Radke will lead Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce 2011/08/31 at 5:25 am
Laurie Radke, dean of corporate training and economic development at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, will succeed Paul Jadin as president of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
Radke was chosen from three finalists, including Philip DAmico, director of business growth for the Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County in South Bend, Ind., and Barbara A. Fleisner, executive director of Centergy Inc., Wausau.
Fleisner is a former economic development vice president for the Green Bay chamber, a position now held by Fred Monique, who has been interim president of the chamber since Jadin was appointed to a state position in December. Monique will continue in the economic development role.
Radke was with Lakeland College for 11 years before joining NWTC seven years ago.
The thing that really stuck out was her leadership ability, her ability to assess what needs to be done, Gail McNutt, chairwoman of the chamber, said Thursday. We talked about communications, her organizational skills, her background in economic development. I think shes got a ton of upside potential.
Radke could not be reached for comment Thursday.
McNutt said the selection committee was interested in addressing weaknesses identified when the chamber received its accreditation earlier this year. The chamber is one of only 83 in the nation to receive accreditation with four stars from the US Chamber of Commerce.
She said membership is one of those areas.
Its the value proposition. There needs to be a change in direction, McNutt said. Thats going to be one area where Laurie is going to spend a lot of time.
Public policy ? chamber involvement in politics ? is another area Radke will have to assess, McNutt said.
She said political involvement during Jadins leadership was a strategic decision made by the chamber board. Jadin was mayor of Green Bay before joining the chamber. He now is executive director of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., successor to the disbanded Department of Commerce.
The chamber has 1,250 members representing 94,000 workers, and has about 25 employees.
The search for a new president was conducted by a 10-member committee working with executive-search firm Waverly Partners.
Radke will join the chamber full time late in September.