http://www.mmac.orgNews related to Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce(c) 2026, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce All Rights Reserved.5<p style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Sans-Serif;font-size:medium;color:#000;line-height:1.5;word-break:normal;overflow-wrap:break-word;">&nbsp;</p><p style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Sans-Serif;font-size:medium;color:#000;line-height:1.5;word-break:normal;overflow-wrap:break-word;"><img src="https://web.mmac.org/External/WCPages/WCWebContent/webcontentpage.aspx?ContentID=8800" alt="" width="600" height="74"></p><p style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Sans-Serif;font-size:medium;color:#000;line-height:1.5;word-break:normal;overflow-wrap:break-word;"><br><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Join us for a morning that will shape how our region thinks about growth.&nbsp; This inaugural event will bring together M7 investors, economic development stakeholders, development partners and board members from across southeastern Wisconsin.&nbsp; We'll open with a first look at brand new data on the M7 region's economic competitiveness and growth trajectory, then turn to a conversation with Derek Thompson, bestselling author of <i>Abundance</i>, founder and host of the Plain English podcast, and one of the nation's sharpest minds on economic growth, technology and the future of work.&nbsp;</span></span></p><p style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Sans-Serif;font-size:medium;color:#000;line-height:1.5;word-break:normal;overflow-wrap:break-word;"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Agenda<br></strong></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><br></strong></span><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>7:30 AM&nbsp; &nbsp; Registration, Networking, and Breakfast&nbsp;</strong></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><br></strong></span><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>8:30AM&nbsp; &nbsp; Welcome and Opening Remarks</strong></span></span><br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="font-size:14px;">M7 Chairperson's Update</span><br><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>8:45AM&nbsp; &nbsp;The State of the M7 Region: Trends, Strengths, and Opportunities</strong></span></span><br><span style="font-size:14px;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Insights from the Regional Competitive Analysis</span><br><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>9:15AM&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Keynote Speaker</strong></span></span><br><span style="font-size:14px;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Derek Thompson</span></p><p style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Sans-Serif;font-size:medium;color:#000;line-height:1.5;word-break:normal;overflow-wrap:break-word;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mmac.org/state-of-the-region/">See the detailed agenda and event details.</a></p><p style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Sans-Serif;font-size:medium;color:#000;line-height:1.5;word-break:normal;overflow-wrap:break-word;text-align:center;" data-end="573" data-start="404"><span style="font-size:16px;"><font face="Georgia, serif"><img class="image-style-align-left" src="https://web.mmac.org/External/WCPages/WCWebContent/webcontentpage.aspx?ContentID=8799" alt="" width="400" height="81"></font></span></p><p style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Sans-Serif;font-size:medium;color:#000;line-height:1.5;word-break:normal;overflow-wrap:break-word;text-align:center;" data-end="573" data-start="404">&nbsp;</p><p style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Sans-Serif;font-size:medium;color:#000;line-height:1.5;word-break:normal;overflow-wrap:break-word;margin-bottom:11px;"><br><br><br><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"><strong>Derek Thompson</strong>&nbsp;is a writer, author, and podcast host who explores the forces shaping the modern economy, technology, work, and culture. He is the co-author, with Ezra Klein, of <i>Abundance</i>, a #1 <i>New York Times</i> bestseller examining American politics, liberalism, and the challenges of building for the future. After 17 years as a staff writer at <i>The Atlantic</i>, Derek launched his own Substack in 2025 and continues to contribute to the magazine.</span></span></p><p style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Sans-Serif;font-size:medium;color:#000;line-height:1.5;word-break:normal;overflow-wrap:break-word;margin-bottom:11px;"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">He is the founder and host of <i>Plain English</i>, one of the country's leading podcasts on current events, economics, technology, and society. Derek is also the author of <i>Hit Makers: How to Succeed in an Age of Distraction</i>, a national bestseller on the psychology of popularity and culture, and <i>Derek Thompson on Work</i>, a collection of essays exploring the changing nature of labor, innovation, and economic opportunity.</span></span></p><p style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Sans-Serif;font-size:medium;color:#000;line-height:1.5;word-break:normal;overflow-wrap:break-word;margin-bottom:11px;"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif;line-height:115%;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Known for translating complex economic and social trends into clear, engaging insights, Derek is a sought-after speaker on the future of work, growth, technology, and the ideas shaping America’s next chapter.</span></span></p>http://web.mmac.org/demo/events/M7-State-of-the-Region-10202026-730-AM-10202026-1000-AM-4788/detailsWed, 22 Jul 2026 17:36:37 GMT