Rothman will be new CEO at Foley & Lardner
Foley & Lardner LLP announced that Jay O. Rothman will become chairman and chief executive officer of the firm, effective June 1.
Rothman, a partner in the law firm’s Milwaukee office, was selected by the company’s management committee to serve in the new role.
Rothman will succeed the firm’s current chairman and CEO Ralf Böer. Over the past several months, Rothman and Böer have worked closely together to ensure a seamless and efficient transition of responsibilities.
“With Jay at the helm to guide the firm toward realizing its strategic objectives, I am confident Foley is in extremely capable hands,” Böer said. “I am proud of the many accomplishments achieved during the course of my 20 year tenure on the management committee and nine years as chairman, including the expansion of the firm’s geographic footprint through new office openings and a substantial increase in the number of specialty practices offered. At this point in my career I now look forward to returning full time to the practice of law with the firm.”
“I am honored to have been chosen for this role and will strive to build upon the great success achieved under Ralf’s strong leadership,” Rothman said. “I am transitioning into this role at a time in which the firm is extremely well-positioned within the global business and legal community, which is a testament to our outstanding leadership team. As part of my agenda for the firm, I plan to focus a significant amount of time promoting continued innovation as we work tirelessly to ensure that our services remain closely aligned with the rapidly evolving and complex needs of our clients.”
LaConte is BizTimes Woman Executive of the Year
Cynthia LaConte, who has guided Dohmen, a Milwaukee company, through a series of dramatic changes, has been named the BizTimes 2011 Woman Executive of the Year.
LaConte was named chief executive officer of Dohmen in January 2009. She also is the founder and president of Dohmen Investment Group and the Dohmen Company Foundation.
Prior to assuming the role of CEO, LaConte served as Dohmen’s chief operating officer from 2006 to 2008, advancing the sale of Dohmen’s $2 billion wholesale division, reorganizing the company post-transaction and redefining its strategy.
Before joining her family’s company, Cynthia managed the growth of a single-location franchise into a regional operation with three distinct, profitable revenue streams and four thriving locations.
LaConte graduated cum laude from Mount Mary College with a bachelor of arts degree in business merchandising.
She moved Dohmen to Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward in 2009.
Although it has exited the wholesale pharmaceutical industry, the company’s business continues in health care. Today, it operates three companies – RESTAT, DDN, and PlanIT Inc., all of which specialize in emerging health care technologies.
In her leadership role, LaConte has built a team dedicated to growing Dohmen in the health care field through organic growth and acquisitions. The company expects to acquire other companies before the end of the year.
LaConte will receive the inaugural BizTimes Woman Executive of the Year Award during the BizTimes Women in Business Luncheon, which will take place at the BizTech Conference and Expo on Wednesday, May 11, at Wisconsin State Fair Park. The award is being presented in conjunction with Tempo Milwaukee.
The conference will feature a panel discussion of accomplished southeastern Wisconsin women business leaders. The panelists will include:
Deborah Ford, chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Kimberly Kane, president of Tempo Milwaukee and director of client solutions at The Novo Group in Milwaukee.
Michelle Mason, managing director at the American Society for Quality in Milwaukee.
Christine Specht, president and chief operating officer, Cousins Subs in Menomonee Falls.
Kim Marotta, vice president of corporate responsibility, MillerCoors in Milwaukee.
The discussion will be moderated by BizTimes reporter Alysha Schertz.
The panelists will discuss a variety of issues, including their career paths, the need for more women on corporate boards, resources for women in business, mentoring and best practices.
To register to attend the conference, visit www.biztimes.com/women.
Tennessen to become president of Eppstein Uhen Architects
Rich Tennessen will become the new president of Milwaukee-based Eppstein Uhen Architects as of May 13, Greg Uhen, owner, president and chief executive officer of the firm announced today.
Tennessen is currently executive vice president of the firm.
“He has been instrumental in the success of our company for the past 12 years,” Uhen said of Tennessen. “Rich is a very special man, with many talents and a true passion for service to our customers. I look forward to working with him for many years to come.”
The firm also is adding a new structure in which key leaders, called practice leaders, will focus solely on their areas of strength, Uhen said. New practice leaders include John Miceli in project management and Jerry Bruscato in project implementation.
In addition, John Chapman has been promoted to vice president, and Kristin Dufek and Bob Vajgrt have been promoted to market leaders.
Uhen will take on the new role of design practice leader.
“Usually when someone in my position makes this type of announcement they are pulling back or on the doorstep of retirement,” Uhen said. “This is not the case with me. I spent the first half of my career as a design principal working on many exciting projects. I have truly missed that. The irony was that as our firm grew it took me further away from doing what I love most. So the time for change is now. I will take on a new role as design practice leader, working to make impacts in creativity and innovation as it relates to design. I believe this is the differentiator of the future.”
