Back the schools – They need our support

THIS ISSUE of BizTimes Milwaukee includes our second annual Business Cares section, focused on education. A high-quality education for all students in our region will impact their life outcomes immensely. It will help make our community a better place and ensure that we have a healthy and productive future workforce, advancing our region’s growth and ability to compete globally.

You’ll find extensive coverage on this important topic on pages 18-30, including stories on challenges in education continuing after high school, better understanding the Department of Public Instruction’s school report cards, and advocates pushing for changes in choice and charter school funding.

Our education coverage also highlights speakers from our inaugural Milwaukee Education Spotlight. Held on Feb. 23, this event brought more than 300 business community members together with educators to shine a light on successes at high-performing schools. It also offered a chance for attendees to connect with schools and to learn about opportunities to become mentors, board and committee members or partners as we all pursue solutions to our workforce challenges.

This section is part of a month of BizTimes Milwaukee coverage focusing on education and our future workforce. Look for more stories at biztimes.com/ highqualityseats.

The logos on our front cover represent companies and organizations already engaged in supporting Milwaukee schools and the expansion of more high-quality schools seats in our city. We thank them for their support. A portion of their logo investment will be reinvested in education efforts in the city. The logos below represent the schools that benefit from these companies’ support.

We all can agree that our workforce is challenged. The headline on this issue of BizTimes Milwaukee is “Back the Schools” because education is where the rubber meets the road. We’re asking you to find your own way to contribute. Are you willing to help, to get involved, to donate, volunteer or mentor? Increasing the number of high-quality school seats in Milwaukee, in any form, will require more from all of us. Our future workforce needs you now more than ever.

Dan & Kate Meyer

Co-owners, BizTimes Media

presents the 16th annual:

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

2:00-2:30pm – Registration/Networking

2:30-5:00pm – Program followed by cocktails & hors d’oeuvres Brookfield Conference Center

M&A 2023: Navigating the Road Ahead

Make plans to attend the 16th annual M&A Forum on April 4. Designed to equip attendees for the road ahead in this complex economic environment, the conference will feature a keynote conversation on one of the most interesting local deals of 2022, Palermo’s Pizza and Funky Fresh Spring Rolls, followed by a panel with buyers and sellers sharing insights and strategies on how they navigated the M&A landscape.

Keynote conversation:

• Giacomo Fallucca, Chairman of the Board & CEO, Palermo’s Pizza (1)

• Jasper Fallucca, Director of Business Development, Palermo’s Pizza (2)

• TrueMan McGee, Funky Fresh Spring Rolls (3)

Sell-side/Buy-side Panel

From Selling Your Business to Growing Through Acquisitions

Company owners will share their best practices and lessons learned related to building value, timing, managing the transition and other related experiences that will help you navigate through the process of selling and buying a business.

Panelists:

• Mike Harris, Entrepreneur, Principal, Harris Advisors (4)

• Alex Lawton, CEO, The Lawton Standard Co. (5)

• Vince Shiely, Partner, Lubar & Co. (6)

• Kate Westfall, Shareholder, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. (7)

Moderator: Ann Hanna, Managing Director & Founder, Taureau Group (8)

Breakout Sessions to Follow Presentations

• Lessons from the Rearview Mirror – A buyer’s reflection on the journey behind them.

• A Roadmap to Higher Business Value

• Emerging legal trends in M&A that every buyer and seller should consider The program ends with a networking reception, where you can interact with the speakers and your peers. Whether you are a buyer, a seller, or a seasoned M&A professional, this conference will provide valuable insights and tools to help you succeed.

Sponsors: Event Partner:

Special Reports

Many companies that are hosting corporate events for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic are going all out to show their employees a good time, and to bring them together.