Past Events & Speakers
Past events for the Carthage Business and Professional Coalition include:
Creative Industries, Economic Returns, and Talent Attraction
Feb. 19, 2026
This event explored the growing economic sector behind today’s vast array of arts, culture, and entertainment offerings. In this panel, professionals across the creative industries shared the stage to discuss how supporting the sector can drive economic returns, attract top talent, and strengthen the local community. Featuring:
- John Riepenhoff, Executive Director of Sculpture Milwaukee
- Sam Rikkers, Chief Operating Officer of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
- Joe Kirgues, Co-Founder of Gener8tor
- Enrique Rodriguez, CEO and Founder of EVEN
- Kim Sajet, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director of the Milwaukee Art Museum.
What Healthcare Needs from Higher Education
Nov. 13, 2025
Healthcare leaders from across the industry shared their perspectives on the most pressing issues facing healthcare today and how educators can equip students with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to thrive in today’s healthcare workforce. Featuring:
- Lynda Bogdala, Administrator at Brookside Care Center
- Kristin McManmon, President and CEO of Ascension All Saints Hospital
- David Reitzel, Chief Information Office at healthcare technology firm Premier Inc.
Wisconsin’s Labor Forecast with Ron Hetrick
Sept. 11, 2025
See slides for “Wisconsin’s Labor Forecast with Ron Hetrick”(Provided by Ron Hetrick.)
Ron Hetrick, senior labor economist at Lightcast with nearly 30 years of expertise in labor force economics, shared insight on future job trends and coming demographic shifts in our regional workforce, and how employers and higher education can prepare.
Equity and Housing Development
Feb. 27, 2025
See slides for “Equity and Housing Development” (Provided by S.R. Mills, Tim Casey, and Jeff Towne)
This event focused on Southeast Wisconsin’s housing shortage and how it is a top obstacle for new corporate investment in our region. Key Kenosha stakeholders discussed how to expand housing access and equity through new models of development. Featuring:
- S.R. Mills, CEO of Bear Property Development
- Tim Casey, Director of Development for the City of Kenosha
- Jeff Towne, Community and Economic Development Officer for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA)
Moderated by Carthage Professor of Economics Ron Cronovich.
AI and Cybersecurity — What to Know Next
Nov. 12, 2024
This all-alumni panel discussed new concerns for data security in the face of increasing reliance on AI systems. Featuring:
- Victoria Nguyen ’05 co-founder of Servitium Cyber
- Andrew Munson ’98 IT risk manager at McDonald’s Corporation
- Kris Keckler ’97, Chief Information Officer of Kenosha Unified School District
Moderated by Carthage Chair of Computer Science Rick Bingen ’15.
Susan Crawford — Preparing Wisconsin’s Grid for Growth
Sept. 12, 2024
See slides for “Susan Crawford — Preparing Wisconsin’s Grid for Growth”
Susan Crawford is the John A. Reilly Clinical Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and former special assistant to President Obama for science, technology, and innovation. An expert in climate adaptation and public policy, Prof.Crawford spoke about Wisconsin’s future as a “Climate Haven” and what that means for our electrical and data grids, as we prepare to welcome increased population and industry to our region.
The Future of Higher Education with Presidents John Swallow and Jay Rothman
April 18, 2024
President John Swallow sat down with UW System President Jay Rothman for a Fireside chat on the future of higher education. These transformative leaders discussed how higher education will build the workforce of the future and what innovations will be part of the solution for Southeastern Wisconsin’s economic development. Moderated by WGTD Morning Show host and Carthage faculty member Greg Berg.
Business for a Better World: A Panel Discussion with Wisconsin B-Corp Leaders
Feb. 29, 2024
This event focused on B-corporations, a collective of corporations committed to shaking up shareholder primacy. The owner-founders of three mission-driven corporations spoke about how they believe they can make a difference while also making a profit. Featuring:
- Kimberly Kane, President and CEO of Kane Communications Group — a purpose-driven, branding, marketing, and public relations firm.
- Russ Klisch, President and co-founder of Lakefront Brewery in Riverwest, Milwaukee — makers of the first certified gluten-free and organic beers in the US and committed to the highest levels of sustainability and community reinvestment.
- Kurt Brenkus, CEO and co-founder of Indigenous Pact — a healthcare consulting firm that creates health equity for American Indians and Alaska Natives. He is also a Health Innovations Fellow with the Aspen Institute.
Smart Urban Development Roundtable
Nov. 9, 2023
With noted regenerative infrastructure architect Tim Duggan as keynote, this roundtable program spurred close, collaborative conversations between Carthage faculty and Kenosha professionals on topics related to urban ecosystems, smart infrastructure, equitable urban development, and building talent and community within Kenosha.
Building for the Future: Ascent Milwaukee with Engineer Jordan Komp
Oct. 5, 2023
Engineer Jordan Komp of Thornton Tomasetti discussed the challenges and marvels of building the world’s tallest mass-timber building, the 25-story Ascent Tower in Milwaukee, WI.
Caring for the Community: Creating a Culture of Mental Health
Feb. 15, 2023
This event focused on the mental health crisis and employer-driven responses to ensure the well-being of students, employees, and the community as a whole. Featuring:
- John Huggett, Vice President of Central Operation for Boldt Company
- Kari Foss, Behavioral Health Manager for Kenosha County
- Linda Wohlgemuth, Senior Vice President and COO of Froedtert South
Travis Hessman
Vice President of Content, Endeavor Media
Oct. 27, 2022
Trust and Demand: A Panel Discussion on the Supply Chain Crisis
May 5, 2022
Mark Mrowiec, Carthage professor of management and marketing, chaired a discussion on supply chain challenges with a panel of logistics and supply chain executives, who discussed how we got here, the current situation, and what the future looks like. Featuring:
- Steven Bauer, Senior Vice President at HARIBO
- Glenn Quaiver, Vice President of Distribution for ULINE
- Patrick Simmons, Vice President of Transportation at Tyson Food
- Doug Voss, Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the University of Central Arkansas
Rosario Mann
41st Treasurer of the United States
Feb. 23, 2022
Raven Jemison
Executive Vice President of Business Operations, Milwaukee Bucks
Nov. 9, 2021
Catherine Jacobson
President and CEO, Froedtert Health
March 30, 2021
Daymond John
Co-star of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” two-time New York Times Best-Selling Author, Brand Expert, Founder and CEO of FUBU, and Presidential Ambassador of Global Entrepreneurship
Feb. 9, 2021
Randall Tucker
Chief Inclusion Officer at Mastercard
March 14, 2019
James and Deborah Fallows
Best-selling authors of “Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America”
Feb. 18, 2019
Governor John Baldacci
Maine Governor and U.S. Congressman
Sept. 30-Oct. 4, 2018
Alex Lasry
Milwaukee Bucks Vice President of Strategy and Operations
Sept. 30, 2015
Thomas Martinez
Vice President of Sales Operations at Zenefits
May 4, 2015
Michael McCrea
Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurology/Director of Brain Injury Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Feb. 11, 2015
Jeffrey Ball
Writer, Scholar-in-Residence at Stanford University
Oct. 29, 2014
Bryant Ambelang
President and CEO of NatureSweet, Ltd.
April 8, 2014
Lester Munson
ESPN Legal Affairs Reporter
March 12, 2014
Lisa Carlson ’84 and Steve Hopp
Benefits Executives at Gallagher Benefit Services
Dec. 11, 2013
Richard Halloran and Fumiki Mori Halloran
Writers, Journalists, and East Asian Policy Experts
Oct. 23, 2013
Scott Lang
Chairman, President and CEO of Silver Spring Networks
Sept. 30, 2013
Christopher A. Ruud
Vice President of Global LED Adoption at Cree, Inc.
June 13, 2013
Wendy DuBoe
President and Chief Executive Officer for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
April 11, 2013
Gregory S. Woodward
23rd President of ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
March 20, 2013
Hoyt Harper II ’77
Senior Vice President of Starwood Hotels and Resorts
April 11, 2012
F. Gregory Campbell
22nd President of ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
Feb. 9, 2012
Pat Hughes
“Voice of the Cubs”
Jan. 17, 2012
Stephen Balch
Founder and Chairman of the National Association of Scholars
Nov. 16, 2011
Mike Leonard
Veteran Feature Correspondent for NBC-TV
Oct. 27, 2011
Edward Michael
Executive Vice President at Abbott Laboratories
July 18, 2011
Anthony Alofsin
Frank Lloyd Wright Expert
April 13, 2011
Nicholas Pinchuk
CEO, Snap-on Incorporated
March 15, 2011
Duane R. Kullberg
Retired Managing Partner and CEO, Arthur Andersen & Co.
March 3, 2011
John McDonough
President of the Chicago Blackhawks
Sept. 15, 2010
Col. Donald D. Woolfolk
Deputy Director of Intelligence, Navy Special Warfare Command
Nov. 10, 2010
Additional Business and Professional Coalition Speakers
-
Sumner Slichter
Policy Director, Office of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, Washington, DC -
Antonio Perez
President and CEO, Talgo America, Inc. -
Eilieen Mackevich
Executive Director, Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission -
Tim Sullivan
President and CEO, Bucyrus, Inc. -
Christopher Begley
Chairman and CEO, Hospira, Inc. -
Gale Klappa
President and CEO, Wisconsin Energy Corporation -
Lovie Smith
Head Coach, Chicago Bears -
Charles A. Bowsher
Former Comptroller General of the United States -
The Honorable Clayton Yeutter
Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture -
Karl Ostby and Philip C. Evenson
Chairman, S.E. Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority; Executive Director, S.E. Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission -
Roch Lambert
Vice President and General Manager, Bombardier Recreational Products -
Art Linkletter
Entertainer -
Rear Adm. Ann E. Rondeau
Commander, Great Lakes Naval Training Center, U.S. Navy -
James H. Billington
Librarian of Congress -
Carl Lewis
Olympic Gold Medalist -
Roland Hemond
Executive Advisor to the General Manager, Chicago White Sox -
Daniel J. Travanti
Actor -
Samuel C. Johnson
Chairman Emeritus, SC Johnson -
David Eisenhower and Julie Nixon Eisenhower
Former Governor, State of Wisconsin -
Sergei N. Khrushchev
Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University -
Bill Broydrick
Broydrick & Associates -
David R. Duerson
President/CEO/Majority Partner, Fair Oaks Farms, LLC -
Arthur I. Cyr
A. W. and Mary Margaret Clausen Distinguished Professor of Political Economy and World Business, and Director of the Program in International Political Economy, Carthage -
Siva Yam
President, U.S. - China Chamber of Commerce -
Congressional Paul Ryan
First Congressional District, Wisconsin -
Michael H. Moskow
President, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago -
Jeff Nowak
Executive Editor/Vice President, Special Interest Magazines, Reiman Publications -
The Honorable Diane S. Sykes
Judge, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals -
Allan H. “Bud” Selig
Commissioner, Major League Baseball -
Janet Hale
Under Secretary for Management, U.S. Department of Homeland Security -
Frank Busalacchi
Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Transportation -
Bruce Dumont
Founder and CEO, The Museum of Broadcast Communications -
Andy MacPhail
President/Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Cubs -
William Schneider
Senior Political Analyst, Cable News Network -
Michael Hodge, MBE
British Consul General, Chicago -
Ellen M. Gardner
President, Ameritech Wisconsin -
William E. La Macchia
President and CEO, The Mark Travel Corporation -
Robert A. Cornog
Chairman, President and CEO, Snap-on Incorporated -
Alan R. Blatecky ’68
Vice President of Information Technologies, MCNC -
The Honorable James R. Klauser
Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Administration and Special Counsel to the Governor -
Michael J. Powers ’63
Vice-Chairman for Professional and Organizational Development, Ernst & Young LLP -
Pat Richter
Director of Athletics, UW-Madison -
Richard Abdoo
Chairman, President and CEO, Wisconsin Energy Corporation -
Jean-Pierre Rosso
President and CEO, Case Corporation -
Robert Michael
Economist, University of Chicago -
Audrey Freedman
Audrey Freedman & Associates -
A. W. Tom Clausen ’44
Retired Chairman and CEO, BankAmerica Corporation