MMAC Shares Achievements, Addresses Challenges, Looks to the Future During 162nd All-Member Meeting

Oct. 18, 2023 (MILWAUKEE) – Nearly 1,200 regional business leaders gathered Tuesday for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s (MMAC) 162^nd All-Member Meeting.

Attendees heard local business and community leaders celebrate groundbreaking progress, address persistent challenges and set a path toward securing our region’s future.

 

Changes in Leadership

Austin Ramirez, CEO of Husco – a privately held, family-owned engineering and manufacturing company in Waukesha – was named Board Chair of MMAC on Tuesday. Ramirez will serve a two-year term.

During Ramirez’s 10 years as CEO, Husco has tripled in size, received designation as a Global Growth Company by the World Economic Forum and was recognized as Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year. Additionally, he is a co-founder of St. Augustine Preparatory Academy in Milwaukee.

Ramirez replaces Cathy Jacobson, CEO and President of Froedtert Health. He called Jacobson’s tenure “a historic two years, with groundbreaking accomplishments.”

Additionally, as part of a planned transition, it was announced that Dale Kooyenga will become president of the MMAC on Jan. 2, 2024, replacing long-time MMAC president Tim Sheehy. Kooyenga has served as Senior Vice President of the organization since January.

“Dale brings a proven ability to collaborate and lead,” said Ramirez in making the announcement.

 

Looking to the Future

Sheehy moderated a panel discussion including Ramirez, John Schlifske, President, CEO and Chair of Northwestern Mutual; and Cory Nettles, Founder and Managing Director of Generation Wealth Growth Capital; to discuss recent changes to state funding for K-12 education. Those reforms helped close the gap in funding between students attending choice and charter schools and those attending public schools.

“Today, parents are using public funds to send more than 50,000 students in Milwaukee to private schools and independent charter schools that best meet the needs of their children,” said Sheehy. “The Association’s advocacy presents an enduring commitment to improve the prospects of Milwaukee and its citizens.”

Many in the business community, including MMAC, were strong advocates for this legislative action. Nettles said where children attend school doesn’t matter if they’re being positioned for success.

“I’m delivery system agnostic,” he said. “I don’t care where mom and dad decide to send their kids, as long as it’s a good (school).”

 

Region of Choice Companies Show Improvements in Equity

MMAC Vice President of Community Affairs Corry Joe Biddle provided updated data Tuesday from 130 regional companies participating in its Region of Choice initiative.

The initiative, established as a five-year campaign in 2018, was started in response to alarming disparities in unemployment, educational attainment, home ownership and poverty in Milwaukee.

Since its launch, the employment of Black and Brown individuals has risen to 18.1 percent of overall employment at companies who signed our Region of Choice pledge – meeting its goal one year early.

When it comes to management, Black and Brown individuals have risen to 9.2 percent of the overall total, exceeding our goal.

“When we compare the results of (Region of Choice) companies, they have outpaced all metro employers reporting EEOC data in the growth of Black and Brown talent,” said Biddle.

 

Johnson, Crowley honored as Champions of the Community

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley were awarded MMAC’s Champion of Commerce Awards on Tuesday for their work in securing new revenue streams to preserve vital local services and fund long-standing pension obligations.

“We’re grateful for the partnership we had across the board,” said Johnson. “We didn’t do this because of politics or partisanship. We did it because it was the right thing to do for the citizens of Milwaukee.”

These changes to municipal funding were truly bipartisan efforts thanks to the leadership of Gov. Tony Evers, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu.

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.