The past 30 days have provided me with so many opportunities to be proud of the business leaders, volunteers, staff, and students across Wisconsin who are connected to Junior Achievement. We are on track to reach over 120,000 Wisconsin students with JA programs in the 2023-24 school year. Three teams of Wisconsin high school students placed in the top 8 at the JA USA Titan National Championship. Three exceptional laureates were inducted into the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame at our 34th annual event last week. And a long-time JA volunteer in La Crosse reached a milestone and was honored last month. Thank you all for your efforts and support to help us end this school year with a bang! I can’t wait to see what we’ll all do together next year! |
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Julie Granger | President
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin
11111 W. Liberty Dr. | Milwaukee, WI. 53224
M: 414-788-4333 | O: 414-577-3810
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WOWs | Sharing Our Success
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Wisconsin Students Win JA Titan National Competition
Wisconsinites have a special affinity for the legacy of a good sports team. While it may not be on par with the Packers, the Bucks, or the Brewers in its ability to sell out a venue, Junior Achievement has a solid digital sports legacy when it comes to the JA Titan Business Challenge. Three Wisconsin student teams from Shawano, Waunakee, and La Crosse competed in the virtual JA USA Titan Business Challenge on May 14, 2024.
The national JA Titan Business Challenge Championship was won by Luke Hammon and Ryan Bohmback from Wolf River Lutheran High School in Shawano, Wisconsin. Hammon and Bohmback competed against 34 other high school teams from across the United States in the digital competition to see which team could run the most profitable virtual company. They will travel to the 2024 JA National Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., June 10th – 13th to accept their award in person and engage with innovation, business, and entrepreneurship experts, attend professional development seminars, and gain exposure to a national network of teen entrepreneurs.
This is the second time in two years that a team of Wisconsin students took first place in the JA USA national competition. In 2022, the national winners came from a team of high school students from Appleton North High School and Beloit Memorial High School.
Two other Wisconsin student teams finished in the top 8 spots. Mason Lavold and Sebastian Rasmussen from Waunakee High School in Waunakee, WI took second place in the national competition, only 3 points behind the champions from Shawano. The team of Carson Nelson, Gavin Wappler, and Zeke Sanders finished in 8th place. Learn More
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JA Honors Business Leaders at 2024 Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin held its 34th Annual Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame™ on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This year’s laureates included Jeffrey A. Joerres, Stephen H. Marcus, and Jack Salzwedel. View Photos
Joerres joined Manpower in 1993. During his tenure as the organization’s leader. ManpowerGroup expanded its global presence from 42 countries to 80 countries and grew revenue from $8 billion to $20 billion. In 2011, ManpowerGroup was recognized as the most admired company in the Temporary Help industry. Following an illustrious career culminating in roles as Chairman and CEO, and later Executive Chairman, Jeff retired from ManpowerGroup in 2015. His influence extends beyond the corporate world as evidenced by his service on various community boards. He has also received the Woodrow Wilson International award for Corporate Citizenship, and he is a Knight in the French National Order of the Legion of Honor.
Marcus became interested in cinema as a child when he worked in his family’s movie theater business. Throughout his academic pursuits at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and the University of Michigan Law School, his connection to the family business remained steadfast. However, in 1962, the trajectory of The Marcus Corp. was forever altered. Using his law degree, Steve helped his father, Ben Marcus, acquire The Pfister Hotel when it was at the brink of bankruptcy. Steve then stepped into the role of the hotel’s general manager, marking the beginning of his impactful Marcus Corp. career. His leadership proved instrumental in shaping the company’s expansion beyond Wisconsin, its embrace of new technologies and its transition to a publicly traded entity (listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1993). His strategic vision laid the foundation for the corporation’s enduring success.
The seeds of success were planted early in Salzwedel, who grew up in De Forest, Wisconsin, when he helped market his father’s insurance company. Fast forward to 1982, he joined American Family Insurance as a claims adjuster, ascending the ranks to become Chairman and CEO of the organization in November 2011. Under Jack’s stewardship, American Family Insurance underwent a transformative evolution from a regional agency to a national enterprise, embracing technological advancements and diversifying its offerings. His forward-thinking approach led to the establishment of a data science and analytics lab, adoption of AI, and commitment to innovation and inclusivity in the corporation.
Other honorees included Kamilah Williams-Kemp, Chief Insurance Officer at Northwestern Mutual who was named Peak Performer of the Year. Shamit Surana, a senior at Franklin High School in Franklin Wisconsin, was recognized as the Junior Achievement Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Surana is the founder and owner of Halokeys.
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Long-time JA Volunteer in La Crosse Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
Peter Petersilie hit a milestone in JA volunteering this year when he taught his 250th JA classroom in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Peter was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the JA Leadership Speaker Breakfast in La Crosse last month. He invests his energy and time to making the class an experience the students won't forget with the graduation ceremony at the end.
Peter has a tie to match every lesson he teaches in La Crosse area elementary school classrooms and shared that he owns over 300 ties. So, what better gift than a new Junior Achievement tie he can wear while teaching his next 250 JA classes! Peter is an amazing servant leader. We thank community members like this who give so much of who they are back to JA.
JA of Wisconsin is actively seeking volunteer support across the state for the 2024-25 school year. Learn More
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NOWs | Seeking Your Support
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Last Chance to Bid in Online Auction for Northwest Area of Wisconsin
The 28th Annual JA Golf Outing in Eau Claire, Wisconsin takes place on Thursday, June 6, 2024.The online auction is open to all JA supporters and offers something for everyone, from sports enthusiasts to foodies, to gifts for your loved ones.
The contributions raised through the JA Golf Outing Online Auction will be put to work funding JA programming at schools in the Northwest Area of Wisconsin. Bidding will close on Thursday, June 6 at 6 PM. Bid Now
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