Keynote Speaker Presentation


- Ron Johnson -
     US Senator

Topic
 Issues Facing Wisconsin & America:
      - Economic Growth
      - The Regulatory Climate
      - National Security

Biography 

Both of Ron’s parents were born and raised on farms. Their work ethic and small-town values were naturally passed along to their own children. As a result, Ron has worked hard all his life. As a boy, he mowed lawns, shoveled snow, delivered papers, and caddied for a few extra bucks. At the age of 15, he obtained his first tax-paying job as a dishwasher in a Walgreens grill. He rose through the ranks as a soda jerk, fry cook, and finally night manager before reaching the age of 16.

He gained early acceptance to the University of Minnesota, so he skipped his senior year of High School and worked full time while obtaining his degree in business and accounting. In 1977, after graduating with a BSB-Accounting degree, he married his wife Jane, and started working as an accountant at Jostens. He also continued his education by enrolling in an MBA night program.

In July of 1979, Ron and Jane moved to Oshkosh to start a business with Jane’s brother. The company -PACUR- began producing plastic sheet for packaging and printing applications. From operating the equipment, to keeping the company books, and selling its products, Ron has been involved in every function of the business. It is this body of experience and private sector perspective that he now brings to the Senate.

Ron came to Washington because the federal government is bankrupting America. He thinks it is important for citizen legislators to ally with those who are seriously facing that reality. Ron’s manufacturing background has taught him to attack the root cause of a problem, not mere symptoms. He believes huge deficits, slow economic activity, high unemployment and woefully inadequate job creation are severe symptoms of the problem – but not the root cause. The ever expanding size, scope and cost of government is.

Ron is Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and also serves on the Budget, Foreign Relations, and Commerce, Science and Transportation committees.  He resides in Oshkosh, Wisconsin with his wife Jane. They have three children and two grandchildren.

Professional Development Session
Hosted by Baker Tilly
Topic: Regional Economic Development Strategies Panel

Summary
Regional economic development is focused on three critical areas: talent development, business development and branding. This panel will highlight the strategies and collaborative nature of current tactics to move the needle within each of those areas.

Moderator

- Jerry Murphy - 
   Executive Director
   New North, Inc.

Biography
Jerry Murphy is the Executive Director of New North, an eighteen county regional marketing and economic development organization serving Northeastern Wisconsin. New North is charged with coordinating and implementing a regional development strategy that includes several collaborative work programs focused on: workforce development, business development, regional branding and marketing. Murphy is the first Executive Director for New North, beginning that position in 2006.

Prior experiences include: organization and management of four organizations start ups (including New North), extensive technical support to small business owners and entrepreneurs, financial and business planning, public-private underwriting for business credit, regional branding, target marketing and industry cluster organization-by-target markets.

This 30 year career path was enabled by opportunities provided by UMOS, Michigan Tech. University, Gogebic Community College, the Gogebic County Economic Development Corporation, Michigan State University-Extension, the Buffalo-Niagara Enterprise and New North.

Murphy completed his BA at the University of Dayton and a MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Milwaukee.

Panelist
  

- Mark Rhoda-Reis -
   International Business Director
   Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) 

Biography
In his role at WEDC as International Business Director, Mark is responsible for foreign direct investment attraction FDI and market development in Mexico for the state of Wisconsin. He brings to the role over 30 years of sales and marketing experience, and more than 28 years in global sales and business development. He has helped companies grow their international business in Latin America, The Middle East, Western Europe, Asia/Pacific and Canada. His key industry experience is in advanced manufacturing- metals processing, consumer products, fitness equipment and medical devices. 

Mark holds a BS degree in Business, with concentrations in Marketing and Spanish, from the Indiana University, Kelley School of Business. In addition to his native English, he speaks and is literate in Spanish and Portuguese. He lives with his wife in Madison where they enjoy Wisconsin’s many outdoor activities.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is the state’s lead economic development organization. The WEDC provides support, expertise and financial assistance to companies investing and creating jobs in Wisconsin. WEDC provides innovative resources to support entrepreneurship and accelerate business start-up, relocation and expansion.

Panelist

- Jeffrey Sachse -
   Director and Senior Economist
   Office of Economic Advisors
   Bureau of Workforce Information and Technical Support
   Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Panelist
 
 - Ron Starner -
    Executive Vice President
    Conway Inc.

Biography
Ron Starner is Executive Vice President of Conway Inc. and Site Selection magazine, an international corporate real estate publication based in Atlanta. The official publication of the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC) and the Global Foreign Direct Investment Association, Site Selection reaches 48,000 high-level decision-makers six times a year with timely news, analysis and perspective on key events and trends impacting corporate real estate and economic development. The magazine also publishes SiteSelection.com, the online Web portal for corporate real estate and economic development news and data, and five email newsletters – Site Selection Dispatch, Site Selection Impact Report, The Site Selection Life Sciences Report, The Site Selection Aerospace Report and The Site Selection Energy Report.

Ron served 9 years as Executive Director of IAMC, a corporate real estate and economic development association with 600 members. Based in Georgia, IAMC serves the needs of corporate real estate directors of leading Fortune 500 companies such as BASF, Pfizer, Honeywell and Campbell’s Soup.

In his editorial capacity, Ron serves as the editor of another Conway newsletter – the monthly TrustBelt Report. He also manages the TrustBelt Conference for Conway.

A journalism graduate of Virginia’s Liberty University, Ron holds a master’s degree in mass communications from the University of South Florida in Tampa. Prior to coming to Site Selection in August of 2000, he spent six years in various editorial roles with Florida Real Estate Journal, where he ultimately became editor and then publisher. Ron has eight years of experience at a daily newspaper in Florida, where he led the Winter Haven News Chief to several statewide awards in journalism. At the newspaper, Ron served as a reporter, opinion page editor and city editor.

Ron is the author of two books, “The Ten Standards of Successful Leaders” and “The Light at the End of the Tunnel,” and is a member of the Magazine Association of the Southeast. He resides in Buford, Ga., with his wife Mary and four children.

Financial Executives International (FEI) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org.

October 18, 2016 Chapter Meeting: Instructional Method: Group-live Experience Level:  Basic Prerequisites/ Advance Preparation: None Field of Study: Professional Development Session = Economics; Keynote Speaker Session = Economics; Recommended CPE Credits: Professional Development Session = 2.5; Keynote Speaker = 1.5.