Stepping into the Interim President & CEO Role, Kathryn Berger

Dear WEDA Members,

I’m honored to step into the role of Interim President and CEO of WEDA, starting on July 15. For the first three weeks, I had the privilege of working alongside our outgoing President and CEO, Mary, who has been instrumental in making WEDA a leader in economic development. Mary leaves WEDA in a strong position, with a solid foundation, vibrant membership, and outstanding educational and networking opportunities. We are grateful for her leadership and wish her the best in retirement. Thankfully, this is just a “see you soon,” as we look forward to welcoming Mary back as a retired member at future events. 

 As Interim President and CEO, I’m excited to lead our talented team in implementing upcoming programs, advancing strategic partnerships, and setting the stage for our next leader. Our mission remains clear: to elevate economic development across Wisconsin and deliver exceptional value to our members. 

Please join me in thanking outgoing board members Carol Roth and Aaron White for their dedicated service. In addition, we’re thrilled to welcome new board directors Lance Walter, SVP of Marketing at WBD Inc., and Jess Wildes, Assistant City Administrator of West Bend. Their expertise and fresh perspectives will be invaluable as we take WEDA into its second half-century. 

We encourage members to join one of our committees, a great path to board membership. Your participation is key to keeping WEDA strong and dynamic! 

Planning for the 2025 Governor’s Conference (February 5-7, 2025, in Milwaukee) is already underway. The RFP for workshops and presentations is out (due September 20), and the planning committee has met. What session would you like to put together? 

 If you have any questions or want to get more involved, call me at 414.865.9431 or email me at president@weda.org. 

 Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to seeing you in Eau Claire!