Hello everyone!

I can’t believe September is here – where did the summer go?  While admittedly, I’ma bit of an anomaly for someone who was born and raised in Wisconsin, in that I absolutely love a good 95 degree humid day, I will admit that I think the most beautiful Wisconsin season is Fall – the changing colors, cozy sweaters, and that crisp fall air.

This Fall is sure to be an exciting time for TEMPO Madison.

In preparation, TEMPO Madison and the TEMPO of Madison Foundation boards held our annual joint board meeting on August 18 at J. Henry & Sons Farm.  A heartfelt thank you to TEMPO Madison member Liz Henry, who went above and beyond with her most gracious hospitality.  The conversation was Inspirational and productive, and of course, there was that omnipresent TEMPO Madison energy.

The Joint Board Meeting tradition was started in 2018 by Beth Bennett. 

A lot has happened since our last Joint Board Meeting, including a significant restructuring of the TEMPO of Madison Foundation governance & board.  I am grateful to our esteemed working group – Linda Bochert, Kristine Euclide, Eve Galanter, Frances Huntley-Cooper, and Shana Lewis for the time, dedication, and expertise they put into laying the groundwork to restructure the governance of the Foundation by creating a smaller Board of Directors and reconstituting the balance of the current Foundation members into an Advisory Council to that Board.   As a result, along with the support of the current TEMPO of Madison Foundation Board, the Bylaws were revised and the new Board voted into place (effective July 1, 2022).    

During the meeting, the consensus was that, as there is so much going on with both TEMPO Madison and the TEMPO of Madison Foundation, that we give a brief overview of board meeting topics for our membership. 

TEMPO Madison Plans for 2022-23

Strategic Plan: TEMPO Madison has budgeted for a strategic planning session with ActionCoach.

New Standing Committees: There are three new standing committees—Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI); Mentorship; and Scholarship. 

Quarterly Happy Hours: The TEMPO Madison Board is going to try holding rotating happy hours on the fourth Thursday of the Month at 4:30 p.m. at various locations. The first one will be held on October 27 at 4:30 p.m. 

TEMPO Madison Foundation Plans for 2022-23

Joint Operating Agreement: There are some items that are housed in TEMPO Madison right now that seem like they should be under the Foundation, such as the Scholarship Committee and TEMPOShares. President Thomson would like to consider moving some of this programming to the Foundation.

Endowments/Legacy Giving: Vickie Wenzel is taking the lead on developing an Endowment/Legacy Giving Model.  

Scholarships: Applications will be going out this Fall, likely October. 

40^th Anniversary Gala – we’re in the home stretch!

Our 40^th Anniversary Gala is on October 8, 2022 at the Monona Terrace. See the newsletter for all the ways you can help make our 40th Anniversary Gala a success!  

All in all – it was a great meeting – SYNERGY was most definitely at play – your TEMPO Madison and your TEMPO of Madison Foundation – while each organization is represented by phenomenal, compassionate and strong women leaders – it is TOGETHER that we make an even greater positive impact.

My sincere appreciation to you all –

Michelle

TEMPO Madison President

It’s an exciting time at TEMPO Madison!

There’s so much going on and you can feel the energy we bring to each other.I’m sure those of you who were at our July meeting, be it in-person or virtual, can attest to the enthusiasm. 

I can’t stress enough that TEMPO Madison offers myriad opportunities to get involved. Please make sure to become familiar with ALL of the clubs and committees that TEMPO Madison offers. There’s truly something for everyone, and the beauty of it is that you can be as involved as much (or as little) as you want. We all have different needs at different times in our lives.

And of course, along with that, don’t lose sight of all the NETWORKING opportunities TEMPO Madison provides.

For instance, last month’s networking opportunity at Susan Thomson’s house on the lake was thoroughly enjoyed by those who were there. Next up from our Networking Committee, mark your calendars as on Sept. 29, back by popular demand, we look forward to Wine & Chocolate Tasting, sponsored by Cambridge Winery and Driftless Chocolates. It’s the perfect opportunity to mix-and mingle with fellow TEMPO Madison members. Special thanks to our members Laurie Tines Peregrine and Robyn Kitson for hosting another round of this ever-popular event. Tickets are $25 per person and include wine, chocolates, and appetizers. I hope to see you there! 

Several of our standing Committees--Hospitality, Networking, Scholarship, Membership and Mentorship--held a working group meeting earlier this summer to share ideas for the coming year. They hosted a dinner on July 27 at Past President Elaine Rich’s house for new members and past scholarship recipients. It was a relaxed evening of food, fun, idea-gathering, and of course, networking. 

And last, but certainly not least – our upcoming 40^th Anniversary Gala.  We’re thrilled to have Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour, as our keynote speaker for our event on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Monona Terrace. The 40^th Anniversary Committee is hard at work finalizing the details for this most special evening.  Please remember that there are numerous sponsorships available and we could use your help in promoting those sponsorships (after all, it’s a win-win for all involved, it’s great recognition, and a portion of the proceeds will go to our TEMPO Madison Foundation Scholarship Fund).  We greatly appreciate your reaching out to anyone you may know who would like to be a part!

You’ll want to be there as it will most definitely be a night to remember! 

Don’t forget –TEMPO Madison’s SYNERGY – we are ALL stronger TOGETHER!

Broadcast Legend Judy Woodruff to Keynote TEMPO Madison’s 40^th Anniversary Gala

TEMPO Madison is pleased to announce Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour, as the keynote speaker for the organization’s 40^th Anniversary Gala on October 8, 2022. The Gala will be held at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.  

"I am thrilled to be taking part in this 40^th Anniversary Gala for TEMPO Madison, which provides vital encouragement for women of all backgrounds to grow and succeed in today's competitive environment," said Judy Woodruff.

Ms. Woodruff has covered politics and other news for over four decades at NBC, CNN and PBS. In 2013, she and the late Gwen Ifill became the first two women to co-anchor a national news broadcast. After Ifill’s death in 2016, Woodruff was named sole anchor of NewsHour. Ms. Woodruff is also a founding co-chair of the International Women’s Media Foundation.

“We are ecstatic that after years of sharing other people’s stories, legendary journalist Judy Woodruff will share her personal journey as a trailblazer in broadcast news at TEMPO Madison’s 40^th Anniversary Gala,” said TEMPO Madison President Michelle Vetterkind.

TEMPO Madison, the city’s premiere networking organization for professional and executive leaders, seeks to connect influential women of diverse backgrounds and experience to help them succeed at the highest professional levels in our community. Membership consists of approximately 240 women across a variety of industries and includes C-Suite leaders, Presidents, Vice Presidents, Directors and State Agency Secretaries. TEMPO Madison provides programming related to professional development, assistance with securing corporate board seats and networking events. In addition, the TEMPO of Madison Foundation provides needs-based scholarships to young women in Dane County.

There are many sponsorship opportunities available for organizations that wish to support the advancement of professional women in our community. A portion of the event proceeds will benefit the TEMPO of Madison Foundation Scholarship Program.

General admission tickets are $115 and must be purchased in advance.

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Darcy Luoma, CEO, Darcy Luoma Coaching and Consulting

Darcy Luoma, Founder and CEO of Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting, was recently a guest on The Larry Meiller show on Wisconsin Public Radio. She discussed her book and how you can train to be Thoughtfully Fit to manage the challenges and chaos of day-to-day life. Take a listen

Marilyn Ruffin, VP, Family and Community Engagement, One City Schools

Marilyn Ruffin was part of the panel: "Leadership is Not a Title.” Women executives talk power, responsibility at Women’s Leadership Summit

Vickie Wenzel, shared this wonderful book about Kit Saunders-Nordeen, former director of women’s athletics, University of Wisconsin " The Right Thing to Do"

Kit Saunders - Noreen was a Tempo Madison member for many years and a dear friend to many. Vicki noted that Paula Bonner (past member) was extensively interviewed for the book. Before Paula ran the Alumni Association, she worked for Kit in Women’s Athletics.

Doug Moe is the author of the 50th anniversary year of the landmark Title IX gender equity legislation becoming law, “The Right Thing to Do” is both a chronicle of the rise of women’s intercollegiate athletics in the United States and a biography of one of the movement’s leaders, Kit Saunders-Nordeen, the first director of women’s athletics at the University of Wisconsin and vice president of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).

The book is locally available at Mystery to Me Bookstore, 1863 Monroe Street, Madison, WI

Orange Schroeder, Co-owner, Orange Tree Imports

Orange Schroeder is pleased to introduce the sequel to the popular APT Talkbacks to Go series: the APT Portable Prologues podcast. Together with Buzz Kemper of Audio for the Arts, Orange presents short interviews with the directors and actors of each play in the American Players Theatre season. Listen on your way to or from Spring Green to enhance your appreciation of your theatrical experience! Available on Podbean and (soon) on Apple Podcasts.

Alyssa Tsagong, Director of Education, PBS Wisconsin

The Legend of the Lost Emerald, a PBS Wisconsin Education point-and-click adventure video game, won a gold medal in the 2022 International Serious Play Awards Program. Released in February, The Legend of the Lost Emerald provides learners in grades 4-6 the opportunity to use critical thinking and historical inquiry skills by stepping into the shoes of Jules, a maritime archaeologist. Players dive underwater and gather clues to build evidence and uncover the real treasure ­– the stories of shipwrecks inspired by real Great Lakes history.

We're looking for ideas and suggestions for the 2023 TEMPOShares event! Do you have a couple of hours over the next 8 months to help us plan? We are looking to host the event in February or March 2023.

We would like to schedule the first meeting at the end of July / beginning of August, hopefully in person over a drink! We would love to have you join us!

Click on the Doodle Poll here to let us know your availability.

The TEMPO Madison Leadership Series will no longer partner with UW-Madison’s Wisconsin School of Business. The program will continue to focus on relevant, business-focused professional development programming starting in the Spring of 2023.

TEMPO Madison members, as well as external experts, will be eligible speakers. Our organization has a wealth of talent and expertise from which members can greatly benefit. Please consider serving on the leadership series committee to help develop training and programming for the professional advancement of our members.

Contact Leslie M. Petty  if you are interested in participating on the committee! 

TEMPO Madison – we are ALL stronger TOGETHER!

First and foremost, thank you for the incredible privilege to serve as your new TEMPO Madison President!  As I mentioned in my remarks at the Annual Meeting, while I’ll be forever grateful to my dear friend Joan Gillman for bringing me into TEMPO Madison in 2008, I never thought I’d be awarded the opportunity and distinct honor of leading such a prestigious group of women.   

I am so very grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from our immediate past president, Elaine Rich, during her term.  Elaine’s oh-so-calming manner and collaborative leadership style should be an inspiration to us all. 

As part of a recent radio interview (featuring local Lady Bosses), I was asked about my role in TEMPO Madison.   While of course I recited TEMPO Madison’s mission – To lead, engage, and connect influential women of diverse backgrounds and experience to help them succeed at the highest professional levels in our community….. it made me pause to think about everything else that TEMPO Madison stands for….. In addition, several weeks ago, I was asked by the program committee – what my theme will be for my year as President of TEMPO Madison.  I’ll admit that my initial reaction was to not mess up the fine work of Elaine – and all of the amazing leaders who have come before me. 

Upon taking some time to further ponder both of those questions, I’d have to say my theme for the coming year would be “Synergy – TEMPO Madison – we are ALL stronger TOGETHER”

A year ago, in my letter to the TEMPO Madison Foundation Board as president of that organization, I mentioned that one of my favorite words is Synergy…..the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect GREATER than the sum of their separate effects.”    At that time, I stated that when I think of TEMPO Madison, and the TEMPO of Madison Foundation, I believe synergy describes this mutually beneficial partnership perfectly!   While each organization is represented by phenomenal, compassionate and strong women leaders – it is TOGETHER that we make an even greater positive impact in our community.

However, after the past year, upon learning (much) more about the work of the two organizations, I strongly believe that theme continues even more-so into my role as TEMPO Madison President.  

We genuinely are ALL stronger TOGETHER – we’re there for each other – in the good times – in the bad. 

Together – we grow; Together – we are stronger; Together – we thrive.

And….Together - we have fun!   After all, there’s nothing like the energy & excitement you hear and feel when you walk into one of our monthly meetings. 

I hope you all have October 8 on your calendars for the 40^th Anniversary Gala.  From the anticipation and excitement of having Judy Woodruff as our Keynote Speaker – to the unveiling of our new TEMPO Madison Video.  I can’t wait to see the finished product of the great work of Susan Pigorsch and her Team.  After all, there’s nothing like first-hand testimonials to speak to what TEMPO Madison is truly about!   

On that note, another goal of mine is to increase awareness of TEMPO Madison.  After all, we have such an inspiring story to tell! 

We’re most definitely poised for an exciting year and many new initiatives which will be highlighted over the coming year.

I look forward to working with our TEMPO Madison Board and the newly restructured TEMPO of Madison Foundation Board.

I look forward to working with our committees, including our three new standing committees (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI); Mentorship; and Scholarship).

I look forward to working with our Executive Director, Erin Fabrizius. 

And….last but certainly not least, I look forward to working with (and connecting with) all of you, our most valued TEMPO of Madison Members. 

For now – enjoy our Madison summer.  There’s truly nothing like it!

My appreciation to you all -

Michelle Vetterkind, TEMPO Madison President

All members are invited to share their perspective on what TEMPO Madison means to them in our coming 40th anniversary video. There are two opportunities to share your story.

1. Tuesday, June 14, prior to or after our TEMPO Madison annual meeting. Our interview team will be set up in the Madison Club's Capitol Room, second floor.
2. Wednesday, June 15, by appointment. Our interview team will again be set up in the Madison Club's Capitol Room, second floor.

Please let Susan Pigorsch know if you’re able to participate on either June 14 or 15, and what time slots you might be able to accommodate on your calendar.

We welcome your perspective! Our hope is to record as many voices as possible to celebrate TEMPO Madison's 40th anniversary.

Betty Harris Custer, Founding Managing Partner, Custer Financial Services Betty Harris Custer was awarded Lincoln Financial Advisors' Stuart Smith Award. Read the press release here.

Barbara Hughes, Consultant to the Johnson Teigen, LLC law firm The Arc-Dane County selected Barbara Hughes to receive the 2022 President's Award. "The award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding efforts to affect positive change in the Iives of those with Intellectual / Developmental Disorders (IDD) and their families, with appreciation and gratitude for your dedication and hard work to bring Wings for All (R) to Dane County." The Awards ceremony will be held on June 1.

Carol Koby, Retired Carol Koby has been elected Chair of the Board of Visitors of the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer’s. The IEA promotes and supports the complementary goals of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, including its statewide memory clinic network, and the  Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, an international leader in the development of new treatment strategies and cutting edge research.

Karin Wolf, Administrator, Madison Arts Program Karin Wolf received a Wisconsin Visual Artist Association Community Arts Advocate Award.

Greetings TEMPO Madison Members and Happy June!

I can hardly believe that this is my last president’s message. Where did this year go?  When I joined the TEMPO Madison Board six years ago as a Director-at-Large focused on the Scholarship Program, little did I know that I’d eventually be graced with the enormous honor of leading this wonderful organization.  It has truly been an enriching experience and I have enjoyed meeting and engaging with many of our members.  Next month, we will be welcoming in our new leadership team and recognizing our collective commitment to keeping TEMPO Madison strong by renewing our membership. 

How can I best summarize this past year? From my vantage point, our year was one of continued transition with optimism for our future.  Last summer, we were still meeting virtually and hosting just a few, small outdoor networking events.  Then in the fall we started offering hybrid luncheons and other events and are now offering even more in-person events as we’ve come to learn how to adjust to life with COVID. Today, you can feel the energy at our events.  Our members are genuinely excited to reconnect in person.  It seems like we are back to a pre-pandemic noise level at our monthly luncheons.  Lately, I’ve had to ring the bell to corral everyone to be seated and start the meetings! 

We kicked off our 40th Anniversary year in October with an event that celebrated our past, showcasing four TEMPO Madison past presidents from each decade, while setting the stage for our future; raising about $5,300 for our Foundation’s scholarship fund to benefit female graduating high school students.  We were inspired that evening as we listened to the personal journeys our past presidents lived through to get to where they are today. We will be incorporating the theme, “There’s No Place Like TEMPO Madison” to celebrate the closing of our 40th year this October 8th at our gala. We’ll be looking back at where we started and just how far we’ve come with a video, currently in production, which will capture the interviews of TEMPO Madison members speaking about what makes TEMPO Madison special to them. For me, TEMPO Madison has always been about the strong bonds formed among us, like a sisterhood of diverse professional women coming together in a place where they know they will be accepted and recognized for who they are.         

I hope to see many of you at our June 14th annual meeting.  It’s the first time we are holding this meeting in person in three years.  The Board, committees and other group representatives are excited to host stations during our extended networking time so you can learn about the many opportunities you have to engage with TEMPO Madison members.  Our newest initiatives, the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, Project REACH, Kiva Lending and Mentoring committees cannot wait to visit with you, answer questions and see if there’s an interest in joining their committees.  The more viewpoints, expertise and experience we can bring to these initiatives the stronger they will become!

At the meeting, we will also highlight this year’s scholarship recipients.  Take a minute to say hello to them in person!  Once again, we have found an admirable group of promising young scholars.  We’ll conduct our organization’s business, approving bylaws changes and passing the gavel to incoming president Michelle Vetterkind.  Our group is in for a great year as I know her to be a leader whose enthusiasm for all things TEMPO Madison has no bounds. Be sure to stay to the end of the program for the big announcement of our 40th keynote speaker! 

Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your TEMPO Madison President.  With your kindness, support, and inspiration it has been an extremely rewarding experience. 

With gratitude,

Elaine Rich

President, TEMPO Madison 2021-2022