MADISON – John P. Morgridge, Chairman of the Board of Cisco Systems and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will be a keynote speaker at the Wisconsin Economic Summit, scheduled for the Midwest Express Center in Milwaukee November 29-December 1.
Morgridge will address the future “New Economy” challenges and opportunities faced by Wisconsin.
Governor Tommy G. Thompson will help kick off the Summit on Wednesday, Nov. 29, with a late afternoon presentation. Thompson will urge Wisconsin to build on its past economic successes to adapt to the changing economy of the 21st century.
Summit participants also will hear from Arthur J. Rolnick, senior vice president and director of research for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Additional speakers and panelists will be announced as the Summit approaches.
Morgridge, who will speak on Friday, Dec. 1, joined Cisco in 1988 as President and CEO. During his tenure, the company’s sales grew from $5 million to more than $1 billion, and employment grew from 34 to more than 2,260. He took Cisco public in 1990 and was appointed chairman in 1995.
Cisco Systems is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, and is the fastest growing company in the history of the computer industry. Its market capitalization of more than $300 billion makes it the third highest valued company in the world. The company uses Internet technology extensively: more than 80 percent of its orders and customer support are transacted via the web.
Morgridge received a B.B.A. degree from UW-Madison in 1955 and an honorary doctorate degree in 1994. He also has an M.B.A. degree from Stanford University, where he teaches part-time in the Graduate School of Business. He speaks regularly on entrepreneurialism and management strategies at corporations and universities around the world.
More than 500 business, labor and community leaders from throughout Wisconsin are expected to join prominent state officials at the summit. Monday, November 6, is the deadline for early registration. On November 7, the Summit registration fee will jump from $119 to $149. This fee includes a reception, several meals and all conference registration materials. Blocks of hotel rooms have been reserved for those who need them at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center and the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. The special “Wisconsin Economic Summit” room rate is $89 per night. A summit registration form is available on-line at wisconsin.edu/summit.
Persons who do not have access to the web may register for the summit by calling (414) 227-3200 or 1-800-222-3623. Additional information about arrangements is available by calling (414) 227-3131. For information about the summit itself, call 1-800-442-6461.
Contact:
Kevin Boatright, UW System
(608) 263-2227