President
MMAC | Milwaukee
Dale Kooyenga took over as head of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce in early 2024. Representing more than 2,000 member businesses with more than 300,000 employees, the MMAC advocates on behalf of the business community in the Milwaukee and WOW counties. Prior to joining MMAC, Kooyenga served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2011-2018 and in the state Senate from 2018-2022 as a Republican from Brookfield. He also held CFO positions at Milwaukee-based Stonehouse Water Technologies and Milwaukee-based Mpirik. He is a certified public accountant and a lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army Reserve.
What would you like to change about Wisconsin: “Income taxes are way too high to realize meaningful economic growth. Lower, and/or eliminate the top two income tax brackets.”
Historical figure you look up to: “Abraham Lincoln. 1) Both from Illinois. 2) Both very tall and skinny. 3) Both elected Republicans. 4) Both love the Union. 5) Share a birthday, Feb. 12.”
The future of your industry: “Associations nationwide are losing members. It’s the ‘bowling alone’ impact of a less civic-minded demographic than generations past. We need to clearly show value, often tangibly and financially, to demonstrate our effectiveness.”
What would you do if you could choose another career: “Funny, I have chosen three career paths: military, business and politics. So, I never made a choice. I said yes to everything that intrigued me, and I encourage others to do the same.”
