Milwaukee’s tech momentum is real—and Joe is stepping into the driver’s seat.
In this episode of Debugging Success, Naveen sits down with Joe, the new Executive Director of the Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, to unpack his first 100+ days leading one of Southeast Wisconsin’s most influential ecosystem organizations. Together, they go beyond “programs and events” to talk about what actually scales a region: leaders creating leaders, a narrative (not just stories), and systems that make connection compounding.
Joe shares the coalition’s “go fast + go far” approach, the strategy behind ChooseMKEtech.org, why mid-career tech upskilling is an overlooked unlock, and how initiatives like FOR-M, Fuse, Synapse, and the AI community fit into a bigger 2030–2050 vision. You’ll also hear Joe’s hot take on AI: create a safe space to experiment—then focus on real problems (not “AI solutions in search of a problem”).
If you care about building companies, careers, or communities that last—this one’s for you.
Resources & links: -Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition: https://mketech.org -Choose MKE Tech (jobs/events/community): https://choosemketech.org -FOR-M (free founder community): https://www.mketech.org/for-m -AI Community: https://www.mketech.org/ai/community
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