Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy

At a time when the political environment can feel hopelessly dysfunctional, Wisconsin business leaders from across the political spectrum have joined together to advocate for more, not less, civic engagement. Come hear about their efforts to ensure equitable access to voting, non-partisan, transparent election policy and administration, and unbiased representation. Why do they believe it is their responsibility to support free, fair, and regular elections, and why do they think it's imperative that college students participate in the democratic process?

David Irwin is General Partner of Hiawatha Group, which holds interests in private software and technology services companies in which Mr. Irwin plays an active operating or advisory role. From 2002 to 2019 he served as a corporate development executive, sales leader, and business President for Wisconsin-based Fiserv, Inc, a Fortune 100 technology company primarily serving the financial industry. Part of his work with Fiserv involved establishing operations in India and Latin America and growing them to over 3,000 professionals. Earlier, Mr. Irwin worked in management consulting for Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and as an entrepreneur with the NetCommerce Company, a VC-backed insurance software venture that he co-founded with two partners. Mr. Irwin’s interest in civic engagement originated from spending three years of his youth in France during the Cold War and developing a sense of America’s unique place in the world. From 2002 to 2007 he was a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York and an organizer of the Council’s 2005 mission to India. He earned a BA at Dartmouth College, majoring in Economics and minoring in Government, and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. He lives in Elm Grove, WI with his wife (a former Elm Grove Village Trustee) and daughter. The three of them wish their college freshman son would call home more often.

John Florsheim is President and COO of Weyco Group, a distributor and marketer of footwear brands with 250 employees based in Glendale. Weyco is a family oriented public company which sells its products globally and its portfolio of brands include Florsheim, Bogs, Stacy Adams and Nunn Bush. Prior to joining Weyco, Mr. Florsheim worked at M&M Mars in marketing. He is currently on the board of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties. Mr. Florsheim has always had a strong interest in American political history. His current involvement in promoting civic engagement stems from his concern over the growing political divide within the country. He earned a BA in history from Brown University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. He lives in Shorewood with his wife and they are the proud parents of three grown children.