Pro-growth Policy Advocacy Top Priority for WMC Chairman
MILWAUKEE – The WMC Board of Directors Friday elected Robert D. Kamphuis of Mayville Engineering Co. to serve as chairman of the 3,800-member state chamber of commerce.
Kamphuis, Chairman, President & CEO of Mayville Engineering, will serve a two-year term as WMC’s chairman after previously serving as vice chairman. Dan Ariens’, Chairman and CEO of Ariens Co., two-year term as chairman of WMC concluded with the election of Kamphuis today at the annual Board of Directors meeting held at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Kamphuis is committed to continuing WMC’s leadership role in advancing a pro-growth policy agenda for the state to grow on the successes of the past five years. “Wisconsin has made monumental progress in transforming its reputation as a good place to do business. We have to protect what we’ve accomplished over the last five years while we continue to pursue additional reforms that support private sector business investment in Wisconsin,” Kamphuis said.
“Reforms that include funding our transportation infrastructure projects are extremely critical to our state economy as well as our three biggest economic drivers – manufacturing, tourism and agriculture,” continued Kamphuis. “The WMC Board has made infrastructure funding a top priority. Funding transportation projects is one of the most important investments a state can make for its economic future.”
Another Kamphuis goal is to continue WMC’s success in supporting pro-business candidates for elected office. “With 2016 a critical election year, beginning with the state Supreme Court race in April, there is a lot of work to be done,’ Kamphuis added.
Kamphuis also believes Wisconsin needs additional regulatory and tax reform. Aligning Wisconsin’s Family Medical Leave Act with the federal version is just common sense. Additionally, moving Wisconsin out of the “worst 10” of highest taxed states is another top priority, according to Kamphuis.
In addition, Jay L. Smith, Chairman/CEO, Teel Plastics, Inc., was elected vice-chair; Tod B. Linstroth, Senior Partner & Past Member and Chair of Management Committee, Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP, was re-elected Secretary; Gina A. Peter, Executive Vice President – Commercial Banking Division Manager, Wells Fargo Bank, was re-elected Treasurer; Kurt R. Bauer, was re-elected president/CEO; and James R. Morgan was re-elected Senior Vice President, Education and Programs/President, WMC Foundation.
Others elected or re-elected to WMC’s 53-member board at the Annual Membership Meeting are:
- Steven G. Booth, President/CEO, Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc., Milwaukee
- David H. Bretting, President/CEO, C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Company, Inc., Ashland
- Nate Cunniff, Senior Vice President – Business Banking, BMO Harris Bank, Brookfield
- John N. Dykema, President/Owner, Campbell Wrapper Corporation & Circle Packaging Machinery, Inc., De Pere
- Scott A. Fawcett, President/CEO, Springs Window Fashions, LLC, Middleton
- Philip B. Flynn, President/CEO, Associated Banc-Corp, Green Bay
- Philip C. Fritsche, President, Beaver Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, Beaver Dam
- Steven H. Johnson, Factory Manager, John Deere Horicon Works, Horicon
- Robert L. Keller, Chairman, J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Neenah
- Allen L. Leverett, CEO, WEC Energy Group, Milwaukee
- Robert Moses, President/CEO, Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce, Prairie du Chien
- Rick W. Parks, President/CEO, Society Insurance, Fond du Lac
- Aaron B. Powell, Partner/Chief Strategy Officer, Flexion, Inc., Sun Prairie
- Eric W. Sauey, Chairman/CEO, Seats Incorporated, Reedsburg
- Karen L. Szyman, Executive Director, The Chamber of Manitowoc County, Manitowoc
- Donald D. Wahlin, CEO, Stoughton Trailers, LLC, Stoughton
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