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.
