Northwestern Mutual
Press Release

Northwestern Mutual BuildingMKE: We Believe in Milwaukee – Let’s Build!

Mariachi music, blue and gold streamers, and big bites of dirt helped kick off the groundbreaking for the future Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons Tuesday morning.

By - Aug 28th, 2014 05:59 pm

Mariachi music, blue and gold streamers, and big bites of dirt helped kick off the groundbreaking for the future Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons Tuesday morning.

Employees, city and county dignitaries, and community members watched from tents set up on Mason Street. The event began with a performance by Mariachi Infantil, a part of the Latino Arts Strings Program housed at the United Community Center. Kimberley Goode, Northwestern Mutual vice president of communications and corporate affairs, welcomed the crowd of hundreds to the event and introduced the speakers as well as Ricardo Diaz, executive director of the UCC.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Carmen Pitre, executive director of Sojourner Family Peace Center, spoke of the importance of our company to the Milwaukee community.

“Northwestern Mutual just isn’t your average corporation. Northwestern is a company that believes in the best of Milwaukee, and I can’t think of something we need more right now. The company and your employees live out this belief on a daily basis through service and corporate giving,” Carmen said.

Mayor Barrett spoke of our commitment to the community, not just by providing jobs but by being part of the community.

“Northwestern Mutual stands head and shoulders above many, many organizations in this community by the involvement of their employees in this city. And

I want to thank each and every one of you who help the people of this city, in whatever you’re doing – if you’re volunteering, if you’re on boards – I appreciate it,” the Mayor said.

Chairman and CEO John Schlifske thanked the city, employees and the Milwaukee community

“What we’re really trying to do here today is open some doors,” John said. “And this door that’s going to open with this new building will be for both our current employees and also for all the workforce we’re going to add over the years to fill up all that space as your company continues to grow and be vibrant.”

Two children from Mariachi Infantil helped kick off construction of our new building. After a countdown chanted by the crowd, the children pulled a lever that sent blue and gold streamers sailing through the air and brought two huge excavators to life. The excavators each took big bites of soil from the construction site in front, and ground was officially broken for the Tower and Commons.

Check out a photo gallery of the groundbreaking and more information can also be found here.

Want to keep tabs on the project’s progress?

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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