Rotary Club of Milwaukee Tuesday Speaker Series

Rotarian Adam Schlicht, Director of Port Milwaukee and a board member of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society presented a contemporary vision for Port Milwaukee's ongoing operations as a contributor to greater economic, environmental, and cultural prosperity for the City of Milwaukee, southeastern Wisconsin, and the Great Lakes region. Director Schlicht highlighted developing infrastructure improvement and multimodal opportunities at the Port, including Milwaukee's burgeoning position as a Great Lakes cruise destination and the economic criticality of reinstating the Port's intermodal container service, as recently highlighted in the Milwaukee Business Journal.

Wisconsin Policy Forum President Rob Henken presented the results of an initial planning process to redesign the psychiatric crisis service system in Milwaukee County. The County’s Behavioral Health Division currently runs the region’s only psychiatric emergency department, but that facility will be closing within the next two years when the County contracts for inpatient services with a private provider. The planning process considered the range of both community-based and hospital-based psychiatric crisis services that should be considered in its place.

This week's luncheon was co-hosted with the Rotaract Club of Milwaukee for YP Week. Jeremy Fojut talked about the crisis of connection in our communities and in the workplace. He talked about his journey and how to attract and retain talent by creating a beacon of belonging at your company. He guided us through the NEWaukee 6 step belonging process that changes the way people connect to people, passions and purpose.

Milwaukee won a big prize recently when the Democrats picked our city to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The success in wooing the Democrats, by the city and private sector partners, gives Milwaukee an opportunity to reintroduce itself to a national audience. And it's a great story to tell. New development - Both downtown and across the city - Reflects a solid local economy. People and organizations throughout Milwaukee are working collaboratively to solve problems and improve neighborhoods. Good things are happening here. Mayor Tom Barrett is leading Milwaukee as it enters a new era. In his presentation, he reflected on the city's achievements, the challenges, and his vision for Milwaukee over the next few years.

Rob Henken, President of Wisconsin Policy Forum moderated a discussion with County Executive Chris Abele and County Board Chair Theodore Lipscomb about the Fair Deal for Milwaukee County. This conversation between Milwaukee County's top two elected officials regarded the County's longstanding financial challenges and a proposal approved by both branches of County government to secure more state assistance in helping them grapple with those challenges.

Click here to view the PowerPoint from the presentation.

CEO Kevin Conroy shares insights on how Exact Sciences became a leader in the early detection of cancer, helping screen more than 2 million people for colorectal cancer with their non-invasive stool DNA test, Cologuard. Now more than 2,000 employees strong, the company relaunched in Wisconsin in 2009 during a recession and at a time when the state was falling behind on funding and supporting entrepreneurship. Conroy will lead a discussion and take questions on what business leaders in Wisconsin can do to support economic growth and what needs to change to create more success stories.

Ossie Kendrix serves as President & CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin. Ossie understands that the work of the chamber is critical to the community and he is excited to be working with the board, membership, and staff to continue to promote greater unity and ensure the sustainability of local diverse businesses. 

No Studios is a destination for creatives and lovers of art located in the heart of the historic Pabst Brewery district. A social space dedicated to the creation, curation, and presentation of art, the 40,000 square foot space is comfortable, open, modern, and inviting and encourages collaboration among tenants and welcomes diverse communities across the city to celebrate art together. NO is the Japanese root word for skill, talent, artistic endeavor, while the English word "no" is one that artists hear many times throughout their careers and yet continue to create, in spite of many obstacles.

David Kohler, President & CEO of Kohler Co., discussed the upcoming 2020 Ryder Cup that will be contested at the stunning and iconic Whistling Straits. This international sporting event will pit the very best professional golfers from the United States versus Europe. David is serving as General Chair for golf's pinnacle competition, which will be the highest profile sporting event ever held in Wisconsin. He also shared information on KOHLER Golf and the many positive impacts on Wisconsin, as well as the company's nationally ranked courses that have hosted six Major golf championships between 1998-2015 - including three PGA Championships.

Rotarian David Cooks, author of “Getting Undressed-From Paralysis to Purpose”, shares his personal journey of how he discovered purpose in the midst of personal tragedy.  A Milwaukee native, David’s compelling story began with basketball on the playgrounds of Milwaukee and eventually led him to Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke University.  David shares his struggles as well as his successes on and off the basketball court as a T-6 paraplegic, with honesty, perseverance and faith.