Events

Presenter: Thomas McDonald, Senior Economist, U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
Chicago

Thomas McDonald is a Senior Economist in the Economic Analysis and Information Department within the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). He received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Detroit and has been employed by the Bureau for 33 years, the last 16 in his current position. Thomas provides background, analysis, and training on BLS data products. He regularly speaks to media, researchers, professional organizations, think tanks, and all levels of government. Before BLS,  Thomas worked as a Congressional Investigator for the General Accountability Office (GAO) and a Contract Specialist for the Air National Guard.

I have been a volunteer firefighter for the City of Mequon for the past 10 years, serving our community there and through Rotary gives me great satisfaction. I have participated in the Guatemala Medical Resources Project (GMRP) mission for 8 years and service on the Board of Directors for the Oliveras Scholarship Fund (OSF), a group that provide education scholarships to students on the tow that GMRP operates.

I live with my best friend and confidant Jen DeLaura. We share interests in water sports, health & wellness, gardening and music, I have two daughters, Taneal (35), who lives in Greenfield with my two grand daughters, Mila (8) and Ava (6), and my younger daughter  Hannah (16) whom many of you know. She is a sophomore at Homestead HS who lives part time at my home and part time at her mothers home in Cedarburg. She just got her drivers temporary license, so look out for her on the roads…

Outside of the office, I enjoy pleasure sailing, sailboat racing, surfing and stand up paddle boards, scuba diving, motorcycling, and live music. I enjoy giving back through Rotary and the Fire Department, but my role as a father and grandfather is the most rewarding.

Jesse Daily - Managing Partner - CORE Consulting, LLC 

Born in Boise, Idaho – Jesse moved to Wisconsin in 1997 to attend Mechanical Engineering at MSOE. Upon Graduation in 2001, he has worked for several dynamic companies across several industries including: Harley-Davidson, Accenture, Bank of America, American Express and many more… Since his departure from Accenture in 2005, Jesse has been actively involved in the Engineering Services industry by pioneering a different culture for his company and employees. His leadership and experience has allowed for him to network with some of the industry’s best and brightest, bringing his expertise to the table and helping in any way possible. Emphatically involved in most aspects of the business; Jesse brings urgency, passion and commitment to CORE and constantly looks for avenues of improvement for his staff.

We’re for Eastern Wisconsin and beyond. We’re for the magic of music, dance, song and theater. We’re for raising our community up. With your support, UPAF funds 47 diverse local performing arts organizations, producing:

• Performances that inspire, challenge minds and stir emotions
• Confident and energized youth who use the arts as a springboard for lives filled with creativity
• Shared experiences that connect people from all backgrounds and ages

UPAF engages the community to support 14 Performing Arts Members, including First Stage, Florentine Opera Company, Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Skylight Music Theatre, as well as numerous Affiliates. Since 1967, our work has been instrumental in allowing these groups to focus more of their efforts on what they do best — creating, performing, educating and inspiring — by:

• Raising much-needed funds to ensure entertainment excellence
• Promoting the performing arts as a regional asset
• Responsibly stewarding the dollars our donors so generously give us

Will Jones was appointed Mequon City Administrator in 2014. As City Administrator, Mr. Jones is responsible for managing, coordinating and expediting activities across all City departments, serving as the City’s spokesperson and representative to other units of government, outside organizations and the local business community, and overseeing the City’s annual budget development process.

Will has earned designation as a Credentialed Manager through the International City/County Management Association and presently serves as Vice-President/Treasurer of the Wisconsin City/County Management Association. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science from Boston College and earned a Master's Degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University's School of Public & Environmental Affairs. 

President Erik Ankerberg’s professional resume includes nearly 15 years of experience in leadership positions at Lutheran higher education institutions. Within this time, Dr. Ankerberg has led academic operations for three separate universities: as provost for Concordia University Chicago and Concordia University Texas, and as assistant provost at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He also served as interim president for Concordia University Chicago in summer 2019.

Prior to his tenure as a provost, he was a department chair and held faculty positions at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He also taught at Concordia University Ann Arbor and Concordia University Wisconsin early in his career.

He holds a Ph.D. and Master of Arts in British Renaissance Literature from Marquette University and earned his bachelor’s degree from Concordia University Chicago. His research interests include aesthetics and the intersection of early modern literature and theology. He is currently pursuing pastoral ordination within the LCMS.

Dr. Ankerberg and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for 27 years. Jennifer is a literacy educator in the River Forest public schools. They have two sons: Peter, who is completing graduate work in architecture at the University of Michigan, and David, who is studying psychology at Valparaiso University.