GREEN BAY – On May 6, New North announced that longtime president/CEO, Barb LaMue, had disclosed her plans to retire as president/CEO of the organization.
New North serves as the regional economic development corporation for the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin — Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago.
Before her role with New North, LaMue served as vice president of business and community development for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).
She also served for 27 years in other economic development roles, including president/CEO of Centergy, Inc., a five-county regional economic development corporation in Central Wisconsin; vice president of Economic Development for the Greater Green Bay Chamber; and president/CEO of the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
A New North release said that LaMue’s “team-centric leadership style has been key to New North’s success,” which includes the following achievements: the start of the NEW Launch Alliance, a regional ecosystem supporting innovation and entrepreneurship; enhanced efforts to attract diverse talent and businesses through cultural engagement and sustainability initiatives; strengthening the regional workforce pipeline through strategic industry partnerships: the NEW Construction Alliance, NEW Digital Alliance and NEW Healthcare Alliance, along with administrative support for the NEW Educational Resource Alliance; formation of the New North Economic Development Advisory Council to enhance collaboration with local economic development partners; the launch of five regional marketing campaigns, contributing to the relocation of more than 19,000 new residents to Northeast Wisconsin over the past four years; strategic business development efforts that grew the region’s gross domestic product to over $86 billion annually; and securing more than $29 million in grants and $65 million in private investment to expand broadband internet access via the NEW Broadband Alliance.”
“I feel it is the collective power of collaboration. Working together we have been able to develop alliances to support entrepreneurs, digital careers, construction trades, healthcare collaboration, broadband enhancement and access, cultural inclusion, and enhanced collaboration with local economic development partners,” LaMue stated.
“I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Our New North team, dedicated board members, volunteers, and community partners have made meaningful impacts through initiatives that would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our investors. Thank you for your trust and partnership.”
“Barb has positioned New North as a financially strong and forward-focused organization. Under her guidance, private investor support has grown by 95%, enabling the launch of new initiatives centered on business growth and talent attraction.She has built a talented team and dynamic network of volunteers and led New North to become the only current International Economic Development Council-accredited organization in Wisconsin — and one of just 86 nationally,” said New North Board Co-Chairs Sachin Shivaram and Mary Goggans.
“I remain passionate about business and community development and look forward to continuing to contribute through volunteer efforts and business connections in this region that I deeply love. I am immensely proud of our New North team, our committed board members, volunteers and community partners. Together, we have built impactful initiatives that would not have been possible without the steadfast support of our investors.”
“It has been my absolute honor to serve the board, our investors, this remarkable organization and region over the past six years.
When I accepted this position, I committed to being laser-focused on business investment and talent attraction across our 18-county region. That work began with strengthening our internal foundation—building a budget to support bold new initiatives, establishing strong cash reserves, assembling a talented team capable of executing an ambitious Plan of Work and building new partnerships.
LaMue will remain in the president/CEO role into September 2025, or until a successor is in place.
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