Defining Markets Conference

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The IMCP organizes the Defining Markets Conferences each year for the community. The conference series focuses on major events shaping the economy, business, and markets, with the goal of helping attendees better position their portfolios and businesses.

Conference Overview

The Defining Markets Conference has been bringing together top financial and business experts since 2014. Each year, the conference covers major topics shaping the economy and markets, helping attendees make smarter decisions for their portfolios and businesses.

Past conferences have covered topics including:

  • Investment strategy and market outlook
  • Healthcare and innovation
  • ESG (sustainable) investing
  • Private equity and venture capital
  • Technology and productivity trends

Speakers have included senior leaders from well-known organizations like Citigroup, JP Morgan, Rockwell Automation, and the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, as well as respected economists, market strategists, and industry analysts.

Over more than a decade, the conference has earned a strong reputation as a valuable resource for investors and business professionals in the Milwaukee community and beyond.

Previous Programs

Webinar Series: Economics to Investments

Economics to Investments

Learn how the economy and financial markets are intrinsically connected in this webinar series as we discuss today’s environment. We start by analyzing the cycle and of what specific parts of the market say about the upcoming economy. Then, we take a dive and look at current US government finances and monetary policy. Moving on, we analyze the dollar, trade, and commodities. We end our discussion by analyzing current returns and how different assets (stocks, bonds, sectors, etc.) rotate over the cycle. 

  1. The Economy, The Cycle, The Market Says
  2. Government: Fiscal and Monetary Policy
  3. The Dollar, Trade, and Commodities

Featuring

  • Dr. Kevin G. Spellman, CFA (aka “Coach”) 
    Professor of Practice 
    David O. Nicholas Director of Investment Management 
    University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Webinar Series: The American Jobs Plan

The American Jobs Plan: What it Means for the Economy and Current Conditions

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Presenters

  • Shawn Harrison, Vice President of Communications & Investor Relations, Plexus
  • Xia Liu, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Wisconsin Energy
Webinar Series: Venture Capital and Private Equity

The Evolving Role of VC in the Innovation Economy and PE Trends and Themes in the Age of COVID-19

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Presenters

  • John Neis, Executive Managing Director, Venture Investors LLC
  • Michael Rogers, Principal (retired), Ernst & Young
  • Pete Witte, Associate Director, U.S. Private Equity, Ernst & Young
Webinar Series: ESG & EVA

ESG and EVA: Making the World Better While Generating Solid Returns

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Presenters

  • Anthony Campagna, Global Director of Fundamental Research, Institutional Shareholder Services
  • Patricia Dörig, ESG Analyst, Institutional Shareholder Services
Webinar Series: Investment Strategy

Investment Strategy

This panel answered important questions about current macro conditions and financial markets. A recording of this discussion is not available.

Presenters

  • Brian Jacobsen, Senior Investment Strategist, Wells Fargo
  • Tobias Levkovich, Chief U.S. Equity Strategist, Citigroup

Past Conferences

Defining Markets Conference, November 2024

Discussing Issues that are Shaping the Economy and Financial Markets

Pre-Recessionary Vibes

  • Doug Ramsey, CFA, CMT
    Chief Investment Officer & Co-Portfolio Manager, Leuthold Group

Volatility and the Markets

  • Mark Shore, Director and Economist, CME Group

What Drives the Economy: Consumer Spending, Business Investment, or Government Stimulus

  • Dr. Mark Skousen, Doti-Spogli Endowed Chair of Free Enterprise Chapman University
Defining Markets Conference, September 2019

Equity Investing

  • Brian Hellmer, Managing Director, Public Equities, State of Wisconsin Investment Board
  • Matt Rose (moderator), Consultant, Alpha Investment Consulting Group

Investment Strategy

  • Jeff deGraaf, Chairman, Renaissance Macro Research LLC
  • William Delwiche, Managing Director and Investment Strategist, Robert W. Baird & Co.
  • Mike Roth (moderator), Founding Principal, Stark Investments

IoT: Can it Solve the U.S. Productivity Problem?

  • David Aho, Director of Engineering, Eaton Corp. Power Systems Division
  • Joe Mariani, Research Manager, Deloitte Services LP
  • David Vasko, Director of Advanced Technology, Rockwell Automation
  • Kathleen Gallagher (moderator), Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist and Executive-in-Residence, UWM Lubar College of Business
Defining Markets Conference, January 2018

Main Issues Transforming the global Economy & Health Care

Healthcare Panel

  • Kathleen Gallagher, (Moderator), Pulitzer Prize winner & Executive-in-Residence, Lubar College of Business
  • Mike Anderes, (Speaker), Chief Innovation & Digital Officer for Froedtert Health and President of Inception Health
  • Coreen Dicus-Johnson, (Speaker), President & Chief Executive Officer of Network Health
  • Catherine Jacobson, (Speaker), President & Chief Executive Officer of Froedtert Health
  • Brian Pinsker, (Speaker), Healthcare Portfolio Manager/CEO of 11:11 Capital, former head of North American Equities for Proprietary Trading Business of JP Morgan

Investment Strategy Panel

  • Bob Bukowski, (Moderator), Principal & Senior Consultant, Alpha Investment Consulting Group
  • Scott Opsal, (Speaker), Director of Equities for Leuthold Weeden Capital Management
  • Michael Roth, (Speaker), Founding Principal of Stark Investments
Defining Markets Conference, November 2016

Technical Analysis and the VIX as a Marketing Indicator

Speakers

  • Philip J. Roth, CMT, Market Technicians Association Educational Foundation
  • Russell Rhoads, CFA, Director of Education, CBOE Options Institute
  • Kevin Spellman, CFA, David O. Nicholas Director of Investment Management (Moderator)
Defining Markets Conference, October 2015

Investment Strategy and the Next Boom

Speakers

  • Dennis DeBusschere, Senior Managing Director, Portfolio Strategy, Evercore ISI
  • Doug Ramsey, Chief Investment Officer, The Leuthold Group
  • Jack Plunkett, CEO, Plunkett Research, Ltd.
  • Joseph Veranth, Chief Investment Officer & Portfolio Manager, Dana Investment Advisors (Moderator)
Defining Markets Conference, February 2015

Investment Strategy, Geopolitics & Strategic Surprise

Speakers

  • Tobias Levkovich, Managing Director and Chief U.S. Strategist, Citigroup
  • Francois Trahan, Partner and Investment Strategist, Cornerstone Macro
  • Dr. Milo Jones, Visiting Professor, IE Business School in Madrid
  • Joseph Veranth, Chief Investment Officer & Portfolio Manager, Dana Investment Advisors (moderator)
Defining Markets Conference, September 2014

Speakers

  • Ted Crandall, Senior Vice President & CFO, Rockwell Automation
  • Christopher Goller, Regional President, PNC Bank
  • Ron Miller, Managing Director, Cleary Gull
  • David Westgate, CEO, Jason Industries