Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce today unveiled the Wisconsin Executive Forum program, a long-term peer community for top executives and other senior business leaders.
WMC, the combined state chamber and manufacturers’ association, announced the program Tuesday morning and characterized it as a peer advisory and mentorship program.
It will emphasize high-impact monthly sessions, expert speaker content, and peer connection to equip executives to lead.
“The Executive Forum is so much more than a leadership program — it’s a strategic community of Wisconsin’s leading business minds,” said Wade Goodsell, WMC vice president and chief executive officer, in a press release. “We’re bringing together Wisconsin’s most dynamic leaders to learn, challenge each other, and grow together.”
For a financial investment of $13,000 and a monthly time investment of four hours, the Executive Forum’s member benefits include monthly executive roundtables with other Wisconsin executives and access to an exclusive, on-demand speaker video library featuring lectures from industry experts.
To emphasize regional relevance, the Executive Forum is organized into three geographically grouped cohorts. Each cohort will have 12-14 executives and will be led by a seasoned facilitator who guides discussions around strategic planning, company growth, change management and executive leadership
The cohorts include:
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Milwaukee — Facilitated by Corey Chambas, CEO of First Business Financial Services, the parent company of First Business Bank, on the third Tuesday of each month, from 8 a.m. to noon, starting Jan. 22, 2026;
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Madison — Facilitated by Larry McManis, former global strategist at Kraft Foods and the founder and CEO of ThinkWay Strategies, on the first Tuesday of each month, from 8 a.m. to noon, beginning Jan. 13, 2026; and
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Green Bay/Fox Cities — Facilitated by Barb LaMue, former CEO of New North, an 18-county regional economic development corporation in northeast Wisconsin, on the second Wednesday of each month, from 8 a.m. to noon, starting Jan. 14.
“For any team to thrive, it needs bold and courageous leaders,” Goodsell said. “Wisconsin is full of innovative business leaders, and for the first time, we are bringing them together.
“The Executive Forum is an investment in not only the members themselves, but also in the companies they lead.”
More information about the Executive Forum can be found here.
