Chairman
The Marcus Corp. | Milwaukee
After 60 years of working for and leading The Marcus Corp., Stephen Marcus was appointed chairman emeritus and special advisor to the company in 2023. He previously served as chairman of the board since 1991, chief executive officer from 1988 to 2009 and as president from 1988 until 2008.
Founded in 1935 by his father, Ben Marcus, today the Marcus Corp.’s movie theater division is the fourth largest in the U.S. It owns or operates 995 screens at 79 locations in 17 states. While leading the company, Stephen oversaw its expansion into the hospitality industry, playing an influential role in the acquisition of The Pfister Hotel and the Milwaukee Hilton City Center hotel and construction of the tower expansion to the Pfister.
A prominent community leader, Marcus has chaired the Greater Milwaukee Committee and co-chaired annual campaigns for the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County and the United Performing Arts Fund. He served as chair of Summerfest in the 1970s, helping grow the annual festival by bringing in a variety of food vendors.
In 2017, he led the launch of Sculpture Milwaukee, an annual public art display in downtown Milwaukee, in an effort to help revitalize Wisconsin Avenue.
He is also former chair of The Marcus Corp.’s philanthropic arm. The Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee is named in recognition of a naming rights contribution from The Marcus Corp. Foundation, which funded the renovation and expansion of the downtown venue. The Marcus family also donated the Warner Grand Theatre to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, which is now the Bradley Symphony Center.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison; J.D., University of Michigan Law School
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Chairman
The Marcus Corp. | Milwaukee
In 1962, Stephen Marcus joined the movie theater business his father, Ben Marcus, founded 27 years earlier. Stephen went on to serve as president from 1980 to 2008 and as chief executive officer from 1988 to 2009, overseeing its growth in the movie theater and hospitality industry. He was instrumental in its acquisition of The Pfister Hotel and the Milwaukee Hilton and construction of the tower expansion to the Pfister. He was elected chairman of the board in 1991 and today continues to serve as chairman.
A civic leader, Marcus has chaired the Greater Milwaukee Committee and co-chaired annual campaigns for the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County and the United Performing Arts Fund. As chair of Summerfest in the 1970s, he is credited with helping grow the annual festival by bringing in a variety of food vendors.
He is also former chair of the Marcus Corp. Foundation, which has contributed to many projects and causes in the region. The Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee is named in recognition of a naming rights contribution from The Marcus Corp. Foundation more than 25 years ago, which provided funds to renovate and expand the facility. The Marcus family also previously was naming rights sponsor of the amphitheater on the Summerfest grounds.
In partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning, the foundation created the Marcus Prize, which is offered every two years in recognition of emerging talent in the world of architecture.
The Marcus family also donated the Warner Grand Theatre (a former Marcus theater) to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, which converted the venue into the Bradley Symphony Center. In total, the Marcus Corp. Foundation has donated more than $10 million to nonprofit organizations
In 2017, Stephen Marcus spearheaded the launch of Sculpture Milwaukee, an annual public art display in downtown Milwaukee, in an effort to help revitalize Wisconsin Avenue.
Education: Bachelor’s, UW-Madison; J.D., University of Michigan Law School
