First-Ever Southwest Suburban Business & Education Summit Brought Together Local Leaders at Unique Event

More than 100 business, education and government leaders convened at beautiful Boerner Botanical Gardens for the first-ever Southwest Suburban Business & Education Summit on Thursday, Aug. 21.

The community-wide event brought together local business leaders and owners, teachers and elected officials and served as a step toward building a common vision for the region in which current and future generations will find success and prosperity.

The event featured networking sessions, roundtable discussions and a keynote presentation from Rich Meeusen, the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Badger Meter, Inc., the Milwaukee-based company that is a leading manufacturer and marketer of flow measurement solutions, with a primary focus on the water industry.

The summit was co-sponsored by the Whitnall School District and the City of Greenfield, with the help of the Greenfield and Greendale school districts, the villages of Greendale and Hales Corners and several other civic organizations. The event was aligned with the Forward Thinking Communities initiative.

“The Whitnall School District is determined to strengthen our partnerships with the communities we serve,” said Whitnall Superintendent Dr. Lowell Holtz. “This summit gave us a chance to bring the best and the brightest from the community together under one roof.”

“It’s important that educators know what traits and skills their students’ future employers are looking for, and that business owners know the challenges teachers face in the classroom,” said Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke. “That knowledge can only lead to a positive impact on our local economy and our future.”