Greg Wesley arrived in Milwaukee in June 1997 not knowing a single soul. From Gary, Ind., Wesley had just been recruited to join a small but growing Milwaukee-based law firm after graduating from law school.
While some young lawyers dive headfirst into work during the first few years of their practice, Wesley was determined to carve out time to become involved in the community while also building a law practice. That decision was due in part to the sage advice he received from a law professor.
“He taught me lawyers have a responsibility to their community,” Wesley said. “Sustained involvement leads to a more fulfilling career and a stronger community.”
Wesley is now known as one of Milwaukee’s top 25 powerbrokers, that person to whom others turn when they need to accomplish something in the city, whether it’s a business deal, community project or fundraising effort. In August, he brought his more than a quarter century of connections, credibility and commitment to community to his new role as the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s president and CEO, the fourth leader in its 109-year history.
“Greg cares deeply about Milwaukee and is deeply committed to Milwaukee,” said Michael Nguyen, executive director of Teach for America Milwaukee, where Wesley serves as its board chair. “You’d be hard pressed to find anyone in the city as connected, smart and strategic as Greg.”
Cultivating close connections
A first-generation college student, Wesley graduated from Indiana University and went to University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School in the hopes of becoming a sports agent or entering the entertainment industry. But he eventually became a litigator, falling in love with the law because it challenged his critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Wesley became quickly immersed in Milwaukee after he arrived, thanks in part to Marvin Pratt, a Milwaukee alderman at the time and later interim mayor who introduced him to government officials, area business leaders and neighborhood residents. Through the Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals, Wesley got connected to other young professionals. He spent 18 years at Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan before joining
the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2016 as its inaugural senior vice president of strategic alliances and business development.
Personally and professionally, Wesley has been committed to building a thriving community where business, civic, philanthropic and public policy sectors have collaborative relationships and work together to improve lives.
“He has credibility in virtually every place in the community,” said Joel Brennan, president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, where Wesley serves on the board.
Wesley has chaired GMC’s MKE United effort since 2015 and has helped raise money for its Anti-Displacement Fund, which is housed at the Foundation and provides grants to help ensure long-time, income-eligible homeowners living in near downtown neighborhoods are not displaced due to the increasing property taxes associated with new development.
“There are plenty of places in the community where there is a trust deficit because of disinvestment and disengagement,” Brennan said. “Greg takes it personally when we don’t as a community get to where we need to be. He has taken it upon himself with other leaders to ensure we start to rebuild that trust.”
‘A community guy’
His love for Milwaukee and its citizens lies at the heart of what he does, and his passion for helping them thrive is palpable. Community leaders said Wesley has become a trusted partner because of his thoughtfulness, astute listening skills and high emotional intelligence.
“He’s a community guy and has the pulse of what’s going on in the community,” said Barbara Wanzo, Black Arts MKE executive director. Wesley is a founding board member of the Black-led performing arts group.
Ralph Hollmon, who first met Wesley while serving as president of the Milwaukee Urban League, said he was a visionary leader who saw the potential in Bronzeville before others. As MUL’s board chair at the time, Wesley led its facilities committee in exploring options for a new building. The nonprofit relocated to its current location on North Avenue in 2006 and became a catalyst for others.
“Greg had a vision to see what others couldn’t see,” Hollmon said.
MCW President and CEO Dr. John Raymond credits Wesley as the driver in bringing MCW and the Foundation together in 2018 to form the ThriveOn Collaboration. Wesley devoted many weekdays, evenings and weekends over the long-term development of the partnership to build relationships with residents, gain support of elected officials for the concept and help recruit other tenant partners to ThriveOn King, also based in Bronzeville.
“Greg has his fingerprints on all the wonderful things that needed to happen for this dream to become a reality,” said Raymond, who acknowledged Wesley for also elevating MCW’s visibility and value in the community.
Taking the Foundation to the next level
Wesley is no stranger to the Foundation, having first become exposed to its work nearly 20 years ago through his role as a trustee of the Faye McBeath Foundation. The private foundation was a co-funder with the Foundation on the Nonprofit Management Fund, and the organizations shared office space for a time.
When Wesley was recruited to join the Foundation’s Board in 2016, he said the decision was a no-brainer. He and his wife, Lisa, later became donors. When the leadership position opened in 2024, Wesley saw his wealth of connections and the Foundation’s ability
to connect others in the community to advance common causes as “right on the mark” for another career challenge.
Foundation Board chair Mary Ellen Stanek has served with Wesley for nearly 20 years on boards including the GMC, Milwaukee World Festival and Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. She described him as a servant leader who can “build coalitions and consensus while being able to bridge and honor differences.”
“I’m excited about what the future holds,” Stanek said.
Wesley’s familiarity with the Foundation and deep understanding of Milwaukee lessens the learning curve and enables him to hit the ground running in terms of furthering its work, partners say.
He sees the Foundation as helping change the narrative of Milwaukee, particularly through its generational commitment to racial equity and inclusion.
“This entire community is tied in together,” Wesley said. “If we don’t improve the opportunities for Black and Brown residents without it being a zero-sum game, then we’re not going to reach our full potential.”
Wesley said he is committed to the fulfillment of the Foundation’s current strategic plan, which runs through 2025. He looks forward to demonstrating the Foundation’s role in addition to that as a grantmaker, building upon its legacy and with work such as impact investing and the ThriveOn Collaboration. He also sees the potential in other creative partnerships and cross-sector cooperation to help Milwaukee remain vibrant.
“I am optimistic in the Foundation’s ability to be that convener around which other sectors rally to embrace a shared vision and align our collective strategies to serve all of Milwaukee,” Wesley said. “I believe that if we lead on big issues, we can achieve big results together.”