WENDY WERKMEISTER

Wendy Werkmeister currently serves as President of the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC). For over eight years, she has led the statewide economic development corporation providing business education and access to capital to those interested in starting or growing a small business.

Under her leadership many accomplishments have been realized. The organizational revenue increased from $200,000 to $1,600,000, staff increased from 1.5 to 20 fulltime individuals and the WWBIC has been recognized through numerous local and national awards including United States Small Business Administration (US-SBA) New Market Awards, Rural Partnership Awards andUrban Economic Development Association Leadership Award. Werkmeister has been recognized as Milwaukeean of the Year and Rotarian of the Year. WWBIC now provides training to over 1,500 individuals per year and loans close to $1 million annually due to Werkmeister’s leadership. WWBIC has also been a subcontractor for both the US-SBA’s Egypt Initiative and US AID for international business development.

Werkmeister has actively served in a leadership role on many local committees, boards and civic associations. She has been past President of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Civic Alliance and Milwaukee North Shore Rotary Club. She is current Assistant District Governor of Rotary District 6270, Group Team Leader of Rotary Group Study Exchange to Nigeria, Vice President of the Association of Women’s Business Centers and Vice President of St. Francis Children Center.

In addition, Werkmeister has been involved in numerous local, national and international developments including a Rotary Group Study Exchange to Nigeria, International Host to delegations recently from Ghana, Tanzania, Russia and Ukraine, Cocoa-Organic and Sustainable Farming Project in the Dominican Republic and the building of a school and well in Kadoka, Nigeria. She is also serves in the development and coordination of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Hank Aaron State Trail Run/Walk and the development and lead in Milwaukee’s Public Market.