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BizTimes Milwaukee (ISSN 1095-936X & USPS # 017813) Volume 29, Number 13, December 11 - January 28, 2024. BizTimes Milwaukee is published bi-weekly, except monthly in January, February, March, April, July, August, November and December by BizTimes Media LLC at 126 N. Jefferson St., Suite 403, Milwaukee, WI 53202-6120, USA. Basic annual subscription rate is $108. Single copy price is $6. Back issues are $9 each. Periodicals postage paid at Milwaukee, WI and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to BizTimes Milwaukee, 126 N. Jefferson St., Suite 403, Milwaukee, WI 53202-6120. Entire contents copyright 2023 by BizTimes Media LLC. All rights reserved.

Congratulations Patrick Lubar

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LOCALLY OWNED FOR 29 YEARS

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Contents » DEC 11 - JAN 28, 2024

4 Leading Edge 4 5 6

NOW BY THE NUMBERS IN FOCUS – Callisters Christmas MEET THE WISCONSIN 275 – Kathy Thornton-Bias, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee BIZ TRACKER

8 Real Estate 42 Notable Health Care Leaders 50 Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys

COVER STORY

56 Strategies

Betting on Milwaukee

2023 Best in Business: Our annual picks for the top newsmakers of the year.

Special Reports

16 Manufacturing: Food & Beverage

Q&A with leaders of Sargento about their plans to grow the company to $2 billion in annual revenue.

56 MANAGEMENT - Dennis Ellmaurer 58 Tip Sheet

61 Biz Connections 61 NONPROFIT 62 GLANCE AT YESTERYEAR COMMENTARY 63 5 MINUTES WITH… Coreen Dicus-Johnson, Network Health

18 Nonprofit Excellence Awards

Meet the winners and the finalists for the annual Nonprofit Excellence Awards program, honoring the region’s top philanthropists, corporate citizens, nonprofits and leaders.

31 Innovation + Entrepreneurship Awards

Meet the winners of BizTimes Media’s annual Innovation + Entrepreneurship Awards, including Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jerry Jendusa and Regional Spirit Award winner Dean Amhaus.

DIC

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Leading Edge

BIZTIMES DAILY – The day’s most significant news → biztimes.com/subscribe

NOW

Cambria Hotel in downtown Milwaukee is in foreclosure By Hunter Turpin, staff writer Another downtown Milwaukee hotel is facing foreclosure: the Cambria Hotel in the Westown neighborhood. The 132-room hotel at 503 N. Plankinton Ave. opened in October 2019 just before the COVID-19 pandemic and is now scheduled for a sheriff’s sale on Dec. 19, according to records filed with the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. A foreclosure suit was filed in July by Atlanta-based hospitality lender Access Point Financial LLC,

The Cambria Hotel in downtown Milwaukee.

court records show. The defendant is the hotel’s owner, Integrated Plankinton Milwaukee LLC. The entity is an affiliate of Chicago-based Murphy Development Group, which developed the hotel. A $17.5 million foreclosure judgement was entered earlier this month, according to court records. The downtown Milwaukee Cambria Hotel has continued to operate throughout the foreclosure proceedings under a receiv-

BY THE NUMBERS Green Bay Packaging plans to build a new

$60 MILLION 233,450-square-foot manufacturing facility in Germantown.

ership, court records show. The four-story hotel also has a full-service bar and restaurant. Murphy Development Group and Access Point Financial LLC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This is the third hotel in or near downtown Milwaukee to face financial trouble recently. In August, the Hampton Inn & Suites in the Westown neighborhood was taken back by its lender in a deed in lieu of foreclosure and then in October was sold to a new operator, but the hotel has yet to reopen. Tim Dixon, the owner of the Iron Horse Hotel in Walker’s Point recently reached a deal with its lender to resolve its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While all of these hotels have unique circumstances, hotel industry experts attribute their issues to a myriad of financing challenges hotel owners and developers are facing in the post-pandemic era. The first problem hoteliers are facing, like many industries, is rising interest rates. Before COVID, many hoteliers signed five- to seven-year commercial loans with interest rates closer to 3%; those rates have risen to 8% or even 10%, according to Greg Hanis, hotel industry analyst and president of New Berlin-based Hospitality Marketers International Inc. “When you start adding on five, six, seven points of interest to a $10 million loan, it is a big hit,” Hanis told BizTimes Milwaukee in August.

The second problem is that many lenders are still hesitant to lend to hoteliers. “(Lenders are) thinking, ‘Let’s make sure the hotel industry is still viable enough to recover,’ particularly seeing that we’re dealing with inflation, we’re going into an election year next year; there’s a lot of question marks out there,” Hanis said. Things are trending in the right direction for hotels, though, as tourists and large conventions and events continue to return, but the added financial stress from the pandemic, inflation and labor shortages are causing turbulence for some hotel owners. Further, business travelers have been slower to return. The Cambria brand focuses on business travelers. “(As a hotel’s finances become more stressed) the options for owners and developers are to walk away or come up with more equity,” said Doug Nysse, hospitality industry advisor and director of project and development services with Colliers | Wisconsin. Given these trends in commercial lending, Hanis and Nysse said in August that more hotels may end up in similar situations to the downtown Milwaukee Hampton Inn, Iron Horse and now the Cambria Hotel. “There are hotels right now that are operating, they’re doing fine, but they have this cloud in the background,” Hanis said. 

4 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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inf cus Keeping the magic alive ROWS OF BRIGHTLY COLORED ornaments line the walls and displays at Callisters Christmas store in Brookfield, where shoppers come and go by the handful. The local business, now in its second generation of family ownership, has sold a wide variety of resin and glass Christmas ornaments – offering personalization at no extra cost – since 1991. But it wasn’t until the past couple of years that Callisters pursued growth beyond its origins of shopping mall kiosks and seasonal pop-up shops, launching an e-commerce site and later opening its first stand-alone storefront in 2021. This year, the retailer made its biggest move yet when it relocated to the former Laacke & Joys store location on West Bluemound Road. Spanning a total of 17,000 square feet, the space has allowed Callisters to more than double its retail footprint and still have about 4,000 square feet left over to use as storage or to continue growing its inventory of now nearly 7,000 ornaments and holiday decorations, said co-owner Melanie Jensen. “We want you to walk in the door and say, ‘If I can’t find it here, I’m not going to find it anywhere.’ That’s who we want to be,” said Jensen. “We want to be an ornament store, and now we want to be an ornament store with gifts and collectibles.” And with an expanded location – plus a yearround lease – Callisters is exploring even more opportunities, such as off-season special events and the addition of a Christmas tree lot next year. “We’re envisioning an experience,” said Jensen.  — Maredithe Meyer biztimes.com / 5

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Leading Edge

@BIZTIMESMEDIA – Real-time news

MEET THE

This Q&A is an extended profile from Wisconsin 275, a special publication from BizTimes Media highlighting the most influential business leaders in the state. Visit:

K ATHY THORNTON-BIAS

biztimes.com/wisconsin275

President and CEO Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee MILWAUKEE

for more.

Former retail executive Kathy Thornton-Bias moved to the nonprofit sector in 2019 when she became president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. As the leader of 44 locations, and a 300-acre camp, Thornton-Bias is responsible for more than 600 employees who provide direct and indirect services to nearly 15,000 youth.

“Nothing is impossible.”

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Virginia; MBA, NYU Stern School of Business

What would people be surprised to learn about you? “I am very easily spooked, thus leading to my disdain of surprises.”

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? “I started a babysitting company when I was 12. I had employees, set rates for various levels of service. It was hugely successful. We were booked months in advance. I learned to implement cancellation fees.”

What was your first car? “‘87 Ford Festiva. Stick shift, because it was cheaper than an automatic. I taught myself to drive it in 90 minutes, then drove it for seven hours back to college.”

What piece of advice has had the most significant impact on your career? “Always start a new job on a Friday. That way you have the weekend to settle your nerves, clear your head, and think about how you want to approach the new role.” What are some of your favorite destinations or places to visit? “In Milwaukee, I love shopping and dining in the Third Ward. It has a relaxed vibe, and you see people from all areas of the city. I especially like the Public Market.” What’s your hobby or passion? “Fundraising for the Boys & Girls Clubs!” Favorite Wisconsin restaurant and order? “Zaffiro’s is a family favorite. Hands down the best pizza in town!”

If you could take a one-year sabbatical, what would you do? “I would live in Eastern Kentucky for a year and research the history of African American coal miners in the region. My great grandfather was deeply involved in unionizing workers, and I’d love to learn more about him and his work.” What advice would you give to a young professional? “Nothing is impossible.” What is one thing you would change about Wisconsin to make it even better? “Improve education, work towards equity and improve the economics of our most underserved residents.” As you enter your office, what would you choose to be your walk-up or theme song? “Eric Clapton, ‘If I Could Change the World,’ followed by The O’Jays, ‘For the Love of Money.’” What has you most excited about the future? “Becoming a grandparent.” 

6 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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The latest area economic data.

Wisconsin lost 2,800 private sector jobs in October, and the state’s unemployment rate rose to

3.2%.

ANY EVENT, ANY SIZE for all occasions

The average hourly wage for leisure and hospitality workers in Wisconsin reached

$20.04

per hour in October, an 8.9% increase from a year ago.

Credit: Cassie Rosch

Construction of new single-family homes in Wisconsin increased during the third quarter as 3,233 building permits were pulled in the state,

up 10%

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year-over-year.

up 3.6%

Single family home sales in the metro Milwaukee area were

year-over-year in October, with a total of 1,545 homes sold.

up 1.9%

Wisconsin exports increased 1.5% in the third quarter and are now

for the full year.

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Real Estate

REAL ESTATE WEEKLY – The week’s most significant real estate news → biztimes.com/subscribe

CITY OF MILWAUKEE

City of Milwaukee zoning map.

Updates to Milwaukee zoning code could cut pre-development costs, support emerging developers

WITH AN EYE toward encouraging significant population growth and another eye toward creating an equitable, affordable and sustainable city, Milwaukee officials are embarking on a series of zoning code changes that they hope will make it easier, faster and cheaper to build more housing throughout the city. Known as Growing MKE, the initiative is something that many developers say is needed for the private sector to help accomplish those goals. “Current zoning places a lot of artificial constraints on developers and what they can build,” said Montavius Jones, development manager for Milwaukee-based development firm Emem Group. “This will help us provide what the market’s been telling us it wants.” Draft recommendations call for allowing townhouses, duplexes, triplexes; accessory dwelling units, which are self-contained residences located on a property that has a separate, primary residence; and cottage courts, or a group of small, detached structures arranged around a shared courtyard area; in addition to single family homes on all residentially zoned lots in the city. Currently, 40% of residentially zoned lots in Milwaukee only allow for single-family homes. More than 50% of residentially zoned lots in the city are already zoned for one- and two-unit residences, but the Growing MKE

Watch the UPI story to learn more:

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8 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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process or more. From the time you engage with an architect and have plans submitted to the city, you have community engagement meetings. “All of this adds costs and time between my architectural fees, my legal fees, my environmental fees,” Jones added. “It has a domino effect, including increasing rents for the tenant, developments getting started and never finished.” Marquette University is the lead education partner of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate program, which is a professional training program with the goal of expanding minority representation in commercial real estate. Hunt said that the housing types allowed under these zoning changes could present prime opportunities for ACRE graduates. “I think it’s a perfect opportunity to create stepping stones for emerging developers,” said Ariam Kesete, founder of Milwaukee-based AK Development and a graduate of the ACRE Program. “It’ll also allow a lot more creative ways for people to build and do things in the community as well.” Growing MKE’s draft recommendations were reviewed by city panels in November, when officials expressed support for the changes. The Department of City Development plans in 2024 to ask the Common Council to amend Milwaukee’s comprehensive plan and zoning code to help bring about those changes. 

J. JEFFERS & CO.

initiative is looking to add the aforementioned uses as well as quadplexes and small apartment buildings with up to 12 units on some of these parcels, particularly in denser neighborhoods served by transit. The plan’s recommendations also include creating predictable height standards for apartment and condominium buildings while removing limits on the number of dwelling units inside, updating exterior design standards for those developments, eliminating the minimum number of parking spaces required and making the overall pre-development process quicker and easier. The goal is to encourage construction of more housing overall, with a focus on density, walkability and variety of housing options, particularly “missing middle” housing, which is crucial to creating housing affordability, advocates of the zoning changes say. “From a zoning code perspective on a national basis, this is pretty progressive, and I think in a good way,” said Andy Hunt, Vieth director of the Center for Real Estate at Marquette University. Between 2002 and 2023, there have been 2,950 new developments in the city of Milwaukee, equating to 22,670 housing units. Of that total, 35% were roughly 100-unit developments and another 45% were 25 to 99 units. “Currently, zoning is really set up for – and the developments we’ve seen have been – mostly very large apartment complexes or a single-family home,” Jones said. “What this will do is allow emerging developers to be able to get their foot in the industry by removing some of the barriers and costs to entry.” Developers have pointed to the ways less restrictive zoning could save them time and money and bring more projects in Milwaukee to completion. “People can be $100,000, $200,000 into a deal and then it gets denied zoning, those have real ramifications for development firms,” Jones said. “Zoning change can be sometimes a year-long

DEER DISTRICT APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT Milwaukee-based developer J. Jeffers & Co. is planning to add the next piece to downtown Milwaukee’s Deer District, with a five-story, 210-unit mixed-used building. The development is planned for a vacant lot between The Trade hotel and the Aloft hotel, northeast of Vel R. Phillips and Juneau avenues. Plans call for a rooftop terrace, green spaces, outdoor balconies, lobby hospitality and a parking structure. The building’s first floor will have about 27,000 square feet of “mixed-use” commercial space. More information regarding the “unique activation” of the ground level is expected early next year. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2025. DEVELOPER: J. Jeffers & Co. COST: $80 million SIZE: 5 stories, 210 apartment units

Sprecher would like to thank our customers and employees for being so loyal and helping us to be named Small Business of the Year!

HUNTER TURPIN Reporter

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PAST HONOREES

STORY COVER

Corporation of the Year:

 IN BUSINESS 

2023

BETTING ON MILWAUKEE: THE REGION’S TOPNEWSMAKERS OF 2023 IN DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR, the editorial staff at BizTimes Milwaukee selects the “Best in Business,” a tip of the cap to the region’s top newsmakers of that calendar year in five categories: Corporation, CEO, Small Business, Family-Owned Business and Community Leader. For this year’s Corporation of the Year, we chose to recognize Northwestern Mutual as the Milwaukee-based financial services company embarks on yet another game-changing investment in its downtown Milwaukee headquarters campus: a $500 million transformation of its 18-story North Office Building. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in October to mark the beginning of the project. It’s the second time in the past decade that we’ve named Northwestern Mutual as Corporation of the Year. The first, in 2013, was in recognition of its stunning plans to construct the $450 million, 32-story Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons, which today stands as the centerpiece of its headquarters campus. Completed in 2017, the project was not only a significant investment, but also a major vote of confidence from a leading corporation that said downtown Milwaukee is a great place to do business. Ten years later, the company is doubling down on that commitment. In addition to Northwestern Mutual, our other Best in Business honorees this year include: Dominic Ortiz (pictured on the cover), chief executive officer of Potawatomi Casino Hotel, for leading a $190 million renovation at the casino’s Milwaukee location, including the addition of a sports betting operation; Glendale-based Sprecher Brewing Co., which has made numerous acquisitions and grown significantly since being acquired by a group led by Sharad Chadha in 2020; The DeLong Co., which partnered with the federal government, state and city to build a new $40 million agricultural maritime export facility at Port Milwaukee; and Tim Sheehy, who will step aside as president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce at the end of this year after leading the chamber for 30 years and advocating on behalf of the business community on several key issues including school choice, funding for Fiserv Forum and American Family Field, and additional state funding and a local sales tax option for the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. Read about these accomplishments in this special report.

10 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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FPC Live Milwaukee Bucks Milwaukee Tool Fiserv Klement’s Sausage Foxconn Direct Supply WEC Energy Group Generac Northwestern Mutual

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

best BIZTIMES

2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

CEO of the Year: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

Jim Kacmarcik, Kacmarcik Enterprises Aaron Jagdfeld, Generac Mark Irgens, Irgens Partners Michelle Gass, Kohl’s Corp. Peggy Troy, Children’s Wisconsin Nick Turkal, Advocate Aurora Health Tim Sullivan, REV Group Peter Feigin, Milwaukee Bucks Mark DiBlasi, Roadrunner Transportation Paul Grangaard, Allen Edmonds

Small Business of the Year: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

Eagle Park Brewing & Distilling Co. New Land Enterprises Fiveable J. Jeffers & Co. Good City Brewing Access Healthnet Rinka Chung Architecture Gehl Foods Bartolotta Restaurant Group Colectivo Coffee Roasters

Family-Owned Business of the Year: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

Fromm Nieman Brands Kohler Co. Rite-Hite Bartolotta Restaurant Group Michels Corp. Coakley Brothers Milwaukee Blacksmith Steinhafels Uline Super Steel

Community Leader of the Year: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

Peggy Williams-Smith, VISIT Milwaukee Dana Guthrie, Gateway Capital Marty Brooks, Wisconsin Center District Alex Lasry, Democratic National Convention Mike and Amy Lovell, Marquette University JoAnne Johnson-Sabir, Sherman Phoenix The Baumgartner Family, Paper Machinery Corp. The Ramirez Family, Husco International Tim Sheehy, MMAC Rich Meeusen, Badger Meter

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CORPORATION OF THE YEAR:

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

MILWAUKEE’S BIGGEST COMPANY made big news in 2023. Financial services company Northwestern Mutual – the city’s largest company by revenue – made headlines throughout 2023, most notably for the announcement of its $500 million renovation of its North Office Building, and also for a new partnership with the Milwaukee Brewers as the team’s first jersey patch sponsor and continued financial success with a record year of revenue in 2022. “This has been a significant year of milestones and momentum at Northwestern Mutual in terms of delivering value for our policyowners, employees and community,” said John Schlifske, chief executive officer of Northwestern Mutual, in a statement to BizTimes. In February, the company announced plans to spend more than $500 million on extensive interior and exterior renovations to the 18-story North Office Building at its downtown Milwaukee headquarters campus, and move nearly 2,000 employees from its Franklin campus to downtown Milwaukee. The 540,000-square-foot North Office Building was built in 1990 at 818 E. Mason St. and is one of four office buildings on the company’s headquarters campus downtown. Exterior ren-

 I N BU S I N E S S 

Corporation of the Year

ing on players’ uniforms. Major League Baseball is now allowing teams to sell an advertising patch on the sleeves of its uniforms. This is the first time the Brewers have had a uniform patch advertising sponsor and provides a new revenue stream to the team. Northwestern Mutual also announced a record year of revenue, with nearly $35 billion in 2022, and expects to pay a record-setting annual dividend, returning $7.3 billion to policyowners in 2024. “In 2023, we expertly navigated yet another fluid and challenging economic environment to ensure we delivered industry-leading product value to our policyowners, while maintaining exceptional financial strength,” Schlifske said. “At the same time, we continued to advance our strategy of improving the experience of our advisors and clients.”

A rendering of Milwaukee’s skyline following renovations to Northwestern Mutual’s North Office Building.

BY HUNTER TURPIN, staff writer

best BIZTIMES

ovations planned for the building will mirror the 32-story, 1.1 million-square-foot Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons building that opened at its downtown campus in 2017, just south of the North Office Building. “Milwaukee is a truly special city, and I am grateful for Northwestern Mutual’s long and storied history here and the bright future ahead,” Schlifske said. “We want to continue attracting talent from all over the country so everyone can experience and feel firsthand this same admiration. Our $500 million investment in our downtown headquarters exemplifies our efforts to achieve that goal.” Throughout the year, Milwaukee city officials and Northwestern Mutual leadership called the project “skyline-defining” and emphasized the importance the project has to the success of Milwaukee. In October, the company began construction on the tower, estimating that it will be completed in 2027. In recognition of yet another game-changing investment in its downtown Milwaukee headquarters campus and in the broader community, Northwestern Mutual is the BizTimes Milwaukee 2023 Corporation of the Year. In September, Northwestern Mutual announced that it was named the official financial planning partner of the Milwaukee Brewers, with the company’s name and logo also appear-

COMMUNITY SUPPORT Schlifske pointed to some of Northwestern Mutual’s work to support racial equity and the education landscape in Milwaukee as other highlights in 2023. “I would highlight the work we’re doing through our Sustained Action for Racial Equity program to build financial inclusion and address the wealth gap in the African American community,” Schlifske said. “What’s different about it is the focus on sustained actions – ones that are lasting and meaningful.” This year, the company held its first-ever Gather Against the Gap event, which sought to bring individuals together to learn about actionable plans to reduce the racial wealth gap, according to Schlifske. Alongside the event, the company announced that it was adding $75 million to its existing Impact Investment Fund to support racial equity initiatives, bringing the total to $175 million. “Supporting education for Milwaukee’s youth is a top priority for Northwestern Mutual,” Schlifske said. “For 10 years now, we’ve doubled down on our work to help close the opportunity gap by investing in initiatives focused on building quality educational pathways and a pipeline of diverse talent in Milwaukee and beyond.” This year, the company committed $5.7 million to support 40 Milwaukee-based nonprofits and schools, including a bridge loan to Notre Dame School of Milwaukee and two grants to St. Marcus School and St. Augustine Prep. biztimes.com / 11

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DOMINIC ORTIZ, POTAWATOMI CASINO HOTEL

CEO of t he Year

Dominic Ortiz

BY MAREDITHE MEYER, staff writer THE STATE of the entertainment industry was bleak when Dominic Ortiz took over as head of Potawatomi Casino Hotel in July 2021. Still reeling from the financial devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the casino in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley was a shadow of its former self: no table games, no valet service, carry-out dining only. More than half of its employees had been laid off the prior year and relief funding from the federal CARES Act and ARPA were keeping the business afloat. Those circumstances provided a backdrop for early conversations between Ortiz and the Forest County Potawatomi Community leaders and elders who were eager to learn how the new executive – himself a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation of Kansas, with nearly two decades of experience leading tribal casino properties – planned to drive the business forward. From those discussions – in which Ortiz made a point to do more listening than speaking, he said – emerged a three-year strategic plan that included a $100 million, multi-phase investment to upgrade and modernize portions of the casino, which originally opened as a bingo hall in 1991, and the launch of Milwaukee’s first sports betting operation, in an effort to sharpen Potawatomi’s competitive edge against the fast-growing sports gambling market. “We had the opportunity coming out of

COVID to … say, ‘If we’re going really make a move and get ahead of the competition and make sure that we put a product in the market that is exciting and experiential, we’re going to have to bet big and bet bold,” said Ortiz, who is chief executive officer of Potawatomi Casino Hotel in Milwaukee and Carter. They called it “Project First Strike,” a nod to one tribal tradition of setting spring ceremonies upon the first lightning strike of the season – a time to celebrate rebirth and new life coming out of winter’s darkness, Ortiz said. That vision for the project, now estimated at $190 million, has come to life over the past year. In March, Potawatomi marked the opening of its retail sportsbook, housed currently in a temporary ground-floor space until the opening of its permanent location next year, in the former Northern Lights Theater. A few months later, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the rock band KISS opened their restaurant, Rock & Brews, as part of a larger renovation of the casino’s second level. Unveiled in September, the 114,000-squarefoot renovation project replaced ballroom space with two new gaming venues, a new VIP gaming lounge, known as the 1833 Club, and more than 300 new slot machines. Once complete in spring 2024, the opening of the permanent sportsbook location will mark the final phase of Project First Strike, which has created more than 350 jobs at the casino, said Ortiz. In recognition of his bold vision for the future

VALERIE HILL

 IN BUSI NESS 

CEO OF THE YEAR:

VALERIE HILL

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of gaming at Potawatomi as one of Milwaukee’s premier entertainment destinations, Dominic Ortiz is the BizTimes Milwaukee 2023 Best in Business CEO of the Year. Ortiz’s first impression of Potawatomi in Milwaukee was not only the pandemic’s impact on operations, but also that the property, in its current format, had been underutilized as a gaming destination. Gaming operations at Potawatomi, under tribal gaming law, are limited to the casino building, built on land held in trust, but Ortiz quickly realized that not all of the facility, particularly the second floor, was being used for the kind of “experiential gaming” the market demands these days. “When you look at these facilities, you have to come in and look at the highest and best use of the real estate,” he said. “And when you understand that and you’ve been in the business, you know what’s important for the casino is your VIPs, your guest service, the quality and the aesthetics and the brand of your dining experience, all of those pieces are super important.” In the eyes of consumers, the casino experience in recent years has evolved into a hub for “fun and excitement,” said Ortiz, “the place you go to see a celebrity chef or to get wined and dined.” To that end, Ortiz early this year reopened Potawatomi’s high-end Dream Dance Steakhouse, for the first time since the pandemic, and the popular sushi bar at RuYi. In May, the casino unveiled its new food court-style Potawatomi Marketplace, with space for seven different quick-service concepts. What’s more, the newly renovated second level features Street Eatz, a new bar-restaurant serving up barbecue, brats and street tacos as well as slushy cocktails from a drink truck. Ortiz points to a “dynamic approach to strategic planning” and experience working under some heavy-hitting CEOs-turned mentors as sources of his confidence and capabilities as a business leader. But as a tribal member and son of a former chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, he’s also motivated by belief in a higher purpose. “I’ve known every chairman of the Forest County and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation for 30 years,” he said. “Listening and talking to them and sitting around our traditional ways and listening to the things that they say to us is what motivates and drives me, and what was part of this entire project.”

12 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

VALERIE HILL

SPRECHER BREWING

WHEN MOST WISCONSINITES think of a Sprecher root beer, they likely conjure up fond memories of enjoying a float or sipping a soda to cool off on a hot summer day. Led by president and chief executive officer Sharad Chadha, Glendale-based Sprecher Brewing Co. is working to make sure those memories are no longer exclusive to Wisconsinites as the brand raises its profile nationally – and eventually worldwide. After leading a group of Milwaukee-based investors to acquire the craft brewer from founder Randy Sprecher in 2020, Chadha recognized Sprecher as a “little-known gem with a great future ahead of it.” At the time, its products could be found in more than 25 states, but the retail and distribution footprint of the brewery was limited. Since the acquisition, Sprecher has grown at a rapid pace. Its products are now available in 49 states. In August, the brewery announced it has experienced an annual growth rate of 35% yearover-year and sales have tripled. Chadha wants to continue that momentum by making Sprecher products available internationally. However, achieving that goal is nothing short of a challenge in a highly competitive soft drink market, dominated by giants like Coke and Pepsi. To stand out in the crowded space, Sprecher is leaning into its unique soda-making process, which uses locally sourced ingredients like raw wild-flower honey and small-batch kettles for

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Sharad Chadha, president and CEO

BY ASHLEY SMART, staff writer

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brewing. “We want to have a Sprecher sip on every lip in America, and that means growing 30%, 40% every year,” said Chadha. “That growth is not possible forever, but for the next few years, we have to do that. We are also keen on expanding distribution in new places.” BUSINESS GROWTH Key to the company’s growth strategy is acquiring smaller craft beverage manufacturers to help break into new markets. Over the past three years, the brewery has acquired six beverage labels, including, in October, the Ooh La Lemin lemonade brand from Melbourne, Florida-based Kona Gold Beverage and, in 2021, a handful of brands from Chicago-based WIT Beverage Co. including the 102-year-old lime soda brand Green River, Black Bear Soda, Olde Brooklyn, WBC Craft Sodas and Caruso’s Italian-Style Craft Sodas. Asked what factors Sprecher considers while considering possible acquisitions, Chadha said the company looks for a great tasting, high-quality product with local brand recognition and sales. Beverage manufacturers aren’t the only companies Sprecher has acquired this year. In October, the brewery announced its acquisition of Germantown-based Excent, which operates an automated robotic production line for variety packaging. The purchase gives Sprecher additional capabilities as the company looks to soon offer variety packs of craft sodas in cans.

iness of the Year

Another milestone for Sprecher this year was its return to Bayshore in Glendale. The Sprecher Taproom opened in May, in the space that was once home to the brewery’s restaurant and pub, which closed in 2019. In recognition of the continued growth of an iconic Milwaukee brand, Sprecher Brewing is the BizTimes Milwaukee 2023 Best in Business Small Business of the Year. To support Sprecher’s exponential growth, the company has upgraded its bottle line and added a new canning line as well as additional warehousing space. Additionally, Chadha plans to introduce more automation into the brewing and batching process. Sprecher’s workforce has more than doubled to 120 people, and the company has gone from running less than one shift a week to running two shifts four days of the week to meet demand. “There is always a risk of growing quickly,” he said. “You need to have the infrastructure and capital to support the growth and maintain the growth. You cannot run out of products on the shelf at a retailer or else you get thrown out.” PHYSICAL GROWTH As the company’s national presence grows, so too will its physical footprint. Sprecher’s headquarters campus in Glendale has three buildings totaling about 250,000 square feet on about 10 acres of land at 701 W. Glendale Ave. Chadha wants to tie the three facilities together with an additional warehouse and production building that would span 30,000 to 50,000 square feet. “It will take a massive amount of capital, millions of dollars, so we’ll do it as things ease up in supply chain disruption, inflation or interest rates, which are crazy high for us right now,” he said. “We’re going to be thoughtful about it.” To temporarily ease some of its physical constraints, the brewery recently leased 80,000 square feet of space along Capitol Drive in Milwaukee and is eyeing another 75,000 square feet of space nearby. Chadha is constantly on the lookout for possible ways to expand Sprecher’s footprint. “We’re looking at the multi-county area. If the economic development corporations of those regions are willing to give us a break, we are open to expansion in other areas,” said Chadha. “Glendale is our home, and we love it here, but we want to expand much more.” biztimes.com / 13

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STEPHEN PERRY SMITH ARCHITECTS INC.

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FAMILYOWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

THE DELONG CO. INC.

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Owned Business of the Yea

The DeLong Co.’s agricultural maritime export facility at Port Milwaukee.

BY ASHLEY SMART, staff writer IN JULY, Clinton-based The DeLong Co. Inc. celebrated the grand opening of its new $40 million agricultural maritime export facility at Port Milwaukee, marking the largest one-time investment in the port since the St. Lawrence Seaway opened in the 1950s. Located on the west side of Jones Island, the new facility is one of the first on the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway system to handle various agricultural commodities via truck, rail and international vessel. Among those commodities, the facility is initially focused on exporting DDGS (dried distillers grain with solubles), a byproduct of ethanol typically used as a nutrient-rich animal feed, to Europe and north Africa. Future service at the facility will include the export of soybeans, corn and grain. Opening Wisconsin’s maritime and agricultural sectors to new international markets, the facility is expected to have a $63 million annual impact on the state’s economy and increase exports through Port Milwaukee by as much as 400,000 metric tons per year. To that end, the project has strengthened the port’s role as an “integral link in Wisconsin’s economy,” said Jackie Q. Carter, direc-

tor of Port Milwaukee. “This investment is about realizing new agricultural trade opportunities,” she said. The three-year effort built upon an existing relationship between The DeLong Co., – a family-owned business now in its sixth generation – and Port Milwaukee, which had handled the company’s shipping containers in the past. It was through this relationship that DeLong realized a potential opportunity in an underutilized portion of Port Milwaukee’s lakefront property. The 4-acre industrial site – formerly operated by Advance Boiler & Tank Co. – had not been used for freight handling since the 2010s. “We basically saw this property and thought maybe there’s a chance to do something here,” said Brandon Bickham, export sales director for The DeLong Co. “It was a nicely sized property and we basically started doing our due diligence. As we became more comfortable with the economics around loading vessels in the Great Lakes, Port Milwaukee was walking step-by-step with us throughout that process up until the facility was built.” For its investment in Milwaukee’s maritime commerce and the state’s economy, The DeLong Co. is the BizTimes Milwaukee 2023 Best in Business Family-Owned Business of the Year.

DeLong covered $14 million of the $40 million project, funded initially by a $15.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, $9.5 million from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and $5.7 million from Port Milwaukee. In November, Port Milwaukee received a $9.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration for upgrades to the facility, including two new grain silos and additional grain and cargo handling equipment. Looking ahead, DeLong wants to continue working toward the possibility of accepting unit trains at Port Milwaukee. “In a project like this, you’ve got a lot of different stakeholders,” said Bickham. “It’s just communicating with everyone, getting a plan together … all sorts of things that you come up against with a site that’s this old and that’s already got previous building on it. I would say just managing the project in general is a big undertaking.” The DeLong Co. was founded as a grain operation in 1913 by brothers William and Jesse DeLong. Today, the company is the country’s largest exporter of containerized agriculture products, with 38 facilities and offices across the U.S. A dozen fourth- and fifth-generation DeLong family members are actively involved in the business. Bickham said a “tremendous amount” of the agricultural goods making their way through the export facility come from the state of Wisconsin. Products from Iowa, Minnesota – and possibly the Dakotas soon – are also processed there. The economic impact of the facility reaches far beyond the Milwaukee area, he noted. “There was obviously a tremendous amount of job creation during the building of the facility,” said Bickham. “There’s job creation when you look at the rail logistics inbound, the truck logistics inbound, and then you have the actual transfer of the goods from one mode of transportation to another. All of that is new economic impact.” Key to DeLong’s continued growth is the flexibility of operating as a family-owned, closely held company. “Family-owned, small businesses tend to have long-term relationships. It’s less transactional,” Bickham said. “As you’re building a project, there’s a need for all sides to give or take. I think that’s easier being a smaller family business. The numbers change a little bit, but there’s not necessarily shareholders saying, ‘I want answers for this.’ We’re looking at this from a very long-term view.”

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COMMUNITY LEADER OF THE YEAR:

TIM SHEEHY, MMAC

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municipalities as well as the approval of local sales tax increases that will help keep Milwaukee city and county governments not just afloat, but also able to make strategic investments in their future. Those local victories were coupled with a historic, and long sought-after, increase in per-pupil state funding for students in charter and private voucher schools. The final run was scored when the Legislature approved $365.8 million in state funding to help pay for future improvements to the Brewers’

BY CARA SPOTO, staff writer WHEN TIM SHEEHY began his 40-year career with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce in 1983, the Milwaukee Bucks were still shooting hoops at the MECCA Arena, the Milwaukee Brewers were running the bases at County Stadium, and the Park East Freeway was bisecting what is today one of the city’s largest entertainment districts. In the past four decades, Sheehy, who became president of the MMAC in 1992, has been instrumental in lobbying for public policy, economic development and funding that have kept southeastern Wisconsin moving forward. In 1995, he pushed state legislators to pass the regional sales tax that funded the construction of what’s now known as American Family Field. Ten years later, he was one of the more vocal advocates for public funding for a new home for the Bucks. But if any year saw Milwaukee reap the rewards of Sheehy’s knack for dealmaking, it was 2023. A home run for efforts expected to shore up the city’s financial future, the year saw MMAC and other city boosters rejoice in the approval of an increase in shared revenue for Wisconsin

22-year-old stadium. Sheehy was an influential advocate for all of those. For Sheehy, who will step down from his role as president of the MMAC at the end of the year, the goal has always been to do what is in the best interest of Milwaukee. “I think that if you look at MMAC, it’s not a liberal-leaning organization, it is not a conservative-leaning organization,” he said. “It’s an organization that leans forward in the best interests of Milwaukee and our ability to be an attractive place for capital investment in jobs.” In recognition of all he has accomplished and the impact he’s made on the region – especially in a momentous final year of his career – Tim Sheehy is the BizTimes Milwaukee 2023 Best in Business Community Leader of the Year. Working for the 162-year-old chamber has allowed Sheehy to take “the long view” and focus on the things that will get deals made without having to worry about voters or shareholders, like elected officials or CEOs. “What I’ve taken away from the experiences I’ve had during my career is that in order to be successful, you need to balance people, policy and politics,” he said. “You need to engage the right people, you need to understand the nuances

it y Leader of t he Yea

of the policy and you need to be attentive to the politics around any situation or any solution. And you can’t just get two of the three, you need to get all three.” Getting all three requires both patience and perseverance. “There were a lot of failed attempts at getting a funding stream in place to support the city and county between 2016 and 2023,” he said. “And the same is true in terms of the per-pupil funding. I mean, that’s something we’ve been after for decades.” Getting more equitable state funding for the voucher and charter schools and increased shared revenue for the city and county – both of which Sheehy calls mission-aligned policies for the MMAC – meant leveraging the wants of two of the association’s key constituencies. “There were those that said, ‘Look, I’ll give more on shared revenue if I get funding for closing this per-pupil gap.’ And then there were others who said, ‘I’m willing to give more on equitable funding if I can get more on shared revenue,’” he said. The result was a testament to one of Sheehy’s favorite mottos: “Politics is not the art of the perfect, it’s the art of the possible.” The sentiment is as true of the per-pupil funding boost for charter and voucher schools – an increase some school choice advocates bemoaned for not being high enough – as it is for the solution to the American Family Field funding situation. “In a perfect world, maybe we wouldn’t be putting public financing into major league (sports) stadiums, but we don’t live in a perfect world,” said Sheehy, who was appointed board chairman of the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District in 2021. As he continues to work to improve the Milwaukee region, Sheehy said he’ll continue to emphasize the value of perspective – both in improving his own perspective and taking time to understand the perspective of others. “Instead of judging somebody for a viewpoint they have, ask them questions,” he said. “The better your perspective, the better leader you are and the better decisions you make.” When he retires at year’s end, Sheehy will hand over the reins to former state legislator Dale Kooyenga, who has worked under him since January as the chamber’s first-ever senior vice president. biztimes.com / 15

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Special Report

SARGENTO

MANUFACTURING: FOOD & BEVERAGE

Louie Gentine and Mike McEvoy of Sargento Foods.

Sargento leadership details plan to reach $2 billion in revenue Plymouth-based Sargento Foods has its sights set on becoming a $2 billion company in the coming months, a goal not too far off as the maker of natural cheese products has already reached $1.8 billion in annual revenue. To learn more about how the third-generation, family-owned company will reach its next milestone, BizTimes Milwaukee reporter Ashley Smart recently spoke with chief executive officer Louie Gentine and senior vice president of operations Mike McEvoy. Below are portions of their conversation. Check out the full Q&A at biztimes.com/sargento-2-billion BIZTIMES: What next steps will help you meet your goal of becoming a $2 billion company? Gentine: “We’re going to continue to grow and not only deliver against a $2 billion revenue target, but hopefully in years to come, continue to see much higher growth from Sargento. It all really comes down to three areas. The first one is continuing to drive innovation, both from a product standpoint as well as a process standpoint. We also want to continue to build our brand with consumers. We really want to talk about the fact that our cheese is 100% real and natural and we want to build that relationship with the consumers and continue to drive growth, not only for ourselves, but also for the category. The third area that’s going to allow us to continue to grow is a continued focus on our employees.” McEvoy: “We continue to innovate not only in the products we put out, but how we produce those products. So, new equipment, new machinery, robotics, a lot of automation, not to displace our workforce but to make their jobs easier and ultimately kind of counter the challenge of finding enough workers. We’ve put a lot of automation into our

facilities and that’s going to continue to be a trend that we look at. Obviously, controlling your costs is an element of the automation that we’re doing. A lot of work goes into producing the products and then there’s the behind-the-scenes of everything we do to get it ready to get on store shelves.” Will there be any new investments in facilities or people to support the company’s goal? McEvoy: “From a growth and facility standpoint, I think that’s something that we continue to look at. Our first objective is to optimize the assets and the space that we currently have. As for workforce development, I’ve been really pleased with the efforts that we’ve done in working with our area high schools and technical colleges on making sure we have individuals who are trained appropriately to be able to come to work at a manufacturing place that is becoming more technical, just with some of the automation that we’ve brought in. The key to doing that is just having really good relationships within the community and really making sure we’re connecting with all of the different schools in the area.”

How do you balance the decades-long tradition of cheesemaking with a desire to innovate? Gentine: “Innovation has been a part of our DNA from the very beginning in 1953 when my grandfather Leonard started the company. I would say the core driver of that is our ability to truly understand the consumer needs that are there for cheese and, although it may sound like a very simple thing, there’s thousands of varieties of different cheese. What we look to do is take those varieties of cheese and put them in different forms and packages to address whatever consumer need we’re trying to solve. We also work very closely with some of our cheese suppliers on developing unique, natural cheeses to satisfy (consumer) needs.” Is it challenging to sell cheese as consumers continue to lean into modern diet trends? Gentine: “There’s definitely a market for vegan-style cheeses or other plant-based cheeses. Like a number of different trends, we follow those very closely. We believe it’s a rather niche market right now and we have greater opportunities to continue to focus on innovating and marketing the Sargento brand as natural cheese. “Some of our more recent innovations, a lot of them center around the area of snacking because of how people are eating differently today. People aren’t eating three meals a day: they’re pretty much eating multiple mini meals throughout the day. Our snacking portfolio of products, like Balanced Breaks – which was one of our greatest innovations throughout our 70-year history – continues to do well with the consumer. That’s a blend of different cheeses with dried fruit and nuts. In 2024, we’re going to be launching another Balanced Breaks platform, called Fun, which has cheese, some famous cookie brands like Chips Ahoy! and Teddy Grahams, and some fruit snacks or chocolate-covered yogurt bites. Those Balanced Breaks are delivering against that snacking desire for consumers.” How are you continuing to guarantee that Sargento gets prime shelf space at the supermarket? Gentine: “We have great relationships with all of our retail partners across the United States. I would say what allows us to maintain, and actually increase, our presence on the grocery store shelves is the focus on innovation that is incremental, so it’s additive to the category. We want to make sure we’re bringing innovation that helps increase retailer sales and helps put multiple items in the consumer’s basket. When we come with propositions and new items that do that, I wouldn’t say it’s easier, but it certainly helps the case of continuing to look at how we can optimize the category.” 

16 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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T f w d r

w e T u e

SPONSORED CONTENT

Quick facts: • There are 36,000 food processing plants in America. • The average electric driving system is responsible for 15-20 percent of energy loss compared to 64-75 percent in gasoline engines. • The lifespan of newly built food processing plants averages 20-30 years.

DESIGNING TOMORROW'S FACILITY TODAY

Authored by: Timothy P. Gibbons, AIA, LEED AP Vice President of Design

TODAY'S FACILITY owners are now tasked with following stricter food safety requirements, employee welfare, and environmental operations—all of which will drive future facility design. ESI Group is playing a vital role in that process. While designing for every future need is impossible, we typically design buildings to accommodate future expansions based on food safety and site constraints. These are not only property lines, easements, wetlands, utility restrictions, but cross contamination and expansion safety. THREE CRITICAL FUTURE DESIGN COMPONENTS: 1. Site Selection with an Eye on Expansion Real estate limitations caused by bad planning

can be very detrimental to the facility's food safety. Understanding and designing with the idea that land is not only an opportunity cost, but a food safety issue is critical. 2. Balancing Employee Welfare and Costs Take special consideration in planning for the ability to easily expand employee welfare areas. Owners should focus on components dedicated explicitly to general employee welfare, focusing on impact-resistant yet pleasant finishes, traffic flow, ergonomics, and natural light. 3. Plan for Environmental Design ESI Group designs facilities to conserve energy and natural resources to minimize the impact on the environment now and for the future This could include solar panels on rooftops or at the least, the structure should be designed to support future installation of photovoltaics.

We take for granted the importance of food from farm to fork. § The health of our community impacts the ability to bring food to consumers. § Proper safety measures in the workplace will enhance production capabilities. § Well designed and maintained food facilities will stand the test of time.

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CORPORATE OFFICE: 950 Walnut Ridge Drive, Hartland, WI 53029

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Find insights into design and construction services as you decide to build, lease, or renovate. Scan the QR code to find your solution.

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PRESENTS:

2023 CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP

CELEBRATING OUR REGION’S NONPROFITS MEET THE 2023 WINNERS AND FINALISTS A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER: At BizTimes Media, we recognize that a strong and sustainable nonprofit sector is needed to help our city and region flourish. For a decade now, we have proudly recognized the work of southeastern Wisconsin nonprofits and philanthropic corporate citizens through our Nonprofit Excellence Awards program. Held this year on Nov. 2, the event highlighted 28 organizations, leaders, donors and companies each doing their part to make our community better. We hope the stories of the work that these organizations and individuals do in areas like health care, education, housing, the arts, trauma and more inspires you to make a difference in any way you can.

You can watch the program on demand at biztimes.com/npea. Thank you to Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, our platinum sponsor, for helping us put the spotlight on these model citizens.

Dan Meyer, Publisher/Owner, BizTimes Media Kate Meyer, Community Engagement/Owner, BizTimes Media

PLATINUM SPONSOR:

As Wisconsin’s Bank for Business®, we believe it’s our responsibility to invest in local economies by supporting the organizations and nonprofits that improve our home state. We’re committed to giving back and building strong relationships, like a true partner. Wintrust Commercial Banking at Town Bank, N.A. is honored to have served as the Platinum Sponsor of the 2023 BizTimes Media Nonprofit Excellence Awards, celebrating the philanthropic achievements of Southeastern Wisconsin’s top nonprofit leaders and corporate citizens. The dedication, creativity, and innovation they have offered have left a lasting impact. Congratulations to this year’s nominees and winners, and thank you for all you do.

18 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER NOVEMBER 11, 21, 2023 2022

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PROUD PLATINUM SPONSOR OF THE

2023 NONPROFIT EXCELLENCE AWARDS

As Wisconsin’s Bank for Business®, we’re proud to give back and build strong relationships in the communities we serve. We’re also pleased to be in good company with area leaders who do the same. We’re honored to sponsor the 2023 Nonprofit Excellence Awards and celebrate the nonprofits and corporate citizens who have propelled Southeastern Wisconsin forward. The nominees have worked hard to make the place we call home even better, and we’re thankful for their time, dedication, expertise, and talent. We’re honored to celebrate those making a difference and leading the way towards a bigger, brighter, and better Wisconsin.

WISCONSIN’S BANK FOR BUSINESS® 414-273-3507 | townbank.us

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Winner

JOE CHECOTA was a self-described workaholic when Ellen McNamara Checota, the woman who would later become his wife of six decades, first introduced him to the enriching nature of art, music and theater. Checota, now chairman, chief executive officer and principal owner of Milwaukee-based Landmark Healthcare Facilities LLC, was a politically active young man in his early 20s when he met the artistically inclined McNamara at a campaign dinner for Hubert Humphrey. Checota, who was working for Humphrey’s 1960 presidential campaign, had helped plan the dinner, and McNamara’s father, Milwaukee-area labor leader Bertram “Bert” McNamara – an artist himself – was a Humphrey supporter. “I knew her father, but I didn’t know he had a daughter, and I made it my business to get to know her,” Checota recalls. As the pair got to know each other, attending college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ellen helped introduce Joe to arts and culture, fostering a love that has only deepened over the course of their 60-year marriage. “She taught me that diverse cultural landscapes are an important building block in the creation of successful communities – communities like Milwaukee that are a great place to live,” he said. Last month, at BizTimes Media’s 10th annual Nonprofit Excellence Awards program, the philanthropists received the Lifetime Achievement Award for their support of cultural and educational institutions in Milwaukee.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

JOE AND ELLEN CHECOTA

SUPPORTING THE ARTS Although they first began their philanthropic support of the arts in the 1980s, when Joe was on the board of the Milwaukee Art Museum – donating $150,000 to help secure the Michael and Julie Hall Collection of American Folk Art – the couple emerged as even more generous benefactors of the arts about seven years ago with a $400,000 donation to the museum. In 2021, they followed that gift with a $5 million contribution to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s $139 million fundraising campaign to create the Bradley Symphony Center. The funding also helped build the MSO’s endowment, pay off pension liability and bolster its operating fund. In recognition of their gift, the Bradley Symphony Center includes the Ellen & Joe Checota Atrium and Gallery. Then, earlier this year, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced a confidential gift from the Checotas towards its $75 million fundraising effort to rebuild its downtown Milwaukee theater complex. The Checotas’ gift is the second-largest charitable contribution in the 69-year history of the Milwaukee Rep. In recognition of that gift, the new main stage of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater will be named the Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater. HELPING FAMILIES Accepting the award for the philanthropic power couple, Joe Checota credited his wife for opening his eyes not only to the impact great art can have on communities, but also

the importance of helping fellow human beings improve their station in life. “Ellen taught me that families that achieve financial success have an obligation to share their success with members of their community who require a leg up,” he said. In 2022, close to 40 years after making a $100,000 donation to Milwaukee Area Technical College, the couple announced they had established a new scholarship program at the school. As part of the effort, the Checotas have agreed to contribute a two-to-one matching gift up to $5 million to create a $7.5 million fund. For each $500,000 donated, the Checotas contribute $1 million. So far, the Checotas have contributed $4 million, and hundreds of donors have contributed more than $2 million. When fully funded, the $7.5 million scholarship will become the largest charitable gift in the 110-year history of MATC. In place for about a year now, the scholarship has already helped 150 graduates drastically improve their lives, Joe Checota said. “MATC has reported to us that the average salary of the recipients of our scholarships was $27,000 when they entered the program … and students who have received employment with the certificate (thanks to the scholarship), their average salary is $53,000,” he said. For traditional students, the scholarship has provided an opportunity to “start life out on the right foot,” he said, and for older students – some of them with children – it’s been a chance to build a more stable life. “Many of them have gone from a condition of poverty to a living wage. And it doesn’t just mean life got better for them. It means that they went from a situation where they really were in a great struggle to a place where they can take a deep breath and begin to enjoy life,” Checota said. “It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you’ve helped somebody feel good about themselves.” Going forward, the Checotas would like to see more corporations, foundations and individuals donate to the fund. The largest matching gifts thus far have come from Julianna Ebert and Frank Daily, Bader Philanthropies, the Zilber Family Foundation and the Ralph Evinrude Foundation. “The kind of workers in Milwaukee that are coming out of our scholarship program are exactly the workers that are in short supply in Milwaukee,” Checota said. “So, anyone that financially helps the students, if they own a business in Milwaukee, are helping themselves.” ●

20 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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Presents:

2024 Thursday, January 25, 2024 Italian Community Center 7:00-7:30 – Registration & Networking | 7:30-10:30 – Program & Breakout Sessions

Where is the economy headed in 2024? Make plans to attend the 23rd annual Economic Trends on January 25th to learn how your business may be impacted by the issues and trends shaping the economy in 2024. Economist Michael Knetter and leading industry experts will provide their perspectives and predictions for the year ahead. Featured Speakers: Michael Knetter, Ph.D., President, University of Wisconsin Foundation (1) Richard G. Barnhouse, Ph.D., President & CEO, Waukesha County Technical College (2) Aaron Jagdfeld, President & CEO, Generac (3) Lori Malett, CSC, President, Hatch Staffing Services (4)

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Sponsor:

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Partner:

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Winner

CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

MLG CAPITAL BROOKFIELD-BASED MLG Capital was founded on the principle of “Making a Difference While Making a Living.” The company’s mission persists through its corporate philanthropy committee, MLG Cares. In the past year, MLG has contributed more than 240 volunteer hours to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Hunger Task Force and Make-A-Wish Wisconsin. “While many companies offer financial and in-kind support, MLG Capital takes it a step further by embedding philanthropy into its actual business practice and providing a path for its investor clients to give back as well,”

said Katie Whitlock, vice president of MLG Capital. In 2018, the company established the Making a Difference Initiative to foster a relationship between MLG’s private real estate investments and its philanthropic goals. The initiative gives entities and individuals the opportunity to invest in MLG’s private real estate funds and donate a portion of the investment returns to a charitable organization. MLG donates its entire profit share portion of the investment to the organization. In 2021, the initiative grew from $2.1 million to about $7.4 million in investment contributions. MAD Initiative investors have pledged nearly $13 million across MLG’s series of funds. The company estimates it will generate $6.5 million to charity beneficiaries. ●

“Today serves as a testament to the great potential that lies at the intersection of business and social responsibility.” David Binder Jr., senior vice president, and Jade Hendricks.

– Jade Hendricks, assistant vice president of investor operations, MLG Capital

inalist F CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Pewaukee-based Ellenbecker Investment Group aims to give back to the community in several ways. Each quarter, the company selects one nonprofit organization to support and hosts a three-month-long collection of items needed Julie Ellenbecker-Lipsky by that organization. In 2023, (left), president, and Karen Ellenbecker supported Soles Ellenbecker, founder. for Jesus, Wisconsin Humane Society, The Women’s Center and the Christmas Clearing Council. On their respective work anniversaries, each Ellenbecker employee receives $1,000 to donate to up to two charities of their choice, allowing for 40 to 80 additional nonprofits to receive monetary support from the firm annually. Since 2018, Ellenbecker Investment Group has hosted an hour-long radio show called Milwaukee’s Philanthropic Community, on NewsTalk AM 1130 WISN. The goal is to foster community giving and promote nonprofits at no cost. “We recognize that smaller, local nonprofits don’t have the same marketing budget as larger national organizations, so we do what we can to assist them in sharing their story, ultimately increasing donors, support and volunteers,” said Sara McGuire, director of marketing for Ellenbecker Investment Group. Ellenbecker prioritizes community education, offering annual training workshops to nonprofit executives and community events. ●

For Germantown-based Kesslers Diamonds, longterm philanthropy is vital to the company’s culture. Kesslers has collaborated with ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis since 2003 and has supported Make-A-Wish Wisconsin for 15 years. Since 2004, Kesslers has donated $183,000 from the The Kesslers Diamonds team. sale of its Hope & Survivors Pendants to ABCD to support its free emotional support services for those affected by breast cancer. The company has also spent a total of $170,000 on radio ads in support of ABCD events and services. The strong sense of community commitment is company-wide. Employees are heavily involved Kesslers’ annual fundraising gala for ABCD. MarkinNiehaus “We are profoundly grateful for their willingness to contribute, as their support not only aids in raising vital funds but also exemplifies the spirit of teamwork and shared values that define our organization,” said Ellen Friebert Schupper, executive director of ABCD. Kesslers sponsors an annual radio event, known as Wish-A-Thon, that has raised more than $2.5 million for children with critical illnesses. The company also hosts a special jewelry sale in which a portion of the proceeds are donated to Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, garnering thousands of dollars in donations each year. ●

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP

KESSLERS DIAMONDS

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CORPORATE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

HEATHER DEATON, ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT is a fundamental part of life for Heather Deaton, wealth advisor at Ellenbecker Investment Group. For more than 10 years, Deaton has worked with Fondy Food Center to gain access to land, build better food systems for the community and provide healthy food to the greater Milwaukee area through local farmers markets. She has served as the board president for six years. During the pandemic, Deaton and her team transformed Fondy into a distribution center for vendors and farmers to ensure food access and farming was maintained. Additionally, Deaton serves on the planning team for the Tosa Green Summit, where she works to bring more attendees to the Wauwa-

tosa-based sustainability fair. As a Stephen Minister, Deaton builds meaningful relationships by providing one-on-one support to people navigating health issues, family turmoil or job disruption. She works with other Stephen Ministers through bi-weekly peer supervision and continued education to advance skills and practical knowledge. “Heather brings strength in leadership, creative thinking, problem solving, building consensus and project planning,” said Cara Olson, chief people officer at Ellenbecker Investment Group. “All of these attributes are valuable in continuing to move an organization forward through growth, expansion and connection.” ●

“I’m very blessed and fortunate to be able to be a part of bringing local healthy food access to the greater Milwaukee community.” – Heather Deaton, wealth advisor, Ellenbecker Investment Group

inalist F CORPORATE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Lauren Hess, senior vice president and team leader at Associated Bank, lets passion and dedication guide her volunteer work. Hess has been involved with the Waukesha County Business Alliance since 2016, serving previously on committees for AMP (Alliance Morning Program) and Professional Women’s Development Network. She currently serves on the Alliance’s Education Policy and Education Steering committees. Hess’s extensive work with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Wisconsin is deeply personal as many of her family members have Type 1 diabetes. As a board member for JDRF, Hess educates others about Type 1 diabetes and ways in which the community can support JDRF’s research, advocacy and mission to improve the lives of those with T1D. At Associated Bank, Hess runs the Nonprofit Treasury Management division, where she expands the bank’s nonprofit partnerships. She also volunteers within diversity and inclusion business resource groups and mentorship programs. “Lauren’s passion for the causes she supports is contagious, inspiring others to join her in making a meaningful impact,” said Augusto Hernandez, senior vice president and business segment leader for Associated Bank. “Her strategic vision and ability to develop comprehensive plans have led to new partnerships, aiding the nonprofits with new sponsors and relationships in the business community.” ●

Supporting education is extremely important to Jim Mueller, vice president of Brown & Brown Insurance. As a founding member and current president of SHARP Literacy’s Young Professionals board, Mueller helps the nonprofit deliver STEAMbased programs to urban elementary students in 50 schools across Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha counties. In 2019, Mueller served as co-chair to SHARP’s largest annual fundraiser, A Novel Event, securing sponsors and networking to encourage involvement. The event Mark Niehaus raised more than $340,000, which was a 40% increase compared to the prior year. Most recently, in February 2023, Mueller co-chaired SHARP’s second annual Unwrapped Waukesha Edition, an event pulling together top chefs from the area for a themed fundraiser. “His institutional knowledge of the community helped frame the event with notable participants and guests, generating nearly $22,000 for the students of Waukesha County,” said Lynda Kohler, president and chief executive officer of SHARP Literacy. “Jim’s dedication to fundraising resulted in Unwrapped Waukesha exceeding its revenue goal by over 40%.” ●

LAUREN HESS, ASSOCIATED BANK

JIM MUELLER, BROWN & BROWN

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IN-KIND SUPPORTER

BVK GARY MUELLER, executive creative director for Milwaukee-based BVK, founded Serve Marketing in 2002 to help underrepresented organizations gain increased exposure. The country’s only all-volunteer and full-service nonprofit advertising agency has donated the equivalent of more than $20 million of time and supplies to nonprofit organizations in the Milwaukee area and nationwide. Since its founding, Serve has created public service campaigns for more than 75 local and national nonprofits on a range of issues, including infant mortality, child sexual abuse, teen pregnancy, shaken baby syndrome, gun violence and statutory rape.

All work by Serve is performed on a volunteer basis and relies almost entirely on donated time from production, creative, media, digital and social media professionals from BVK and the Milwaukee advertising community. The agency was honored by the White House for helping decrease Milwaukee’s teen pregnancy rate by more than 65% in ten years. Recently, Mueller started a Serve scholarship for incoming college students of color to help increase diversity in the advertising industry. “When Gary has an idea of how he can help make an impact, there is simply no stopping him,” said Lauren Sutter, executive director for Serve Marketing. “He encourages everyone to do good and make a difference.” ●

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“I’m so lucky to get to work at a place that allows you to donate so much of your time and your employees’ time to give back to nonprofits. We work on such important causes.” – Gary Mueller, executive creative director, BVK

inalist F IN-KIND SUPPORTER

Gary Mueller

ASSOCIATED BANK Associated Bank donated office space in downtown Milwaukee to ALIVE Inc. Milwaukee, which works to foster skills for young people in business, arts, professional development and educational attainment. The 7,300-square-foot space inside the Associated Bank River Center building has an annual value of $87,720. It provides room for The Associated Bank River Center in downtown Milwaukee. 90% of ALIVE Inc. staff and is used as a co-working space for young men in the ALIVE program. The nonprofit is in its second year of using the space. “All training sessions, meetings and many other events are hosted in this space,” said John Daniels III, executive director of ALIVE Inc. Milwaukee. “We also use this as a co-working space for the young men in our program to be able to meet with staff and utilize printing services, internet and meeting spaces to help them in their education and careers. Our programming would be significantly curtailed without this amazing space.” ●

inalist F IN-KIND SUPPORTER

WISCONSIN CENTER DISTRICT

In January, the Wisconsin Center District announced it would award a nonprofit organization with an all-expenses-paid gala at the new rooftop ballroom of the soonto-open expanded Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee. Out of more than 170 organizations that submitted applications, the Autism Rendering of the expanded Baird Center Society of Southeastern Wisin downtown Milwaukee. consin was selected as the winner of the package, valued at $56,000 and 40 hours of WCD employee volunteer work. The gala will be held on Saturday, June 8th and is expected to draw a record crowd of donors. WCD’s donation allows the nonprofit to, “provide so many services back to our individuals, back our families, and back to our community,” said Kelly Backes, board president of MarktoNiehaus ASSEW. WCD also partnered with Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin to offer a “buy one, get one free” ticket promotion for Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience, which ran from October 2022 to January 2023 at the Baird Center, to those who donated $15 or more to the charity. Thanks to that promotion, Feeding America was able to provide 1,388 meals to people in need. “The leadership at the Wisconsin Center District believes our community is stronger and more equitable when our nonprofit community has the means to offer assistance during emergencies and support when dealing with life challenges,” said Joe Scialfa, director of communications for WCD. ●

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NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIP

PATRICK LUBAR, IXONIA BANK PATRICK LUBAR, vice president and commercial lender for Ixonia Bank, devotes a great deal of his time to serving on committees and boards of local nonprofits, including The Opportunity Center, Radio Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Properties Committee. As an original board member for The Opportunity Center and a member of its finance committee, Lubar helps the nonprofit establish financial strategies to achieve its goal of creating an athletic complex for low-to-moderate income youth and elderly individuals. Lubar is also a finance committee member for Radio Milwaukee, where he provides guidance on budgetary decisions that impact listener programming throughout the year.

Lubar played a vital role in keeping Radio Milwaukee running during the pandemic, securing a federal PPP loan to keep the station operational. “Patrick’s contributions to any board he participates in begins with listening, observing and asking questions to understand how they currently operate,” said Lauren Ruff, vice president and marketing director for Ixonia Bank. “He likes to develop relationships with the staff and other committee members, recognizing that everyone has valuable insights and experience to offer.” ●

“My parents and my grandparents instilled in me at a very early age the importance of community and philanthropy. It has been a guiding principle throughout my life.” – Patrick Lubar, vice president and commercial lender, Ixonia Bank

inalist F NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIP

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Brandon Ramey is committed to community development and bringing investment to central Milwaukee neighborhoods. As the site director for Quad’s training hub, Quad MKE, Ramey aims to make careers more accessible, spearheading initiatives that focus on workforce development, mentorship and community health. “Brandon’s commitment to listening and understanding the needs of community partners has led to successful collaborations and activations, such as Quad MKE’s recent open house,” said Richard Frank, executive director of operations for special interest publications at Quad. “During this event, organized by Brandon and his team, Quad hosted a diverse array of community partners, including nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and government officials, highlighting Brandon’s exceptional ability to cultivate and nurture relationships with various community stakeholders.” Ramey serves as a board member for youth mentoring program Running Rebels and collaborated in launching the U.N.I.T.E. Business Resolution Group at Quad, which fosters professional growth and authentic representation in the Black community. Ramey is also part of Quad’s DEI task force, in which he works to promote an inclusive environment within the company. ●

Mark Niehaus Supporting professional women drives the volunteer efforts of Stacy Scheffer, finance manager for Charter Steel. This year, Scheffer became president of Impact100 Greater Milwaukee, an organization of women that each make annual, tax-deductible donations of $1,100, which are used to award transformative grants to make a lasting impact on the community. In 2023, Impact100’s 388 members awarded $388,000 in grants. Scheffer, a graduate of Marquette University, first joined the board of Impact100 in 2018 and served as its director of membership retention. Leading with passion and inclusivity, Scheffer aims to grow the organization’s membership through strategic planning processes and strong member engagement initiatives. ●

BRANDON RAMEY, QUAD MKE

STACY SCHEFFER, CHARTER STEEL

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NONPROFIT COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

MILWAUKEE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY TOGETHER, the Milwaukee County Historical Society and Wisconsin Historical Society have worked to make history education programming more accessible to students and educators in Milwaukee. They created the Hands-on-History program, offering free in-school local history education programming and an educator-focused component that provides resources and teacher workshops. The program was born as the two organizations were trying to do the same thing: educate youth in Milwaukee

about local history. Instead of continuing down separate paths, they worked together to offer a better program, to work more efficiently and to fundraise to be able to make it accessible. The reach of the two organizations went from serving 500 Milwaukee students a year to more than 5,000 in the current school year. ●

“Without accurate information, democracy doesn’t function properly. Now, I hope that that information is fair, accurate and balanced, and that is what we believe in at the Milwaukee County Historical Society.”

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– Ben Barbera, president and executive director, Milwaukee County Historical Society

inalist F NONPROFIT COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

Ben Barbera

ARTWORKS FOR MILWAUKEE

ArtWorks for Milwaukee prepares teens for future careers with year-long paid internships aimed at developing hard and soft skills with an emphasis on arts engagement. The organization sustains its programs through collaboration with MPS Partnership for the Arts & Humanities, ManpowerGroup, CAPE Mental Health Movement, Northwest Side Community Development Corp. and MMSD. In 2022, 18 high school interns completed more than 1,300 hours of paid training, completing five art projects. The ArtWorks staff and interns Artworks intern creates a mosaic sculpture. were recognized as recipients of the Urban Economic Development Association’s Bridge Builder Award, acknowledging the organization for its efforts in fostering diversity and community connection. Partnering with ManpowerGroup, ArtWorks provides career coaching and mock interviews to help interns utilize their learned skills and network. “Dedication to supporting the interns and their career potential makes ArtWorks for Milwaukee a truly outstanding organization that is integral to the future of Milwaukee,” said Alyssa Doman, membership and operations coordinator for the Wisconsin Policy Forum. ●

inalist F NONPROFIT COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

CURATIVE CARE NETWORK

Founded in 1919, Curative Care Network provides services to children and adults with disabilities and limiting conditions throughout Milwaukee and surrounding counties. The nonprofit has fostered numerous long-lasting partnerships since its beginning, collaborating with the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County since 1926 and with the Junior League of Milwaukee since 1919. The Kiwanis Foundation, a collaboration between the Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee and Curative, was created in 1947 to support CuMark Niehaus Joy Gravos, president and CEO rative’s treatment program for children with cerebral palsy. Today, the collaboration continues to support Curative by donating toys for children and through the Aktion Club, a service club for adults with disabilities. “The teams at Curative have demonstrated compassion, empathy, patience and a determined spirit, passionately focusing on what our clients and families need,” said Amanda Colborn, marketing and outreach manager for Curative. “I am proud and appreciative of the support from the board and for our committed team members and generous donors, funders and community partners for truly making a difference in the lives of others by helping our clients thrive.” ●

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NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

KENNETH GINLACK, SERENITY INNS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of Milwaukee-based men’s addiction center Serenity Inns, Kenneth Ginlack plays an integral role in the nonprofit’s mission to foster a safe healing environment for clients. “He has demonstrated his strong leadership by enhancing the skills of the staff members and revising organizational policies to reflect a strong commitment to trauma-informed practices,” said Crystal McClain, a Serenity Inns board member. Under Ginlack’s leadership, Serenity Inns is expanding with construction of a $2.4 million, 14-bed facility. Ginlack himself has triumphed over substance abuse disorder, becoming a

licensed psychotherapist and has an unwavering dedication to the cause of helping others recover from substance abuse disorder. Ginlack is also a member of the Milwaukee Overdose Public Health and Safety Team’s planning team, working to prevent future overdose incidents, gaining deeper insights into fatal overdose risk factors and providing support services to families affected by overdose. “His impactful contributions have unarguably elevated the lives of individuals contending with addiction and mental health challenges, not only in Milwaukee but also far beyond,” said McClain. ●

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“Our mission is to support as many men as we can as they struggle with substance abuse disorder, and as we continue to move forward and expand our reach to help more men in the community, I am just grateful.” – Kenneth Ginlack, executive director, Serenity Inns

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NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

DAWN NUOFFER, DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF WISCONSIN

MIRYAM ROSENZWEIG, MILWAUKEE JEWISH FEDERATION

Since stepping into the role of president in 2018, Charlotte John-Gomez has led Milwaukee-based Siebert Lutheran foundation in its efforts to support Lutheran ministries and nonprofits. Siebert has provided more than $20 million in philanthropic investments to Lutheran schools, social service agencies and investments in health care and sober living facilities in underserved communities. Three years ago, John-Gomez launched a Collaborators’ Event to gather donors, foundations and families together to commit funding to select nonprofits. The event raised an additional $700,000 for Siebert’s grantee partners. Additionally, employees’ financial contributions to nonprofits are matched up to a maximum of $1,000 annually. Employees who donate at least 40 volunteer hours of personal time to one organization earn a $1,000 grant toward that organization. “Charlotte is excellent at informing staff about the organization’s financial performance and progress toward fiscal Michael Levey goals,” said Sarah Gilday, director of philanthropy for Siebert Lutheran Foundation. “She creates a fiscally responsible and ethically strong organization by setting guidelines, prioritizing professional development, collaborative decision-making and regular communication.” ●

As a mother to a child with Down syndrome, Dawn Nuoffer has dedicated her career to changing the lives of people with disabilities in Wisconsin for the better. Since becoming president and chief executive officer of the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin in 2014, Nuoffer has led numerous initiatives to expand the nonprofit’s outreach. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from one full-time employee to 106 employees today and its services have increased by nearly 300% in Wisconsin, expanding to reach most areas of the state. Nuoffer helped launch DSAW’s home and community-based services and employment services departments, which provide private, public and IRIS-supported services to people with disabilities and their families. She is currently implementing Think Ability Wisconsin, a statewide partnership network aiming to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities in Wisconsin. “DSAW has gone through a revolution since Dawn began her journey here,” said Rachel Reit, director of marketing and development for the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin. “Her unique talents, lived experience and vision for the future have propelled DSAW to new heights and have permanently changed the lives of thousands of people with disabilities and their families in our state.” ●

With Miryam Rosenzweig as its president and chief executive officer, Milwaukee Jewish Federation works to support the Jewish community in Milwaukee and around the world. She leads the organization’s 60-plus employees to focus on five key areas: tackling increased incidents of antisemitism, enhancing the security of Jewish Wisconsinites, supporting the Jewish homeland, enhancing Jewish life in Milwaukee and caring for Jews everywhere they live. With antisemitic incidents in Wisconsin increasing by 494% since 2015, MJF and its Holocaust Education Resource Center has expanded its lessons in genocide and the Holocaust to 96,075 children and adults. Additionally, the organization has provided social service support to more than 71,000 people globally. In the past three years, Rosenzweig helped bring in more than $8.1 million in federal dollars for security to 44 Jewish organizations in Wisconsin and secured $1.3 million in federal security grants for 10 organizations in Wisconsin, allowing MJF to use the donor dollars for community contributions. “Under her leadership, the MJF has persevered – and has come out stronger – from the experience of a global pandemic, a war in Ukraine, the highest inflation in a generation, war and conflict in Israel, and a striking rise in antisemitism,” said Jeffrey Jones, marketing and communications director for Milwaukee Jewish Federation. ●

NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

CHARLOTTE JOHN-GOMEZ, SIEBERT LUTHERAN FOUNDATION

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LARGE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER FOUNDED IN 1970, the United Community Center has evolved from a small youth programs center, known as “The Spot,” to one of the largest nonprofits in Milwaukee that aims to support the Hispanic community through social service programs. Over the past 53 years, UCC has developed and modified elder care, cultural arts programming, human services, housing support, preschool, K-8 education and college preparatory programs. The programs serve individuals from six weeks to 106 years old; 95% of those served are Hispanic and more than 75% are considered

low income. UCC also prioritizes employees’ professional development, providing tuition reimbursement and an on-demand learning center for staff. The nonprofit also works with a consulting firm to provide supervisors with training on people management and collaboration. “All work must be viewed from the lens of achieving our mission and creating success within the Hispanic community,” said Jennifer Steiner, marketing director for UCC. “We hold firm the belief that our success creates a more vibrant Milwaukee community and are proud to be able to make a difference for individuals and the community.” ●

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“We serve clients from six weeks of age to 106. We believe education is the pathway out of poverty, and the best inheritance we can leave our children.” – Laura Gutierrez, chief executive officer, UCC

inalist F LARGE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Laura Gutierrez

GIRL SCOUTS OF WISCONSIN SOUTHEAST Through expanded programming, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast has held true to its mission of championing ambition in girls of all backgrounds. GSWISE’s community outreach department offers in-school and after-school programming to girls who may not have access to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience otherwise. Introduced this year, the new Girl Scout Promise Program is a short- Water activities at a Girl Scouts summer camp. term alternative to the year-long troop commitment and is free for participating schools and organizations. The organization’s programs have expanded to confront issues and meet the interests of girls today. GSWISE created a STEM program, partnering with organizations like MSOE for special events and integrating “STEM in Nature” options at summer camp. GSWISE’s new mental health patch partnership with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin and free “Wellness Your Way” virtual series with mental health and self-care topics support the needs of girls and women. “The mission of Girl Scouting is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place,” said Emily Roethle, director of marketing and communications for GSWISE. ●

inalist F LARGE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

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HARRY & ROSE SAMSON FAMILY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER The mission of the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center is to create spaces and build opportunities for the Jewish community, while inspiring diverse communities. Founded in 1895, the JCC provides wellness, education and community programs serving the entire community and operates in six locations throughout the state. Its programs include early childhood education, Fitness programming at the JCC. sportsMark andNiehaus recreation, swimming and aquatics, camps and the Milwaukee Jewish Film Festival. While the JCC is rooted in the Jewish faith, its facilities – including the Gan Ami school, Rainbow Day Camp and Camp Interlaken – serve the public. The aim is to include and appreciate all communities. Driving the JCC’s mission is Mark Shapiro, who has served as its president and chief executive officer for the past 15 years. “Mark is committed to using the belief that the Jewish faith appreciates the wonderful things that make each person an individual and the differences, rather than being questioned, are celebrated,” said executive assistant Rhonda Ronsman. ●

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SMALL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

PROJECT RETURN PROJECT RETURN was started to meet the needs of people returning from incarceration and to address the challenge of high prison recidivism rates in Milwaukee. Today, the organization is an active participant of the Milwaukee County Reentry Council and works for policy changes to reduce recidivism. Lack of housing is a significant issue for people returning from incarceration. With the Milwaukee County Reentry Council, Project RETURN is working to build a transitional housing facility for individuals exiting incarceration. The facility will address mental health issues, provide life skills and create space for fostering hobbies.

Project RETURN has also collaborated with local government, churches and individuals to promote funding. In 2022, its annual “Celebrate the Return” gala generated the most income ever raised at the event. “Project RETURN’s holistic model allows staff to walk alongside formerly incarcerated individuals, helping each person who walks in the door identify as a human who is worthy of respect, all while shifting the perception of agencies and the community on how they treat those who are formerly incarcerated,” said Charlotte John-Gomez, president of the Siebert Lutheran Foundation. ●

“It is absolutely amazing how much the community has changed to understand the needs of people returning from incarceration, and how much support we have gotten.” – Wendel Hruska, executive director, Project RETURN

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Wendel Hruska

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SMALL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

LITERACY SERVICES OF WISCONSIN

MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY SAILING CENTER

WAUKESHA CIVIC THEATRE

Literacy Services of Wisconsin is an adult education provider with eight locations in Milwaukee, Waukesha and Racine counties, serving nearly 1,200 students annually with programs designed to help students learn to read and write, obtain a high school diploma, increase language fluency and improve workforce skills. The organization has merged twice since 2017 to build capacity, increase access to resources and ensure consistency for its adult education programming. This year, LSW launched a new High School Equivalency Diploma program focused on career opportunities in the manufacturing industry. The program will have its first cohort of graduates this December. LSW’s bridge programming allows students to co-enroll in both college and high school credentialing programs. It also partners with Milwaukee Public Schools to provide on-site programming for parents and families within the school district. “LSW’s Student First educational model is designed to meet adults of all skill levels where they live and work, delivering quality educational programming in their neighborhoods and helping them achieve their goals,” said Holly McCoy, executive director of LSW. “When adult education is prioritized and properly supported, it positively affects our K-12 system and employment rates, providing opportunities to grow income and decrease income disparities.” ●

Over the course of 40 years, Milwaukee Community Sailing Center has evolved into an organization that offers a wide variety of skills to new and advanced students. “On a very limited budget, the Sailing Center has continued to grow and expand programs and in particular during the COVID years,” said MCSC board member Robert Heil. “The Sailing Center now has over 80 boats for use by members at no charge based on a member’s skill set and rating.” Its programming also includes youth classes, STEM programs in area middle schools and outreach to underprivileged students. MCSC’s Friday open houses make sailing available to more than 500 people with disabilities, free of charge. To advocate for accessibility of Lake Michigan and clean water initiatives, MCSC helped form the Milwaukee Beach Ambassadors. MCSC built its meeting facility without debt and with an endowment for annual upkeep. They are planning to launch a campaign for an addition to the classroom facility in order to properly maintain its growing fleet of boats. ●

SMALL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Since 1957, Waukesha Civic Theatre has transformed professionally and financially as its mission to provide quality live theater performances and educational opportunities to the Waukesha community persists. Located on Main Street in downtown Waukesha, the organization serves roughly 3,000 students annually through its theater academy program and school outreach, and hosts about 50 live productions annually. Last year, Waukesha Civic Theatre began a two-phase expansion for classroom, performance, rehearsal, reception and office space. The project was spearheaded by executive director Rhonda Schmidt. “When we saw opportunity to expand into the building next door, (Schmidt) developed financial projections to guide the decision-making and led the acquisition, design and development meticulously,” said Eric Larson, Waukesha Civic Theatre board president. Additionally, Schmidt has worked to make financial and ethical responsibility a goal for the Civic Theatre’s staff, working with the treasurer, finance committee and auditor to budget each performance and program. ●

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SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR

SHERMAN PHOENIX FOUNDATION ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, entrepreneurship support and cultural celebration are core to the mission of the Sherman Phoenix Foundation. Launched in 2021 as the nonprofit operator of the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace in Milwaukee’s central city, the organization offers impact programming for local business owners and residents, in an effort to mobilize entrepreneurs of color, support job creation and promote unity in the community. The $3.5 million Sherman Phoenix redevelopment project opened in late 2018, breathing new life into a BMO Harris Bank branch building that was burned during civil unrest in the Sherman Park neighborhood two years prior. Today, the Sherman Phoenix is home to 21 small businesses and also serves as a hub for community building. In addition to providing mentorship to its

tenants and other local entrepreneurs, the foundation offers a range of community programming, including sessions on economic and workforce development and financial literacy, skills training, homeowner workshops and mental health sessions for entrepreneurs. In 2023, the Sherman Phoenix Foundation launched Black Wellness Weekend to combat cycles of poverty, disenfranchisement and marginalization fueled by structural racism and lack of access to health resources. “We strive to foster a sense of belonging and a place of being,” said Stacia Thompson, executive director of the Sherman Phoenix Foundation. “We are committed to empowering people within our community to maximize their potential to build a more equitable economy. Our success is measured by the impact we have on the broader community.” ●

“We do this for the cause, not for the applause, but it is music to our ears to hear these claps for the work that we have been doing.” – Stacia Thompson, executive director, Sherman Phoenix Foundation

Stacia Thompson

greater together 2023

AWARDS

FRANK KIRKPATRICK AWARD

ERNESTO & OLIVIA VILLARREAL

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, through its Greater Together Awards, honors the contributions of community members toward creating positive change across our region. Congratulations to this year’s recipients! greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/gta

DOUG JANSSON LEADERSHIP AWARD

JOHN DANIELS III

PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP IN RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD

LUPE MARTINEZ

WILLIAM C. FRYE AWARD

TED & MARY KELLNER

30 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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PRESENTS:

Celebrating the journey BizTimes Media once again recognized the top innovators and entrepreneurs in southeastern Wisconsin at its recent Innovation + Entrepreneurship Forum. Jerry Jendusa was named the Lifetime Achievement Award winner, joining a prestigious list that includes Harry Quadracci of Quad/Graphics, Robert Kern of Generac, George Dalton of Fiserv, Steven Marcus of The Marcus Corp., Sheldon Lubar of Lubar & Co., Michael Cudahy of Marquette Electronics, real estate developer Gary Grunau, Valerie Daniels-Carter of V&J Holding Companies Inc., Jon Hammes of Hammes Co., and Wayne Oldenburg of Oldenburg Group. Jendusa, now president of BreakthrU Coaching, co-founded New Berlin-based Emteq in 1995 when he was 27. The company, a manufacturer of aircraft interior and exterior lighting systems and aircraft cabin management and power systems, grew to $100 million in revenue before it was sold in 2014. Since the sale, Jendusa has continued to pursue his passion of mentoring other business leaders with BreakthrU Coaching. Dean Amhaus, CEO of The Water Council, received the Regional Spirit Award. Amhaus has led the organization, which works on water challenges globally and touts Milwaukee as a freshwater technology hub, since

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2010. Prior to his current role, Amhaus led Spirit of Milwaukee, a nonprofit that aimed at changing the public image of the city. The event also recognized eight individuals and companies for their leadership in the areas of entrepreneurship and innovation.

f L B Q o C G

ENTREPRENEURSHIP WINNERS: » Norrie Daroga, president, CodeBaby » Roy Dietsch, CEO, PartsBadger » Britt Gottschalk, founder and CEO, Geno.Me » Paul Stillmank, founder and executive chairman, 7Rivers

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INNOVATION WINNERS: » Adam Aerospace » Hydro-Thermal Corp. » Octane Coffee » Synthetaic Read more about the Lifetime Achievement, Regional Spirt, Entrepreneurship and Innovation award winners in this special section.

As Wisconsin’s largest family-owned financial services company, we’re proud of the legacy we’ve built, serving families and businesses for over 50 years. What matters most is doing what’s right – for our customers, associates and our communities. Our roots are here; our focus is here; our decisions are made here. Johnson Financial Group is a privately owned financial services company offering business banking, personal banking and wealth solutions through Johnson Bank and Johnson Wealth. Our business team is honored to serve you and looks forward to connecting soon. For more information visit, JohnsonFinancialGroup. com/business. MATT HASS SVP, Business Banking Manager 262.523.8272 | mhass@johnsonfinancialgroup.com

biztimes.com / 31

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Jerry Jendusa has made it his personal mission to develop Wisconsin’s business leaders BY ASHLEY SMART, staff writer

WHEN IT COMES to his legacy among Wisconsin’s business ecosystem, Jerry Jendusa doesn’t like to be referred to as a “serial entrepreneur.” In fact, he has a slight distaste for the term. He’d prefer to be known for his continuous work in fostering and supporting local business leaders. Key to this work is a natural determination and drive that Jendusa has had since youth, according to Paul Schulls, a longtime colleague and co-founder (with Jendusa) and president of BreakthrU Coaching. “We met in high school, freshman year,” said Schulls. “What struck me about (Jendusa), at 14, is how driven he was and the types of things that he wanted to accomplish.” Becoming a leader was something Jendusa had to learn quickly at the age of 27, when he helped launch New Berlin-based Emteq Inc., a manufacturer of aircraft interior and exterior lighting systems and aircraft cabin management and power systems. Jendusa co-founded Emteq in 1995 with Jim Harasha, who he met while working at the Brookfield-based medical device company RF Technologies. The two men still work together to this day. “I would say I had to go from being an entrepreneur to a professional manager and leader who had a ton of discipline really, really fast,” said Jendusa. “(Jim) was your typical integrator, and I was more of the visionary, so it made a

really great team.” Schulls became part of the Emteq team during its 10th year in business. He joined the company as Jendusa was looking to surround himself with a professional development team. “He would put the plans in place to develop the people,” said Schulls. “Then, he got out of the way. That’s how Emteq was able to scale like it did, because otherwise, the leader can get in the way of the growth.” Together, Jendusa and Harasha grew Emteq into a $100 million company, and then sold it in 2014. While the sale of Emteq was a difficult decision to make, Jendusa said it was the right move as the company created at least 40 other “high-powered” leaders who have gone on to run other companies. “We never want to hold people back,” he said. “You divide and multiply your superstars.” Jendusa didn’t remain idle for long. Following the sale of Emteq, he continued pursuing his passion of mentoring business leaders through the formation of BreakthrU Coaching. The business advisory company develops early-career leaders and helps companies with yearly planning, talent assessment, succession planning and more. The business structure that Jendusa and his colleagues developed and perfected while working at Emteq became the framework for BreakthrU Coaching.

“YOU LOVE THE STORY OF THE ENTREPRENEUR THAT CAME FROM RAGS TO RICHES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT’S LEADERSHIP AND IT’S GRIT. IT’S RIGOR AND DISCIPLINE AND PROACTIVELY DOING THINGS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY IT’S LEADING OTHERS.” — Jerry Jendusa

“We teach process aligned with strategy and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Jendusa. JENDUSA Even before BreakthrU Coaching was officially formed, Schulls said Jendusa was already gaining notoriety for his system of running a business while developing leaders. The team at Emteq took on several companies as clients prior to the business being sold. “Once we had proven – through helping other organizations, friends and family – that this model and these tools work, we thought, ‘We’re on to something.’ This is our second act, a way to give back but also to grow this model,” said Schulls. What makes the BreakthrU Coaching method of leadership development and business coaching so unique, said Schulls, is the involvement of the entire leadership team, not just the owner. “The entire team can work on determined initiatives throughout the year to scale the business versus the owner feeling like they need to do it on their own,” said Schulls. Jendusa, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BizTimes Media Innovation + Entrepreneurship Forum in November, supports several other organizations through his BreakthrU family of companies. He’s a majority owner and chairman of the board of Muskego-based biotech company Xiogenix as well as a board member and investor in Lexington, Kentucky-based Ardent Animal Health. He’s also an investor in Monona-based solid surface manufacturer Vendura Industries. In recent years, Jendusa’s knack for mentorship has propelled him into the local spotlight, starring as a mogul on WISN-TV Channel 12’s “Project Pitch It,” a local version of the ABC TV show “Shark Tank.” Heading into its eighth season,

“Project Pitch It” has showcased 170 Wisconsin entrepreneurs, with 92% of them still in business. “You love the story of the entrepreneur that came from rags to riches, but at the end of the day it’s leadership and it’s grit,” said Jendusa. “It’s rigor and discipline and proactively doing things, but most importantly it’s leading others. Most entrepreneurs fail to grow into leaders.” In his role as co-chair for Scale-Up Milwaukee, Jendusa has helped even more southeastern Wisconsin businesses accelerate their growth. He’s also an advisory board member for the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, his alma mater. In 2016, Jendusa donated $1 million to the Lubar Center to support an entrepreneur-in-residence program for students. Even with his ever-growing list of titles and commitments, Jendusa remains focused on continuous improvement, both in his personal life and professional life. “The day you feel you’ve arrived is the day you should get out,” he said. Looking back at nearly two decades of working with Jendusa, Schulls anticipates the values and lessons his colleague has helped instill within countless Wisconsin entrepreneurs and business leaders will continue to be passed down through generations. “The hope is that these efforts outlive us and the initial impacts they have in our organization,” said Schulls. “Leadership, gratitude, serving others… those sorts of values are what we want to live on. When (Jendusa) starts something, they then take on a life of their own.”

32 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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Proud Partner in Our Wisconsin Communities We couldn’t be prouder of the legacy we’re building. Proud of our longstanding commitment to our communities. Proud that our expertise has put us at the top of our class. Proud to be a workplace of choice for our dedicated associates. And most of all, proud to represent a family whose deep roots in Wisconsin have allowed us to build relationships with so many people and businesses in the state we love. If you’re looking for a trustworthy partner who is truly invested in your long-term success, visit our team in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas or JohnsonFinancialGroup.com to learn more.

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Products and services offered by these Johnson Financial Group companies: Johnson Bank and Johnson Wealth Inc. As reported by the Milwaukee Business Journal, October 2022. 2SEC Form ADV regulatory assets under management as of 12/31/2020.

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Dean Amhaus wants the world to know about Milwaukee’s most valuable resource BY ASHLEY SMART, staff writer

DEAN AMHAUS was not always a champion of the city of Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin. A Cudahy native, he left Wisconsin in the mid-‘70s to attend college, spending time in both Washington D.C. and New York City. “I left, like a lot of people at that time, because I didn’t see a lot of opportunity,” said Amhaus. “It was a place that wasn’t on my radar and didn’t make me feel like I wanted to be here.” He eventually returned to Wisconsin to run the sesquicentennial commission, which worked to raise funds for Wisconsin’s 150th birthday, in 1998. This piqued his interest in the idea of promoting a place. From there, he spent two years as president of the organization Forward Wisconsin. In 2001, he began his work with Spirit of Milwaukee, a nonprofit started by Midwest Express Airlines dedicated to changing Milwaukee’s public image through a revamped branding effort. Around the time he had returned to the Milwaukee area, Amhaus began noticing a series of positive changes in the city. “When I was growing up here in the Milwaukee area, things were so bad I would say there were fish in the water,

but they floated to the top,” said Amhaus. “There was no downtown. It was empty. By the late ‘90s, things were starting to happen. There was just a different energy.” While working with Spirit of Milwaukee, Amhaus helped create a Milwaukee logo, which prominently features the image of the Milwaukee Art Museum, and was part of efforts to form the economic development group Milwaukee 7. While working with the Milwaukee 7, Amhaus gained his first exposure to the water technology industry. “How do you differentiate yourself from everyplace else? I really thought (water technology) could be something that could do that. It’s selling and promoting Milwaukee as this incredible gem around water. It’s here, but we never celebrated it. “Lots of cities talk about how they have professional sports teams and culture and good education, but so what? Everybody has that. You need to have something that makes you different from the rest of the pack,” said Amhaus, who received the Regional Spirit Award at the BizTimes Media Innovation + Entrepreneurship Forum in November. He joined The Water Council as pres-

“LOTS OF CITIES TALK ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS AND CULTURE AND GOOD EDUCATION, BUT SO WHAT? EVERYBODY HAS THAT. YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE PACK.” — Dean Amhaus

AMHAUS

ident and chief executive officer in 2010. The nonprofit is dedicated to solving global water challenges by supporting innovations in water technology, advancing water stewardship and promoting Milwaukee’s natural water resources. The end goal is to establish the Milwaukee region as a world hub for water-related research, education and economic development. While the public might not be familiar with the daily work of The Water Council, Amhaus said the organization’s efforts certainly impact them. The nonprofit is constantly examining new technologies that can improve quality of life. Last year, a South Korean company, called Tomorrow Water, piloted its technology locally after The Water Council introduced it to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. Tomorrow Water’s technology processes wastewater in just six minutes; the pilot at MMSD’s South Shore facility showed positive results in helping to reduce sewer overflows in the Milwaukee area. The Water Council’s latest project involves creating a regional innovation engine here in southeastern Wisconsin focused on climate issues. The organization in May was awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to plan a regional innovation engine that will address water and energy resilience

for manufacturers and utilities. Amhaus believes the NSF Engines grant catapults The Water Council’s efforts to a higher level. Now that a leadership team has been selected to run the Resiliency Innovation Engine, the group is working to select the subject matter that will guide the program. Speaking with manufacturers and educational institutions regarding the problems they face every day will continue to be guiding work for its leadership team. “We’ve got to move past our friends and family to reach a broader audience and that is happening,” said Amhaus. “We are having discussions with organizations and businesses that we never had in the past. It’s opening up doors every day.” He said one of the most gratifying outcomes from his efforts in championing the city has been seeing other organizations share their support. He pointed to how the Milwaukee Bucks’ blue City Edition uniforms acknowledge water, and how community celebrations like Harbor Fest have become regular occurrences. “People marvel and they’re absolutely jealous of our beaches and the waterfront. When they see the vibrancy of what’s going on along the river, it does surprise people as well,” said Amhaus. “It’s those things we take for granted, but a lot of other places don’t have that.”

34 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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Norrie Daroga CodeBaby | Milwaukee Founded: 2001, rebooted in 2018 | Employees: 5, plus 7 full-time contractors Funding raised: $2 million codebaby.com Mequon-based iDAvatars acquired CodeBaby, then based in Colorado, in 2016 only to have to wind down all of its operations after losing a major client two years later. However, Norrie Daroga, CEO of iDAvatars, bought the CodeBaby platform and technology and spent four years working on the product, returning in 2022 with intelligent digital avatars that display compassion, empathy and a sense of humor. In addition to Milwaukee, the company also has employees in Chicago, Colorado and Connecticut. How would you describe CodeBaby’s product/service? Norrie Daroga, president: “We build virtual characters (avatars) that combine animation, speech, text, natural language understanding and generative artificial intelligence to create real-time experiences which engage and inform users. The avatars can convey emotions and values using these technologies and techniques.” What needs are you addressing with CodeBaby? Is it the same as when you started, or has it changed over time? “We lack sufficient skilled professionals (doctors, nurses, customer service, social workers, etc.)

and these professionals spend a considerable amount of time doing tasks that can be performed by our avatars. Our avatars are available around the clock and can engage in several hundred/thousand experiences simultaneously. They tend not to have bad days, bring personal conflicts to work, or need breaks.” What are the next key steps in the development of the product? “We are developing avatars capable of conversations for mental health, loneliness, and personal coaching which we believe will bring the benefits of AI to the mass population.”

DAROGA

What’s been your mindset when overcoming setbacks? “Tenacity, perseverance and remaining positive are key attributes that allow me to overcome setbacks. As a leader in the company, my attitude affects the entire team and my willingness to maintain a collaborative environment is also key to success.” What’s your biggest lesson learned since founding your company? “Success is elusive and takes much longer than you can imagine. Learning to pivot into the direction of opportunities while staying true to my vision was my biggest challenge.”

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Roy Dietsch PartsBadger | Cedarburg Founded: 2017 | Employees: 57 Funding raised: Bootstrapped parts-badger.com PartsBadger started after Roy Dietsch found it difficult to get a quote for a machined part, finding local vendors nonresponsive, unable to open the file or too expensive. PartsBadger’s technology simplifies and speeds up the quoting process and is now being applied to the shop floor to produce parts faster and at a lower cost. Repeatedly recognized among the fastest growing companies in the region, PartsBadger serves a variety of industries, including automation, industrial and scientific equipment, medical devices, semiconductor, aftermarket automotive and more. What are the next key steps in the development of PartsBadger’s technology? Roy Dietsch, CEO: “Using end-to-end technology, which we developed in-house, we hope to revolutionize manufacturing on the shop floor. In the most extreme cases, our technology can manufacture one-off prototypes in as little as 10 minutes from online order to final QC, using just seconds of manual labor input, with a responsiveness and cost structure that can fundamentally transform this $60 billion industry. We expect this technology to achieve scale in 2024, with rapid expansion in 2025 and 2026.”

What’s been your mindset when overcoming setbacks? “When starting PartsBadger, our early setbacks were typically accompanied by a fear of failure and questioning of my own competency as a leader. Now, this fear has been replaced by motivation. I see challenges as an opportunity for myself and my team to learn to become better leaders, managers and problem solvers. Each challenge we overcome creates another set of ‘tools’ in the toolbox you can use as a leader. Now I see that DIETSCH the best way you can progress in life is through adversity, so you might as well embrace it and the opportunity it brings.” What’s the number one thing needed to sustain a culture of innovation and growth? “At our core, PartsBadger is an innovation company where the team is motivated to achieve something bigger than themselves. We create a culture of growth where learning is held in the same regard as ultimate performance. The foundation of this culture is trust, support and audacity so that people can take on the unknown and discover something new. Our culture is not without its challenges, but it does produce game-changing developments which fuel explosive growth, and frankly it’s a lot of fun.” biztimes.com / 35

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Britt Gottschalk Geno.Me | Milwaukee Founded: 2021 | Employees: 8 Funding raised: $500,000 (seed), $2.6 million (seed II) yourgeno.me Geno.Me is a data exchange platform that allows patients to control their health data at scale. Contributors make their information available to researchers by linking their electronic health records and genetic/genomic reports and opting in to be contacted for clinical trials. When an institution purchases a contributor’s data, the individual receives a payment. What was the point where you knew you would launch Geno.Me and what was the biggest hesitancy or concern you needed to overcome? Britt Gottschalk, founder and CEO: “My first company was a management consulting firm, and I had to make the choice to close its operations and pivot to health tech to focus on Geno.Me full time after receiving our first round of funding. I had cultivated a career of helping teams with their process improvement, project and change management needs in the corporate world, and deciding to start a new journey as a startup CEO was the biggest concern of mine. I overcame it by realizing that I love learning and I got to this point in my professional development because I am a curious person that enjoys figuring out solutions to complex problems. Eventually, I figured that I could figure out how to do this, too, especially with my network of amazing people that believed in me, and had my back, no matter what.”

What needs are you addressing with Geno.Me? “Overall, we’re creating easier access and transferability of health data for patient populations, and for the institutions that can do the most with it. The platform generates an awareness for all people that use it (whether they’re suffering from illnesses or in good health) that we all are responsible for advancing the future of medicine.” What’s been your mindset when overcoming setbacks? “If you’re not challenging yourGOTTSCHALK self, then you’re not learning. There’s always a pathway forward, even though you might have to take a detour. I view setbacks as opportunities for reflection and improvement, so I take an optimistic approach to addressing them. They’re inevitable, and in my experience, the more positive my mindset, the easier it is to overcome them.” What’s your biggest lesson learned since founding your company? “Everything takes longer than you think, but that it’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’m an action-oriented person that needs to remind myself to be patient because not everyone or everything can move as fast as I do. In learning that lesson, the time that it takes for things to get done has given me more space to think before acting, which has benefitted me when making major decisions about business operations, my team, etc.”

understand the rapidly changing dynamics of this innovative, new market.”

Paul Stillmank 7Rivers | Milwaukee Founded: 2023 Funding raised: $4 million 7riversinc.com Paul Stillmank grew his previous company, a Salesforce consultancy known as 7Summits, from its founding in 2009 to 200 employees and five appearances on the Inc. 5000 list before selling it to IBM in 2021. Two years later, he’s returned to the entrepreneurial journey, launching 7Rivers, which aims to help businesses transform data into valuable solutions by using AI to help drive strategy and growth.

What’s the number one thing needed to sustain a culture of innovation and growth? “A continuous exploration of new technologies, learning, and applying these learnings to create novel paths for clients is essential. That means we, ourselves, need to be an augmented business, built for today and able to leverage our team’s best abilities to innovate on behalf of our clients.”

STILLMANK

What needs are you addressing with 7Rivers? Paul Stillmank, founder and executive chairman: “The real need here is to serve companies who were not invested and ready to capitalize on the speed of these new technology innovations by bringing business context and deriving business value through use of data and AI. 7Rivers is here to get past any hype and make this very real for our customers and that’s all about driving business value for them.”

What could local, regional or state leaders do to better support startups and innovative companies? “I’m actually very proud of what I see going on in Milwaukee, Wisconsin right now. The resources and focus to support local startups like 7Rivers are myriad compared to back when I launched 7Summits. We’ve done that by fostering a supportive business environment, investing in tech infrastructure, and encouraging collaborations between industry and our universities. We need to continually amp that up now to advance our position in the market as a tech innovator. Shoutout to MKE Tech Hub Coalition and so many more that are bringing this to life right here.”

What do you wish you knew before starting the company? “My past experiences taught me a great deal about building companies with technology, user experience and incredible talent at the core. What I’d like is a crystal ball that helps me to see and

What’s your biggest lesson learned since founding your company? “The importance of staying ahead in technology trends while making these new innovations both understandable and useable for businesses and their leaders.”

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WHERE DATA FLOWS, BUSINESS GROWS. 7Rivers harnesses the power of data and AI to discover untapped value, transforming it into real solutions that move you forward.

7RIVERS: WE MAKE IT REAL.

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What are the next key steps in the development of the company? “Currently our contracts are with Air Force, Space Force and Air Guard. We are aiming to expand into other services branches and DoD departments and organizations.”

Adam Aerospace Milwaukee | Founded: 2020 Employees: 6 AdamAeroCorp.com Adam Aerospace is developing new, blockchain-based data verification software for use in the aerospace and defense industries. The company’s two core offerings are Chain Tracks, which reads large data sets in seconds and assigns cryptographic signatures, and Aeros Ledger, a private distributed ledger in which data can be instantaneously verified and audited. Applications for the technology include protecting data on military aircraft, satellites, weapons systems and personal records. In the past two years, the company has landed three Air Force and Space Force contracts. What was the point where you knew you would launch Adam Aerospace and what was the biggest hesitancy or concern you needed to overcome? Michael Adam, CEO: “We created our core blockchain products to prove the overarching technology could have a huge impact in the world of data verification. Once we built and tested the product, we knew it would work. Aerospace/defense is not an easy market to get into, but we quickly overcame obstacles and entered the world of defense contracting.” What needs are you addressing with Adam Aerospace? “Any large or mission-critical data that needs to be protected, verified and instantaneously audited.”

Hydro-Thermal Corp. Waukesha | Founded: 1934 Employees: 85 hydro-thermal.com Hydro-Thermal has a 90-year history as a manufacturer of industrial process heating solutions. Its products blend steam into fluids to reach exact temperatures and are used in a range of industries. The company’s Beacon Futuristic Brewing project launched in 2018 to offer a disruptive solution to brew beer more effectively, efficiently and reliably. It is a state-of-the-art brewhouse that uses Industry 4.0, AI and machine learning technologies. What was the point where you knew you would launch Beacon Futuristic Brewing and what was the biggest hesitancy or concern you needed to overcome? Jim Zaiser, president and CEO: “The brewing industry is steeped in tradition, so very little has progressed in the process of making beer for 5,000 years since its origin in southern Babylonia. There is huge reluctancy to change. Instead, we are applying the most advanced processing solutions that revolutionize the industry. When presenting to potential customers the response was always, ‘Show me, don’t tell me.’ After eight years of development, we acted. ‘Enough! We will demonstrate the first unit in our own lab so we can optimize every element to perfection.’”

What do you wish you knew before starting the company? ADAM “I’ve been fortunate enough to work on both successful startups and unsuccessful startups in the past. I learned a lot from those experiences and we’ve developed hard skin and best practices.” What would you consider your breakthrough so far? “Our first SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research program) Phase II contract really opened up a lot of doors for us.” What’s been your mindset when overcoming setbacks? “Believe in the tech, the mission it serves. Be agile when you need to be and be transparent throughout.” What’s the number one thing needed to sustain a culture of innovation and growth? “Our team is made up of endless creators that are just as much scientists as business leaders. We love what we do and who we do it for, so innovating is never a problem, it’s always happening.” What could local, regional or state leaders do to better support startups and innovative companies? “Work with us (innovative small businesses) to create a clear path to engage in and complete pilot projects where we can test our tech and new use cases with your data and infrastructure.” What’s your biggest lesson learned since founding your company? “It’s the most rewarding work I’ve ever done.”

What are the next key steps in the development of the product? “We have built the beta version of the brewhouse identical to production expectations and commissioned it for trials to demonstrate its effectiveness, adapted a sophisticated control system and worked through the kinks inherent of a new invention. Five of the seven processes are now running; we are developing our partnerships in technology, and we expect to have finished wort ready for a fermenter in first quarter 2024. Thereafter, we will publish solidiZAISER fied results by documenting our scenarios, methods and scientific data proving its value and repeatability to the industry in whitepapers and reports for public release.” What would you consider your breakthrough so far? “A realization that innovation will have a large impact on the brewing industry with significant energy savings, large efficiency gains to reduce ingredient usage, a footprint less than half, reduced water use and equipment that returns a brewmaster back to their passion of making great beer. Secondly, a robust patent in multiple countries has been issued.” What’s the number one thing needed to sustain a culture of innovation and growth? “Alignment throughout the company, from the vision to the culture of the employees through financial backing to continuous improvement committed to optimize every solution until the dream is reality.”

38 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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Octane Coffee Waukesha | Founded: 2018 Employees: 4 full time, 3-4 contractors | Funding raised: $1 million getoctanecoffee.com Octane Coffee designs, builds, launches and supports fully automated drive-thru coffee locations. In 2023, the company opened its first location at W229 N1400 Westwood Drive in Pewaukee. Octane uses robotics to process orders and serve customers in less than 30 seconds. What was the point where you knew you would launch Octane Coffee and what was the biggest hesitancy or concern you needed to overcome? Adrian Deasy, founder and CEO: “Being a classically trained mechanical engineer, we’re very risk averse and tend to overanalyze things. I had the benefit of someone who believed in me and was willing to put the first money into the company to get me started. I will be forever grateful to Dan Voell for his vision and leap of faith that has developed into Octane Coffee.” What’s been your mindset when overcoming setbacks? “My first boss out of college would constantly say, ‘If it was easy, everybody would do it.’ I enjoy being challenged and thrive in that type of environment. I’m very motivated when I hear, ‘You can’t do that,’ I will kick the door off the hinges to get where I want to go.”

What’s the number one thing needed to sustain a culture of innovation and growth? “Small companies need to be continually evolving and working on bigger and bigger solutions over time. We are very careful with the culture, people and relationships that we develop at Octane Coffee. The underlying thing that brings us all together is our belief that ‘tomorrow is going to be better than today’ and that tackling big hairy audacious goals like ours are inevitable with the right team and timelines.”

DEASY

What could local, regional or state leaders do to better support startups and innovative companies? “We’ve had our share of regulatory-, government- and short mindedness-related hurdles over our years of development. Launching a food tech business like ours is inherently difficult because we’re not as free (compared to pure software companies) to ‘move fast and break things,’ we are constantly trying to innovate but still fit into existing thought frameworks in order to get things approved, certified and launched to the public. We wish regulators and governmental agencies were less interested in CYA’s and more free to assist us to actually innovate; they want to help, but they’re always worried about taking risks and sticking their neck out for something new.”

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Synthetaic Delafield | Founded: 2019 Employees: 46 | Funding raised: $17.5 million synthetaic.com Corey Jaskolski founded Synthetaic in 2019 after his conservation work with National Geographic inspired him to rethink the limits of artificial intelligence and data. While traditional AI processes require huge amounts of labeled data, the company’s rapid automatic image categorization (RAIC) automates the analysis of large, unstructured satellite video and image datasets without time-intensive human labeling. The result is being able to do things like identify the Chinese spy balloon from more than 2,400 satellite images. What needs are you addressing with Synthetaic? Is it the same as when you started, or has it changed over time? Corey Jaskolski, CEO: “Synthetaic is on a mission to build tools that remove the barriers to AI. Traditional AI methods, which rely on large quantities of manually labeled training data to build inflexible bespoke models, are only accessible to well-resourced teams of machine learning engineers or data scientists. We originally set out to tackle the problem with tools that produced synthetic data for training. In the process, we developed RAIC, a platform that bypasses the need for training data entirely. RAIC unlocks the full value of massive, unstructured visual datasets (geospatial, video and image). It enables users to fully explore their data through instant search, categorization, and model-training and deployment capabilities. It turns our world of data into insights.”

What are the next key steps in the development of the product? “Now that we have built the scalable technology behind a tool that can eliminate the bottlenecks to AI and drive insights in minutes, we are strategically going to market through a dynamic dual approach: establishing a proficient direct sales force and forming strategic partnerships with industry leaders. This next step marks not just a key shift going to market, but a journey towards redefining the AI landscape with innovation, reliability and strategic market positioning.”

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JASKOLSKI

What’s the number one thing needed to sustain a culture of innovation and growth? “Fostering a culture of innovation and growth within the AI industry requires an ongoing commitment to insatiable intellectual curiosity, organizational agility and adaptability. Our insatiable intellectual curiosity helps us keep up with the ever-evolving AI landscape, and our organizational agility and adaptability helps us quickly pivot based on the needs of our customers and partners.” What could local, regional or state leaders do to better support startups and innovative companies? “Create supportive policies that encourage entrepreneurship, innovation and risk-taking, including tax incentives or breaks for startups and investors. Support government procurement processes making it more accessible for startups and allocate a greater percentage of contracts for startups and small and medium businesses.”

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NOTABLE HEALTH CARE LEADERS

DR. MOHAMMAD EYMAN MORTADA

DR. NICOLE SALVO OB/GYN AND OB/GYN RESIDENCY PROGRAM DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF THE CLINICAL CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

AURORA HEALTH CARE Dr. Nicole Salvo is an OB/ GYN and director of the Aurora Health Care OB/GYN Residency Program at Aurora Sinai Medical Center

AURORA HEALTH CARE

BizTimes Milwaukee is proud to present its inaugural showcase of Notable Health Care Leaders, spotlighting accomplished professionals providing health care in southeastern Wisconsin. The individuals profiled on the following pages were nominated by their peers and highlight the talent in the region.

METHODOLOGY: The honorees did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from nomination materials. This list features only individuals for whom nominations were submitted and accepted after review by our editorial team. To qualify for the list, nominees must be currently employed at a health care organization in southeastern Wisconsin and have demonstrated excellence in their field.

In 2022, Dr. Mohammad Eyman Mortada, director of the clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellowship program at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, performed the first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker implant in Wisconsin. The procedure allows beat-by-beat communication between implants in the ventricle and atrium of a patient’s heart. It leaves no visible scars and provides better treatment to patients with heart rhythm disorders. Dual-chamber leadless pacemakers recently received FDA approval and Mortada’s expertise continues to heal heart patients throughout the Midwest. Mortada is a published medical scholar and has served on multiple national boards and committees. He is a fellow with the American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society and is a member of the Wisconsin Medical Society. Mortada volunteers at the St. Vincent De Paul soup kitchen and L.O.A.F. Inc. in Milwaukee. As a member of the Syrian Ministry of Health, he travels to Syria each year to give medical lectures and provide free medical exams and consultations to patients who cannot afford health care.

in Milwaukee. Affiliated with Aurora Health Care since 2009, Salvo specializes in high-risk pregnancies and is an advocate for maternal health issues. Her expertise in treating placenta accreta has helped many mothers through a rare and difficult diagnosis, and even saved the lives of one mother and her baby during an early emergency delivery. “She is also committed to advancing health equity and ensuring that mothers of all backgrounds have access to pre- and postdelivery care for those historically underserved in Milwaukee,” said Matt Queen, who handles public affairs for Aurora Health Care. “She is a published medical researcher and her passion for teaching helps elevate the expertise of her teammates.” Salvo’s greatest passions are caring for “marginalized individuals in the health care community, complex surgeries, and (medical) resident education,” according to an interview published by the Milwaukee Athletic Club, where she is a member.

DR. NKEM IROEGBU

DR. AJAY SAHAJPAL

ANN ROVITO

PRESIDENT OF AURORA SINAI MEDICAL CENTER AND AURORA ST. LUKE’S SOUTH SHORE

PHYSICIAN, ABDOMINAL TRANSPLANT SURGERY

DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL ENGINEERING

AURORA HEALTH CARE

CHILDREN’S WISCONSIN

AURORA HEALTH CARE During his 30-plus-year career, Dr. Nkem Iroegbu has served in leadership and teaching roles and provided direct patient care. In 2022, he was named president of Aurora Sinai Medical Center in downtown Milwaukee, and then in November 2023, he also took the helm at Aurora St. Luke’s South Shore in Cudahy. “At Aurora Sinai, he focuses on greater racial equity and access to care,” said Matt Queen, who handles marketing and public affairs for Aurora Health Care. “In 2023, he led a successful project to reduce the disparities in limb amputations among diabetic persons of color. Under his leadership, Aurora Sinai has improved patient experience, safety and health outcomes, and employee recruitment and retention.” In his previous role as chief medical officer at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, Iroegbu helped drive a regional collaborative of physician leaders and public health officials to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also served as interim president at Aurora Medical Center – Grafton and on the Clinical Council for the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership. Iroegbu currently sits on the board of Near West Side Partners and has been appointed to the Wisconsin Hospital Association Public Policy Council.

Dr. Ajay Sahajpal, a physician specializing in abdominal transplant surgery for Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care, is working to reframe the narrative in the Milwaukee community to achieve health equity, according to colleagues. “Outside of Dr. Sahajpal’s role and leadership, he has continued to create awareness, highlight and promote community initiatives to ensure health equity, equality, inclusion, access and affordability,” said Erik Kennedy, community relations senior coordinator for Advocate Health. In 2019, Sahajpal was part of the Presidential Leadership Scholars, a bipartisan program that brought together leaders from across nonprofit, military, public and private sectors to help solve the nation’s greatest challenges, both domestically and globally. Since the program, Sahajpal has been appointed to Aurora’s System Hospital Board, overseeing 16 hospitals, and to the board of the Advocate Aurora Research Institute.

Ann Rovito, director of clinical engineering at Wauwatosabased Children’s Wisconsin, works behind the scenes to ensure frontline care providers can do what they do best. “Ann leads a small, yet mighty team of engineers and technicians who support the management of medical equipment throughout the system,” said Peggy Troy, president and chief executive officer of Children’s Wisconsin. “Just like our doctors and nurses care for kids, the clinical engineering team cares for the equipment that supports that care.” The team is responsible for maintaining and fixing the 20,275plus pieces of medical equipment in Children’s Milwaukee and Fox Valley hospitals as well as its more than two dozen community clinics. This vital diagnostic, life-saving equipment ranges from isolettes and ventilators to MRIs and surgical robots, and everything in between. This year alone, Rovito’s team has handled more than 6,800 repair and preventive maintenance requests, according to Troy.

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Congratulations to a dedicated health care leader As the Director of Clinical Engineering at Children’s Wisconsin, Ann Rovito touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of kids each year. Her team provides the tools our caregivers require to treat and to cure and to comfort. Simply put, Children’s Wisconsin could not provide the care kids and families need without her incredible contributions. Congratulations, Ann, on being named a 2023 Notable Health Care Leader! Thank you for all you do for the kids of Wisconsin.

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RICHELLE WEBB DIXON

CATHY JACOBSON

ERIC L. CONLEY

PRESIDENT AND CEO

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, FROEDTERT HOSPITAL

FROEDTERT HEALTH

PRESIDENT, FROEDTERT HOSPITAL | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Through consumer-focused, data-driven and value-based leadership, Cathy Jacobson has driven Wauwatosa-based Froedtert Health to triple in size and expand access to health care

FROEDTERT HEALTH As senior vice president and chief operating officer at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, Richelle Webb Dixon is committed to realizing diversity and equality in health care and the workplace, colleagues say. “She takes pride in spearheading initiatives that help prepare the next generation to soar. She describes herself as a health care equality champion and compassionate leader,” said Kathy Thornton-Bias, president and chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. “Richelle has a rich history and commitment to diversifying the health care industry. As a mentor to many, she strongly believes that ‘to whom much is given, much is required.’” Dixon has had more than 10 mentees nationwide and currently serves as a mentor to a group of individuals from Froedtert Hospital. In addition to serving on the Boys & Girls Clubs’ board of trustees, Dixon is a founding member of Reaching Back as We Climb, a mentoring group that was started to ensure early-career health care professionals have an opportunity to learn from mentors’ experience.

NICHOLE GLADNEY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT

throughout Wisconsin. As president and chief executive officer since 2012, Jacobson leads one of the state’s largest private employers, with more than 13,000 employees. Under her leadership, Froedtert Health and Neenah-based ThedaCare recently signed a definitive agreement to merge into one health network, creating a regional health system comprised of 18 hospitals in Wisconsin. Jacobson will initially serve as CEO of the combined health system; after a six-month transition period, she will retire. Also in 2023, Jacobson oversaw Froedtert Health’s purchase of Ascension Wisconsin’s 50% interest in Menasha-based Network Health, which offers customized commercial and Medicare health insurance plans for employers, individuals and families in 23 counties throughout Wisconsin. Jacobson also serves on several boards. Most recently, she served a two-year term as board chair of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. Other board appointments include Vizient, United Way of Greater Milwaukee and the Greater Milwaukee Committee.

KRISTIN MCMANMON PRESIDENT, ASCENSION ALL SAINTS HOSPITAL

FROEDTERT HEALTH Eric L. Conley, executive vice president of Wauwatosa-based Froedtert Health and president of Froedtert Hospital, has implemented strategies that have helped land the network at fourth in the Vizient database for delivering high-quality care. Conley’s other accomplishments include facilitating the establishment of a mental health emergency center in partnership with Milwaukee County and three other local health systems; championing efforts to establish a maternal mobile clinic to help lessen disparities in maternal health care access in underserved communities in Milwaukee; partnering with Milwaukee Health Services Inc. on Wisconsin’s first teaching health care center on Milwaukee’s north side; and welcomig the first round of residents to Froedtert & the Medical College’s new Forest Home Health Center on the south side. “Conley is a committed mentor, nurturing leaders and staff at Froedtert Hospital. He has also played a pivotal role in shaping the future of health care leaders,” said Lisa Elkhe, vice president of public relations at Zizzo Group. Conley’s nonprofit board experience includes the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County and Vivent Health.

RACHEL CORTEZ MOBILE SEXUAL ASSAULT TREATMENT CENTER SUPERVISOR

ASCENSION WISCONSIN

As director of community outreach and engagement at Glendale-based Ascension Wisconsin, Nichole Gladney looks for ways to build relationships with community members and leaders as well as strengthen strategic planning and community outreach programs.

Kristin McManmon, president of Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine, is a community-focused leader. Under her leadership, Ascension implemented a program, known as Rise Up, to support mothers or caregivers who have young children and are interested in pursuing careers in health care at All Saints.

As an emergency room nurse in 1993, Rachel Cortez saw and treated patients of all ages who came in after an experience with sexual violence. Since then, she has made it her life’s work to improve the lives of those who have been sexually assaulted and has advocated for change during her 26 years of forensic nursing.

“She lives Ascension’s mission of serving all people, with special attention to those who may be struggling,” said Reggie Newson, chief community impact and advocacy officer at Ascension Wisconsin. “To help reduce barriers to care, Nichole goes where the need is greatest. Whether it’s through the Mobile Mammography Coach, the Ascension Ebenezer Health Resource Center and Food Pantry, Ascension St. Ben’s Clinic, the Ascension Angel of Hope Clinic or Ascension Wisconsin Blanket of Love Sanctuaries, she and her team meet people where they are in our community.”

Rise Up is a cohort model that brings motivated individuals together to gain the education and training needed to work toward high-demand careers at Ascension, while engaging in group learning experiences, job shadowing, one-on-one coaching and financial wellness support.

Cortez has expanded Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner policies and training for Glendale-based Ascension Wisconsin. In 2018, the system created a 24/7 Mobile Sexual Assault Treatment Center. A team of SANE nurses can now aid a patient in need, within 60 minutes of entering any Ascension facility in southeastern Wisconsin. Forensic nurses in the SANE program have treated about 2,000 patients over the past five years.

In addition, Gladney oversees Ascension Wisconsin’s Urban Church Wellness program, which aims to guide and support faith leaders from 36 churches to improve the lives of their congregations through health screenings and education.

As a single mother herself, McManmon has shared her experience and listened to the barriers these associates have faced in their career journey. “Less than two years ago, Kristin discovered she had an aggressive form of breast cancer,” said Jeff Neubauer, executive director of Higher Expectations for Racine County, noting that McManmon began her cancer treatment while leading three hospitals as incident commander through another surge of COVID-19.

“She has also advocated for SANE policies and practices throughout the state and nationally, including her work with the Healthcare Collaborative Against Sex Trafficking with Milwaukee County to improve health equity for patients impacted by sex trafficking at acute and primary care centers,” said Kristin McManmon, president of Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine.

“She continued to lead with a calm and steady hand,” said Neubauer. “She prayed to find purpose in her diagnosis.” 44 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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DR. MARK LODES CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR POPULATION HEALTH AND MEDICAL EDUCATION

FROEDTERT & THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN As chief medical officer for population health at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, Dr. Mark Lodes has led the implementation of a health equity strategy that has driven transformational efforts for the Wauwatosa-based health network and its impact on communities it serves. Lodes, who is also an assistant clinical professor and faculty with the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education at MCW, has worked to develop a health equity outreach strategy that targets improved access to care for Black, indigenous and people of color, and directly addresses social determinants of health with the most vulnerable patients. Some of the initiatives of the health equity outreach strategy include a community outreach nursing team that connects with 5,000 people annually; expanded access to health care through gifts totaling $8.4 million to the Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers; a partnership with Gee’s MKE Wellness Clinic, connecting African American men to community resources and primary care, behavioral health and social services; and a new Mental Health Emergency Center offering 24/7 crisis mental health assessment and care.

e w s h o d .

DORA CLAYTONJONES

ERIC GASS DEAN, HEALTHCARE ACADEMIC AND CAREER PATHWAY

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY Dora Clayton-Jones, Ph.D., brings more than three decades of nursing experience to her classes, research and advocacy work. As immediate past president and current board member of the International Association of Sickle Cell Nurses and Professional Associates, she champions awareness for youth living with sickle cell disease. She also raises funds to support their academic aspirations. Her POSSE Project is a research initiative funded by a $450,000 fellowship grant from the University of California, Davis to improve quality of life for Milwaukee residents ages 18 to 20 living with sickle cell disease. Clayton-Jones also teaches at Marquette University and is an adjunct faculty member with the Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin. “One of the primary responsibilities of a nurse is to advocate for patients who need it,” said Jill Guttormson, dean of the Marquette University College of Nursing. “Dr. Dora Clayton-Jones puts this principle into action in every facet of her professional life. Her work drives positive change in the classroom and through policy that impacts the entire state.”

MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE Under the leadership of Eric Gass, Ph.D., Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Healthcare Academic and Career Pathway is in excellent shape, according to colleagues, including Laura Bray, vice president of college advancement and communications at MATC. “With Dr. Gass at the forefront, and through new programs and improved student support, the Healthcare Pathway prepared hundreds of students per semester for health care careers,” said Mary Peters-Wojnowiak, associate dean of MATC’s Healthcare Pathway. Before becoming Pathway dean, Gass served as interim dean, director of Healthcare Hub Operations and as an associate dean. Gass also oversees several health care scholarship programs for students in need of financial assistance, including the Froedtert Memorial Hospital Scholarship which covers tuition, required books and supplies, and licensure exams for health care degree students. “Thanks to Dr. Gass, our students get innovative, immersive clinical experiences. We have a highly skilled health care faculty, and we offer meaningful programs,” said Mohammad Dakwar, Ed.D., vice president of learning at MATC. “Dr. Gass continues to provide excellent leadership in a critical area of education for the region.”

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MARY HAYNOR

LAUREN HUBBARD

KRISTIN BELKOFER

PRESIDENT AND CEO

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY CRISIS SERVICES

FOUNDER, CLINICAL DIRECTOR AND PSYCHOTHERAPIST

MILWAUKEE COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES

CLARA HEALING INSTITUTE

HORIZON HOME CARE & HOSPICE Mary Haynor began her career in 1975 as a public health nurse for the City of Milwaukee Health Department, and in 1999, she assumed the top leadership role at Milwaukee-based Horizon Home Care & Hospice. Over the past 48 years, she has established herself as a leader in home care and hospice, said Marcy Stutzman, Horizon’s director of development. Haynor is set to retire early next year. “In her first two years (as president and CEO), she led the agency out of debt and molded it into a top financial performer, ranking in the top 10% of home-health agencies nationwide,” Stutzman said. Among her many accomplishments, Haynor established Horizon’s Grief Resource Center in 2009, the only center of its kind in the state of Wisconsin to provide free grief counseling services to the community, and in 2010, she developed and opened the Lawlis Family Hospice, an inpatient hospice unit in Mequon. She followed that up in 2016 by acquiring Horizon’s second inpatient hospice unit, the Kathy Hospice in West Bend. “But perhaps her proudest accomplishment is how she has nurtured those on her staff. When Mary retires in January 2024, her successor will be a woman who has been mentored by Mary for over 30 years,” said Stutzman.

SARA KOHLBECK DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF SUICIDE RESEARCH AND HEALING

MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN Sara Kohlbeck, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine and director of the Division of Suicide Research and Healing at the Comprehensive Injury Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa. She is also the assistant director of MCW’s Ph.D. program in Public and Community Health. Kohlbeck researches social determinants of health, health disparities and suicide prevention, focusing on high-risk populations like farmers, veterans and youth of color and seeking to develop appropriate prevention strategies. She also engages directly with local communities implementing suicide prevention programs, such as the City of Milwaukee’s Suicide Review Commission, bringing together key partners to inform prevention efforts. In addition, Kohlbeck mentors potential future leaders in her field through initiatives such as the Health Disparities Research Scholars program. She also hosts an educational podcast to share her knowledge on suicide research and prevention. “With her impressive background of research, community engagement and education, Dr. Kohlbeck is saving lives and advancing public health,” said Terri deRoon-Cassini, director of MCW’s Comprehensive Injury Center.

Lauren Hubbard started at Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services 11 years ago as a new, inexperienced nurse. Today, as director of community crisis services, Hubbard oversees the Milwaukee County Crisis Line, Milwaukee Mobile Crisis and community-based behavioral health services. Last year, BHS’ mental health complex closed as part of a strategic plan to transition mental health services directly into communities with the highest demand. The closure resulted in a significant increase in demand for services offered by Milwaukee Mobile Crisis. As a result, there have been significant reductions in adult inpatient admissions, psychiatric crisis service visits and emergency detention visits. “This approach is recognized as a national best practice model in behavioral health care, and Lauren played a pivotal role in its implementation,” said Stephanie Smith, account manager at Kane Communications Group.

Kristin Belkofer has worked to make an impact in her field, the community and her clients’ lives through the development of the CLARA Healing Institute, a holistic, multi-faceted mental health private practice located in Wauwatosa. The practice was built in 2020, with doors opening to clients in 2021. CLARA Healing Institute now has a core team of 10 therapists and employees, with a secondary branch – known as Wisdom Collective – that offers training and educational programming for organizations and schools. Since opening, CLARA has served approximately 500 individuals through therapy, counseling and healing services. Belkofer won the Alverno College Alumni Rising Star Award this year, and she is currently enrolled in Yale’s Women’s Leadership Program. She also provides mentorship and clinical supervision to counselors-in-training and interns, and coaches her team on developing their individual practices.

Earlier this year, the adult mobile crisis team and children’s mobile crisis team merged to form a unified entity now known as Milwaukee Mobile Crisis. Hubbard has managed this merger, ensuring all clinicians are well-informed about current processes.

DR. THOMAS CONNOR

DR. WILLIAM PENNINGTON

DOCTOR OF OPHTHALMOLOGY AND PROFESSOR

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN EYE INSTITUTE Dr. Thomas Connor is a professor and surgeon at the Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute in Wauwatosa. “When discussing surgeons and health care, somehow vision is overlooked,” said Diana Voigt, director of marketing and communications for Beyond Vision. “Every doctor can have lasting effects on our lives. Dr. Connor’s impact can be seen.” She noted that one of Connor’s patients has talked about his care since she was diagnosed with an eye condition at the age of 14. “As her sight continued to change as she grew to adulthood and started a family, each step was guided by Dr. Connor’s awareness of services and opportunities for her,” said Voigt. “His knowledge not only diagnosed her physical needs, but also gave her the emotional support and confidence to pursue a career and not allow sight to stop her advancement.” As a professor, Connor is working to ensure the next group of eye care specialists is aware of the fear that vision loss and vision changes can create.

ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE OF WISCONSIN Dr. William “Bill” Pennington is a leader and inspiration in the field of orthopedics, according to Dr. Thomas Parisi, a fellow orthopedic surgeon at the Orthopedic Institute of Wisconsin in Franklin. “Although he started his practice with a small orthopedic group, he subsequently started his own shoulder surgery fellowship, has been awarded Clinical Instructor of the Year at the Medical College of Wisconsin, has been voted to the peer-elected Top Doctors List of Orthopedic Surgeons over 10 years straight, and helped found an orthopedic specialty hospital,” Parisi said. Pennington has published 12 peer-reviewed articles, continues to present at national and international orthopedic conferences, cofounded an orthopedic laser therapy center, and got his executive masters health care administration degree at the University of Southern California. His appointments include chief of staff at the Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital, vice president of the Orthopedic Institute of Wisconsin and executive board member at The Surgery Center in Franklin. Pennington has been described by colleagues as a “great partner, surgeon and orthopedic business visionary” and a “collaborative relationship builder who has the strategic vision.”

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DR. HEATHER HINSON

KENNETH MUNSON

DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY

COMMUNITY CARE INC.

VISION FORWARD

CEO

Colleagues say Dr. Heather Hinson, an optometrist with Milwaukee-based Vision Forward, has been a hero to lowvision clients in the Milwaukee area for

Under the leadership of chief executive officer Kenneth Munson, Brookfield-based Community Care Inc. helps adults with long-term care needs live as independently as possible.

“Her work in health care has changed the lives of young children being diagnosed with low vision to adults adjusting to significant changes in their eyesight,” said Diana Voigt, director of marketing and communications at Beyond Vision.

Community Care’s Medicare/Medicaid long-term care programs serve the needs of older adults and adults with disabilities. The nonprofit organization coordinates and delivers a full range of supportive services that help patients live safely, confidently and with dignity.

While many optometrists focus on general vision practices, Hinson specializes in low vision, which causes range from physical trauma to genetic issues. In fact, her entire 30-plus-year career has been devoted to providing low-vision rehabilitation services.

Since Munson took the helm in 2013, Community Care has grown to serve more than 17,000 Wisconsinites who trust the organization to “provide the quality support needed to help them reach their potential in health, happiness and independence,” said Steve Jagler, president of Steve Jagler Executive Branding LLC.

“Many of us don’t realize that people with low vision require specialized eye care. Because of the complexity and variety of conditions, it can be a difficult practice,” Voigt said. “Without Dr. Hinson as a resource, many people would have been stranded.”

Munson identified the 10 core values that guide Community Care to deliver on its mission: teamwork and collaboration, respect, member focused, diversity, quality of life, community centered, cost effective, quality of care, integrity, and innovation and creativity.

decades.

NOTABLE HEALTH CARE LEADERS

Thank you to our 2023 Notables Networking Sponsor:

“The concept of servant leadership guides Kenneth’s leadership compass,” said Jagler.

48 / BizTimes Milwaukee DECEMBER 11, 2023

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Keep up with BizTimes’ 2024 roundup of the leaders making a difference throughout southeast Wisconsin. At companies across southeast Wisconsin, notable executives are running businesses, navigating company restructurings, serving on boards, running marketing departments, and investing in growth throughout the region. The notable individuals profiled in these categories are nominated by their peers at work and in the community.

NOTABLE

SAGES OVER 65

Recognizing the hard-earned experience and successful journeys of Milwaukee’s leaders over 65.

- Nomination Deadline: Friday, December 22, 2023 Issue Date: January 29, 2024

Look for these Notable and Rising Stars nominations in 2024! Notable Intellectual Property Attorneys Nomination deadline: January 19, 2024 Issue date: February 26, 2024

Notable Women in Sports Nomination deadline: June 21, 2024 Issue date: July 29, 2024

Notable Commercial Banking Leaders Nomination deadline: February 9, 2024 Issue date: March 18, 2024

Notable Marketing Executives Nomination deadline: July 12, 2024 Issue date: August 19, 2024

Notable Leaders in Construction, Real Estate

Notable Women in Wealth Management Nomination deadline: August 2, 2024 Issue date: September 9, 2024

& Design

Nomination deadline: March 8, 2024 Issue date: April 15, 2024 Notable SBA Lenders Nomination deadline: March 29, 2024 Issue date: May 6, 2024 Notable Leaders in Law Nomination deadline: April 12, 2024 Issue date: May 20, 2024 Notable Leaders in Arts & Entertainment Nomination deadline: May 3, 2023 Issue date: June 10, 2024

Notable Women in Manufacturing Nomination deadline: August 30, 2024 Issue date: October 7, 2024 Veterans Executives Nomination deadline: October 4, 2024 Issue date: November 11, 2024 Notable Health Care Leaders Nomination deadline: November 1, 2024 Issue date: December 9, 2024

Notable Women in Technology Nomination deadline: May 17, 2024 Issue date: June 24, 2024

To view this year’s winners and nominate, visit biztimes.com/notable biztimes.com / 49

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NOTABLE

LITIGATORS AND TRIAL ATTORNEYS

TIMOTHY TRECEK

JEFF NICHOLS

VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

PRESIDENT

CRIVELLO, NICHOLS & HALL

HABUSH HABUSH & ROTTIER S.C.

BizTimes Milwaukee is proud to present its inaugural showcase of Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys, spotlighting accomplished lawyers who have led significant court battles, while mentoring the next wave of legal professionals and giving back to their communities. The individuals profiled on the following pages were nominated by their peers and highlight the talent in the region.

As vice president and chief operations officer for Milwaukeebased Habush Habush & Rottier S.C., Timothy Trecek’s successes are the result of his personal touch with clients and juries, and dedication to justice for victims harmed by negligent actors, according to colleagues. “His work ethic is legendary,” said Laurence Fehring, managing shareholder at Habush Habush & Rottier. “Whether it’s taking depositions of Korean witnesses at 3 a.m. in the record setting Vanderventer case or examining thousands of pages of testimony to properly cross examine an expert witness.” Trecek is highly respected by judges, his peers in the legal community and students at Marquette University Law School, where he teaches as an adjunct professor.

METHODOLOGY: The honorees did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from nomination materials. This list features only individuals for whom nominations were submitted and accepted after review by our editorial team. To qualify for the list, nominees must be currently employed as a litigator or trial attorney in southeastern Wisconsin and serve in a senior-level role at their organization.

“He goes out of his way to mentor those students and young lawyers long after his grades have been turned in for the semester. Outside the courtroom and office, he volunteers at his parish and supports Make -A-Wish Wisconsin with both time and treasure,” Fehring said.

Jeff Nichols has made his mark on Milwaukee-based Crivello, Nichols & Hall over the years. In 2023, after working with the firm for 33 years, that mark became literal. “After decades of operation, Jeff was added as a named partner, responsible for the execution of the overall business strategy in leading Crivello, Nichols & Hall,” said managing partner Sam Hall. “Jeff’s national trial practice is heavily concentrated on products liability, catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, construction matters and medical and professional malpractice. He serves as trial counsel to multiple global manufacturers of outdoor power equipment, construction and compact farming machinery, and consumer products,” Hall said. Nichols was elected to the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and the American Board of Trial Advocates, two honorary societies for lawyers in the nation to which admission is vetted by judges, peers, opposing counsel and clients. He is also a founding member of Friends of Mukwonago Athletics, an organization that raises funds to support Mukwonago High School athletics.

Habush Habush & Rottier is proud to congratulate our Vice President

Timothy Trecek Recognized as a 2023 BizTimes Media Notable Litigator and Trial Attorney

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JASON LUCZAK

NICOLE MASNICA

PATRICK KNIGHT

PARTNER

GIMBEL, REILLY, GUERIN & BROWN LLP

As a top trial and appellate attorney at Milwaukee-based Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP, Jason Luczak represents clients in a variety of practice areas, including criminal and white collar defense in the state and federal courts throughout Wisconsin.

Nicole Masnica is a partner at Milwaukee-based Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP in the criminal, white-collar and appellate defense team at the firm. She specializes in complex trial level litigation and appeals in serious felonies and high-profile cases.

Colleagues say that Patrick Knight, a partner at Milwaukeebased Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP, is well known in the legal industry for his knowledge, intellect, strategy and wit.

His experience includes trying serious high-profile felonies and other charges in state and federal court and briefing and arguing appeals before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Luczak is licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and Illinois.

“After several successful appellate victories for inmates, she now receives most of her referrals from former satisfied clients that have been freed,” said Britt Frank, marketing director for Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown.

In addition to his law practice, Luczak is an adjunct professor of law, teaching trial advocacy at Marquette University Law School and coaches the Marquette National Moot Court Competition team. He is also a frequent commentator on CourtTV and speaker on criminal law topics for the Milwaukee Bar Association and Marquette University Law School.

Prior to joining the firm, Nicole spent nine years representing individuals in all stages of criminal litigation at the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office, from pre-charging conferences to appellate representation to administrative revocation proceedings. Masnica handles both trial and appellate matters in state and federal-level criminal proceedings. She has presented multiple cases to a jury with successful outcomes, achieved relief for many clients in postconviction and appellate proceedings and has argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court on multiple occasions.

With more than three decades of litigation experience, Knight’s practice focuses on civil and white collar criminal litigation, with an emphasis on civil, criminal and regulatory health care litigation. He has successfully defended some of the largest civil and white collar Wisconsin government investigations in recent years. Knight has received several career accolades, including being named to the 2022 list of “Best Lawyers in America,” for health care law and white collar criminal defense. When Knight is not advocating for his clients, he is on the basketball court or golf course, coaching for the Special Olympics of Wisconsin. “While coaching these special athletes takes some time, the inspiration they provide is worth far more than the commitment I make,” Knight said.

Recent honors that Masnica has received for her trial skills include 2024 Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense and the 2023 Kuchler-Nicholson-Stilling Sensitive Crimes Award.

PATRICK KNIGHT

NICOLE MASNICA

JASON LUCZAK

Congratulations to our nominated lawyers! Pat Knight, Nicole Masnica & Jason Luczak Protecting your interests throughout and beyond litigation Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown has handled complex litigation issues for 55 years. Because of our experience, dedication and resourcefulness, clients come back to us again and again. Serving All of Wisconsin Including Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Green Bay

Criminal Defense Family Law Civil Litigation

414-271-1440 grgblaw.com

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ANDREW OETTINGER ATTORNEY AND SHAREHOLDER

GODFREY & KAHN At Milwaukee-based Godfrey & Kahn, Andrew Oettinger is admired for his commitment to mentoring and training the next generation of litigators, said colleague Emily McKeown, business development director for the firm. Outside the firm, Oettinger’s reputation as a litigator precedes him. “Andy shows talent and aplomb in every tribunal in which he litigates, which include state and federal courts across the country, tribal courts and the International Chamber of Commerce,” McKeown said. “Recent successes include wins in the post-merger controversies, commercial torts, shareholder litigation, insurance sales and defense of bad faith claims against financial institutions.” Oettinger’s colleagues say he “truly shines” when it comes to mentorship. He manages the litigation team’s formal training program. In addition to formal training, he is frequently providing informal training, thanks to his open door and approachable demeanor, McKeown added.

ERIN “MAGGIE” COOK

ANDREW BREHM

SHAREHOLDER

SCOPELITIS, GARVIN, LIGHT, HANSON & FEARY P.C.

ATTORNEY

GODFREY & KAHN Erin “Maggie” Cook is a shareholder at Milwaukeebased Godfrey & Kahn and member of the firm’s Labor & Employment Litigation, Non-Competition and Trade Secret, and Financial Services Litigation practice groups.

Andy Brehm, attorney with Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary P.C. in Milwaukee, represents area employers in commercial litigation, class-action and employment-related lawsuits in federal and state court.

She is a litigator who also finds time for mentorship and community involvement. She was drawn to litigation because she wanted to help clients through difficult problems, said colleague Emily McKeown, business development director at Godfrey & Kahn.

“Andy has a well-documented track record of winning highstakes cases on motions to dismiss or summary judgment,” said Roberta Brehm, president of Vyron Corp. “Andy is known for implementing proactive and aggressive litigation strategies that decrease exposure to his clients and ultimately result in favorable resolution of lawsuits.”

In her employment law practice, Cook represents employers in a variety of claims before state courts, federal courts and administrative agencies. “She is a go-to resource on Fair Labor Standards Act claims, which are actions filed by one or numerous claimants and can lead to significant penalties for employers,” McKeown said. “Maggie’s clients appreciate her practical approach to litigation and her ability to be efficient in achieving the best outcome.”

Brehm, who has been recognized as a Wisconsin Super Lawyer Rising Star three years in a row, also provides pro bono work on behalf of indigent individuals and families in the greater Milwaukee area. He annually devotes approximately 100 pro bono hours to Legal Action’s Eviction Defense Project, representing and trying cases on behalf of low-income individuals and families facing eviction. He has been recognized as a pro bono achievement honoree by the Milwaukee Bar Association. Additionally, Brehm is involved with Centro Legal, a local nonprofit law firm that provides free and discounted services to low-income individuals and families in Milwaukee. He serves as co-chair of its annual fundraiser, LeGala.

Congratulations! Godfrey & Kahn is proud to have Maggie Cook and Andy Oettinger recognized as BizTimes Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys.

With offices across the state and a deep bench of experienced attorneys, Godfrey & Kahn provides proactive solutions and strategic legal advice to many of Wisconsin’s most vibrant and innovative businesses.

Learn more at

GKLAW.COM OFFICES IN MILWAUKEE, MADISON, GREEN BAY, APPLETON AND E AU CL AIRE, WISCONSIN AND WASHINGTON, D.C.

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DAVID TUREK

LESLI BOESE

MARK MALLOY

SHAREHOLDER

DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

SHAREHOLDER ATTORNEY

WAUKESHA COUNTY

MEISSNER TIERNEY FISHER & NICHOLS S.C.

GASS TUREK LLC His colleagues say that few litigators in Milwaukee can match David Turek’s level of experience and aptitude in the courtroom. As attorney and shareholder in Milwaukeebased Gass Turek LLC, Turek represents a wide range of clients, from some of the largest manufacturers and insurers in Wisconsin to closely held companies and individuals. “He pairs a deep knowledge of Wisconsin law on products liability and insurance matters with a keen insight into how judges and juries make decisions,” said Aaron Wegrzyn, counsel at Gass Turek. In December 2017, he successfully defended a severe burn injury case in which the plaintiff asked the jury to award more than $38 million. “Recognized as a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Dave has served as lead counsel winning multi-week jury trials in multiple nine-figure cases,” said Wegrzyn. “What makes Dave special, however, is his keen interest in people and relationships, always putting clients’ and colleagues’ interests ahead of his own.”

Lesli Boese, deputy district attorney for Waukesha County, worked on the prosecution and trial of Darrell Brooks, who was found guilty of killing six people and injuring dozens of others after driving his SUV through the Waukesha Christmas Parade in 2021. Boese not only carries a full caseload, but also mentors staff and interns and takes calls from law enforcement for advice. She has been involved in training law enforcement officers on legal issues for the past 23 years and teaches college courses on criminal evidence and constitutional law topics. She also speaks to community organizations and citizens. The impact Boese has had as head of the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Drug Unit is huge, said Lowell Carl, president and chief executive officer of Lowell T. Carl & Associates. “She is very proud in her efforts in keeping street drugs out of Waukesha County, and successfully prosecuting anyone who makes the mistake of coming into Waukesha County to engage in drug dealing,” said Carl.

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Mark Malloy, shareholder attorney at Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols, has developed a strong commercial litigation practice in his 25-year career, focusing on insurance disputes. “He has become a go-to expert in the field of insurance coverage and extra-contractual claims, representing clients in Wisconsin and throughout the country. In his 11 years at MTFN, he has built a strong team to support his busy practice, working side-by-side with other lawyers, paralegals, clerks and administrative staff,” said colleague Michael Cohen, shareholder attorney at Meissner Tierney. Malloy is Martindale Hubble AV peer-rated, a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel and lectures extensively on complex coverage and bad faith matters to professional organizations. “His primary goal is to provide the best representation possible for his clients, preparing and implementing a tailored plan of action for each client’s unique litigation goals. Mark mentors his team members through action and encourages them to take on more leadership in matters with an end goal of developing their own practices,” Cohen said.

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ANN JACOBS

JASON ABRAHAM

JUSTIN MERTZ

FOUNDER

MANAGING PARTNER

JACOBS INJURY LAW S.C.

HUPY AND ABRAHAM S.C.

PARTNER | SUB-GROUP LEADER, BANKRUPTCY

According to colleagues, Ann Jacobs, founder of Milwaukeebased Jacobs Injury Law S.C., embodies the characteristics of an excellent litigator: outstanding trial skills, thorough pretrial preparation and compassion.

Jason Abraham, managing partner at Milwaukee-based Hupy and Abraham S.C., has recovered more than $400 million for clients, with many of those cases coming in for more than $1 million.

Jacobs began her career in 1992 as a public defender and later joined a private practice as a trial attorney, advocating for the rights of the injured. She opened Jacobs Injury Law in 2013. The firm’s practice areas include automobile accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect cases, financial abuse and fraud, and medical malpractice cases.

Abraham has also been recognized with industry awards, including Wisconsin Law Journal Leaders in Law, AVVO 10.0 Superb Rating, Elite Lawyers of America, Wisconsin Super Lawyers List, NAACP Milwaukee’s Lawyer of the Year, among others.

“Ann is recognized for her willingness to take on tough cases that other attorneys may decline, including complicated sexual assault cases, elder abuse cases and cases on behalf of undocumented persons, championing their right to bring a claim without jeopardizing their status,” said Carol Wessels, attorney at Wessels & Liebau LLC. As chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission during the 2020 presidential election, Jacobs guided the Commission through both the challenges of COVID-19 and the litigation surrounding that election. Jacobs is a past president of the Wisconsin Association for Justice and a founding member of the organization’s Women’s Caucus, which began in 2007. She also mentors female attorneys in the early stages of their careers.

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Abraham also gives of his time to the community. He was recently elected to the board of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin after sharing a decades-long partnership. Throughout his career, Abraham has worked to initiate the employee volunteer program, donation efforts, safety initiatives, mentorships, scholarship funding and support of hundreds of events and much more. “Attorney Abraham has led an accomplished career and has directed the firm with passion and innovation,” said Chad Kreblin, attorney at Hupy & Abraham.

Justin Mertz is a partner in Michael Best & Friedrich LLP’s Milwaukee office and leads the bankruptcy team. He focuses his practice on Chapter 11 cases, with an emphasis on representing debtors as well as creditors, secured lenders and committees within bankruptcy cases. Mertz also litigates general corporate disputes in state and federal courts and assists with other insolvency matters, including receiverships, assignments, foreclosures and dissolutions. “Justin’s range of practice and support from his subgroup enables him to handle not only many small and local business bankruptcies in Wisconsin, but also be involved in complex bankruptcies, including some of the nation’s largest retailers and big pharma,” said Daniel Vaccaro, partner and litigation practice group chair at Michael Best. Recently, Mertz has run reorganizations and been active in business bankruptcies in Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, North Carolina, Utah, Nevada, Mississippi, Washington and New Mexico. Mertz is currently on the Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Creditors Rights Section Board of the State Bar of Wisconsin. He also serves as a volunteer attorney through Legal Action of Wisconsin.

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Strategies MANAGEMENT

Lessons learned from Craig Counsell’s move to the Cubs Bad management is intolerable I HATE THE CUBS. Well, not really. But some Cubs fans, like a percentage of the mob that descends on American Family Field for each Brewers-Cubs series, can be quite annoying. My guess is it will be worse on May 3 … when the Cubs and friends roll into Milwaukee for the first time with Craig Counsell on the top step of the visitor’s dugout. How did this happen? We may never know what happened behind the scenes. We do know what went on publicly after it was announced that Counsell had defected to our cross-border rival to collect his $8 million annual paycheck. We witnessed the anger and visceral disappointment of the Brewers fan base. We heard from a surprised owner (Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio) who shared his initial reaction during a hastily scheduled press conference. Brewers fans wanted answers. They needed a villain. Attanasio or Counsell. Counsell or Attanasio. Take your pick. There appears to be enough blame to go around. Clearly, however, Brewers management “got some ‘splaining to do.” A better question, at this point, might be what can we learn from the Craig Counsell debacle? Here are a few suggestions that might apply to better management inside and outside the world of baseball.

NO SURPRISES “Are you messing with me?” is not a good look for the manager in charge of negotiating a retention deal with a key executive. Managers need to stay on top of the day-to-day issues at hand to keep surprises – good or bad – out of the organization. Counsell advised Attanasio in early September that he intended to manage a major league baseball team and it was unlikely to be the Milwaukee Brewers. There are only 30 major league baseball teams.

a contract extension with the Brewers. While it may have been difficult to predict Counsell would bolt to the hated Chicago Cubs, it was highly likely he would not be managing the Brewers in 2024. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, something goes wrong. All businesses need to have a disaster plan in place and ready to go in the event the unexpected happens. For larger firms, competent crisis management and communication planning firms are readily available. Smaller companies can find crisis communication templates online.

PRIORITIES It is very easy for managers to duck current problems or issues which are often unpleasant to consider by shifting thoughts to longer-range problems or new opportunities. If Craig Counsell was the best manager in baseball – and many believe, based on his success with an underfunded, small-market team, that he is the best in baseball – there can be no higher priority than retention. On Sept. 5, it was reported that Attanasio would be increasing his ownership stake in the Norwich City Football Club from 15% to 40%. The Norwich City professional soccer team competes in the English Premier League. Attanasio’s total investment is in the $50 million range. His 40% stake puts him on an ownership par with long time, majority owners Delia Smith and husband Michael Wynn Jones. In the meantime, Attanasio was heading up the Major League Baseball relocation committee for the Oakland Athletics, while also negotiating a government subsidy for maintenance and renovations of American Family Field. It was suggested that baseball commissioner Rob Manfred installed Attanasio to chair the relocation committee to better prepare the Brewers owner for a potential move of the team from Milwaukee.

BS DETECTOR If ever there was a story that demonstrated the need for leaders to have a trusted advisor handy who was responsible for calling out potentially bad decisions, it is the Craig Counsell story. Someone, in at least a devil’s advocate position, might have seen the numerous potential missteps on both sides before the major damage was done. Human beings, regardless of title, make mistakes. It is important to have a resource available whose job it is to advise the boss before an error is committed. No, I don’t hate the Cubs. Bad management, on the other hand – particularly unforced errors – is intolerable. Perhaps we can learn from the mistakes made by others relative to the departure of the Brewers manager. ■

BE PREPARED All sides would agree the Craig Counsell departure story was a PR nightmare. In sports – where the term fan is derived from fanatic – customers are sometimes beyond passionate about their team. Professional baseball teams have spent decades cultivating this passion. It was known before the season started that Counsell was unwilling to sign

DENNIS ELLMAURER Dennis Ellmaurer is a Vistage chair emeritus. Vistage Worldwide Inc. is the world’s largest CEO organization. He is also a speaker and executive coach. He can be reached at (414) 271-5780 or dennis@ globenational.com.

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