About Us
Back in 2002, Betty Quadracci was incensed with an article in Milwaukee magazine - this was the magazine Betty owned and published - that asked "where are all the women leaders?" The answer was, sadly - there wasn't many. With few exceptions, Milwaukee's corporate world was a white man's world. We held up a figurative mirror to the male leaders in our community and showed them the paltry numbers in our very first research report. Clearly, change was needed.
Who better to advocate for change than Betty. She called on CEOs to advance more women leaders. She built awareness and visibility for women. She used what she learned through her own success to mentor many of our early members. Betty, phone call by phone call, meeting by meeting, laid the groundwork for where we are today. Our mission hasn't changed, but the opportunities for women certainly have. And we have Betty to thank for telling us to, "be bold".
2025 Research Report charting the course
Since 2004, MWi has published an annual research report on the percentage of women serving on the boards of directors of the 50 largest Wisconsin public companies. Our research this year indicates that progress on board diversity has slowed, in line with similar trends nationally.
Mary Ellen Stanek Award
Mary Ellen Stanek, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Baird Advisors, Robert W. Baird & Co. and MWi emeritus member consistently shows a tireless commitment to diversity as a key to building strong corporations and a more vital Milwaukee region.
In 2014, in recognition of her work and appreciation for the time and energy she has given in service to the Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC) and Milwaukee Women inc (MWi), the organizations joined forces to create the Mary Ellen Stanek Award for Diversity in Corporate Governance.
The Mary Ellen Stanek Award for Diversity in Corporate Governance is given annually to an individual or entity demonstrating a commitment to promoting diversity in their corporate structure resulting in increased gender diversity in leadership and on corporate boards in the Milwaukee Region.
2025 Mary Ellen Stanek INDIVIDUAL Award Recipient
The Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC), in conjunction with Milwaukee Women inc (MWi), awarded the 2025 Mary Ellen Stanek Award for Diversity in Corporate Governance to Pat Ackerman, Board Member, MGE Energy Inc. The Mary Ellen Stanek Award is given to individuals and entities demonstrating a commitment to promoting equity and inclusion in their corporate structure, resulting in increased gender and racial diversity in leadership and on corporate boards in the Milwaukee Region.
Pat Ackerman is recognized for her outstanding leadership in advancing diversity in corporate governance. With more than three decades of experience in corporate finance, investor relations, sustainability, and governance, she has been a consistent advocate for inclusive leadership and the value of diverse perspectives in boardrooms.
Ackerman spent over 30 years at A.O. Smith Corporation, retiring as Senior Vice President of Investor Relations, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, and Treasurer. She currently serves as an independent director of MGE Energy, Inc., where she chairs the Audit Committee, and is an advisory board member for Spaulding Medical.
A dedicated champion for gender diversity in governance, Ackerman is a past board chair of Milwaukee Women inc and continues to mentor and support the next generation of board leaders.
MWi and the GMC leadership team review nominees for the Mary Ellen Stanek Award annually.
Past winners include the award’s namesake Mary Ellen Stanek, Managing Director of Baird; Cecelia Gore, Executive Director of the Brewers Community Foundation; Ellen Gilligan, president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation; Linda Gorens-Levey, partner at General Capital Group; Gale Klappa, Executive Chairman of WEC Energy Group; John Daniels, Jr., Chairman Emeritus of Quarles & Brady; and Gina Peter, Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo and Joan Prince, UWM vice chairman emeritus; Ray Manista, Executive Vice President – Chief Legal and Public Affairs Officer at Northwestern Mutual.
Previous corporate winners include Froedtert Health, ManpowerGroup, Northwestern Mutual, Associated Bank, Aurora Healthcare, Rockwell Automation, and Marquette University.