TEMPO MILWAUKEE ELECTS 2020-21 BOARD SLATE INCLUDING LORI RICHARDS AS CHAIR
Organization Also Launches New Foundation Board

MILWAUKEE— (May 7, 2020) — TEMPO Milwaukee members have elected Lori Richards, chief executive officer of Mueller Communications, as board chair of the organization effective May 1, 2020. Three new board members were also elected at TEMPO’s annual meeting last month. Rebecca Ehlers, vice president of marketing and communications for LUMIN Schools, Julie Granger, executive vice president at MMAC, and Gerry Howze, executive director of PEARLS for Teen Girls will each serve for up to three, three-year terms.

“Lori has shown tremendous dedication to TEMPO since she joined as a member in 2011, the board in 2014 and having served in various leadership roles,” said Jen Dirks, president and CEO of TEMPO Milwaukee. “Lori’s expertise in communications, marketing, and strong pulse on the business community is critical to our organization’s success as we navigate new strategic priorities in 2020.” 

Marybeth Cottrill, director and private wealth advisor with BMO Wealth Management, assumes the role of past chair. Kris Best, chief financial officer at BVK, continues in her role as treasurer. DeVona Wright Cottrell, director and associate general counsel at Baird, joins the executive committee as the organization’s new vice chair/chair elect.

Directors and Directors-at-Large Updates
Ehlers joins the board as director of communications. Granger and Howze both join as a director-at-large. Appointments of existing board members to director positions include:

• Tami Garrison, community affairs director with Molson Coors, to the new role of director of collaboration
• Erickajoy Daniels, senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer of
  Advocate Aurora Health, to the new role of director of diversity and inclusion
• Kelly Renz, chief executive officer of Novo Group, Inc., to director of governance
• Mary Burgoon, business development manager for Rockwell Automation’s Academy of Advanced Manufacturing, to director of membership

The following board members were re-elected to three-year terms: Mary Burgoon, Cathy Girard, vice president of development and community services with Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Marilyn Krause, principal of Krause Communications, and Lori Richards.

“We also acknowledge our two outgoing board members, Linda Mertz and Ellen Trytek, and thank them for their leadership and service to TEMPO Milwaukee,” added Dirks. View the complete 2020-21 TEMPO Milwaukee Board of Directors here.

TEMPO Milwaukee Foundation Board Elected
Also approved by membership was a 2020-21 TEMPO Milwaukee Foundation board to oversee activities of the 501(c)3 charitable organization. Dirks serves as an ex officio member of the Foundation board.

• Chair – Joanne Grunau, consultant, Grucon Group, LLC
• Vice Chair – Mary Ellen Krueger, director of wealth management and partner, Aspiriant
• Past Chair – Jody Lowe, president and managing director, The Lowe Group
• Treasurer – Kris Best, chief financial officer, BVK
• Secretary – Ellen Bartel, retired/consultant
• Director-At-Large – Mary Dowell, principal consultant, MJ Dowell & Associates
• Director-At-Large – Sarah Greenberg, principal consultant, Greenberg Strategies

“In 2019-20 alone, the TEMPO Milwaukee Foundation provided more than $42,000 to local women and charities that advance women leaders,” said Dirks. “I look forward to working with the new Foundation board to continue to expand the impact of TEMPO’s charitable efforts.”

About TEMPO Milwaukee
TEMPO Milwaukee is a professional women’s organization that connects its 425 members who hold CEO, executive and senior leadership positions, with one another and the community. The purpose of TEMPO Milwaukee is to provide members with opportunities to network with leaders and future leaders, to enhance our members’ awareness of issues and trends having an impact on Milwaukee, and to promote the active contribution of TEMPO Milwaukee whose presence is essential to the future success of the business community. TEMPO Milwaukee serves its diverse membership and community through educational programming, networking opportunities, relationship building, and mentoring, with the goal of empowering women to achieve and sustain leadership roles.

About TEMPO Milwaukee Foundation
The TEMPO Milwaukee Foundation advances women leaders by providing undergraduate scholarships and continuing education grants to females who demonstrate need. Since 1990, the TEMPO Milwaukee Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, has awarded more than $300,000 in educational scholarships to female college students in Wisconsin. For more information about the TEMPO Milwaukee Foundation, click here.

###