Milwaukee Commerce Magazine Fall 2021

MILWAUKEE COMMERCE Fall 2021 - Volume 100, No. 3 From the President

Entrepreneurship’s role in economic development

Get in before the secret gets out.

by Chris Abele - CSA Partners Page 8

Startup status …

ALL SYSTEMS GO What does an accelerating entrepreneurship scene mean for our region?

From JCI to VC

Interview with Dana Guthrie, Gateway Capital Page 13

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2 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

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Sound Legal Strategies Help Drive Milwaukee’s Vibrant and Growing Startup Tech Scene

Innovators are frequently faced with daunting business and legal challenges, and having the ability to navigate these potential obstacles is crucial to success.

Being comfortable with change, Daniel Cooper having the vision to see through risk to underlying opportunities and being passionate enough to fight through all obstacles are characteristics that help innovators accomplish seemingly impossible results and build value by leveraging ideas, technology and hard work.

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mmac.org | 3

CONTENTS // It’s time to put our startup scene in a spotlight

Milwaukee’s startup scene is about to take off Get in before the secret gets out.

When it comes to cultivating a robust startup and entrepreneurship scene, can Milwaukee compete with the coasts? In many respects, we already are.

by Chris Abele - Managing Director, CSA Partners 08

One of the nation’s most successful accelerator programs, gener8tor, was born here -- and remains headquartered here long after it went national. There are plenty of startup success stories in Milwaukee, although you may not have heard about them yet. That’s about to change, thanks to a new MMAC-based initiative to promote Milwaukee as a home to entrepreneurship. We’ll provide more details about that in the coming weeks and months. And once we do get the word out, some of the smart venture capital funding that’s currently clustered on the coasts will follow.

We’ll attract even more bright minds and big ideas to Milwaukee.

An interview with Dana Guthrie, Managing Partner, Gateway Capital Partners 13

Think we can’t pull it off? As former Milwaukee County executive Chris Abele writes in this issue of Milwaukee Commerce, stay tuned.

From JCI to VC, Gateway Capital’s Guthrie finds success in MKE

Yes, Milwaukee can compete with the coasts on startups.

Gener8tor shows us how.

An interview with Joe Kirgues, Co-Founder, Gener8tor 19

New Hispanic Collaborative fund to support real estate developers and projects 25

MMAC partners with MKEsports Alliance 27

M7 reorganizes leadership roles to position region for future 33

Volume 100, No. 3 - Milwaukee Commerce (USPS 546-370, ISN 07466706) is published four times a year by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), 275 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 - 275 W Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 220 Milwaukee, WI 53203

Milwaukee’s entrepreneurial climate attracts Expert Institute 35

MMAC Leadership Council Overview 38

In every issue: Jonas Prising, MMAC Chairman Tim Sheehy, MMAC President Chris Jenkins, Editor (cjenkins@mmac.org) Anna Reaves, Graphic Design (areaves@mmac.org)

42 New MMAC members Event photos 44 45 Member milestones 47 Staff directory & membership message

Jane Backes, Advertising (jbackes@mmac.org)

Thank you to our advertisers Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren Associated Bank First Midwest Bank Edvest College Savings Plan Current Electric Co. Wintrust Commercial Banking

4 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

2 6 10 12 14 16

Wipfli JCP Construction Weber Advising Delta Dental of Wisconsin Wells Concrete/Spancrete Building Advantage

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CLA Findorff Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

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Entrepreneurship is a key part of economic development MMAC leads efforts to highlight Milwaukee as a destination for innovation, startups, and entrepreneurship -- and form stronger connections among the people who make it all happen here.

W // Tim Sheehy President of MMAC

e have made great strides in economic development in the Milwaukee Region, with the success of the Milwaukee 7 Regional Partnership in corporate attraction and expansion now totaling some 24,000 new jobs with an annual payroll of $1.4 billion from those project wins.

But economic growth does not live on recruitment and expansion alone.

Growing our own is a necessary component of driving prosperity for the region. The Milwaukee Region has long been a home to startups that innovate how we live, work, and play -- from Harley-Davidson and Marquette Electronics to Wantable and Bright Cellars. And even more is coming: Shine is developing groundbreaking nuclear technologies to become a world leader in medical tracers and cancer treatment elements.

But Milwaukee’s innovation strength is better known from the established structures of our Fortune 500 heavyweights, established midsize firms and higher education institutions. That isn’t ending anytime soon, nor should it.

But we can add more to it.

For all of our strengths, Milwaukee is not known nationally as a thriving hub

for startups, entrepreneurship and venture capital investment. The idea that Milwaukee is somewhat risk-averse is a familiar one. But at the same time, are we too modest about the existing strengths and successes of our startup scene?

(That sounds familiar, too.)

In this issue of Milwaukee Commerce, we’ll look at some of the Milwaukee Region’s entrepreneurship success stories. This a step in what will become a broader MMAC-led effort to highlight Milwaukee as a destination for innovation, startups and entrepreneurship -- and form stronger connections among the people who make it all happen here.

Milwaukee is different, and the entrepreneurship scene we build together should be different, too. But the benefits of promoting and building more start-ups are the same; new ideas and a broader talent pool to fish in -- retaining a bigger share of our next generation of homegrown talent who might otherwise be tempted to leave for the coasts, while also inviting talented people from other regions to move here or invest here.

By building a thriving, more connected entrepreneurship community, we’ll become an even more attractive destination for the kinds of problemsolvers and risk-takers that can help our economy thrive.

Tim Sheehy MMAC President

mmac.org | 5

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Milwaukee’s startup scene is about to take off. Get in before the secret gets out.

I // Chris Abele

f I had to describe Milwaukee’s startup and entrepreneurship scene, I’d call it active, with a lot of potential for massive growth.

And as is the case with many things here in Milwaukee, we have a much better story to tell than the one we’re actually telling right now.

Managing Director CSA Partners

There are far more examples of successful startups in Milwaukee than most people probably are aware of. That’s largely because most people here who are focused on growing a startup are so obsessively focused with growing value and growing their market that they’re really not thinking about press and updating their Facebook page. That’s about to change, thanks to a new MMAC initiative that you’ll hear more about in the coming weeks and months.

There’s this notion that all venture capital is centered appropriately at the coasts -- Silicon Valley, Boston, New York. Yes, there’s a lot of venture capital money out there.

But there’s a very strong business case for bringing that funding to the Midwest and Milwaukee. There’s also a strong business case that VCs are hurting themselves and the companies they invest in by concentrating on the coasts.

Invest in the Midwest

The cost of doing business is a lot less in Milwaukee – and in many cases, the chances for success and a high rate of return are actually better.

Here’s what the data tells us: The value one gets for your venture capital dollar invested in the Midwest is massively more, on average, than what you’re going to get on the coasts. The likelihood that a company that is founded in the Midwest is still going to be here in three years, in five

8 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

years, versus a company that started in California is a lot higher. And the percentage of companies invested in the Midwest that return a 10x or more multiple for their investors is much higher in the Midwest than it is on the coasts.

Some of these facts probably are surprising to you. They were surprising to me when I first heard about them. But facts incentivize people’s behavior only when people are aware of them. Again, this goes back to the idea that we have a better story to tell than we do.

As an example, one of the companies that I helped to move from Boston to Milwaukee is Bright Cellars. They were three people when they moved out here, and now they’re 120. Those are jobs here in Milwaukee.

Revolution Capital’s venture fund is based in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. They did most of the second round for Bright Cellars. That’s an out of state company investing a ton of money to help a company in Milwaukee work and grow. They noted that Bright Cellars qualified for Wisconsin’s QNBV (Qualified New Business Venture) program, which offers incentives for investment in earlystage Wisconsin businesses. They said, “The benefit is much better than anything we’ve seen in other states.

You should tell people about that.”

Meanwhile, there’s an unintended consequence of so much venture capital being concentrated on the coasts: They’re basically competing to fund the same group of entrepreneurs. And while that may sound like a terrific deal for those entrepreneurs, there’s a problem: If you raise too much money at too high a valuation when you start, unless this startup all of a sudden takes off, the next time they need to raise money they can’t raise any more because they haven’t justified their initial valuation.

A lot of these very publicly flame out and lose hundreds of millions of dollars for people.

‘How do we get to Milwaukee?’

There’s a part of me that kind of likes being in on a secret that a lot of people haven’t figured out yet: I’m doing phenomenally well investing in companies based in Wisconsin. I love being able to invest in the Midwest, because I know, in general, I am going to get a much better value and better odds of return.

The same qualities that make us attractive to established companies make us attractive to entrepreneurs. Unbelievably low cost of living, relatively speaking, and a low cost of doing business. Phenomenal arts and culture -- way above our weight class. Good health care. K-12 education certainly could be better, but we are way above the national average for colleges per capita. And we’ve got a great engineering program at MSOE, we’ve got a great engineering program at Marquette, a great engineering program at UWM. So we generate a lot of talent. It’d be great to be known as a place where it was easier to hire the kind of talent that startups need, especially coders and engineers. We have a real opportunity to differentiate ourselves here.

Also, people know how to work here. We talk about the Midwestern work ethic, but what does that really mean? We have low labor turnover, low absenteeism, good credit ratings, low loan default and high volunteerism. I’m not saying it’s perfect. But relative to the rest country, it looks pretty good.

It would be great if, five or 10 years down the road, the most promising highpotential startups in the country -- wherever they were at the time -- were thinking, “You know, this is an all right place to start. But how do we get to Milwaukee? Because that’s where you grow.”

“You know, this is an all right place to start. But how do we get to Milwaukee?

Because that’s where you grow.”

If we’re successful at building high-growth startups, then there’s more people here, more jobs, more income being spent here more, which generates more for the community. When I ran the county, I can tell you how much of our budget came from the development and growth of companies. That translates to better services, more bus routes, better parks and more. Everybody wins. And then it becomes a virtuous circle making it easier and easier to recruit.

And for people who think, “How is Milwaukee going to somehow end up being seen as this bleeding-edge, hipster-cool place for startups?” I just point to Austin 30 years ago. Nobody was saying this is the place to be for hipness and economic opportunity.

Give me any example of your number one in any field. And I’ll tell you a story of someone that wasn’t always number one, but they got there because nobody told them, “Sorry, you don’t get to aim that high” – and if someone did tell them that, they sure didn’t listen. We’ve got a better story to tell than we do. And to those folks who say it can’t be done, I say … stay tuned.

mmac.org | 9

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FROM JCI TO VC, GATEWAY CAPITAL’S GUTHRIE FINDS SUCCESS IN MKE

A

s an accomplished high school basketball player in St. Louis, Dana Guthrie was receiving interest from colleges. Her mother had a rule, though: Any college she considered had to offer her preferred major, computer engineering. And Guthrie wanted to go to school in a city rather than a rural area.

Dana Guthrie Managing Partner Gateway Capital Partners

That’s how Guthrie ended up at MSOE, which led to a career as a software engineer at Johnson Controls. But even while she was building a career that included running JCI’s largest global building automation software portfolio, she was nurturing another career interest: Helping startups.

First, she informally advised friends who were starting their own tech companies. Then she started to learn more about how startups get funded, and began networking with members of Milwaukee’s venture capital community. While working at JCI, she started her first fund, Alchemy Angel Investors, with a focus on founders and investors from diverse backgrounds.

In 2020, she was named managing partner of Gateway Capital. She originally set a fundraising goal of $8-10 million – and recently closed the fund at $13.5 million. Now they’re beginning to make investments in startups.

Guthrie recently spoke to Milwaukee Commerce magazine about her journey: Milwaukee Commerce: Running venture capital projects on the side seems like a significant commitment for a software engineer.

Where did you find the energy?

Dana Guthrie: There are a lot of parallels in in my background in terms of knowing how to develop software, and knowing how to manage a software development process from a product management perspective. Engaging with customers, the problem statement, understanding the business side of creating software and our value proposition to our end customer -- I had to do all of that within a large organization at Johnson Controls.

When you think about a venture-backable company, while they’re not all a technology company, many of them have some tech-enabled aspect to them. I thought that that was a differentiation, or something that was super transferable from my background.

Even back when I was at MSOE, I had very informally stood up investment groups with friends around different theses. One was around Warren Buffett value investing, then there was one very early stage with cryptocurrencies.

Starting Alchemy was formalizing all these things that I had pieces of throughout my professional career, or just on the side working with friends and being involved in an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Continued on page 15

mmac.org | 13

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Continued from page 13 MC: In 2020 you were selected to lead Gateway, and then you went out and exceeded your fundraising goal. What did that mean to you?

DG: Obviously it was exciting. The Badger Fund committing as lead investor helped, certainly. And then the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s significant commitment allowed me to gain momentum in Milwaukee. Both had a significant impact on the outcome.

I think that it spoke to Milwaukee’s appetite for something like this, especially with this strategy around pre-revenue startups and focusing on the Milwaukee entrepreneurial community.

I think that our (limited partner) base is very reflective of the Milwaukee market in terms of Fortune 500 companies, local foundations, accredited business leaders. I’m proud of the fundraise because I know it was the work of the entire Milwaukee ecosystem, not that of Dana Guthrie.

DG: One is that fundraising is marathon, not a sprint. Not to get too down on the ‘nos.’ Not all investors are the right investors for everything, and this is true for fund managers as well. For founders, not every single investor is going to be the perfect fit for you. Through my experience working at Johnson Controls, part of my job was to learn how to qualify opportunities -- where I should spend my time? Where will I get the biggest bang for my buck or have the highest likelihood of success?

MC: Black women are underrepresented in both software development and in venture capital. What has been your experience as a Black woman in these fields?

“

MC: How would you describe the Milwaukee startup and entrepreneurship community?

DG: Emerging. There’s no shortage of great ideas, but there’s still this need around education in terms of fundraising valuations, how to raise capital, that sort of thing, but definitely emerging. I also think that there’s this rumbling of a grassroots, entrepreneurand founder-led community that’s happening. That is really exciting to me.

That’s really good deal flow for Gateway.

I thought my uniqueness in my background, in my diversity, was my differentiation in thought. I think that that was my competitive advantage in engineering and I try to transfer that into every in every aspect of life.

DG: In software development, I’m always the only Black female engineer for sure. Oftentimes the only female engineer. I thought my uniqueness in my background, in my diversity, was my differentiation in thought. I think that that was my competitive advantage in engineering and I try to transfer that into every in every aspect of life.

When I first got to MSOE, that was a culture shock for me, because I grew up in predominantly Black or mixed schools. And then to go to MSOE and be one of very few minority and women on that campus that was just a total culture shock. It took me a year and half, two years to get OK with that.

MC: What advice would you have for a young person from a diverse background who might want to follow your career path?

DG: Be willing to put in the time. Be willing to learn, first. I paid to be in angel networks before I knew if I would get anything out of it.

I was trying to invest in myself. I understand that not everyone can financially do that, but my point is just to find ways to learn and grow your network. I woke up and took a VC training course before

VC is changing in that you don’t have to be the Stanford grad anymore, or the former investment banker. But they’re still working on things -- do the research, understand the market, understand your differentiation relative to other funds around you.

“

MC: What are some lessons you’ve learned throughout this whole process?

going into work at Johnson Controls and on weekends.

MC: What can Milwaukee do to make it grow?

DG: We have some of the top Fortune 500 companies. We have a number of universities, Marquette, UWM, MSOE -- strong engineering schools that crank out a number of engineers every year right here in Milwaukee. Affordability.

One of the top accelerators in the nation in gener8tor, and other competitive accelerators like Blueprint and For-M from the Milwaukee Tech Hub coalition.

So we have all of the ingredients, but no one has put the recipe together for Milwaukee. So I’m hoping that Gateway having a stake in the ground like, “We’re here, Milwaukee,” helps bring the recipe together. Everyone has their roles.

Accelerators accelerate. Investors, be willing to invest early on. Some of the corporations should be open to being first customers. And I think if we all play our roles, we will see the ecosystem develop over time.

MC: What can Milwaukee do to help entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds?

DG: The biggest thing with entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds is a lack of network. People need to speak with others who don’t look like themselves. Be interested in hearing the problems that they’re trying to solve. We need to create more spaces that are comfortable, allow them to expand their networks, and last but certainly not least, fund them with the expectation of return – not just philanthropically.

MC: For you, what’s the driving force for all of this?

DG: To help create generational wealth. That’s accomplished through ownership. That can be through home ownership, that can be through owning businesses and ultimately selling those businesses. But that’s the driving force to make sure that we’re very intentional about creating generational wealth for people of all different backgrounds.

mmac.org | 15

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While having more formal record-keeping and reporting requirements than LLCs, many entrepreneurs select a corporation structure because it is preferred by venture investors.

After you decide between LLC and corporation, you need to consider whether to be treated as a C corporation, S corporation, partnership or sole

A sole proprietorship is the simplest and most popular for a single owner LLC with income and losses passed to the single owner. The owner’s income is taxed at the individual owner’s potentially lower marginal tax bracket. Losses, on the other hand, may offset the owner’s nonbusiness income.

For a multi-owner LLC, partnerships provide the most flexibility of ownership, income and loss allocation and transaction planning.

Partners can generally allocate their income or losses as they see fit. In most cases, they can receive distributions without any immediate tax due. However, the partner’s share of the business income is subject to self-employment taxes.

is considered a C corporation. With C corporations, income and losses are taxed at the corporate level. Profits distributed as dividends are generally taxable in the shareholder income tax returns.

A corporation can also elect to be treated as an S corporation so that the income and losses pass to the owners with tax paid once on their personal tax returns. However, profits and losses must be allocated based on the percentage of ownership or number of shares held. There are also further limitations on the number and type of shareholders.

In the end, the decision about which legal entity to form comes down to the number of owners, how they want to be paid, and how they want to be taxed.

A multi-owner LLC can also elect to be treated as a corporation. You might want to do this to keep profits in the LLC, especially if you are looking to grow with members taking a W-2 salary instead of a profit distribution.

Ron Bote Director Wipfli LLP www.wipfli.com

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18 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

YES, MILWAUKEE CAN COMPETE WITH THE COASTS ON STARTUPS.

GENER8TOR SHOWS US HOW. Joe Kirgues and Troy Vosseller went to high school together, but they didn’t necessarily socialize in the // Joe Kirgues same circles.

Co-Founder Only later, gener8tor after working together in the entrepreneurship clinic at University of Wisconsin Law School, would they team up to build perhaps the most accomplished accelerator program in the Midwest.

Founded as a “love letter to Milwaukee” in 2012, gener8tor began as a way to help Wisconsin-based startups to take flight through a combination of investment and mentorship.

The company now has more than 90 employees in 28 cities, from Anchorage, Alaska to San Juan, Puerto Rico. They’ll invest in more than 35 startups this year and offer coaching and mentorship to more than 300 others. They have expanded their focus to include art, music and upskilling.

They’re still based right here in Milwaukee, but the nation is noticing.

They’ve achieved a Gold ranking in the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project, and nearly every other accelerator

program on the list is based on the coasts. Graduates of the gener8tor and gBETA accelerators have raised over $600 million in follow-on financing and created thousands of full-time jobs.

Success stories include EatStreet, Understory, Bright Cellars and Pretty Litter.

Milwaukee Commerce recently spoke with Kirgues: Milwaukee Commerce: How would you describe gener8tor’s mission?

Joe Kirgues: Gener8tor strives to be the best partner for communities to invest into themselves, and we think communities that have dedicated ways to invest in their best and brightest are the ones best positioned to succeed.

We try to be a partner for communities to create transformational community wealth, jobs and leaders.

MC: How did you and Troy decide to start doing this?

JK: I think we had a shared perspective that startups needed a way to go from an idea to revenue to some amount of scale. And that there were models built from the bottom up, like accelerators, that were really good at trying to change that. So we started it, really, as a love letter to Milwaukee and Madison – could we be a way for the community

to channel its mentorship network and resources into emerging talent to help catalyze new startups and leaders?

MC: What was that first year like?

JK: I used to lay in my bed at night and look at the ceiling and wonder if this was what it was like to be crazy, but not self-aware. We were writing these $20,000 checks. We believed we could invest in our best and brightest.

Even now at $100,000, it’s not a wild investment. But to ask those people with that money to create companies worth tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions, is no small task.

That first cohort had EatStreet and Understory, which have now raised tens of millions and employ a lot of people.

Everyone involved wanted to do more.

I think that first year, going from “theoretically this works” to “this actually works” was a humbling and very difficult task. And we’re enormously proud of the founders who showed that with a little bit of conviction, we could get a lot of outcome.

MC: How did you grow it from there?

JK: We ran two cohorts in Milwaukee and Madison for three or four years.

We were proud that American Family Insurance came on as a sponsor.

Continued on page 21

mmac.org | 19

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Continued from page 19 They’ve been a really key partner.

We got nationally ranked in our third or fourth year. We were the youngest player in the rankings. We were really the only one outside of Silicon Valley.

So for this from-scratch, “Could we get through the summer?,” initiative to turn into a nationally regarded program, it probably helped us believe in ourselves more than anything else.

We’re competing against a lot of private market players like 500 Startups and Dreamit who are San Francisco, New York, L.A.-based. And we’re able to, pound-for-pound, be as good as them in a market that’s got a fraction of the activity.

MC: You faced some skepticism initially?

JK: In markets where you don’t have a vibrant venture capital community, there’s inevitably been attempts and failures, and there’s this sense that you’re going to be the next obituary.

The community becomes zero-sum – if you succeed, what does that mean for my own efforts? It unfortunately inhibits a collaborative atmosphere.

We had incredible champions. I don’t want to diminish that at all. I’ll point to Chris Abele and American Family as people who said early on they wanted to help us build this.

MC: Why stay here?

JK: It’s still a love letter to Milwaukee.

And people wonder, how does your expansion balance with your commitment to the city? I think we would be proud to point to our graduates as some of the most exciting startups in the community, and those outcomes were only possible because of our scale.

MC: If you and your graduates can make it here, does that show others can make it here too?

JK: We’re operating in Wyoming and Puerto Rico intentionally, because they’re the lowest on the venture rankings. We want to go places where you have every right to believe that tomorrow will be better than today, and we want to be a partner in getting to that point.

In terms of the city, if we sometimes come off as frustrated, it’s because when you see what’s possible when you invest from the bottom up in emerging talent. You wonder what we’ve been missing. Offering perspectives like that helps the community re-orient to prioritize their own resources to get the biggest outcomes. Our graduates have imported hundreds of millions of growth capital into Wisconsin. And it’s because other people see the potential here.

You don’t want to look at another community and say they believe in their own more than we do – or, even worse, they believe in our own more than we do.

I always tell our founders, you have a bigger role to play as a leader in Milwaukee than you might somewhere else because the community needs more people like you. As a founder, I think accomplishing it here means something else than in a community where 30 other people already did it.

That opportunity for people who want to make their mark on the world is a more attainable goal here.

MC: What could Milwaukee do differently to improve as a place for startups?

JK: For business leaders reading this article, have you taken your own capital to invest in your community? Our message is you can do well by doing right. You can invest in the community, and it can be a great investment.

What does gener8tor do?

The flagship startup accelerator program at gener8tor invests in a cohort of five companies each year, drawing from thousands of applications. Accepted startups receive a $100,000 investment and 12 weeks of mentorshipdriven programming.

Other gener8tor programs include: • gBeta, an accelerator for early stage startups that offers mentorship and coaching program that does not include an equity investment • Programs to help the next generation of artists and musicians • An online upskilling pilot program in partnership with Microsoft and LinkedIn And more.

For additional information, visit gener8tor.com

mmac.org | 21

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22 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

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24 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

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New Hispanic Collaborative fund to support real estate developers and projects

W

ith National Hispanic Heritage Month beginning in September, the Hispanic Collaborative launched the Hispanic Equity Fund to support early stage real estate developers in Milwaukee.

The fund was announced during the URBANO CRE real estate conference, which was hosted by Marquette University.

Target value for the fund is $10 million.

It will help not just get projects done, but ensure the Latino developer has some meaningful skin in the game and will grow as fast as other developers can in this area.

- Nancy Hernandez Hispanic Collaborative

“It will help not just get projects done, but ensure the Latino developer has some meaningful skin in the game and will grow as fast as other developers can in this area,” Nancy Hernandez, president of the Hispanic Collaborative, told the Milwaukee Business Journal.

Ivan Gamboa, Senior Vice President at Tri City National Bank, said the fund would help Hispanic/Latino developers and projects that might otherwise struggle for access to capital.

“You know, other developers might have the resources ready to start a project. A lot of our folks in the community have good ideas, but they just don’t have the money in their pocket to complete it,” Gamboa told WUWM.

hispanicc llaborative

The Hispanic Collaborative is an affiliate of MMAC. The Hispanic Equity Fund supports the Hispanic Collaborative’s goals, which include:

IMPROVE HISPANIC VITALITY AND PROSPERITY Hispanic employment levels in Milwaukee are high, but our community also has high levels of poverty and low household incomes. Focus on strategies to move working individuals into greater-paying, more-skilled positions.

BUILDING ECONOMIC POWER THROUGH ENTREPRENEURIALISM AND INNOVATION Our region has the lowest rate of Hispanic-owned businesses out of 50 cities. Focus on strategies to leverage growth and startup programs, incubators, regional clusters, and financing options to increase the number of Hispanic-owned Businesses, strengthen and retain them.

CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND INFLUENCE Hispanic participation in the voting electorate, positions of public service and policy influence is far below the level necessary to ensure that our viewpoints are heard and incorporated into actions that directly impact us. Focus on increasing levels of Hispanic civic participation in voter turnout, public service and influence.

For additional information on the Hispanic Collaborative or to contact their leadership, please visit: mkehc.org

mmac.org | 25

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MILWAUKEE IS A UNION TOWN In Wisconsin and in greater Milwaukee, we take pride in many things, from our traditions, festivals, sports and culture. This pride extends to our buildings, roads and infrastructure. There, if we see a union affiliated contractor’s sign on the job site, we know that it’s being built to the highest standard by a contractor who takes care of its people.

As a member of the community, if it was built in your backyard, it’s your project and you have the right to ask if it was built union. When the answer is ‘yes’, you should feel pride that it was built to the highest standards.

UNIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MILWAUKEE’S ECONOMY, CULTURE AND ATHLETICS. Union contractors and tradespeople have built projects in every market, including some of the most notable buildings in our area. Using union labor means our local workforce is employed to build up their own communities and create more opportunity for their families.

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26 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

MMAC partners with MKEsports Alliance Seeking new avenues to build enthusiasm and interest in technology careers within the next generation of the Milwaukee Region’s work force, MMAC is announcing a partnership with the MKEsports Alliance.

F

ormed in 2020, the MKEsports Alliance’s mission is to grow the culture and connectivity of the regional esports groups, gamers, businesses and community partners. Through these efforts, the alliance also hopes to advance metro Milwaukee’s standing as a national leader in this space, poised for future infrastructure and development.

Short for electronic sports, esports refers to competitive video gaming watched by spectators – both online and, when possible, in person. It is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the worldwide sports and entertainment economy.

While the sports may be virtual, the benefits are tangible.

- Tim Sheehy, MMAC “Any worldwide industry that’s on track to produce a billion dollars-plus in revenue and captures millions of eyeballs should grab our attention as a region,” MMAC President Tim Sheehy said. “While the sports may be virtual, the benefits are tangible: Developing an engaged and enthusiastic esports community will help grow the Milwaukee Region as a place that welcomes the next generation of talented tech professionals to put down roots and grow their careers.”

MMAC will look for opportunities to involve the Milwaukee Region’s business community in the esports community.

This partnership aligns with MMAC’s broader talent development and retention goals and initiatives.

the development of their esports ecosystem,” said Brandon Tschacher, Founder of the Alliance. “These potential investments include brick-and-mortar facilities, largescale events and tournaments, all the way up to passing supportive tax incentives from city and state legislature.

Engaging our business community through the MMAC, alongside supportive partners in areas such as education, tourism and local government, is going to be pivotal to capturing this once in a generation opportunity.”

According to an estimate from Business Insider Intelligence, total esports viewership is expected to grow at a 9 percent compound annual growth rate between 2019 and 2023, up from 454 million in 2019 to 646 million in 2023.

Deloitte estimates that investments in the esports industry totaled $4.5 billion in 2018, up from $490 million the year before.

The Milwaukee Region currently features an esports team sponsored by the Milwaukee Bucks, along with developing esports initiatives at our higher education institutions and private efforts. According to the alliance, Wisconsin benefits from more than $330 million added to the local economy thanks to the growing video game industry’s impact on the state.

The alliance’s name is pronounced “Milwaukee esports alliance.”

For additional information, visit mkeesports.com

“A growing number of regions nationally, very similar in size and demographic to Milwaukee, are investing heavily into

mmac.org | 27

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The Entity-Level Election Could Help Lower Your Tax Bill Most businesses today operate as pass-through entities (PTE), with the income earned by the PTE passing through to the individual owner — who reports and pays the federal and state income taxes on their share of PTE income. In 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) limited the deductible amount of state and local income, real estate, and other taxes to $10,000 for individual taxpayers.

Example Acme, a Wisconsin-based PTE, has income of $2,000,000 with no differences between federal and Wisconsin income.

Entity-level elections Shortly after the TCJA was enacted, Wisconsin introduced the entity-level election (election). This allowed PTEs to be taxed at the entity level, and deduct their tax payments at the federal level, bypassing the $10,000 state and local tax (SALT) deduction limits. This was especially beneficial to PTE owners who had already reached the $10,000 limit or were taking the standard deduction on their individual return.

In late 2020, the IRS issued guidance that approved the entitylevel tax election.

Applying the SALT cap workaround Historically, an owner of a PTE would report their share of the PTE income and pay the tax on their individual return. The Wisconsin income tax paid on the PTE income is subject to the $10,000 SALT deduction limit.

If the PTE instead chooses to make an election, the tax would be paid by the PTE and treated as a state corporation tax versus a shareholder or partner tax. The entity-level tax is deducted on the PTE’s federal return, and thus reduces the ordinary taxable income on the owner’s K-1. The PTE owner is no longer required to pay Wisconsin individual income tax on their share of the PTE income.

Other considerations Consider these additional items before making the election for any particular year: • Credits, such as the Manufacturing and Agricultural credit and the R&D credit, cannot offset the Wisconsin tax at the entity level, but can be carried forward.

• Taxpayers filing in multiple states should consider the impact of the election on the credit for taxes paid to other states.

• Taxpayers with owners who are not residents of Wisconsin need to determine whether tax paid at the entity level can be credited against their resident state tax.

• Determine the entity-level effect of increasing expenses and accrued tax liabilities on loan covenants.

For more information on entity-level elections, contact:

Joe Schirger Principal, CLA Milwaukee (Wauwatosa) joe.schirger@CLAconnect.com | 414-465-5625 CLAconnect.com

The information contained herein is general in nature and is not intended, and should not be construed, as legal, accounting, investment, or tax advice or opinion provided by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CliftonLarsonAllen) to the reader.

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28 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

United States Postal Service

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation 1. Publication title

2. Publication number

3. Filing Date

Milwaukee Commerce

546-370

9/16/2021

4. Issue Frequency

5. Number of Issues Published Annually 6. Annual Subscription Price

Quarterly 4 $5.00 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known office of publication (not printer) street, city, county, state and zip+4

275 W Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 220, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3306

Contact Person 414-287-4100 Patti Marshall

8. Complete mailing address of headquarters of general business office of publisher (not printer)

Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce 275 W Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 220, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3306

9. Full Names and complete mailing address of publisher, editor and managing editor

Publisher: MMAC - 275 W Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 220, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3306

Editor: Chris Jenkins - 275 W Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 220, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3306

Managing Editor: MMAC - 275 W Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 220, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3306

10. Owner

Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce 275 W Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 220, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3306

Small Business Savings Program Office Depot is focused on supporting small business growth and engagement at the local level. The business savings program is part of that commitment and provides businesses with access to better pricing, tools, and solutions to help them grow.

11. Known bondholders, mortgages and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent of more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities.

If none, check box X None 12. Tax Status - (For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at nonprofit rates) (check one) X has not changed during preceding 12 months 13. Publication title Milwaukee Commerce 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below 9/27/2021 15. Extend and nature of circulation Periodicals

Average no. copies No. Copies of single issue

each issue during Published nearest

preceding 12 months to filing date a. Total number of copies 4,290 4,603 b. Paid circulation (By mail and outside the mail)

(1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541

1,503 1,535

(2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541

2,187 2,103

(3) Paid Distribution Outside the Malls Including Sales through Dealers and Carriers,

Street Vendors, Counter Ales, and Other paid Distribution Outside USPS.

0 0

(4) Paid Distribution by other Classes of Mail Through the USPS

0 0 c. Total Paid and/or requested circulation 3,690 3,638 d. Free or nominal rate distribution (By mail and outside the mail)

(1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-county. Copies included on PS Form 3541

0 0

(2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies included on ps form 3541

0 0

(3) Free or Nominal Rate copies mailed at Other Classes through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail)

0 0

(4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means)

0 0 e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4))

0 0 f. Total free Distribution 3,690 3,638 g. Copies not Distributed 600 965 h. Total (sum of 15f and g) 4,290 4,603 i. Percent Paid 100% 100% 16. Electronic Copy Circulation a. Paid electric copies b. Total paid print copies c Total print distribution d. Percent paid

0 3,690 3,690 100%

0 3,638 3,638 100%

17. Publication of Statement of Ownership X - if the publication is a general publication of this statement of this statement is required.

Will be printed in the FALL 2021 issue of this publication.

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going beyond

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30 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

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Is Your Facility Ready for a Checkup?

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A long-term capital maintenance plan informed by a facility condition’s report (aka facility assessment or facility study) should include estimated costs for updating, replacing, or repairing building components.

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32 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

M7 reorganizes leadership roles to position region for future

T

o continue its work to advance economic development efforts in the seven counties of Southeastern Wisconsin, the Milwaukee 7 Regional Partnership announced a reorganization of its leadership roles this summer. These changes became effective July 1.

As a result of this reorganization: Pat O’Brien moved to a full-time position as President of the Milwaukee Development Corporation (MDC).

Jim Paetsch was promoted to Senior Vice President of Corporate Attraction and Expansion, and Milwaukee 7 Regional Partnership Executive Director.

Lynn Olberding joined the team as Vice President of Economic Development.

O’Brien was named the inaugural Executive Director of M7 after it was created in 2005 to bring together the seven counties of Southeastern Wisconsin to collaborate and advance economic development efforts in the region.

O’Brien also previously served on a part-time basis as leader of MDC, an MMAC affiliate focused on catalytic real estate development with $37 million in assets. O’Brien will now focus on this role on a full-time basis.

“During Pat’s tenure, M7 has matured from a fledgling concept to a fully grown regional economic development partnership,” MMAC President Tim Sheehy said. “M7 has worked on talent development programs, international trade, entrepreneurship, and region building with its local, state, and federal partners. On behalf of everyone in the Milwaukee Region’s economic development and business

communities, we thank Pat for his important work in making this vision a reality.”

Paetsch also has been with M7 since it launched in 2005, previously serving as Vice President of Corporate Expansion and Attraction. During that time, M7 has recorded 113 attraction and expansion project wins, adding a total of 24,000 pledged jobs, $1.3 billion in annual payroll and $3.2 billion in capital investment.

“Jim is a dynamic leader who has become the driving force for our region’s corporate attraction and expansion efforts,” Sheehy said. “His promotion to Senior VP and Executive Director is in recognition of these terrific efforts. Jim has a proven track record of collaborating to deliver results, including major projects such as Haribo, Milwaukee Tool, Komatsu Mining, Nexus, and Ingeteam, to name just a few of more than 100. Jim will also oversee the role M7 plays in economic development. This promotion and new role will allow for continued coordination with our local and state partners, while delivering best-in-class attention to our development prospects. We congratulate Jim on this welldeserved acknowledgement of his efforts.”

In her newly created role, Olberding will integrate economic development programing across M7 and MMAC to support members, investors, and regional and state partners. She brings a breadth of experience to the organization, most recently as President of the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce in Iowa. She has an MBA from the University of Iowa.

“We’re proud to welcome Lynn to the team, and excited for her to get started,” Sheehy said. “As we emerge from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and refocus on the M7 Prosperity 2025 campaign, Lynn will lead the strategy development of this critical effort to ensure the future prosperity of the Milwaukee Region.”

Since it launched in 2005, M7 has recorded:

113

attraction and expansion project wins

24,000 pledged jobs

$1.3B in annual payroll

$3.2B in capital investment

mmac.org | 33

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Milwaukee’s entrepreneurial climate attracts Expert Institute M7 win brings leading legal software firm to Third Ward Expert Institute LLC, a legal software company, selected Milwaukee for its first Midwest office in late 2020 and is rapidly expanding to meet growing demand.

The Milwaukee office, located at 320 E. Buffalo St. in Milwaukee’s Third Ward, is Expert Institute’s third, joining its headquarters in New York and an office in Los Angeles. The company currently employs more than 140 workers nationwide and expects Milwaukee employment to grow to 75 within three years.

Wisconsin-based colleges, made this move an easy choice. We’re thrilled to continue building our team here.”

The Milwaukee 7 Regional Partnership and Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. worked to attract Expert Institute to Wisconsin.

“Expert Institute is precisely the kind of company we want in southeastern Wisconsin,” said M7 Executive Director Jim Paetsch.

“The company’s decision to locate here is yet another affirmation of our ability to compete for investment from companies that require highly educated and motivated technical workers.”

Founded in 2011, Expert Institute links attorneys with subject-matter experts across a wide range of legal practice areas. The company recently introduced its first software solution, Expert iQ, an online platform that connects law firms with expert witness candidates. The Milwaukee office serves as a hub for Expert Institute’s research and software development teams.

Expert Institute joins the growing number of businesses that are choosing to locate in Milwaukee and southeast Wisconsin because of the region’s well-trained, well-educated workforce and support for entrepreneurs.

“We found a very natural fit in Milwaukee, particularly in the entrepreneurial bustle of the Third Ward district,” said Michael Talve, Expert Institute’s CEO and managing director. “This, coupled with the immense amount of talent coming from the UW System and other

“Wisconsin is nationally recognized as the premier innovation and tech hub in the Midwest,” said Missy Hughes, Secretary and CEO of WEDC. “Expert Institute is a great fit for the creative ecosystem so many businesses are building in our state.”

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36 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

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5 reasons bundled medical and specialty benefits may help your employees

By UnitedHealthcare During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and well-being of your employees may be top of mind – as well as how you approach the health benefits that help support them.

premiums by bundling their plans, in some cases lowering medical premiums by up to 4%*.

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Helps offer actionable data and insights With access to more data across an employee’s benefits, key insights may help identify needed actions. For example, by cross-checking dental and medical health claim data, some plans may be able to determine if employees missed recommended periodontal treatments or cleanings. With this data, clinical intervention teams may be able to proactively follow up with the employee to help schedule recommended treatments.

While employees are now using their 2021 benefits, employers are making health benefit decisions for 2022 — which may include a renewed effort to support wholeperson health. In fact, a recent UnitedHealthcare survey found that 84% of workers said having specialty benefits, such as vision, dental and hearing, is important. By offering these benefits, it may help increase employee retention, satisfaction and build a culture of well-being.1

4. Increase member engagement When employers choose to bundle plans, they may gain access to a variety of programs designed to help support the health and well-being for their employees, such as referrals to clinical care and occupational health experts.

While you may think adding specialty benefits means adding cost to your bottom line, taking an integrated approach to health care coverage may drive value for your organization while improving employees’ overall well-being and productivity.

Companies that combine medical coverage with specialty benefits through a single health care company may be able to help improve health outcomes, drive productivity and reduce costs. For instance, some programs may help employers save more than $2,200 in medical claim costs per referral following a disability claim**.

Bundled benefits may also help: 1. Collaboration with care professionals to help flag gaps in care Integrating health benefits may help increase collaboration with health care professionals across the board by sharing data and monitoring care effectiveness.

For example, regular eye exams have been shown to help with the detection and management of diabetes.2 2. Reduce medical costs Combining multiple plans in one competitive benefits package may help you maximize the value of what your company spends on health care. Some health care companies enable employers to save on medical plan

1

https://newsroom.uhc.com/2020-consumer-survey.html

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/ndep/pdfs/toolkits/working-together/149-healthyeyes-matter.pdf

2

*Potential savings include impact from UnitedHealthcare integrated approach and uBundle®, which applies only to first-year medical premiums for employers with 51100 employees; savings through uBundle continue as long as the program is in effect for employers with 101 to 2,999 employees, as long as the qualifying benefits remain in-force. uBundle not available in all states. **Source: 2019 book of business performance for clients with integrated UnitedHealthcare Short-Term Disability and UnitedHealthcare Medical.

Review of the impact of the UnitedHealthcare integrated approach on Key and National Account customers, 2018 2 OptumRx commercial clients, calendar year 2018 data. Note: Average ingredient cost can have wide variation based on drug mix within a specific population.

Optum CSG Healthcare Analytics; Ly, August 9, 2018.

mmac.org | 37

1

2

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ACCESS

INPUT

IMPACT

Unlock exclusive opportunities to develop relationships with key Milwaukee business leaders and be among the first to hear what’s coming next for our region’s economy.

Your experience and perspectives will help us develop our agenda for business growth.

Be part of a long-range collaborative effort to advance Metro Milwaukee for talented & diverse employees, high-skill jobs and a business-friendly environment for investment.

EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY

MMAC Leadership Council Position your business as a leader & make a difference in your community

The MMAC Leadership Council is the place to make exclusive connections, discuss ideas and be recognized for your leadership. MMAC provides a platform to convene and create the strategies that will ensure our prosperity.

Your perspective is critical to setting the course for Milwaukee’s future.

The Council is reserved for our most engaged stakeholders – those who care about building even stronger ties within our business community while helping us address the future of our regional economy.

Being part of the Leadership Council allowed us to provide direct input to the state’s leaders about the workforce issues we are currently facing.

This input is critical for our government leaders to make decisions that help make our region more competitive.“

Manuel Rosado

Members will serve as a trusted group of influencers and advisors.

Spectrum Investment Advisors, Inc.

INTERESTED? Visit MMAC.org/LC.html Jane Backes MMAC Shareholder Relations Officer 414/287-4114 | jbackes@mmac.org

38 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

Barb Smith MMAC Director of Member Engagement 414/287-4173 | bsmith@mmac.org

JOIN YOUR PEERS There is still time to become a charter member of the MMAC Leadership Council.

Jeffrey Clark Waukesha Metal Products

Mark Goldstein Goldstein Law Group S.C.

Dan Kramer BDO USA, LLP

Robert Bartlett Alliant Energy

Keith Coursin Desert Aire LLC

Mary Isbister GenMet

Frank Krejci Strattec Security Corp.

Eric Baumgartner Milwaukee School of Engineering

Joe Dillon InSinkErator

John Ische Trisept Solutions Apple Leisure Group

Andrew Martin Meijer

Dale Boehm Caspian Technologies

Alicia Dupies Gilbane Building Company

Paula Koester A&J Property Restoration

Henry Mohr Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling

Barb Bolens Enerpac Tool Group

Deborah Ford University of WI-Parkside

Scott Kraemer First Citizens Bank

Mark Mone PH.D. University of WI-Milwaukee

Chris Campbell PPG

Cindy Gnadinger Carroll University

Jay Kraft Accenture

Wayne Morgan Baker Tilly US mmac.org | 39

Laughlin Constable

Kris Naidl, APR

Sheryl Schnering Potawatomi Hotel & Casino

John Swallow Carthage College

Jon Wehrli Eaton Corporation

Elise Nelson Alliant Energy

Andrew Schwartz MPI

Paul Sweeney PS Capital Partners

Dan Westrope Ixonia Bank

Karen Nelson Rogers Behavioral Health

Mike Sekula Inpro

Jim Tarantino Capri Senior Communities

Steve Wexler Good Karma Brands Milwaukee LLC

Jeff Niesen BOLDT

Sarit Singhal Superior Support Resources

Kathy Thornton-Bias Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

Emilie Williamson Roundy’s Supermarkets

We belong to a variety of organizations, but we invest with MMAC because they provide opportunities like this, for our input. We want to collaborate with other businesses to reach maximum impact on the transformation of the Milwaukee market.”

Manuel Rosado Spectrum Investment Advisors

Mark Sobczak Sikich LLP

- Wayne Morgan, Baker Tilly

This program is available to members investing a minimum of $3,000 in annual dues and reserved for top leadership.

Roger Roundhouse CentroMotion

40 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

Jim Strack Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company of Wisconsin

More information: Barb Smith, MMAC Director of Member Engagement at 414/287-4173 or bsmith@mmac.org

MMAC Leadership Council benefits include: ACCESS

Attend our regular Leadership Council Breakfasts with your peers and MMAC President Tim Sheehy to discuss the important challenges facing your business and the region.

Inside Access: Get behind the headlines with open dialogue on public policy issues, emerging trends and regional challenges that matter to you.

Learn what’s happening in Milwaukee’s most innovative companies. On the Spot Tours take you behind behind the scenes with CEOs and key staffers to discuss their company’s culture and operations.

Chairman’s Reception: Exclusively for members of the Leadership Council! Get high-level networking with MMAC Board members, area presidents and CEOs to develop relationships.

INPUT

IMPACT

MMAC Position Surveys: We will regularly ask your opinions on large scale issues in the region -- like workforce development and talent attraction -- along with specific, timely topics.

As a member of LC, you are supporting MMAC’s vision of a globally competitive region that fosters high value employment to sustain a vibrant quality of life for all.

Prosperity 2025 campaign: MMAC will use your feedback throughout the year to help set our strategic plan to improve the region’s assets and reduce its liabilities.

Talent: Develop collaborative & innovative corporate partnerships to prepare, advance and attract talent to Milwaukee.

Advocacy guidance: Is there legislation affecting your business? MMAC’s lobbying team is available for one-on-one discussions to hear your opinions.

At its core, your impact will be felt across these strategic areas:

Growth: MMAC plays a critical role in building the Metro Milwaukee economy, positioning our region to capitalize on opportunities and address challenges.

Equity: Our Region of Choice initiative helps businesses address racial disparities in education, employment, and wealth creation.

Livability: MMAC strives to be responsible, equitable stewards of the civic, cultural and natural assets that make our region unique and improve our quality of life.

More information: Barb Smith, MMAC Director of Member Engagement at 414/287-4173 or bsmith@mmac.org

mmac.org | 41

New MMAC Members MAY, JUNE AND JULY 2021

A&J Property Restoration

ERTH Dispensary | ERTH CBD

North Shore Healthcare

Paula Koester Business Development Executive 21860 Watertown Rd., Ste. 1C Waukesha, WI 53186 (414) 206-4021 ajrestores.com/ Fire/Water Damage Restoration

Jennifer Kawczynski, Owner 1200 E. Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207 (800) 906-6992 www.VisitERTH.com Retail

Marc Shores, Chief Financial Officer 640 N. Vel R Phillips Ave., Ste. 200 Milwaukee, WI 53203 (414) 962-5250 www.nshorehc.com/ Assisted Living Facilities

Anam Consulting LLC

Iconica, Inc.

Nova Medical Centers

Pat Cronin 2671 N. Lake Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53211 (262) 391-5406 International Business Consultants

Jim Olson, Architectural Director 901 Deming Way, Ste. 102 Madison, WI 53717 (414) 916-6397 www.iconicacreates.com Design/Build

Athena Communications

Knoebel and Associates, Inc.

Lori Garcia District VP of Sales-Milwaukee 4868 S. 6th St., Ste. 460 Milwaukee, WI 53221 (262) 225-5753 www.n-o-v-a.com Occupational Health Services

Tammy Belton-Davis Founder & Principal P. O. Box 100615 Milwaukee, WI 53210 (414) 339-7604 www.athenacommunicationsllc.com PR/Marketing Consultants

Phil Knoebel, President W134N5272 Campbell Dr. Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 (262) 781-0822 Manufacturers Agents/Representatives

Bassett Mechanical Tony Kass Milwaukee HVAC Sales Manager W136 N4829 Campbell Dr. Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 (414) 536-3500 www.bassettmechanical.com Mechanical Contractors

EnviroForensics Rob Hoverman Northern Midwest Regional Director N16W23390 Stone Ridge Dr., Ste. G Waukesha, WI 53188 (262) 510-0612 www.enviroforensics.com Environmental Consultants

E-Plan Exam Ed Lisinski, Co-Founder 12605 W. North Ave., Ste. 189 Brookfield, WI 53005 (414) 412-6096 www.eplanexam.com Engineers-Consulting

42 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

Lora Haines: Learning & Development Consultant Lora Haines, Owner 1319 N. Jackson St., #313 Milwaukee, WI 53202 (262) 441-8220 www.lorahaines.com Consultants & Trainers

Managed Packaging Systems Erik Zellmer, Account Manager 955 Walnut Ridge Dr. Hartland, WI 53029 (262) 367-6600 www.managedpackaging.com Distributors/Wholesalers

Multicultural Entrepreneurial Institute, Inc. Nelson Soler, President/CEO 2778 S. 35th St., Ste. 203 Milwaukee, WI 53215 (414) 383-4633 multiculturalinstitute.com/ Business Consultants

Ontech Systems, Inc. Mark Dohnal, President/Partner N85 W16186 Appleton Ave. Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 (262) 522-8560 www.ontech.com IT Solutions Providers

Pawn America Anthony Atwood, District Manager 6574 N. 76th St. Milwaukee, WI 53223 (414) 644-5761 www.pawnamerica.com Financial Services

PC Lan Services Rexx Igunbor, SVP Business Development 735 N. Water St., Ste. 1230 Milwaukee, WI 53202 (414) 988-7601 www.pclan.com Managed Service Provider

PMG Educational Services, Inc. Patricia Glover-Howard 1433 N. Water St., Ste. 400 Milwaukee, WI 53202 (414) 520-2748 Educational Consultants/Services

Reward Strategies LLC

Systems LLC

Nicole Schmidt, HR Consultant 4675 Three Meadows Dr. Brookfield, WI 53005 (414) 573-5988 www.hrrewardstrategies.net Consultants/Leadership

Michelle Dellemann, CFO W194 N11481 McCormick Dr. Germantown, WI 53022 (262) 257-7334 www.loadingdocksystems.com Manufacturers

Ridge Top Exteriors

Tri-North Builders

Josh Klimas, Regional Manager 333 N. 121st St. Wauwatosa, WI 53226 (414) 217-2854 www.RidgeTopExteriorsMKE.com Roofing Contractors

Richard Nierzwicki Director of Business Development N29 W22865 Marjean Ln. Waukesha, WI 53186 (262) 389-2547 www.tri-north.com Construction Companies

Right at Home, Milwaukee Shawn McComb Owner & Executive Business Director 131 W. Layton Ave., Ste. 307 Milwaukee, WI 53207 (414) 877-1795 www.rah-milwaukee.com Health Care Services

Rogers Behavioral Health Alison Wolf Operation & Development Manager 1230 Corporate Center Dr., Ste. 400 Oconomowoc, WI 53066 (262) 617-6775 www.rogersbh.org Wellness Programs

Saga Communications/ Milwaukee Radio Group Bob Bellini, VP/General Manager 5407 W. McKinley Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53208 (414) 978-9426 www.mkeradiogrp.com Radio Stations/Broadcasting Companies

Verizon Steven Shaw Manager- Community Engagement 11776 Winding Trails Dr. Willow Springs, IL 60480 (708) 224-1900 www.verizon.com Telecommunications

Support your fellow members by doing business together.

mmac.org/directory.html

Washington County Joshua Schoemann, County Executive 432 E. Washington St. West Bend, WI 53095 (262) 306-2200 www.washcowisco.gov Municipality

Weber Advising LLC Ralph Weber, Founder 8118 Brookside Pl. Wauwatosa, WI 53213 (414) 587-2500 www.weberadvising.com Legal Services

Spin (Shared Electric Scooters) Derek Heino, Community Partnership Associate 450 Mission St., Ste. 400 San Francisco, CA 94105 1(888) 262-5189 www.spin.app/ Transportation Services

mmac.org | 43

COSBE’S 12TH ANNUAL BREWERS OUTING

Hitting it out of the park Attendees enjoyed an afternoon of Brewers baseball against the Kansas City Royals at American Family Field in the Northwestern Mutual Legends Club.

1 1. Guests enjoyed the view from the Northwestern Mutual Legends Club.

2. Darren Fisher, SPEARity; Lynn Olberding, MMAC/M7; and Eric Smith, INTEC 3. Tim Sheehy, MMAC; Dave Werner, First Midwest Bank; Mark Sobczak, Sikich; and Gary Zimmerman, Creative Business Interiors

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4. Jennifer Buchholz, Excel and Flourish and Joe Skotarzak, MotherG, a CompassMSP Company 5. Mindy Taffel, TaffTel Consulting; Shannon Allen and Brian Smigelski, DeWitt Law Firm LLP

44 | Milwaukee Commerce, Edition Year

Member Milestones MAY, JUNE AND JULY 2021

The professional connections and friendships formed in the COSBE/ CGB Roundtables have been invaluable to my business as well as my personal life. Sharing information, discussing confidential scenarios, and bouncing Rivera & Associates Marketing ideas off of these people Staff Electric Co. has been fantastic. Can’t Stratus Industries The Power Formula for LinkedIn imagine not having them in Success my circle of trust.

Tredo Group

MMAC strives to be your partner, resource and ally in doing business in Milwaukee. Your renewal is the ultimate source of feedback on our mission to improve Metro Milwaukee as a place to create jobs, invest capital and grow business.

Thank you for your investment.

85 years

15 years

Clear Channel Outdoor Ogden & Company R&R Insurance Services Reilly Penner & Benton Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren

Mainfreight W.I.S. Logistics Wisconsin Lutheran College

80 years The Equitable Bank

75 years Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Ozaukee Milwaukee Sprayer Mfg. Co. Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Institute

65 years Langer Roofing & Sheet Metal

60 years Milliman

55 years Barry Commercial Real Estate Services Sinclair Broadcast and Digital Solutions

40 years Kohl’s Mary Linsmeier Schools

35 years Community Financial Service Center

30 years Alpha Investment Consulting Group

25 years Ticket King

20 years Christopher Morgan Fulfillment Srvcs PS Capital Partners Volunteers of America of, WI Wispark

10 years Accounting Principals, AJILON, Paladin, Parker+Lynch Coakley Brothers/Brothers Business Interiors Eagle Enterprises Elite Human Capital Group Flexion Highland Memorial Park La Macchia Group Multi-Fab Products Northwestern Mutual of Waukesha, WI Nova Technology International Snow & Ice Management Association Vizance Wildeck

5 years Allcon America Works of Wisconsin Arthur J Gallagher & Co. City of Oak Creek College Possible Community Warehouse D&H Industries Delta Dental of Wisconsin Empire Level Empower Retirement Enterforce ER Wagner FHK Insurance Services Kelley Communications Kowal Investment Group Krones Mathie Mediation Services Mercer Milwaukee Area Workforce Funding Alliance Milwaukee Tool New Berlin Plastics Porta-Painting Rapco

Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce

1 year 5G Benefits & GOEBEL Insurance August Brown Barefoot International Calderone Club Complete Manufacturing and Distribution Forsite Benefits GalaxE.Solutions Hays Companies humanworks Ixonia Bank - Dousman - Milwaukee - Oconomowoc - Oconomowoc - Watertown East - Watertown South Johnson Insurance Services Keil Financial Partners Koru Health MicroSynergies Midwest Insurance Brokerage MSA Professional Services Nexus Pharmaceutical Ortho Smiles San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana Schlitz Park/Lincoln Property Company Self-Help Federal Credit Union Sentinel Group ServiceMaster Recovery Services Stress Management & Mental Health Clinics The Insurance Center (T.I.C.) Thomas Magnete USA Weidner Apartment Homes

Bridget Lazlo is CEO at Guardian Business Solutions, Inc.

Support your fellow members by doing business together.

mmac.org/directory.html

mmac.org | 45

31ST ANNUAL GOLF OUTING

An un-fore-gettable event 1

COSBE’s Executive Roundtable Golf Outing is a popular social gathering for participants of the Executive Roundtable program and C-Suite Executives. This year we are excited to invite our golfers to the University Club Country Club (formerly Tripoli Country Club).

1. Kelly Denk, Denk & Co.; Dave Schuelke, Spring Bank; Josh Yamat, Spring Bank; Dave Washebek, Lemberg Electric

2. John Major, American Deposit Management Co.; Martin Pepe, M3 Insurance; Mary Edwards, Coakley/ Brothers Business Interiors 3. Mervyn Byrd, Vistage; Bob Bartel, Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association; Kris Kiefer, Castle Senior Living; Chad Ritterbusch, TRG Marketing; and Kevin Kiefer, Castle Senior Living

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4. Bill Schleicher and Eric Schleicher, GCI 5. Heather Nelson, Spring Bank Photography By Front Room Studios

46 | Milwaukee Commerce, Fall 2021

is here to serve our members.

Our team of experts is ready to help! mmac.org/spotlights

Gain guidance on your toughest challenges.

Kris Naidl, APR

TALENT INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP

CORP. EXPANSION & ATTRACTION

EQUITY & INCLUSION

Susan Koehn 414/287-4136 skoehn@mke7.com

Jim Paetsch 414/287-4171 jpaetsch@mke7.com

Julie Granger 414/287-4131 jgranger@mmac.org

ECONOMIC TRENDS & RESEARCH

SMALL BUSINESS & MEMBERSHIP

FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Bret Mayborne 414/287-4122 bmayborne@mmac.org

Stephanie Hall 414/287-4121 shall@mmac.org

Andrew Davis 414/287-4141 adavis@mmac.org

Corry Joe Biddle 414/287-4137 cbiddle@mmac.org

Grow your peer networks.

ETHNICALLY DIVERSE BUSINESSES

EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLES

FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY

Marjorie Rucker 414/287-4172 mrucker@mmac.org

Whitney Maus 414/287-4130 wmaus@mmac.org

Shelley Jurewicz 414/287-4143 sjurewicz@fabWI.com

HISPANIC COLLABORATIVE

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

THE NETWORKING FORUM

EVP & Managing Director of Public Relations Laughlin Constable knaidl@laughlin.com linkedin.com/in/krisnaidl/ 414-270-7270 Member of the

Leadership Council Benefits of participating in the Leadership Council It has been valuable to have such a group of fellow executives to learn from, explore topics with and share ideas. I’ve also enjoyed the programming with guest speakers and briefings around key topics and challenges facing all of our businesses.

Benefits of MMAC Membership MMAC Membership is invaluable when it comes to keeping a pulse on the region’s business community and its needs, challenges, priorities and successes to apply against our own business and those of our clients. Membership and involvement has been a proven, wise investment to glean insights, leverage networking opportunities and seize difference-making opportunities as an engaged corporate citizen.

Just for fun What was the last event you attended?

I recently attended the grand opening show for Improv Milwaukee. That is a client and it was great to see the venue open to and officially launch its brand in Wisconsin.

If you had a super power – what would it be?

Boundless energy

Nancy Hernandez 414/287-4118 nhernandez@mmac.org

Katie Henry 414/287-4123 khenry@mmac.org

Denise Salamone 414/287-4165 dsalamone@mmac.org

Gain exposure for your business.

ADVERTISING & MEMBERSHIP

MEDIA RELATIONS

Jane Trenchard-Backes Chris Jenkins 414/287-4114 414/287-4152 jbackes@mmac.org cjenkins@mmac.org

EVENTS & SPONSORSHIPS

Karen Powell 414/287-4166 kpowell@mmac.org

What’s one fact about you – that most colleagues don’t know?

I am a dauchsund (weiner dog) fanatic having owned them my entire life. I love their sass, stubbornness, quirky look, side eye glances and more. Current family canine companion is Moxie the Doxie (feel free to follow her on IG and FB).

Barb Smith 414/287-4173 bsmith@mmac.org

The MMAC Leadership Council serves as a trusted group of influencers and advisors. We are adding charter members up until our Nov. 30th All Member Meeting where they will get recognition. Contact me today. mmac.org | 47

Interested in advertising in the next issue of Milwaukee Commerce?

Periodicals Postage

PAID

Milwaukee, WI

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

Details at mmac.org/advertising.html RAPHIC

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Milwaukee Commerce magazines are printed by:

275 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 220 | Milwaukee, WI 53203

MMAC’s All Member Meeting Tuesday, November 30, 2021 4:30 PM to 8PM | BRADLEY SYMPHONY CENTER

The MMAC All Member Meeting is the chamber’s highest-profile event.

This meeting provides key insights into the top issues facing the Milwaukee Region and a strategic agenda for improving the economy.

SPONSORSHIPS ARE STILL AVAILABLE! Contact Karen Powell, Director of Events and Programs at 414/287-4166 or kpowell@mmac.org