In Business Madison

10/09/2026

AI. Startups. Healthcare’s next chapter is being written in Madison.

From AI adoption to Madison’s growing health innovation ecosystem, critical conversations are happening at the Healthcare Summit on October 29.

Join industry leaders from Epic, UW Health, GHC, Forward Health Group, HealthX Ventures, Wisconsin Technology Council, and more for candid discussions on what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s next. Local perspectives promise meaningful conversation, not hype.

Connect, join the conversation, and celebrate our 2026 Healthcare Heroes.

🔗 Link in bio to secure your seat.

🎟 Ticket sales end October 26
📍 Park Hotel, Madison
⏰ 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Get your tickets today before registration closes.

Special thanks to our presenting partner, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin; major partner, Investors Associated; and supporting partner, Quartz.

HealthcareHeroes

10/09/2026

AI. Startups. Healthcare’s next chapter is being written in Madison.
From AI adoption to Madison’s growing health innovation ecosystem, critical conversations are happening at the Healthcare Summit on October 29.
Join industry leaders from Epic, UW Health, GHC, Forward Health Group, HealthX Ventures, Wisconsin Technology Council, and more for candid discussions on what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s next. Local perspectives promise meaningful conversation, not hype.
Connect, join the conversation, and celebrate our 2026 Healthcare Heroes.
🔗 Link in bio to secure your seat.
🎟 Ticket sales end October 26
📍 Park Hotel, Madison
⏰ 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Get your tickets today before registration closes.
Special thanks to our presenting partner, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin; major partner, Investors Associated; and supporting partner, Quartz.
HealthcareHeroes HealthcareInnovation MadisonWI InBusinessMadison

10/09/2026

Love Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” or the “Fallout” TV show?

Then you’ve seen some props from Madison’s Dapper Cadaver.

The “international arms dealer,” BJ Winslow and wife Eileen design a variety of mannequins and props for TV, film, haunted houses and even medical training purposes.

The Winslows founded Dapper Cadaver in California in 2006 before moving to Madison in 2020.

Photos: Valerie Rose Visuals

Meet Madison's international arms dealers

10/06/2026

Patrick Randolph’s new business, Grandad's Farm Stop at 3802 Mineral Point Road, features various goods from local farmers and makers.

As a farm stop, the business allows farmers to earn much more on their goods than a normal grocery store (around 70 cents of each dollar).

For Randolph, who worked in higher education before leaving in 2021 to manage a small community supported agriculture farm, the business brings him full circle with his family’s legacy of working in agriculture.

Full story: https://ibmadison.com/yes-this-is-your-grandads-farm-stop/

Images of the new space: https://ibmadison.com/photos-grandads-farm-stop/

  Patrick Randolph’s new business, Grandad’s Farm Stop at 3802 Mineral Point Road, features various goods from local farmers and makers. As a farm stop, the business allows farmers to earn much more on their goods than a normal grocery store (around 70 cents of each dollar). For Randolph, who w...

10/05/2026

For the first time in more than four decades, the University of Wisconsin–Madison has launched a new college on campus, positioning the university and the state on the cutting edge of one of the most consequential technological shifts of the century.

The College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence, or CAI, officially opened its doors July 1. But while the college is new, its foundation is decades old: three established academic units — the Department of Computer Sciences, the Department of Statistics and the Information School — now sit within the college.

UW-Madison's new College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence tackles the opportunities — and questions — posed by a rapidly evolving technology

10/01/2026

New issue drop.

In Business Madison’s monthly issue debuts today with a cover story on UW-Madison’s new College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence (CAI). It’s particularly timely given the debate on the rapid speed of AI development and the technology’s potential pitfalls.

The October issue also features a story on married CEOs Julie Fussner of Culver’s and Don Fussner of Johnsonville; an interview with Myra Renee Kincade, the founder and CEO of Anesis Therapy, and a look at the new Grandad’s Farm Stop on Madison’s west side.

Fans of the upcoming Halloween holiday may also enjoy our profile of Dapper Cadaver, a supplier of lifelike props for Hollywood movies like “The Odyssey” and series including “American Horror Story” and “Law & Order.”

And don’t miss the 2026 Power 100.

Thanks for reading!

Full issue here: https://online.fliphtml5.com/nehfa/spus/ =1

09/30/2026

📋 Who’s your choice? Time is running out to vote in the In Business Madison Choice Awards 2026 formally known as the Executive Choice Awards. Visit website to vote.

09/30/2026

The story of how Cologuard overcame barriers to the early detection of colon cancer is perhaps the most compelling aspect of Kevin Conroy’s business career.

When considering the challenge Exact Sciences faced in developing a cancer screening test to find cancer at an early stage, Conroy said it’s important to understand the biology of colon cancer.

“When we started out to solve this problem, we asked, ‘Why we can’t simply find a biomarker for somebody who has a cancer in their blood?’” he said.

“Well, because the tumor isn’t deeply connected to the blood supply because it’s really small (at its earliest stages), so there isn’t much DNA being shed into the blood.”

Former Exact Sciences CEO featured in IB’s first Leadership Lab

09/29/2026

The Leadership Lab debuted with Kevin Conroy, former chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences, on Tuesday evening at the Madison Club.

Conroy served as CEO of Exact Sciences from 2009 to 2026 and chairman from 2014. Under his leadership, Exact Sciences developed Cologuard, which is used to screen for colorectal cancer.

When talking about his early days, Conroy credited his mom, a nurse, and dad, a salesman turned state legislator, in shaping him and helping him lead Exact Sciences.

“So, he served in the state Legislature for a long time, and I think it was really that household mix of a nurse educator and somebody involved in public policy.

“It was always part of the conversation, and the interesting thing about developing Cologuard is it required an immense amount of work in Washington, D.C., for us to get the FDA on board, to get Medicare on board, to get the key congressional committees to create what was called the parallel review path, which there was no product ever approved by the FDA and covered by Medicare on the same date.

“It usually required an extra three or four or five years, and we just couldn't raise enough money in the world to do a 10-year project. It was a five-year project, and I think that growing up in a household where you kind of understood the legislative process, that helped immensely.”

Full story on our website to come.

09/28/2026

A nearly 50-year-old facility, the West Y offers a variety of programming for all ages — from senior socials and activities to fitness opportunities, children’s summer camps, full-time preschool, organized sports and more — but it has outgrown its building.

YMCA of Dane County CEO Mark Westover said changing local needs and demographics have highlighted areas that demand expansion — such as childcare that includes infants and clinical care for populations experiencing health disparities.

“There’s 2,300 Ys across the country, but we’re federated, which means that we can control our programming and do whatever best meets the needs of the community that we serve,” Westover said. “We’re the Young Men’s Christian Association, but we have individuals from all religious backgrounds that utilize us, and we have partnerships from all religious backgrounds.

“It’s so critical for us to expand our reach … so we are moving from this location. … It will position us centrally to serve the needs of Fitchburg and Verona and the Madison metro.”

The West Y will soon be replaced by a new, $58 million facility on a 7-acre site at McKee Road and Spoke Drive in Fitchburg.

Full story: https://ibmadison.com/new-fitchburg-ymca-to-offer-expanded-childcare-healthcare/

YMCA of Dane County, Inc.

For years, Britnay Paffel’s sons have participated in programs at Madison’s West YMCA — programs she said have helped her family feel supported, build community and spend more time together. Her 4-year-old has attended the nonprofit’s early childhood education program, swim lessons and Five ...