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Wisconsin Chapter Event | Conversations with a Seasoned Board Director: Elevating Governance in Privately-Owned Companies
The Wisconsin Club
900 W Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
USA
Thursday, November 06, 2025, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM CST
Category: Wisconsin

Conversations with a Seasoned Board Director: Elevating Governance in Privately-Owned Companies

Overview

Join us for a dynamic fireside chat designed specifically for current and aspiring board members serving Private and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) companies. This year-end event offers a rare opportunity to gain firsthand insights from a seasoned board director with deep experience in ESOP governance, strategic oversight, and aligning board practices with employee ownership values. Whether you are exploring ESOP board service or currently advising or governing a privately-owned business, this conversation will provide valuable context, practical guidance, and inspiration as we look ahead to the future of private company governance.

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Lessons from the Boardroom: Hear candid reflections from Bob Puissant, a long-serving ESOP board director about his journey to the boardroom, building effective board culture, and strategies for adding value beyond compliance.
  • ESOP Governance in Practice: Learn how experienced directors approach the unique dynamics of ESOP boards, from fiduciary responsibilities to aligning shareholder and employee-owner interests.
  • Current Topics in ESOP Boardrooms: Explore emerging trends shaping the governance agenda in ESOP companies, including succession planning, employee engagement, and strategic risk management.

Guests are always welcome at our events, and for our year-end event we are offering one complimentary guest registration per member. Please provide your guest’s name, title, company and contact information to Kristin McLean, our Programs Chair, at [email protected].

Schedule:

4:00-4:30pm CT Registration and Networking
4:30-5:30pm CT Program
5:30-6:00pm CT Networking

Fees: 

$35 members/$50 nonmembers

Register
 

Thank you to our National  Sponsors!

Thank you to our Chapter Sponsors!

 BRONZE SPONSORS


 THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT SPONSOR

 

 Panelists

   Robert (Bob) Puissant   
   Wisconsin PDA Founding Member
   Intrapreneur * Board Member & Advisor * Executive Mentor
 

Board experienced P&L driven Executive with international acumen. Repeated success across multiple industries in driving profitable growth through organic initiatives as well as acquisitions. Catalyst for change through collaboration, team building and mentoring.   Kellogg/Northwestern MBA, focus on profitable growth and organization effectiveness. 

Certifications in Private Company Governance and ESOP Governance Essentials granted by PDA (Private Directors Association). Corporate Governance Leadership Program, UW-Madison. 

Bob currently serves on four (4) ESOP Boards across various industries and has experience with family-held enterprises.  

Executive Mentor to 33 mid-career/senior executives in a host of industries of which 26 are privately held including ESOP’s, Family Held & Private Equity.

Proven Intrapreneur: As a company officer, I used my entrepreneurial skills to innovate processes, services, and products to directly enhance the sustainability, growth, and strength of the company through teamwork and access to corporate resources.

Specialties: Strategy development and execution, Organization Performance, Sales, Business and New Product Development, Marketing, R&D and Mergers/Acquisition/Divestitures experience and results.

Serial Angel Investor (16+ investments, reviewed hundreds of business plans & presentations.) Advisor to various start-up initiatives.

   Inge Plautz   
   Wisconsin PDA Chapter President
   President & CEO, The Forum Group
 

Inge Plautz is an accomplished executive, expert group facilitator, and governance specialist who helps family-owned and mission-driven organizations navigate complexity and achieve sustainable growth. Her leadership fosters strategic frameworks, resilient teams, and adaptive cultures that thrive in evolving markets.

Drawing on experience creating CEO forums, peer roundtables, and cross-disciplinary networks, Inge unites leaders and advisors to spark innovation and forge productive alliances. Her governance expertise includes establishing family councils, shaping boards, and aligning priorities for lasting impact.

Inge’s contributions extend far beyond the boardroom. She is a steadfast advocate for mentorship and has dedicated significant time and effort to supporting the next generation of leaders - especially women in business. Through exclusive leadership events and mentorship initiatives, she has cultivated a culture of empowerment, ensuring that future leaders have the guidance, and confidence needed to succeed.

As a Certified Private Company Director and founder of the Wisconsin Chapter of the Private Directors Association, Inge champions forward-thinking governance models. Her executive roles - including a senior position at Old National Bank - have honed her skill in delivering transformative strategies and tangible results.

Past tenures at Old National Bank, RSM US LLP, M3 Insurance Solutions, PNC Financial Services Group and BMO, refined her ability to tackle operational challenges and guide organizations towards measurable progress. She extends this influence beyond the boardroom, fostering mentorship and diversity through exclusive women’s leadership events.

Recognized among Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 under 40, named Woman of the Year, and honored as a top executive in banking and finance, Inge combines strategic acumen with a global perspective gained through her Executive MBA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studies at ESCP Europe in Paris. Continually evolving in her responsibilities, she remains a trusted partner for organizations seeking clarity, momentum, and enduring leadership.