SMBA June 2015 Annual Meeting

It’s that time of year again!  Each June we hold our annual member meeting as we vote in Board members, review financials, and get updates from our various committees.

We also held a discussion period during lunch where our Board received feedback from you, our members, on what you like about SMBA, what you would like to improve, what you would like to get out of the group, and any other feedback you would like to share.  Results will be reviewed by the Board and goals, programming, and committee work will be determined based on your input!

We were also happy to have Kaleem Caire of One City talk with us briefly about funding for his initiative in South Madison.  Kaleem is heading the start-up of a South Madison learning center with goals set to increase reading levels in under-privileged children, as well as educate parents on effective and healthy parenting in order to, among many other things, support the education children are receiving.  One City is currently in the fundraising stage and hope they are able to open doors this fall for children.

SMBA will match all member contributions up to $1,000, so be sure to donate to this very worthy cause!

Craig Schmidt, SMBA Treasurer

Kaleem Caire of One City

Lorelle Micklitz, SMBA Secretary

Awards for our SMBA sponsors...thank you so much for your support!

SMBA May 2015 Meeting

This month SMBA decided to try something different, and welcomed Nancy Depcik of Unshakeable Success to talk with us about overcoming challenges in both our personal and professional lives.

Nancy Depcik is a nationally recognized speaker and coach. She has worked with major corporations such as Walgreens, PepsiCo, and Subway just to name a few. Her background as a successful salesperson, leader, and business owner have given her the secrets to Unshakable Success™, the kind of success no one can ever take away from you, no matter what may come your way. 

Nancy shared with us her secrets to staying positive during challenging times and offered suggestions on techniques we can start using today to bring joy into our lives. She showed us how to find the strength within to face life’s challenges and thrive.

From the comments we received afterwards, the presentation was a huge success and a welcome addition to our normal line of presenters!

• "Great!  I'm curious!"
• "Very good - positive talk!"
• "Good topic, "think positive" can be a real healer"
• "Nancy is an excellent speaker - enjoyable"
• "Very good.  One of my favorites."
• "Nancy was fabulous!"
• "Excellent!  Let's make lemons into lemonade!"
• "Good presenter - challenged your attitude and mindset"
• "Easily the best speaker we have had!"

Thanks to Nancy for this wonderful presentation!

Networking at the SMBA May luncheon

Featured Speaker Nancy Depcik of Unshakeable Success

SMBA April 2015 Meeting

We would like to thank Matt Mikolajewski of the City of Madison - Economic Development Division for coming to speak to our group.  The updates on many different city projects, progress his Department his made, and sharing the resources they provide to businesses in Madison were all relevant and interesting to our attendees.

We were also happy to highlight our Gold Sponsor, AMS, and hear more about their company.  Check out their website...they are much more than installers of car radios!!

Please welcome our new member this month, Mark Haas of Zounds Hearing!

And last but not least, a huge thank you to Mark Patun of AMS for donating a waterproof bluetooth speaker for our door prize...now Andy Fickett, the lucky winner, can sing in the shower to his heart's content!

Mark Patun, AMS; Gold Sponsor of SMBA

Matt Mikolajewski, City of Madison - Economic Development Division

SMBA March 2015 Lunch Meeting

Leadership Greater Madison has been an active non-profit in our community for 22 years, preparing adult leaders and helping them become engaged in the community.  We were thrilled to have Lynn Wood, Program Director for the group, come speak with us about the differences they have made with our community leaders, as well as share results of the first LGM-Youth program that kicked off in March for Dane County high school sophomores, and give a preview of a new program designed for new-to-the area executives.

Thanks, Lynn, for speaking to our group and for being such a force for building and supporting leadership in our area!

Member News
We were also excited to introduce March's new members:

• Momentum Insurance Plans, Inc. – represented by Kathleen Bobholz-Rewey
• All Comfort Services – represented by Debbie Wuksinich
• J. F. Ahern Co – represented by Chris Behrendt

We hope to see everyone next month!

Susan Thomson, SMBA President

City Updates from Carole Schaeffer

Lynn Wood, Program Director of Leadership Greater Madison