Racine County, WI — The Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) held its 42nd Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the Festival Hall from 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The 2025 RCEDC event featured keynote speaker James Robilotta, a leadership author, speaker, emcee, and improv comedian dedicated to bringing humanity back into the workplace. He spoke about the power of authentic leadership—showing how embracing imperfection can build trust, improve communication, and create meaningful connections.
Attendees, along with RCEDC’s staff and volunteers, celebrated the achievements of three Racine County award recipients. The three awards were for the Sam Johnson Volunteer of the Year, Business Development Project of the Year, and Lender of the Year. RCEDC congratulates the following individuals and organizations for their successes in 2024:
Mark McCleary – Sam Johnson Volunteer of the Year
Mr. McCleary has led a career in executive management, strategic planning, marketing, product management, and sales. His diverse experience spans family business, private equity, consumer and commercial products, retail, healthcare, and professional services. Currently, Mark splits his time between consulting and being a volunteer mentor with several Midwest non-profit organizations including: SCORE, Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation, BizStarts Racine, gBETA Gener8tor, RCEDC, and Robert Ellsworth Correctional Center.
“I thank the Johnson family for the Sam Johnson Volunteer of the Year Award. This award is so special because my family and I moved to the Racine community 29 years ago to work for SC Johnson, which was led by Sam at the time. Much of the information I share with my clients as a volunteer Mentor I learned during my time at SCJ. Helping small, family businesses in our community is a privilege because Racine County is a great place to grow your business.” –Mark McCleary, Certified SCORE Mentor
Jay Cashmore, VP | Market President at Community State Bank – Lender of the Year
RCEDC’s partnership with commercial lenders is truly invaluable. Each year, RCEDC’s Board reviews all approved loans to identify the lender with the highest number and total value of loans from the previous year. This year, we proudly recognized Jay Cashmore for his contributions in 2024.
“It’s an honor to be recognized as RCEDC’s Lender of the Year. Supporting local businesses and helping them access the resources they need to grow is incredibly rewarding. I value the strong partnership with RCEDC and appreciate their continued commitment to economic development in Racine County.” –Jay Cashmore, VP | Market President at Community State Bank
Saputo Cheese USA Inc. and Zilber Property Group – Business Development Project of the Year
“Racine County and the Village of Caledonia have proven to be an exceptional place to invest and grow. The team at RCEDC has been an invaluable partner—proactive, responsive, and deeply committed to creating opportunities for development. Their support has made doing business here both seamless and rewarding.” –Bill Wigchers, Chief Executive Officer of Zilber, LTD.
RCEDC extends heartfelt thanks to our businesses, municipal officials, and community partners for their invaluable contributions to the success of 2024. Together, RCEDC and its partners facilitated 71 projects, attracting more than $749 million in private investment, with $541 million allocated to new construction. Upon completion, these endeavors are projected to create or retain 268 jobs, further fueling economic growth and prosperity in our area.
For more detailed information on successes and highlights from last year, the 2024 Progress Report can be accessed at rcedc.org/2025-rcedc-annual-celebration/.
About RCEDC
The Racine County Economic Development Corporation is a private, non-profit organization providing Racine County businesses with technical and financial resources for 42 years. The mission of RCEDC is to increase Racine County’s property tax base and create employment opportunities.
