Willie Wade to Be Named Local Government Official of the Year
Milwaukee – Employ Milwaukee recently named Willie Wade Vice President of Community Relations. The organization will benefit from Mr. Wade’s 13 years as 7th District Milwaukee Alderman, including his impressive work in city development, which was recently recognized by Milwaukee Magazine. The publication named him the “5th Most Influential Person in the City of Milwaukee” for his passionate involvement in projects that better the city, and his impressive ability to get things done in the area of development.
In his new role as VP of Community Relations at Employ Milwaukee, he will put his vast experience and networking abilities to use to connect Milwaukeeans to jobs and career opportunities.
“Willie Wade has been very involved in projects like the Harley-Davidson Museum, Potawatomi expansion, The Brewery, The Moderne, and most recently the Northwestern Mutual project, the Bucks new arena, Century City and the Streetcar. As a matter of fact, his fingerprints are on most of the development that has occurred in Milwaukee from 2003 up until today,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
“We are thrilled that Willie Wade has joined our staff,” said Earl Buford, Employ Milwaukee President and CEO. “He has the energy, experience and unparalleled knowledge as to the most effective ways to connect with the community to address getting residents into the workforce pipeline and providing workers for Milwaukee area businesses.”
“The biggest crisis Milwaukee faces is unemployment,” said Willie Wade, Employ Milwaukee Vice President of Community Relations. “I’m excited to be joining Employ Milwaukee where I can use all of my energy to be laser-focused on preparing our workforce and connecting people to jobs, and bringing vitality back to our community’s neighborhoods.” This week, Willie Wade will be named the “Local Government Official of the Year” by the American Planning Association Wisconsin Chapter I (APA-WI) for his contribution to planning excellence in Milwaukee. He will receive the award on Friday, September 23, 2016 at the APA-WI Awards Luncheon at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.
The selection committee members were from the states of Michigan and Minnesota. One of the jurors who reviewed Willie Wade’s APA-WI nomination noted: “Willie Wade has demonstrated his dedication to the advancement of good planning, recognizing that long-term improvements are not to be sacrificed for short term gains. It appears as though the candidate’s approach is broad and over-arching, which allows for mindful and holistic planning; while also detail-oriented, which slowly chips away at the small (yet real) barriers to success…Effective planning encompasses all of the wide range of effort described above, and it is for this reason that I strongly support the awarding of this honor to Willie Wade.”
Throughout Willie Wade’s career he has been a champion of projects and policies that improve the quality of life for his constituency. During his time as Alderman, he served on committees where he could have the greatest opportunities to positively impact Milwaukee’s economic growth and improve neighborhoods. Mr. Wade’s numerous committees and boards, include the Survive Alive House, Local Initiative Support Corporation, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and the Environmental Justice Task Force for the Advisory Committee for the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board, Century City Redevelopment Corporation, Fresh Coast Classic Board, Fellowship Open Honorary Chair, and the General Manager of Golda Meir High School’s basketball program.