People are the essence of community for Corry Joe Biddle, vice president of talent and community affairs for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
She grew up on Milwaukee’s north side in the Berryland housing development, with Havenwoods as her backyard. Though she went on to attend college and live in other communities, Havenwoods remained her backdrop — the roots that shaped her connection to
the city.
Biddle’s professional journey with MMAC began when she became the managing director of FUEL Milwaukee, the organization’s talent attraction and retention initiative designed to connect young and diverse professionals to Milwaukee’s people, places
and opportunities.
On her first day on the job, FUEL hosted an event in a bar across from Cathedral Square Park. New to the role, Biddle didn’t know what to expect. She imagined a modest turnout of 20 to 40 people and was stunned when nearly 200 showed up. It was her first glimpse of the kind of energy and crowds FUEL regularly attracted.
“Coming to MMAC and working on those FUEL events completely shifted my perspective,” she said. “I discovered a Milwaukee that was alive with arts and culture, beautiful architecture and the presence of major Fortune 500 headquarters. It felt like I was experiencing a different city — but it had been my Milwaukee all along. I just didn’t realize I had access to it.”
The moment sparked a fire in Biddle to show people what Milwaukee offers. Her intentionality is evident in the marketing, speakers, locations and music she chooses for each event.
While community and volunteering are built into Biddle’s job, she serves on several boards as well, including United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County’s Reducing Barriers to Employment and Advancement Taskforce, Froedtert Hospital Foundation and Ko-Thi Dance Company. When Biddle chooses to serve, it’s often because of alignment with her work, her ability to help or her desire to understand. Relationships are usually at the center.
One relationship led her to serve on the Legacy Foundation Fund, a Foundation fund established by the late Deloris Sims, Margaret Henningsen and the late Dr. Jeanette Mitchell, to support local businesses and entrepreneurs following the closing of Legacy Bank.
At the time, the three were discussing the need to transition leadership to the next generation, and Mitchell asked Biddle to take her place.
During a recent board meeting, organizers of the event venue Uplifting Mansion came to the fund for support to enhance the venue’s accessibility. Biddle, who had held her brother’s celebration of life there, shared her personal experience to affirm the need. The event was beautiful, but without an accessibility ramp, one of her brother’s friends in a wheelchair needed extra assistance to enter the building.
“When Uplifting Mansion came to the Foundation, I was able to share my story and help confirm why this investment matters,” Biddle said. “This venue offers a beautiful space at accessible prices for the community. Supporting their efforts to improve accessibility is exactly the kind of impact the Legacy Fund was created to make.”