CITY2CITY 2025: Madison, WI
Welcome the 2025 City2City
Trip in Madison, Wisconsin
This three-day trip aims to benchmark best practices in business operations, innovation, and economic development within the Madison region. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with local businesses, government officials, and industry leaders.
Participants will gain valuable insights to enhance their own operations, foster collaboration, and identify growth opportunities.
Day 1 – Wednesday, September 17, 2025
| Time | Topic | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2:30 PM | Depart the Edgewater | Meet Stephanie in hotel lobby to walk to opening session (walking 0.4 miles) |
| 2:50 PM | ARRIVE OPENING SESSION | @ Destination Madison 22 E. Mifflin St. Suite 200 Madison, WI |
| 3:00PM | Welcome Remarks | |
| 3:10 – 3:40 PM | Tourism Meets Business: How Destination Madison Markets the City for Economic Impact | by Maureen Martin, VP of Partnerships & Community Engagement, Destination Madison |
| 3:40 – 4:10 PM | Healthcare as an Economic Engine: The Common Ground Story in Wisconsin | by Cathy Mahaffey, CEO, Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative and CareSource market president, Wisconsin |
| 4:15 – 5:15 PM | Downtown Madison: Growth, Challenges, and Opportunities Walking Tour | by Jason Ilstrup, President, Downtown Madison Inc. (walking shoes recommended) |
| 5:30 – 7:00 PM | OPENING RECEPTION | @ The Madison Club 5 E. Wilson St. Madison, WI Capitol Room |
| 6:45 & 7:05 PM | Shuttle to Hotel: Conclude Day 1 | Attendees are on their own for dinner. |
Day 2 – Thursday, September 18, 2025
| Time | Topic | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 – 8:30 AM | BREAKFAST AVAILABLE | @ The Edgewater – Mendota Ballroom – The Wisconsin Building – 3rd Floor |
| 8:30 – 9:00 AM | Building a Resilient Madison: Strategic Leadership for a Thriving City | by Satya Rhodes-Conway, Mayor, City of Madison |
| 9:15 AM | DEPART to EPIC | by Badger Bus outside of hotel |
| 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Epic Campus Tour & Briefing: Technology, Healthcare, and Community | @ Epic 1979 Milky Way Verona, WI 53593 |
| 12:15 PM | DEPART to Boys & Girls Club | |
| 12:30 PM | ARRIVE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB MADISON REGIONAL WORKFORCE CENTER | @ 5215 Verona Rd. Fitchburg, WI 53711 |
| 12:45 – 1:30 PM | LUNCH | |
| 1:45 – 2:30 PM | Rooted in Cooperation: Credit Unions and the Madison Story | by Jill Tomalin, Executive Vice President Chief of Staff, America’s Credit Unions |
| 2:30 – 3:00 PM | Madison’s Development Strategy: Balancing Large Projects and Small Business Success | by Matthew Mikolajewski, Director, Economic Development Division, City of Madison and Saran Ouk, Business Resources Manager, City of Madison |
| 3:00 – 3:30 PM | BREAK | |
| 3:30 – 4:00 PM | Dane County Airport: Driving Regional Connectivity and Economic Development | by Tomasz Pajor, Director of Air Service Development, Dane County Airport |
| 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Youth, Workforce, and Community Impact: Inside the Boys & Girls Club Regional Workforce Center | by Alan Branch, Sr., Vice President of Workforce Development at Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County |
| 5:30 PM | DEPART to Hotel | The Edgewater 1001 Wisconsin Ave. Madison, WI 53703 |
| 6:30 PM | Cocktails on the lake | @ The Edgewater – Red Crown Room – The Langdon Building – 11th Floor |
| 7:00 PM | DINNER: Buffet | @ The Edgewater – Red Crown Room – The Langdon Building – 11th Floor |
| 9:00 PM | Conclude Day 2 |
Day 3 – Friday, September 19, 2025 @ The Edgewater
| Time | Topic | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 – 9:00 AM | BREAKFAST AVAILABLE | @ The Edgewater – Mendota Ballroom – The Wisconsin Building – 3rd Floor |
| 9:00 – 9:30 AM | Advancing Connectivity and Recreation: The Madison LakeWay Project | by Jayme Powers, CEO, Madison LakeWay Partners |
| 9:30 – 10:15 AM | Talent Retention in Action: Young Professionals on Choosing Madison | PANEL |
| 10:30 – 10:45 AM | Key Takeaways, Next Steps, and Closing | |
| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | LUNCH SERVED |
