The MKE Tech Hub Coalition is proud to announce the appointment of Joe Poeschl as its new Executive Director, effective July 1.

Poeschl, a longtime champion of Milwaukee’s innovation community, steps into the role after serving as the organization’s Director of Engagement for the past 18 months. He succeeds Kathy Henrich, who has led MKE Tech since 2020 and remains committed to the success of the organization during this transition.

“Joe brings a unique blend of passion, experience, and vision to this role,” said Molly Mulroy, Chair of the MKE Tech Board and Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at WEC Energy Group. “His deep relationships across Milwaukee’s tech and startup ecosystems, along with his track record in community development and ecosystem collaboration, made him the clear choice. We are confident in his ability to lead us into the next phase of growth while staying grounded in our mission of growing our tech-powered economy in southeast Wisconsin.”

Over the past 15 years, Poeschl has built a reputation as a dynamic, collaborative leader and an enthusiastic advocate for the region’s tech economy. His work spans workforce strategy, startup support, collaborative innovation, and community building – all cornerstones of MKE Tech’s strategic direction.

“I’m honored to step into this role and support the growing momentum of our region,” Poeschl said. “We are doubling down on our mission to foster a more vibrant tech ecosystem – one that helps the region grow faster, go further, and take bigger swings. My focus will be on cultivating network connectivity, amplifying our stories, driving member value, and sparking a culture of innovation across the region. I’m excited to keep building today, while investing for the future.”

Poeschl brings nearly a decade of community-building experience as a co-founder of The Commons (an initiative of the Greater Milwaukee Committee) and has prior board experience with BizStarts and ImagineMKE. He has been instrumental in shaping MKE Tech’s current strategy, which includes a goal of growing the region’s technology market two times the rate of the industry’s national average. His appointment reflects the organization’s strong belief in building on the coalition’s current momentum and facilitating its growth into the future.

“Kathy has been a transformational leader, helping establish MKE Tech as a key driver of our region’s economic future,” added Mulroy. “Thanks to her leadership, we are financially strong, have delivered measurable outcomes, and are key part of a powerful network of peer tech councils nationwide.”

“I’m proud of what we’ve built together,” said outgoing CEO Henrich. “MKE Tech’s mission has always been about collaboration—connecting corporations, startups, non-profits, government, and educational institutions in ways that change the trajectory of our region. Joe has been a critical partner in shaping our future strategy, and I have every confidence in his ability to lead the organization into its next chapter.”

For more information about MKE Tech Hub Coalition and its initiatives, visit www.mketech.org.

For more information, please contact: [email protected].