Last December Patti Habeck left her role as president and CEO of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin to become president and CEO of the 18‑county economic development organization New North, Inc., which will hold its annual summit June 9 at Lambeau Field.
How have your 14 years with Feeding America translated to your new role?
I had spent so much time in community and hearing the lived experience voices and carrying those with me, I feel like [Feeding America] had become integrated with who I was as a person and as a leader. In many ways, both [roles] are economic development. But one is going in on a particular community challenge … what I’m doing now is kind of looking up and out. It is creating the conditions that allow our region to have economic opportunities, prosperity, workforce, to think differently. I’m working with the same people I worked with before, but it’s just from a different perspective.
How do you get your arms around such a broad purview in your new role?
It’s different than working with a singular issue. And actually, at Feeding America, I used to say it wasn’t so much that I was passionate about hunger relief as I’m passionate about communities. The transition is not challenging in that New North is already strong, and I’m following a leader who left good footprints.
What did you learn from that predecessor, Barb LaMue?
Barb is a superpower in and of herself. One of the things she was most insightful about has always been working in partnership and collaboration. It’s always about how do we align and elevate the work that others are doing, not duplicate or try to concentrate or collect the power.
What is it about Northeast Wisconsin that appeals to you?
I have lived on the West Coast, on the East Coast, and all points in between. I will say there is no place I have enjoyed more than Northeast Wisconsin. It’s the longest I’ve ever lived in one place, and that’s because I love it. The people are so genuine and authentic, I would choose this place over and over and over again.
