Davis named MKE Tech Hub Director of Content

The MKE Tech Hub Coalition recently announced that Antonio L. David Jr. has been named the organization’s Director of Content.

Davis joined the organization in May 2022 and is a well-known figure in the Hour of Tech and FUSE programs.

The non-profit organization was formed in October 2019 by a group of local businesses focused on advancing technology and innovation in the region. Collectively, Accenture, Advocate Aurora Health, Johnson Controls, Kohls, Northwestern Mutual and Rockwell Automation initially contributed over $5 million to launch MKE Tech Hub Coalition with the aim to grow the city’s technology ecosystem. The organization has a goal to “inclusively grow the tech ecosystem in southeast Wisconsin to create enduring economic prosperity and create life changing opportunities for individuals.”

Davis, a Milwaukee native, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a degree in Journalism. Since then, he has worked on the marketing teams of some of the city’s most visible non-profit organizations, including Milwaukee Public Schools and First Stage.

“I have been here now for more than 30 years and am witnessing the city go through its renaissance,” Davis said. “It’s always people-centric and that spoke to me. The city offers more than sports, beers, and brats. It is that sense of community and how that provides a sense of belonging. Ever since my first job as a teen with The Boys and Girls Club, it’s been ingrained in me. I’ve taken that and used it as motivation for the work that I do.”

Davis is eager to take on the challenge of his new role.

“To be successful in this role it will take collaboration, creativity, and leadership. I’m tasked with helping lead our different activations and support marketing… I am looking at the stories that we’ve told and the gaps in our storytelling where we can evolve, while we continue to represent the Milwaukee tech ecosystem,” he said.

When asked what stories in the Milwaukee tech ecosystem need a wider audience, Davis provided examples of a number of startup success stories.

“I have to address this question from the perspective of the stories I’ve told,” Davis explained. “I think about Chad Johnson, who represents the startup community. I think about Deepak Arora, who represents the startup community. I think about Gwenn Peters, who represents the corporate world but also sits on our board. These are stories that I’ve been fortunate to be able to tell.”

“I think about the different perspectives that they come from, how seasoned they are, and what they contribute (to the community) … They genuinely care,” he said. “They want Milwaukee to thrive…, to grow from its past and evolve into its present… I share that sentiment with them…”

MKE Tech Hub Coalition recently celebrated its fourth anniversary by sharing some of its key accomplishments in 2023, which include distributing over $300K in grants to advance startups, reskilling, and diversity in education.

“There is power in collaboration,” Davis reflected. “It’s allowing Milwaukee to be a bright light to the world.”

To learn more about MKE Tech Hub Coalition and its programming, connect with the organization here.