The Water Council, a global leader in water stewardship and technology innovation, will join the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) as an affiliate organization.
The action was approved by each organization’s board of directors on March 10.
“The MMAC and The Water Council have a strong history and a shared mission of growing our region’s economy,” said MMAC President Dale Kooyenga. “Combining The Water Council’s respected brand, expertise in water technology innovation and global reach with our resources in attracting investment in southeastern Wisconsin, this partnership will not only enhance the area’s reputation as a global leader in water solutions but also ensure a prosperous future for our community and its economy.”
While now formalized, the organizations have a long history of working together – with MMAC assisting The Water Council’s formation in 2009.
“The Water Council Board of Directors is excited about the opportunity to build a closer affiliation with MMAC as we share similar missions of strengthening and growing our region’s economy,” said Scott Beightol, The Water Council board chairman. “In fact, MMAC and its regional attraction partner, Milwaukee 7, helped identify the water technology cluster in Milwaukee that led to the creation of The Water Council, so it’s natural for us to work together to promote one of the region’s most powerful assets. The Water Council looks forward to deepening water industry ties to southeastern Wisconsin and attraction of more water-related businesses, innovation and workforce.”
As an affiliate of MMAC, The Water Council will retain its independent board – which will have operational oversight along with Kooyenga. Membership of both organizations will also remain independent. MMAC will provide administrative services.
“Since its existence, The Water Council has always operated on the principle that more can be accomplished by creating meaningful partnerships,” said Dean Amhaus, The Water Council president and CEO. “This collaboration is a win not only for us and MMAC but, most importantly, our members, the industry and the community as a whole. Working closely with the MMAC team offers The Water Council team a strong and important ally that will open doors and create new growth opportunities for our members in Milwaukee and worldwide.”
Amhaus recently announced plans to retire later this year. The Water Council Board of Directors has launched a nationwide search for the organization’s next CEO.
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The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) serves more than 2,000 businesses and hundreds of thousands of their employees throughout greater Milwaukee. It supports a globally competitive region to sustain high-value jobs that foster a vibrant quality of life for all.
The Water Council (TWC) is a global hub dedicated to solving critical water challenges by driving innovation in freshwater technology and advancing water stewardship. Built on more than a century of innovation, TWC has coalesced one of the most concentrated and mature water technology clusters in the world from its headquarters at the Global Water Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Recognizing the need for smarter and more sustainable use of water worldwide, TWC also promotes water stewardship as a natural complement to water innovation in the effort to preserve freshwater resources in the Midwest and around the world. Today, The Water Council has established itself as a global leader in the water industry and one of America’s premier economic development clusters as recognized by government agencies, Brookings and the Harvard Business School.