Thomas J. Cardella
President and Chief Executive Officer – Tenth and Blake Beer Company
MillerCoors
Tom Cardella is president and CEO of Tenth and Blake Beer Company, an independent division of MillerCoors focused on craft and import beers. The company’s brands include Blue Moon, Leinenkugel’s, Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Colorado Native.
Tom also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, and is on the board of directors for Foster’s USA, LLC.
Tom is a 30-year veteran of the global beer industry. Previously Tom served as eastern division president for MillerCoors, where he was responsible for driving the business in the MillerCoors eastern division, including its sales volume, profit contribution and share growth.
Prior to that, Tom was executive vice president of sales and distribution for Miller Brewing Company, a position he took in August 2006. At Miller, Tom also served as senior vice president, international brands and market development.
When he’s not selling beer, Tom serves on the Board of Directors for the Green Bay Packers, United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
Tom has a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and a master’s degree from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.
James R. Popp
President, Wisconsin and Minnesota
Chase
Jim Popp is president of Chase’s Wisconsin and Minnesota markets overseeing the Middle Market banking group. In this leadership role, Popp directs teams who serve clients with $10-500 million in annual sales.
Popp began his career in banking with American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago in 1987 and has managed various groups within American National Bank, First Chicago Corp, Bank One and Chase.
An active member of the community, Popp is a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and he serves on the boards and committees of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), United Way of Greater Milwaukee, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and the Foundation Board of Concordia University Wisconsin.
Popp received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Vanderbilt University and an MBA in finance from DePaul University.
Kristine A. Rappé
Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
Wisconsin Energy Corp.
Kristine Rappé was appointed senior vice president and chief administrative officer, Wisconsin Energy Corp. in 2004. In this role, Rappé oversees a range of corporate activities including information technology, human resources, business continuity, corporate security and real estate management. Rappé also directs the Wisconsin Energy Corp. Foundation, which allocates approximately $6 million to the arts, education and services that provide for basic human needs.
Rappé joined the company in 1982 and quickly advanced through management and leadership roles in business development, marketing and operations. She was named vice president of Customer Services in 1994 and vice president and corporate secretary, Wisconsin Energy Corp. in 2001.
She is a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and the Marquette University board of trustees. She also is a member of the boards of directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and Froedtert Health, Inc. Rappé currently is also chairperson of the board of directors for PAVE (Partners Advancing Value in Education).
Rappé graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and urban planning. She also has attended executive programs at the Harvard Business School and the University of Michigan’s School of Business Administration. Rappé is a recipient of the Professional Dimensions, Inc. Sacagawea Award and was honored as a Woman of Distinction by the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee.