Latest $1 million Rexnord corporate gift expands Marquette’s program offerings
for career professionals and executives

Jan. 7, 2021

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MILWAUKEE — Thanks to a generous $1 million gift from Rexnord Corporation, Marquette University announced plans to expand programming for its successful Bridge to Business initiative, which aims to develop career professionals through the College of Business Administration.

Rexnord Corporation’s investment will broaden the current Bridge to Business program beyond its initial focus on early career engineers to include leaders with diverse professional experience. The gift also empowers Marquette to explore similar career development programming for a variety of industry sectors."

Marquette provides a spectrum of academic experiences, including exceptional executive education through programs like Bridge to Business,” Marquette President Michael R. Lovell said. “We are grateful for partners like Rexnord who are leaders in the development of critical career paths that strengthen our communities.”

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with Marquette and Bridge to Business,” said Todd Adams, chairman, president and CEO of Rexnord Corporation. “Together with a dozen other area companies, we’ve already experienced how the current program benefits participants, the organizations they are affiliated with and, ultimately, all of southeast Wisconsin. No matter how long professionals have worked in a particular field, gaining a deeper understanding of a business enterprise is a win for all those involved.”

This is the second investment by Rexnord Corporation into Marquette’s Bridge to Business program. Rexnord Corporation made an initial contribution of $1 million in 2016 to help launch the program.

Bridge to Business currently features an immersive, six-day experience through the College of Business Administration and Opus College of Engineering, with curriculum driven in part by local corporate partners and emerging employment needs. According to Dr. Kristina Ropella, Opus Dean of Engineering, this approach helps young engineers develop business acumen that influences their career advancement and leadership paths. Rexnord’s ongoing support provides great opportunity that professionals across multiple disciplines will now experience.

“Understanding how a business functions is invaluable for not only those focused on marketing and delivering products, but those focused on creating and developing them as well,” said Tim Hanley, interim Keyes Dean of Business Administration. “We’re thankful for Rexnord’s partnership, which allows Marquette to provide interdisciplinary training that helps individuals be more effective in their current roles and be prepared for those they may take on throughout their career.”

Presence in new business facility

A portion of Rexnord Corporation’s most recent gift will also support a student work space in Marquette’s new home for business and innovation leadership programming as part of the planned new facility at 16th Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Designed for maximum flexibility, the space will serve as a break-out for small group activities and as a meeting area for all students to interact with industry, recruiters, study groups and mentors.

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About Shelby Williamson

Shelby is a senior communication specialist in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Contact Shelby at (414) 288-6712 or shelby.williamson@marquette.edu