
PANELISTS

JODIE LARSEN
Vice President, Community Engagement
Oshkosh Corporation
Jodie Larsen currently works at Oshkosh Corporation as the Vice President, Community
Engagement. She is responsible for community outreach, managing the Oshkosh Corporation
Foundation and working to enhance engagement with team members. Jodie joined Oshkosh Corporation in 1998 as the Director of Human Resources, Pierce Manufacturing. She furthered her career as the Vice President, Fire and Emergency Segment prior to moving to the corporate
headquarters in her current role.
CATHY MUTSCHLER
Vice President, Community Relations
Community First Credit Union
As VP Community Relations for Community First Credit Union, Cathy Mutschler oversees charitable
giving, event sponsorships and the volunteer program. Cathy’s been on all sides of the philanthropy
table, as a Girl Scout CEO, as VP Donor Engagement for the Community Foundation, as Director of Giving and Community Engagement for U.S. Venture and as a board member for multiple nonprofits.
JEFF VANDE LEEST
President & CEO
Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin
Jeff is the President/CEO of Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin, a nonprofit human services agency with a mission to Protect. Heal. Care. for children and families throughout Northeast Wisconsin. Jeff has been Family Services CEO since 2014 and has been with the Agency for over 23 years with his previous role of Executive Vice President overseeing community-based services as well as an adolescent residential treatment facility and adolescent group homes.
GREG VANDENBERG
Director of Giving and Community Engagement
U.S. Venture, Inc.
Greg Vandenberg is the Director of Giving and Community Engagement at U.S. Venture, Inc. He serves as Executive Director of the U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation and oversees the Basic Needs Giving Partnership, a funding collaborative in Northeast Wisconsin which will grant more than $10 million dollars in the next year. Greg leads the team of the U.S. Venture Open ― a one-day golf outing that funds the Basic Needs Giving Partnership and raised more than $4.6 million in 2020. He has more than 16 years of non-profit experience, most recently with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW) where he held the positions of Ambulatory Care Manager and Director of Development. In 2014, he received the Servant Leadership Award from CHW. Prior to CHW, he was with Life Promotions and Lifest Music Festival, where he worked in fundraising, program development and served as Festival Director.
MARIA VAN LAANEN
President
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
Maria Van Laanen is the president of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and has been with the Center since 2001. She draws on more than 25 years of experience in arts management as she oversees programming, fundraising, operations and personnel. Maria is a Tony voting member of The Broadway League and serves on many local boards.
MODERATOR

DENISE THOMAS
President/Owner
The Effective Communication Coach
Denise Thomas is the President and Owner of The Effective Communication Coach, LLC, a consultancy focused on transforming emerging and existing professionals into extraordinary leaders by mastering the art of effective communication. With nineteen years of experience in working for Fortune 500 companies, Denise has honed the ability to deliver and receive messages across language, cultural, and communication-style barriers. Organizations she’s consulted and coached include the National Black MBA Association, National Urban League, Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute, and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee.