Board elevates long-time Milwaukee executive from interim president role
MILWAUKEE – Cristy Garcia-Thomas has been named president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC), announced Friday morning by the GMC board of directors.
Garcia-Thomas was named interim president in December when Joel Brennan left his role as president to enter the race for governor of Wisconsin. She served as interim president for eight months.
“As the Board considered the organization’s future, one priority remained clear: identifying the leader best positioned to build on the GMC’s momentum and lead our work in the years ahead,” said Board Chair Dave Anderson. “We appreciate the leadership and dedication that Joel brought to the organization. We also look forward to Cristy continuing to build on the momentum created over the past eight months reinforcing the GMC’s role as a trusted convener focused on improving the economic vitality and quality of life throughout the Milwaukee region.”
Garcia-Thomas said her priorities will include listening, learning, and building strong relationships with the GMC membership, outside partners, and the broader community.
“Transformational leadership begins with a clear vision, but it succeeds through collaboration,” Garcia-Thomas said. “It means bringing people together around common purpose, embracing innovation, making difficult decisions when necessary, and creating lasting impact that extends well beyond any one leader or organization. My goal is to help position Milwaukee not only to respond to change, but to lead it.”
The GMC will continue to focus on four key strategic areas that include fiscal strength, education, infrastructure and public safety.
“I am excited to work alongside our members and partners to strengthen our economy, expand opportunity, and ensure that our region continues to be a place where businesses thrive, families succeed, and future generations choose to build their lives,” Garcia-Thomas said.
“Together, we have an opportunity not only to address today’s challenges, but to define what Milwaukee can become over the next generation.”
