MadREP Update

ARCO/Murray Joins MadREP as a New Sponsor

Jorden Ludeking · Mar 5, 2025 ·

Madison, WI –– The Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) is proud to announce that ARCO/Murray, a Top ENR Rated Contractor, has joined as a new sponsor. This investment underscores ARCO/Murray’s dedication to fostering economic growth and supporting innovative development programs across the region.

ARCO’s sponsorship will directly contribute to MadREP’s mission of advancing economic development initiatives that empower businesses, strengthen communities, and drive regional prosperity. Through this partnership, MadREP and ARCO aim to create impactful opportunities that benefit residents and businesses alike.

“Our team has deep family roots in Wisconsin, further fueling ARCO’s motivation and support for groups,like MadREP, that actively keep Madison and its eight surrounding counties a thriving place to live and work,” stated Kelly Beck, Director of Business Development for ARCO/Murray’s Wisconsin office. She continued “As the area continues to see new developments and the revitalization of existing buildings, we’re excited about the value that our design-build construction approach can bring and feel fortunate to have advocates like Everett Butzine, Interim President of MadREP, helping foster those relationships.”

ARCO/Murray’s involvement comes at a pivotal time as the Madison region continues to focus on strategic initiatives designed to enhance the area’s economic vitality.

For more information about ARCO/Murray, please contact Kelly Beck, Director of Business Development. She can be reached at kbeck@arcomurray.com or 630-936-9036.

About ARCO/Murray

ARCO/Murray is a single source national design and construction firm that specializes in commercial construction for Fortune 500 companies and individual businesses. From planning to execution, ARCO/Murray’s integrated team uses the most advanced design-build methodology to deliver the best client experience. ARCO/Murray partners with engineers and designers who leverage the most advanced tools for a complete project solution – from initial planning, due diligence and design through construction and warranty. Our breadth of experience ranges from large-scale warehouse developments and build-to-suit cold storage and manufacturing facilities to extensive adaptive reuse, office, and entertainment projects. Visit: www.arcomurray.com.

About Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP)
MadREP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable economic development across the Madison region. It serves as a resource for business attraction, expansion, and retention while focusing on long-term strategies to promote regional growth and prosperity.

For more information on MadREP, please contact:

Everett Butzine
Interim President and CEO
communications@madisonregion.org

Spherion Joins MadREP as a New Sponsor

Jorden Ludeking · Feb 21, 2025 ·

Madison, WI — February 21, 2025— The Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) is proud to announce that Spherion South Central WI & Northern IL, a leading workforce solutions provider, has joined as a new sponsor. This investment underscores Spherion’s dedication to fostering economic growth and supporting innovative development programs across the region.

“We understand the vital role a strong, skilled workforce plays in the success of this region”, said Austin Kassner, Spherion President & Franchise Owner. “By investing in MadREP, we are helping to grow critical sectors in South Central Wisconsin – such as biohealth, technology, and advanced manufacturing – that are essential to the region’s continued growth.”

Spherion’s sponsorship will directly contribute to MadREP’s mission of advancing economic development initiatives that empower businesses, strengthen communities, and drive regional prosperity. Through this partnership, MadREP and Spherion aim to create impactful opportunities that benefit residents and businesses alike.

“We are delighted to welcome Spherion as a valued partner,” said Everett Butzine, Interim President & CEO of MadREP, “Their support demonstrates a shared commitment to building a resilient and thriving regional economy.”

Spherion’s involvement comes at a pivotal time as the Madison region continues to focus on strategic initiatives designed to enhance the area’s economic vitality.

For more information about MadREP or Spherion, please contact:
Everett Butzine – MadREP
Interim President & CEO
608.571.0404
communications@madisonregion.org

Austin Kassner – Spherion
President & Franchise Owner
608.572.0252
austinkassner@spherion.com

About Spherion

Driving careers. Growing businesses. Bettering the community. These tenets have been at the core of Spherion South Central WI & Northern IL since our doors opened over 30 years ago. With a deep understanding of local markets, we take great care in matching the right candidate with the right role across a wide array of industries.

The tenured Spherion team takes the time to develop relationships with everyone we work with to deliver differentiated results. Through continued investment in local partnerships and programs, Spherion remains dedicated to positively impacting both businesses and the workforce.

About Madison Region Economic Partnership

The Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) is dedicated to advancing economic development and enhancing the quality of life in an eight-county region of south-central Wisconsin. As a collaborative organization, MadREP focuses on fostering innovation, supporting businesses, and creating opportunities for sustainable growth.

Through strategic initiatives in areas such as workforce development, business expansion, and community engagement, MadREP helps build a robust regional economy that benefits residents and businesses alike. With a commitment to inclusivity and long-term success, MadREP continues to drive economic progress and position the Madison region as a hub of opportunity and prosperity.

Madison Regional Economic Partnership Welcomes Jason Vangalis as New Board President

Jorden Ludeking · Feb 19, 2025 ·

Madison, WI – Madison Regional Economic Partnership (MadREP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Vangalis as its new Board President. With over a decade of experience in community and economic development, Jason brings a wealth of expertise to MadREP, having worked on large-scale business attraction projects from diverse industries and countries.

Jason Vangalis, New MadREP Board President

“We are thrilled to welcome Jason as Board President,” said Everett Butzine, Interim President and CEO of MadREP. “His expertise in economic development and our shared vision for the Madison Region will be invaluable as we continue to foster growth and innovation.”

Jason’s most recent role involves leading Amazon’s central US expansion and economic development policy efforts. His extensive career includes advising international businesses and governments on attraction and expansion projects, as well as working on in-house economic development teams for two multinational corporations. His achievements in the field of economic development have contributed to the creation of over 20,000 jobs and more than $10 billion in capital investment in communities in Wisconsin and around the county.

“The region is an economic engine aimed at growth. I am excited to help create intention and direction in the growth of the Madison region,” said Vangalis. “And this is an exciting opportunity to build on the success MadREP has seen in the last few years. This organization has a solid foundation and partnership with Everett’s depth of economic development knowledge will help immensely in building on that. We’ve got plenty of work to do, let’s get to it!”

Jason’s leadership goals for MadREP include:

Building upon the organization’s strategic planning foundation, with a focus on traditional economic development.
Strengthening the region’s economic ecosystem by fostering connections between stakeholders throughout Madison and beyond.
Driving industry diversification across the Madison region with targeted business attraction efforts.

The Madison Regional Economic Partnership extends sincere thanks and appreciation to Peter Tang, former Board President and Vice President at Strang, Inc. Peter’s leadership over the past term was instrumental in MadREP’s growth and continued success. Under his guidance, MadREP strengthened its regional partnerships and played a vital role in attracting new businesses and fostering economic development in the area.

“We are incredibly grateful for Peter Tang’s dedication to MadREP’s mission,” said Everett Butzine, Interim President and CEO of MadREP. “Peter’s leadership has had a lasting impact on the organization, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

As MadREP moves forward under Jason Vangalis’ board leadership, the organization remains committed to driving sustainable economic development and fostering long-term growth in the Madison region. For more information, please visit madisonregion.org, or contact:

Everett Butzine
Interim President and CEO
communications@madisonregion.org

About MadREP:
MadREP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable economic development across the Madison region. It serves as a resource for business attraction, expansion, and retention while focusing on long-term strategies to promote regional growth and prosperity.

Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) Announces New Leadership Direction

Jorden Ludeking · Nov 18, 2024 ·

Madison, WI – Nov. 18, 2024 – The Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP), a leading non-profit dedicated to economic development in the eight-county Madison Region, today announced the resignation of its President and CEO, Jason Fields, effective December 1, 2024.

Jason M. Fields, CEO & President of MadREP

Fields has been with MadREP for four years, during which time he has made significant contributions to the organization’s mission of fostering economic growth and development. Under Fields’ leadership, MadREP has expanded its partner base, supported regional businesses through multiple programs during the pandemic, and most importantly developed a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), a designation from the US Economic Development Administration that positions MadREP to secure additional resources to further is mission.

“It has been an honor to serve as the President and CEO of MadREP,” said Fields. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and am confident that the organization will continue to thrive and make a positive impact on our community.”

The board Executive Committee will appoint Everett Butzine, now MadREP’s Vice President of Economic Development, to the role of Interim President and CEO to ensure a smooth transition.

“We are grateful for Jason Fields’ dedication and leadership over the past four years,” said Peter Tan, Chair of the Board of Directors. “We wish Jason all the best in his future endeavors and are committed to making sure the next phase of leadership drives our mission forward.”

For more information, please contact: Peter Tan, MadREP Board Chair, ptan@strang-inc.com

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About Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) is dedicated to advancing economic development in the eight-county Madison Region, which includes Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock, and Sauk counties. Our mission is to drive economic growth and enhance the quality of life in our communities through strategic initiatives and partnerships.

Public Comment Period: Madison Region CEDS Draft

Jessica Reilly · Jan 12, 2024 ·

This document, draft Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Elevate: Madison Region, is a work-in-progress and not a final version.

The information contained within is subject to change based on new data being collected from our external partners and ongoing analysis by our team.

We are actively seeking input from the public and are committed to incorporating this feedback into the final strategy. We believe that community input is vital to shaping a robust and effective Economic Development Strategy.

Please note that while we strive for accuracy, due to the dynamic nature of the data and the fact that it is still being collected, there may be updates or modifications in the final version. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this process.

We encourage you to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns regarding this draft. Your feedback will play an essential role in refining and finalizing this strategy.

Please use this survey to provide your comments by 5:00 PM on February 12, 2024. Thank you for your participation and contribution towards building a stronger economic future.

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