In the Ring Season 2 Episode 9: Moving from I/Me/Mine to We/Us/Ours with Mike Victorson
Héctor Colón concludes season two with M3 Insurance CEO Mike Victorson
Mike Victorson
CEO, M3 Insurance
Mike Victorson is the chief executive officer (CEO) of M3 Insurance, responsible for the strategic direction and vision of the agency, identifying opportunities for growth and innovation, cultivating organizational culture, and serving the community. Victorson serves on the M3 Insurance Board of Directors and is a member of M3’s Executive Operating Committee.
Mike earned degree in political science and speech communication from Augustana College. He joined M3 in 1992 and learned business through a variety of roles in customer service, sales, and sales management. Mike served as vice president of M3’s employee benefits division from 1999-2003 when he advanced to president of M3. Mike was named CEO of M3 in 2005.
In the Ring Season 2 Episode 8: Fresh Perspectives on Mental Healthcare with Meg Kissinger
Héctor Colón speaks with journalist and author Meg Kissinger in episode eight of our second season
Meg Kissinger
Journalist, Author of “While You Were Out”
Meg Kissinger spent more than two decades traveling across the country writing about America’s mental health system for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Her work on the abysmal housing conditions of people with chronic mental illness led to the creation of more than 600 new housing units in Milwaukee. She has been honored with two George Polk awards, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, and the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel.
In 2009, Kissinger and Susanne Rust were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting for their work uncovering the government’s failure to protect the public from dangerous chemicals in everyday products. Those stories won the Oakes Award and the National Journalism Award for Public Service.
Before coming to Milwaukee, Kissinger covered criminal and civil courts for The Cincinnati Post and was a general assignment reporter at the Watertown (NY) Daily Times. She was named Wisconsin Watchdog of the Year in 2015. Meg has consulted on projects for Frontline, ProPublica, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Seattle Times and the Solutions Journalism Network, among others.
Kissinger teaches investigative reporting at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and was a visiting professor at DePauw University, her alma mater.
In the Ring Season 2, Episode 7: The Power of Peer Support with Brittany Nessel and Sara Kieffer
Héctor Colón speaks with both Brittany Nessel and Sara Kieffer of LSS in episode seven of our second season
Brittany Nessel
Licensed Professional Counselor, Clinical Substances Abuse Counselor, Independent Clinical Supervisor
Brittany Nessel has been with LSS for 11 years and has been working in social services since 2006 from Menomonie WI to Minneapolis/St.Paul MN, and even Oceanside CA, before heading back to Eau Claire, WI.
Brittany primarily works in adult treatment for trauma, mental health, and substance abuse. Birttany received her both Bachelors of Science Human Development and Family Studies (2007) and Master of Science Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2010) from University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin.
Sara Kieffer
Certified Peer Specialist
Sara Kieffer has been employed with LSS since January of 2022 as a Human Services Professional and Certified Peer Specialist in Gaining Ground and a Certified Peer Specialist in Renewed Strength.
Sara got her start by working at Eau Claire Sober Living, a woman’s sober home as the house manager/mentor in September 2020 and was there for two years.
Prior to social services, Sara was in the hospitality and tourism industry for more than a decade which is what she has a BS in from UW Stout. Sara received my Certified Peer Specialist training from WIPSEI (Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative) and certification in April of 2021.
In the Ring Season 2, Episode 6: The Changing Landscape of Mental Health Treatment with Jill Chaffee
Héctor Colón speaks with Jill Chaffee in episode six of our second season
Jill Chaffee
Vice President Community Based Services, LSS
Since 2018 Jill Chaffee has led the LSS community-based services team as the Vice President of Community Based Services. Community-based services include a variety of mental health and substance abuse services (therapy, skill-building, mentoring, etc.) as well as foster care, public adoption, and various service facilitation programs. With over 24 years of experience in human services, Jill is a servant-leader to approximately 400 employees and believes that our communities are at the core of the lives we touch and critical to a person’s recovery and access to services.
Early in her career, Jill provided direct county-based social work services as well as substance use services and mental health psychotherapy. With a foundational understanding of the provision of both public and private sector services, she has spent the last 17 years in human service administration. Throughout her career, she has focused on developing accessible and high-quality systems of service delivery that result in impact for those in need. Through county work, and the development of county consortiums across several counties Jill has become an expert in program development and managing statewide services.
Jill received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. Jill has a passion for meeting people where they are, with the right services, in the community. She is energized by LSS’s diverse services available to people throughout Wisconsin and the collaborative approach to service delivery.
In the Ring Season 2, Episode 5: Evolving Milwaukee County Mental Health to Prevention-Centered Care
Héctor Colón speaks with Mike Lappen in episode five of our second season
Mike Lappen
Administrator
Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services
Mike Lappen is the Administrator of Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services. He leads a dedicated team in reform efforts to redesign Milwaukee County’s mental health system to a community-based system of care that is less reliant on psychiatric inpatient admissions and emergency room visits.
Mike oversees a vast community-based system of care that includes crisis services, care coordination/case management, outpatient care, prevention, treatment and recovery efforts across the lifespan.
Lappen serves on the Wisconsin County Human Service Association Behavioral Health Policy and Advisory Committee, the Wisconsin Council on Mental Health Legislative and Policy Committee and is the current Chairperson for the Mental Health Emergency Center Joint Venture Board.
Mike graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Master of Science in educational rehabilitation counseling. Lappen previously worked as a clinical coordinator for the Wisconsin Correctional Service, and as a supervisor and eventually director with the Ozaukee County Department of Human Services.
In The Ring Season 2, Episode 4: Making Health Insurance an “Honest Business”
Héctor Colón speaks with Common Ground Healthcare CEO Cathy Mahaffey in episode four of our second season.
Cathy Mahaffey
CEO, Common Ground Healthcare
Cathy Mahaffey is a 25-year veteran of the health insurance industry, starting her career in insurance service and sales. Shortly into her career, Cathy found her passion working in the non-profit insurance sector for a health insurance cooperative. She went on to start her own insurance agency and consulting business, and helped found the Farmers’ Health Cooperative of Wisconsin, a nonprofit that was successful in helping thousands of Wisconsin farmers gain access to higher quality health insurance coverage.
Cathy was instrumental in getting CGHC off the ground in 2012, helping to pen the business plan and loan application that secured the funding to start the cooperative. She was appointed CEO in 2014 after serving as the cooperative’s first Chief Operating Officer during its start-up phase.
Season 2, Ep. 3: How You Can Get Closer to “Yes” on State Budget Considerations
Héctor Colón speaks with Bill McCoshen in episode three of our second season
Bill McCoshen
Bill is a Partner with Michael Best Strategies. His combined decades of experience in the Wisconsin Governor’s office, as cabinet secretary, and as a successful lobbyist enable him to be an effective advisor and advocate for clients.
Before joining Strategies, Bill served as Managing Partner of Madison-based Capitol Consultants, Inc., a government relations and public affairs firm, for over 23 years. He worked with both public and private sector businesses, as well as nonprofits, to build strategic relationships, manage their public images, and implement grassroots advocacy programs.
Bill previously served as Chief of Staff to former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, and then as Gov. Thompson’s campaign manager during his successful third-term gubernatorial campaign in 1994. Gov. Thompson’s landslide 67% victory was the second-highest margin in state history and the largest margin since 1922. Following the election, Gov. Thompson appointed Bill to serve as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. Over the next four years, Bill oversaw economic development programs throughout the state. Bill remains the youngest person ever to hold the position of gubernatorial chief of staff and cabinet secretary.
Season 2, Ep. 2: Maximize ROI by Harnessing Your Organizational Superpower
Héctor Colón speaks with Melanie Varin in episode two of our second season
Melanie R. Varin
Melanie is an author and insightful business leader and change-agent combining strategy, Lean Six Sigma, sales, marketing and international leadership experience to help global teams grow via positive and sustainable change.
Melanie’s book – Ignite Topline Growth: How RevOps and Go-To-Market Alignment Spark Success – was written based on her passion for sales and marketing alignment. She’s experienced the superpower that comes with a great alignment of revenue-generating teams and wants to share that wisdom with others.
Melanie has 25+ years of experience in executive leadership, strategic planning, global marketing, national sales management, channel development, and operations. She has led three significant business turnarounds in Europe and the USA in Fortune 500 companies.
In her current role as Owner and Chief Operating Officer, TopLine Results Corporation, she applies her leadership and process skills to optimize current business operations as well as helping clients do the same. Her passions are developing high-performing teams, sales and marketing alignment, and business productivity. TopLine Results uses technology to bring together the right tools to help clients build positive and valuable relationships. These tools include customer relationship management (CRM) databases and integrated digital marketing platforms. Using the insights gained from these systems, clients can become better versions of themselves and offer improved services to their customers.
Melanie has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of International Business Studies from the University of South Carolina.
She has been married for almost 35 years to her life and business partner, Fred Varin, and has three grown children: Patrick (married to Rose), Clark, and Stephanie. When she is not working or writing, she loves to travel, enjoy long walks, read, and eat (and cook) fine food, preferably with family and friends.
Episode 8: Mike Victorson & Chris Kenyon – Not All Employees Are Treated Equal
Chris Kenyon is a partner and the managing director of senior living & social services practice atM3 Insurance. She serves as a subject matter expert, strategist, and thought leader for M3’s senior living and social services practice and is responsible for sharing information on trends and issues that specifically impact this industry.
Kenyon was instrumental in developing M3’s workers’ compensation Risk Analysis Report, a tool that helps businesses assess and benchmark their safety performance. She also conducts workshops for clients on topics such as safety and return-to-work programs.
Mike Victorson is the chief executive officer (CEO) of M3 Insurance, responsible for the strategic direction and vision of the agency, identifying opportunities for growth and innovation, cultivating organizational culture, and serving the community. Victorson serves on the M3Insurance Board of Directors and is a member of M3’s Executive Operating Committee.
Episode 7: Jose Olivieri – Living the Duties of Care, Loyalty and Obedience Over Self
José A. Olivieri is LSS’ current President of our Operating Board of Directors. He is a partner with Michael Best & Friedrich LLP Milwaukee office. He is Chair of the Labor and Employment Relations Practice Group and Co-Chair of the Government and Public Policy Group.
Mr. Olivieri also counsels in other aspects of employment law such as matters of federal and state discrimination law; NLRB and WERC law; the Fair Labor Standards Act; employee termination and discipline; unemployment compensation; and labor contract administration. He has frequently provided training to managers, supervisors and employees regarding employment law issues.
Additionally, Mr. Olivieri leads Michael Best’s Higher Education Special Practice Group, where he counsels colleges and universities on the broad spectrum of issues including governance matters, privacy issues, employment issues, student discipline issues, immigration law; labor contract administration; and other general matters.
He has taught the Advanced Employment Law Seminar at Marquette University Law School and is a frequent speaker on an array of employment and immigration-related topics.