Real Estate and Development | Economic Development
President
Kenosha Area Business Alliance | Kenosha
Todd Battle has led Kenosha Area Business Alliance for two decades, overseeing the economic development organization’s business attraction, retention, expansion, talent development and economic development financing initiatives. During Battle’s tenure at KABA, the I-94 corridor has experienced significant growth due to the relocation and expansion of businesses, including many from Illinois. KABA counts Haribo’s manufacturing facility, Nexus Pharmaceuticals’ drug manufacturing facility, and Uline’s headquarters move from Illinois to Kenosha County among its biggest success stories. Battle will leave KABA at the end of 2022 to take a role as director of industrial investments at Zilber Property Group.
Education: Bachelor’s, Central Michigan University
First job: “Canoe rental business on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan. I learned that you definitely want to know what is in the bottom of the canoe before you pick it up and carry it back to the trailer.”
Nonprofit cause: “I am most passionate about education-oriented causes. I serve on the Kenosha school board, and I am active with Building Our Future, which is an education-focused initiative that emphasizes a collective impact model and continuous improvement efforts. We want to implement and scale ideas that work (drive education results/improvement) and be cognizant that schools can’t do this work alone.”
Book recommendation: “‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins – very thorough and thought-provoking research on the defining character traits and habits of exceptional leaders.”
What has you most excited for the future: “There continues to be a ton of interest, investment and attention regarding the I-94 corridor in southeast Wisconsin. This signals a tremendous opportunity to positively impact the state, region and community.”