Given downtown’s density of professional organizations and service-based clubs, networking in Milwaukee is as simple as identifying your passion. Below are the missions of several organizations with networking opportunities for both seasoned and emerging leaders.
The American Marketing Association Milwaukee Chapter is committed to providing opportunities for continued learning and education on a wide variety of marketing topics, including social media, marketing technology, marketing research, direct marketing and marketing trends. An affiliate of the American Marketing Association International, AMA Milwaukee was founded in 1946 and is the longest standing association of marketing professionals in Wisconsin.
ArtSpin, Milwaukee's collaborative arts marketing group, led by Cindy Moran, arts networker and former public relations director for Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
A division of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce COSBE is led by CEOs from a diverse group of small business manufacturers and service companies throughout the four-county area.
Established in the early 1960's by a group of East Town merchants, the East Town Association is a catalyst in enhancing downtown Milwaukee’s East Town neighborhood, creating fellowship and fostering growth, while preserving the area’s rich heritage. Funded solely through membership dues and revenue from community programs such as Jazz in the Park, Bastille Days and the East Town Market, the East Town Association is committed to making East Town a great place to live, work and play. Today over 200 businesses and 75 residents are members of East Town Association.
Femfessionals was created for and continues to be driven by a community of dynamic business women. We bring women together, in a positive and uplifting way, regardless of religion, political affiliation, industry, ethnicity, to genuinely support each other in business, community activities and life. We provide resources and platforms they need to grow their businesses, revenue and connection circles. Become a Femfessional and join our movement today. Women are by nature supportive and with the support of their fellow sisters, women are unstoppable. This is our movement. For young ladies to professional women, our Femfessionals creates communities within communities where women support and promote each other unconditionally.
FUEL Milwaukee is an economic development initiative of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce(MMAC). FUEL is the leading organization addressing talent attraction and retention for the MMAC and Milwaukee 7. Our mission is to put the Milwaukee Region on the map in a whole new way—by establishing and positioning the Region as a destination for world-class talent.
To create a dynamic environment for Hispanic professionals to thrive by fostering leadership, mentoring, education, networking, and new initiatives that support Hispanics and Hispanic businesses.
The Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee, a "flagship club" in a worldwide service organization, is committed to improve the Greater Milwaukee community, especially for youth, through volunteer resources and action. We offer men and women opportunities for community service, leadership and friendship.
For more than 150 years, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) has been serving area businesses as a private, not-for-profit organization. Today we represent approximately 1,800 member businesses with 300,000 employees in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties and beyond.
Driven by the needs of our members, we are committed to increasing the economic vitality of the metro Milwaukee business community. The organization's programs and resources center around three core competencies. The MMAC is the region's best business network, bringing members together to develop business, share best practices and build stronger business relationships. We are the key private-sector partner for economic development, working to strengthen our business base and attract and retain jobs and the talent to fill them. And we serve as the region's advocate for member businesses at the local, state and federal levels.
The Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit art-service organization that provides professional development tools to the creative class. MARN was founded in 2000 after the Wisconsin Arts Board in partnership with the Milwaukee Arts Board convinced the Urban Artist's Initiative to assess the needs of local artists. Those meetings identified the need for an organization to help artists, across disciplines, with the business side of art. Most major cities have an organization like MARN, but few have programming as comprehensive as ours.
Each Tuesday Milwaukee’s business, professional and community leaders come together at the War Memorial Center for lunch to listen and learn about the key issues affecting our community--the largest weekly gathering in the metro Milwaukee area. Members of The Rotary Club of Milwaukee are part of a worldwide network of over 1.2 million men and women who make a difference in the lives of people in their communities and around the world.
The Milwaukee Urban League's mission is to provide essential services, strong results-oriented programming, to those who share with all of us a desire to be productive, contributing members of the community. A dedicated team of staff, volunteers, sponsors, and the Board open doors to information, skill development and other support to help African Americans achieve their full potential and participate in the social mainstream, to secure economic self-sufficiency, parity and power, and civil rights.
The Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals (MULYP) is a network of young professionals who provide leadership development, economic empowerment and community volunteer opportunities for other young professionals. The organization trains, develops, and educates young professionals to take leadership roles within the National Urban League, corporate and government sectors, and society-at-large. Members of MULYP are defining, developing, implementing, and leading the next generation of leaders.
Network After Work - Networking Events for Professionals is a national business and social networking event company that launched in June 2009. We host events in 28 locations and will be in 50 by the end of 2013. Events are created for professionals who want to expand their network and create new business opportunities and range in size from 100-1000 professionals. The events take place in each city's top nightlife destinations.
NEWaukee is one of Milwaukee’s original Young Professional organizations. Founded in 2009 by two recent college graduates, NEWaukee’s original intent was to give Milwaukee’s young professionals a way to socialize and explore the city with their peers. The NEWaukee membership core is made up of young professionals ages 23 – 35, who are looking for a way to get to know the city of Milwaukee and the people in it.
The Public Relations Society of America Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter is the pre-eminent forum to advance networking and educational opportunities for area communications professionals. It is one of the most active chapters of the Public Relations Society of America, with numerous events and programs that help members connect and further their professional skills.
To further the impact of women leaders in our community.
Helping young professionals enhance the nonprofit sector. YNPN is the preeminent resource and connector for an engaged nonprofit community that strengthens Milwaukee.
Founded in 2012, Social X aims to unite Milwaukee up-and-comers by hosting upscale events tailored to satiate the social needs of young, urbane, and educated professionals.
We are a group of women with a common interest in creating a network of formal and informal professionals.
Young Professionals Connecting Communities
Network After Work is America’s premier face-to-face business networking company with monthly mixer events in over 40 cities catering to nearly 1,000,000 members. Attendees make valuable connections with other members of their business community while enjoying different exciting venues including clubs, restaurants, hotels, and special event locations.
WGIRLS Milwaukee is the premiere organization for young professional women who give their time to plan fundraising events and volunteer for local nonprofits that serve women and children. WGIRLS Milwaukee's goal is to engage young professionals in the community by having fun through philanthropy. By partnering with other nonprofit organizations whose goals align closely with our own, the WGIRLS are able to affect reverberating positive change in the lives of countless underprivileged women and children.