The MKE Tech Hub Coalition — a growing group of 86 local corporations and nonprofits that have collectively pledged around $8 million to increase the region's technology workforce — recently elected two new board members and promoted an existing board member to the position of board chairperson.
Molly Mulroy, chief information officer at WEC Energy Group Inc., was elected as chairperson on Friday, Henrich said. Mulroy, who was previously the vice-chair and represents We Energies on the board, replaces former board chair Scott Vifquain, who is senior vice president of technology at Kohl's Corp. but is leaving the company, Henrich said.
Kohl's and We Energies are both gold-level coalition members, meaning they've each pledged to contribute at least $500,000 annually and receive a dedicated seat on the organization's board of directors. Kohl's chief information security officer Rebecca Janutis will join the board in place of Vifquain as the Kohl's representative, Henrich said.
Baird managing director Dan Renouard was also elected to the coalition's board on Friday to represent the organization's bronze-level members, Henrich said. Bronze-level members contribute at least $10,000 to the coalition annually for a minimum of two years.
There is one bronze board representative for every 10 bronze-level members, and the coalition has surpassed 20 bronze-level members, Henrich said. MARS Solutions Group CEO Rashi Khosla is the other bronze board member.
The Tech Hub Coalition's other board members include James Hischke of Northwestern Mutual, Eric Senn of Johnson Controls, Dipa Mehta of Advocate Aurora Health, Jason Fields of the Madison Regional Economic Partnership and community member representative Marlena Eanes.
The coalition has more than 86 members, according to Henrich, up from 75 in May. Among the latest organizations to join the coalition are Deloitte and Johnson Financial Group, as well as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University.
Collectively, coalition members have pledged about $8 million to support the organization. As the group's membership grows, the coalition's board will expand accordingly, Henrich said. With Mulroy moving into the role of board chair, there's a vacancy for the board's vice-chair position, Henrich added.
Since joining We Energies in 1999, Mulroy has held various roles with the company and its parent, WEC Energy Group, including director-level positions in information services, supply chain, and credit and collections. She has an MBA from the University of Chicago.
"I’m excited to be part of efforts to build the strength of our Milwaukee community economically and also for the people who are here," Mulroy said. "I was raised in the Milwaukee area, and I’m very committed to the city and to the overall region and really wanting to see the success more holistically."
