Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders: Jessica Knight

Class of 2023

Board: City Year Milwaukee

Jessica Knight, retail market president at BMO Harris Bank in Milwaukee, joined the executive board for City Year Milwaukee to provide additional professional development resources to AmeriCorps members and City Year staff, including creating a mentorship and career development program with BMO leaders and City Year.

As a result of these efforts, City Year team members can fulfill their social advocacy commitments by serving their communities through BMO’s Financial Literacy programming. There are currently 10 City Year staff participating in the mentorship program and three considering careers at BMO after their service.

“As a people leader, Jessica champions the idea that the most successful teams and organizations are those that have diverse representation at the table,” said Anthony Hudson, regional president at BMO. “As a result, she is passionate about making sure we’re offering opportunities and supporting our next generation of diverse leaders by pouring into them through coaching, professional development and mentoring activities.”

Knight also helped create a nonprofit in her hometown of Germantown. The Germantown Community Coalition has been operating for nearly two years and has held a number of events to support and promote inclusion and education.