Former state legislator Dale Kooyenga is joining the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce in the newly created position of senior vice president and will eventually succeed MMAC president Tim Sheehy.
“Dale and I will be working together with plans for him to fill my role,” Sheehy said in a post on LinkedIn. “I’ve not set my retirement date yet, but good leadership includes good succession planning.”
“I’m thrilled to be joining an impactful organization and look forward to bringing my passion for this community to the members and businesses of greater Milwaukee,” Kooyenga said on LinkedIn.
Kooyenga served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2011-18 and in the state Senate from 2018-22 as a Republican from Brookfield.
He is a certified public accountant and a lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army Reserve.
Kooyenga was chief financial officer for Milwaukee-based Stonehouse Water Technologies LLC from 2017-19, CFO of Milwaukee-based Mpirik from 2015-17, and a senior manager for KPMG from 2001-11. He has been a director for Waukesha-based Alligator Holdings LLC since 2019. He is also the co-founder of Hero Cards.
Sheehy was named president of MMAC in 1993. Prior to that he served in various capacities with the MMACÂ in governmental affairs and economic development.
“I’ve spent over 30 years working for MMAC and leading business efforts,” Sheehy said. “This has truly been an act of service for me. I’m confident Dale will continue to move MMAC and the business interest of our region forward.”
