Taking action on the Blueprint for Prosperity is especially critical in the difficult economic conditions facing our region, and indeed our world. We believe if we take action now, we can power greater prosperity in the future. The MMAC's mission — to encourage business development that creates jobs and capital investment — has remained constant over the organization's 148-year history. This is a testament to both the need for, and the power of, our organization. MMAC is in business to help your business. We deliver the best network to help you grow your bottom line, we advocate for public policy that strengthens the business environment, and we accelerate economic development to grow the region's top line. As CEOs with deep roots in this community and a global perspective, your feedback has been invaluable in setting the course to address the challenges confronting both the region and your businesses. We believe this agenda will add to the significant assets of greater Milwaukee , but it will not become reality without leadership. Today, we are asking you to be more than members of MMAC; we are asking you to take ownership of the future direction of our community. We want you to be actively involved in making this agenda a reality. And we want you to reach out to your peers and encourage them to join us at the table. Sitting in the stands won't get it done. We need you all on the field. Through your engagement, leadership, and ultimately, your ownership, we will move this region forward. Sincerely,
Gale Klappa
Chairman, President & CEO, Wisconsin Energy Corporation
MMAC Chairman, 2007-2009 Tim Sullivan
President & CEO, Bucyrus International
MMAC Chairman, 2009-2011
Business After Hours
COSBE's Executive Roundtable Program
More than 400 CEOs, CFOs and Senior Executives in the Milwaukee Region count on MMAC's Council of Small Business Executives (COSBE) Roundtable Program to fill the void that often comes with being one of the senior decision makers of a small business.
Executive Roundtables
Senior Executive Roundtable Program
Roundtables for High-Growth Companies
CEOs of Growing Businesses (CGB)
Purpose of the Roundtables
The Executive Roundtable Program provides a structured and confidential environment for executives to share best practices and resolve their business challenges. By participating in a Roundtable, members can expect to make better decisions, improve communication skills and build relationships.
Roundtable Group Profile
Each Roundtable consists of 8 to 12 peers with similar company sizes in non-competing businesses. Meetings are held monthly, usually over breakfast, at a member's business, private club or restaurant. Each Roundtable is self-led, prioritizes issues to be discussed and develops its own agenda. A typical meeting could include discussion on an issue such as managing growth, finding and retaining top talent, enhancing compensation programs, health care costs or retirement plans.
Roundtable Events
Executive Roundtable members are invited to participate in a variety of exclusive events held throughout the year that provide educational, promotional and networking opportunities:
- All-Group Spring Breakfast Meeting
- CEO and CFO Roundtable Golf Outings
- Late-Afternoon Roundtable Forums
- Holiday Gathering
Roundtable Resources
The program's e-newsletter, Network News , keeps participants posted on member news, upcoming events and group activities. Participants receive annually an Executive Roundtable Program Guide designed to help executives understand the Roundtable process and protocol. Ongoing training opportunities are offered to maintain the health of the Roundtables and to promote the highest of standards.
Program Fees
Participation in one executive-level Roundtable (CEO, CFO or Senior Executive) is included in your company's MMAC membership dues. Fees are charged in the following instances:
- Your company participates in two or more Roundtables. In this case, you will be billed annually at $250 per additional Roundtable.
- Event registration fees apply to COSBE's Annual CEO and CFO Roundtable Golf Outings and the Roundtable All-Group Spring Breakfast.
Milwaukee has a solid, high-tech base with nearly 80,000 residents employed in high technology jobs. The region is a leader in the production of such advanced technology products as medical diagnostic instruments, computers, industrial robots, electronic controls, factory automation, printed circuit boards, CAD/CAM processing, avionics and advanced ceramics. It is home to several international technology companies, including Rockwell Automation, GE Healthcare Technologies and Johnson Controls.
In total, the four-county metropolitan area flourishes with 39,700 businesses. Its ideal location in the heart of the Midwest and its access to water, rail, air and highway transportation make it a sought-after location for businesses of all sizes and types. The metropolitan area encompasses less than 3 percent of Wisconsin's geographic area, but it accounts for nearly 27 percent of the construction, manufacturing and retail jobs, 38 percent of the state's financial activities and 31 percent of the state's service-providing jobs overall. Approximately 35 percent of the nation's manufactured shipments are produced within a 600-mile radius of Milwaukee .
Sixteen percent of the local labor force is employed in the manufacturing sector, the second-highest percentage among major metropolitan areas. Service businesses, however, constitute the largest sector of the local economy, with much of the growth occurring in financial and insurance services, including e-commerce and data processing services. Tourism is also a major contributor to the local economy. The area's many festivals and parades, as well as its nationally recognized museums and zoo, generate $2.5 billion annually.
Between 1990 and 2003, employers in the four-county region added more than 70,000 jobs. All three suburban counties in the metropolitan area – Waukesha , Washington and Ozaukee – reported job growth rates in excess of 39 percent, considerably higher than the state average.
Manufacturing
Milwaukee has a strong manufacturing heritage. The value of products shipped from Milwaukee-area manufacturers totaled more than $31 billion in 1997, according to the U.S. Economic Census. Over the years, Milwaukee has earned a reputation as a center for precision manufacturing. It leads the nation in the production of industrial controls, X-ray equipment, steel foundry parts, mining machinery, hoists, monorails, speed changers, drives and gears.
Six locally based industrial companies are on the Fortune 1000 list: Rockwell Automation, Harley-Davidson Inc., Joy Global and A.O. Smith Corp. ( Milwaukee ); Johnson Controls ( Glendale ); and Briggs & Stratton Corp. ( Wauwatosa ).
Milwaukee is also a leading printing and publishing center. The metropolitan area ranks as one of the nation's top 10 printing centers, with 2002 shipments of nearly $2 billion. There are more than 1,700 printing companies with at least 20 employees located within 250 miles of the city. In addition, commercial printing is one of the largest and fastest growing segments of the metropolitan area's manufacturing economy, employing more than 13,000 people.
Service Businesses
Milwaukee is home to many nationally and internationally known service companies in all major market segments, including insurance, financial services, utilities, retail and food services. Eight Milwaukee-area service companies are included in the Fortune 1000 listing: Marshall & Ilsley Corp., MGIC Investment Corp., Northwestern Mutual, Roundy's Inc., and Wisconsin Energy Corp. (Milwaukee); Manpower Inc. (Glendale); Kohl's Corp. (Menomonee Falls) and Fiserv (Brookfield).
Milwaukee is a leading money management center. With $113 billion in assets, Northwestern Mutual is the largest company in Wisconsin and the nation's largest provider of individual life insurance. It employs 4,200 people at its Milwaukee headquarters and its new, 84-acre campus in Franklin .
One of the nation's largest bank holding corporations – Marshall & Ilsley Corp. – is based in Milwaukee . Marshall & Ilsley Corp. has more than $37.1 billion in assets and more than 250 locations in seven states. Several out-of-state bank-holding companies also have a significant presence in the state, including U.S. Bancorp, BankOne Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co.
In the last 10 years, Milwaukee has evolved into a major center for electronic commerce. Two of the largest data processing firms in the world are located here.
Fiserv is a leading data processing provider for financial institutions with 21,000 employees and more than 14,000 clients worldwide. It is the nation's leading independent data-processing provider for banks, savings institutions and credit unions with assets of more than $25 million. Metavante, a division of Marshall & Ilsley Corp., serves more than 1,000 customers, including 35 international institutions. U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, the securities processing arm of U.S. Bank, has also significantly expanded its operations in Milwaukee .
Health Care & Research
Five major, multi-hospital health systems serve the metro area. In addition, the metro area is home to the Medical College of Wisconsin, a major research center and teaching facility with more than 1,400 students pursuing medical degrees; and Children's Health System, the primary regional provider of pediatric inpatient and outpatient care.
For more detailed information about the regional economy, contact khenry@mmac.org for a copy of the latest Business Resource Guide .
About the MMAC
Our mission is to improve metro Milwaukee as a place to invest capital, grow business and create jobs.
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) is a 148-year-old private, not-for-profit organization representing approximately 1,800 member businesses with 300,000 employees in the four county area and beyond. Our programs and resources center around three core competencies designed to meet our members' investment objectives. The MMAC serves as an advocate for metropolitan businesses to encourage business development, capital investment and job creation, and is dedicated to continuously improving the quality of benefits and services to member companies.
Driven by the needs and aspirations of our members, we are committed to bringing resources and solutions as a community partner to increase the economic vitality of the metro Milwaukee community. The organization's programs and resources center around three core competencies designed to meet our members' investment objectives: networking , economic development and public policy.
Do Business with/in the City of Milwaukee
