Madison Leadership Visit Participant Information:
HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS:
DRESS CODE:
Weather is predicted to be in the mid to upper 70’s during the day & mid to upper 50’s at night. Dress casually and comfortable on the first day for traveling. Our Opening Reception on Wednesday will be at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. We will go straight from there to dinner, so dress accordingly. Thursday will be another casual and comfortable day with lunches & outdoor activities. The Leadership Visit Dinner on Thursday will be in the hangar at Truax Field Air National Guard Base. Guys might want a button down and sport coat, and ladies might want dresses and wraps. Suits, ties, and dressy attire are not necessary anywhere. Please wear your nametag to all sessions and events.
MEALS & REFRESHMENTS:
Meals and refreshment breaks included are indicated in the agenda. If you have any food allergies that you did not submit on your attendee form, see Angela Carlos.
KEY STAFF CONTACTS:
If you have a question or concern that comes up during the trip & you need assistance, contact Angela Carlos at 859-351-2925 or Lynda Bebrowsky at 859-333-5558.
SIGN UP FOR ELECTIVE OPTIONS & GROUP NETWORKING DINNER:
Sign up for elective tours, activities, lunch and dinner options available to you during your trip to Madison. VISIT HERE to view the options and register.
ATTENDEES AS OF 05-06-25:
View the Madison trip attendee list HERE.
ABOUT MADISON + ECONOMIC DATA:
ECONOMIC DATA:
How does Madison and its region compare to the Greater Lexington Region? CLICK HERE to view a variety of economic data points.
EARLY MADISON HISTORY:
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2401
Madison is located in south central Wisconsin on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona in Dane County. Between 300 and 1300 CE, Native American "mound builders" occupied the area and built thousands of effigy mounds. By the time white settlers began to arrive, the Ho-Chunk nation called the area home and continued to camp near the lakes into the 1940s.
Judge and land speculator James Duane Doty (1799-1865) traveled through the isthmus in 1829 and liked the site so much that he bought much of the area. In 1836, Doty persuaded the territorial legislature to make the area that became Madison the new capital. Doty named Madison for James Madison, 4th President of the U.S. The next year, in 1837, Eben and Rosaline Peck (1808-1899) became the first white settlers in Madison.
Eight years after Wisconsin became a state, Madison became a city boasting a population of 6,864. The first settlers were Yankees from the eastern states. They were followed by German, Irish, and Norwegian immigrants. Italians, Greeks, Jews, and African Americans came around the turn of the 20th century.
As the seat of government and home to the state's largest university campus, Madison has long been at the center of Wisconsin's political and intellectual life. Soldiers trained at Camp Randall during the Civil War. In the early 20th century, many progressive reforms, including workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, and Social Security, were created in Madison, giving the city a liberal reputation that lasted through the turbulent 1960s, when it was the center of anti-Vietnam activity.
LARGEST EMPLOYERS:
The Madison Region’s largest employers demonstrate the diversity of our economy, recognized by Emsi and Livability in 2018 as the most industrially diverse MSA in the nation. They reflect our target sector strengths in healthcare, bioscience, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and information communications technology, as well as public employment in government and education. The concentration of key Wisconsin industries with strong footholds in the Madison Region offers unique opportunities for cross-sector collaboration. Leading national brands call the Madison Region home, including Epic Systems, American Family Insurance, American Girl, Sub-Zero, Trek Bicycle, Lands’ End, Shopbop, Colony Brands, and John Deere. Entrepreneurs launch successful start-ups from the Madison Region in everything from food processing to healthcare IT.
KEY INDUSTRIES:
Our primary industries in the Madison Region produce advancements that make global impact — from the discovery of the blood thinner Warfarin, to the first detection of Vitamin A, to the creation of an electronic medical record system that now serves over half the United States’ population. Our region boasts particular strengths in several target sectors:
EDUCATION:
The importance of K-12 education in the Madison Region dates back to 1856 when the nation’s first kindergarten was established in Watertown, on the borders of Jefferson and Dodge counties. Today, more than 164,000 students are enrolled in the Madison Region’s 63 school districts. Boasting a strong high school graduation rate, nearly 94% of adults in the region have a high school degree or higher, compared to just over 92% for the state and 88% in the nation.
HIGHER EDUCATION:
The Madison Region is home to four University of Wisconsin campuses, four private 4+ year colleges, and four technical college systems. The Region’s higher education institutions enroll approximately 83,000 students annually and conferred more than 24,000 certificates and degrees in the 2018-2019 school year. With talent development at the core, these institutions are driven by a passion for education as well as a desire to build a labor force that facilitates economic development within Madison. The Region attracts professionals and retains Madison talent by breeding creativity and innovation, providing lifelong learning opportunities, and supporting business development and changing industries through targeted training.
HEALTHCARE:
The Madison Region enjoys a superb level of medical services and accessibility, with nearly 4,000 companies in the healthcare and social assistance sector. Our nationally-recognized providers in both community-focused healthcare organizations and academic and research institutions deliver a full spectrum of well-coordinated care. According to the federal Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, Wisconsin consistently ranks among the top states in the country for overall healthcare quality, with SSM Health and Mercy Health Systems in Rock County having earned the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award – an esteemed performance award given by the president.
How does Madison and its region compare to the Greater Lexington Region? CLICK HERE to view a variety of economic data points.
EARLY MADISON HISTORY:
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2401
Madison is located in south central Wisconsin on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona in Dane County. Between 300 and 1300 CE, Native American "mound builders" occupied the area and built thousands of effigy mounds. By the time white settlers began to arrive, the Ho-Chunk nation called the area home and continued to camp near the lakes into the 1940s.
Judge and land speculator James Duane Doty (1799-1865) traveled through the isthmus in 1829 and liked the site so much that he bought much of the area. In 1836, Doty persuaded the territorial legislature to make the area that became Madison the new capital. Doty named Madison for James Madison, 4th President of the U.S. The next year, in 1837, Eben and Rosaline Peck (1808-1899) became the first white settlers in Madison.
Eight years after Wisconsin became a state, Madison became a city boasting a population of 6,864. The first settlers were Yankees from the eastern states. They were followed by German, Irish, and Norwegian immigrants. Italians, Greeks, Jews, and African Americans came around the turn of the 20th century.
As the seat of government and home to the state's largest university campus, Madison has long been at the center of Wisconsin's political and intellectual life. Soldiers trained at Camp Randall during the Civil War. In the early 20th century, many progressive reforms, including workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, and Social Security, were created in Madison, giving the city a liberal reputation that lasted through the turbulent 1960s, when it was the center of anti-Vietnam activity.
LARGEST EMPLOYERS:
The Madison Region’s largest employers demonstrate the diversity of our economy, recognized by Emsi and Livability in 2018 as the most industrially diverse MSA in the nation. They reflect our target sector strengths in healthcare, bioscience, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and information communications technology, as well as public employment in government and education. The concentration of key Wisconsin industries with strong footholds in the Madison Region offers unique opportunities for cross-sector collaboration. Leading national brands call the Madison Region home, including Epic Systems, American Family Insurance, American Girl, Sub-Zero, Trek Bicycle, Lands’ End, Shopbop, Colony Brands, and John Deere. Entrepreneurs launch successful start-ups from the Madison Region in everything from food processing to healthcare IT.
KEY INDUSTRIES:
Our primary industries in the Madison Region produce advancements that make global impact — from the discovery of the blood thinner Warfarin, to the first detection of Vitamin A, to the creation of an electronic medical record system that now serves over half the United States’ population. Our region boasts particular strengths in several target sectors:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Agriculture, Food & Beverage
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Bioscience
- Logistics & Distribution
EDUCATION:
The importance of K-12 education in the Madison Region dates back to 1856 when the nation’s first kindergarten was established in Watertown, on the borders of Jefferson and Dodge counties. Today, more than 164,000 students are enrolled in the Madison Region’s 63 school districts. Boasting a strong high school graduation rate, nearly 94% of adults in the region have a high school degree or higher, compared to just over 92% for the state and 88% in the nation.
HIGHER EDUCATION:
The Madison Region is home to four University of Wisconsin campuses, four private 4+ year colleges, and four technical college systems. The Region’s higher education institutions enroll approximately 83,000 students annually and conferred more than 24,000 certificates and degrees in the 2018-2019 school year. With talent development at the core, these institutions are driven by a passion for education as well as a desire to build a labor force that facilitates economic development within Madison. The Region attracts professionals and retains Madison talent by breeding creativity and innovation, providing lifelong learning opportunities, and supporting business development and changing industries through targeted training.
HEALTHCARE:
The Madison Region enjoys a superb level of medical services and accessibility, with nearly 4,000 companies in the healthcare and social assistance sector. Our nationally-recognized providers in both community-focused healthcare organizations and academic and research institutions deliver a full spectrum of well-coordinated care. According to the federal Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, Wisconsin consistently ranks among the top states in the country for overall healthcare quality, with SSM Health and Mercy Health Systems in Rock County having earned the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award – an esteemed performance award given by the president.
STAY CONNECTED DURING THE TRIP:
Download Commerce Lexington Mobile App:
We have streamlined the Leadership Visit briefing book to make it easier to carry while travelling. Information from the briefing book will also be available on Commerce Lexington’s mobile app, along with additional information, such as speakers’ bios and data on the Madison region. If you already have the app from last year, simply open it and navigate to the Events side of the app. To download the app, search for Commerce Lexington in the App Store or Google Play. NOTE: If it doesn’t come up on Google Play, try putting quotations around “commerce lexington.” [DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS]
Share Your Trip Experience on Social Media:
Add to the conversation and share your experiences during the trip on Facebook and Instagram by tagging your posts with #Madison2025. This not only helps you connect with others on the trip, but also engages others back home.
Watch for Commerce Lexington Text Alerts:
With a large delegation, it is important for us to quickly communicate with you about changes to the agenda, bus departure times and locations, or other logistical updates. You will be automatically signed up to receive text alerts sponsored by Bluegrass Sotheby's International Realty.
Ask Questions Using SLIDO:
During the many sessions and if time allows, we’ll be utilizing a mobile audience engagement tool called SLIDO, which will enable you to ask questions right from your mobile device.
1. Go to www.slido.com on your device.
2. Type Madison in the Participant box.
3. Select the appropriate day & ask questions.
We have streamlined the Leadership Visit briefing book to make it easier to carry while travelling. Information from the briefing book will also be available on Commerce Lexington’s mobile app, along with additional information, such as speakers’ bios and data on the Madison region. If you already have the app from last year, simply open it and navigate to the Events side of the app. To download the app, search for Commerce Lexington in the App Store or Google Play. NOTE: If it doesn’t come up on Google Play, try putting quotations around “commerce lexington.” [DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS]
Share Your Trip Experience on Social Media:
Add to the conversation and share your experiences during the trip on Facebook and Instagram by tagging your posts with #Madison2025. This not only helps you connect with others on the trip, but also engages others back home.
Watch for Commerce Lexington Text Alerts:
With a large delegation, it is important for us to quickly communicate with you about changes to the agenda, bus departure times and locations, or other logistical updates. You will be automatically signed up to receive text alerts sponsored by Bluegrass Sotheby's International Realty.
Ask Questions Using SLIDO:
During the many sessions and if time allows, we’ll be utilizing a mobile audience engagement tool called SLIDO, which will enable you to ask questions right from your mobile device.
1. Go to www.slido.com on your device.
2. Type Madison in the Participant box.
3. Select the appropriate day & ask questions.
WALKING MAPS:
Wednesday, May 14
Pyle Center to The Edgewater Hotel
Pyle Center to The Edgewater Hotel
Wednesday, May 14
OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION SPONSORED BY KINETIC BUSINESS
The Edgewater Hotel to Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION SPONSORED BY KINETIC BUSINESS
The Edgewater Hotel to Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Wednesday, May 14
ELECTIVE GROUP DINNER
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art to Cento Ristorante
ELECTIVE GROUP DINNER
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art to Cento Ristorante
Thursday, May 15
ELECTIVE: ENGAGEMENT LUNCH
The Edgewater Hotel to The Coopers Tavern
ELECTIVE: ENGAGEMENT LUNCH
The Edgewater Hotel to The Coopers Tavern
DAILY COLLABORATOR NEWSLETTERS:
Daily Collaborator - ISSUE #1 (May 14)
Daily Collaborator - ISSUE #2 (May 15)
Daily Collaborator - ISSUE #3 (May 16)
Daily Collaborator - ISSUE #2 (May 15)
Daily Collaborator - ISSUE #3 (May 16)
What to Expect on the Leadership Visit
We have a great mix of leaders attending this year – some are trip veterans and others are first-timers. As we gear up to head to Madison, we thought it would be helpful to provide some tips on what to expect and how to make the most of your trip.
NETWORKING:
Leadership Visit is known for its networking opportunities. You will strengthen current relationships and build new ones. Bring your business cards and plan on wearing your extrovert hat for the three days we’re in Madison. This visit is a time of connecting, learning and brainstorming!
SAY YES:
Adopt a mindset of “yes” during the trip. Say yes to meeting new people and getting out of your comfort zone. Say yes to all networking opportunities. Say yes to the extra activities and optional dinners. When you step outside your comfort zone, anything is possible. You will meet new people and make new connections. Say yes!
LEARNING + INSPIRATION:
Each city has its own unique culture, opportunities, challenges and insight. The agenda has been carefully curated to provide you with the best learning opportunities. Ask questions, join the conversation and attend all the extra events. Write down your ideas and share them with others – and most importantly – get ready to take action on your ideas after the trip.
STAY CURIOUS:
Curiosity is an important leadership skill that extends to this trip. The more you get out of your comfort zone, the more you will get out of it. Be present and open to meeting new people and having new conversations. Listen and ask questions. Stay curious!
WHAT’S NEXT?
You will learn a lot and build lifelong connections and friendships. What you learn on this trip, and who you meet is important, however, what you do after is what makes the difference. Stay connected with the folks you meet and put action behind your new ideas. Let’s make Greater Lexington even better than it already is!
We have a great mix of leaders attending this year – some are trip veterans and others are first-timers. As we gear up to head to Madison, we thought it would be helpful to provide some tips on what to expect and how to make the most of your trip.
NETWORKING:
Leadership Visit is known for its networking opportunities. You will strengthen current relationships and build new ones. Bring your business cards and plan on wearing your extrovert hat for the three days we’re in Madison. This visit is a time of connecting, learning and brainstorming!
SAY YES:
Adopt a mindset of “yes” during the trip. Say yes to meeting new people and getting out of your comfort zone. Say yes to all networking opportunities. Say yes to the extra activities and optional dinners. When you step outside your comfort zone, anything is possible. You will meet new people and make new connections. Say yes!
LEARNING + INSPIRATION:
Each city has its own unique culture, opportunities, challenges and insight. The agenda has been carefully curated to provide you with the best learning opportunities. Ask questions, join the conversation and attend all the extra events. Write down your ideas and share them with others – and most importantly – get ready to take action on your ideas after the trip.
STAY CURIOUS:
Curiosity is an important leadership skill that extends to this trip. The more you get out of your comfort zone, the more you will get out of it. Be present and open to meeting new people and having new conversations. Listen and ask questions. Stay curious!
WHAT’S NEXT?
You will learn a lot and build lifelong connections and friendships. What you learn on this trip, and who you meet is important, however, what you do after is what makes the difference. Stay connected with the folks you meet and put action behind your new ideas. Let’s make Greater Lexington even better than it already is!