WAUKESHA COUNTY BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC. | WAUKESHA.ORG The Alliance's Board of Directors unanimously voted Amanda Payne as President & CEO of the Alliance, effective July 1, 2024. Amanda will succeed Suzanne Kelley when she retires from the Alliance on June 30, 2024 after 14 years of transformative leadership at the organization. Amanda’s succession represents a planned, seamless transition in leadership, ensuring continuity and continued success for the Alliance and its members. Her strategic vision and dedication to serving the business community position her as an ideal leader to guide the Alliance into its next chapter. Under Suzanne’s leadership, the Alliance has experienced remarkable growth and success, leaving a lasting mark on the business community in Southeast Wisconsin. Suzanne joined the Alliance in September of 2009 when it was known as the Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce. Within a year, she led the Chamber to merge with the Waukesha County Action Network to create the Alliance, which is focused on driving economic growth in Waukesha County and providing a strong voice for business. Under Suzanne’s guidance, the Alliance has undoubtedly thrived. In the last 14 years, the Alliance has launched multiple employer collaboratives, including the Manufacturing Alliance of Southeastern Wisconsin, the Waukesha County Construction Alliance and a Nonprofit Alliance. The Alliance also worked hand-in-hand with Waukesha County and business and municipal leaders to launch the Waukesha County Center for Growth, the county’s economic development organization. The creation of the entity involved multiple stakeholders and key partners, who came together under Suzanne’s leadership. The Alliance has also become one of the leading organizations in the state when it comes to workforce, talent and business education partnerships. The Alliance membership continues to grow and now marks 1,200 members. With a background in government affairs, Suzanne led the Alliance to increase its advocacy work and had an impact on several key issues such as Lake Michigan water for the City of Waukesha, completion of the West Waukesha bypass, funding to improve the safety of I-94 in Southeast Wisconsin, enhanced technical education funding, enactment of the state’s manufacturing and agricultural tax credits, expansion of the Alliance’s business education programming, elevated conversations around workforce housing, and support of innovative transportation solutions. Named among the 2021 Women of Distinction by the Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County and the 2013 Women of Influence by the Milwaukee Business Journal, Suzanne is active in several community organizations. She served as a 2015 Campaign Co-Chair for United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County and served on the United Way Board of Directors. She also served on the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) Board of Directors and the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives (WCCE) Advisory Board. ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES AMANDA PAYNE AS FUTURE PRESIDENT & CEO 10
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