Forward 48 announces star-studded faculty lineup for landmark 10th cohort

Forward 48, Wisconsin’s premier leadership development program is proud to announce an extraordinary lineup of faculty speakers for its 10th cohort, coming Spring 2026. This milestone cohort will feature some of the most respected and impactful leaders across Wisconsin’s business, philanthropy, finance, arts and community development landscape, offering participants rare, direct access to the people shaping Wisconsin’s future.

 

New North Inc. partnered with Forward 48 in 2022 to grow the next generation of diverse leaders within Northeast Wisconsin. It also strives to help connect the region’s emerging talent with high-profile executives. The kickoff speaker in the Spring 2026 cohort is New North’s own Maria Van Laanen, president & CEO of Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.

 

“A pillar of economic development is keeping – and developing – the next generation of leaders within the New North region,” says Patti Habeck, president and CEO of New North Inc. “We encourage Northeast Wisconsin companies to consider utilizing Forward 48 for their professional-development needs. I know from personal experience that Maria is one of the region’s more effective leaders and am confident that participants will benefit from hearing her personal and professional story.”

 

With six immersive sessions spanning across Northeast Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Madison, the Spring 2026 cohort will showcase C-suite executives and founders whose leadership has transformed organizations and communities statewide.

 

Forward 48’s May 7 session will feature a powerful dual-speaker conversation with Kevin Newell and Greg Wesley, two primary collaborators behind Milwaukee’s transformative ThriveOn King project – offering participants an inside look at cross-sector collaboration, community investment and place-based leadership in action.

 

In addition, sessions led by Maria Van Laanen and Craig Culver will take the program beyond Milwaukee, bringing the Forward 48 experience to the Fox Cities and Madison, respectively, and reinforcing the program’s statewide reach.

 

“Reaching our 10th cohort is a major milestone for Forward 48, and this faculty lineup reflects exactly why,” says Ian Abston, co-founder & president of Forward 48. “These are leaders who don’t just talk about impact, they’ve built it. Our participants will learn directly from the people making decisions that shape Wisconsin’s economy, culture and communities.”

 

As Wisconsin’s only statewide leadership development pipeline, Forward 48 brings faculty speakers together with rising leaders to share candid lessons from the front lines of leadership, offering participants insight into how bold decisions are made, cultures are shaped and long-term impact is sustained across sectors.

 

Combined with small-group learning, these conversations challenge participants to think bigger about their influence, responsibility and role as leaders in shaping the future of Wisconsin.

 

While the majority of sessions take place in Milwaukee, participants in the Forward 48 program come from across the state. There are 43 Forward 48 alums from the New North region.

 

Transportation options are provided for each session for participants traveling outside of their region, ensuring equitable access to the full Forward 48 experience.

 

Applications for the Spring 2026 Forward 48 cohort are live at www.forward48.com.

 

Applicants submitting prior to Feb. 16, 2026, will save 10 percent through Forward 48’s early-bird application period.

 

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New North, Inc., is a 501(c)3 non-profit, regional economic development corporation fostering collaboration among private and public sector leaders throughout the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin, known as the New North region. The New North brand unites the region both internally and externally around talent development, brand promotion and business development, signifying the collective economic power behind the 18 counties. The counties include Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago. www.thenewnorth.com

 

Developed in 2020 in partnership with the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Marquette University and the Hoan Group, Forward 48 is Wisconsin’s premier leadership development program, designed to connect the next generation of changemakers with the people, knowledge and resources to move their companies and communities forward. Its mission is to create strong learning connections between established and future leaders, while growing an active network of next-generation changemakers prepared to fill critical leadership roles across the state. With 500-plus past participants from more than 200 organizations statewide, Forward 48 has built a powerful alumni network spanning business, nonprofit, government and civic leaders – strengthening Wisconsin’s leadership pipeline and shaping the future of the region.