Wisconsin Energy Corp., the Milwaukee-based parent company of We Energies, will be the recipient of the 2014 BizTimes Regional Spirit Award.
Aside from providing natural gas and electricity throughout southeastern Wisconsin, the company is being saluted for its involvement in the civic and business communities.
Wisconsin Energy chief executive officer and chairman Gale Klappa is the co-chairman of the Milwaukee 7 economic development organization, and has served as chairman of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and on the executive committee of the Greater Milwaukee Committee. Additionally, Klappa has served on the boards of the Medical College of Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Business Advisory Council, the United Performing Arts Fund and the United Way of Greater Milwaukee.
Several other Wisconsin Energy executives, including vice presidents Rick White and Thelma Sias, also are extensively active in the community.
The company’s stockholders contribute to the We Energies Foundation, which is devoted to achieving positive community benefit and business value. The foundation has invested more than $136 million in the communities served by Wisconsin Energy Corp. over the past 30 years.
The award will be presented to Klappa during the Bravo! Entrepreneur and I.Q. Awards luncheon at the BizExpo on Wednesday, May 21, at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee.
