FirstPathway Partners' Chairman spoke at the annual event, educating attendees on the EB-5 program and the impact it has had on the U.S. economy. Mr. Kraft also talked about some of FPP's most successful projects, such as the Global Water Center, which has been featured on news outlets such as CNN, The Business Journal, Forbes, and Yahoo! Finance. The project has earned various awards, including The U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Innovation Cluster Award and the Mayor's Design Award for Design Excellence. Mr. Kraft finished his presentation with the pro's and con's of EB-5 capital vs. traditional capital.
The three daylong event in Madison, Wisconsin yielded a full turnout, with appearances from WEDA's president, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, various CEO's, and a number of professors from the UW school system. This year's theme was "Shifting Sands: Preparing for the Future", which summed up the organization's 3-year plan:
· Collaboration - through alignment with other development associations in Wisconsin
· Capacity - through new services and sources of development funding
· Leadership - through diversification and broadening of board membership
· Skills - through targeted education & mentoring in demand by members
· Advocacy - by advancing legislation focused on workforce and economic development
· Celebration - through an updated awards program showcasing more best practices
The conference adjourned with Biennial Awards. FirstPathway Partners congratulates Mike Harrigan, Senior Financial Advisor/Chairman of the Board, Ehlers and Associates and Thomas P. Mihajlov, M.B.A., Senior Lecturer-Executive in Residence, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, College of Business on their achievements.