Sheboygan's Acuity wins top award for innovation, plus more news in your weekly dose.
SHEBOYGAN - Sheboygan-based Acuity is the overall winner of the 2022 Award in Innovation, presented by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, making the company the only insurer in the country to earn NAMIC’s overall award.
Acuity earned the top award from NAMIC for the insurer’s innovative strategic planning process, a news release said.
The NAMIC Award in Innovation was created to recognize mutual companies that exemplify the vision and entrepreneurialism it takes to stay relevant in changing times.
According to NAMIC, Acuity’s approach to strategic planning helps the company to set its direction, shape its brand, affirm it is headed on the right course, and allows it to make continual, incremental changes when they are needed.
The impact of Acuity’s approach to strategic planning over the past two decades has enabled the company to experience companywide growth in revenue more than 2.6 times higher than the industry average rate; policyholder surplus more than 4.2 times higher than the industry average; voluntary turnover five times lower than the industry average; and revenue per employee more than 22% higher than the industry.
Acuity insures more than 125,000 businesses, including 300,000 commercial vehicles, and nearly a half million homes and private passenger autos across 30 states. It employs more than 1,500 people.
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► Sheboygan’s Hmong Summer Festival will be July 23-24 at Kiwanis Park: The Hmong Mutual Assistance Association of Sheboygan will host its Hmong Summer Festival at Kiwanis Park July 23-24.
The event includes activities all day both days, beginning around 6 a.m. and ending around 9 p.m.
Entrance fee is $4 per person and free for kids 3 and younger.
Booths will feature Hmong foods and drinks, including ice cream and bubble teas, along with merchandise, works by local artists and more items.
Sports competitions will include volleyball, basketball, men’s soccer, dance, football and cornhole. There is a registration fee to participate in the sports competitions.
Kiwanis Park is at 726 Kiwanis Park Road, Sheboygan. For more information, contact Moua Yang at 920-458-0808 or email sheboyganhmaa@gmail.com.
► Local blood drives planned with chance to win Shark Week merch: American Red Cross is sharing the following upcoming local blood drives and is offering a chance to win Shark Week merch to those who donate:
July 15, 22 and 29 and Aug. 5, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave., Sheboygan;
July 20, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Berkshire Community Gym, 101 School St., Sheboygan Falls; and
Aug. 1, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Mead Public Library, 710 N. Eighth St., Sheboygan.
To book a time to give, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Thanks to Discovery Channel, all who give blood or platelets in July will be entered for a chance to win an exclusive Shark Week merchandise package that includes a beach bike, a smokeless portable fire pit, a paddle board, a kayak and a $500 gift card to put toward accessories. Those who give July 21-24 will get an exclusive Shark Week T-shirt from Discovery, while supplies last. Details are available at rcblood.org/sharkweek.
The Red Cross reported that in June it collected approximately 12% fewer blood donations than needed — one of the largest monthly blood donation shortfalls in recent years.
“While the Wisconsin area saw a decline in expected donations, it was not as severe as the national average,” Red Cross said in a news release. “When less people answer the call to donate, the blood supply shrinks — and that could mean blood products aren’t ready for hospital staff to reach for in emergencies.”
► Kohler Design Center hosts pop-up sale Saturday: The Kohler Design Center is planning a one-day pop-up sale from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Kohler Warehouse, 150 Birch Road, Sheboygan Falls.
The sale is open to the public, but people must register at kohler.com/communitysale.
During the sale, people can save up to 70% on select Kohler products like plumbing fixtures and faucets, while supplies last.
► Howards Grove students earn National Exchange Bank & Trust scholarships: Two Howards Grove High School students, Karly Grunewald and Kalena Wesener, have been awarded scholarships by National Exchange Bank & Trust.
Grunewald, of Sheboygan, plans to further her education at Lakeshore Technical College, where she will study business management.
Wesener, of Cleveland, plans to further her education by studying chemical engineering at UW-Madison.
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This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan's Acuity wins top award for innovation, plus more news.
