​MILWAUKEE -- The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) released the following statement from President Tim Sheehy upon the retirement of state Senator Alberta Darling (R – River Hills):
 
“I want to congratulate Senator Darling on such an impactful 32 years of public service for the people of Wisconsin and especially Milwaukee. The Wisconsin state legislature is losing a true leader and the community is losing one of its strongest pro-Milwaukee advocates. As one of the original authors of the nation’s first school choice program, her legacy will carry on and her impact will be felt for many more decades to come. She always fought for children and empowered parents. She consistently advocated for her constituents and led on so many issues that bettered the lives of so many. Alberta will be greatly missed and we congratulate her on a well-earned retirement.”

In the November edition of MMAC's Business of Metro MKE webinar, we heard from Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman and Medical College of Wisconsin President and CEO Dr. John Raymond. A replay of this webinar will be available on MMAC's YouTube channel.

To download a copy of Dr. Raymond's presentation, click below:

By Bob Wendt - President, Cultivate Communications

Customers want to align themselves with progressive partners. They are looking for companies that build a product or service that is impactful and can make a difference in how they grow. Prospective employees have those same

MMAC is launching a search for a Senior Vice President, a newly created position that will play a critical role in the organization’s long-term leadership. MMAC Chair Cathy Jacobson, president and CEO of Froedtert Health, announced the formation of a board committee to oversee recruitment for the new position on Tuesday.

“On behalf of Milwaukee’s business community, we are proud to welcome the Republican National Convention to Milwaukee in 2024. The Republican National Committee’s decision to bring its convention to Milwaukee represents yet another step forward for our region as an internationally recognized destination with the people, vibrant entertainment venues, infrastructure and expertise it takes to successfully host large-scale events.

We congratulate the team at VISIT Milwaukee for their leadership in securing this opportunity. It is remarkable for an American city to secure two straight major party nominating conventions – a ringing endorsement for everything Milwaukee has to offer.

This convention will directly benefit Milwaukee businesses and their employees. Beyond that, this is yet another chance for Milwaukee to shine in an international spotlight.  And there are few events larger in scale, visibility and impact than a national political convention.
Our approach to this event is exactly the same as it was for pursuing the 2020 Democratic National Convention: Instead of red or blue, we represent green – the color of additional millions of dollars that will now flow into Milwaukee.

Throughout the bidding process for this convention, we heard that strong bipartisan support was one of the most compelling aspects of our bid. We thank Mayor Cavalier Johnson, County Executive David Crowley and many other officials for putting aside potential partisan disagreements in the name of doing what’s best for our region. That’s leadership. If we can come together to do this, the possibilities of what can we accomplish together are endless.”
-- MMAC President Tim Sheehy

​Context: Today, We Energies announced a new timeline for Oak Creek plant retirements
 
STATEMENT FROM MMAC PRESIDENT TIM SHEEHY
“Reliable access to power is one of the most important factors in the stability of a region and its economy, and WEC Energy Group consistently delivers on this responsibility. MMAC supports WEC Energy Group as it takes strategic steps to ensure continued reliability amid shifting supply chain and regulatory conditions. While still working toward its important and ambitious renewable energy goals, this step to delay the phase out is prudent and responsive to concerns about reliability.”

The June edition of our monthly Business of Metro MKE webinar features Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Dr. John Raymond, President and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin. A replay of the webinar will be available on MMAC's YouTube channel shortly after it concludes.

See below to download Dr. Raymond's presentation:

Click here to download the presentation from our event:

And click here to view our group invitation list:

Fellowship provided state and local chambers with opportunities to engage nationally on critical education and workforce issues.
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced that Alexis Deblitz, Director of Talent & Industry Partnerships for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Milwaukee 7 Regional Partnership, graduated from its premier business leadership program. The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, and statewide trade associations with resources, access to experts, and a network of peers to build their capacity to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges.
 
Originally selected in February 2020 following a competitive application and selection process, Deblitz graduates with 25 other state and local business leaders from the program’s fourth cohort. The yearlong virtual program covered the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, higher education, and workforce development, and culminated with a recent in-person meeting in Palm Springs, California.
 
Susan Koehn, Vice President of Talent and Industry Partnerships for MMAC and M7, also graduated from the fellowship program in 2019 and the U.S. Chamber's Talent Pipeline Management Academy in 2017. Talent Pipeline Management is a new way of addressing local skills gaps by positioning employers in a more central role as end-customers of postsecondary education and training providers.

"The training we received through the Business Leads Fellowship and Talent Pipeline Academy will allow MMAC's Talent & Industry Partnerships team to better serve member employers' current and future talent strategies with leading-edge practices, supported by a peer network across the U.S.," Koehn said.

Added Cheryl Oldham, Senior Vice President of the Center for Education and Workforce: “As clearly displayed throughout this program, state and local leaders know better than anyone the critical link between education and economic development. Not only did the Fellows gain a network of peers and experts in the field, but the program is also designed to help these leaders find opportunities to develop initiatives that will continue to advance the growth of their local economy and put education policy into practice.”
 
Upon program completion, Business Leads Fellows join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s dedicated network of 220 individuals from chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the country who regularly engage on the most impactful education and workforce initiatives.
 
To learn more about the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Business Leads Fellowship Program, visit businessleads.uschamberfoundation.org.

Download a presentation from the April edition of MMAC's Business of Metro MKE webinar. A replay of the event will be available on MMAC's YouTube Channel later in the day.

Dr. Raymond's slides:

Presentation from Tim Sheehy, Susan Koehn and John Swallow:

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) and Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) are partnering with the Brewers Community Foundation (BCF) to host a career experience day at American Family Field on Thursday, April 7.

This event will bring approximately 300 10th graders from seven MPS schools to the ballpark, where they will have the chance to interact with professionals who work in a wide variety of careers connected to the Brewers organization and the local companies that serve as its suppliers.

Media are welcome to cover this event, and should contact MMAC Director of Communications Chris Jenkins in advance for details.

The program will focus on careers in high-demand industries -- including Advanced Manufacturing, Technology, Business/Finance, Construction and Patient Care -- and how professionals working in each of those careers support the Brewers, one of our region’s most recognizable businesses.

By 2025, the Milwaukee Region is projected to have more than 450,000 jobs within these five industry clusters, offering an average annual wage of $60,000. The program will highlight careers within each cluster that offer opportunities to learn new skills and advance on a career pathway.

“As one of our region’s most iconic brands, the Milwaukee Brewers are uniquely positioned to highlight the variety of attractive career opportunities that exist here in the Milwaukee Region,” MMAC President Tim Sheehy said. “We often think of the Brewers as a team on the field, but there’s a much larger ‘team behind the team’ that makes it all possible – and within that team, there are many high quality, high demand careers. Connecting students with career-based learning experiences has been a longstanding MMAC priority, and we’re happy to have the opportunity to do so in person again.”

Launched in 2014, MMAC’s Be the Spark program connected nearly 15,000 MPS seventh graders to local businesses for in-person career experiences with the support of more than 125 business partners. The program introduced students to potential future careers and the skills they need to succeed. Career experiences are a part of MMAC efforts to develop our region’s future workforce and talent pipeline. MMAC efforts also include support for the region’s 70-plus school districts and convening industry groups to connect to K-12 education institutions and provide feedback loops that incorporate future skills demands into career pathways.

About the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
For more than 150 years, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce has been serving area businesses as a private, not-for-profit organization. Today we represent approximately 1,800 member businesses with 300,000 employees in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties and beyond. Our mission is to improve metro Milwaukee as a place to invest capital, grow business and create jobs. mmac.org

​If your company is already a member of MMAC, thank you for your investment in growing your business and building the Milwaukee Region. If your company is not yet a member, but is interested in exploring the benefits of joining, please contact our membership team.

STATEMENT FROM MMAC PRESIDENT TIM SHEEHY

"Michael Cudahy was Milwaukee’s entrepreneur. His positive impact on our region will be felt for decades to come because of the influence he had on so many people here, myself included. Marquette Medical Systems was a longtime MMAC member, and its legacy lives on today in the success of GE Healthcare. Throughout our interactions over the years, I saw firsthand how Michael’s sprit of curiosity drove him to learn more about big-picture economic development issues and how they affect Milwaukee. He was always looking for ways to improve our region. He will be missed greatly, and we send our deepest condolences to his family."

 
STATEMENT FROM MMAC PRESIDENT TIM SHEEHY
 
"Former State Representative, State Senator and Lieutenant Governor Margaret Farrow was instrumental in a number of legislative and policy wins that have had a deep and lasting impact on the prosperity of this region. Having worked with then-Senator Farrow, I can personally attest to her thoughtful insight and determination, both of which were instrumental to the passage of legislation providing low-income parents the opportunity to choose where their children attended school, both through the Milwaukee Parental Choice program and independent charter schools.
 
Senator Farrow had the respect of her colleagues, the ability to work across the aisle, and was focused on outcomes, never credit.
 
She should also be recognized for her role in helping to make Miller Park, now American Family Field, a reality for millions of baseball fans across Wisconsin, securing an asset that will long be of value to this community."

In the March edition of our monthly Business of Metro MKE webinar, we featured insights on the economy from Don Rissmiller, the Chief Economist for Strategas, the market strategy arm of Baird. We also received our regular update from Dr. John Raymond, President and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin. A replay of the event is available on MMAC's YouTube channel.

Also, you can download copies of presentations from the webinar here:

Student success is critical to the future of our region. MMAC joins other Milwaukee leaders in advocating for state surplus tax resources in future state biennial budgets to increase per pupil funding. This is one of the few existing ways to support all students in the city, whether they’re in a traditional MPS, public charter or choice school.

Read the full text of a letter to Governor Evers, Speaker Vos and Majority Leader LeMahieu:

As employers search for the best ways to attract and retain talent in the midst of one
of the fiercest talents wars yet, compensation is now front and center.

How is that playing out in our market? Read the findings from a new survey from MMAC member company MRA. Key takeaways include:

• 74 percent of organizations in this study indicate they are occasionally to very frequently offering candidates starting salaries outside the regular starting pay ranges as a tactic to try and gain talent.
• As a result of talent challenges, 90% of organizations have adjusted the pay ranges in their organization for 2022 to recruit and retain talent. 
• Moving into 2022, 37% of organizations will be offering a signing bonus to some, if not all, of their new hires.
• Executive-level positions are most commonly offered more than $5,000 (38%) as a sign-on bonus while production, office, and technical positions are most commonly offered between $500 - $2,500.
• Of organizations that offer a signing bonus, 75% have a retention requirement associated with the signing bonus, with over half requiring at least a year of service. 
• Referral bonuses continue to be a popular tactic of recruiting new talent. Seventy-two percent of organizations are offering a referral bonus for
  their employees to encourage participation in the recruitment process for the organization. That bonus is commonly offered between $500 - $1,000.

​Read the full report:

STATEMENT FROM MMAC:

"We continue to have significant concerns about the mask mandate passed by the Milwaukee Common Council on Tuesday.

This mandate shifts the burden of convincing people to wear masks entirely to businesses and their front-line employees. It requires employees to act as the ‘mask police.’

The mandate also carries the threat of an arbitrary and drastic enforcement provision: the possibility that a business may not have its license renewed based on the individual actions of customers. There are no clear guidelines on what actions would threaten a revocation of a business’s license to operate.

This mandate applies a geographic patchwork approach to regulation with no real effect on stopping the spread of COVID.

​Vaccinations and booster shots are the most effective way to turn COVID-19 from pandemic to endemic. MMAC has been consistently communicating this to its vast membership. Masks (especially those of N95 quality or similar) are part of the protection protocols that can help stop the spread. Many Milwaukee Region employers, public-facing venues and educational institutions have implemented mask requirements. Many individuals embrace personal responsibility and choose to wear masks in public indoor spaces."