President & CEO of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce

Dale Kooyenga is President and CEO of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. MMAC represents over 2,000 businesses, serving as the region’s boardroom in pursuit of a globally competitive economy that fosters high-value jobs to sustain a vibrant quality of life for all. He is also a Lt Colonel in the US Army Reserves and is currently serving on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dale has served in the US Army for over 21 years and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. He is a C.P. A. and has over twenty years of experience including 10 years at KPMG and twelve years working as a C.F.O, for start-up, early stage, and private equity companies. Prior to joining MMAC, Kooyenga was elected and served in the Wisconsin State Assembly followed by four years of service as a Wisconsin State Senator. Kooyenga played NCAA Div III basketball at Lakeland University and graduated with bachelor's degree in accounting. He obtained an M.B.A. from Marquette University. He is married with four children.

President-Operations, Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club

Rick Schlesinger enters his 24th season with the Brewers and eighth in his current position after being promoted on January 23, 2019. He has previously held roles with the organization as executive vice president of business operations (2003-10) and chief operating officer (2011-18). He oversees the organization’s business operations, including finance, human resources, information technology, legal, sponsorships, marketing, ticketing, business analytics, broadcasting, communications, stadium operations and non-baseball special events.

Schlesinger serves on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, the board of trustees at Barton College (NC) and on the board of visitors of the University of Wisconsin-Madison History Department. He also is a member of Major League Baseball’s Youth Baseball Committee. Schlesinger was named the 2025 Executive of the Year by the Milwaukee Business Journal. The Brewers organization has continued to innovate and grow under Schlesinger's guidance, delivering memorable fan experiences while strengthening partnerships across the region.

Under Schlesinger's leadership, the Brewers have established records in nearly every aspect of the business. More than 2.5 million fans have passed through the gates of American Family Field in 15 of the past 17 seasons (excluding the 2020 and 2021 restricted capacity seasons). In that time, the organization has focused on the fan experience, developed new and enhanced partnerships and completed several major development projects that benefit various stakeholders. Recent major investments in the fan experience at American Family Field include a new main scoreboard and a second digital board in right field (2024), the J. Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard (2023) and X-Golf (2022).

New projects include an outdoor plaza near the pedestrian bridge over Brewers Boulevard featuring a music stage, a beer garden and mini golf and a premium club outside the main ballpark entrance.

In 2023, Schlesinger joined elected officials in leading a successful effort to secure a generational lease extension for the Brewers at American Family Field. The new lease and associated funding to maintain and improve the ballpark ensures that American Family Field will be home to the Brewers through at least 2050.

Prior to joining the organization, Schlesinger spent five seasons (1998-2002) as vice president of business and legal affairs/assistant general manager for the Anaheim Angels. He previously worked for Walt Disney Pictures and Television in motion picture development and production (1993-1998) and at the Los Angeles law firm of Latham and Watkins (1986-1993).

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1983, Schlesinger received his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School (cum laude) in 1986. A native of Bayside, Wisconsin, he currently resides in Hartland, Wisconsin, with his wife, Kate. They have five children, Bradley, Sam, Caitlin, Molly and Mathieu.

Assistant Professor of Business Analytics, Batterman School of Business, Concordia University Wisconsin

John Fields is an Assistant Professor of Business Analytics at Concordia University-Wisconsin and a Ph.D. Candidate in Computer Science at Marquette University. As co-founder of Concordia's AI & Quantum Innovation Lab, he leads research in privacy-preserving machine learning, educational data mining, and natural language processing, currently supported by a National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource grant. His Christian faith deeply inspires his work on AI ethics, shaping his commitment to developing technology that honors human dignity and serves the common good. He has published in IEEE Access and presented at IEEE Big Data conferences. With industry experience at Talent Select AI and Rockwell Automation, he combines academic research with practical expertise in business analytics and data science.

Director, Learning & Development, ManpowerGroup

With over 25 years of experience in the Learning & Development field, Jill has a wealth of expertise in instructional design, facilitation, and strategic leadership. She has led L&D initiatives across diverse industries, specializing in technical and job skills training that drives measurable business impact. She holds an advanced degree in Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology from Concordia University and is passionate about leveraging innovation and technology to transform learning experiences. She is a recognized leader in the Digital Adoption Platform (DAP) space, with nine years of experience guiding organizations through digital transformation and user enablement. She actively pursues AI and all new learning tools, technology, and methodology to bring current and engaging learning to her organization. Beyond her corporate role, she serves as an adjunct instructor and actively contributes to shaping future business leaders through her involvement on the Business School Advisory Council at Concordia University and MATC.

Senior Business Partner, Learning & Development, ManpowerGroup

Elaine Kressin is a Senior Learning and Development Business Partner at ManpowerGroup, where she has spent the past thirteen years. She manages the leadership development programs for ManpowerGroup North America, including the Future Leader Program, and is a certified facilitator in Fierce Conversations and INCLUDE. Elaine is passionate about helping leaders grow and also enjoys supporting entry-level teams in building skills and advancing their careers. Before joining ManpowerGroup, Elaine spent thirteen years as a restaurant manager and trainer, where she discovered her passion for learning and development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management and a Master Training Certificate from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Currently, Elaine is pursuing a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology to deepen her expertise in workplace performance and development. Elaine lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband and son. 

Director of Academic Innovation and Professor of Accounting, Batterman School of Business, Concordia University Wisconsin

Amber Gray serves as the Director of Academic Innovation and Professor of Accounting at Concordia University Wisconsin. She earned both her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy and Master of Science in Accountancy from Western Michigan University and began her professional career in public accounting with KPMG LLP. After advancing through a variety of corporate accounting and finance roles, she later served as CFO and Controller of Alaris, a Michigan-based medical and vocational case management organization. While successful in industry, Amber discovered that her greatest professional passion lay in higher education. Her teaching career began in 2003 while completing her graduate studies at Western Michigan University. Since that time, she has held faculty and leadership roles at Cleary University, Eastern Michigan University, Adrian College, and Walsh College. In 2021, Amber earned her Doctor of Education in Leadership, Innovation, and Continuous Improvement. In her current role with the Batterman School of Business, she focuses on advancing innovative academic programs, expanding continuing and executive education, and designing interdisciplinary, career-relevant learning pathways that support the evolving needs of students, employers, and the broader university community.

Director of Masters Programs, Professor of Accounting, Batterman School of Business, Concordia University Wisconsin

Dr. Kim Schave is a Certified Public Accountant who has also served as a nonprofit leader and Lutheran Deaconess. She has more than 20 years of experience teaching college accounting and business courses. She brings extensive expertise in management, finance and accounting, development, grant writing, and volunteer leadership, with professional experience spanning for-profit and nonprofit organizations as well as higher education. Dr. Schave also served as a military police officer in the Ohio Army National Guard. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership (Business Management concentration) from Eastern University, an MA in Theology with Deaconess certification from Concordia Theological Seminary, a Certificate in Business Management for Nonprofit Leaders from Washington University, and a BBA in Accounting from the University of Cincinnati.

Director of Doctoral Programs, Assistant Professor, Batterman School of Business, Concordia University Wisconsin

Dr. Laura Hurtienne is an educator and researcher. She earned her Ed.D. in Transformational Leadership from Concordia University Portland and is an alumna of Concordia University Wisconsin, where she earned her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. As a professor, she teaches and writes doctoral and undergraduate courses in leadership, change, research, and innovation. Dr. Hurtienne also supports doctoral students as a dissertation advisor. She is fully engaged in the fields of equity leadership, change management, employee engagement, and organizational development. Dr. Hurtienne has experience owning her own healthcare business and has consulted with businesses and organizations during critical times of transformation.

Academic Program and Accreditation Coordinator, Batterman School of Business, Concordia University Wisconsin

Tammy Ellison brings 20+ years of small-business leadership experience, helping grow a five-person operation into a 50+ employee company with locations across the Midwest. Her background spans HR, operations management, social media strategy, and both B2C and B2B sales. She has also served as a business mentor with SCORE, supporting entrepreneurs and emerging leaders.

Tammy earned both her undergraduate degree and MBA from Concordia University, where she now serves as an Academic Program and Accreditation Coordinator and adjunct professor in the School of Business Administration, teaching business ethics and management courses.

Real Estate, Marketing, Host

Danika Holt is a high-impact strategist operating at the intersection of brand architecture, elite representation, and business development. As a Marketing Professional in the sports and entertainment sector, she serves as the primary architect for the personal and philanthropic legacies of professional athletes and high-profile talent. Danika specializes in transforming abstract client visions into scalable market realities, integrating multi-channel PR with sophisticated growth strategies and experiential activations. Throughout her career, Danika has been a pivotal driver of institutional launches and national marketing campaigns. Her expertise is defined by a rare "bifocal" vision: the ability to manage granular operational details from content creation to event planning while maintaining a 30,000-foot strategic perspective on internal communications and brand narrative. She has successfully navigated marketing and communication strategies across diverse industries, including manufacturing, automotive, professional sports, and entertainment. A former collegiate athlete and Miss Wisconsin USA, Danika leverages her national platform to drive community engagement and social advocacy. She extends her entrepreneurial acumen into the real estate sector and the media landscape as a seasoned podcast host. A dedicated wife and mother, Danika’s leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that "doing good is good business" a principle she applies to every foundation she builds and every brand she scales.