FINALIST
Dean Amhaus
The Water Council
The Water Council was formed in 2010 with the purpose of growing the Milwaukee region into a world water hub for water research, education and economic development.
Since its formation, Dean Amhaus has served as its first and only president and chief executive officer.
Over the past two years, The Water Council has doubled the size of its staff and has added new programs and initiatives that not only enhance the image of Milwaukee and Wisconsin, but also grow the organization on a global scale.
Amhaus is committed to leveraging Milwaukee’s water cluster to return the city to its former glory days, he said.
Earlier this year, The Water Council, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee released an economic report that indicated the Water Technology District in Walker’s Point, anchored by The Water Council’s Global Water Center, has spurred more than $211.6 million worth of development in the area since 2012.
At its core, The Water Council is an economic development engine for the community, Amhaus has said. Its goal is to grow current water businesses, start new ones, and attract water-based companies to Milwaukee and its freshwater resources.
Amhaus has been instrumental in establishing new programs and partnerships, including work on the proposed 46,600-square-foot Global Water Center II facility in the neighborhood. The new center would be created in a 121-year-old industrial building and would continue Amhaus’ and The Water Council’s efforts to continue to attract more water technology companies to the region.
He tirelessly promotes the region, its resources and The Water Council around the world.
In the past year, new partnerships have been established with the JPMorgan Chase Small Business Forward program, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Wells Fargo Clean Technology & Innovation partner, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and The U.S. Water Partnership, among others.
