Milwaukee Commerce - Fall 2024

MILWAUKEE COMMERCE Fall 2024 - Volume 103, No. 3

Countdown to launch: K-12 students getting valuable career exposure

Leverage AI With Confidence As Artificial Intelligence pervades every facet of modern business operations and outpaces conventional legal strategies and responses, we have built a cross-disciplinary team of experienced, AI-focused attorneys dedicated to providing clients a comprehensive approach to getting the most out of AI while helping them avoid its many potential risks and pitfalls.

414.298.1000 reinhartlaw.com

2 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

AI Reshapes the Workforce: A New Era of Opportunity and Challenge Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the labor market, presenting both hope and opportunities for the future of work, but bringing uncertainty. As AI automates routine and monotonous tasks, it clears the path for individuals to more deeply engage in roles that require creativity, strategic thinking and emotional intelligence —those attributes most uniquely human.

Moreover, as with the development of personal computing, AI acts as a catalyst for the birth of new industries and job categories. For instance, the rise of AI could spur the development of new fields in data ethics, AI-driven healthcare solutions and personalized education services, creating jobs that might be hard to envision today. As such, new roles in AI oversight, ethical standards compliance and technology solutions will also emerge, requiring unique skill sets currently underrepresented in the workforce.

To best harness these opportunities, a robust framework and incentives for retooling human talent is essential. Educational systems and corporate training programs must evolve to provide the tools and knowledge required to thrive in an AI-enhanced workplace.

These pivotal shifts will transform the nature of work. The hope in this fast-moving process is to find

ways to make work more meaningful while significantly enhancing the quality of life for employees. The uncertainty lies in the challenge of how to achieve this without leaving people behind.

The integration of AI into the workforce should be viewed not as a replacement for human talent, but as a complement to it. AI can relieve employees from the tedium of repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on areas that machines cannot master: empathy, moral judgment and interpersonal skills. By focusing on the synergy between AI and human talent, we can create a dynamic labor market that not only responds to technological advancements – but also drives them. This perspective fosters a proactive approach to technology adoption, emphasizing the enhancement of human skills and the expansion of opportunities.

Looking to keep pace with this unprecedented pace of change, governments continue to stumble forward in an attempt to respond.

In August, Illinois joined Colorado and New York City in enacting legislation aimed directly at preventing discrimination caused by AI tools in employment decisions. These noteworthy efforts to reduce potential harms from AI should be viewed in tandem with governments’ role in spurring innovation and growth. By

Michael Gentry Reinhart Shareholder 414.298.8715 mgentry@reinhartlaw.com

implementing forward-thinking legislation and providing incentives for businesses to invest in human capital, governments can mitigate the challenges posed by automation.

Such policies might include tax incentives for companies that invest in employee training and subsidies for workers pursuing education in high-demand fields.

As we collectively adapt to this evolving landscape, it is vital that our legal strategies reflect the best interests of both businesses and their employees. Moving forward, the intersection of human ingenuity and artificial intelligence will play a pivotal role in shaping the labor market’s next frontier, presenting a powerful array of opportunities for growth, creativity and personal fulfillment.

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Content FEATURING

06 12 16 20 25 27

Preparing the next generation Be the Spark: Teamship Program By: Allie Shane, MMAC

28 31 32 34

Leadership Council survey Bridging the tech gap Helping the region thrive Power of connection

Building the future

Aug Prep expanding opportunities on the north side

Getting a jump in trade work Area high school students garnering real world experience

In every issue: 37 43 46 47

New MMAC members MMAC event photos Member milestones Staff directory

Thank you to our advertisers:

Hmong American Peace Academy: Educate the whole village By: Hailey Pitcher, MMAC intern

An educational asset

Milwaukee Public Museum sets sites on new facility

Never stop exploring K-12 pathways into food science By: Emily Allen, FaB Wisconsin

Volume 103, No. 3 - Milwaukee Commerce (USPS 546-370, ISN 0746-6706) is published four times a year by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), 301 W Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 220 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 Periodicals postage paid at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Subscriptions $5 per year for members, included in dues.

POSTMASTER send address changes to: Milwaukee Commerce - MMAC/Andrea Medved 301 W Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 220 Milwaukee, WI 53203

4 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

Additional content:

Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren Wintrust Commercial Bank MCTS Associated Bank SVA Living as a Leader Delta Dental UnitedHealthcare We Energies CG Schmidt JCP Construction WICPA BizTimes Future 50

2 10 14 18 22 24 26 30 36 38 40 41 42

Austin Ramirez, MMAC Chair Dale Kooyenga, MMAC President Ryan Amundson, Editor (ramundson@mmac.org) Anna Reaves, Graphic Design (areaves@mmac.org) Jane Backes, Advertising (jbackes@mmac.org)

Investing in our future

Preparing our children to lead should be priority No. 1

N

o one knows what our city, the region or our world will look like a generation from now. The way we live and work changes at a breakneck pace. The first space shuttle had 1MB of RAM. Today the most basic of cellphones have 8GB of RAM. In other words, you’re carrying around 8,000 times the computing power in your pocket than the first space shuttle.

The world is certainly dynamic. What we can study, however, are trendlines.

In 1960, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 25.4 live births per 1,000 in population. Fast forward 60 years and that number is less than half – to 10.2 live births per 1,000 in population – in 2022.

Locally, metro Milwaukee saw its population increase by just .08 percent in 2023, putting it in the bottom third for metro growth in the country, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.

If we want to compete in a global economy, and this trajectory continues, we cannot take any child’s education or preparation for the future for granted. It’s all hands on deck.

Our K-12 schools play a huge role in overcoming these challenges. Reading, writing and arithmetic continue to serve as the cornerstones of education. But preparing students beyond the “three R’s” is paramount to successful outcomes.

In this edition of Commerce, we’re looking at workforce development through the K-12 lens. You’ll be introduced to our Teamship initiative, pairing local businesses with high school students who then solve real-world organizational challenges.

You’ll learn about a partnership between We Energies and Milwaukee Public Schools, providing students with job

training and opportunities to fill jobs in the power and energy industry. We’ll also give you an update on some construction projects that will have a huge impact on local students for years to come.

There’s one defining throughline in all these stories – the importance of partnerships.

Exposing students to different opportunities and developing the skills they’ll need will go a long way in filling gaps in the workforce.

Programs and initiatives like these are mutually beneficial and work toward the greater good. Exposing students to different opportunities and developing the skills they’ll need will go a long way in filling gaps in the workforce many industries are facing – especially in the areas of technology, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. By introducing students to these fields early on and providing the relevant skills and training, we’ll be better suited to fill these gaps. This not only helps employers compete, but ensures our youngest are better prepared for an everchanging job market.

There are a lot of good things going on in our schools – public, private and charter. We must continue to work together to make sure our workforce is ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Dale Kooyenga MMAC President

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TEAMSHIP PROGRAM

Preparing the next generation Be the Spark: Teamship program unites local businesses and students

E

very business encounters its fair share of problems.

Naturally, business leaders turn to their entrusted employees in these situations. But sometimes it takes a fresh, outside perspective to help cultivate meaningful solutions. Sometimes it takes a group of students.

Reagan High School is an International Baccalaureate World School within Milwaukee Public Schools, on the city’s south side. It was one of the first schools in the Milwaukee area to adopt the program thanks to Ashley Fahey, Reagan’s Career Related Program Coordinator and “Personal and Professional Skills” course instructor.

Fahey saw Teamship as a chance for junior-level students to obtain their required internship hours in a classroom setting.

Be the Spark: Teamship program is a reimagined internship experience, providing Milwaukee students with the opportunity to solve real problems for real businesses. Powered by District C, a nonprofit organization cofounded by two educators, the Teamship program helps prepare students for professional roles that will require working in diverse teams to solve complex problems. In an age of AI and automation, Teamship stresses the intrinsically human skillsets that will remain vital in the workforce for generations to come.

“We all have that common goal of creating that highquality local workforce, but this is just a way to actively engage with students and actually make that happen,” said Fahey.

Allie Shane

Communications Specialist MMAC

“We are instilling experiences and skills that go beyond what AI can do for us,” said District C’s chief strategy officer Ashley Mannka.

“We are instilling experiences and skills that go beyond what AI can do for us.”

Ashley Mannka, District C District C’s Teamship program began in North Carolina in 2017 and has since spread to seven states and counting, including Wisconsin. MMAC is serving as the liaison between Milwaukee schools and the local business community, creating a pool of local business partners.

6 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

“We all have that common goal of creating that high-quality local workforce, but this is just a way to actively engage with students and actually make that happen.”

Ashley Fahey, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Before implementing the program in her classroom, Fahey completed her required coach certification through District C. She experienced Teamship from the student perspective to better understand the program’s framework. Working with two individuals she had never met before, Fahey created a prototype for a business and pitched the idea.

“To this day, I think it was the best professional development I’ve ever had,” she said. “It’s made me more confident as a teacher, as a facilitator. It makes me feel like I’m doing something not just realistic, but really valuable in my classroom.”

Students from Reagan High School pitching a solution to Johnson Financial Group.

The Student Process 1. UNDERSTANDING PHASE Each cycle of Teamship begins with an understanding phase.

Students work in teams of four to research the business partner and the problem, compiling a list of questions to ask at their first meeting.

Following the first meeting with the business partner, the groups are encouraged to meet with similar businesses to ask additional questions and compile relevant information.

Yes, going through the design cycle of creating this prototype solution is what it looks like on the surface, and it is a big part of it, but really it’s teaching students to dig deeper into questioning and not take the first superficial answer,” said Fahey.

2. CHECK-IN At the scheduled check-in meeting, students should feel better equipped to discuss the root cause of the business’s problem and receive feedback from the business partner.

3. PITCHING A SOLUTION The research, meetings and group work prepare the students to pitch their solution to the business partner.

Fahey explained that a great pitch meets two criteria. First, the pitch should reflect thoughtful consideration of feedback given to the students throughout the process. Second, the pitch should include digital or physical solutions that the business partner can implement immediately.

Mannka and District C’s partnerships manager Danielle Mayber both stressed the level of confidence and self-awareness students gain throughout the Teamship program, which can then be applied in other areas of their lives.

They are not entering their first meeting when they’re 22 years old, they are doing it when they are 17,” Mannka said.

Reagan High School has previously partnered with the Department of Veteran Affairs, Capri Communities, Menomonee Valley Partners, Milwaukee Health Department and Northwestern Mutual.

I just keep thinking back to how grateful I am that MMAC took a chance on becoming that business partner supplier because I think it is going to do really great things for the region, and I am so excited to see where this goes,” said Fahey.

Continued on page 8 & 9

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The Business Process ONBOARDING & PREP MEETINGS

Connect

Match

Complete the interest form and we will follow up to schedule a short online conversation.

When a member school or organization requests a business partner match, we’ll contact you.

30

MIN

0

MIN

Prep Meet with our team to identify an urgent and meaningful business problem impacting your organization.

30

MIN

STUDENT MEETINGS Interview

Check-in

Attend a student-led meeting to answer questions about you, your business and the problem.

Attend an online checkin, scheduled at your convenience, to hear student ideas and offer feedback.

Hear solution pitches from student teams, ask questions and workshop their ideas in front of an audience.

90*

60*

90*

MIN

MIN

Pitch

MIN

*Estimated times

Students from Reagan High School after their successful pitch to Johnson Financial Group.

8 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

Businesses Speak from Experience Professionals from Northwestern Mutual and Johnson Financial Group understand firsthand the value of the Teamship program.

Ian Corrao

Ian Corrao, a senior philanthropy manager at Northwestern Mutual, oversees STEM outreach for the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. The foundation has a partnership with 20 local schools, one of these being Reagan High School. Last year Northwestern Mutual served as Reagan’s Teamship business partner.

It’s a talent investment,” said Corrao when reflecting on the benefits of a Teamship partnership. “This is an opportunity for local businesses to not only introduce themselves to younger generations, but more importantly, spark career interest in students.”

Hannah Scherkenbach

Hannah Scherkenbach works in market research at Northwestern Mutual and was one of six business partner volunteers at Reagan High School. She described her key takeaways from last year’s Teamship cycle.

What I got out of it was a great preview of the local talent that will be entering the workforce over the next decade, and an opportunity to get a fresh perspective on real problems that business leaders grapple with,” she said. “For example, Northwestern Mutual put forth the challenge of nurturing a sense of community when your workforce is distributed. Who would have better insight on this than people who entered high school virtually? Every team called on their own experiences with distance learning and virtual collaboration. For us, the program was so successful because the challenge was balanced between a problem that will exist for the foreseeable future and a problem that the students were very familiar with themselves.”

Logan Aguilar

Logan works as Johnson Financial Group’s HR Early Career Specialist and the company’s primary Teamship coordinator.

It’s a unique opportunity where we are able to provide that first real-world business experience to someone who is so early in their career… I certainly wish I had that as a kid.”

Several Johnson Financial Group departments including information security, banking and financial planning, have received creative and tangible solutions from local students. Among these was the creation of a website, the designs for an app and advertising examples. Aguilar emphasized that company participation means access to fresh ideas and the opportunity to give back to the community and students in Milwaukee Public Schools.

Visit MMAC.org/Teamship to learn more about Be the Spark: Teamship. mmac.org | 9

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mmac.org | 11

Building the Future

Aug Prep expanding opportunities on the north side

O

ne walk through Aug Prep’s K4-5th grade building on its south side K-12 campus, and the focus is evident – the future.

Within the K4-12 school, founded by the Ramirez family in 2017, a long corridor is adorned with dozens of images of college logos. The logos of local institutions like Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee hang next to Harvard and Stanford university logos to remind what’s potentially in store for the school’s 2,200 students.

Andrietsch acknowledges that college isn’t the right path for every student, and the school intentionally works to build partnerships and open students’ eyes to apprenticeships and the trades. A trip into the school’s expansive theater proves that point.

“Behind it there’s a shop, and (the students) build all of our sets,” said Andrietsch. “They’re using power tools, and they’re using math putting it all together to finish real-life projects.”

Abby Andrietsch, CEO of Aug Prep

Andrietsch said students are exposed to career possibilities in K4-12th grades, with college and career staff specifically focused on equipping students for life after high school graduation.

“Even as young as K-4, we’re a college prep school,” said Abby Andrietsch, CEO of Aug Prep. “We start talking about, what could you be? What are careers? What is a college? … We try to surround the kids with the idea that you can go to college.

We truly believe that no matter the background or where they come from, they are college and career capable.”

“In elementary school, students are exposed to the concept of careers and college. We also start working with parents around financial and long-term planning, even for our youngest students,” she said. “By middle school, we’re focused on career exploration, bringing in speakers, exposing students to pre-college and pre-career programs, and having

We truly believe that no matter the background or where they come from, they are college and career capable.

12 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

Renderings of the new Augustine Prep north campus at previous Cardinal Stritch University campus. Photo credit: EUA

kids think about how their interests and strengths connect with life-long opportunities.”

Andrietsch said in high school, students are focused on college and career readiness. The school has partnerships with more than 130 local and national pre-college and pre-career programs, students participate in 1:1 advising and seniors engage in a year-long Senior Seminar. The MMAC, along with the Bucyrus Foundation, is also working with Aug Prep along with three other local high schools to bring real-world manufacturing programming, such as robotics, to high school classrooms.

Expanding their reach Aug Prep’s track record is impressive. They’ve been rated a four- or five-star school every year by the Wisconsin Department of Instruction. In 2024, 100 percent of its senior class was accepted to two- or four-year schools. Since the school’s inception, the school’s 367 graduates have been offered more than $50 million in scholarships.

With that in mind, it is not surprising that the school received over 3,500 applications for approximately 2,200 seats for the 2024-25 school year.

In late 2023, it was announced the Ramirez family would purchase and renovate Cardinal Stritch University into Aug Prep’s north campus. The $100 million project – of which $75 million will be supported by Husco and the Ramirez Family Foundation – is slated to open in August 2026 with about 300 students initially.

The project will accommodate about 1,000 students which the school anticipates filling by 2032. And the family and school have a shared vision to ultimately grow the campus to 2,000 students.

During a question-and-answer session with The Business Journal shortly after the announcement, family patriarch Gus Ramirez said the Cardinal Stritch site was built for Christian-based education.

“I realized what a travesty it would be if this campus wasn’t used for the purposes intended, which is Christian education,” he said.

mmac.org | 13

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/RideMCTS 14 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

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Commuting to the Classroom: The Role of Public Transportation in Education

In Milwaukee, transit plays a key role in shaping educational opportunities and outcomes. The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) provides a reliable and accessible means for students to reach their schools which can directly impact their academic and, ultimately, professional success.

Jennifer Ortega MCTS Director of Business Services CVPass@mcts.org

Availability of affordable, dependable transit means students can reach their schools. For many students, transit is essential for them to attend school regularly, helping to reduce absenteeism and late arrivals.

MCTS partners with the Milwaukee Public School (MPS) System to provide high school students who reside over 7 miles from their current school of attendance with a WisGo card weekly for use on MCTS. MCTS issues approximately 3,000 WisGo cards annually helping to promote access across the county. The student bus pass provides unlimited rides on any routes helping them get not only to and from school, but providing the opportunity to access libraries, museums, internships, and jobs.

DID YOU KNOW? MCTS and MPS have partnered to serve thousands of students over the past 20 years.

MCTS serves 35 of the 38 MPS High Schools through the regular service routes.

MCTS supports higher education by facilitating access to colleges and universities. MCTS U-PASS is available to students of accredited Milwaukee area colleges or universities who elect to sign up for the program. There are currently four schools, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design enrolled in the U-Pass program, representing over 40,000 eligible students.

Local colleges and universities also see the benefit of transit for their faculty and staff. To provide this benefit, Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee all participate in MCTS’s Commuter Value Pass program (CVP). The CVP program is a corporate initiative that allows companies to provide transportation for their employees at a fraction of the regular cost of commuting.

Transit is more than just getting from point A to point B; it is a vital component of the educational and workforce landscape.

Contact MCTS to find out about our simple setup and coordination, cost sharing options, and tax benefits.

www.ridemcts.com/fares/commuter-value-pass-program mmac.org | 15

Getting a jump in trade work

Area high school students garnering real world experience

J

ust a few weeks ago, Oak Creek High School’s football team stepped onto the field for the first time this season in its home stadium – now complete with a renovated entrance and team room.

While it was many seasoned tradespeople who made the improvements, 15 Oak Creek High School Knight Construction Class students can take credit for the work, as well, through a collaboration with construction management firm The Boldt Co. Three of those students have decided to make construction a career and now work for Boldt as part of its involvement in the state’s youth apprenticeship program.

This is just an opportunity for students who are still in high school to gain real-world, hands-on experience in the construction trades.”

John Huggett, VP of Central Operations, Boldt “Boldt has been involved since 2019. We’ve employed over 70 youth apprentices,” said John Huggett, VP of Central Operations for Boldt. “This is just an opportunity for students who are still in high school to gain real-world, hands-on experience in the construction trades.”

16 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

One of those students, Deklan Sobieski, said it’s beneficial having a career path established before high school graduation.

“It feels incredible to have a job lined up after I graduate high school,” said Deklan Sobieski, one of the three students now working for The Boldt Co., this spring. “Working on this project allowed me to experience different trades and carpentry was the most enjoyable part for me. I’m proud to have been part of building something that will bring joy to others for years to come.”

Sobieski’s decision to move into the trades was a reason to celebrate. As part of the youth apprenticeship program, those making the decision take part in a “signing day” – just like their classmates signing a letter of intent to play college athletics.

It’s a reason to celebrate at Boldt, too. Huggett said the construction sector is an aging one, and getting younger generations interested is essential.

“We’re an aging industry. We have a significant amount of workforce nearing retirement age. So the need to attract new talent is very high,” he said.

The tide may be changing, though, thanks in part to programs like the one Boldt is involved with. According to data tracked by the National Student Clearinghouse, the number of students studying in the construction trades rose 23 percent in 2023.

“It’s been a real win-win and has provided an opportunity for students that want to choose and alternative path than the traditional college career,” said Huggett. “Four- or two-year college isn’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean your learning stops. I think the youth apprenticeship programs is kind of a pathway into the construction industry.”

“Not only did we get them the exposure in high school, we also provided them a bridge to their career,” she said.

MPS exposing students to careers, too

One of the employers that takes part in the program is We Energies – which visits MPS high schools, provides an overview of their operations, communicates expectations and more to gauge interest in opportunities they provide. Students must apply, get recommendations, have achieved attendance and grade point benchmarks and interview to take part in the apprenticeship.

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) are showing their students what’s possible, as well. Through their involvement in the youth apprenticeship program, juniors and seniors have 80 different career pathway choices – from agriculture and transportation to marketing and IT – said Erin Cherney, Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator for the district.

Students involved in the program still have classroom requirements, including curriculum related to their career pathway, Cherney said.

Our partnership opens the door to high-paying careers in trades for Milwaukee students who otherwise may not have known they existed .”

Jennifer Buchanan, Internship and Apprentice Director, We Energies We Energies said their involvement has created a new talent pipeline for them.

“Our partnership opens the door to high-paying careers in trades for Milwaukee students who otherwise may not have known they existed,” said Jennifer Buchanan, Internship and Apprentice Director at We Energies. “Our internship and apprenticeship programs for local high school students are life-changing for participants, benefit the company and advance the future growth and prosperity of the region.”

Over 80 percent of those students stay with the employer that provides the apprenticeship opportunity.“ Erin Cherney, Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator, MPS “That employer is saying ‘hey, we’re going to invest in that student’ and get them as far as we can into this occupational pathway,” she said, noting that over 80 percent of those students stay with the employer that provides the apprenticeship opportunity.

Cherney said 105 students were involved in the youth apprenticeship program in the 2023/24 school year. MPS graduates involved in the skilled trades pathway all signed their registered apprenticeship contracts – the first time in the program’s history that’s happened.

Buchanan said the program has been a success – exposing about 3,500 students to careers in energy, providing more than 200 employment opportunities and creating 25 permanent positions at the company. It’s become so popular, they’ve begun offering the same opportunities to high schools throughout Milwaukee County. She added We Energies’ program has served as a model for the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and the Wisconsin Energy Workforce Consortium.

“We’ve also been asked to share best practices with other local companies,” Buchanan said.

While partnerships like the one between MPS and We Energies have proved successful, Cherney said they’re always looking to forge partnerships with other local companies to provide similar opportunities for city students.

“We’re always looking for partners,” said Cherney, “It doesn’t have to be a youth apprenticeship. It can be conducting mock interviews.

It can be coming into the classroom to talk about your career and your career path. It can be volunteering at one of our events, hosting a table at one of our job fairs.”

mmac.org | 17

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Don’t put off plans to make your business grow—make it happen starting today. For immediate assistance on all your SBA lending needs, call our SBA Specialist Josh McCann or visit AssociatedBank.com/SBA

Scan the QR code to read more.

*Loan products are offered by Associated Bank, N.A., and are subject to credit approval and determination of SBA eligibility. Loans may involve interest and other costs. Please ask about details on fees and terms and conditions of these products. Relevant insurance coverage, if applicable, will be required on collateral. Member FDIC.

mmac.org | 19

Hmong American Peace Academy: Educate the whole village W Hailey Pitcher

MMAC Intern

hen the Vietnam War ended in 1975, 10-year-old Dr. Chris Her-Xiong fled Laos with her family in the middle of the night. Instead of finding respite at a refugee camp in Thailand, the place was overcrowded with thousands of Hmong people searching for safety. They soon immigrated to the United States, where she developed a passion for helping girls like herself.

Dr. Her-Xiong is now the founder and CEO of the Hmong American Peace Academy (HAPA), a charter school with nearly 2,000 students from the Hmong community in Milwaukee.

The school aims to create productive and successful citizens, centered around three pillars: Hmong culture, rigorous academics and peace building.

Today, there are about 20,000 Hmong people living in Milwaukee, and about 50,000 in the entire state of Wisconsin. HAPA is the only Hmong charter school in the state.

“Today, there are about 20,000 Hmong people living in Milwaukee, and about 50,000 in the entire state of Wisconsin.”

“This school was founded on the cultural strength of its people and students,” Dr. Her-Xiong said.

During the Vietnam War, the American military asked the Hmong people to become allies in fighting against Vietnam’s communist government. When the war ended, the Hmong people became a target, hunted by the government for working with the U.S. It cost thousands of Hmong lives. Many families became refugees, including Dr. Her-Xiong’s. At just 10 years old, she escaped Laos in the middle of the night, traveling with her parents and six siblings to a refugee camp in Thailand.

20 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

“We could only carry what was on our back,” she said.

Her and her older sister stood in line in the hot sun every day, waiting for their portion of food provided by the United Nations. As a result of the Hmong population’s help in the war, the United States made a way for them to immigrate to the U.S.

90% teachers retention

Dr. Her-Xiong’s family was sponsored by a Dutch Reformed Church in Iowa, and they arrived in December 1976, having lived in the refugee camp for a year. She didn’t know a word of English.

“I didn’t know how to write my name, let alone hold a pencil,” she said.

She attended school in Iowa. One of their family’s sponsors became Dr. Her-Xiong’s teacher, teaching her and her sister English through cooking.

95% daily

attendance rate

“She taught my older sister and I how to read by following recipes,” Dr. Her-Xiong said. “We became translators to our parents and siblings.”

Her dad had been a teacher in Laos, and Dr. Her-Xiong followed in his footsteps, majoring in education at Central College in Pella, Iowa. She was hired by the Milwaukee Public School District and became their first Hmong teacher. She worked there for 14 years.

In 2000, Dr. Her-Xiong and her husband traveled back to the refugee camp in Thailand.

“I saw a van pull up into the refugee camp and usher about seven little girls, about my age when I was in the refugee camp, to take them out,” she said.

She was hopeful that they were being taken into town to work and help provide for their families, until her husband informed her they were being sold as sex slaves.

“It broke my heart,” she said.

“We came to the decision that a school was needed to instill the rich culture of our people” held meetings with her community to determine the needs of their children.

“We came to the decision that a school was needed to instill the rich culture of our people,” she said.

The Hmong American Peace Academy opened in 2004. It consisted of 200 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

“This year we’re celebrating our 21st anniversary, with over 1,900 scholars in kindergarten through 12th grade,” she said.

It is extremely important to Dr. Her-Xiong that the students learn who they are and where they come from. She wants them to develop a moral compass, and grow socially, emotionally and academically in order to become productive members of society.

She made the mascot a dove, representing the school’s mission to build peace and character among its students.

100%

college acceptance rate.

Her husband told her, “You cannot make a difference in the lives of the young girls in the refugee camps in Thailand, but you can make a difference in the lives of the young girls in Milwaukee.”

When they returned, Dr. Her-Xiong began going through the process of starting a charter school. She saw how children in public schools were torn between two worlds: the American world at school and the Hmong world at home. Dr. Her-Xiong hoped they could learn to live in both. She

Laos was constantly at war when Dr. Her-Xiong lived there, which makes her advocate for peaceful solutions at HAPA. She encourages her students to right their wrongs and love their neighbors as themselves.

“The spirit of our school is to be transformational. From an at-risk child to an ambitious, successful student seeking college and career,” she said.

HAPA’s daily attendance rate of 95% shows just how much these students love coming to school.

Although some graduates choose to begin their career immediately after high school, the 2024 senior class had a 100% college acceptance rate.

They retain over 90% of their teachers.

The biggest challenge in running the school was ensuring they had the facilities to accommodate

their expansion. Each year they added an additional grade until they reached 12th.

In 2010, they moved to a larger building on 14 acres of land, allowing hundreds more students to enroll.

Dr. Her-Xiong finds it extremely rewarding to see the transformed lives of her students.

“We have a young girl who started school when we opened in 2004. She was a brandnew refugee to the country...Now she is finishing her third year of medical college,” she said.

She has a lot of success stories from her students’ experiences at HAPA and is starting to see some of the children of HAPA’s alumni attend the school.

Dr. Her-Xiong’s philosophy is: “When you educate a girl you educate the whole village.”

“We believe strongly that quality education is the ticket out of poverty,” she said.

Immigrants tell their entrepreneurial stories

Over one quarter of U.S. entrepreneurs are immigrants, and Harvard Business Review says their businesses are more likely to thrive as they create job opportunities and revive areas with new ideas. The resilience and unique skill sets often acquired by those immigrating to a new country are a huge asset to communities and the economy, and their businesses bring in billions of dollars. This series highlights Milwaukee businesses that are founded, owned and operated by immigrants. We’ve had the privilege of hearing their stories and backgrounds, as well as what makes them so valuable to our community. See more at MMAC.org/News. mmac.org | 21

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However, this window of opportunity is closing. On January 1, 2026, the exemption levels are set to revert to pre-TCJA levels, adjusted for inflation. The exact level of the new lifetime gift tax exemption is not known, but it is estimated to be about $7 million for an individual and about $14 million per couple after the inflation adjustment.

This reduction significantly impacts estate planning strategies, especially for those with estates exceeding the new lower thresholds.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 introduced several significant changes to gift and estate tax regulations, which have had profound tax implications for business owners and high-networth individuals. As we approach the sunset of these provisions at the end of 2025, it’s important to act now to manage changing tax exposure effectively.

One of the most notable changes brought by the TCJA was the doubling of the estate and gift tax exemption. Currently, individuals can gift up to $13.6 million, and couples can gift up to $27.2 million over their lifetime without incurring any gift tax. This historically high exemption has given business owners a unique opportunity to transfer substantial wealth to their heirs with minimal tax implications.

Now is the time for business owners to take advantage of the current high exemptions. By gifting minority interests in their companies, they can benefit from discounts for lack of control and marketability, thereby reducing the taxable value of the gift.

This means you can gift more of company’s ownership before exceeding the current lifetime exemption. For example, gifting a 10% interest in a privately held company, which is not freely traded and has restrictions on the minority interest, can result in substantial discounts that further minimize the gift tax exposure.

Valuation plays a critical role in this process. Accurate valuations are needed to determine the fair market value of the gifted interests and to apply the appropriate discounts. Engaging a qualified valuation expert can ensure that the valuations are defensible and compliant with IRS regulations.

As the deadline approaches, business owners and high-networth individuals need to review their estate plans and consider making significant gifts before the exemption limits decrease.

The potential tax savings and the ability to transfer more wealth to the next generation make it a time-sensitive and strategic move.

The sunsetting of the TCJA’s gift and estate tax provisions marks a crucial period for estate planning.

It’s important to act now to help mitigate future tax liabilities and preserve wealth for future generations.

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mmac.org | 23

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Here are four essential leadership skills that, when cultivated early, can empower students for future success: 1. Emotional Intelligence and Communication Schools can play a key role in teaching emotional intelligence—helping students understand and manage their emotions while empathizing with others. Coupled with lessons in effective communication, this fosters respect, collaboration, and strong leadership.

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24 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

An educational asset

Milwaukee Public Museum sets sites on new facility

W

ho can forget their first trip to the Milwaukee Public Museum?

Eyes go agaze when first seeing that T-Rex taking a bite out of its dinner. Visitors can peer into the lives of their ancestors, no matter where the roots of their family tree began. A stroll through the Butterfly Wing brings people closer to nature. And that rattlesnake button (if you know, you know).

DID YOU KNOW?

The Milwaukee Development Corp., MMAC’s catalytic real estate investment arm, served as administrative support and partial financial backstop for the Milwaukee Public Museum in its fund-raising efforts and land acquisition.

For generations, the museum has provided both young and old a different perspective of the world we live in. With thousands of children visiting annually, the museum has also served as an invaluable supplement to classroom education for area students.

Today, the aging building on 6th and Wells is ready to make way for a new location. In 2027, a new museum will open across from the Deer District, making a vibrant area of downtown even more so. Officials look forward to sparking the imagination of the youngest of its visitors when it opens.

“Many young people who come through our doors may have never dreamed they could dig for fossils, go to outer space or conduct scientific field work,” said MPM President and CEO Dr. Ellen Censky. “The museum’s mission – in the current building and in its future home – is to ensure those experiences are accessible and approachable for everyone and ultimately inspire the next generation of paleontologists, astronomers and entomologists.”

Pictures from Visit Milwaukee Media Library and Milwaukee Public Museum website.

That insight into the museum’s impact is certainly backed up. It serves 500,000 people every year, including 150,000

students through field trips or educational outreach led by MPM staff, including programming during the summer months.

It also provides opportunities outside of its four walls through its Move initiative where museum staff travel to libraries, schools, day programs, community centers and other sites for those unable to physically travel to the museum.

In 2023, the museum became a partner agency with the Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership, a United Way initiative pairing non-profits with a MPS school – O.W. Holmes K-8 School – to work out of the school connecting nearly 300 students with museum resources to improve academic outcomes.

As the museum moves to a new location, officials are stressing that it will remain – first and foremost – an educational institution expected to welcome 1.5 million school children, both locally and from around the state, within the first decade of being open.

In addition to four floors of exhibit galleries, the museum will feature special educational spaces throughout the new building, including the Hauske Education Suite featuring two classrooms specifically designed for K-12 education. The new facility will also host two flexible areas located adjacent to two of the exhibit areas called “Connectors” providing behind-thescenes views into the collection’s storage areas where visitors can see a rotating display of items as well as staff at work.

Groundbreaking of the new museum took, place in May with the opening of the building anticipated in early 2027. mmac.org | 25

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Never stop expl

ring:

K-12 pathways into food science M

ost students don’t set out to study food science in college, and Dr. Anne Vravick wants to change that.

“Young people don’t know about the excellent careers available in the food industry,” says Emily Allen the food science graduate program director at Mount Mary University. “Most of them fall Assistant Director into our four-year food FaB Wisconsin science program a year or two after they enter college and begin thinking more seriously about their future.”

With over 141,000 food and beverage manufacturing jobs just in the state of Wisconsin, the career possibilities of the industry expand beyond food science and working on a line, with opportunities in human resources, law, regulatory, marketing and more.

To create a talent pipeline of viable industry talent, Vravick has been Marie Colmerauer, Milwaukee Area Technical College; working closely and Dr. Anne Vravick, Mount Mary University with Marie Colmerauer, instructor of chemical technology, nutrition and food science at Milwaukee Area Technical College, which offers a two-year degree in food science technology.

“It’s especially important for food-related programs to connect with students ‘early’ since the careers are not as well-known as more traditional paths,” said Colmerauer.

Vravick and Colmerauer both see value in representing their respective schools at student-facing events, including FaB Wisconsin’s annual Farm-Factory-Fork Career Discovery event – where they meet face-to-face with hundreds of Wisconsin high schoolers – and have been putting their heads together to develop additional opportunities for students and their instructors.

Recently, the two schools partnered to host their first Teachers Teaching Teachers event to encourage high school science instructors to add food to their classrooms. Attendees dove into

hands-on activities – like tracking the temperature of different homemade ice cream recipes – and were sent home with a trove of resources and inspiration.

“Biology and chemistry can come alive for students when they can relate it to the foods they eat everyday. I mean, why not study bacteria growing in yogurt or the chemical structure of a flavor molecule,” said Vravick.

Sarah O’Neill, Vincent High School, and Lisa Maxon, Westosha Central High School, check the temperature of varying ice cream recipes.

Both instructors stress the importance of parents and teachers nurturing curiosity in students – asking questions about how food is made and who’s responsible for making it, for example, or encouraging participation in sciencerelated courses or summer jobs.

“College-ready students are motivated by curiosity and getting tasks done on time,” she said. “Those same traits lead to a successful career and can be developed in students’ younger years by connecting school to real-life scenarios and through jobs or extracurricular activities.”

“Biology and chemistry can come alive for students when they can relate it to the foods they eat everyday.

I mean, why not study bacteria growing in yogurt or the chemical structure of a flavor molecule?”

- Anne Vravick, Mount Mary University While her outreach initiatives have led to increased enrollment, Vravick is convinced the magic happens when you spark the interest of biology, chemistry, consumer science and culinary teachers who have a direct influence on students.

“Most of our food science students had a teacher in their life who told them about how cool it is to study the science behind why food changes when we mix, cook, freeze, or dry it and that they could actually do this for a career,” she says. “There are so many places in the food industry that apply science in ways you’ve never imagined.

Go visit a food company and see if they’ll take you on a tour or tell you more about what they make. Never stop exploring!”

mmac.org | 27

September 2024

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR HIRING?

THE HARDEST POSITIONS TO FILL ARE:

76%

Skilled &

Sales

are planning to increase their workforce

Incoming Talent Survey Results Attracting skilled talent to drive business growth is a challenge faced by all organizations. We reached out to The Leadership Council—some of MMAC’s most involved stakeholders—to discuss their hiring strategies, the current state of job applicants and their readiness and the key qualities they seek in new hires.

WHAT POSITIONS DO YOU PLAN ON HIRING FOR?

15%

Executive Leadership

29% Management Entry-Level 35% 21%

Other

WHAT LEVEL OF EDUCATION IS REQUIRED FOR MOST OF YOUR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS? Other

20%

Four-year degree

56%

20% Apprenticeship/ technical school

INTERESTED IN JOINING? Contact Barb Smith, VP of Member Engagement ​414/287-4173

See more at MMAC.org/ leadershipcouncil.html

High school diploma

20%

HOW PREPARED IN TECHNICAL SKILLS ARE NEW ENTRYLEVEL EMPLOYEES?

HAVE THOSE SKILLS IMPROVED, DECLINED OR REMAINED THE SAME OVER LAST DECADE?

32%

Remained the same

Improved

Declined

96% 52% 16%

somewhat prepared 28 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

HAVE SOFT SKILLS IN ENTRY-LEVEL EMPLOYEES IMPROVED, DECLINED OR REMAINED THE SAME OVER THE PAST DECADE?

most important

Improved

12%

Declined

44%

THE SOFT SKILLS EMPLOYERS FEEL ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ENTRY-LEVEL EMPLOYEES:

important

Least important

N/A

Communication

Stayed the same

Problem Solving

44%

Teamwork Adaptability Leadership Emotional Intelligence Time Management

IT IS STILL VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AT ALL LEVELS IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

Work Ethic

HOW PREPARED IN SOFT SKILLS ARE ENTRY-LEVEL EMPLOYEES?

THE TECHNICAL SKILLS EMPLOYERS FEEL ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ENTRY-LEVEL EMPLOYEES

most important

important

Least important

0%

100%

80% 20%

N/A

somewhat prepared

Simple machine operation

unprepared

Data analysis

WE USE A MENTOR-BASED TRAINING METHOD.

project management communications software management

TYPE OF TRAINING YOUR EMPLOYEES TYPICALLY RECEIVE:

computer programming

68% 32%

database management customer service

on-site training 100%

100%

a combination of training mmac.org | 29

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30 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

Bridging the Tech Gap:

Sandhya Padala and Rex Academy

I

n 2015, entrepreneur Sandhya Padala unexpectedly found herself addressing the national technology education crisis.

Her young son was eager to create his own video game, so he needed to learn how to write computer code. His suburban Anna Lardinois public elementary school did not offer that Managing Editor curriculum and she could not find any afterMilwaukee Startup News school programs that provided the services she was looking for. With no other options, Padala, an engineer with a master’s degree in computer science, decided to teach her son how to code herself.

Once his friends discovered her son was learning how to create his own games, Padala’s kitchen table coding lessons became a neighborhood event.

58%

The Padala family’s lack of access to computer science courses is of U.S. high schools offer not unique. According to Code.org foundational computer Advocacy Coalition, a bipartisan science courses. group of corporations and nonprofits working to establish legal policies to expand K-12 computer science education, there is a lack of qualified computer science teachers in the nation. That shortage is one of the reasons only 58 percent of U.S. high schools offer foundational computer science courses.

In Wisconsin, that number is slightly lower. In its report titled 2023 State of Computer Science Education, Code.org Advocacy Coalition, reported that 56 percent of high schools in the state offered computer science courses and those schools are most likely to be large suburban schools.

56%

of high schools in Wisconsin offered computer science courses and are most likely suburban schools.

Once Padala became aware of the need for K-12 computer education, she launched a small business creating computer camps and classes in a local storefront in 2015. Soon she was overwhelmed with business and looking for new ways to meet the demands for her courses.

students with nearly 11,000 hours of technology education.

And those numbers grow daily.

The company adds an estimated 2,000 students each month to its roster.

Students who participated in quality computer education courses had a higher rate of earning a four-year degree and

out-earned their peers by age 24

The impact of access to the high-level computer education offered by Rex Academy is far reaching. The Brookings Institute recently published a study showing students who participated in quality computer education courses had a higher rate of earning a four-year degree and outearned their peers by age 24.

Currently, Rex Academy has clients around the nation, and beyond.

Students in Canada, Ghana, Guam, India, Saipan and Taiwan are learning valuable programming skills using the company’s curriculum.

Rex Academy curriculum is currently being taught in five Milwaukeearea schools, as well as through the Milwaukee chapter of the Boys and Girls Club.

Rex Academy and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have partnered to make technology education more accessible and affordable for students. The school allows students to transfer “up to six credits of Rex Academy coursework towards a Bachelor of Science in Information Science & Technology degree.” The four-year degree requires a total of 120 credits and is a fully online program.

Padala’s journey from a concerned parent to the founder of a tech education startup underscores the need for increased access to computer science education. By leveraging her expertise and recognizing a critical gap in the educational landscape, Padala has not only created a profitable company, she also transformed her local community and extended her reach globally.

In an era where computer literacy is increasingly vital, Padala’s story serves as a reminder of the transformative power of entrepreneurship and the profound impact one individual can have on reshaping the educational landscape for students everywhere.

In 2021, Padala created her company, Rex Academy, with the goal of reaching the largest number of students possible. The company provides online computer courses like Intro to Python and Game Development courses, as well as AP computer science courses. The online courses are designed to be used in both face-to-face and virtual classrooms.

Today, Rex Academy is a venture capital-backed startup headquartered in Milwaukee. Since launching its online computer science classes in 2022, the company has provided more than 17,000

Learn more at

rexk12.com mmac.org | 31

HELPING THE Paetsch reflects on two decades with M7

I

n 2005, Jim Paetsch was part of the team that launched the Milwaukee 7 Regional Partnership (M7) – MMAC’s economic development arm. Since then, the organization has helped lead and support efforts resulting in over 130 corporate expansions and relocations, billions of dollars in new capital expenditures and nearly 30,000 new jobs with a combined payroll of over $1.8 billion.

In March, Paetsch announced his retirement from M7. As that date approaches, he sat down with Milwaukee Commerce to reflect on his time leading the organization.

Q. Reflecting on your career, what project or initiative are you most proud of?

A. I’ve worked with so many good companies, public sector partners and advisors that it’s hard to pick one. Big picture, I think the thing for which I’m most proud is that our region now believes it can compete. When M7 started in 2005, it would have been unimaginable that we’d be attracting billions in capital investment, much of it from companies having no prior presence here. The region has learned that it’s worthy of these investments.

Q. What was the biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?

A. There was some skepticism of M7 early on. We were new and poking around in places that had been the exclusive domain of others. People weren’t quite sure what to make of us. We told them a story of cooperation and shared prosperity, but rhetoric didn’t get us far. But once we started working with partners on real corporate attraction and expansion deals - buildings coming out of the ground and employee cars appearing in parking lots - that skepticism melted away. And then we’d be working on another deal together a few months later. Nothing builds relationships like success.

Q. What’s changed the most in your role over the past 20 years?

A. The scale of the projects. We worked on some sizeable deals in M7’s early years, but they were the exception. Fast forward to today, we typically have multiple 1,000-plus employee deals in our pipeline.

Much is said and written about global economic change, but the

inarguable status of the U.S. as the global alpha hasn’t changed much. Companies want to be here now more than ever, which means prosperity for places like southeastern Wisconsin.

Q. How big of a role does relationship building and being a connector play in the success of your job?

A. Relationships are paramount. Working with our state and local partners, we’ve built a well-functioning machine to leverage opportunities for corporate investment. It’s not our first rodeo. We’ve celebrated and suffered together. There’s a trust and respect that permeates those relationships. Everybody knows their role and we go.

Q. What do you see as the region’s biggest opportunity?

A. Seeding and nurturing prosperity is a competitive endeavor; there’s always somebody who wants what we have and there’s not enough to go around. Our region comes to this competition from a position of strength, but things are moving fast and there’s a lot at stake. Our competitors are resourced and motivated. How do we leverage our historic strengths to create prosperity pathways for the next 20 years? We’re well on our way, but some of the old methods and maxims may no longer apply.

Q. What do you see as the region’s biggest challenge? Is it being addressed adequately?

A. In a region of 2 million people, there are going to be liabilities. It’s tempting to fixate on those negatives, but it extinguishes hope. If we’re getting 60 percent of things right in a big region like Milwaukee, we’re doing better than most. Instead of focusing on our negatives, let’s also harness our assets. There’s a lot that’s good here.

Q. If you could only pass along one piece of advice to your successor, what would it be?

A. Everything in a community is easier when people have money in their pockets. Stay focused on bringing high-value employment here, one company at a time.

Milwaukee 7 by the Numbers from 2021-2024

32 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

10,931 Jobs

REGION THRIVE

$5.45B

in Capital Investment

$75,273

Average Wage mmac.org | 33

The Power of Connection MMAC’s Executive Roundtable Program provides executive sounding board

L

eading a business is challenging and, for some individuals, it may even feel isolating. In fact, a shared sentiment among business executives is a “lonely at the top” void that stems from their roles as senior decision makers. Luckily, it doesn’t have to feel this way.

The phrase “there is strength in numbers” certainly rings true for over 300 business executives in the Milwaukee area who participate in MMAC’s Executive Roundtable Program.

The Executive Roundtables provide leaders from both for-profit and non-profit organizations, with a supportive and confidential space to share best practices, address business challenges and develop relationships with professionals in similar leadership positions.

In joining this program, executives can confidently tackle business decisions and challenges, backed by the professional expertise and support of their roundtable peers.

Within each program, roundtable groups are composed of eight to 12 peers from non-competitive, similarly sized businesses. Group members meet monthly at a location of their choosing. The meetings are self-led, allowing members to establish their own agenda and prioritize specific meeting topics. Participation in one Executive Roundtable is included in a company’s MMAC membership dues.

Maximize the program

A member’s experience in the Executive Roundtable Program is not limited to the monthly group meetings. MMAC hosts a variety of exclusive events, such as the annual Brewers outing, the Roundtable golf outing, educational roundtable forums and more!

By surrounding yourself with peers from diverse backgrounds and industries, you gain access to a wide range of perspectives and innovative ideas that can drive your business forward.

How it works

MMAC offers six roundtable programs: 1.

CEO 2.

CFO 3.

CIO 4.

Senior executive 5.

Sales management 6.

Roundtable for high growth companies

2024 Platinum Sponsors

34 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

For more information, visit mmac.org/executive-roundtable-program Ready to get started, contact Chauntele Kreutz at ckreutz@mmac.org

2024 Program Partner

What members are saying Von Rolón-González | PartsBadger LLC I’ve been able to discuss my organization’s biggest problems and had very in-depth, thoughtful conversations that resulted in clear actions I could take quickly as related to our company’s strategic direction. I’ve even been able to connect with some members outside of our scheduled time to do deep dives. The diversity in backgrounds and industries has helped because problems are so rarely only ‘operational’ issues - different perspectives have added additional layers and considerations.

John Hagenow | Fusion Recruiters After years of engaging in various networking groups and working with business coaches and mentors, a significant gap remained in actionable insights and strategic implementation. Discovering MMAC CEO Roundtables over a year ago has been transformative, bridging these gaps through strategic networking, insightful discussions and actionable advice. The experience has provided valuable perspectives, best practices and a de facto board of directors, greatly impacting my business growth and strategy.

Mandi Gramoll LoCoco | Gramoll & Associates, Inc. Being a roundtable member of the MMAC has provided me with tremendous value through the shared experiences, insights and expertise of the business leaders in my group. The setting encourages fresh ideas, new perspectives and practical strategies that have greatly enhanced my personal and professional development. The connections I’ve built within the group and the support from the MMAC community have been instrumental in overcoming challenges and capitalizing on new opportunities in the insurance industry.

Brad Hiller | Great Lakes Industrial Our Sales Management Roundtable group has casual nature of the meetings. It makes the meeting and the people an effective soundboard and allows for simply voicing frustration about running a sales organization. The overall format and nature of the group and people foster good relationships. We meet and discuss outside of our meetings once a month, even for happy hours and boat days.

Media Partner

mmac.org | 35

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36 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

New MMAC Members MAY - JULY 2024 ACG Wisconsin

Tracy Greymont Executive Director 1614 Falls Rd. Grafton, WI 53024 acg.org/wisconsin (262) 236-7440 Associations

Barnett Leadership Group

Economic Impact Catalyst David Ponraj, Primary 28050 U.S. Hwy 19 N, Ste. 305 Clearwater, WI 33761 economicimpactcatalyst.com (813) 336-6426 Professional Services

Empathic Engineering

Diana Barnett CEO & Founder N61 W15243 Brookside Dr. Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 (414) 651-3868 Consultants & Trainers

Emily Honor Hubbard Founder and Owner 1743 S. 1st St. Milwaukee, WI 53204 empathicengineering.org (608) 239-2738 Consultants - Coaching

CodeBaby, Inc.

Epic Mortgage

Norrie Daroga Founder & President 445 W. Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207 codebaby.com Technology

Compass Benefit Specialists, Inc. Dominic Schelfhout Group Benefits Broker 333 Bishops Way, Ste. 148 Brookfield, WI 53005 compassbenefits.us (262) 717-6092 Insurance-Health

Cordia

Anza D’Antonio General Counsel, Corporate Secretary 1 E. Washington St., Ste. 430 Phoenix, AZ 85004 cordiaenergy.com (414) 639-4787 Energy/Utilities

Dynamic Tool Corporation Dan Gouge Vice President of Sales W133 N5180 Campbell Dr. Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 dyntool.com (262) 783-6340 Manufacturers

Shawn Schnabl, CEO 14530 W. Capitol Dr. Brookfield, WI 53005 yourepiclender.com (262) 515-9111 Mortgages

Fast Park Airport Parking Tonya Scully Regional Marketing Manager 5201 S. Howell Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53201 thefastpark.com (317) 435-4699 Airports

Filament

131 W. Seeboth St. Milwaukee, WI 53204 filamentmke.com Events

French American Chamber of Commerce - Chicago (FACC-Chicago) Chrystelle Rambaux 233 S. Wacker Dr. Floor 44, Ste. 41 Chicago, IL 60606 facc-chicago.com (312) 578-0444 Associations

Glojek & Steinberg

Rick Steinberg Attorney 6212 W. Greenfield Ave. West Allis, WI 53214 GlojekSteinbergLaw.com (414) 774-3414 Attorneys

goVirtualOffice

Karl Metzger Referral Partnerships Manager 1021 Quinn Dr., Ste. 200 Waunakee, WI 53597 govirtualoffice.com (888) 773-2123 Technology

Healthfuse

Brad Tieche CFO 324 E. Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 1300 Milwaukee, WI 53201 healthfuse.com (630) 779-6442 Health Care Consultants

Heine Construction Corporation Timothy Heine President PO Box 353 Fontana, WI 53125 Heineconstruction.com (630) 936-8964 Contractors-General

Ixapack Global USA

Alexandre Voisine Sales Manager for North and South America 10150 W. National Ave., Ste. 209 West Allis, WI 53227 ixapack.com (414) 482-5286 Manufacturers-Special Equipment

Keller Williams Milwaukee Charlie Stalle President 205 E. Silver Spring Dr. Whitefish Bay, WI 53217 kwrealtymke.com (414) 962-3605 Real Estate

continued on page 39 mmac.org | 37

HOW EDUCATION EXCELLENCE LOOKS We build strong partnerships between the district and local, underrepresented workforces to enhance learning facilities and create spaces that uplift communities and support future leaders.

As your dedicated building partner, we are committed to shaping a better tomorrow together.

38 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

MILWAUKEE // MADISON // ARIZONA CGSCHMIDT.COM

New MMAC Members MAY - JULY 2024 continued from page 37

KO Travel DBA Elevated Escapes Kahri Phelps Primary 1849 N. Martin Luther King Dr., Ste. 205 Milwaukee, WI 53212 (414) 438-8414 Travel Agencies/Bureaus

Milestone Pediatrics

Paul Veldhouse Owner/Physician 20611 Watertown Rd., Ste. D Waukesha, WI 53186 milestonepediatrics.org (262) 256-0676 Physicians/Surgeons

Prescient Financial Solutions Michael Ribar Financial Advisor, MBA 330 E. Kilbourn Ave., Ste. 950 Milwaukee, WI 53202 Modine Manufacturing Company (414) 203-6016 Michael Rathburn Financial Planning-Consultants/Services Associate General Counsel

La Causa

LEB Insurance Group

1500 DeKoven Ave. Racine, WI 53403 modine.com (262) 636-1200 Manufacturers

Adam Billeb Group Benefits Director 21 E. 2nd St. Fond du Lac, WI 54935 lebinsurancegroup.com (920) 243-4006 Insurance

Legacy Platform

James Epperson VP Engineering 2000 S. 4th St. Milwaukee, WI 53204 legacyplatform.com (414) 202-0229 Mezzanine/Platform Systems & Equipment

Marlin Technologies

John Lechtenberg President 101 Industrial Dr. Horicon, WI 53032 marlintech.com (920) 485-4463 Engineers-Automation & Control Systems

MATRIX STRATEGIES Jim Johnsen Owner 4369 Pilgrim Hollow Ct. Brookfield, WI 53005 (907) 888-8595 Consultants/Leadership

PJ Dever Executive Director PO Box 1603 Milwaukee, WI 53201 playworks.org/wisconsin (609) 760-7692 Youth Organizations/Centers

Milwaukee Airwaves

milwaukeeairwaves.com Event Planning

Luis Ayala 413 W. Scott St. Milwaukee, WI 53204 lacausa.org (414) 316-5500 Education

Playworks Wisconsin

North Star Resource Group

Carter Amundson Financial Advisor 1433 N. Water St., Ste. 400 Milwaukee, WI 53202 northstarfinancial.com (414) 260-5545 Financial Planning-Consultants/Services

OfficeH2O

Dustin Kavelaris Commercial Sales Leader WI 16614 W. Rogers Dr. New Berlin, WI 53151 officeh2o.com (866) 621-6910 Office Equipment Sales & Service

OVB Law & Consulting

Emil Ovbiagele Managing Partner 826 N. Plankinton Ave., Floor 6 Milwaukee, WI 53203 ovblaw.com (414) 585-0588 Legal Services

Resourcive

Sean Nihill Director, Strategic Parnerships 63 Southfield Rd. Mt. Vernon, NY 10552 resourcive.com (646) 779-2097 Information Technology Consultants

RIVET

Tim Cole VP of Sales 735 N. Water St., Ste. 501 Milwaukee, WI 53202 workrivet.com (414) 208-9308 Human Resource Consultants

Server Products

Andrea Zimmerman Director of Finance 3601 Pleasant Hill Rd. Richfield, WI 53076 server-products.com (800) 558-8722 Manufacturers

Sound Incorporated Rick LaPorte Director of Sales 1550 Shore Rd. Naperville, IL 60563 soundinc.com (630) 369-2900 IT Solutions Providers

continued on page 40

mmac.org | 39

NEW MMAC MEMBERS | MAY - JULY 2024 continued from page 39

The Explorium Brewpub Mike Doble Proprietor 143 W. Saint Paul Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53203 exploriumbrew.com (414) 553-7702 Restaurants

The Ivy House

Marina Mielke Events Manager / Outside Events Director 906 S. Barclay St. Milwaukee, WI 53204 ivyhousemke.com (414) 539-3339 Events

The Journey

thejourneymke.com Event Planning

The Society

910 N. Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53203 thesocietymke.com Events

The Starlings

102 N. Water St. Milwaukee, WI 53202 thestarlingmke.com Events

Two Birds Event Group Ramsey Renno Owner 906 S. Barclay St. Milwaukee, WI 53204 twobirdseventgroup.com (414) 587-7883 Events

Ubi-Wireless Network Corporation Jennie Lee , CEO 1345 N. Jefferson Ave., Ste. 437 Milwaukee, WI 53202 ubiwirelessnetwork.com (414) 831-9765 Technology

VC 414

Raquel Filmanowicz Founder & Managing Partner 313 N. Plankinton Ave., Ste. 212 Milwaukee, WI 53203 vc414.com (414) 477-8207 Venture Capital

Advocating for our

Future

Every project, on time & within budget jcp-construction.com

40 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

Viking Masek Packaging Technologies

West Allis Heating & Air Conditioning Tanya Young Community Engagement Manager 201 S. Hawley Ct. Milwaukee, WI 53214 westallisheating.com (414) 262-6576 Heating/Air Conditioning Contractors

Craig Armstrong President, Robotics Division 40 Woodland Ct. Oostburg, WI 53070 vikingmasek.com (920) 564-5051 Packaging Machines

Yaskawa America, Inc. Mike Salentine Sr. Director of Operations 2 World Packaging Cir. Franklin, WI 53132 yaskawa.com (847) 887-7457 Manufacturers

Walker Media Agency Matt Walker Managing Director 507 S. 2nd St., Ste. 175 Milwaukee, WI 53204 walkermediaagency.com (414) 856-7091 Marketing Consultants

Support your fellow members by doing business together.

MMAC.org/ Directory.html

Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants

CONNECTING

YO U

} Advocacy

} Exclusive Savings

} Credibility

} Networking

} Development

} Resources

YOUR CONNECTION Whether you’re looking to grow professionally, increase your expertise and leadership or protect the business you’ve built, the WICPA will help you stay connected to the profession and succeed.

Tammy Hofstede, WICPA President & CEO

Become a member and connect with over 7,000 CPAs and accounting and business professionals.

LEARN MORE mmac.org | 41

CONGRATULATIONS

FUTURE 50 WINNERS A.B. Data American Construction Services Aras Promotions Ark Staffing & CRNA Together Basic Metals Benz Metal Products Best Version Media Blast Cleaning Technologies Briohn Building Corporation Campbell Construction JC Craft Beverage Warehouse Custom Painted Vehicles Empower Electric E-Plan Exam Evans Transportation F Street GigaFlight Connectivity Glenn Rieder Great Lakes Industrial Inpro Corporation James Imaging Systems KDV Label Koru Health Lakeland Supply Lauber Business Partners

Learning Exchange Lee Mechanical Magellan Promotions MicroSynergies MilwaukeeWarehouse MKE Iron Erectors Moore Construction Services Munson New Resources Consulting Newport Network Solutions Optimum Crush Pattyn North America Ready Rebound River Run RJ Schinner Royal Basket Trucks SETGO Partners SharkCrates Stratus Industries TOTAL Mechanical ValorTech VJS Construction Services Vyron Wixon Wolter *Bolded names are MMAC members

See more at biztimes.com/annual-events/future-50-awards/

42 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

REGION OF CHOICE

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit The Region of Choice DEI Summit showcased the latest research on workplace inclusion and provided actionable insights into DEI practices. Pictured - Overcoming DEI Resistance panel: Geraud Blanks, Culture X Design; Samantha Maldonado, Spectrum Nonprofit Services; Aaron Krueger, Newance; LaNelle Ramey, Mentor Greater Milwaukee; Jen Dirks, TEMPO; and Denise Domian, Johnson Financial Group

1

2. Fireproofing Your DEI Strategies panel: ​ Beth Ridley, Ridley Consulting Group; Shary Tran, Generac Power Systems; Deidre Garrett, Goodwill Industries of SEWI; Tracie Sparks, Rockwell Automation; Chia Vang, UW-Milwaukee 3. Dan Terrio, Milwaukee County 4. Marc Levine, UW-Milwaukee

2

3

4

5

5. Corry Joe Biddle,MMAC; Caroline Cardoso, Accenture; Andres Gonzales, Froedtert Health

mmac.org | 43

EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLES

34th Annual Golf Outing 1

Participants of the Executive Roundtable program and C-Suite Executives enjoyed a round of golf at University Club Country Club. Pictured: Chad Spaude and Justin Kerley, Topfloor; Evan Arnold, Glenroy, Inc.; Brad Zepecki, MTL Holdings

2. Nasir Khan, X-Centric IT Solutions 3. Jen Burgess, FIS; Mike Burzynski, Retired; Angela King, EUA; Darryl Anderson, Eras Senior Network

2

3

4. Jordon Meyer, Granular; Derek Harrington and Kyle Stephens, Craft Beverage Warehouse; Lori Highby, Keystone Click 5. Chris Windsor, Laurie O’Loughlin and Kris Ellis, Inpro

4 44 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

5

NETWORKING

Business After Hours August’s Business After Hours took place at Saz’s South Second on their newly created outdoor patio space. It was the perfect backdrop for an evening of networking, camaraderie and summer fun. Pictured: Tom Graybill, Tri-Marq Communications; Dan Trimboli, Pure Sound & Vision; Tony Snell Rodriguez, Visit Milwaukee; and Aaron Rice, Feeding America

1

2. David Johnson, ClearStep; Barb Esser and Mark Schmaling, Marketing & Branding Solutions 3. Curt Kluth, Saz’s Hospitality Group 4. Libby Reed, Brewhouse Inn & Suites 5. Tonya Scully, Fast Park Airport Parking; and Barb Smith, MMAC

2

3

4

5 mmac.org | 45

MMAC Member Milestones MAY - JULY 2024 110 years

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

90 years Super Steel

85 years

Standard Electric Supply Co.

80 years

Milwaukee Metal Products Company

65 years

National Funeral Directors Association North Shore Bank

55 years Sikich

40 years

Summit Credit Union

35 years

TRC Global Mobility

25 years

Aquarius Systems Lakeside Stoneworks Sprecher Brewing Company Wixon Zero Zone

20 years

LJ Design & Manufacturing, a Division of Laacke & Joys Co. M3 Insurance MAXIMUS

15 years

Aegis Corporation Carroll University FIS JTS Direct X-Centric IT Solutions

46 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2024

10 years

All Occasions Catering and Bubbs BBQ Best Ed Business Broan-NuTone Cafe Corazon - Bayview Cafe Corazon - Brown Deer Cafe Corazon - Riverwest CJ & Associates Corporate Contractors, Inc. (CCI) Dental Associates Dental Associates - Franklin Dental Associates - Miller Park Way Dental Associates - Milwaukee Downtown Engauge Workforce Solutions Hunger Task Force KS Energy Services Majic Productions Newport Network Solutions OFFSITE Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation

5 years

Brunch Brunch Brookfield CornerStone One Current Electric DSI Dynamatic Everstream FLOOR360 Glorioso’s Italian Market GVS Engage Henricksen & Company Institute of Technology and Academics Interstate Roof Systems Consultants Law Tanning Co. Pack Logix Southeastern Wisconsin Association for Talent Development Sussek Machine Company Sussek Machine Company New Berlin Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce

1 year

A.B. Data Brilliant Metrics CESA 6 CESA 6 | Youth Apprenticeship Citizens Bank Columbia Savings & Loan Association Dominican High School Elevated Identity G10 Geno.Me H.PR Strategies Hoefler Group Inspire Wisconsin Network Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School KTEC High School Lake Country Lutheran High School Living Word Lutheran High School Martin Luther High School Mathison Manufacturing, Inc. Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill Brookfield Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill Greenfield Pathfinder Maritime Training Pius XI Catholic High School Point Real Estate Pointer Financial Group Polacek Consulting RELY Contract Manufacturing Richards Benefits & Financial Services Secchi Sherman Park Grocery Shoreland Lutheran High School Source TEN The Frantz Group The Kammer Group Thrivent Urbanly Cultured Vantage Financial Warnke/Nichols Investment Management

STAFF MMAC.org/Staff.html

Corporate Expansion & Attraction Rebecca Gries | rgries@mke7.com

Economic Trends & Research

Bret Mayborne | bmayborne@mmac.org

Federal, State & Local Government Andrew Davis | adavis@mmac.org

Equity & Inclusion

Corry Joe Biddle | cbiddle@mmac.org

GROW YOUR PEER NETWORKS AALAM Angela Adams | aalamilwaukee.org

The Business Council

Marjorie Rucker | mrucker@mmac.org

Emerging Leader Series Fall 2024 - Spring 2025

Executive Roundtables

Chauntele Kreutz | ckreutz@mmac.org

Food & Beverage Industry

Gina Balke | gbalke@fabwisconsin.com

This six-month series is designed to support highperforming individuals who are not yet in a formal leadership role. The process involves a combination of training, coaching and learning reinforcements.

Hispanic Collaborative

Nancy Hernandez | nhernandez@mmac.org

Leadership Council

Barb Smith | bsmith@mmac.org

Networking Forums

Marjorie Yoshida | myoshida@mmac.org

Dates for the upcoming session include: 11/5, 12/3, 1/7, 2/4, 3/4 and 4/11.

Recruiters Roundtable

Corry Joe Biddle | cbiddle@mmac.org

GAIN EXPOSURE FOR YOUR BUSINESS Advertising

Jane Trenchard-Backes | jbackes@mmac.org

SCAN FOR MORE

LEADER-SERIES.HTML TO LEARN MORE

INFORMATION

VISIT MMAC.ORG/EMERGING-

Events & Sponsorship

Karen Powell | kpowell@mmac.org

mmac.org | 47

Interested in advertising in the next issue of Milwaukee Commerce?

Contact Jane Trenchard-Backes at 414/287-4114 or jbackes@mmac.org

Details at mmac.org/advertising.html Milwaukee Commerce magazines are printed by:

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You’ll be empowered by making smarter spending decisions, paving the way to use your capital for business growth and success. www.mmac.org/SAVINGS.html Contact MMAC’s membership engagement manager, RYAN RIVAS, for help getting started. rrivas@mmac.org 414/287-4165

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