In Business Madison’s inaugural Executive Excellence: Finance & Technology Awards ceremony, held Thursday evening at Garver Feed Mill, drew 300 attendees and honored 11 winners for their roles in the growth, vitality and future of their organizations, and for their contributions to the Greater Madison community.
More than 40 other finalists were also recognized at the sold-out event.
Troy Van Beek, enterprise chief financial officer for American Family Insurance, was named financial executive of the year, and Pam Reynolds, CEO of Total Administrative Services Corp., received the award for technology executive of the year.
Van Beek has gained a reputation as a transformative financial architect. He has been instrumental in AmFam’s growth from $6.5 billion to over $20 billion in revenue, spearheading strategic capital management, optimizing real estate, and achieving the company’s lowest expense ratio in decades — leading to a $603 million net underwriting gain in 2024.
As a community advocate, Van Beek and his family have fostered over 10 children. He contributes to several nonprofit and educational advisory boards, including Domestic Abuse Intervention Services and the UW-Madison School of Business, and he coaches youth basketball.
“I’ve been working in finance for my whole career and to be recognized in this way is quite special, especially coming from this group of individuals and in this community,” Van Beek said. “Representing American Family with this award and the accomplishments of our team, that means the world to me.”
Reynolds, the first non-family and female CEO of Total Administrative Services Corp., a third-party benefits administrator, has spearheaded the development of more than 50 service offerings and features, including the company’s MyTASC platform. Over 25 years, she has navigated TASC through periods of significant growth, acquisitions and technological transformation.
Reynolds is an advocate for tax-saving benefit accounts and has been instrumental in securing large government contracts for TASC, including the Combined Federal Campaign, a workplace giving program in which millions of employees and retirees donate money and volunteer time to participating charities.
She also champions local community giving, having facilitated employer and employee contributions to over 7,500 nonprofits and leading numerous volunteer initiatives.
“While it’s an individual achievement, it’s certainly a team achievement,” Reynolds said. “I appreciate the recognition of the business community of everything we do to contribute to our customers and to our community at large.”
The event, previously known as the CFO of the Year Award program, was expanded to include technology professionals because of In Business Madison’s interest in casting a wider net with its coverage, according to Dave Neill, publisher of the magazine.
“In addition to casting a wider net, we wanted to include more than the C-suite,” Neill said. “In this program, formerly being CFO of the Year, there was a variety of talent in the room, people in different professional positions, and so this is exactly what we want to be doing — growing our audience, diversifying our audience and including more people.”
Financial leadership
Other financial award recipients include:
Financial Leader, Nonprofit Award recipient
Tom Eggert
Founder and visionary, WorldWise Microfinance
Tom Eggert has led WorldWise Microfinance from a $3,000 initiative to an organization with a $500,000 economic impact across six countries, emphasizing human-centered outcomes and operating with an all-volunteer board.
Beyond his microfinance work, he is a retired University of Wisconsin-Madison professor who pioneered sustainability education, and he continues to contribute to the community by teaching financial literacy, serving on numerous nonprofit boards and volunteering as a poll worker.
Financial Leader, Large Business Award recipient
Traci Mann
President-Madison Market, Old National Bank
With 36 years at Old National Bank (formerly Anchor Bank), Traci Mann serves as both Madison Market president and commercial real estate director, overseeing a portfolio of over $2 billion. She’s consistently led banking teams through significant market disruptions and organizational transitions.
In the community, Mann is a dedicated mentor, both formally and informally, within her organization. She holds board roles with Downtown Madison Inc. and the Madison Regional Economic Partnership, and volunteers with the Madison Symphony Orchestra.
Financial Leader, Small Business Award recipient
Beth Norman
Norman Fletchall team leader and certified financial planner, RBC Wealth Management
Beth Norman, a third-generation leader of the Norman Fletchall Team at RBC, has driven $88 million growth in net assets in five years and has been recognized as a top wealth advisor by Forbes and AdvisorHub.
One of Norman’s passions is to create opportunities for women in finance, and she has pursued it by establishing RBC’s Women’s Association of Financial Advisors Ambassador program. She dedicates approximately 300 hours annually to leadership roles on numerous Madison-area nonprofit boards, including Second Harvest Foodbank and Tri 4 Schools.
Financial Leader, State and Local Agencies Award recipient
Angela C. Thomas
State controller, state of Wisconsin
As Wisconsin’s state controller, CPA Angela Thomas has been one of the taxpayers’ best friends, generating $4.92 million in new revenue by optimizing the state banking contract, implementing enhanced fraud protections, and reorganizing her office to improve efficiency and retention.
An award-winning CPA and a lieutenant colonel in the Civil Air Patrol, Thomas serves on numerous boards, including the Dane County Airport Commission, and she regularly volunteers to promote financial literacy and support various community and athletic events.
Financial Rising Star
Elle Switzer
Director of annuity product management, TruStage
Elle Switzer has spearheaded the design and implementation of multiple new and enhanced annuity products, including a flexible accumulation offering in 2025 and an award-winning retirement calculator, driving 22% year-over-year deposit growth in 2024.
Beyond her product leadership, Switzer mentors UW-Madison students through the Risk and Insurance Department’s Co-Curricular Learning Board, and she volunteers with her local school’s “Do Something Good Club” to organize community service events.
Technology leadership
Other technology award recipients include:
Technology Leadership, State and Local Agency Award recipient
Jill Huizinga
Faculty member, Madison College
An innovator in business education, Jill Huizinga has pioneered an “AI for Marketing Small Business” course which integrates AI ethics and literacy into the curriculum, and she has expanded entrepreneurial education to underserved populations within correctional facilities.
Huizinga, co-owner of Niche Publications Inc. in Beaver Dam, also collaborates with nonprofits, including Kiva, an international organization that helps unbanked people gain access to financial services; the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp., a statewide economic development organization that supports women entrepreneurs; and both the Latino and Black chambers of commerce. In these efforts, she supports a diverse population of business professionals, and she mentors aspiring business owners through Madison College’s business competitions.
Technology Leader, Large Business Award recipient
Jeff Thomas
Director and information security officer, Pelago
Jeff Thomas is credited with leading cybersecurity for rapid growth at Pelago, a virtual clinic for substance use management. He has built and scaled global information security and compliance programs, and he was instrumental in securing funding and major client contracts for the rapidly growing virtual clinic.
With 37 years of volunteer service to the Civil Air Patrol, and the current commander of the Wisconsin Wing, Thomas leads disaster response and youth development initiatives. He also co-founded the Madison chapter of ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association), a professional association focused on IT governance, risk management and cybersecurity.
He also established its scholarship program, fostering digital trust and leadership in the local technology community.
Technology Leadership, Small Business Award recipient
John Samuelson
CEO, Earthling Interactive
As the chief executive of Earthling Interactive, a web application and development consulting firm, John Samuelson navigated the company through the pandemic, redefined its operational structure, and launched MaintainIT, a scalable, recurring service model that aims to strengthen client relationships.
Samuelson has supported the Greater Madison community by serving on the leadership committee for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Visionary of the Year campaigns in both 2024 and 2025.
Technology Rising Star
Tommy Stanek
CEO and co-founder, Graceful Management Systems
Tommy Stanek has developed an AI-powered, cloud-based enterprise resource planning platform to address the estimated $177 billion in annual preventable losses in the construction industry — one that significantly reduces costs and improves estimating accuracy.
For its innovative technology, GMS has been recognized as a finalist in the Wisconsin Innovation Awards. The company also took second place in the Wisconsin Governors’ Business Plan Contest.
GMS also has raised more than $1 million in seed funding from investors such as Glasswing Ventures and Firebrand Ventures, and it has secured $100,000 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Technology Development loan program.
By reducing waste in materials and transportation, GMS offers the promise of a more eco-friendly future for the construction industry.
Financial finalists
Other finalists in the finance section included the following Greater Madison professionals:
· Bryan Althouse, managing partner, Capital Wealth Advisory Group
· Claudia Becker, chief financial officer, Catholic Charities Diocese of Madison
· Bruce Berndt, founder, Berndt CPA LLC
· Stefan Davidson, finance director, Common Wealth Development
· Misty Dodge, finance director, city of Fitchburg
· Shauna Gnorski, executive vice president and CFO, One Community Bank
· Ted Gunderson, senior vice president, Lake Ridge Bank
· Amanda Jabs, CFO, Food Fight Restaurant Group
· Carmen Jeschke, vice president of finance and operations, Madison Community Foundation
· Bill Juelich, fiscal coordinator, Employment & Training Association
· Craig J. Klaas, CEO and president, Klaas Financial
· Christopher Konz, EVP of finance, MIG Commercial Real Estate
· Naomi Kroth, CEO and project manager, Bachmann Construction
· Jack Krumbach, financial advisor, Compelling Wealth Advisors
· April Kumapayi, accounting manager, Center for Community Stewardship
· Elizabeth McCluskey, managing director, TruStage Ventures’ Discovery Fund
· Gene Meyers, executive deputy airport director, Dane County Regional Airport
· Glenn Miller, managing partner, Wegner CPAs
· Khadija Mims, CFO, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
· Dan Nardi, volunteer, Felicia’s Donation Closet
· Allison O’Connor, financial advisor, Compelling Wealth Advisors
· Stephanie O’Connor, director of merchant experience, Wind River Payments
· Kathy Olson, lead property accountant, Broihahn Management & Consulting, LLC
· Tim Ryan, CFO, Lake Ridge Bank
· Bob Schaller, CFO and corporate secretary/treasurer, Hooper Corp.
· Jenny Shimon, CFO, Nordic Global
· Nanette Strennen, CFO, Certco Inc.
· Victoria Thayer, founder and CEO, Novii CPA
· Pete Uselman, director of partner experience, Wind River Payments
· Ryan Zerwer, president and CEO, Forward Community Investments
Technology finalists
Other finalists in the technology section included the following Greater Madison professionals:
· Ray Ackerlund, president, Skyward
· Greg Albert, chief operating officer, Naviant
· Justin Bartlett, vice president of software development, Wind River Payments
· Curtis Clark, founder, Sundial Software Corp.
· Stephen Czerwinski, senior information security specialist, Pelago
· Alex Gish, co-founder, Herbal Aspect
· Jesse Joswick, technical services manager, Adesys
· Jake Kleiner, CEO and founder, SuiteDynamics
· Jason Lasky, president, SunCoast Communications and Sadoff E-Recycling
· Pat Lawicki, EVP and chief information officer, TruStage
· Scott Lewis, director of information technology, JP Cullen
· Betty Nonn, senior vice president-technology officer, Lake Ridge Bank
· Derek Notman, CEO and founder, Couplr AI
· Brian Saperstein, SVP, CIO, and chief digital officer, National Guardian Life Insurance Co.
· Matt Younkle, co-founder and CEO, Pythonic Corp.
