yahoo.com call

or scan:

Invest smarter for college

Beth Norman, AWM, CFP® Managing Director – Financial Advisor Senior Portfolio Manager – Portfolio Focus

(608)252-7525

| elizabeth.norman@rbc.com

The Norman Fletchall Team

10 E. Doty Street, Suite 1000 | Madison, WI 53703 | www.normanfletchallteam.com

Q: We opened a 529 for our children years ago and contribute monthly but are starting to get worried. What if they don’t go to college?

A: Great question! Even if the designated beneficiary of a 529 college savings plan decides not to attend a traditional four-year college, the money saved in a 529 plan is surprisingly flexible. Options include:

Using funds for other educational expenses

529 funds can be used for various educational costs beyond traditional four-year college, including expenses for vocational and trade schools, registered apprenticeship programs and up to $10,000 annually for K-12 tuition at private schools (state laws may vary).

Beneficiary portability

If funds remain unused, you can change the beneficiary to another eligible family member without penalty.

Same tax deferral, different vehicle

The latest flexibility provided by 529s is Roth conversion. Starting in 2024, up to $35,000 of unused funds can be rolled over to a Roth IRA for the beneficiary under specific conditions.

No specific deadline for withdrawing 529 dollars

Money can be left in the account to potentially fund future education or continue tax-deferred growth.

Q: I want to keep things simple and just open a savings account for my child at the bank. Is that okay?

A: You can definitely start to teach your child about money by opening a bank account. The account will be considered a custodial account until they are an adult. Custodial accounts have some advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look:

Advantages

• Flexibility in spending: Funds can be used for any purpose that benefits your child, not just educational expenses.

• Ease of use: Custodial accounts are easy to open and manage and most local banks have a small minimum.

• No income or contribution limits: Anyone can contribute to a custodial account, regardless of income.

• Potential tax advantages: The first $1,350 of earnings in a UGMA or UTMA account are exempt from federal income taxes (2025). The next $1,350 may be taxed at the child’s lower tax rate.

Disadvantages

• Impact on financial aid: Custodial accounts are considered the child’s assets, which can significantly reduce their eligibility for need-based financial aid (FAFSA).

• Loss of control: Once the child reaches the age of majority, they gain full control over the funds and can use them for any purpose.

• Inability to change beneficiaries: Once a custodial account is established, the beneficiary cannot be changed. Those funds are specifically for that person.

• Kiddie tax: Unearned income (investment income) above a certain threshold ($2,700 in 2025) in a custodial account is taxed at the parent’s rate.

Q: My neighbor told me they used some of their Roth IRA to pay for college expenses for their child. Is that possible?

A: It is possible! Your Roth contributions come out first when you take a distribution, and you can use those contributions to cover higher education expenses without tax or penalty. However, it gets tricky if you dip into your earnings.

Reach out to us for more details!

Investment and insurance products offered through RBC Wealth Management are not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency, are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank or any bank affiliate, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

Neither RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, nor its affiliates or employees provide legal, accounting or tax advice. All legal, accounting or tax decisions regarding your accounts and any transactions or investments entered into in relation to such accounts, should be made in consultation with your independent advisors. No information, including but not limited to written materials, provided by RBC WM or its affiliates or employees should be construed as legal, accounting or tax advice.

For more information regarding college savings plans, please visit www.collegesavings.org. Participation in a 529 Plan does not guarantee the investment return on contributions, if any, will be adequate to cover future tuition and other higher education expenses. State programs vary and therefore you should carefully review individual program documents before investing or sending money. Federal income tax on the earnings and a 10 percent penalty on distributions for non-qualified expenses may apply. RBC Wealth Management is not a tax advisor. All decisions regarding the tax implications of your individual investments should be made in connection with your independent tax advisor.

WEAR NOW, WEAR LATER

From warm September afternoons to crisp fall evenings, these key pieces go the distance.

STYLING

BY

PHOTOGRAPHY

Fable England dormouse handbag, $98 , Sunne Boutique.

Favorite Daughter

Favorite skirt, $228 , Favorite Daughter Amelia top, $148 , Cosa Boutique

Throw on a rich green wool blazer and you're set for cooler weather. Favorite Daughter City blazer, $398 , Cosa Boutique.

SHAYNA MACE

BY

HILLARY SCHAVE

Tova necklace, $130 , Cosa Boutique

Marie Oliver Sasha skirt, $238 , and Marie Oliver McGuire top, $278 , Cosa Boutique

Wear later!

Swap out the sleeveless sweater for a soft floral version for a monochromatic, chic look. Luxe Ronnie sweater, $88 , Cosa Boutique .

Aimee Kestenberg All for Love saddle crossbody, $248 , and Rho mixedmetal hoops, $44 , Cosa Boutique

Especia Limahuli top, $185 , and Deha cuffed pants, $150 , Sunne Boutique

Middle: Bella Dahl oversized buttondown, $146 , Cloth & Metal Boutique ; and Favorite Daughter Gabby skirt, $268 , Sunne Boutique.

Wear later!

An asymmetrical button-down is the perfect swap for the sleeveless lace top. SKFK Karmele shirt, $155 , Sunne Boutique

Rho mixed-metal necklace, $62 , Cosa Boutique

Sundays Virginie shirt, $225 , Cloth & Metal Boutique ; and Paige Anessa Transcend vintage high-rise wide-leg jeans, $249 , Cosa Boutique .

Earrings: Ink+Alloy tiger earrings, $62.50 , Sunne Boutique.

Indiana sneaker, $110 , Sunne Boutique.

Layer this color-blocked cardi over the button-up for a delightful layered look. SKFK Maipi sweater, $155 , Sunne Boutique .

Wear this jacket over the gingham top or don it alone for a polished silhouette. Paige Kiya jacket, $299 , Cosa Boutique

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Our dedication and service isn’t determined by the size of the project — we value all projects that we are privileged to be a part of.

Our dedicated team provides a higher level of personalized service and expert advice that can guide you through the flooring selection process, including installation and maintenance. This can be a significant advantage when making a substantial investment in flooring.

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BLENDING

A NOVEL BOND

BY SHAYNA MACE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANNA WOLF

Shannon and Eden Andersen’s foray into owning a boutique together is the happy ending they both imagined — but really, it’s only the beginning of their tale.

The mother-daughter duo opened Ink & Ivy Book Boutique last February on a quaint block of Regent Street, next to Regent Market Co-op and near Stony Hill Antiques and Cafe Domestique. The beautiful spot is light-filled, chock-full of books and thoughtfully curated.

In late 2024, both women found themselves at a crossroads. Eden was working as a certified nursing assistant in a hospital trauma center, but was looking for a change. Shannon had taken time off of work after undergoing breast and thyroid cancer treatment and was about to resume looking for jobs. Discussions ensued, and, in a plot twist, Eden declared: “We should just open our own bookstore.”

Four months later, Ink & Ivy Book Boutique opened its doors. Eden manages the bookstore side and social media accounts, while Shannon — who had a longtime dream of running a gift shop — manages the gift side and selects the chocolates, artwork, gifts, kids’ items and other non-book treasures.

“It’s a collaboration of our true passions — it’s a dream,” says Shannon.

The women host monthly author and artist events, a Saturday children’s story time and three very popular book clubs that Eden runs.

The shop’s logo is a sweet rendering of a mom hugging a daughter — emblematic of this dynamic duo who love and support one another.

“My favorite part about owning this shop is spending time with my daughter, who’s my favorite person,” says Shannon, adding, “and meeting [the] kind and creative people that come in here.”

2134 Regent St., inkandivybooks.com

Right: Renee Nehring, Nicki Young, Sadie Minobe, Stephanie Thompson

LEAKS, PAIN AND PELVIC HEALTH

Below-the-belt health struggles can feel isolating. The good news? Help is out there.

BY SUE SVEUM

Many women experience pelvic health issues, which can lead to stress, embarrassment and even isolation. Younger women, especially, often feel self-conscious. But ask anyone who’s sought and found help for these types of conditions, and they’ll tell you the same thing: They wish they’d done it sooner.

Dr. Sarah McAchran, a urogynecologist at UW Health Eastpark Medical Center’s Integrated Specialty Care for Women, says the top three concerns she sees are urinary and fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic issues can be caused by a variety of conditions, explains Dr. McAchran.

“For some, it’s just bad luck,” she says. “For others, it’s lifestyle. Repeated pressure on your pelvic floor can put you at higher risk for damaging nerves, muscles or ligaments in your pelvis that can lead to these

[aforementioned issues].” Common reasons are pregnancy and delivery, repetitive weight-bearing activities, smoking and having a chronic cough.

For Sherri Erickson, childbirth and smoking were likely factors that led to her bladder incontinence. But when she quit smoking and began running, she became aware of irritating and embarrassing leakage. Physical therapy helped, but not enough.

“Running was a huge part of my life,” she says, “so I’d wear black and run in the dark so I wasn’t ashamed when doing what I loved.”

A referral to Dr. McAchran led to successful bladder repair surgery. “It was life-changing,” adds Erickson.

Sexual health is another common pelvic health concern, according to Certified Sex Therapist Madelyn Esposito, LPC, program manager at UW Health Eastpark Medical Center’s Sexual Health Clinic. But thanks to a

WHAT TREATMENT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

While it’s important to see your provider or OB/GYN about any new or bothersome pelvic concerns, surgery isn’t always necessary, according to Dr. Sarah McAchran.

“It’s really very patientspecific with different treatment paths depending on what we’re treating,” she says. “Just know you don’t have to ‘tough it out.’ With the right treatment, you can participate in everyday life again with confidence.”

Common Pelvic Health Conditions and Treatments

Stress Incontinence

This occurs when urine leaks during physical activity or movement that puts pressure or stress on the bladder.

Treatments include:

• Physical therapy

• Pessary (a vaginally inserted device to support pelvic organs)

• Surgery

• Sexual therapy

partnership with Integrated Specialty Care for Women, most insurances cover sex therapy under talk therapy.

“Our work is multidimensional — covering everything from painful sex to incontinence,” she explains, “along with psychological factors such as pain, causing anxiety and depression.” She adds that desire can also be negatively impacted by pain, noting it’s hard to want sex if it’s painful.

Natalie Seaton knows first-hand that sex therapy is a game-changer. Oral medication after breast cancer left her with a highly unusual side effect — an overactive libido causing her to feel overstimulated and physically uncomfortable.

“I knew something was wrong,” she says. “Sex therapy with Madelyn was an absolutely critical component to my recovery.”

Urge Incontinence

Individuals may experience a sudden, intense urge to urinate — followed by an involuntary loss of urine.

Treatments include:

• Physical therapy

• Pessary

• Oral medication

• Limiting fluids

• Eliminating caffeine/ dietary triggers

• Surgery

Fecal Incontinence

This is the inability to control bowel movements, leading to the accidental leakage of stool (solid or liquid) or gas.

Treatments include:

Her core issue was overcome by medication management. Combined with therapy, Seaton’s past sexual traumas were also addressed — leading to a diagnosis of PTSD — and the help she needed.

“Most, if not all, of my clients feel much better knowing they’re not alone. They feel empowered,” stresses Esposito. “Other people have these issues, too. We just don’t know how to talk about it very well.”

“A friend once told me that nobody does it alone in life,” Seaton adds. “If I can help reduce or eliminate the stigma and help somebody else to not feel embarrassed and to reach out for help, it’s worth telling my story.”

No matter the pelvic health concern, many women might feel embarrassed or alone. And often, they tell themselves they need to tough it out.

“So many women are ashamed of having leakage or prolapse or pain — they just choose not to talk about it to anyone,” says Erickson. “But you’re actually limiting your life by not reaching out.”

Sue Sveum is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to BRAVA.

• Physical therapy

• Pessary

• Surgery

Prolapse

A condition in which an organ (bladder, uterus or rectum) drops from its normal position, and bulges into or outside of the vaginal canal, due to weakened pelvic floor muscles and tissues.

Treatments include:

• Physical therapy

• Pessary

• Surgery

Chronic Pelvic Pain

This can stem from a variety of causes, including pelvic floor dysfunction, surgery, painful periods and more.

Treatments include:

• Physical therapy

• Sexual therapy

REST,

RESILIENCE AND RESISTANCE FOR BLACK WOMEN’S WELLNESS

Through these principles, Black women can create space to thrive.

BY LISA M. PEYTON

Black women are powerful forces — leading families, communities, movements and change. Yet, our strength often exists alongside deep challenges: confronting racial inequities, health disparities and the demands of caregiving — all while navigating systems not built by or for us. These unique demands require pathways and practices that protect and restore our wellbeing.

In 2009, three years before I started the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness (FFBWW), I launched Black Women’s Wellness Day as a trusted space for Black women to heal, grow and claim our power. This year’s event will take place on Sept. 27.

The theme of this year’s event is rest, resilience and resistance. It offers a path back to ourselves, to one another and to a more sustainable way of existing in a world that often challenges our very existence. Through these principles, we can find balance, the power to persevere, and the tools to protect our mental and physical health.

REST: THE MOST RADICAL RESET

Bubble baths and stolen naps are wonderful. But rest, as a healing practice for Black women, is ancestral, deeply

personal and a form of protest. It’s not just about sleep — it’s about reclaiming our time, energy and space in a world that too often drains us.

When we center Black women’s health, starting with our own, we strengthen entire communities. Rest, resilience and resistance aren’t just themes — they’re a blueprint for liberation.

— Lisa M. Peyton

Rest might mean scheduling a day of nothing and honoring it like a critical work meeting. It could mean setting boundaries around screen time or caretaking. For others, it’s returning to nature: taking meditative walks, grounding

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be meditative, helping us reclaim our relationship with nature and healing.

RESILIENCE: REDEFINING HOW WE BOUNCE BACK

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Resilience is both a personal and community attribute. It fuels our capacity to recover and thrive — despite obstacles or threats.

Resilience isn’t just “bouncing back.” It’s the intentional work of nurturing mental health, strengthening our spirit and staying rooted in who we are. It means building systems, practices and habits that support emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.

Some techniques to foster resilience include mindfulness, setting boundaries with loved ones, and integrating sacred practices like meditation or prayer into daily life that brings us healing, purpose and renewal. Starting each day with a clear intention — whether it’s to stay present or approach challenges with calm — can keep us centered and clear-minded. Journaling a few lines to process emotions and track personal growth, or seeking therapy to unpack deeper struggles while staying connected to a supportive community can also provide strength and perspective.

RESISTANCE: WELLNESS AS A FORM OF POWER

Resistance isn’t always loud — but it’s always intentional. It’s naming the

revolutionary.

Through programs like Project Live Well, Wellness Ambassadors and the Well Black Woman® Institute, the FFBWW equips women to take charge of their health and lives — and become advocates for change. We offer tools for healing, leadership and organizing while advancing equity in health, housing and economic opportunity.

As women and leaders, building daily habits like consistent movement, eating nutritious meals and accessing routine care are key to our longevity. But resistance also means addressing the social and economic barriers that shape health outcomes, particularly for Black women. True wellness is personal and political. Educating ourselves, deepening our understanding of our own health, and sharing vital knowledge about the systemic challenges we and our communities face is a form of resistance, helping to shift and grow awareness and advocacy.

When we center Black women’s health, starting with our own, we strengthen entire communities. Rest, resilience and resistance aren’t just themes — they’re a blueprint for liberation.

The 17th annual Black Women’s Wellness Day is on Sept. 27. Learn more and register at bwwday.org

Lisa M. Peyton is the founder and CEO of the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness and Black Women’s Wellness Day.

Using GLP-1 Medications for Health and Wellness

UnityPoint Health – Meriter discusses how these medications can be a valuable part of a health and wellness routine.

GLP-1 medications — like semaglutide (Wegovy ® ), liraglutide (Saxenda ® ) and tirzepatide (Zepbound ® ) — are transforming the conversation around weight management and metabolic health. Originally developed to support blood sugar regulation in people with type 2 diabetes, these medications have become valuable tools for supporting long-term health goals.

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications work by mimicking a natural hormone in the body that helps regulate blood sugar, reduce appetite and promote a sense of fullness. Taken by injection typically once a week, these medications support weight loss, and can have a meaningful impact on conditions like prediabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol.

When used alongside healthy eating and regular physical activity, GLP-1 medications can enhance wellness and make healthy lifestyle changes more sustainable. Because a person’s

appetite is reduced, it’s especially important to focus on nutrient-dense foods. Prioritizing lean protein, healthy fats, vegetables and whole grains helps maintain muscle mass and steady energy levels. Protein is particularly essential — aiming for about 30 grams per meal helps to preserve muscle while still losing weight.

Movement matters, too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines recommend 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming. Strength training two days a week helps maintain muscle mass and improves long-term outcomes.

Using these medications correctly is important. Injections are given in the thigh, upper arm or abdomen — rotating the site each time helps prevent irritation. Users should dispose of used injection pens in a sharps container (never in the regular trash), and follow manufacturer instructions or your provider’s guidance.

As with any medication, side effects may occur. Common ones include nausea, bloating and constipation, particularly during dose increases. You can ease symptoms by eating smaller meals, avoiding high-fat foods, staying upright after eating and drinking water throughout the day.

It’s also essential to keep your health care provider in the loop. Whether prescribed by a specialist or another clinician, letting your providers know you’re taking a GLP1 medication ensures it’s factored into your overall care. These medications can influence how your body processes other drugs and responds to procedures.

GLP-1 medications offer a supportive path toward better health, helping to manage weight and improve metabolic wellness. Adding them into a wellness routine, along with eating nourishing foods, getting plenty of exercise and seeking proper medical supervision, can be an empowering part of a lifelong wellness journey.

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AEMERGENCY FUNDS TO THE RESCUE

Think of rainy-day savings as self-care for your financial future.

BY MAURA KELLER

s we all know, the unexpected can strike at any moment. A job loss, sudden medical issue or family caregiving duties can all affect your ability to work. If this happens to you, what will you do?

According to a January 2025 U.S. News & World Report survey, 42% of Americans don’t have an emergency savings fund, and 40% of those surveyed couldn’t cover a $1,000 emergency expense with cash or savings, though 60% said they’ve had an unexpected expense pop up in the past year. But establishing an emergency fund can help you avoid or minimize financial hardships that may arise as the result of an unexpected crisis.

Shelley Edgington, senior vice president of retail banking at One Community Bank, says an emergency fund is money set aside to cover unexpected life events, including losing your job, or you or a family member experiencing a medical event, which may preclude an individual from working. In the case of a medical issue, you may turn to the Family and Medical Leave Act, which entitles eligible employees to take job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons — but it is unpaid.

“Emergency funds are usually created with a savings account or money market funds, because they are most accessible and typically allow you to withdraw funds as needed while still earning interest,” according to Edgington. “Depending on how you manage your funds, some people can easily blend [emergency savings] in with their regular savings, knowing there is a specific amount set aside that they won’t touch, while others avoid co-mingling those funds. It’s completely a matter of [your] preference and funds management.”

FUNDING A FUND

So, how much cash should you sock away for emergencies? It depends on your financial circumstances, but it’s recommended that you have a minimum of three to six months’ worth of expenses tucked away in an emergency fund to cover your day-to-day needs.

As Edgington explains, this amount should cover your mortgage or rent, car, credit card and insurance payments, as well as groceries and utilities. You should also save for any medical deductibles or co-pays you might incur.

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“Accumulating this amount can be challenging in today’s economy; however, anything saved is better than no savings at all,” she says. “And as we all go through life changes, it’s important to reevaluate what you have set aside as your expenses change.”

That’s why Edgington stresses the importance of starting an emergency fund early, and even teaching children to save for emergencies at a young age. Parents should create a chore list that the child can earn an allowance for. Have them automatically save 10 to 20% of their earnings — and let them keep the rest for fun purchases or to save for a “wish list” item.

STASHING YOUR CASH

Invest your emergency savings in a principal-guaranteed account that you can access. It requires willpower to not touch an emergency fund, though. That’s why you should set up an automatic deduction from every paycheck to go directly into your savings instrument.

“Rely on the old adage: ‘out of sight, out of mind,’” Edgington says. “It’s much easier to have [these funds] automatically taken out of your paycheck than [moving those funds yourself], as you may be less likely to put it in savings.”

Another recommendation is to stash an unexpected or one-time money windfall, such as a bonus from work, a tax refund or even earnings from a side hustle, into your emergency fund. Since these funds probably aren’t factored into your weekly or monthly budget, it won’t strain your finances.

If you have large debts, the prospect of stockpiling several months’ worth of living expenses may seem daunting or not feasible. For those with debt and/or large expenses, aim for saving a month’s worth of expenses and then, as your budget allows, beef up your cash reserves to cover a longer period of time.

Maura Keller is a Midwest-based freelance writer and editor.

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FUTURE - PROOF YOUR CAREER

Build the capabilities today that will shape your career tomorrow.

BY AMANDA WEGNER

If it feels difficult to keep up with the pace of change at work, you’re not alone. According to LinkedIn’s October 2024 Work Change Snapshot, 70% of executives agree that work is moving faster than ever. And, almost 50% of workers are worried they’ll be left behind.

“The pace of change in business has been significant, especially over the last five years,” says Tracy Mast, senior director of technology and people at the Center for Professional & Executive Development (CPED) at the Wisconsin School of Business. “If you’re not building new skills, you risk falling behind — not just in your current role, but in your ability to adapt to what’s next.”

Luckily, staying with the times and furthering your career doesn’t require another degree or a job change. Instead, pursuing coursework and certifications, and participating in webinars, workshops and skills accelerators can help you deepen your expertise and build skills that are critical and in demand for today’s modern workforce.

And what are those skills? According to LinkedIn’s Skills on

the Rise 2025 Report, the five fastest-growing skills in the United States are:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) literacy

• Conflict mitigation

• Adaptability

• Process optimization

• Innovative thinking

Other skills in the report include public speaking, customer engagement and support, risk assessment and more.

This list reflects a growing demand for leadership and management skills. These skills are also seen in several of the top 10 “hot jobs” for South-Central Wisconsin, as identified by the Department of Workforce Development.

“There is a big demand for leadership management,” says Linda Nellen, professional and continuing education manager at Madison College. “Companies want to retain their talent and promote from within to keep that knowledge in the organization.”

Mast seconds that: “We continue to see that people are 1. General and operations managers

CENTRAL WISCONSIN

10. Market research analysts and marketing specialists

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

looking for not only hard skills, but soft skills around strategy, communication and leadership development. There is strong demand for programs that teach core leadership and management competencies.”

The CPED offers a variety of programs and certificates focused on developing leadership and management skills.

Separate from the CPED, UW-Madison’s Continuing Education division also offers a variety of courses and certificates to support the skills necessary for today’s modern workforce.

Madison College Continuing Education provides a leadership academy, various boot camps focused on in-demand skills and self-paced online courses. The college also offers lunch-and-learns on leadership topics in the fall and spring.

“It’s not an option to not pursue additional training and education anymore,” says Nellen. “Lifelong learning helps you keep your skills up, supports

your current work, increases your value to employers and opens doors to new opportunities. All employees today should feel empowered to take ownership of their professional growth and remain agile in the changing job market.”

Importantly, as you gain new skills or complete certifications, update your social media, especially LinkedIn. If a program or certification offers a digital badge, post it to highlight your new skillset. As more employers look to skills-based hiring, showcasing your areas of expertise and professional development can boost your job search.

“Showcase those credentials on LinkedIn or your resume,” says Nellen. “Toot your own horn — let people know that you are committed to your learning and growth.”

Amanda Wegner is a local freelance writer, and communications and marketing professional.

LEVEL UP YOUR LEARNING

Check out these options for continuing education and professional development opportunities.

Center for Professional & Executive Development, Wisconsin School of Business uwcped.org

LinkedIn Learning linkedin.com/learning

Madison College Leadership and Professional Development madisoncollege.edu/academics/ professional-continuing-education/ business

UW-Madison Continuing Education continuingeducation.wisc.edu

What Every Woman Should Know About Perimenopause and Menopause

SSM Health nurse practitioner Sarah Block discusses what most women don’t know, but should during this pivotal time.

By Sue Sveum

hile the subject of menopause and perimenopause is sure to pop up among friends, it’s discussed far less often in the doctor’s office. SSM Health nurse practitioner Sarah Block, APNP–CNP, would like to change that. With help from two patients who’ve experienced those changes, they let readers know what they may not know — but should.

Most women have a general idea of what menopause is (marked by 12 consecutive months without a period), but perimenopause? Not so much. Here’s the rundown.

“Perimenopause is the time leading up to the menopause transition,” explains Block. “Symptoms typically start in [a woman’s] mid-40s, but it can vary widely — and can start as early as 35.”

Block explains that perimenopause symptoms can also be tricky to pinpoint if a woman is on birth control or has had a hysterectomy.

“This distinction is hard to make,” adds Block. “However, symptoms can be very telling.”

Caused by decreasing estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, early perimenopause signs include changes to the menstrual cycle, hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes. Symptoms can occur from head to toe — including cognitive changes, mood shifts and achy joints.

More specifically, women may experience weight gain, mood changes, fatigue, loss of motivation and decreased sex drive.

“Education on what to expect and how to manage these symptoms is paramount,” Block says. “Some women experience life-altering symptoms.”

One such side effect not often discussed is the emotional aspect of these life changes. After her fourth child was born when she was 38, Tessa Karls expected to bounce right back. But that didn’t happen.

“The exhaustion didn’t pass. My energy tanked. My libido disappeared. And the mood swings? Let’s just say I didn’t even recognize

myself some days,” explains Karls. “I’ve always been the calm, patient one — steady, even when life is chaotic. But suddenly, everything felt off .”

Months blurred into years, and she couldn’t tell where the postpartum period ended, and perimenopause began.

“No one talks about this messy middle ground where you’re raising little ones while your body quietly shifts into a new phase,” she says. “The hardest part [was] feeling like I wasn’t in control of my own emotions. That’s what finally pushed me to get help. I needed answers. I needed to feel like me again.”

Why I Focus on Perimenopause and Menopause

Perimenopause is the time leading up to the menopause transition. Symptoms typically start in [a woman's] mid-40s, but it can vary widely — and can start as early as 35.

— Sarah Block

For Lisa Peterson, it began with night sweats. “I’d read about menopause and the symptoms, but it took a while to figure out that I was actually having those symptoms!” she says. “It kind of creeps up on you.”

Because she had irregular periods, she didn’t notice the duration between them. She also started having night sweats every evening (which led to sleep disruption), daytime hot flashes, joint pain and fatigue.

A labor and delivery nurse before getting her doctorate, nurse practitioner Sarah Block, APNP-CNP, knew she wanted to focus on women’s health. During her studies, a professor she had was associated with the Menopause Society, a resource for health care professionals and the public that provides accurate information about menopause and midlife women’s health. This professor inspired Block to pursue additional training in the area of menopause.

“The lack of attention and research in women’s health motivated me to focus on this field,” says Block. “And the general disregard of menopause by the medical community really sparked my enthusiasm.”

Being a woman currently going through perimenopause herself has changed her perspective and enhanced her relatability.

“I love caring for women,” says Block. “Especially treating perimenopause and menopause due to the dramatic improvements in health and happiness that can occur.”

“I felt a bit irrational at times,” she recalls. “I started not liking the person I felt I was becoming.”

“These feelings aren’t uncommon,” Block says. “Starting in perimenopause, we often see mood changes including symptoms of anxiety, depression, irritability and even attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that may affect quality of life.”

And the emotions are only compounded by accompanying physical changes: midsection weight gain; loss of skin elasticity leading to sagging skin, wrinkles and cellulite; and dry skin, hair and nails. Women may even experience hair loss, which can be especially distressing.

According to Block, treatments vary based on symptoms. Non-hormonal options for hot flashes and night sweats include “adopting a healthy lifestyle by following the Mediterranean diet, exercising and stress reduction as the first-line treatment,” she says, adding, “but hormone therapy (HT) is the most effective.”

Karls initially chalked her symptoms up to getting older. “I thought, ‘Maybe this is just what happens now,’” she says, “until I realized it doesn’t have to be that way.”

She adds that reaching out for help changed everything.

“I made some changes to my diet and started using an estrogen patch,”

Ask

Your Provider: No Embarrassment

Has your health care provider ever initiated the topic of perimenopause or menopause with you? If not, and you have questions or concerns, just ask!

“Patients should feel comfortable talking with their provider,” says Block. “Our goal is that you’re healthy and happy, no judgment.”

Many questions — such as when perimenopause will start or how long symptoms will last — don’t have a universal answer, since each person’s experience is different.

she says. “That decision made a world of difference. My symptoms began to improve, and more importantly, I started to feel like myself again.”

Before an appointment, prepare:

• A list of symptoms

• Age your female family members went through menopause

• Your health history

• Any concerns

“Then we’ll devise a treatment plan right for you,” explains Block. “You don’t need to power through alone.”

Peterson also found relief with hormone therapy.

“Once I learned more about HT, I felt really positive and excited to try it,” she says. “I felt pretty much back to ‘normal’ in about two to three weeks. My symptoms went away completely — with no side effects at all. It’s been life changing.”

“Many women come in with ideas of treatments based on social media, suggestions from friends and internet searches,” says Block. “We work with patients individually to find the best treatment that fits their goals — there’s not a ‘one-sizefits-all’ approach.”

The first step is to speak up if you’re experiencing any symptoms or changes related to perimenopause or menopause. You don’t have to endure it alone. “There’s no benefit to ‘powering through,’” says Peterson. “We should be able to enjoy this

stage of our lives as much as any other stage.”

Karls agrees, adding, “So many of us are walking through different versions of the same struggles — exhaustion, hormonal shifts, identity changes — and yet, we often feel like we’re doing it alone. But we’re not.”

Is Hormone Therapy Right for You?

Good news: Updated research shows hormone therapy (HT) is a safe and effective option for most women. According to Sarah Block, APNP-CNP, it has many benefits — in particular, a better quality of life.

Here are the basics:

• HT replaces hormones that the ovaries no longer produce.

• It has a lower dose of hormones than birth control pills.

• Estrogen is administered via a skin patch, oral tablet or vaginally.

• Nightly progesterone capsules are also needed unless you’ve had a hysterectomy.

• Hormone doses are individualized for the very best results.

• Side effects may include breast tenderness, bloating and initial spotting, which typically dissipate with time.

• Women with active breast cancer, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or unexplained irregular uterine bleeding are not eligible for HT.

Block’s advice? “If your symptoms affect your daily life, consult a provider who specializes in treating menopause to discuss HT.”

SHANNA WOLF

Natural Strategies for Hormone Balancing as We Age

By: Kelly Hutchinson, ND — Wild Earth Medicine & Community Wellness Shop

Important supplements for perimenopause and menopause are minerals to support bone health and healthy sleep. Thorne makes a “Multi-Vitamin Elite” which helps provide energy and more restful sleep. The Metagenics “Bone Builder” line includes a formula with Boron which acts as an estrogen.

Herbal blends that work well during perimenopause and menopause can address hormone balancing and symptoms associated with low estrogen and progesterone. David Winston’s Women’s Transition Compound contains chaste

tree berry, black cohosh, dong quai root, milky oat seed and Shatavari root.

MoonMaid Botanicals makes a useful ProMeno Women’s Wild Yam Cream . This can help women with hot flashes, and bring more mental clarity and energy.

For those still having periods, taking ground flaxseed from Day 1 to Day 14 of your cycle, and then switching to ground sesame from Day 15 until menstruation can help provide estrogen and progesterone balancing. This regimen is referred to as seed cycling. The seeds provide essential fatty acids that help balance hormones. Additionally, you can add fish oil oil to the first half of the cycle and evening primrose for the second half.

These are just a few examples of the natural strategies available at Community Pharmacy and Community Wellness Shop.

Kelly Hutchinson

KITCHEN GLOW - UP

Warm woods and classic touches make these kitchens both modern and enduring.

BY SHAYNA MACE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANNA WOLF

After years of cool tones dominating design, a warmer mood is returning. From wood cabinetry to rich hues and finishes, these kitchens prove that classic style never goes out of fashion.

Like in this breakfast nook, above. Chelsea Goeser, an interior designer at Zander’s Interiors, says her client’s artwork, along with an oak slat wall, built-in banquette and circular dining table, marries modern design with a midcentury aesthetic. Turn the page to see more of this kitchen.

A MIDCENTURY MARVEL

When a Madison homeowner tapped Goeser to do a first-floor renovation of her midcentury home, she really dug in.

“The prior owners had done a remodel of the kitchen in the early 2000s that didn’t honor the true style of the home. We leaned into that midcentury modern aesthetic and ... it shows throughout the whole first-floor renovation. This client wanted to get back to the roots of what this house was in its prime,” she says.

1. Goeser says this “semi-custom” range hood was executed in tandem with Nonn’s. Although it looks like metal, it’s actually wood painted in a satin black shade — and adds a moody pop.

2. Goeser chose simple slab-front kitchen cabinetry comprised of quarter-sawn oak finished in a cashew stain with modern black hardware to reflect the home’s midcentury aesthetic.

4. The white quartz island has a waterfall edge and black cabinets underneath. Goeser says the white and black shades serve as a nice contrast to all of the wood in the kitchen. 1 2 3 4

3. Daltile’s geometric backsplash tile goes all the way up to the ceiling. Goeser explains, “We wanted something that was visually interesting and had a major impact.”

1. Goeser says the homeowner’s painting in the dining room served as the inspiration for the entire first floor’s color palette. The sleek Visual Comfort light fixture adds a shot of style to the space, but doesn’t compete with the artwork.

2. There’s plenty of seating around the homeowner’s custom walnut dining table. The built-in banquette is covered in dark orange velvet fabric with a swipe of velvet leopard-print fabric down the middle “to give it a little extra interest,” says Goeser.

3. In the living room, the homeowner had the custom walnut bookcase built with a sliding, slatted component to hide the TV. “For [the homeowner], it was about keeping [the living room] layered, eclectic and textured, as well as feminine and fun,” says Goeser.

4. The kitchen’s coffee nook (that houses the homeowner’s espresso machine) has beautiful black backsplash tile and cabinetry. Goeser painted the back of the cabinets black to let the homeowner’s glassware shine.

WARM AND INVITING

Sprinkman Design Collective, in partnership with Sweeney Design Remodel, was tasked with creating an organic, modern retreat for one local homowner. To bring the client’s vision to life, Sprinkman Design reimagined the home’s layout by relocating the kitchen lakeside, adding a spacious pantry and designing seamless indoor/outdoor living areas. “We asked for ’natural and modern, ’ and they delivered exactly that, with incredible attention to detail,” says the homeowner.

1. The smooth, hand-troweled warm ivory plaster range hood (with a protective finish) was custom-made by Fiddlehammer, a Milwaukee furniture company.

2. The Plato cabinetry was chosen and installed in collaboration with the Kitchen Ideas Center. The horizontal quarter-sawn walnut shows off the natural wood grain and the smooth fronts keep the design simple, yet seamless.

3. A waterfall-edge island (topped with Cambria Delgatie quartz) provides a spot for a quick meal. The flooring is actually ceramic, designed to mimic wood (Porcelanosa Heritage Cognac), and is from Flooring Designs.

4. Look closely: The knobs for this Wolf 36” five-burner gas cooktop are integrated into the cabinetry below! Mestizaje’s white zellige matte tile adds polish to the space.

1. The side-by-side SubZero refrigerator and wine cooler were panel-ready, allowing the appliances to blend seamlessly with the surrounding cabinetry for a built-in look. The wine fridge holds 59 bottles and has separate temperature zones for bottles of reds and whites.

2. In the pantry, trapezoidshaped zellige tile adds a kick of color to the backsplash. The upper cabinets are painted white, while the base cabinets are walnut to match the kitchen. The pantry has a sink (not shown) to make food prep easier and out of view of guests.

REFINISH, DON’T REPLACE!

Dreading the thought of gutting your kitchen and paying for new cabinets? SPRAY-NET is the perfect solution to help you fall back in love with your kitchen at a fraction of the cost and time. We’ve formulated our kitchen cabinet proprietary coating with one goal in mind: to deliver a rich, flawless finish that lasts with a 15-year warranty.

LUXE AND LAYERED

When homeowner Erica Ryan wanted to blend her kitchen, dining room and pantry into one warm, welcoming space, she turned to interior designer Stacey Schultz of Heartland Building & Design to bring that vision to life.

“Erica has impeccable taste and much of the design was her idea. The overall look was driven by a love for midcentury [design] and modern, clean lines,” says Schultz.

1. The home's original tongueand-groove ceiling doubles as structural support for the second floor, so Schultz and her team incorporated the kitchen’s can lighting into the beams. The bonus is that it looks stylishly integrated.

2. Sans hardware, the rift-sawn white oak cabinets with integrated finger pulls have a minimalist, yet stylish, appearance. Floating shelves also add visual interest.

3. To balance the wood tones, the kitchen island is topped in with a creamy marble countertop to brighten the space. The stools can easily be tucked underneath to save space.

4. Makoto’s hexagon matte porcelain tile in umi terracotta was chosen for the flooring and its warm, earthy tones ground the kitchen, while the pattern adds a timeless touch of interest.

1. According to Schultz, the show-stopping marbled backsplash — a mix of rose, oxblood and cream — was the design centerpiece for the kitchen. “We used it behind the range and beneath the shelves as a focal point,” she explains. The striking surface beautifully ties together the kitchen’s mix of materials, including warm wood, mixed metals and the earthy floor tiles.

2. Tucked behind the kitchen, the pantry adds both function and style with rift-sawn white oak cabinetry that offers generous storage. It also houses the integrated oven and microwave which keeps the kitchen free of visual clutter while also providing extra space for food prep and cleanup.

3. The custom oak floating shelves that bookend each side of the range has integrated lighting that illuminates curated displays of glassware, copper canisters and stoneware pottery that Ryan creates in her home studio. Ryan’s thoughtful styling completes the vignette, with vintage artwork and objects collected during her travels.

4. “The coffee bar and appliance garage are cleverly concealed beside the refrigerator, blending seamlessly with the surrounding cabinetry,” explains Schultz. The kitchen’s bespoke design allows for customization in the cabinetry, including dedicated slots for sheet pans and cutting boards.

Home. It’s the place where you spend time with loved ones, reset from your days and rest your head. It should be a comfortable and beautiful reflection of who you are. That’s where we come in. We are your dedicated, full-service design experts, attentively listening to your wishes and transforming them into designs that both impress and inspire. We are here to make your space your own.

THE ART OF WARMTH

Sun-baked hues and refined textures bring a bit of everyday luxury to these kitchen pieces.

STYLING BY SHAYNA MACE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HILLARY SCHAVE

Tablet acacia wood cooking stand, $46.99 , and “The Farmer’s Daughter Bakes” cookbook, $22.99 , both from Pageberry Mercantile

Carved mango wood serveware set, $17.50 , Little Pop Color Shop

Geometry mushroom tea towel, $18.95 , Red Barn Company Store, and Geometry Arthur tea towel, $18 , Pageberry Mercantile

Raywood short glass candlestick, $13.95 , enameled taper holder, $18.50 , and 5” linen pleated candles $22 for set of 12 , all from Little Pop Color Shop

Wooden bird, $21.95 , Red Barn Company Store

8” round mushroom print, $23.95 , Red Barn Company Store

Fancy concrete bowl, $38 , Pageberry Mercantile

Pink glass vase, $29.95, Red Barn Company Store

Meet the Silver Leaf Interiors Team

Laura Groenier

Founder, principal designer

Specializes in: Residential and select commercial design.

How has your business evolved since you started? I founded the company in 1990 as a solopreneur and my firm has grown into a passionate team. We are honored to work on many of the area’s most prestigious projects. We specialize in timeless, layered design across all styles — and love the variety our clients bring to each project.

Andrea Jakubczak

Lead Interior Designer

Specializes in: Renovation, new home construction and furnishings.

How do you guide clients who don’t know their style? Everyone has a style, even if they haven’t fully discovered it yet. I enjoy guiding clients through that journey — helping them uncover what resonates, what inspires and what feels like home.

Lainie Eustice Logistics

Specializes in: Logistics. After years as a designer at Silver Leaf, I’ve found my niche in procurement and installation — where attention to detail brings custom furniture to life.

Why I love the design industry: There are a million moving pieces. I thrive on the oversight it takes to turn a vision into reality. I will soon be celebrating 20 years with Laura and the team!

Nancy Kaiser

Drafting

Specializes in: Kitchen and bath design. For over 30 years, designing spaces with custom cabinetry has been my passion.

What makes a well-designed kitchen? A room that balances scale and function and enhances flow and usability. It’s important to have that connectivity to the rest of the home. I take pride in crafting detailed working drawings that guide each project.

Silver Leaf Interiors was established in 1990 by founder Laura Groenier, whose vision and leadership have shaped the firm into a respected name in both local and international design.

On any given day, the Silver Leaf team is deeply engaged in the planning and design of new home construction and renovation projects, collaborating closely with clients, architectural firms and experienced builders.

As Silver Leaf celebrates their 35 th anniversary, Groenier is proud to continue the firm’s work in their beautiful design studio and boutique furniture showroom, located adjacent to Maple Bluff.

608-242-0707

301 N. Sherman Ave. #100, Madison

Event design and floral displays are the heart of Opal Market Flowers. Christy, owner and lead designer, brings creativity, positivity, ingenuity, and the LOVE for all things FLOWERS to your event. The customizable traveling bouquet bar with Opal Market Flowers will elevate your event, however big or small. Flowers are an opportunity to express your vision and style; they are the cohesive element that makes your special event or wedding truly yours.

A Stress-Free Path to Financial Wellness and Security

A stress-free feeling about money is a mindset that defines financial success more than any dollar amount. When it comes to managing money-related stress, Summit CEO and President Kim Sponem says easier conversations around finances and strong money management tools and habits are key. All of this is especially important in helping women overcome unique financial challenges to enjoy long-term security.

Nearly half of U.S. adults say money negatively affects their mental health, causing stress, loss of sleep, depression and more. 1 Financial stress stems from all different situations — whether that’s worrying about making ends meet, navigating financial shifts after a life change, or trying to reach goals that may feel overwhelming, like saving for college or retirement.

For women, financial stress is also impacted by the fact that they live longer than men, yet earn and save less over their lifetimes due to factors like more time away during earning years for caregiving, fewer roles in high-income fields and a markup on essential products. It adds up, and women have up to $1.6 million less in retirement savings 2 and are 43% more likely to live in poverty in retirement. 3

Sponem says Summit has long worked to improve the outcomes for women — not only for you, but for your daughter, mom or sister. Money stress can lead to a frozen state of overwhelm and inaction, but you do not have to figure things out alone, says Sponem, because Summit is here to help you take a holistic approach to easier finances that leads to better overall wellbeing, too.

“When you don’t have to worry about your finances, you can breathe easier, stress less and enjoy more. We’re providing easy tools, education and support to help women, and everyone, feel stress-free about managing money and reaching their goals.”

— Kim Sponem

An easy step to ease money-related stress, Sponem says, is to put strong money habits and routines in place that help you stay on track financially and support your long-term financial wellness, while also reducing what’s on your plate and on your mind. She shares examples of actions that help you create that consistent routine and more overall peace:

Automate your finances. Setting up automated loan or bill payments means less to have to think about. Plus, transfers from your paycheck into savings make it easier to set money aside consistently for that beach getaway, emergency fund or new car, and even a small amount is a win because it builds up over time. An emergency fund is the best place to start, as it also gives you somewhere to turn if an expense pops up — a stress reliever in itself.

Set consistent check-ins. Review your overall finances, then get specific on where your money’s going. Go over transactions or use visual digital banking tools that make it easy to see spending patterns. Think about how you want to increase savings or reduce debt, and shift your spending to help reach those goals. There are many custom, automated tools in Summit’s digital banking for easily tracking or setting limits on your spending, measuring progress on something you’re saving for, helping you protect your accounts against fraud and more.

Check in with experts. A free, and judgment-free, conversation with Summit’s experts, who have helped countless others take action for their goals, also offers valuable insights on how to create habits, routine and a plan that will ease stress.

“We’ll help you move forward whether you want to pay down student loans or other debt, build an emergency fund, retire early, get free on-demand financial education to boost your confidence — really anything that could greatly ease stress,” Sponem says.

Read on for more guidance on your stress-free path to financial security!

❶ Make it simple to see your whole financial picture. A key to reaching your goals in the future is to first gain more clarity and understanding around where you are now. Talking with a financial expert, like a one-on-one with a Summit financial coach, can make it much easier to step back and look at your total financial picture, identify your money habits objectively, and get guidance and tools to move forward.

Start with knowing exactly how much money comes in and goes out each month. Determine your household income after taxes, 401(k) contributions and other deductions, then carefully track your spending — both in terms of wants and needs. This will help you create a budget that will work for your goals and get everyone in your home on board.

“Involve the whole family in this conversation, and revisit any subscriptions and automatic payments you have set up, from streaming

services to the gas bill, to make sure they still serve a purpose and align with your current costs,” says Jess Alicea, a senior lending advisor at Summit. “Maybe they were set up a long time ago to work around a different pay period or too many payments are falling within a few days of each other.”

For an easy visual, Alicea suggests writing the dates of your paychecks and automatic payments on a paper calendar. Identify days of the month causing the most financial stress, then look for flexibility where you can.

For example, maybe you prefund some payments with money from your savings instead of using a credit card to get you by. If you do pull from savings or use a credit card, it’s also important to pay yourself back.

Feeling stressed about spreading money thin is more common than you think and happens across all income levels, says Alicea. Creating consistency is key.

Making your spending more intentional helps you plan your budget around the joyful “why nots” you value most in your life, while you also account for the “what ifs” of unexpected costs.

“Finding ways to make money feel more balanced all month goes a long way to easing stress.”

— Jess Alicea

For budgeting and further identifying your spending patterns, use free tools to help with the heavy lifting. This may include a daily expense worksheet or a budget worksheet, like the ones on Summit’s website. Summit also offers personal financial management tools within online and mobile banking — so you can go beyond managing your accounts to check in on your financial wellness, track and analyze your spending, and forecast future spending needs, says Megan Schmidt, a digital member relationship specialist at Summit.

“With a tool that breaks down spending automatically into graphic categories, it’s easy to see your spending habits at a glance. Being able to also quickly forecast how much money is available for upcoming bills helps you adjust spending on the fly.”

— Megan Schmidt

Decide what spending aligns with your personal values and goals. Once you understand your spending habits, use that information to consider whether your money’s going toward what matters to you — whether that’s your favorite takeout food or daily coffee, a vacation, concert tickets or anything else that brings you joy. Making your spending more intentional helps you plan your budget around the joyful “why nots” you value most in your life, while you also account for the “what ifs” of unexpected costs. It takes thinking ahead and allowing yourself some flexibility, as well as having an awareness of your specific spending triggers.

Financial wellness tools, like these free digital tools within Summit’s online and mobile banking, can make money management easier.

SPEND FORECAST

See if your money’s on track for your income and bills, and adjust spending as needed.

SPENDING ANALYSIS

Know where your money’s going, with simple graphics of spending categories and trends.

SAVINGS GOAL

Set, track and tweak goals. Make easy transfers anytime to give them an added boost.

For example, is it harder to make good money decisions during certain times of the year, like the holidays or summer? Maybe the credit card comes out for fast food when everyone’s tired after the kids’ soccer game or when hanging out with certain friends.

“To curb impulse spending, try the 24-hour rule — which is waiting one day before making non-essential purchases,” says Jenny Ugalde Herrera, a lending advisor at Summit.

Figuring out what makes you want to spend money is a big win, but also give yourself grace for unplanned spending, according to Aidan Hauge, a Summit branch manager.

“Use unplanned spending to gain valuable insights on how to build a more flexible, realistic plan that works for the things you want, which will further ease your stress.”

— Aidan Hauge

❷ Take easy next steps to save more and reduce debt. Once you know the where, what and why behind your money habits, and put a budget in place, you’re ready to build on the best action plan for your goals and overall life. For many, that involves increasing savings and paying down debt — and healthy money habits require you to balance doing both.

Make it easier to save. Look for ways to keep your savings goals in front of you, like displaying them on the refrigerator, or even with a sticker on your debit or credit card. The savings goal tracker in Summit’s online and mobile banking lets you set, track and make quick transfers to a custom goal (for example, “European Vacation”) right on the first screen you see when you log in.

One of the best things you can do for your savings is to always pay yourself first, says Ugalde Herrera.

“Set up automatic transfers from checking to savings on payday — like treating your savings as a bill.”

— Jenny Ugalde Herrera

“Create different sub-accounts to save for specific goals, as that can feel more motivating," adds Ugalde Herrera.

Make it easier to reduce debt.

Depending on your situation, a home equity loan, loan consolidation or refinance, credit card balance transfer, or new quote on your home or auto insurance could improve your debt and savings picture. Talk through all your options with an expert who can help you find the best fit.

“Identifying what changes will have the biggest impact is unique for each person,” says Hauge. “Maybe that’s tackling the easiest win to stay motivated and focused — like eliminating the smallest debt first.

“But sometimes, it’s first removing the stressful decision you wish you could change, like a credit card with the highest balance or interest rate.”

Make it easier to feel in control of your money. Automating your loan or bill payments means less to remember and fewer decisions to make, with more time for what matters most to you. If you add any new automatic payment to the mix, you may be able to ask for a certain payment date that works for you — so be your own best advocate.

❸ Build stress-free finances far into the future.

The great thing about taking action is that it sets into motion a series of positive effects. The next thing you know, smart money habits and steps are your new normal, and reducing your debt and building your savings has given you more funds to achieve your goals, moving you to a stronger place with money.

The groundwork is set to pursue goals that lead to even greater wealth and security, including:

Buying a home. Owning your home is one of the biggest wealth-growing steps you can take. As you build equity — the difference between what your home is worth and what you owe — you’ll have funds to improve your home (a smart way to add value), pay off debt or invest.

Investing. You can earn more for your money with higher yielding options that fit your risk comfort level — just make sure your emergency fund is in a good place first. Ideally, that’s having enough for three to six months’ worth of expenses, based on knowing what you actually spend in a month, not your paycheck amounts.

Starting a business. By launching or growing a business, you could benefit from more cash flow and tax advantages, and have an asset with potential for appreciation, or even a profitable sale.

Automating your loan or bill payments means less to remember and fewer decisions to make, with more time for what matters most to you.

None of these wealth-building goals need to be stressful when you have experts to talk through your options, answer your questions and offer guidance. For example, even while you’re saving for your emergency fund, you can still start the conversation about plans to reach your longer-term goals, and what could be in your control and possible for you, based on knowing where your money’s going each month.

Getting the support and resources you need so things don’t feel overwhelming is key, says Ayobami Sanni, a Summit business services lender.

“A big misconception is believing you need to personally have all the money up front to launch your business when it’s more that you need a good foundation to start from, as in good credit and some savings,” Sanni says, noting women are less likely to ask for money and often use more of their own funds for business than men.

“We’re here to talk through credit, offer feedback on your business plan, navigate any challenges and explore next steps.”

— Ayobami Sanni

None of these wealth-building goals need to be stressful when you have experts to talk through your options, answer your questions and offer guidance.

Similarly, Sanni points out that you may not need as much money as you think for a down payment on a home, or to get started with investing. To take confident next steps for either goal, she suggests setting up a chat with a Summit Mortgage Loan Officer, even if you’re just starting to think about buying a home, or scheduling a free consultation with a financial advisor.

Overall, reducing day-to-day financial stress often goes back to taking into consideration your specific goals, and your timeframes for each one.

For example, when it comes to investing and your risk comfort, it helps to keep your goal in mind so you avoid looking at all your money as one sum and one intention. If you need money for a car in a couple years, you may find the guaranteed growth of a certificate or money market account more reassuring. On the other hand, when you know money you have invested isn’t intended for today’s groceries but for college or retirement in 20 years, it’s easier to roll with some ups and downs, knowing historically there are more good days overall.

The very act of defining your intentions and risk tolerance for each place you put your dollars will ease stress.

Keep the conversation going. Summit’s here to help.

Life goes through phases — perhaps navigating a divorce, combining finances with a partner or supporting aging parents — and along the path, there will be new conversations to have and new decisions to make.

Remember, you don’t have to do it alone because Summit Credit Union is here to offer guidance throughout your journey and make it easier. We’ll support you in adapting your plan to your changing needs and creating money habits you can stick to for lifelong financial success.

Feel like getting started is the hard part? It doesn’t have to be — try these simple steps to move forward:

Meet with a Summit financial coach. We’ll help you create a financial plan to pay down debt and boost savings, plus make your home, business, investing or any financial goal easier to reach. Coaching and account setup can all be done online for your convenience.

Follow our education programs, like Project Money. As four teams work with their Summit financial coaches to increase savings and reduce debt through Project Money, they share what they learn with you! Plus, participate directly in Red SHOES®, Summit’s custom financial wellness program offering you one-on-one coaching, action steps, and hands-on resources to help you take charge of your finances and achieve your goals.

Check out the many resources at SummitCreditUnion.com. Along with online and mobile banking tools to make money management easier, Summit offers a free Financial Education Center available 24/7 to fit any schedule. Choose from articles, on-demand webinars, calculators, worksheets and other resources on a wide variety of topics to boost your knowledge and confidence. Top-viewed topics last year included Maximize Digital Banking, Credit Reports & Scores, and Managing Financial Stress.

Learn, too, on our website, what we’re doing at Summit to help everyone in our community build wealth and financial security, and to close the retirement savings gap for women.

Summit’s always ready to help you take action for your goals, make the best decisions for your financial security and enjoy stress-free finances for a more stress-free life.

This stunning Adorn wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries greets visitors the minute they step through the front door, wowing all who enter. “Right now with wallpaper, it’s, ‘go big or go home,’” says Laurie Lodholz, owner of Laurie Driscoll Interiors and the home’s interior designer.

A Custom Creation

A light-filled, welcoming design gave this homeowner more room than she expected — and exactly the look she dreamed of.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Photography by Shanna Wolf

Building a home was the last thing on one Black Earth woman’s mind in 2023, when she began looking for a place to live in the Middleton area. Her husband had recently passed away, and she wanted a smaller place closer to town. But after fruitlessly searching for the perfect house, building a home was her best bet. She also wanted a smaller place — 2,000 square feet was

ideal. Yet her must-haves included a screened-in porch, a large pantry, a spacious sewing room and a generously sized closet. The result was a home about twice the size she was aiming for, but one she nevertheless adores. The home’s main level features primary and guest suites, with two additional bedrooms and a full bathroom in the lower level. The lower level is also home to her sewing room and an all-purpose room containing exercise

The kitchen’s alder cabinetry, which mimics the lighter hues found throughout the home, was crafted by Dybdahl Design Group. A sleek, black La Cornue dual-fuel range and matching hood provide a striking accent, while the walnut tabletop attached to the island, created by Wisconsin Timberworks, adds a warm touch.

Top: The stone fireplace, accented with alder beams, adds a classic touch to the home. Bottom: The homeowner requested a glass-paneled stairway to create a more open, airy look — it also allows easier viewing of her artwork.

What a Wall

Geometric shapes in the guest suite’s wallpaper are eye-catching, yet their earthy tones soothe.

The powder room wallpaper features flowers and vines that lend the entire space a luxe, opulent look.

Metallic ombre wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries makes a statement in the primary bedroom.

equipment, a ping-pong table and office space.

To achieve a softer, more feminine look for her new abode, the kitchen features light alder cabinetry, while similarly hued engineered white oak flooring flows throughout most of the home. In the dining room, the

couple’s old, cherry table was bleached by Mineral Point’s Federal Restoration Studio, leaving it with a light, pinkish hue that’s mimicked in the window valances and upholstery.

“It felt good to reuse something, and Federal Restoration did a really amazing job,” says Laurie Lodholz,

A ribbon of gold metallic leaf rises and falls against an ebony backdrop, showcasing the baby grand piano.

owner of Laurie Driscoll Interiors and the home’s interior designer. Lodholz and the homeowner have worked on several homes together over the years.

Today, nearly a year after occupying her new home, the homeowner can’t select one spot as her favorite — there are too many. She loves enjoying her morning cup of coffee in the screened porch, where a gas fireplace warms the room when the temperature dips. She adores her spacious closet, which is larger than the kitchens in her first two homes. And she really appreciates the lower countertops in her baker’s pantry, which accommodate her shorter stature.

Because she has so many beloved spots, the homeowner advises those looking to build a new home to find an interior designer right away, not halfway through the project. A designer’s eye can catch details homeowners wish they hadn’t missed in their home design.

“Laurie would go over the blueprints and find little things that needed to be changed,” the homeowner says. “Like the swing of the doors, or the size of a room or where the door is placed in the bedroom. Designers are not just about the furniture and the paint.”

Cont. on P. 74

Top: The primary bedroom’s tall, upholstered headboard is great for reading in bed. Bottom: The burnished brass and crystal pendants in the powder room were sourced from Madison Lighting, as were most of the home’s light fixtures.

Top right: The guest suite’s night table is finished with lacquered grasscloth. Gold is woven in as an accent throughout the home, including in the lamps and furniture hardware in the guest room.

The green mohair sofa is the great room’s signature piece. To tie the room together, pops of green can be found in the watercolor-patterned rug and throw pillows.

Cont. from P. 71

Lodholz also credits many of the talented craftspeople in the area, many of whom she tapped to assist with the homeowner’s new digs, including builder Jason Thomas Homes, Mazomanie’s Dybdahl Design Group, which did the cabinetry, and Wisconsin Timberworks in Prairie du Sac, which created the walnut tabletop attached to the kitchen island.

The results speak for themselves for the homeowner — who treasures her truly custom abode.

“I sit here sometimes and am just in awe,” she says. “I love this place. It’s absolutely stunning.”

Melanie Radzicki McManus is a freelance travel writer and speaker based in Sun Prairie.

at home

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CLASSIC CUSTOM HOMES OF WAUNAKEE

Exploring exterior home designs.

78 80

DREAM HOUSE DREAM KITCHENS

Family entrances with design and functionality.

VICTORY HOMES

Embracing personalization.

2025 parade home

With over 40 years of experience building homes in Wisconsin, our team of skilled designers, craftsmen and suppliers are dedicated to creating your dream home. We build custom homes to the highest standard, so you can be confident in the quality, style and durability of your new home.

EXPLORING EXTERIOR HOME DESIGNS

As a homeowner you probably spend most of your time and energy focusing on your home’s interior. But the exterior components of your home — your roof, windows and exterior façade – play a vital role in keeping your home looking its best. Not only does a well-designed home exterior create a welcoming aesthetic, but it sets the tone for the entire property, and it can boost your home’s market value.

So, what should you consider when determining the colors and finishes you want to incorporate in your home’s exterior? Quite simply, the chosen exterior elements should be attractive, durable and easy to maintain. Brea Bartelt, interior designer at Classic Custom Homes of Waunakee, recognizes that whether an individual is building a new home or remodeling an existing gem, careful planning of the home’s architectural style, materials, colors and landscaping play a key role in establishing the perfect aesthetic.

“We are still seeing a lot of really dark homes trending, with black and dark greens being a popular look,” Bartelt says. “More monotone color schemes are popular versus mixing a lot of colors in a home’s exterior.”

The ideal type of exterior colors and finishes depends on the architectural style of the home. Does your home resonate with the Craftsman style? Then you may want to feature natural colors and materials, including wood, stone and brick and a wide front porch. Is your home more minimalist and contemporary? Then a palette of soft hues, including creams and whites may be appropriate.

In addition, it is important to explore the types of finishes that may accent certain architectural elements of a home’s exterior.

“Texture on exteriors are great, but it’s important to find the right balance of

texture — too much will feel too busy,” Bartelt says. “Work with your draftsmen to find the right balance, make sure an element isn’t only in one spot or too heavy on one side. Wood accents are really popular now as it brings in a great natural element. If you have stained columns on one side of the house, make sure the garage doors or gable brackets also pull the same color across.”

When it comes to selecting the number of different exterior elements, including paint colors, as well as wood, stucco, brick or siding, Bartelt suggests limiting it to three or four.

“Any more than that gets really busy,” she says.

When working with homeowners, the Classic Custom Homes of Waunakee team goes through each client’s inspiration pictures.

“We focus on the common elements that truly shape the design of the inspiration homes,” Bartelt explains. “Our draftsmen incorporate those elements into the elevations, and we refine them until we achieve the right balance.”

FAMILY ENTRANCES WITH DESIGN AND FUNCTIONALITY

Historically, the mudroom was an overlooked space in the home — but today, we know it has so much potential. This versatile room can provide muchneeded storage, keep your family organized and make daily life just a little easier.

As Jade Lewis, sales director at Dream House Dream Kitchens, explains, the mudroom is typically a main thoroughfare that family members pass through several times a day. In the past, if a home even had a mudroom, it was often small and not well thought-out — maybe it was a narrow hallway with a coat closet and a couple of hooks on the wall.

“Since mudrooms are some of the hardestworking rooms of a home, we design them carefully, and craft them with attractive, durable materials,” Lewis says.

A mudroom can serve many functions and the needs of multiple family members — so these days, it’s grown bigger in size. As Lewis explains, in addition to providing a designated area for removing and organizing shoes, coats and backpacks, mudrooms often incorporate laundry zones with utility sinks and drying racks. It typically has organized drop zones for purses, groceries, mail and keys. Depending on how big it is, it might even have storage for sports equipment, pet and craft supplies, and cleaning products.

The Dream House Dream Kitchens team often recommends that a homeowner incorporate some unique elements to make their mudroom truly shine, including charging stations at drop zones, built-in laundry hampers and pull-out trash cans.

“Some other key elements in today’s mudroom include ample, closed storage like drawers and tall cabinets to hide clutter, a

custom-built bench to use when putting on or taking off shoes, bins or baskets for wrangling all the loose items like hats and gloves, and designated storage for each family member,” Lewis says.

Durability Is Key

A mudroom serves as a transition space between the outdoors and indoors, so it needs to be designed with durability in mind. Lewis recommends homeowners select hearty flooring like porcelain tile or luxury vinyl tile, cabinets and shelving with wipeable finishes, and countertops such as quartz that are easy to clean and can withstand kids and pets.

“Function isn’t the only thing we focus on when designing a mudroom. We also design them to look as beautiful as the rest of the house,” Lewis says. “People want to feel good when they enter their home, so we incorporate elements like custom cabinets, floating shelves, tile backsplashes, beautiful plumbing fixtures, wainscot walls, decorative lighting or other features that connect the aesthetic of the room with the rest of the home.”

Since mudrooms are some of the hardest-working rooms of a home, we design them carefully, and craft them with attractive, durable materials.

— Jade Lewis, sales director

THIS IS WHAT DREAM HOMES ARE MADE OF

A home is more than just its walls, floors, and furnishings—it’s a place where feelings and emotions are shared. It’s a place you can truly unwind after a long day and look forward to returning. And in a dream home, this comfort level reaches new heights.

A dream home is one that exceeds your expectations and meets all of your needs, even ones you didn’t realize you had. It reflects your personal style and gives you a sense of serenity. Dream homes can be large and luxurious or compact and cozy, with unique interior features created just for the homeowner.

So, even if you’re not sure what defines your dream home yet, are you still willing to make that dream a reality? Then Victory Homes is here to help you.

Find a model home near you!

OPEN EVERY SATURDAY & SUNDAY, NOON TO 4 PM, OR BY APPOINTMENT. CLOSED HOLIDAY WEEKENDS.

EMBRACING PERSONALIZATION

Whenit comes to custom home building and design, personalization is key. The team at Victory Homes of Wisconsin understands that although they may build a home, it’s the client who truly makes it feel like “home.”

Victory provides custom and semicustom luxury homes in carefully selected communities in the greater Madison and Milwaukee areas. According to Dave Roembke, partner and vice president of sales and marketing at the Germantown-based building and remodeling company, Victory also offers a full-service home building experience for clients. The company boasts a staff of in-house home designers who work directly with clients to personalize their home plans to suit their needs. Also, Victory offers a unique business model.

“While most builders build spec homes that are for sale, Victory has model homes open every weekend for inspiration, and focuses on building personalized homes for their buyers,” Roembke says.

Committed To You

Building homes that clients are proud of has been at the forefront of Victory Homes since 2003. The company’s foundation was built on three principles: quality construction, providing an enjoyable building experience and the unique opportunity for each homeowner to customize their new home to meet their needs. From drafting to design to final construction, each phase of the custom home building process is conducted with utmost care.

“When you partner with Victory Homes, you don’t have to choose between a beautiful home or a convenient location. Whether you’re looking for the best school district for your children, natural vistas or

proximity to entertainment, we will help you find the perfect community for your dream home,” Roembke says.

Victory is committed to making the process of building a dream home as enjoyable, simple and hassle-free as possible. From your very first meeting to the completion of your home, Victory’s dedicated team of specialists will give you the choices and tools to create a home that is uniquely yours. They’ll guide you through the process of dreaming, designing and building your home with the ultimate craftsmanship and care.

Many of Victory’s new construction specialists are also licensed realtors, so they can help with the listing and sale of your existing home as well.

Victory also believes in giving back to others. The company recently opened Wisconsin’s first St. Jude Dream Home Showplace, which premiered at the 75th Annual Madison Area Parade of Homes. Many of the home’s materials and the time and skilled labor to build the home were generously donated by national and local sponsors, and 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this home will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, to support their mission to fight childhood cancer and other devastating diseases.

Whether you’re looking for the best school district for your children, natural vistas or proximity to entertainment, we will help you find the perfect community for your dream home.

— Dave Roembke, partner and vice president of sales and marketing

Leading with Purpose: Insights from Madison College’s New President

By Dr. Jennifer Berne

Looking ahead to the fall is something that those of us in education are used to, and we do so each year with mixed emotions. While more than half a century of “first days” as a student and educator has prepared me somewhat, the trepidation and jitters are still there.

As the new president of Madison College, I understand that September truly begins my new journey, and I am right there with all those who are starting the new school year. To keep myself grounded and not get too overwhelmed, I am drawing on lessons from those whose leadership I admire and who have mentored me along the way.

Control your controllables

Worrying about what is outside our realm of control is frustrating and inefficient. It is hard not to spend valuable time bemoaning what has been telegraphed for us, but having the discipline to recognize that which is under our own control is critical to time management.

Learning

happens everywhere

It is tempting to put our heads down as part of our daily work, but so often, our best learning happens in the unexpected hallway discussion, the conversations in the coffee line, and the sidebar at a meeting. If I stay in my office I will never experience them.

A different spin on the golden rule

We have all heard that we should treat people as we would want to be treated. I find it more useful to treat people as I would want those I love to be treated. I try to imagine a Madison College student going home and relaying the interaction they had with us to their families or friends. I want to stand behind my behavior and know that I would be proud to overhear their retelling.

Female leadership is different

For all individuals, leadership challenges exist. My husband and I once had the same job. It was very clear that his leadership was received differently than my own. While one hopes that all leaders are given equal respect, female leadership can be fraught with the residue of decades past, when women in charge were challenged and framed as intruders to the status quo. The female leaders I most admire have resisted being positioned as anything less than a person whose competence brought them where they were. They gave no apologies for their bold decision-making and confidence.

Be where your feet are

As I continue to settle into this role, I know there will be challenges I can’t predict. I try hard to be in the moment and let the things that will happen unfold in their own time. It requires discipline to keep my head in the place where my feet are, in current time and space.

To learn more about Dr. Berne, visit madisoncollege.edu/welcome-drberne

Victoria Thomas

Ripple Effect Ripple Effect Ripple Effect

FROM HOSPITALS TO HOUSING TO HIGH -SPEED TRACKS, THESE WOMEN ARE DRIVING CHANGE ACROSS MADISON — AND BEYOND.

BY JAZMYNN APPLETON, KRISTINE HANSEN, TANIA IBARRA, SAGASHUS LEVINGSTON, SHAYNA MACE, MARYBETH MATZEK, KATY RIPP AND KATIE VAUGHN

Victoria Thomas

Women, Wheels and Winning

When Kellymoss a Fitchburg company that restores and races Porsches became a client of Victoria Thomas’ accounting firm, she knew nothing about cars. But the more Thomas dug into the books, she saw opportunities to rebrand its story.

Thomas eventually joined the company in 2013 as the director of finance. In 2020, she and her husband, Andy Kilcoyne, an engineer and designer who also worked for Kellymoss, acquired the company. Now, as principal and chief business officer, Thomas manages Kellymoss’ vision, culture and finances. Among her first tasks after owning the company was to create a website and social media presence because Kellymoss had neither.

Thomas realized she could also help champion women in the automotive industry. That point hit home when Lyn St. James one of the most successful female Indy drivers called Thomas, surprised to learn Kellymoss was woman-owned.

“She said, ‘Sweetheart, you need to get your head up and be in the forefront,’” Thomas recalls. “It was such an eye-opening moment for me. I started to be very vocal about this as an incredible career option for women.”

In 2023, Kellymoss made history by having the first woman driver compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America on its team. The company assembled a group of female drivers and held an intensive shootout competition to earn a spot on the roster. The winner received a scholarship that covered mentorship, entry fees, race expenses, car tires and the car itself. The driver was provided a team with a data engineer, car chief and driver coach. Thomas says, this year, the team had four female Porsche racecar drivers.

The company’s female driver recruitment and inclusion efforts have made an impactful change in the field. Now, nearly every year at the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, 66% of the podium two of three positions are occupied by women.

“That’s an enormous shift from five years ago,” notes Thomas. “Our C-suite is half women. We have female truck drivers and technicians. People reach out to me because I’m somebody who will give them a shot.”

Kellymoss has won 48 North American championships and, in 2024, had drivers on the podium 161 times. Some teams go years without their drivers on the podium, says Thomas. It’s a testament to Kellymoss’ solid team that’s both behind the scenes and the wheel.

“It’s easier to hire people who have the right attitude and thrive best when supporting each other low on ego and high on pride,” she says. “You’re not just punching a clock. You’re achieving something together.” — Kristine Hansen

Are there any new business areas or opportunities you’re excited to explore?

We offer a new digital membership. Not everyone can afford to drive a Porsche — there are a lot of people who love the brand, but can’t afford the product. Or, based on where they live, they can’t attend a race. We are using technology to ... ride along with our drivers in the cockpit during races. It’s bringing our brand into your home so you’re more connected to it.

The House That Power Built

BY SAGASHUS LEVINGSTON

Listen. I didn’t set out to decode the systems of real estate and finance I just needed a home.

But in trying to buy a home, I found myself caught in something way deeper something that had nothing to do with numbers, and everything to do with power, shame and silence. This is especially true for Black women, single mothers, trauma survivors and women who’ve lived with poverty.

I’m the founder of Infamous Mothers a lifestyle brand and movement built for women who live boldly and love fiercely, even when the world calls them too much, too little or not enough. We publish books, teach, retreat, write and tour. At the center of it all is one truth: Our stories are sacred.

This past summer, I brought that truth home to Madison to kick off the Without Apology tour. At the center of it is my debut memoir, “A Pot to P*ss In.” But make no mistake this tour isn’t just about book sales. It is about reminding women what they’re made of. We held space for truths about motherhood and money. Trauma and sex.

Leadership and loss. And, yes about the audacity of wanting a home when everything about your past says you’re too risky to deserve one.

The stories I shared on tour came from “A Pot to P*ss In” a memoir that’s also a mirror. It unpacked what it means to navigate finances while carrying the weight of family, dreams and systemic barriers. In chapters like “Felons Can’t Rent,” “Naked,” and “Net Worth,” I talked about my experience fighting for housing while loving a man the system rejected, being seen as a financial liability and carrying unspoken shame. I poured into the pages the life I envisioned until those words became a binding contract with the universe. Then, I began to live them scaling my business, reclaiming my health and pursuing a home.

Here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: Financial shame isn’t just about credit card debt or budgeting mistakes. It’s about the fear and silence we carry the way many of us have been taught to shrink around money, to believe that we are not meant to build wealth or own anything at all.

Sagashus Levingston

Buying a home wasn’t just a transaction. It was a transformation.

Here’s what I want other women to know:

Build relationships, not just credit. The smartest move I ever made when house-hunting wasn’t financial it was personal. I kept showing up, not just as a loan applicant, but as a human. I let my banker see my story, not just my financials. And that made all the difference.

Your story is a strategy. I wrote a letter to a home seller expressing my interest in their property that shifted everything. It wasn’t polished. It was real. We’ve got to stop hiding our truth because sometimes, that’s the very thing that opens the door.

Financial healing is emotional work. Before I could buy that house, I had to deal with the voices in my head telling me I wasn’t worthy of owning a house. That I was asking for too much. Healing meant letting go of the shame and saying, “Actually, I deserve this.”

Buying a home wasn’t just a transaction. It was a transformation. And for women like us bold, brilliant and building without apology it was a declaration that we deserve not just a place to live, but a place to exhale.

Sagashus Levingston is a storyteller, entrepreneur, and mother of six who believes in turning struggle into strategy and dreams into blueprints. She is the founder of Infamous Mothers, where women learn to live, lead and love — without apology.

Genea Grossen Owner & Injector

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Confident Leadership Starts With Financial Savvy

BY TANIA IBARRA

In today’s fast-moving for-profit and nonprofit world, financial acumen isn’t just imperative for the chief financial officer it’s a critical skill for any leader. Whether you manage a team, lead a nonprofit organization or run a startup, your ability to understand and apply financial information affects how others view your decision-making, strategic thinking and overall credibility.

The good news? You don’t need to be a money expert to become financially fluent. With curiosity, consistency and a few simple habits, you can grow your confidence and make more informed, impactful decisions. Here are three practical ways to start strengthening your financial acumen today.

Understand and Use Your Organization’s Financial Reports

Begin by reviewing your organization’s key financial statements: the income statement (profit and loss, or P&L), balance sheet and cash flow statement. These reports reveal how money flows in and out what’s earned, what’s spent, and what’s left to support your mission or business.

At first, the terminology may seem unfamiliar, but don’t let that hold you back. Read these documents regularly and ask questions like: Are revenues on track? Are costs rising? What’s our cash position? If you’re not sure, ask a finance colleague to walk you through them. This habit will build your confidence

and help you engage more meaningfully in budget and planning discussions.

Tie Financial Insights to Strategic Decisions

Financial information becomes powerful when it’s tied to decisions. When proposing a new idea, don’t stop at describing the concept explain the costs, potential return or mission impact. Even a simple cost-benefit analysis can elevate your recommendation and show that you’ve considered long-term implications.

Likewise, when reporting positive results like coming in under budget share how those funds might be reinvested strategically. Leaders who can connect financial insights to organizational goals demonstrate bigpicture thinking, which builds trust and respect across teams and stakeholders.

Partner with Your Finance Team

One of the most effective (and underused) ways to build financial acumen is to collaborate with your finance colleagues. Finance professionals value leaders who want to learn and their insights can give you a stronger grasp of the story behind the numbers. This partnership shows others that you’re committed to leading with accountability and clarity.

You don’t need to become a financial expert just financially aware. The more you understand the numbers, the more confident and credible your leadership becomes.

Tania Ibarra, CPA, is the co-founder of Step Up: Equity Matters, a boutique management consulting firm focused on embedding equity in strategy, culture and operations.

Tania Ibarra

Construction and real estate are [each] a relatively male-majority field. We have created opportunities, including internships, for women to be in this business.

— Anne Neujahr Morrison

L-R: Anne Neujahr Morrison, Sarah Neujahr and Anna Spiekerman

sister act

Growing up in a family that worked in real estate taught Madison natives and sisters Anne Neujahr Morrison and Sarah Neujahr how to secure properties and develop new building projects. When Anne started New Year Investments, her boutique real estate development firm six years ago, her goal was to make a deeper impact on the city’s landscape creating projects that blend walkability, housing and commercial spaces, and strong community connections.

“Frankly, our industry real estate development and landlords might not bring out all the warm and fuzzies for people,” admits Sarah. New Year Investments strives to change that.

Anne recruited Sarah to join the company four years ago to focus on asset and project management, and oversee construction. Anne leads the financial side of deals, as well as design.

“Construction and real estate are [each] a relatively malemajority field. We have created opportunities, including internships, for women to be in this business,” says Anne. Their developments in turn, have attracted female tenants as partners. At their Ella Apartments building, Simple Cuts Salon and Smiling Coast Beauty Salon are both female and Black owned. Through 2035, the firm’s main focus is Taking Shape, Our Triangle, a public-private partnership between the City of Madison’s Community Development Authority (CDA) and New Year Investments. At this 10-acre downtown location, 1,200 new apartment units will be built. Of those, 350 units will replace existing residences (which Anne notes will be done in phases so residents can transition from their old unit to their new one), while 850 additional units will expand housing near public transit, lakes and two hospitals. The first phase is slated for completion in 2027.

“The CDA was interested in doing this to better meet the needs of its current residents and to add more units to address our community housing crisis,” Anne points out.

“A major portion of this project was really finding out from the existing residents what their wants and needs for their new homes are,” says Anna Spiekerman, who joined the firm last year as its operations and project manager, and also assists with community engagement. “From a lifestyle standpoint, what feels like home to you?”

This ties into New Year Investments’ definition of success, which goes beyond its revenue or a list of accomplishments.

“I want to be a part of improving the local environment: how it looks, [and] how it helps people, institutions and businesses. That’s how I measure success,” says Anne.

— Kristine Hansen

How do you foster a strong, supportive culture

within your company?

“You have to be really intentional with hiring. Some people might not be a good fit in a smaller company. You have to wear a lot of hats.” — Anne

“The culture comes less from the brand and company, but more from the personalities and values of individuals. The combination is what creates our culture.” — Sarah

Ella Apartments

Seeing the Big Picture

Although Nikki Stafford has a big job as president of the American Family Children’s Hospital and system VP of pediatric services at UW Health Kids, she still appreciates the little things in life — like handwritten notes.

“I think handwriting thank-you notes is a lost art, especially in this age of technology,” muses Stafford.

Stafford began her career as an occupational therapist, but decided to pursue health care administration positions after colleagues encouraged her to do so.

“In learning and developing my skills, I found myself craving more challenges, so when opportunities arose, I actively pursued them,” says Stafford.

Prior to joining UW Health in March 2020 (“right before the world changed with the onset of COVID-19,” she notes), Stafford was the operations executive at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Upstate in South Carolina. Concurrently, she held administrator positions for the Neurosciences Clinical Programs and Greenville Memorial Hospital at Prisma Health.

In spring 2025, Stafford announced that UW Health is planning to add 24 pediatric and cardiac intensive care beds on the empty sixth floor of the American Family Children’s Hospital. When the children’s hospital opened in 2007, the sixth floor was left vacant for future growth to meet anticipated increasing demand.

“We are ranked among the nation’s

top 50 children’s hospitals … and as the [only] Level I Pediatric Trauma Center [in the region], the demand for our expertise continues to increase. Our 21-bed pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) [is] operating at capacity consistently. This shortage of intensive care beds significantly limits our ability to meet the needs of children with the most critical and complex medical cases, leading us to decline requests to transfer kids from other hospitals who require a higher level of care,” she notes. By stepping back to assess broad challenges and prepare for what lies ahead, Stafford is helping to position the Madison region as a leader in children’s critical care. We also asked Stafford to share a few nuggets of wisdom about her life and career.

Nikki Stafford JOHN MANIACI, UW HEALTH

What’s one career risk you’re glad you took and why?

In business, people often believe every career move should be upward. If you make a lateral move, it’s often viewed as a demotion or a poor professional decision. However, when I was in South Carolina, I made a lateral switch from a large health system to a community hospital in a similar role. This change allowed me to develop a different set of skills and work more closely with executive leaders in ways that are often not possible at bigger organizations. That experience helped me grow and prepared me for my next promotion. I also took a risk by being a working mom. Every woman’s choice is personal and should be supported. I have a lot of respect for moms who choose to stay home with their kids — that is hard work and deserves more celebration. I know how I am wired — for me, I am a better mom because I worked outside the home.

What’s a book, podcast or quote that has shaped your mindset?

“Women Don’t Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide.” It highlights the consequences when women don’t recognize the importance of negotiating in all aspects of their lives. Viewing negotiation as a problem to solve helps change your perspective. It encourages “cooperative negotiation” while understanding the need to adapt your style based on the person with whom you are negotiating.

What’s something people misunderstand about the health care industry?

I think there’s a misconception that hospitals are overflowing with cash. The reality is that we are being asked to do more with less. Our ability to provide the highest standard of care has become much more costly and, I would argue,

even more challenging in the kids’ space. To deliver that level of care, we believe that offering wraparound services ... that are not billable, such as ... our facility dogs program or sibling care are not just “nice to haves” they’re essential. [These] services are fully supported through philanthropy.

What’s one tool or app you can’t live without?

Though technology has advanced, I still prefer using a pen and notebook. Many of my coworkers have transitioned to OneNote or other platforms. I [also] discovered the reMarkable system,[which] allows me to handwrite notes and upload them into saved documents.

I also love FaceTime … I believe face-to-face conversations are the most effective way to connect. Friends, family and colleagues will ask, “Wait, did you mean to FaceTime me?” The answer is, yes! — Shayna Mace

Buying or selling a home or purchasing an investment property is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, and one of the most expensive transactions into which you will ever enter. At Forever Home Real Estate, we understand the significance of your search and the importance of your decision. We are here to make it an easy, enjoyable experience, and will support you from initial contact to the final signature.

Sparking Entrepreneurial Growth

If there’s a throughline for Shayna Hetzel’s career, it’s supporting and helping innovative ideas come to life.

Hetzel, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC), leads the strategies and programs to make the state’s economic ecosystem more supportive for entrepreneurs. The WEDC not only connects entrepreneurs with financial assistance, but also provides them with access to data insights and a directory of business and networking resources.

“My goal is to scale the infrastructure that allows startups to thrive,” she says. “I’m realigning priorities to make Wisconsin’s ecosystem more supportive for entrepreneurs.”

Working with entrepreneurs is energizing and inspiring, Hetzel says.

“They are problem solvers and have a resolute vision. High-growth entrepreneurs can see a future that’s not a reality yet,” she says. “Entrepreneurs are at the heart of economic vitality.”

Prior to joining the WEDC, Hetzel was a founding special impact investment director with the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact. The institute invests in entrepreneurs tackling some of society’s greatest challenges, and uses world-class talent and resources to amplify their investments. Through that experience, she met and worked with many entrepreneurs as they brought their ideas to life.

Before joining the institute, she worked at American Family as a senior project manager and planning administrator. Prior to working for American Family, Hetzel spent nearly a decade in roles at the Wisconsin Union and in state government.

“I’ve had a career dotted with big results and bold action across public, private, nonprofit and university industries,” says Hetzel, who earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees at UW-Madison. Those skills come in handy in her work at the WEDC. She also saw joining the organization as a way to bring her various career experiences together.

“I’ve focused on amplifying the work of others,” she says. “What I’ve learned is to surround yourself with people who believe in your vision and push you to refine it.”

Hetzel says successful entrepreneurs listen deeply, stay curious and ask for help.

“It’s OK for entrepreneurs to know they don’t need to shoulder everything themselves. There are people and resources available to provide them with assistance,” she says.

— MaryBeth Matzek

What’s a podcast you’re loving now?

“There’s an episode of ‘The New Builders’ called ‘Face to Face with the Next Generation of American Business.’ It lifts up stories about entrepreneurs that you don’t really hear much about — women and people of color. As a woman of color, I find it energizing to listen to.”

Shayna Hetzel

It Turns Out, You Can’t Hustle Your Way Into Alignment

BY KATY RIPP

Ididn’t fall apart all at once. No dramatic breakdown just a slow fade into a life that looked #blessed, but felt like a knockoff of someone else’s dream. I checked the boxes: I had the house, the kids, the businesses. But the more I achieved, the more I disappeared. Unwinding meant a bottle-of-wine-a-night habit and a never-ending hangover.

When I quit drinking in my early forties and enrolled in a coaching certification, our first assignment was a values exercise and it knocked me sideways. For the first time, I understood what a value really was. Not a virtue. Not a role. Not a personality trait. It was something I could choose and actually build a life around. That realization cracked something open in me and it’s been my mission to help other women find their way to that kind of clarity ever since. When I ask clients to name their values, I usually hear words like: Family. Honesty. Kindness. Success. Balance. Health. These are all beautiful things but more often, these might be surface-level qualities, and not necessarily the deeper drivers of our choices. Take “family.” Technically, family is a relationship, not a value. The real magic is what family represents to you. Maybe it’s nurturing the way you love showing up for your loved ones. Or dependability being someone they can count on. Or fun inside jokes and late-night kitchen dance parties. Maybe it’s quality time or the joy of tradition. That’s where your real values live: not in the title, but in the texture of the lived experience. When you’re misaligned, life starts to feel … off. You say “yes” when you mean “no.” Goals that once lit you up now feel like someone else’s to-do list. You’re exhausted, resentful and secretly fantasizing about canceling plans.

For the first time, I understood what a value really was. Not a virtue. Not a role. Not a personality trait. it was something I could choose ...

Katy Ripp

Ask yourself these questions to start narrowing in on your own values:

When do I feel most like myself?

Maybe it’s leading a brainstorm, dancing in the kitchen or working in silence clues that point to values like creativity, fun or autonomy.

What do I protect even when no one’s watching?

Your nighttime ritual, slow mornings or solo walks might reveal values like consistency, intention or peace.

What drains me — even if it looks good on paper?

Maybe networking, the perfect house or a packed calendar make you feel depleted. These could be signs that you value depth, simplicity or freedom instead. If something here resonates with you, keep going. You don’t need a total life overhaul just honest answers to what’s actually driving you (and what’s not). Once you get clear on what really lights you up? Everything else gets a whole lot easier to say yes or no to.

Need help finding your values? I offer a free values discovery guide at katyripp.com/values.

Katy Ripp is an entrepreneur, certified coach, business strategist, podcast host of #ActuallyICan and founder of The Grove — a values-driven community for women building aligned lives and businesses. Ripp will dig deeper into values and other business topics in our new BRAVA Business Monthly newsletter. Subscribe at bravamagazine.com.

At NuCare Senior Living, we are more than just a senior living community — we are a dedicated management company committed to enhancing communities and the quality of life for seniors. Our compassionate approach to senior living focuses on improving independence, fostering social connections and supporting overall well-being. Whether your loved one requires independent living, assisted living or memory care, we’re here to provide the highest level of care and comfort.

Let us take the worry out of senior care. Come experience the difference at NuCare Senior Living, where care and compassion come together to create a nurturing environment for your loved one.

mic check

AS HOSTS, PRODUCERS AND LISTENERS, WOMEN ARE SHAKING UP THE PODCASTING INDUSTRY.

BY KATIE VAUGHN

Eleven years ago, Abby Green and Amy Kiefer found themselves going through big life moments moving to Madison, getting married, having kids in tandem. The friends grew closer and, upon discovering that they each planned to start their own podcast, they decided to team up instead.

They launched “HERself” in 2020 with the desire to talk openly about motherhood, marriage and life. Since then, “HERself” has released more than 300 episodes, racked up 4 million downloads and garnered over six figures in sponsorships.

Kiefer and Green are a success story, yet just one example of how women are making their voices heard and transforming the podcasting landscape in the process.

The Women’s Audio Report released by Edison Research and SiriusXM Media this spring, found that monthly podcast listenership among U.S. women has tripled over the past decade, from 15% in 2015 to 45% in 2025. That translates to roughly 60 million American women, with 92% stating that all or most of the podcasts they listen to are hosted or produced by a woman.

That side of the mic is growing too. According to the Women’s Media Center, half of the top 10 podcasts today are female-hosted; back in 2017, women hosted or co-hosted only a third of the top 100 podcasts.

And it’s not just big names like Mel Robbins, Alexandra Cooper and true-crime host Ashley Flowers that are striking a chord with audiences. Locally, Green and Kiefer have found connection with their listeners from being real yet positive about their own experiences.

“A lot of it has been the journey of whatever we’re going through,” Kiefer says, adding that their content has evolved along with their lives. “People feel like they really know us.”

They attribute much of their success to having a large audience, which was helped by Kiefer’s sizable social media presence before launching “HERself.” Podcasting is now both of their full-time careers, and their current income streams include podcast sponsors, affiliate links on Instagram and a podcast course.

A big audience is key to making podcasting sponsorships lucrative, as advertisers typically pay $10–$100 per 1,000 downloads an episode. But money is not the only reason to podcast, says Jamie Gale, owner of local podcast network Lit Path Studios. For some hosts, it’s about establishing themselves as experts in their field and forming relationships that could lead to business.

For Therese Merkel and Shelby Olstad, co-hosting their podcast, “Screw It, Let’s Do This,” coexists with their small businesses Merkel owns Tricky Foods and Olstad helms Miggy’s Bakes. But it’s exactly that type of balancing act that they tackle in their podcast.

“We’re passionate about chasing your dreams with business ownership, and that’s

what we want to talk about,” Merkel says of their podcast, which is produced locally by Spoken Frame Media and has released more than 60 episodes since launching in 2023.

While Merkel and Olstad hope to make more money from podcasting they currently have one sponsor they appreciate the other benefits it offers.

“It’s bringing attention to our businesses,” says Olstad, adding that they also glean invaluable wisdom from their guests.

According to the Women’s Media Center, half of the top 10 podcasts today are female-hosted; back in 2017, women hosted or co-hosted only a third of the top 100 podcasts.

Angela Russell uses her podcast, “Black Oxygen” on Madison365, to amplify Black voices in Wisconsin.

“It’s giving space for people to relax their shoulders and take a breath and hear from other Black folks,” she says. “It’s all about helping people feel seen and heard.”

Since launching the podcast in 2020, Russell has released more than 100 episodes, while also working fulltime as a chief diversity officer at an insurance agency and raising two teens as a single mom.

Having a clear and strong purpose is essential, Russell says, because podcasting is much more work than most people realize. Planning content, scheduling guests, recording, editing, producing, posting, advertising and marketing are all important steps, and most of them are behind the scenes. Fortunately, podcasting technology is becoming more accessible and businesses offering editing and producing services are popping up.

Podcasters are creating community locally, Gale says, offering guidance, sharing referrals, and guesting for one another. The collaboration and support are inspiring more women to bring their voices to podcasting, and it’s shaping who and what reaches our earbuds.

“It is women speaking to women,” Gale says, “and I don’t know what’s more powerful than that.”

Angela Russell Therese Merkel

Amy Kiefer and Abby Green Shelby Olstad

HEAR HERE: QUEUE UP THESE PODCASTS HOSTED BY MADISON WOMEN.

#ActuallyICan

Inspiration for ambitious women by entrepreneur and certified coach Katy Ripp.

By Firelight

Poet and painter Betsy Delzer converses with artists and storytellers.

The Cabin

The Discover Wisconsin podcast hosted by Andrea Boehlke and Megan Christian.

City Cast Madison

Daily local news and entertainment with host Bianca Martin.

HEATHER EWING:

The CRE RUNdown

A deep dive into local commercial real estate by Heather Ewing.

HERself

Abby Green and Amy Kiefer tackle motherhood and marriage.

Hustle her Way

A new podcast hosted by nonprofit leader Tracy Anderson.

In It for Youth

Jamie Gale spotlights people improving the lives of children.

Making Progress

Psychotherapist and Anesis

Therapy founder Myra McNair highlights changemakers.

Mama Knows

Influencer Nina Caviggiola covers motherhood, mental health and more.

A Public Affair WORT’s daily talk show is hosted on Wednesdays by Ali Muldrow.

Screw It, Let’s Do This

Therese Merkel and Shelby Olstad interview fellow entrepreneurs.

Spirit of a Badass

Health and life coach Alecia Jacobson shares stories of resilient women.

Tami Talks: Unscripted Healing

Tami Schiltz leads listeners in healing their inner child.

Where They’re Planted

Occupational therapist and parent coach Jen Bluske shares insights for care providers of unique children.

Savor the Splendor of the Season

Quiet is the New Confident

BY JAZMYNN APPLETON

For many introverts, networking can feel like stepping onto a stage without a script. But what if the secret to successful networking isn’t being the loudest voice in the room but the most intentional one? As a public speaker, development coach and an introvert myself, I created a self-paced guide and online community called Networking for Introverts (link.me/ jazmynnappleton) to help others show up as their whole selves and form genuine, lasting connections. These insights can turn networking from overwhelming to achievable.

Start with Self-Awareness

Understanding your unique strengths is a powerful first step. Introverts often excel in areas like deep listening, empathy and thoughtful communication qualities that make for meaningful conversations. Reflect on what energizes you and approach networking as an extension of those strengths, not a performance.

Craft Your Elevator Pitch

Being prepared helps calm the nerves. A strong elevator pitch isn’t about selling yourself it’s about showing up authentically. Practice a 30-second intro that highlights what you do, why you do it and the value you bring. The more you own your narrative, the more confident you’ll feel when meeting new people.

Leverage Smaller, Intentional Spaces

Not all networking has to happen at large events. Seek out smaller gatherings, round tables or one-on-one meetups that align with your interests.

These settings provide a more relaxed environment for deeper conversations and stronger connections.

Connect Through Curiosity, Not Perfection

You don’t need to have all the answers just genuine questions. Ask open-ended questions about others’ work, passions or recent wins. When you’re more focused on learning than impressing people, the pressure eases and the conversation flows naturally.

Follow Up with Intention

The real magic often happens after the event. Thoughtful follow-ups that reference specific parts of your conversation help turn introductions into relationships. Whether it’s a LinkedIn message or a coffee invite, be genuine and don’t wait too long.

Honor Your Energy

Networking doesn’t need to be constant to be effective. Schedule time to recharge after events and give yourself permission to step away when needed. It’s OK to opt out of back-toback conversations. Quality always beats quantity.

For introverts, networking is not about becoming someone else. It’s about stepping into rooms with clarity, confidence and care. With the right tools and mindset, your quiet strengths can become your greatest networking superpower.

Jazmynn Appleton is the chief director of entrepreneurial growth and innovation at the Progress Center for Black Women, and a 2024 BRAVA Woman to Watch.

Jazmynn Appleton

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

BRAVA MAG A Z INE BRAVA M A G A AVARBENIZ M ENIZAGA

2025 Professional Profiles

Across law, finance, personal care, business and the creative world, these leaders are redefining success while strengthening our community.

Husky Homes is an innovative residential real estate team based in Madison and powered by the nation’s No. 1 brokerage — Compass. We offer real estate and consulting services for home sellers, buyers and investors. We also have experience representing both builders and buyers with new construction sales.

— Alison Crim

Husky Homes stands out by offering complimentary, in-house staging services for our whole portfolio of listings, easing the stress of our home sellers and ensuring that we maximize the market appeal of the homes we are selling to attract the greatest number of buyers.

Owner and broker Alison Crim received her real estate and urban land economics degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Business, and since then, has been passionate about contributing to and giving back to her community through Husky Homes’ comprehensive professional services, partnerships and charitable initiatives.

L-R: ALLIE NICHOLSON, JONATHAN GASPERO, KERRI FABIN, ALISON CRIM, IRIS CHAVARRIA, ANDY WHITE, LAURA PARMAN, SOLVEIG SCHROERLUCKE AND BETH DAVIS NOT PICTURED: ANDIE WHITE

MH Imaging is service-oriented, so we make certain our patients have excellent experiences here. From scheduling to sameday results — we make everything easy!

—Christina Wipperfurth Pepper, Co-Owner ”

CONNECTING CLIENTS TO THE MADISON COMMUNITY

Maximum Health (MH) Imaging was founded for patients seeking faster access to high-quality, affordable, outpatient medical imaging services. Christina Wipperfurth Pepper, co-founder and co-owner, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Sun Prairie native.

Her company offers open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), wide-bore MRI, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, echocardiogram and X-ray services. Patients can be scheduled within a few days or less, and final results can be available on the same day.

MH Imaging accepts orders from all providers and digitally sends imaging to any requested hospital system, so patients maintain continuity of care and don’t have to worry about choosing services outside their system. If patients do not have an order, they can refer themselves using our “SelfRefer, Self-Pay” option.

2277 Deming Way Middleton, WI 53562

608.829.8299 info@mhimaging.com mhimaging.com

With four locations (in Middleton, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha), MH provides easy access and lower costs so patients get quick answers to health concerns.

L-R: KIM, OFFICE MANAGER; ARVI, LEAD MRI TECHNOLOGIST; CHRISTINA, CO-OWNER & COO; KELLY, PATIENT CARE COORDINATOR; AND MELISSA, CT & X-RAY TECHNOLOGIST

— Julia Hanlon ” “

I have always loved listening to, learning about and helping others — especially when it allows me to have a lasting, positive impact in the lives of others.

BUILDING PROSPERITY, ONE RELATIONSHIP AT A TIME

Lake Ridge Bank’s Vice President – Senior Personal Trust Officer, Julia Hanlon, is committed to building prosperity for her clients and communities, one relationship at a time. Hanlon takes the time to get to know each of her clients personally, gaining a clear understanding of their unique financial needs and goals. She enjoys combining her trust and wealth management expertise to deliver thoughtful, individualized guidance that empowers her clients to reach their goals.

Lake Ridge Bank is a locally owned and managed community bank, offering clients a full range of banking and financial products and services. With 19 convenient locations around Dane County, all banking decisions are made locally by our experienced team of associates who understand our local economies. Our bank and associates are focused on reinvesting in and getting involved with local organizations and activities that make our communities great places to live, work and raise a family.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you meet your financial goals. Let’s go far together!

JULIA HANLON

— Amie Neumaier ” “

McFarland Location: 4717 Dale-Curtin Dr. McFarland, WI 53558

University Ave. Location - 5231 University Ave. Madison, WI 53705 608.838.1772 aneumedspa.com

CONTINUING EDUCATION IN AESTHETIC CARE

Amie Neumaier, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, APNP, CANS, founder and Clinic Director of ANEU Med Spa, takes pride in working alongside her highly experienced team of Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Licensed Aestheticians, and Certified Laser Technicians to deliver quality and safe aesthetic and wellness care. Some of the more popular treatments performed at ANEU include injectables such as Botox®, Dysport®, biostimulators like Sculptra®, PDGF+ and dermal fillers. ANEU places a huge emphasis on education and that it all starts with taking care of your skin with proven, quality skincare and treatments like microneedling, chemical peels and rejuvenating laser treatments. Finally, in line with regenerative treatments and overall well-being, the spa offers wellness and nutrient therapy as well as muscle building treatments like Emsculpt NEO and Emsella for a stronger and more toned body overall. You can visit the clinics in Madison or McFarland.

Certified by the International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses, Neumaier was one of the first 100 providers in the country to receive the Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) distinction. She is also the Co-Founder of the nonprofit Wisconsin Aesthetic Provider Coalition. Its mission is to uplift the medical aesthetic community, enhance patient safety by establishing educational and compliance standards, and protect practice rights for medical aesthetics providers.

AMIE NEUMAIER

“

—Ken Lammersfeld ”

EMPOWERING WOMEN LEADERS IN BANKING

Strong. Innovative. Authentic. The women of Park Bank’s senior leadership team are united by a goal: to make Dane County a better place to live. Through their guidance, dedication and community focus, they are helping to turn that purpose into action every day.

“Having women in leadership ensures a wider range of perspectives that strengthen our culture and decision-making,” senior vice president of operations Amanda Postel says. “This results in innovative solutions, a holistic approach to problem-solving and a deeper understanding of stakeholders’ needs.”

These women are vital in shaping the bank’s business strategy, and overseeing operations, finance, retail and private banking, human resources, marketing and strategic development. Their leadership provides financial solutions, such as lending and money management resources, to the community.

“Individually, and as critical members of our leadership group, they hold themselves and their teams to a standard that drives impact, innovation and real results,” concludes Ken Lammersfeld, CEO.

L-R: SARAH BRENDEN, AMANDA POSTEL, SUJHEY BEISSER, BOBBIE JORGENSEN, SUZANNE JOHNSON, MARTHA JOHANNSEN AND HELEN KOSTERMAN

PROTECTING DREAMS AND BUILDING LASTING RELATIONSHIPS

Two American Family Insurance agencies are making a big impact around Madison — the Vicki Wagener Agency and Christina Gallagher Agency — both led by award-winning agents with a passion for protecting dreams, supporting families and businesses, and giving back.

The Vicki Wagener Agency, known for commercial and personal insurance and claims management expertise, is backed by Wagener’s over 30 years in the industry. Since opening her Madison agency, she has earned recognition as a four-time Agent of the Year and a Centurion Agent for protecting more than 100 lives in a year through life insurance. Her agency focuses on building lasting relationships and engaging with the community through events like the annual Boo Walk for breast cancer awareness.

The Christina Gallagher Agency brings a legacy of leadership and passion for education. With 19 years at American Family and 14 as an agency owner, Gallagher has grown her business from one office in Lodi to locations in Madison and Poynette. She has been honored with many occupational and community awards. Her agency focuses on empowering clients through education and giving back to the community, including American Family Children’s Hospital and Friends of the Lodi Public Library.

These agencies represent the best of what American Family Insurance stands for: experience, compassion and community connection.

CHRISTINA SMITH-GALLAGHER AND VICKI WAGENER

Grazioso

Since 1995, The Employer Group has provided expert human resources solutions to organizations of all sizes and across a number of industries. As The Human Resource Resource™, we specialize in human resources, payroll, employee benefits, benefits administration, workers compensation, risk management, regulatory compliance and tax administration. We are proud to call the greater Madison area home.

At The Employer Group, we believe great human resources is about more than just policies — it’s about people. Every member of our team lives and works in the local community. We’re not just serving clients from afar, we’re your neighbors, volunteers and fellow Badger fans.

The Employer Group has a legacy of strong female leadership, and women continue to guide the company’s direction and success. Together, Amy Grazioso, Kiarra Eith, Ashley Aschliman and Jessica Subach drive growth, ensure compliance, oversee business operations and excel in client service.

L-R: JESSICA SUBACH, KIARRA EITH, AMY GRAZIOSO AND ASHLEY ASCHLIMAN

When you’re a part of the Capitol Bank team, it means more than being a trusted financial partner, it means investing in your community as a friend and neighbor. — Ami Myrland ” “

LOCALLY INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY

Celebrating 30 years in 2025, Capitol Bank is Madison’s full-service personal and business bank. With an emphasis on personal, tailored services to every individual, the bank has always prided itself on putting the customer first and being locally invested in the community it serves.

In fact, Capitol Bank employees serve on more than 40 boards and nonprofits in the region. It’s no wonder why Capitol Bank has been voted Best Bank in Madison two years in row, 2024 and 2025.

According to Ami Myrland, president and CFO, “For us, we truly take to heart the fact that we are a community bank.”

With three Madison-area locations (one on the West Side, one on the East Side and one in Verona), Capitol Bank is well-positioned to help grow the local economy and give back to those it serves every day.

L-R: JESSICA PIATT, KARI HARPOLD NMLS #1253622, JILL MACK NMLS#553790 AND AMI MYRLAND

We design for how you live — because true luxury is timeless, tailored and grounded in everyday comfort.” “

WHERE CRAFTSMANSHIP MEETS CURATION

At Coyle Carpet One Floor & Home, luxury isn’t just about the look, it’s about the experience. From custom cabinetry to heirloom hardwoods, every selection in your home should feel intentional. That’s why our flooring and cabinet teams work as one — combining design expertise with behind-the-scenes coordination to bring your vision to life with elegance and ease.

A well-designed space starts with the right foundation. Flooring anchors the tone of the room, while cabinetry and countertops layer structure, warmth and personality. But the true mark of a luxury renovation lies in how seamlessly these elements come together. It’s in the way materials speak to each other. How installation schedules align. How details are anticipated before they become issues. That’s where we shine.

Inside our newly renovated 12,000-square foot showroom in Madison, you’ll find more than just home finishings. You’ll find curated inspiration — elevated hardwoods, natural stone, luxury vinyl and custom cabinetry — alongside a team of professionals who know how to bring it all together. Walking through our showroom is designed to feel less like shopping and more like imagining what’s possible for your own home. Each display is thoughtfully styled to highlight how floors, cabinets and countertops.

CABINETRY DESIGNERS, L-R: NINA KIRCH, NICOLE SCHRECK, STACI CHAPPELL, RENEE AULT, OLIVIA BERGEMANN, BOBBI BREUNIG, SOLEIL CHANG AND MAKAYLA MATSCHE

FLOORING CONSULTANTS, L-R:

can work together — not just as individual products, but as part of a cohesive design story. You can touch the surfaces, see how natural light plays across different finishes and compare options side by side with guidance from a designer who knows how to bring your vision into focus.

Our signature Room by Room process helps you plan with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re redesigning a single space or building a cohesive look across the home, we guide you through every decision — from layout and texture to flow, function and finish. For homeowners who feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, this process simplifies decisions and ensures every choice supports the bigger picture. We start with the functions you need most, then layer in colors, materials and finishes that reflect your personality. The result is a design that feels intentional and distinctly yours.

One of the biggest challenges homeowners face is timing. Some floors must be installed before cabinets; others need time to set before appliances can be placed. These are the things most people don’t think about — but we do. With in-house teams managing your project from start to finish, you get expert craftsmanship without the guesswork.

For more than 80 years, Coyle has been woven into the homes and lives of Madison families. Generations have trusted us not only for product quality, but also for the reassurance that comes from having a partner who understands the rhythm of home life. Trends may evolve, but the need for a space that feels comfortable, intentional and enduring never changes. It’s this level of care, precision and professionalism that has made Coyle a trusted partner for generations of homeowners, designers and builders across southern Wisconsin.

Every detail matters. Every room deserves to feel considered, cohesive and completely your own. Our approach blends today’s design trends with timeless craftsmanship — so your home feels fresh today and classic for years to come. Whether you’re drawn to airy, modern minimalism or rich, traditional warmth, we help you layer colors, textures and finishes in ways that feel authentic to your lifestyle.

From first sketches to final walk-throughs, our team ensures your renovation is as enjoyable as the finished result. Because when the process is thoughtful, the outcome is exceptional. Visit our Madison showroom and discover what happens when craftsmanship and curation meet.

SARAH ALT, TERI CHERAMY, ANIKA LAUBE, CRYSTAL WELSH, COURTNEY NIMTZ, TIA HARNACK, BECKY FREDERICK , NINA KIRCH, NICOLE SCHRECK AND KIERA NEFF

Carbon World Health, our female providers lead with a powerful blend of medical expertise, compassion and innovation — redefining modern wellness in Madison.

Together, under the leadership of Ashley Rodriguez, Dr. Rebecca Charles, Lauren Harrod (PA) and Michelle Hofkes (APNP) make a high-performing team that empowers women to take control of their health, confidence, and vitality from the inside out.

Carbon World Health offers a full spectrum of services, including hormone optimization, medical weight loss, IV therapy, body transformation, aesthetic injectables, advanced skin rejuvenation and functional fitness programs. What sets us apart is our ability to merge evidence-based medicine with elite-level wellness, providing clients access to the same high-performance care trusted by athletes, executives and driven individuals alike.

Our women-led team brings advanced training across medical and aesthetic disciplines, along with a deep commitment to personalized care. Every client receives tailored treatment and one-on-one guidance in a space designed to make her feel heard, respected and empowered.

As a practice grounded in diversity, innovation and purpose, we are proud to have a dynamic team of women at the forefront of care. At Carbon, our mission is clear: to help women feel well, look vibrant and live fully — on their own terms.

ASHLEY RODRIGUEZ, CO-FOUNDER AND SPA DIRECTOR; LAUREN HARROD, PA; DR. REBECCA CHARLES; AND MICHELLE HOFKES, APNPS

I’ve lived the challenges — and built Carbon to help women rise through them, feel whole again and lead with strength. — Ashley Rodriguez ” “

EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH EVERY SEASON.

Ashley Rodriguez is more than the co-founder of Carbon World Health — she’s a visionary leader, wellness advocate and living example of what it means to thrive through every stage of womanhood.

As a mother, mentor and entrepreneur, Ashley understands the complex physical, emotional and mental changes women face while balancing careers, families and self-worth. Her lived experience is the foundation of Carbon’s mission: to meet women where they are and elevate them through expert care and heartfelt support.

Under her leadership, Carbon has become a sanctuary for transformation — offering evidence-based services such as hormone therapy, medical weight loss, body contouring, IV therapy, advanced skin rejuvenation and aesthetic injectables. Every treatment plan is personalized to help women feel strong, balanced and radiant from the inside out.

What makes Carbon unique in Madison is the purpose behind every service: care that’s board-certified physician led, science-backed, empathetic and intentionally designed for women. The clinic is powered by a female-forward team of medical professionals who are deeply invested in each client’s journey.

At Carbon, wellness is more than a service. It’s a movement — led by women, for women.

ASHLEY RODRIGUEZ , CO-FOUNDER AND SPA DIRECTOR

— Kim Schaaf and Danielle Petta ” “

Living beautifully doesn’t mean perfection — it means creating spaces that reflect who you are and how you truly live.

THOUGHTFUL DESIGN FOR LIVING BEAUTIFULLY

At Linen & Clove, design is more than aesthetics — it’s about creating spaces that feel lived in, loved and layered with intention. Founded by Kim Schaaf and Danielle Petta, Linen & Clove blends a home decor shop and interior design studio into one inviting experience. Located in Verona, the boutique carries a curated mix of furniture, accessories, art and textiles, making it easy for customers to bring a designer’s touch into their everyday spaces.

“We believe your home should reflect your story. Our goal is to design spaces that feel warm, intentional and deeply personal,” says Schaaf, who has a background in teaching and technology coaching, and a long-time passion for design. The all-women team brings a rich blend of experience and creativity to the table, with each member contributing their unique perspective to client projects and the shop’s evolving style.

Linen & Clove’s interiors are warm, functional and timeless — often blending California casual and modern transitional styles with a fresh, Midwestern twist. As a proudly women-owned business, Linen & Clove exudes a culture of creativity, collaboration and purpose, supporting women in business and helping clients design homes that support the way they truly want to live.

Stop by the shop or browse online to explore our ever-evolving collection, and discover new ways to live beautifully every day.

KIM SCHAAF

CONNECTING CLIENTS TO THE MADISON COMMUNITY

Living in Madison Real Estate, founded on a love for this city and a commitment to serving its residents, is a full-service real estate team helping people buy, sell and invest in homes, whether you’re buying your first home or selling a longtime property. Its mission is to connect clients not just to houses, but to the lifestyle and community that make Madison one of the best places to live.

Mari Slobounov, broker and owner, leads the team with a goal to make every homebuying or selling experience clear, enjoyable and successful. Her all-women team includes a transaction coordinator, listing coordinator and marketing specialist, so the firm is equipped to handle every detail from start to finish.

The team consistently ranks in the top 0.5% of the South Central Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service; is the highest producing team at Keller Williams Madison; and consistently wins “Top Sales Units by a Team” and “Top Listing Volume by a Team” with its brokerage.

NAOMI PATTON, MARI SLOBOUNOV, LYNN HOLLEY, CATHERINE ABITZ, EMILY BURT AND CAROLINE BUSS

Associated Physicians is more than a clinic — it’s a trusted partner in lifelong wellness.

a place where patients feel respected, empowered and seen.”

4410 Regent St. Madison, WI 53705 apmadison.com/obstetrics-and-gynecology

COMPASSIONATE CARE THROUGH EVERY STAGE OF LIFE

When it comes to reproductive health, the obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) physicians at Associated Physicians in Madison are known for delivering expert, compassionate care through every stage of life. As part of one of Madison’s only physician-owned clinics, it offers a uniquely personal experience, building long-term relationships in a warm, collaborative setting.

From routine exams and pregnancy care to complex gynecological concerns, the team takes time to listen, educate and partner with each patient. What truly sets them apart is their commitment to personalized, evidence-based care. From adolescence to post-menopause, their approach blends clinical expertise with empathy, creating a patient experience rooted in respect and trust.

Services include minimally invasive procedures, reproductive counseling, preventive screenings and everything in between. Associated Physicians is more than a clinic — it’s a trusted partner in lifelong wellness. It’s a place where patients feel respected, empowered and seen.

L-R: AMANDA SCHWARTZ, MD; SHEFAALI SHARMA, MD; AMANDA SCHMEHIL, MD; LAURA BERGHAHN, MD; AND JILL MASANA, MD

2025 COHORT OF THE SUMMIT CREDIT UNION FELLOWSHIP FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS BACK, L-R: TASHAYANNA MIXSON, EVA GENE PUBLISHING, LLC; RUKMINI BANERJEE, CURONOW; SARAH BRANCH, CRASH BOX THERAPY; MARISSA HOLMES, MARIE’S SOUL FOOD; CASEY FOXEN, ESTABLISHING A FAMILY-OWNED AUTO BODY SHOP FRONT, L-R: DR. TAYSHEEDRA ALLEN, TAYSHEEDRA, LLC; DR. ANGIE INGRAHAM, ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT PATIENT ADVOCACY BUSINESS; NYIMA SANYANG, BARAKO HOME CARE LLC; KARI MYSKER, ETHER WELLNESS, LLC; AMANDA THOMAS, PINT SIZED PARTIES NOT PICTURED: ROBIN ZANDER, ESTABLISHING A UNIQUE, CURATED RETAIL SPACE

BUILDING BUSINESS AND BUILDING WEALTH

1709 Landmark Dr. Cottage Grove, WI 53527

608.243.5000 800.236.5560 summitcreditunion.com

The Summit Credit Union Fellowship for Women Entrepreneurs is equipping 11 local women with the hands-on experience, mentorship and resources needed to make confident, strategic decisions for their business.

Now in its second year, the fellowship builds on Summit’s longstanding leadership in small business lending. The program exists to offer greater support for women entrepreneurs in growing wealth and financial security by helping them take their business to the next level.

The year-long program is in partnership with StartingBlock, Madison’s business startup hub, going beyond financial needs to offer each fellow:

• Personalized guidance on how to open and operate a business, from creating a business plan to choosing a location to boosting market visibility and revenue.

• Coaching on financial literacy, funding and other insights for business as well as personal goals.

• Community building through networking opportunities and workspace at StartingBlock’s innovative co-working space.

Learn more today on how we’re helping to start and grow businesses to build financial security in our community at SummitCreditUnion.com.

BRICK BY BRICK: A FAMILY LEGACY

Margo Goodwin is the second-generation owner of United Brick & Fireplace, Dane County’s oldest family-owned brick, stone and fireplace supplier. Founded in 1973 by her father, Ken, the company marked its 50th anniversary in 2023.

Since stepping up as president in 1995 when her father was diagnosed with cancer, Margo and her brother, Joe, have transformed United Brick & Fireplace into the region’s premier source for masonry materials and luxury fireplaces. Their team serves homeowners renovating their dream space, builders crafting homes all around the region and architects designing Madison’s skyline. Today, United Brick & Fireplace is a certified womanowned business enterprise with over 30 employees.

Margo’s next big build? Passing the company to the next generation. Her son, Keegan Moldenhauer, and her nephews, Nate and Jeremy Goodwin, work across the business, carrying on the values her father instilled in her.

In a field still light on female leaders, Margo’s story is proof that grit and passion can turn even the most traditional industries into places where new voices can thrive.

L-R: NATE GOODWIN, JEREMY GOODWIN, JOE GOODWIN, MARGO GOODWIN AND KEEGAN MOLDENHAUER

MARGO GOODWIN

What

thrive — and that’s what it’s all about.

— Shawna Alt ”

FROM REAL ESTATE PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO CEO

Shawna Alt didn’t always picture herself leading one of Wisconsin’s largest real estate companies, but growing up, she was surrounded by the industry as her mom owned a brokerage. She took a job as a personal assistant at First Realty (later merged with Weber Realty to become First Weber) after college, and what began as an entry-level role turned into a journey of growth and leadership.

In 2022, she stepped into the role of CEO.

First Weber believes that buying or selling a home is more than a transaction — it’s a life-changing experience. That’s why the company combines technology with a personal touch, supporting agents with training, legal guidance and marketing tools so they can provide exceptional service to their clients. Its mission is to help its agents thrive so they can help their clients and communities do the same.

The First Weber Foundation has contributed more than $4 million to Wisconsin nonprofits. Funded by donations and matching company contributions, the foundation supports a range of causes — from food banks to disaster relief.

SHAWNA ALT

I

— Michelle Behnke ” “

BUILDING SUCCESS IN BUSINESS AND BEYOND

Attorney Michelle Behnke finds her satisfaction in making a meaningful impact for her clients and her profession.

“I love playing quarterback for my clients and helping them accomplish their goals,” she says.

As a business attorney, Michelle works with clients on a variety of issues, from providing general business advice to assisting with the transfer of their business to the next generation. Her most important role, she notes, is helping clients see potential issues before they can cause problems while also helping them to take advantage of opportunities.

Michelle gets equal satisfaction from serving the legal profession and the community. As the president of the American Bar Association, Michelle works with lawyers from around the country to ensure that our justice system works as intended.

“I am so lucky to be doing what I love,” she says. “Each day, I get a chance to make a difference for someone.”

MICHELLE BEHNKE

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A PASSION FOR DESIGN THAT CONTINUOUSLY DEEPENS

From the time Melissa Dale, owner of Olivine Designs & Home Solutions, was a little girl, she found herself drawn to design, “fixing up her room,” arranging furniture and adding personal touches.

Today, she runs her own residential and small commercial interior design business, specializing in remodels to material and finish selections to kitchen and bath design and project management.

Melissa’s philosophy is to create spaces that reflect their occupants. What began with a girl rearranging her bedroom has grown into a career of helping others feel at home in the spaces they love most.

478 Commerce Dr., Ste. 205, Madison WI 53719 608.658.2529 | olivinehomesolutions.com

THE DRAGONFLY HOT YOGA MANAGEMENT TEAM

MELISSA DALE

A SMARTER APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE

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Our physician-only care team provides patients with direct access to expert advice, lower specialty referral rates, fewer urgent care visits, cost-conscious diagnostic testing and labs, and lifestyle-focused recommendations. Moreover, in 2026, Direct Primary Care membership expenses will be health savings account-eligible!

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A SPACE DEDICATED TO CONFIDENCE, WELLNESS AND ARTISTRY

Wilson Aesthetic Company is where advanced clinical care meets elevated, natural aesthetics. Founded by Becky Berkan, a seasoned nurse with over 25 years of experience, it’s more than a place for beauty — it’s a space where confidence, wellness and artistry converge.

Services include dermal fillers, biostimulators, facials, microneedling, chemical peels, injections and more. Berkan’s blend of medical experience and aesthetics training allows her to deliver results that are not only beautiful, but also safe, precise and tailored.

990 Janesville St., Ste. 5, Oregon, WI 53575 608.219.0654 | wilsonaestheticcompany.com

BECKY BERKAN

AMANDA PREIMESBERGER, MD, AND TRAESE KUHL, DO

Beyond Hair Lies Her

–

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Surgeon

– Scalp and Eyebrow Transplant, PRP regenerative therapy, and low-level laser light therapy for hair loss

– Laser and Microneedling skin rejuvenation and injectables therapies for reversal of photoaging and correction of scars

– Dr. Shamila Rawal’s own medical-grade skincare line tR(x)i prescribed to treat many skin types and conditions

Beautiful patient with devastating follicular destruction/hair loss after surgery and radiation treatment for brain tumor. Her hair and confidence have been restored after receiving two hair transplant surgeries and regenerative medicine technologies from Dr. Rawal.

Beyond Goodbye

Grief changes us — but it can also reveal new depths of connection, community, compassion and healing.

BY LAURA ANNE BIRD, REBECKA CRANDALL, NIKKI KALLIO, BETSY KORBINYR, MICHELLE KULLMANN, HANNAH WENTE AND KATIE VAUGHN

A Greener Goodbye

Having a special place to go to and remember a loved one can bring families comfort in times of loss, but a conventional cemetery burial can be pricey — and concerning for those who are environmentally conscious.

The nonprofit Sòlas Natural Burial Preserve between Middleton and Waunakee, certified by the Green Burial Council, offers families the chance to purchase a plot on its 20-acre grounds and bury their loved one in an ecologically friendly way. Natural burial prohibits embalming chemicals, concrete/ vaults and synthetic materials including those used in making traditional caskets, says Anita Lawrence, director of community relations for Sòlas.

Families can bury their loved one in a shroud, urn or casket. The caskets are handmade by monks from the New Melleray Abbey in Dubuque, Iowa. Graves are marked by GPS, carved wooden headstones, trees, and native plants and flowers, Lawrence says.

When Lawrence speaks to groups about Sòlas, she tells them, “Your very DNA is programmed to return your body to the earth and provide sustainable life for other living beings. And all you have to do is not interfere. Sòlas doesn’t interfere.”

Currently, natural burials make up a small percentage of burials in the U.S., but interest is growing as more people become concerned about the environmental impact and expense of

traditional burials. A conventional burial in Wisconsin can cost up to $9,000 or more. A plot at Sòlas costs $4,600 for families who opt to bury a loved one in linen (that price does not include an urn or casket, notes Lawrence).

Sòlas, which means “light” in Gaelic, is a nonprofit and was launched in October 2023 by “a group of people that just wanted to give back to the environment,” Lawrence says. The property is surrounded by trees and the grounds include mown pathways to the gravesites. Deer and cranes roam the grounds. The property also has a pavilion where up to 75 people can gather.

“Sòlas is a beautiful place to be and a beautiful place to rest ... it is incredibly peaceful out here,” says Lawrence.

– Nikki Kallio

SHANNA WOLF

Anita Lawrence

Honoring the Grieving Body

BY BETSY KORBINYR

When we lose someone we love, our brains process the grief searching for answers, trying to make sense of things. Our bodies mourn; we weep, refusing to eat, yearning until our hearts feel they’re breaking. Though difficult, these physical reactions are all natural parts of navigating an emotional loss. It’s referred to as the grieving body.

There is another side to this coin. It is the deep sense of mourning we feel from changes that happen in our own bodies, known as body grief.

We experience body grief when we have to incorporate complex changes related to our internalized self-image. It is the lack of trust in a hand that no longer functions the same after a stroke, the loss of a limb or a breast, an injury that extinguishes our ability to participate in a sport we love, and the inevitable shifts that come with aging. It is about inhabiting a body that no longer seems to fit one we feel betrayed by in some way. However, it is vital to remember that we are not separate from our body and our body still has value even though there has been a physical change. Whether we are experiencing emotional loss or body grief, the remedy is the same approach: Treating ourselves like we would a dear friend. Giving ourselves grace and gentleness, kindness and forgiveness, comfort and meaning. It involves not comparing our situations with others by engaging with platitudes such as, “You’re lucky you don’t have (fill in the blank).” We are each on our own journey and equating our losses with others is not healing for us. It includes seeking support from professionals if the struggle becomes too daunting; staying grounded in the positives that remain; and finding the space for quiet reflection by spending time experiencing the wonder and awe of nature, allowing ourselves to just be present in the moment.

There is no returning to “normal” after a significant loss, but there will be a new normal. Like any form of grief, actively processing and acknowledging the accompanying emotions that we feel about our bodies helps us find our way to a settled, restorative place.

Betsy Korbinyr is a retired social worker who specialized in grief and bereavement, and the author of the awardwinning book, “Time, Beauty, and Grief: A Hike Through Wisconsin’s 50 State Parks.”

We experience body grief when we have to incorporate complex changes related to our internalized self-image. It is the lack of trust in a hand that no longer functions the same after a stroke, the loss of a limb or a breast, an injury that extinguishes our ability to participate in a sport we love ...

Betsy Korbinyr

Grief Is a Winding Road

BY MICHELLE KULLMANN

In the days after Cade, my 18-year-old son, unexpectedly and tragically died from a fentanyl poisoning almost four years ago, I remember sitting with my other son, Ross, and saying to him, “I don’t know how to do this. There’s no road map for grief.”

There is no manual. No checklist. No well-lit path to follow. I could feel the pain living in every single cell of my body, 24/7. I was afraid that I would never feel different and I’d be stuck in this deep well, living a life that felt like a prison sentence.

Thankfully, that acute stage of pain dissipated over time. Now, I have gotten to a place where I believe that living my life to the fullest is the most profound way I can honor my son.

While every person’s grief journey is unique, here are five key practices that have kept me tethered to life, love and purpose:

FIND MEANING IN THE MADNESS

After Cade died, I was filled with anger that I had never heard that “one pill can kill.” At the time, nobody was talking about the rising danger of counterfeit pills. I immediately turned my pain into advocacy. I reached out to news outlets. I told Cade’s story publicly, even when it hurt. I lobbied for law changes. I pushed to get Narcan (an opioid reversal agent) installed in all of the UW system’s dormitories. I know telling Cade’s story has saved countless lives.

I also got certified as a Grief Yoga® instructor and I host grief retreats. I believe that every action done in his honor is a thread in the tapestry of Cade’s ongoing legacy and the impact he is leaving behind in the world.

The takeaway: Finding meaning in loss doesn’t have to be something elaborate. It could be as simple as making your loved one’s favorite food, telling their favorite joke or making a donation to a charity in their name. Think about what makes you feel connected to your loved one and the ways that you can honor them.

NATURE IS HEALING

Cade loved the outdoors. He was always chasing sunsets, jumping into lakes and finding joy in the beauty of the world. After he died, I found myself drawn to the places he loved to frequent: Governor’s Island on Lake Mendota, Gibraltar Rock and Devils Lake.

Nature reminds us that everything has a cycle — and nothing lasts forever. There’s a rhythm to life and to death. As I sit in awe of trees that are hundreds of years old or mountains that have been around for millennia, I realize that our time on earth is fragile and just a blip. While I’m here for such a short time, I want to make the very most of it.

The takeaway: When I watch a sunset now, I do it for both of us. I carry Cade with me in those quiet moments. When I connect with nature, the more grounded I feel even in my grief.

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

Grief is a lonely road. Just as our relationship with our loved one is unique, so is our grief journey. And yet, community is one of the most essential elements of healing.

Early on, I found a group of moms who had also lost their children to fentanyl poisoning. They didn’t try to “fix” me they understood. I also leaned heavily on my friends and faith community. They brought meals, sat with me, listened to me, prayed for me and reminded me that I wasn’t alone.

The takeaway: Grief doesn’t want to be solved. It doesn’t need to be fixed. It wants to be witnessed. Seen. Held. We need to be surrounded by those who remind us that, while the pain is uniquely ours, we don’t have to carry it alone.

Michelle Kullmann

BELIEVE IN SOMETHING BIGGER

When Cade died, I was reading a book on near-death experiences. I am a Christian, and believe in God and in his

promise of eternal life. Reading modernday stories about visits to heavenly realms comforts me in my belief that our consciousness continues after bodily death. My knowledge that Cade’s spirit is still with me just in a different form has been a lifeline. It allows me to maintain a relationship with Cade in spirit, talk to him and look for signs.

The takeaway: When I raise my vibrational energy by focusing on higher-level emotions, such as love, gratitude and joy, I feel closer to him and he shows up in dreams more often. So, I work to stay in those higher emotional states not because the grief is gone, but because I want to feel Cade’s presence.

RELEASE PAIN FROM THE BODY

In those early weeks and months of grief, my nervous system was completely dysregulated. I couldn’t sleep. I’ve since learned that my nervous system was stuck in the sympathetic survival state

of fight, flight or freeze, and that if it remained dysregulated, it could have led to chronic health conditions.

My long-time yoga practice and finding Grief Yoga® have been essential in my healing journey. In a Grief Yoga® class, gentle movement, breath, sound and meditative flows are used to express sorrow, and release pain and suffering, which helps to regulate the nervous system. Space is then created to connect with love, empowerment and emotional liberation.

The takeaway: Find soul-nurturing practices that best support your emotional wellness. When the nervous system is regulated, and in a state of rest and digest (parasympathetic state), we are better able to open our hearts to our healing journey, and start transforming our pain into purpose, love and meaning.

Michelle Kullmann is a 2022 BRAVA Woman to Watch, bereaved mother, Grief Yoga® instructor and certified grief educator.

Celebrating Life, Not Loss

Alanna Thiede’s parents worked in hospice and palliative care. This instilled an innate desire in her to help others through the death and grieving process. And, it led her to found Good Mourning with Lydia Scofield and Helen Stewart in 2023.

“The three of us were talking about our experiences with end-of-life celebrations and the lack of them during COVID,” explains Thiede. “We kept coming back to the fact that there’s something missing in what people are able to have for their people.”

Good Mourning offers celebrations of life, memorials and living funerals tailored to the individual’s or family members’ wishes. Traditionally, a funeral would happen after the person passes, but a living funeral allows an individual to bring others along on the journey of a terminal diagnosis and gives them a sense of community.

We bring [grief] up in a way that is judgment-free, because this is a part of our lives in one way or another. We provide the tools to think through what’s meaningful to you.

— Alanna Thiede

Good Mourning offers support for individuals (or their loved ones) in planning these celebrations, and making the gathering feel special and unique to the honoree. It’s akin to a wedding or other soiree, where the person of honor has a key role.

Events have been held in various settings, including a restaurant, community center and a monastery. Thiede says the team actively seeks alternative spots besides funeral parlors.

Services range from day-of event support communicating with vendors and shepherding family members to full-blown event planning. Good Mourning’s services are tailored to aid the person planning the event.

Thiede and her team have been pleasantly surprised that people are open to talking about tough topics like grief and loss.

“We bring [grief] up in a way that is judgment-free, because this is a part of our lives in one way or another,” she says. “We provide the tools to think through what’s meaningful to you. Occasionally, we cry and we have to be OK with it as part of the work. It’s care and intention, above all else.”

Last fall, Good Mourning hosted an end-of-life celebration for a man diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).

“He knew he wanted to bring his family around,” Thiede explains. “It’s been said at funerals, ‘I wish they could have heard all of these things and see how much people care.’ He could participate, hear the stories, share in the laughter with his kids and wife, and have time for them to be together.”

– Hannah Wente

L-R: Helen Stewart, Lydia Scofield and Alanna Thiede

Creating Connection Amid Grief

When Meghan Allynn Johnson received the call that her father, who suffered from dementia, was actively

dying, she rushed to his side. Although he was unable to talk, Johnson found ways to communicate with and comfort him until he passed.

“The profoundness of that experience completely changed me,” says Johnson, an artist who was running a gallery in New York City at the time. “I was able to hold the grief and the beauty simultaneously.”

And when, just 18 months later, Johnson sat alongside her mother as she died from breast cancer, she realized she felt called to deathwork.

Johnson enrolled in a death midwifery program learning both the logistical and community aspects of end-of-life care and formed the Madison Death Collective with artist and grief worker Taylor Franklin. A community resource for death and grief care, the group hosts events and workshops, makes and sells its own grief-centered products, opens conversations and fosters connections.

Johnson focuses on promoting folk and fringe death care practices, and seeks to learn from past traditions to find empowering practices for today.

“How can we, as a community, and humanity reintegrate death, dying and grief into our lives?” she asks.

And Johnson believes artists are uniquely positioned to lead the way.

“Artists can break rules, be on the fringes and tackle difficult subject matter,” she says.

But, she emphasizes, anyone can play a role in end-of-life care. Whether it’s by cooking or coordinating, listening or comforting, everyone can use their gifts for good in supporting someone dying, caregiving or grieving.

“We all come to our communities with creative abilities,” she says. “There are so many ways for each of us to access this space.”

— Katie Vaughn

Thursday, November 13

11:00am-2:00pm

The Edgewater Hotel 1001 Wisconsin Pl. Madison, WI 53703

Meghan Allynn Johnson

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Softening the Sharp Edges of Sorrow

Chandra Lewis says that her work as a death doula feels “mysterious” to other people, so she is glad to clear up any confusion.

“It’s about being present,” she explains. “Whether helping families navigate birth, miscarriage or terminal illness, I hold space with compassion.”

A death doula is trained to guide people of all ages through the emotional, spiritual, physical and logistical transitions at the end of life. Unlike hospice care, which provides medical care, a death doula offers non-medical, holistic support to help individuals and families navigate the end-of-life journey with dignity and presence.

“Death doulas remind us that death is not just a medical event, it’s a human one,” Lewis says.

Lewis approaches her role with expertise and empathy. She is not only certified as a death doula, a grief support specialist and a full-spectrum doula, but she’s also experienced the devastating loss of a child herself.

“My daughter was born still, so my job is deeply personal to me,” she says. “There was no one in the hospital to labor with me, no one to comfort me, no one to explain what came next. That experience cracked something open in me and I sought the training I wished someone had brought to my bedside.”

This training taught her that grief, healing and advocacy “all flow together.”

Lewis is based at Harambee Doula Care & Holistic Services, where she serves as the director of doula programming. She is also the founder of Reimagining Full Spectrum Doula Services.

“My work is guided by the needs of the people I serve. It’s a love letter to my daughter and to every family who has ever felt alone in their loss,” she adds.

For Lewis, the most fulfilling part of her role as a death doula is bearing witness.

“I’ve walked with people during some of their most tender and sacred transitions. Knowing that I’ve softened the sharp edges of sorrow for a family that is everything.”

– Laura Anne Bird

Death doulas remind us that death is not just a medical event, it’s a human one.

— Chandra Lewis

Chandra Lewis

Seasons of Grief

BY REBECKA CRANDALL

Grief doesn’t always arrive with funerals and flowers. More often, it lives in life’s transitions, when a version of the future we imagined dissolves into something unrecognizable. It shows up when a relationship ends, when we leave a job we once cared deeply about, or when our health shifts and our body or mind no longer feels familiar. Sometimes, it exists in the quiet overwhelm of witnessing a world in turmoil or feeling powerless in the face of the unknown. These experiences can spark grief, though we don’t always name them as such.

Between 2021 and 2024, my life shifted drastically. I left a career I once imagined retiring in, ended a long-term relationship, lost two grandparents and watched my spiritual beliefs reshape in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Yet within the sorrow, there were moments of deep love, connection and unexpected beauty. Love and grief are not opposites; they are intimately entwined.

Within mourning what is lost, we are often invited to rediscover a sense of purpose, to see ourselves and the world anew. Grief can bring us back to what we truly care about. In the heart of heavy experiences, it can help to look for traces of beauty, the potential for growth and the reminder that this too shall pass. When that feels impossible, it’s just as important to give ourselves permission to sit in the mud of our emotions.

The next time you find yourself on a difficult path, take a deep breath and trust that even the most challenging detours can lead to unexpected beauty, while revealing strengths and capacities you never knew you had. When we meet our grief with compassion, it softens; over time, it becomes something we grow from. Just like everything else in life, grief will change and it will morph into something meaningful over time.

Like the way leaves fall each autumn to make space for new growth, our lives are marked by cycles of change, loss and renewal. These seasons of transition, however painful, hold the potential to reshape us in profound ways.

Rebecka Crandall is a BRAVA 2022 Woman to Watch, certified grief support specialist and recovery coach with a background in community-based work.

Rebecka Crandall

At a member-owned cooperative like Dupaco, we know that a goal is a dream with a plan.

What’s your dream? A trip? A home? A green electric bass guitar?

Whatever your goal, we’re here to listen and help you create a plan to make it a reality. That’s why we spend an average of 45 minutes with each new member, helping them plan and save for their future.

Share your dreams with us, and we’ll help you set goals to achieve them.

Well-being is a key to a life worth loving.

So when you think about yours, remember that Dupaco can help you. Be Well.

2025-26

Arts and Entertainment Preview

A curated look at the performances, exhibits and cultural happenings that will keep Madison buzzing this season.

By Jessica Steinhoff

Live Music

Jon

Batiste

Sept. 24 & 25, Orpheum Theater

Many people have discovered that they’re jazz fans after encountering this singersongwriter’s music on the soundtrack to Disney’s “Soul.” With his new album, “Big Money,” he’s turning a whole lot of people on to roots music that’s built on the blues. No matter which musical genres he explores at this show, you’ll walk away a fan of his vocals, which InStyle has described as “joy personified.” madisonorpheum.com

Madi Diaz

Oct. 26, Majestic Theatre

Diaz started her career writing hits for other artists in Nashville and now she’s rocking it as a solo artist in L.A. Her 2024 album, “Weird Faith,” graced Stereogum’s best-of-the-year list and earned her two Grammy nominations, and her new release, “Fatal Optimist,” captivates with its raw emotions and stripped-down folkpop sound. majesticmadison.com

Jeff Tweedy

Nov. 21, UW Memorial Union

The Wilco frontman gave fans of his solo work a huge gift earlier this year: “Twilight Override,” a triple album responding to the darkness and depravity he sees in current events. Tweedy has found a sliver of hope in the act of creating, envisioning it as the opposite of destruction. As he put it in a recent statement: “Creativity eats darkness.” Take in this show to see what it inspires you to create. artsticketing.wisc.edu

Layale Chaker

Jan. 16, Overture Center

This Lebanese composer and violinist weaves together jazz, traditional Arabic music and melodies she has improvised on the spot to create something spellbinding. overture.org

Elvis Costello’s Time Machine

We could fill an entire issue of the magazine with this living legend’s accomplishments and still only scratch the surface. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and his band of more than 20 years have dubbed their latest tour “Radio Soul! The Early Songs of Elvis Costello,” and will be in town on Oct. 19 at the Orpheum Theater. It revisits material from Costello’s 1977 album, “My Aim Is True,” which includes two of his most iconic songs: “Alison” and “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes.” Costello and company will also perform songs from 1986’s “Blood & Chocolate” and a few surprise numbers. What might those surprises be? We’re hoping for the Motown-esque 1979 hit “High Fidelity” and the sneering 1978 earworm “Pump It Up,” which was inspired by Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues.” madisonorpheum.com

Madi Diaz

Jon Batiste

Jeff Tweedy

Soar, Shimmy and Snack with the Symphony

The start of Madison Symphony Orchestra’s 2025-26 centennial season is making fans flip with two special events. Those flips include actual acrobatics thanks to Cirque de la Symphonie, a circus arts group that collaborates with orchestras. On Sept. 20, Cirque de la Symphonie members will perform physical feats while the symphony plays dramatic music from Hollywood films such as “Vertigo” and “West Side Story.” An after party with snacks and dancing will follow.

If a sit-down affair better suits your style, consider an event the evening before, featuring three tuneful treats by Tchaikovsky, a cocktail reception and a formal Maestro’s Dinner in the Overture lobby (Sept. 19). Pianist Olga Kern, the guest soloist, is poised to shine in the composer’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor. Play your cards right at the dinner and you might get to sit next to John DeMain, the master — or maestro, as it were — of ceremonies. madisonsymphony.org

Cirque de la Symphonie

Theater, Dance and Comedy Taylor Tomlinson:

Save Me

October 9 & 10, Overture Center

The hilarious host of CBS’s shortlived “After Midnight” returns to her stand-up comedy roots with a new tour. If this gig is anything like her previous ones, it may feature her misadventures in mental health care and funnybecause-it’s-true observations about dating. overture.org

“The 39 Steps”

Oct. 22-Nov. 30, American Player Theatre

Four fantastic actors — Nate Burger, Casey Hoekstra, Laura Rook and Marcus Truschinski — portray more than 100 characters in this hysterical thriller. The play is based on Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film of the same name, plus the 1915 John Buchan book that inspired it. As Stefon from “Saturday Night Live” might say, it has everything: villains, clowns, innkeepers, a police officer, inanimate objects that talk and more. americanplayers.org

Margaret Cho: Choligarchy

Dec. 7, Barrymore Theatre

The comedian, actor and activist is a master at using stand-up comedy to challenge audiences’

preconceptions about cultural identity and sexual orientation. She’s also a gifted comedic actor, stealing scene after scene in “Fire Island,” Hulu’s modern, queer retelling of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” Whether you’re seeing her for the first time or the 50th, you’re likely to leave the theater with a fresh perspective and a case of the hiccups. barrymorelive.com

“The Everlasting Faint”

Feb. 13 & 15, Overture Center

Attend the first official performance of a spooky new opera by Scott Gendel, a Monona-based composer who’s also Madison Opera’s principal vocal coach. Based on the 1897 Greenbrier Ghost case, the story centers on a mother (Katherine Pracht) and the ghost of her daughter (Tori Tedeschi Adams), who visits to share a chilling piece of information. madisonopera.org

Taylor Tomlinson

Margaret Cho

“Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo”

Feb. 26, Overture Center

After Madison Ballet reveals ballerinas’ tough side in “Rock the Ballet” (Oct. 10-12, MYARTS), this troupe of tutu-clad men will show just how silly they can be. Though slapstickery and preposterous personas are part of the package, this isn’t just a comedy routine. These drag ballerinas have serious dance chops. madisonballet.org

April 3-5, MYARTS

This performance celebrates the innovation and ingenuity of female choreographers, who are surprisingly rare in the world of professional dance. The program includes world premieres of works by Endalyn Taylor and Ilana Goldman, plus local debuts of creations by Caili Quan, Stephanie Martinez and Nathalia Janvion. Stick around afterward on opening night for a discussion with the choreographers or on closing night for a reception marking dancer Shannon Quirk’s 15 years with the company. madisonballet.org

Primal Light

MAJOR SPONSORS

and Charles Casey

and Linda Graebner

ADDITIONAL

SPONSORS

Margaret Murphy, in memory of Howard Kidd

madisonsymphony.org/ light

MASON BATES

Resurrexit

CÉSAR FRANCK

Symphonic Variations, M. 46

GUSTAV MAHLER

Symphony No. 2 in C minor, “Resurrection”

This concert opens with a fresh take on the story of resurrection with lush layers of colorful sound evoking a cinematic feel. Resurrexit by Mason Bates will take you on a mystical pilgrimage with shimmering exotic tonalities that give way to contemplation and dramatic stirrings of rebirth. César Franck’s Symphonic Variations is a masterpiece of collaboration between piano and orchestra celebrating the interplay of poetic musical voices. Christopher Taylor’s virtuosic artistry is a perfect fit for this intimate and lyrical work. Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 is one of the most profound and transformative works ever. Written over six years, it journeys from a somber funeral march to a luminous vision of resurrection and renewal. Mahler once described this symphony as “my whole life in one work.” Themes of struggle, hope, and transcendence will bring us to a glorious reassurance of light in our lives. Be part of the experience.

CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR Piano

JOHN DEMAIN Conductor MADISON SYMPHONY CHORUS Beverly Taylor, Director

FONS Mezzo-Soprano

JENI HOUSER Soprano

“Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo”

April 9-26, Overture Center

Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” gets a fierce makeover in Lauren Gunderson’s new play about turning a steamy fantasy-romance series into audiobooks. The perfect voices belong to exes who can’t help sparring with each other, so drama and hilarity ensue. With artistic director Jen Uphoff Gray directing, this production should be the star of Forward Theater’s new season. forwardtheater.com

Visual Art, Film and Books “Lady Disdain”

Disney and Pixar: “Toy Story” in Concert

Oct. 5, Overture Center

Cheer on Woody the toy cowboy and revel in the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” at this concert paired with a screening of the 1995 animated adventure. madisonsymphony.org

Child’s Play

The Children’s Theater of Madison is ringing in its 60th anniversary season with a lineup of family favorites and premieres.

In October, Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical” (Oct. 4-19) returns, with high-energy dance performances and catchy songs. Also in October, “Winnie the Pooh (And His Pals Too!)” (Oct. 11-19) will hit the stage.

Lovers of Mo Willems’ works will enjoy “The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza” (Nov. 29-Dec. 1), a brand-new musical. December brings CTM’s holiday tradition “A Christmas Carol,” (Dec. 6-21) set in Dickensian Victorian England. February threads in the epic fantasy “The Hobbit” (Feb. 7-22), full of trolls, dragons and adventure.

In 2026, CTM presents the “rolling world premiere” of “Tiara’s Hat Parade” (March 7-22), an exciting one-woman show. The season concludes with Disney’s “Newsies” (May 2-17), the musical inspired by historic newsboys who stand up for justice.

Fringe Festival

Feb. 28-March 1, Overture Center

Throw propriety out the window, and revel in weird and wonderful acts of creativity at this weekend event inspired by the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The performers can answer questions you never thought to ask before. Baby Wants Candy tackles “What might a totally improvised musical sound like?” and Chris Grace teases laughs out of weighty inquiries like “Can we enjoy life if we know how it ends?” You can even find the answer to “What if two dudes did a magic show in the nude?” when “America’s Got Talent” alums The Naked Magicians take the stage. overture.org

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“An Evening with David Sedaris”

Oct. 22, Overture Center

Sedaris’ 2024 release “Pretty Ugly” is a delightful departure from his tragicomic personal essays. The collaboration with “Olivia” author-illustrator Ian Falconer was marketed as a “beautifully gross picture book” for young children, but this tale of an ogre who wakes up with the face of — gasp! — a human girl is for anyone eager to redefine what it means to be beautiful in western culture. Meanwhile, his 2022 essay collection, “Happy-Go-Lucky,” mines comedic gold from two heavy subjects: the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of his father. Whether Sedaris explores these works or shares a new set of yarns at this visit, expect to be dazzled by both the details and his delivery. overture.org

Book Smarts

The Wisconsin Book Festival brings book-lovers together again for a four-day celebration, this year from Oct. 23-26. With a mix of in-person and virtual events that are free and accessible to the public, award-winning authors of all genres — fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children/teen and more — host readings and events. Although the organization also hosts free year-round author events (see right), the annual fest is always a must-do for bibliophiles. wisconsinbookfestival.org

Toshiko Takaezu’s

Sculpture Revolution

Abstract artist Toshiko Takaezu experienced an awakening when she visited Japan to explore her Okinawan heritage in 1955. There, she studied traditional pottery techniques that came to shape her signature “closed form” ceramic sculptures. In “Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within” (Sept. 8-Dec. 23, Chazen Museum of Art), some of her creations are small enough to hold in one hand and others are expansive, forming entire worlds for viewers to experience. Takaezu insisted that memories we hold within ourselves, in “the dark space that you can’t see,” were the most compelling force behind much of her work. Her powerful perspective helped many people conceive

of clay as an expressive medium for fine art, not just something for making soup bowls.

Takaezu’s philosophy extended to her classrooms at UW-Madison, where she taught from 1954 to 1955, as well as the Cleveland Institute of Art, Princeton and beyond. She was known for comparing glazing to dancing and demanding that new students follow her directions to a tee. Case in point: She made her most famous pupil, Brooke Shields, trim her fingernails before touching the clay. Takaezu also taught many professional visual artists, including UW alum and West Coast Funk sculptor Clayton Bailey. chazen.wisc.edu

The Road to a Pulitzer Prize

Percival Everett’s “James,” the UW’s 2025-26 Go Big Read selection, imagines “Huckleberry Finn” in a new light, giving Jim more control over his choices and, by extension, the story.

“It turns a familiar American story upside down and shows us, with the power of dialogue and perspective, an entirely different way of viewing the same world,” says Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, noting how “James” encourages readers to “reflect on how stories are told and whose voices are heard.”

This extraordinary novel took home the Pulitzer Prize in the spring. Now Madison gets an equally extraordinary opportunity: meeting its creator at a keynote speech co-hosted by the Wisconsin Book Festival on Nov. 7 at Union South. wisconsinbookfestival.org

David Sedaris

The Art of Expression

Three Madison women that are making waves in dance, music and the visual arts.

Arielle Juliette

Arielle Juliette is the kind of person who claps back. The professional dancer and owner of Madison’s Dance Life studio, who uses both she/her and he/him pronouns, is leading a liberation movement fueled by creative movement. She describes Dance Life as “neurodiversity affirming, welcoming to the entire queer community, age positive, fat positive, and well versed in social justice and activism.” This means no mentions of calories, plus a sharp focus on selfacceptance and fun.

For Juliette, it’s about respect: “Every body deserves access to joyful dance and movement.”

Juliette’s formative years were marked by bodily violations, including unwanted touching at school. She started cutting to cope with the pain. Then she gave dance a try. It was a revelation. She fell in love with belly dance while studying with local instructor Mona N’wal in 2004 and soon began performing across the country. Juliette opened Dance Life in 2010, building a community of empowered women through classes on belly dance, ballet and burlesque. Some of her first students, including her mom, are now instructors. The studio’s Inappropriate Song Night (Nov. 1) is a rollicking rebellion against repression and oppression — and it sells out every year.

Dance Life has supercharged Juliette’s own self-discovery, too. “Since opening, I’ve come out as queer, trans and autistic, and use my platform and lived experience to combat anti-fat bias and other forms of social oppression,” she says.

Meanwhile, her TikTok account has amassed more than 480,000 followers. Whether you want a dance tutorial, a dose of inspiration or new ideas for silencing internet trolls, it’s the place to be. madisondancelife.com

Autumn Maria Reed

Reed is a shining example of the bright musical future Madison is building. The Berklee College of Music-trained composer and sound designer has created contemporary classical music for string ensembles, a score for the documentary film “Curio” and theatrical music for a number of Wisconsin companies.

Reed has also composed for the Music Theatre of Madison and the Are We Delicious? theater ensemble, and the Chicago Philharmonic performed her composition “Robin’s Eye View” in Ravinia’s 2024 Breaking Barriers Festival. One of her most exciting opportunities happens this fall. Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra will perform her new “Mental Health Suite” for its Musical Landscapes in Color project. Dubbed “Endeavor,” (Oct. 10, Overture Center) this concert will highlight other Black American composers as well, kicking off with Regina Harris Baiocchi’s enchanting “Muse for Orchestra” and concluding with Xavier Foley’s thunderous “Soul Bass Concerto.”

“Mental Health Suite” reflects Reed’s dedication to “ending the stigma of mental illness,” and honoring the resilience of people who’ve been marginalized and misrepresented. Reed also plays cello and string bass in Dayvin Hallmon’s Black String Triage Ensemble and Black Diaspora Symphony Orchestra, which perform for survivors of violence and other forms of trauma. overture.org

Jeanne C. Wilkinson

An abstract painter turned digital collage artist, Wilkinson blends photos and other images using apps rather than paintbrushes. Scenes from nature and urban environments often enter the mix. Wilkinson divides her time between Brooklyn, N.Y., and Madison, capturing images from both.

According to Wilkinson’s artist statement for the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies project, her installations often meld two sets of projected images, which collide and intertwine between a pair of translucent scrims. Seeing the art and being the art become one and the same when she invites viewers to step into this environment. Their bodies add shadows and Wilkinson often documents their interactions with the images around them.

This experience is part of her upcoming installation, “Earthlings: Revisited” at Overture Center (Feb. 28-March 8), which is linked to the venue’s Fringe Fest performances (see P. 147). overture.org

Jessica Steinhoff is a Madison-area mom, writer and mental health professional.

SHOP LOCAL

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A DREAM MADISON MEAL

Wish you could cherry-pick a dish from all of your fave local joints and combine it into one, to-die-for dining experience? One food writer conjures up his fantasy food lineup.

BY KEVIN REVOLINSKI

I’ve always imagined teleporting back in time to the sublime dishes I’ve tasted and experienced from my travels: the churrasco by the bus station in Managua; Basque cheesecake at La Viña in San Sebastian; and Northern-style curry at khao soi namae in Chiang Mai. But, limiting my geographic menu only to Madison — here’s what I’d recommend.

Marigold Kitchen

SOUPS

Soupe à L'oignon Gratinée at Lallande

Where else should you get this classic, but at a French restaurant? Lallande’s rich onion soup consists of beef stock accented with white wine and caramelized onions, topped with a baguette and gruy ère cheese, and baked. C’est bon!

Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup at The Old Fashioned

As Wisconsin as it gets, this soup calls for the restaurant’s house brew (a malty bock beer), heavy cream and a healthy dose of aged cheddar. It’s garnished with popcorn, of course.

APPETIZERS

Roman Fried Artichokes at Cento

With a light, tempura-like batter, these quartered artichoke hearts have the perfect combination of crunch and tenderness, and the pickled shallot and lemon aioli complement the marinated vegetable.

at Tempest Oyster Bar

A big hit, especially during happy hour, the oyster menu typically features four varieties from each of the coasts (East and West). Mix and match to find a favorite.

Garlic Chile Fries at Dexter’s Pub

As a side or a full order, this signature dish is reason enough to go to Dexter’s: brew fries drizzled with tangy garlic and chile-infused oil.

SALADS

The Porta Salad at Porta Bella

The legendary salad of now-defunct Paisan’s is still served at its sister Italian joint. The base is romaine and iceberg lettuce that’s topped with ham, salami, mozzarella, cheddar, green peppers and garbanzo beans.

Oysters

Cento

The Harvey House

Dexter's Pub

Roasted Beet Salad at Marigold Kitchen

This unmatchable, zesty creation features roasted beets and grapefruit with pepita-crusted orange goat cheese, plus radishes, frisée, field mix and citrus zest with champagne vinaigrette.

MAIN COURSE

Three Cup Tofu at Nattspil

The vegetarian version of its popular Taiwanese street-food chicken dish comes with rice wine-glazed tofu and is dressed up with basil, garlic, ginger and sesame oil.

Superior Walleye at The Harvey House

This filet of the finest of the freshwater

fish is served with a buttered toasted rye crust and horseradish sabayon, with savoy cabbage and spätzle on the side.

Filet au Poivre at Tornado Club

Steak House

Nothing’s finer than this classic supper club’s delectable peppercorn-crusted 10-ounce filet of locally sourced, grass-fed beef served atop a cognac mushroom cream sauce.

DESSERTS

Black Sesame Ice Cream at Muramoto

A popular flavor in Japan (it’s even used as a spread for toast), black sesame paste is a revelation for

uninitiated taste buds. It brings a unique, sweet nuttiness to ice cream.

Sticky Ginger Cake at Grampa’s Pizzeria

Imagine a round, single-serving ginger cake, warm and moist, served with fresh lemon whipped cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, and crunchy candied pistachios — yum.

Crème Brûlée at Cadre

This brandy crème brûlée is decorated with cherry coulis, candied orange, Angostura bitters meringue, and vanilla biscotti. It’s not boozy — the alcohol burns off in the process.

COCKTAILS

Sherried Old Fashioned at Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè

The bookstore/bar puts a signature touch on the classic, adding Lustau Pedro Ximenez Sherry with bourbon, orange and cherry bark vanilla bitters.

Trinidad Sour at Cordial (Nonalcoholic)

The “dry” version of this rye-based drink employs The Pathfinder (a hemp-based NA spirit), Seedlip Grove 42 (an NA dry citrus spirit with orange, lemon peel, lemongrass and ginger), orgeat, aperitif and lemon.

Kevin Revolinski writes about travel and food, and often travels for food.

Marigold Kitchen

Tornado Club Steak House

Leopold's Books Bar Caffè

BLACK - OWNED AND FLAVOR - FORWARD

These newer Black-owned food and drink spots all offer sips and bites that are deliciously different.

BY KEVIN REVOLINSKI PHOTOGRAPHY BY HILLARY SCHAVE

RASTA BARISTA

Sei and Melissa Kidau each spent part of their childhood years in Liberia and Jamaica, respectively, and both have a history of coffee farming in their family. At Rasta Barista, their coffee shop and café, the couple imports premium Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans and roasts them in small batches for their coffee drinks. Try the smooth nitro brew, or sip a cappuccino, latte or macchiato.

The Kidaus grow their own Scotch bonnet peppers at Madison-based Troy Farm to bring the heat to their Jamaicaninspired lunch dishes, including the jerk chicken lollipops and sandwich. Also available is the flaky crust beef or curry chicken patty — the Jamaican equivalent to empanadas. The cafe’s affogato is a scoop of hazelnut gelato topped with two shots of espresso and dusted with Biscoff cookie pieces and cocoa powder. (Closed weekends.) rastabarista.com

Sei and Melissa Kidau

JUICY ORGANICS

With a soothing green forest mural, vibey music and comfy lounge seating, Juicy Organics is not your typical juice bar. With the help of his partner, Ashiantii Collier-Slaton, Corey Marionneaux transitioned his pop-up juice bar into a brick-and-mortar spot on the Capitol Square that whips up plant-based drinks. One offering is the Iron Woman, a combination of blueberry, banana, beet powder, goji berry, almond milk and peanut butter.

Also find boba tea, coffee and freshly squeezed lemonade, in addition to a wide assortment of teas with

health benefits. The menu includes power bowls and organic pizzas with cauliflower or gluten-free crusts. Nonalcoholic wines are served on the weekends when the lounge stays open until 1:30 a.m., and a few healthful meat dishes and a wine and beer license are in the works. juicy-organics.com

TAILER NICOLE WINE & CUPCAKES

Dr. Shakkiah Curtis’s relaxing lounge inside the Black Business Hub on South Park Street serves a varied mix of wines, including a vast selection of

HAYES PLACE

Connee and Dwight Hayes opened their special event space in Northgate Shopping Center in 2023 for weddings, birthdays, reunions and corporate gatherings. Hayes Place also hosts public events throughout the month, including music bingo, food and drink nights (such as tacos and tequila), karaoke and even an annual Thanksgiving dinner. DJs and performers are common, and there’s typically a pop-up food vendor onsite. Some events are even aimed at the 35-plus crowd. hayesplace.net

Black-owned wines, as well as some premium, alcohol-removed wines. Gourmet cupcakes tempt guests from a glass display — and some are even wineinspired, such as a cabernet choclate cupcake (gluten-free options are available by advance request). Also on offer are small bites, charcuterie boards, cookies and CocoVaa chocolates.

The lounge’s schedule is packed with events, including karaoke Fridays, Saturday brunch (unlimited mimosas, anyone?), tastings and a monthly “meet the author” series. Check the website for the lounge’s hours of operation. tailernicolewineandcupcakes.com

Rasta Barista

L-R: Juicy Organics

A HOP GARDEN TRIFECTA

The musical beer garden opens a third location.

BY KEVIN REVOLINSKI

Drive into the lovely little town that is Paoli, and you’ll likely hear it before you see it: music drifting out over the water from Hop Garden Brewing’s shaded beer garden along the Sugar River. The taproom’s outdoor space hosts live music and a convivial crowd throughout the open-air season. That recipe for success was repeatable, and founders Rich and Michele Joseph have since opened two more Hop Garden locations — the most recent this past July in Belleville.

The Josephs opened their Paoli taproom ten years ago in the back of an 1860s stone flour mill with the intention of serving their own beers featuring the hops they grow on their 16-acre hop farm near Belleville. In 2023, they opened a second Hop Garden in another historic building, a 1907 post office in Evansville, this time with the addition of a barbecue restaurant to its biergarten/live music model. Popularity has

already compelled them to add 60 more seats to the space earlier this year.

But now the Josephs have something brewing closer to home. Designed by architects Angus-Young Associates, Inc. and built out by Findorff, the new downtown Belleville location is located in the historic 1917 Garage at 107 W. Main St. The indoor restaurant and taproom has seating for up to 170 people as well as a private function room. The outdoor patio faces a stage overlooking Lake Belle View and the Sugar River. Much like the Evansville location, food focuses on the art of barbecue, featuring smoked brisket, pork, chicken and burnt ends, and live music draws from local talent.

Rich is excited for the new location and credits their loyal customers for Hop Garden’s continued success.

“This year is extra special, as we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of our Paoli taproom,” says Rich.

MINERAL POINT IS A DREAM FOR ARTSY TRAVELERS

This small town packs big charm into a perfect day trip.

BY SHELBY ROWE MOYER

BY

PHOTOGRAPHY

HILLARY SCHAVE

Red Rooster Café

Abeautiful bookstore. A niche stationary shop. Tons of good eats and about a dozen art galleries. Mineral Point has so much more than you’d ever expect from a small town — here’s how to spend a leisurely day in this gorgeous area. Also: Bring a cooler, because you’re taking treats home.

9 A.M.

Café 43 downtown on High Street is a must. Located within the historic Old Royal Inn, Café 43 has cozy charm with a rotating breakfast and lunch menu based on what’s seasonally available. If French toast is on the menu, order it.

10 A.M.

Most shops and art galleries can be found downtown along High and Commerce streets, and there are a few places it’s recommended you visit.

Republic of Letters is an independent bookstore with a stellar selection of books. In the back, you’ll find The Book Kitchen, which hosts cooking and baking classes.

Michael’s Fine Art and Antiques up the road is not your typical gallery. Many of the awe-inspiring 19th- and 20th-century paintings have been collected by the owner during his travels abroad.

Then there’s Mayday Press, specializing in European and Japanese stationery and office supplies. Treat yourself. You’ll find pens for $2.25 all the way up to $290. (No joke.)

Make sure you visit the many art galleries that are clustered on High Street, including Little Elk Art

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Collective, Green Lantern Studios, Wantoot, Sirus Sunlight Glass Studio and Huie Art. And whatever you do, don’t leave without Night Shift chocolate from Proper Maid Women’s Art Collective.

12:30 P.M.

Red Rooster Café on High Street is a favorite for Cornish fare — especially their Figgyhobbin, a layered pastry with raisins and caramel sauce. Cow Tippers on Commerce Street has patio seating with great cocktails and specialty burgers.

Huie Art

Red Rooster Café

2 P.M.

If you haven’t already walked the shops on Commerce Street, now’s the time. Long Branch Art Gallery and Jane Wilcoxson Studios are personal favorites. On the other end of the block, award-winning Hook’s Cheese Company cheese can be purchased at their factory location or across the street at Five Point Market and Liquor.

3 P.M.

Drive down Shakerag Street. It’s where you’ll find Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Workshops and classes

are held year-round for everything from writing and painting to jewelrymaking and blacksmithing. The miniature campus is open to the public during daylight.

Nearby is Brewery Pottery. The 1850s limestone building was a brewery for over 100 years. Now, it’s stocked with pottery made onsite and tons of other wares from area artists.

4 P.M.

Take a mini break at American Wine Project, which is open on Saturdays from 1-8 p.m. and Sundays from

EVENTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS

Mineral Point Farmers’ Market

Saturdays through Oct. 25, 8:30-11 a.m.

Water Tower Park

Mineral Point Car Show

Sept. 13, 12-4 p.m.

Soldiers Memorial Park

31 st Annual Cornish Festival

Sept. 26-28

Various venues, with a musical headliner at the Mineral Point Opera House. ($15-$25.)

Fall Art Tour

Oct. 17-19, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Mineral Point, Spring Green, Dodgeville and Baraboo

Demonstrations at Brewery Pottery

Oct. 25, 1-4 p.m.

Brewery Pottery

Halloween Parade Oct. 31, 4:45 p.m.

High Street

View all events at mineralpoint.com/events.

American Wine Project

Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts

Long Branch Art Gallery

1-6 p.m. The inside is cute, but the gardens are truly stunning. It’s the perfect place to sit for a while and taste its wines made with “locally sourced, cold-climate hybrid grapes,” according to the winery. Grab your cooler and stock up on house-made wine, locally made cheese and butter, and craft beer.

5 P.M.

Commerce Street Brewery Hotel offers comfort food in an intimate environment. They’re known for their English style fish and chips. The best part? You don’t even have to leave — seven quaint rooms are located right upstairs.

In the mood for something else? Popolo offers wood-fired pizzas, and The Sweet Life Ice Cream Parlor is next door for a sweet meal ending.

Shelby Rowe Moyer is a journalist who lives in Mineral Point.

Popolo

AND PLACES | Top : Araceli Esparza, Brenda S. González and Dr.

Martinez share a laugh during a photo shoot at Centro Hispano. Centro unveiled its new building in April 2024 after operating for 20-plus years out of its old location around the corner on Badger Road. Right : Juicy Organics’ dreamy space on the Capitol Square serves smoothies, hot and boba teas, coffee and healthy bites. Bottom : Contemporary art pieces hang in Huie Art, an art gallery in downtown Mineral Point. Left : Ink & Ivy Book Boutique is owned by a mother-daughter duo, and is a pleasant stop for a new book, art piece or small gift.

FACES

Nydia

TOP, MIDDLE, RIGHT HILLARY

LEFT SHANNA WOLF

1, 2025

M AT I L D A T H E M U S I C A L

October 4-19, 2025

THE PIGEON GETS A BIG TIME HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA!

November 29-December 21, 2025

THE HOBBIT

February 7-22, 2026

Disney’s NEWSIES THE MUSICAL

WINNIE THE POOH (AND HIS PALS TOO!) Theater for the Very Young October 11-19, 2025

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

December 6-21, 2025

TIARA’S HAT PARADE

March 7-22, 2026 BUY TICKETS

TASTE OF BROADWAY

May 2-17, 2026

May 30, 2026

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