PLATTEVILLE, WI (07/24/2014)(readMedia)-- University of Wisconsin-Platteville announced its 2014 spring semester Dean's List. Students receive this academic honor in the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture and the College of Liberal Arts and Education must achieve a 3.5 grade point average and students in the College of Engineering, Math and Science must earn a 3.5 grade point average.

Among those who made the Dean's List were:

Melissa Dunlavy from Bettendorf, IA

Kyle Gambon from Coal Valley, IL

Brandon Lane from Donahue, IA

Amy Meyer from Eldridge, IA

Stephen Owings from Eldridge, IA

Karen Newlon from Hampton, IL

Erin Litterst from Milan, IL

Chelsea Levesque from Moline, IL

Allison Wells from Moline, IL

Stacy Clark from Riverdale, IA

UW-Platteville, founded in 1846, is located in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin, near the Iowa and Illinois borders. The University, the fastest-growing four-year school in the 13-college University of Wisconsin System, enrolls more than 8,000 undergraduate students.

(Iowa City, Iowa) - The Johnson County, Iowa, Board of Supervisors today approved a proclamation encourage autonomous vehicle testing as a public safety and economic development initiative.

The proclamation passed unanimously on a 5-0 vote.

"When you consider what's already available, such as hands-free parking, this technology is utterly amazing," said Janelle Retting, Johnson County Supervisor.  "I'm excited that Johnson County can be on the forefront of testing, innovation, and safety, providing jobs and opportunities for our citizens."

The Iowa City Area Development (ICAD) Group has made autonomous vehicle testing a priority since March and has already met with industry leaders at the Automated Vehicle Symposium in San Francisco last week.

According to Mark Nolte, ICAD Group President, autonomous vehicle testing technology needs two things to advance, real road time and simulated testing, and Eastern Iowa is the ideal spot.  "We offer ready connection to the University of Iowa with its depth of research in Human Factors, Driving Simulation and V2V systems, as well as the National Advanced Driving Simulator," said Nolte.  "And now the public sector has stepped up to declare that our roads can be made available to advance public safety and gain more consumer adoption."

ICAD Group continues to set meetings with companies and organizations from the Automated Vehicle Symposium and is working on establishing dates with local city councils for future proclamations.

The Johnson County proclamation reads as follows:

PROCLAMATION
ENCOURAGING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TESTING AS A
PUBLIC SAFETY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

WHEREAS, the next technological transformation that will profoundly affect our lives will be the introduction of passenger and freight automobiles operating with autonomous functionality.  These vehicles have the potential to one day eliminate traffic fatalities caused by human error and distraction.  Furthermore, intelligent vehicles will reduce congestion, emissions and the need for costly additions of lanes to busy roadways; and

WHEREAS, the University of Iowa and its related research endeavors, most notably, The National Advanced Driving Simulator and the Public Policy Center, have been at the forefront of advancing innovations in vehicle-to-vehicle communications, sensor technology, human factors, artificial intelligence, and public policy issues critical to the success of this transformational change; and

WHEREAS, many companies in our region have been successfully pioneering similar vehicle systems in the agricultural, aerospace and related fields, and there exists a cluster of software and technology companies whose development can be encouraged by supportive communities; and

WHEREAS, it is our stated goal to engage in strategic economic development initiatives that will create high-paying employment opportunities to strengthen our overall economy and provide benefit to all citizens.  We realize that those communities and states that are first to embrace this life-saving and transformational technological advancement will stand to gain the most potential economic benefit.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that we, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, do hereby proclaim that Johnson County welcomes the testing and operation of intelligent vehicles on the streets and roads over which we have jurisdiction in accordance with applicable law, as a means to encourage the advancement of this technology and to create economic benefit, and will, if necessary, work collaboratively with other jurisdictions in Johnson County to address any issues that arise in order to best protect the safety of our citizens.

Signed this 24th day of July, 2014, in Johnson County, Iowa

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McNamara Tabbed as Executive of the Year

Wilken Earns Ticket Executive of the Year Honors

CHANDLER, Ariz. (July 23, 2014) - The Quad City Mallards Wednesday night were named the Central Hockey League's Most Improved Franchise for 2013-14 while Mallards president Bob McNamara won the Brad Treliving Executive of the Year award and manager of ticket sales Zac Wilken was honored as the CHL Ticketing Executive of the Year at the league's nineteenth annual summer conference awards banquet.

"We're thrilled to win, especially considering the high quality organizations and executives throughout the Central Hockey League," said McNamara. "Now we look forward to continuing build on what we've achieved and making even more strides as we prepare for the 2014-15 season."

The Mallards enjoyed a landmark campaign in 2013-14. Last season saw Mallards attendance increase by better than 800 fans per game, while on the ice coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski piloted the club to its first semi-final appearance in 11 years.

McNamara is approaching his third season as the club's president. Before joining the Mallards, McNamara spent 15 seasons as general manager of the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins and one year as president and governor of the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs. During his time with the Bulldogs, McNamara oversaw the execution of the 2012 AHL Outdoor Classic at Ivor Wynne Football Stadium, a game that set a Canadian AHL attendance record of 20,565. During McNamara's tenure in Grand Rapids, the Griffins enjoyed success both on and off the ice, winning two regular season championships and five division titles and increasing attendance in four of his final five seasons.

Prior to making the move to Grand Rapids, McNamara acted as assistant general manager of the International Hockey League's Cleveland Lumberjacks for five years. His duties with the Lumberjacks ranged from sales to hockey operations to virtually every other area of the organization.

A native of Toronto, McNamara earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Notre Dame in 1983 after spending four seasons as the Fighting Irish hockey team's number one goaltender. Upon graduation, McNamara signed with the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres and spent three seasons with the Rochester Americans, the Sabres' AHL affiliate. In 1986, he moved on to the International Hockey League and the Milwaukee Admirals. McNamara tended goal for the Admirals for two seasons and served as a player/assistant coach in his second campaign with the club.

Wilken was honored by the league after just his first season overseeing the Mallards' ticket sales operations. The East Moline native was named the team's manager of ticket sales in May of 2013. He first joined the Flock in November of 2012. Wilken received a master's degree in exercise and sports science from Concordia University Irvine after earning his bachelor's degree in physical education at Rockford College. Wilkin also played football as an undergrad, earning all-conference honors at safety. He went on to serve as an assistant football coach at Dekalb and United Township High Schools as well as at Rockford College. He has taught in the Belvedere and Rock Island County school districts.

2014-15 Mallards season tickets are now on sale. Ticket packages are available to meet almost any budget.

A limited edition season ticket holder Mallard jersey, 12 additional ticket vouchers per seat and free parking are among a host of exclusive benefits available to season ticket holders. For more season ticket information fans can call the Mallards' business office at 309-277-1364.

About the Quad City Mallards

A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are approaching their eighteenth season and their fifth in the Central Hockey League. One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10. The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record. In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched. The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club. For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.com. Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

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Coralville, IA - July 24, 2014 - West Music Company, with headquarters in Coralville, Iowa has been honored with two national awards, a Top 100 Dealer award by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) as well as the Steinway Dealer of the Year award in June 2014.

Top 100 Dealer

The Top 100 Dealer Awards bring together the best NAMM retail members across the country, recognizing best practices and rewarding the most effective campaigns. The retail music product stores that receive the distinction of being a "Top 100 Dealer" are judged by a panel of industry experts on criteria including:

• Showing a clear understanding that the success of a retail store is directly related to customer satisfaction.

• Providing a retail experience worth returning for and recommending others to.

• Designing a floor plan, merchandising and marketing that encourages repeat sales.

• Preparing for future success with sound planning, marketing and training initiatives.

• Using the web and social media in engaging, effective ways

Recognition of Top 100 Dealers as well as the awards ceremony for the "Best Of" Awards took place this past week at the Summer NAMM Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Steinway Dealer of the Year

West Music received the Steinway Dealer of the Year award in June 2014 at a special awards ceremony in New York, New York. West Music is the exclusive dealer of Steinway, Boston, and Essex pianos in the state of Iowa. The Steinway Dealer of the Year Award recognizes outstanding performance in such areas as Steinway concert-and-artist programs, product knowledge, and customer service. This is West Music's fifth time to receive the "Dealer of the Year" award.

"It is an honor for West Music to receive this award as it is a recognition of all of the hard work our associates put in to supporting a truly excellent family of brands," said Robin Walenta, president of West Music. "The Dealer of the Year award exemplifies our commitment to providing support and developing our customers and the products they are searching for each and every day of the year."

For more information about West Music and their expansive piano services, please visit pianos.westmusic.com.

About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry, while promoting the pleasures and benefits of making music. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of more than 9,000 member companies in 87 countries around the world. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

About Steinway and Sons Piano Company

Since 1853, Steinway pianos have been handmade to last for generations. A treasured possession that grows in value over the course of time, Steinway is the choice of 99% of concert artists, and it is, quite simply, the standard by which all other pianos are compared. Details about Steinway & Sons may be obtained by calling (800) 366-1853 or by visiting www.steinway.com.

About West Music Company

Founded in 1941, West Music continues to fulfill its mission of creating musical communities by providing knowledge, products, and services people need to experience the power of making music! West Music specializes in pianos, guitars, drums and percussion, band and orchestra instruments, and print music as well as offers music instruction, repair and music therapy services. West Music has eight retail locations in Iowa and western Illinois including two new locations with their recent merger with Kephart's Music Center. For more information, visit West Music's website at www.westmusic.com or call 1-800-373-2000.

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