Kyle Chapman, president and CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, will provide a keynote address at the upcoming New North Summit, scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, at the Lambeau Field Atrium in Green Bay. He will honor the legacy of his father, Bob, around the goal of building a more caring world through people-first business practices. Bob Chapman had been scheduled to provide a keynote at this year’s Summit prior to his passing this past March 19.

Bob Chapman, chairman and former CEO of Barry-Wehmiller Group, had shared his business philosophy in the 2015 best-seller, Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family, co-authored with Raj Sisodia. The book, which will be given to all New North Summit attendees, has sold more than 110,000 copies and has been translated into eight languages; it was re-released in a revised and expanded edition in 2025.

Registration for the event remains open; a link to register can be found at www.newnorthsummit.com.

“We are most appreciative that Kyle Chapman has agreed to step in for his father as a speaker at this year’s New North Summit to help us honor Bob,” says New North President and CEO Patti Habeck. “The philosophy of Barry- Wehmiller challenges traditional thinking about how to run a business, and offers simple, yet groundbreaking, ideas on how to create safe, healthy and fulfilling work environments. I believe that Kyle’s words will be highly impactful to our guests.”

The keynote address of Kyle Chapman, sponsored by Capital Credit Union, will highlight how Barry-Wehmiller is redefining what success in business looks like by demonstrating how economic growth and human vibrancy work in harmony. The company’s success and its leadership approach initiated by Bob Chapman was featured in a case study by Harvard Business School that is now taught at 70-plus business schools around the world.

Kyle Chapman’s tenure at Barry-Wehmiller began in 2009, when he co-founded BW Forsyth Partners, today a thriving $850 million-plus organization. He became the interim chief financial officer of Barry-Wehmiller early in 2020, and added CEO to his title in 2025 when Bob Chapman stepped down from the role after 50 years of leadership.

Kyle Chapman holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University. Before joining Barry-Wehmiller, he worked in private equity and operations for multiple companies, including Banc of America Capital Investors, where he completed approximately $300 million in investments across numerous industries.

Additional keynote addresses will be given by Rima Alaily, corporate VP and general counsel at Microsoft, and by Denise Thomas, leadership strategist and author of the best-selling The Only One in the Room.

The New North Summit opens with a performance of the National Anthem by Lawrence University Associate Professor of Voice Estelí Gomez. Praised by The New York Times for her “clear, bright voice,” she is acclaimed for her artistry in early and contemporary music. A soprano who has appeared on major symphonic, film and television recordings, Gomez is a two-time Grammy winner with the ensemble Roomful of Teeth.

The afternoon session includes a pair of concurrent breakout sessions: a panel on cross-industry talent development strategies and a roundtable discussion on entrepreneurship. The talent session will focus on New North’s role in industry alliances and talent-related initiatives, followed by a roundtable discussion with regional leaders in the construction, digital and healthcare industries. The entrepreneurship session will include a panel of successful entrepreneurs from the New North region.

The New North Summit wraps up with a networking reception from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Additional event agenda updates will be provided at www.newnorthsummit.com on an ongoing basis.

WHERE:     Lambeau Field Atrium

                   1265 Lombardi Ave.; Green Bay, Wis.

WHEN:       Tuesday, June 9, 2026

                   7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

# # #

New North, Inc., is a 501(c)3 non-profit, regional economic development corporationfostering collaboration among private and public sector leaders throughout the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin, known as the New North region. The New North brand unites the region both internally and externally around talent development, brand promotion and business development, signifying the collective economic power behind the 18 counties. The counties include Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago. www.thenewnorth.com