Longtime leader Jim Paetsch announces retirement

Rebecca Gries to help M7 Corporate Attraction and Expansion efforts

In a planned succession, MMAC President Dale Kooyenga announced Rebecca Gries will take over as Milwaukee 7’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Attraction and Expansion. She will succeed longtime M7 Senior Vice President and Executive Director Jim Paetsch who has announced his retirement.

​“Jim is one of the most dedicated and effective professionals I've ever had the opportunity to work with. His leadership of M7’s expansion and attraction efforts has had a profound impact on the growth of our region,” said M7 Co-chair Gale Klappa. “He has helped to secure thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in new capital investment. But more importantly, Jim has put our region on the map as a great place to build a bright, sustainable future.”

Jim Paetsch, M7 Senior VP & Executive Director

Paetsch was part of the team that launched M7 in 2005 and has been instrumental in changing the landscape of southeastern Wisconsin.

Since its launch, M7 has led efforts in more than 134 corporate expansions or relocations – including HARIBO, Milwaukee Tool, Ingeteam, Komatsu, Nexus Pharmaceuticals, and Microsoft – with a combined capital expenditure of over $6.5 billion. These wins have accounted for nearly 30,000 new jobs with a combined payroll of over $1.8 billion.

Rebecca Gries, M7 Senior VP of Corporate Attraction and Expansion

Rebecca Gries joined M7 in 2018, marketing the region and assisting companies with their expansion or relocation efforts. In that time, she's been recognized as a Top 50 Economic Developer in North America in 2022 by Consultant Connect and a 2024 member of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 under 40.

“Rebecca is a seasoned veteran directly leading more than a dozen successful expansion and relocation projects over the past five years,” said Kooyenga. “She has delivered consistent results for corporate clients, communities and investors. She is well positioned to take this next step.”

Gries will assume her new role June 1, taking over for Paetsch who will retain his title of M7 Executive Director until his November retirement.

“Today, M7 is one of the most recognized and successful economic development organizations in the country,” said MMAC Senior Advisor Tim Sheehy. “The results speak for themselves and having worked with Jim for the past 15-plus years, those results are due to Jim’s diligence and competitive spirit representing the M7 region. He has set us up for success and has mentored the future in Rebecca.”

​In other M7 news, Katie Mendenhall has been added to the M7 team as Director of Corporate Attraction and Expansion. Katie has a background in project management and will work with Gries to market the southeastern Wisconsin region.

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