Rotary Club of Milwaukee Tuesday Speaker Series

Yesterday, Rotarian Dave Haynes moderated a bipartisan conversation featuring Mayor Tom Barrett and Representative Scott Klug, Wisconsin board members of the Democracy Defense Project. Their discussion focused on the state of civility in public discourse, Wisconsin's election administration systems, strategies for strengthening trust in civic institutions and showcased bipartisan cooperation as a model for preserving confidence in democracy.

The Rotary Club of Milwaukee's highest honor is the Rotary Person of the Year Award, which recognizes an outstanding individual each year for exceptional professional achievement and meaningful community impact. This week, we proudly recognized our Executive Director, Mary McCormick, as our 2026 Rotary Person of the Year. Mary exemplifies our club's mission of "connecting" by serving as the ultimate connector of people, ideas and resources for the betterment of the Milwaukee community. Congratulations, Mary! 👏

This week at Rotary, Mark Hasting, CEO & President of Blain's Farm & Fleet, shared the story of the family-owned retailer as it celebrates 70 years of serving customers. He also emphasized the company's continued momentum—building on a legacy of trust, hard work, and community commitment while actively adapting, expanding, and investing for the future

On Tuesday April 7th, Rotarians heard from Gil Peri, President and CEO, Children's Wisconsin. Children's Wisconsin has more than 7.3 million connections with kids and families throughout the state each year. Gil discussed the services and capabilities the organization has to support children – from prevention and early intervention through highly-specialized and complex hospital services. He also discussed the organization's roadmap for the future.

Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Rotarian and Milwaukee native, shared reflections from his service in the Biden-Harris Administration as the 11th Administrator of the U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, where he led and oversaw one of North America's most vital international waterways. Adam discussed the economic, environmental, and geopolitical importance of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence system, along with the initiatives undertaken to strengthen trade, safety, and decarbonization across the corridor.

This week in Memorial Hall, Rotarians heard from the Milwaukee Bucks' new President, Josh Glessing, on the intersection of professional sports, global business, and civic impact.  He shared his strategic assessment of his first 60 days in the role, his vision for evolving the Bucks' business model to drive regional growth, and the important role the organization plays in the Milwaukee community.

This week in Memorial Hall, Darryl Morin, President and CEO of Advanced Wireless, Inc. and President of Forward Latino, sat down with Rotarian Dave Haynes for a discussion on the economic impact of immigration and immigration policy. He highlighted the important role immigrant labor plays in Wisconsin's economy and addressed some of the most common misconceptions on the topic.

This week in Memorial Hall, Brenda Cassellius, Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, returned to the Rotary Club of Milwaukee to discuss the district's $46 million budget gap. She outlined her plans to restore fiscal health while protecting classrooms, maintaining safe schools, and investing in academic achievement.

This week in Memorial Hall, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley highlighted his administration's ongoing efforts to promote fiscal sustainability, maintain the critical services residents rely on, and strengthen economic development, public safety, and affordable housing across Milwaukee County. He also discussed the Future State Project, a new initiative designed to improve programs and services, save taxpayer dollars, and advance his vision of achieving measurable equity to build a brighter future for the community.

Yesterday in Memorial Hall, Dr. Lia Medeiros PhD, Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Center for Gravitation, Cosmology, and Astrophysics, shared the history of how telescopes around the world united to capture the first-ever image of a black hole—and how she used that historic image to test Einstein's theory of gravity. She also introduced her innovative machine learning algorithm, explaining how it allowed her team to create the highest-resolution image of a black hole to date, further advancing our understanding of the universe.

This week in Memorial Hall, Rotarian Colleen Foley, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, shared yesterday how Eviction Free MKE addresses homelessness caused by evictions. She highlighted how this Right to Counsel program ensures individuals and families facing eviction receive the support, guidance, and legal representation they need to remain in their homes.

This week in Memorial Hall, Rima Alaily, Corporate Vice President & General Counsel of Infrastructure Legal Affairs at Microsoft, shared an update on the company's expanding investment in Wisconsin, including its multi-billion-dollar commitment to advanced AI datacenters and cloud infrastructure. She also highlighted the economic opportunities these projects bring, discussed Microsoft's Community-First Infrastructure Commitments, and explored what these efforts mean for the state's competitiveness in an AI-driven future.

Yesterday at Rotary, Dr. Kim Sajet, newly appointed Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, shared how cities worldwide are placing art and creativity at the center of economic growth, innovation, and community life. Drawing on global examples and Milwaukee's ambitions, she highlighted how museums and artists drive measurable impact while strengthening identity and belonging.

This week in Memorial Hall, Rotarians  heard from Mike Knetter, Economist and Senior Advisor for Investments and Business Development at the UW Foundation & Alumni Association, who shared an economic outlook for the U.S. economy, with special emphasis on the role of the AI innovation cycle and America First policies.

Yesterday, Greg Borowski, Executive Editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, discussed with Rotarians how he and his team are navigating today's challenging news landscape. He shared how their focus on connection, relevance, and community partnerships is bringing stability and impact to their reporting.

This week, Tom Content, Executive Director of the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin, discussed CUB's work to fight energy inflation and the growing challenges to energy affordability posed by the development of data centers in Wisconsin and around the country.

This past Tuesday, we kicked off our first Rotary program of 2026 with a presentation from Michael Ford, Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue. Michael shared his talk, "Practical Tools for Navigating Difficult Conversations," offering practical, evidence-based tools for engaging in disagreement without deepening polarization.

This week in Memorial Hall, Steve Vavrus, Senior Scientist at UW–Madison, shared how Wisconsin's climate is rapidly changing, with the past two decades being the warmest on record and the 2010s the wettest. Drawing on work from the State Climatology Office and WICCI, he highlighted major trends, extreme weather impacts, and what these shifts mean for the state's future.

Yesterday, Adam Procell, Director of Milwaukee's Office of Community Wellness and Safety, joined us for a moderated, in-depth conversation about his personal journey, his leadership in building Milwaukee's collaborative reentry ecosystem, and his vision for the future of this work in our city. The discussion highlighted the systems-level approach he is advancing to strengthen community safety, coordination, and long-term stability across Milwaukee.

This week in Memorial Hall Rotarians heard from Dr. Kimo Ah Yun, President of Marquette University, as he shared details about the momentum Marquette is experiencing and discussed the challenges facing higher education both locally and nationally.

In honor of Veterans Day, Rotarians welcomed Janice Bell and Ben Hendershot from the Veterans Community Project to share their innovative approach to ending veteran homelessness. They also highlighted plans for VCP's new Milwaukee campus, which will feature 40 tiny homes and onsite services on a 7-acre site along North 60th Street.

Yesterday, Chris Corkery, Founder and CEO of Hundred Acre, joined us to share the story of his state-of-the-art indoor hydroponic farm in Milwaukee, where fresh produce grows year-round—without soil, pesticides, and using 95% less water than traditional farms. Chris also highlighted  how Hundred Acre's vertical farming technology creates "endless summer" conditions to produce five times more food per square foot, redefining the future of local agriculture.

This week in Memorial Hall, we marked the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations with an address by Jack Leslie, a renowned communications strategist and international development leader. Jack called for rebuilding trust and creating a new global framework that empowers local leadership and partnerships to better address today's challenge around the world.

This week in Memorial Hall, we were honored to welcome Serhiy Koledov, the Consul General of Ukraine in Chicago. The Consul General spoke about the current situation in Ukraine, sharing insights on the nation's economic recovery and the growing opportunities for investment in the country.

This week's program featured Rotarians Ian Abston, Maurice Thomas, and Joe Poeschl, who shared how the next generation of Milwaukeeans is intentionally building networks that strengthen both personal and community growth. They also shared inspiring stories of connection and collaboration through Forward 48, the region's premier leadership development program.

This week in Memorial Hall, Brian Thompson, UW -Milwaukee's Chief Innovation & Partnership Officer, shared how their Lubar Entrepreneurship Center empowers students and community leaders to think like entrepreneurs—spotting opportunities, testing bold ideas, and turning them into real solutions.

This week in Memorial Hall, Dr. Brenda Cassellius reflected on her first six months as Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools. She outlined progress on lead paint stabilization, enhancements to financial reporting, and the rollo

Yesterday in Memorial Hall, Chef Paul Bartolotta, Co-Owner of the Bartolotta Restaurants, shared personal stories about his family and his roots in Milwaukee. He also reflected on the history of the Bartolotta Restaurants and shared how the pandemic reshaped the hospitality industry, including the ways he navigated those challenges.

On Tuesday, Rotarians heard from Michael Antonelli, Market Strategist for Baird Private Wealth Management, on one of today's most talked-about topics- cryptocurrency. Michael offered a refresher on what crypto is, how it's used, and where it came from, while also exploring the investment implications and the current state of the industry.

This week in Memorial Hall, Tracy Johnson, the President and CEO of the Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin, Jim Barry, President of the Barry Company, and Matt Hunter, CEO of Hunter Real Estate shared their perspectives on the commercial real estate market in Southeast Wisconsin. They discussed the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry, what's driving demand, and how shifting trends are impacting businesses and communities.

This week in Memorial Hall Dr. John Raymond, President & CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin shared how stable research funding and strong public private partnerships are so important for advancing health and innovation. He also explained how Milwaukee's research enterprise drives economic growth, regional development, and better health outcomes for all.

Yesterday, Vincent Lyles of Milwaukee Succeeds and Jeff Pertl, Wisconsin Secretary of Children and Families discussed how new state funding for childcare came to be and its impact on families and providers across Wisconsin. They also explored what the future may hold once this temporary investment concludes next year.

This week in Memorial Hall, Rotarians heard from Paul Verdu, Managing Director for Asahi Beer USA, who shared insights on the rapidly evolving beverage-alcohol industry. Paul also discussed how shifting consumer preferences and emerging trends are driving innovation and shaping Asahi's approach to growth.

Milwaukee stands at a turning point, with new opportunities on the horizon that demand fresh thinking. This week in Memorial Hall, Rebecca Gries, Executive Director of the Milwaukee 7 Regional Partnership (M7), explored how the region can build a more resilient and prosperous future by embracing change.

On Tuesday, Alex Lasry, CEO of the New York/New Jersey Host Committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup shared details on the NY/NJ region's role as the centerpiece of the tournament's U.S. footprint. Alex covered how the region is preparing to host eight matches, including the Final Match, and highlighted the large-scale, cross-region coordination underway to deliver 39 days of unparalleled excitement and fan experiences.

This week, Rotarians heard from fellow member Dr. Anthony Cruz, President of Milwaukee Area Technical College Dr. Cruz reflected on his first year as President of MATC, and provided  insights on the educational needs of the community, MATC's new strategic plan, and new initiatives that will lead to new bold targets in student success, caring culture, and community trust.

This week in Memorial Hall, we toasted outgoing President Saj Thachenkary and welcomed new Club President Kent Lovern.

This week at Rotary, we honored Beth Weirick as our 2025 Rotary Person of the Year for her decades of leadership, compassion, and vision that has transformed Milwaukee. A lifelong Milwaukeean, Beth Weirick has been committed to the city since her first independent bus ride downtown to see a concert at the MECCA. Hired in 1998 to lead the newly formed Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, Beth brought experience from roles at the Westown Association, the Milwaukee Department of City Development, and the Milwaukee Common Council.

This Tuesday, members heard from Dale Schultz, former Republican majority leader of the state senate, and Rotarian John Franke explain how fusion voting works and how it can provide moderate voters with a constructive way to reduce the power presently held by the extremes within the two major political parties. The program was moderated by the Lubar Center's Craig Gilbert.

This week in Memorial Hall, members heard from fellow Rotarian and Chancellor Mark Mone who has led the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee for 11 years. Mark reflected on the unprecedented headwinds during his tenure and the relationships and established groundbreaking collaborations that have benefited UWM, its students, our city and beyond.

This week in Memorial Hall, Mark Murphy spoke to the Rotary Club of Milwaukee about building a championship organization during his 17 years as the President and CEO of the Green Bay Packers. Mark also shared his background and influences and the Packer's impact on the community through the Green Bay Packers Foundation, Give BIG, and Titletown.

On May 6th, Deep Thought, the 44 foot long boat stranded in Lake Michigan for the past several months, was pulled from the water by Jeff Piller and his towing company, All City. This week at Rotarians heard from Jeff about the planning and execution of the operation that removed the 100,000 pound boat and captivated the attention of Milwaukee.

At this year's Armed Forces Week program, Rotarians heard from U.S. Navy Captain Lena Kaman, Commander of Navy Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command Fort Worth. A native of Shawano, Wisconsin, and a career Naval Aviator with over 4,200 flight hours, Kaman has served in combat operations, led aviation squadrons, and held senior staff roles in Washington, D.C before assuming command of REDCOM Fort Worth.

Yesterday in Memorial Hall, Rotarian Dr. Doug Davis provided an update from the frontlines of Ukraine as he shared stories from his recent international work to support the acute care needs and address the physical and mental trauma resulting from the war in Ukraine.

This week at Rotary, Rich Eng, Founder of Voters First Wisconsin, provided an update on the progress of Final Five Voting in Wisconsin. Rich highlighted its success in Alaska, and provided an honest appraisal of its potential for empowering voters and countering political divisiveness. The program also included a demonstration of the Final Five Voting process - an election to choose Rotary's favorite pie!

From Tariffs to Tax Rates: Navigating the Markets Reaction to the New Administrations Economic Policies. This week at Rotary, Dominic Ceci provided an economic and market overview from his perspective as Chief Investment Officer for Johnson Financial Group.

Yesterday, Rotarians and alumni of the Kellogg School of Management heard from Kellogg Professor Harry Kraemer as he shared insight into his recently released fourth book: "Your Values-Based Legacy: Making a Difference at Every Age and Phase of Life." Harry also shared his journey as a values-based leader by sharing life experiences and the advice he received many decades ago from his grandfather.

Enthralled Rotarians filled Memorial Hall on Tuesday to hear from Michelle Thaller, former Assistant Director at NASA, as she took us on a journey through the birth of stars and galaxies and explained how the materials that make up the cosmos are more connected to us than we might think.

This week in Memorial Hall, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman provided an update on crime trends, public safety developments, and efforts to strengthen community relationships. He also engaged Rotarians in an extensive Q&A session for an insightful discussion on policing and Milwaukee partnerships.

Brittany Kinser, candidate for State Superintendent, spoke yesterday at a joint program hosted by the Milwaukee Press Club, WisPolitics.com and the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. After making her opening remarks, Kinser sat down for an interview with Jeff Mayers, WisPolitics.com president, and answered questions from the audience.  Incumbent State Superintendent Jill Underly was invited to speak, but was not available. Per our protocol, we invite the two main candidates and proceed with the candidate or candidates who accept the invitation.