This President & CEO opportunity at New North, Inc. offers an extraordinary blend of strategic leadership, regional impact, and public visibility—creating a truly unique platform for a dynamic and visionary executive.
For leaders energized by collaboration, innovation, and measurable results, this role is a rare career-defining opportunity. As the head of a highly respected nonprofit economic development corporation, the incoming CEO will set the course for the future of an 18-county region in Northeast Wisconsin. Beyond traditional leadership, the role offers a national—and even international—stage to represent the region, cultivate partnerships, and champion Northeast Wisconsin’s economic success story. Public-facing engagement is a core part of the opportunity: the CEO will have regular visibility across the state, country, and occasionally the world, promoting the region’s strengths and forging strategic alliances.
With a mission to be a catalyst for regional prosperity, New North seeks a visionary leader with proven executive experience, exceptional coalition-building skills, and a true passion for economic and community development. This is not just a CEO position—it is a platform for transformational leadership and broad public influence.
Why Is This A Dream Company?
New North, Inc., is a 501(c)3 non-profit, regional economic development corporation fostering collaboration among private and public sector leaders throughout the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin, known as the New North region. The New North brand unites the region both internally and externally around talent development, brand promotion, and business development, signifying the collective economic power behind the 18 counties. The counties include Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago.
Position Overview
Position Purpose:
To implement the strategies, goals and objectives of New North as it relates to the creation and orchestration of a regional approach to economic development.
Essential functions:
- Provide New North Board with professional support, including information and recommendations to allow it to accomplish its charter. Assist in the development of the organization’s operating and fiscal plans.
- Provide leadership for a regional focus by working with leaders and staff of all sectors engaged in growing and maintaining the economy, providing direction toward economic development and building consensus among the region, and promoting collaboration.
- Work to establish an environment of trust among all stakeholders.
- Lead and facilitate the development of a regional plan of action that engages all stakeholders.
- Advocate for the region in a way that promotes a brand image that encourages economic development and investment. Coordinate the various resources throughout the NEW area into a unified promotional package for NEW. Identify Economic Development opportunities and align regional resources in order to insure strategic capture of business growth opportunities.
- Advocate for local, state, national, and international support in regards to investment, legislation, policy, and funding.
- Create an ongoing resource model to perpetuate the vision of New North. Seek and develop financial and personnel resources from within and without the region.
- Identify external and internal environmental changes that promote or dissuade economic and community vitality and recommend actions and/or reprioritizations.
- Assist potential clients and stakeholders to identify, assess and evaluate options and resources that add value or mitigate choices in the Economic Development arena.
- Provide data and measurements that guide actions and demonstrate accountability.
- Provide leadership, supervision, and direction to New North talent.
Minimum Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree–Master’s degree preferred along with national economic development certification.
- 10 years of progressively responsible career growth, including 5 years in a senior/executive leadership role. Experience must include responsibility for budgets, P & L, and financial management.
- Experience in entrepreneurship and building and managing regional coalitions.
- Valid driver’s license and good driving record.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Considerable skill in communicating effectively, both orally and in writing. Interactions with broad range of individuals in situations requiring persuasion and negotiations, often in situations where selling of concepts or abstract ideas is important. Includes formal public presentations. Ability to effectively use appropriate forums and technologies.
- Skill in the use of interpersonal communication to build and maintain effective relationships and garner the support and allegiance of disparate stakeholders in insure the best economic development outcomes for the region; strong team building skills; skill to persuade through consensus building.
- Exercise of considerable initiative and judgment, often in areas where methods and practices are not fully established; ability to seek out and apply creative solutions.
- Ability to become recognized expert on economic development in Northeastern Wisconsin, and to promote the advantages of regionalized efforts.
- Ability to analyze information and determine appropriate course of action.
- Ability to maintain composure and work effectively in antagonistic, hostile, or stressful situations and/or under public scrutiny and media attention.
- Knowledge of basics of the principles and practices of the field of economic development, including marketing, finance, government relations, workforce development, infrastructure, quality of life, education and incentives.
- Ability to manage multiple complex projects; ability to perform multiple tasks during the work day.
- Action oriented with ability to deliver timely and positive results; ability to effectively establish strategies, goals and objectives.
- Knowledge and understanding of marketing channels and ability to harness resources from those channels.
- Knowledge of organizational fund raising.
- Demonstrated organizational and strategic leadership skills.
- Proficiency in use of office technologies.
- Ability to establish and maintain credibility with business, political and community leaders.
- Ability to write and oversee grants.
Life In Greater Green Bay and New North Region
Famously nicknamed “Titletown”, Green Bay Wisconsin is home to the historic football franchise -The Green Bay Packers. While the city of Green Bay has a population of 106,000, the New North region’s population is 1.3 million who unequivocally rally behind the team as it’s not just a pastime, but a lifestyle. Incorporating the spirit of the game in everyday life, you can see the names of legendary coaches and players on the street signs and a sea of green and gold no matter where you are in the metropolitan area. Not to mention game day in Green Bay is an experience unlike any other. Grab a locally crafted beer, put a few brats on the grill, and immerse yourself in the local tradition of tailgating with thousands of other fans. It’s no fluke that Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packers annually top lists of best stadiums and atmospheres in the country.
On non-game days, a visit to the oldest stadium in the NFL, Lambeau Field, is a must! Start with a tour of the historic facilities, take a selfie with the statue of Vince Lombardi, pick out new gear at the Packers Pro Shop, and end with a meal at 1919 Kitchen & Tap located on the first-floor atrium.
Regardless of the season, the greater Green Bay area is an extremely active place to live. Located next to Lambeau Field, the Titletown District is a perfect place for family-friendly fun. In the winter, enjoy the ice-skating rink and tubing hill available, and in the summer, utilize the full-size football field for a quick game or check out the additional spaces for popular recreational activities. If you want a more tranquil venue, the botanical gardens offer daily admissions to their 47 acres of beautiful gardens and natural areas. Take advantage of the breathtaking Garden of Light shows in the winter months and cozy up with some hot chocolate afterward.
Be sure to check out the many other distinct attractions throughout the region. Bay Beach is a local favorite for its amusement park and wildlife sanctuary. Grab the family and ride one of the oldest existing wooden roller coasters in the United States, the “Zippin Pippin”. For a more educational experience, head to the nationally distinguished Railroad Museum to engage in its interactive exhibits or go back in time at Heritage Hill State Park, a local outdoor museum that features 24 structures of Wisconsin’s past — the fur trade in 1762, Fort Howard in 1836, small towns in 1871 and ethnic farms in 1905.
Perfect for the residents who consider themselves foodies, the restaurant and brewery scene in the area is phenomenal! Hinterland puts a unique spin on American cuisine and best of all, you can wash it all down with their hand-crafted beer. Make sure to order the cheese curds, a Wisconsin staple, for an appetizer. When the weather begins to cool down, Hagemeister Park offers a unique private dining experience in their riverside igloos, complete with heaters, pillows, blankets, candles, music and board games to give it that “homelike” setting.
Want a weekend adventure? Drive just a little way up the road to enjoy scenic Door County. Filled with plenty of trails for hiking, wineries and water activities, the quaint small-town getaway is hard to beat. If a trip to the big city is more your style, Green Bay and its surrounding areas are well within a few hours’ drive to Chicago, Madison, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis.
The full 18-county region is full of great business and recreational opportunities. Please check out the New North website: www.thenewnorth.com to learn more about the communities served.
