Waukesha County Business Alliance

During the year, the Waukesha County Business Alliance held a variety of programs for members to build Business relationships and listen to leadership or educational speakers. These programs include: Business growth programs and workshops, professional women's development network, young professionals of Waukesha County, advocacy programs such as economic development, education and workforce development, infrastructure, and others. Attendance at these programs ranges from 50 for smaller programs to over 500 for larger programs.

The number one concern we hear from the Business community is workforce. In a survey we conducted in 2020, 73 percent of businesses in Waukesha County reported finding a skilled workforce to be the primary challenge they face when starting or growing their Business. We're working to address the labor shortage to ensure that businesses have enough employees and citizens have access to jobs with family-sustaining wages. We've created employer collaboratives focused on our high-demand industries of manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and technology to ensure our businesses have a voice in the process and we're coming up with solutions. Within those collaboratives. We are focused on three tenets that make up a comprehensive workforce development strategy: attracting, developing and retaining talent. The Alliance provides programming to inform students, educators and parents about career pathways available in Waukesha County driver industries.

Effective leadership is key to any community's success and the development of emerging leaders is essential to ensure the continuity of leaders for the future. Leadership Waukesha County is a program that focuses on the development of Business professionals who live or work in the greater Waukesha County area. In more than 30 years of existence, over 1,100 graduates of these programs have strengthened their personal and professional skills. The program evolves every year to reflect the changing needs and trends of the Business world.