The 2026 New North Summit “Region on the Rise” at Lambeau Field on Tuesday focused on people, workplace culture, talent development, innovation and growth in the 18-county Northeast Wisconsin region.
The morning portion of the event, which welcomed an estimated 620-plus attendees, was emceed by New North President & CEO Patti Habeck and Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry CEO Sachin Shivarim.
Capital Credit Union Laurie Butz introduced keynote Kyle Chapman, president and CEO of Barry-Wehmiller Group, Inc., first offering an emotional tribute to his father, Bob Chapman, the late CEO and chairman of the board, who passed away in March. Bob Chapman was Butz’s mentor for years and she spoke about his impact and legacy. “He changed how we think about leadership… he helped us move to a more caring world,” Butz says.
Summit attendees received a copy of his book, “Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family.”
Kyle Chapman began with a video featuring his late father and spoke about the need to shift work culture to supporting employees, which ultimately impacts productivity.
“This is an invitation to help us redefine what success in business looks like, to prove that economic growth and human vibrancy can, in fact, exist in harmony,” Chapman said.
Barry Wehmiller, which is a leader in industrial & packaging automation, professional services and life sciences, has grown from $20 million in revenue in 1987 to a projected $4 billion-plus in 2026, Kyle Chapman says. The company has expanded through the adoption of more than 160 businesses.
The day featured a lineup of speakers including local business leaders, state leaders, and another keynote by Rima Alaily, corporate VP & General Counsel for Microsoft. Alaily, an Appleton native, spoke about the major technological shift of AI is creating new economic opportunities everywhere, including through data center growth.
“When tech companies come here to build data centers, we can and we do tap into a robust local manufacturing and construction capability,” Alaily said.
An additional keynote presentation by Denise Thomas, author, leadership strategist and effective communications coach, led a dynamic, interactive session on strengthening executive presence and tapped into the theme of rising leadership, noting that architecture of rising leadership includes clarity, communication and confidence.
“We are leading through rapid change, we’re leading in an environment where people are wondering, is my employment secure? And that all falls on your shoulders,” Thomas said.
You aren’t just growing a regional economy, you are growing the most valuable asset to any organization, and that is your people,” Thomas said, and the single greatest accelerator of that growth is communication.
The morning presentation also included recognition of Insight Publications’ 40 Under 40 alumni, an announcement of the New North Workplace Excellence Award winner (Goodwill Northcentral Wisconsin), and a showcase of the 20th anniversary of the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA) by executive director Ann Franz.
Habeck also highlighted New North programs such as the new Cheese Wedge Consoritum, which is helping connect startups with funding and resources, and New North’s expansion of the New North Hires Heroes program, reaching more veterans. She noted the recent untimely passing of veteran advocate and founder of Semper Forward, Steve Janke, who died in a collision on May 31 at age 48.
The day also included networking, two panel breakout sessions, one on cross-industry talent development and the other on entrepreneurship.
