Kenosha Area Business Alliance highlighted the organization’s 30 years as an economic driver during its 2026 annual meeting.
The event was held at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on March. 25, recognizing KABA leaders and community partners.
KABA was originally founded in 1996 when the Kenosha Area Development Corporation and the Kenosha Manufacturers & Employers merged. A year later KABA Lakeview Technology was founded in Lakeview’s Corporate Parkin 1997.
The organization has aimed to bring business and economic development to Kenosha County. Since its founding, it has been involved with local efforts to secure companies like Haribo and ULINE.
Nicole Ryf, KABA president, honored former organization president Todd Battle with an IMPACT Award. Battle who is the director of investments at Zilber Property Group served as the president of KABA from 2002-22.
During his time as KABA president, he oversaw the expansion of KABA’s team and the relocation of the organization’s office to Downtown Kenosha. He also oversaw the relocation of Lakeview Technology Academy to the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood.
“It was an honor to work with this organization for 20 years and to work with a number of people that I recognize (here),” he said.
Ryf also recognized Becky Noble for her 20 years of service to KABA.
“I think everybody knows that Becky is that person who is always a friendly face, willing to help out, step in and support you,” Ryf said. “She really is the reason that we’re able to do such a great job of sharing all the exciting information about what’s going on in Kenosha County.
Evolving industry
Ryf reflected on how Kenosha County’s economy shifted when auto manufacturing operations ceased in Kenosha and how leaders reacted to the change.
She said the effort to change Kenosha’s economy so that it would not be hit again as hard when a single industry leaves was a group effort from organizations, the community and leaders.
“Something that I think is really critical to our success is that our leaders at that point in time said, ‘Let’s do something different here,’” Ryf said. “My forefathers and people in the audience said that we’re not going to turn into some bedroom community and let something bad happen to us here.”
New board members
KABA named five new board members at the meeting, including: Craig Curran, of Nosco Inc, Serafino Fabiano of Eli Lilly, André Desroches of Balcan, Scott Hanna of Catalyst Exhibits, and Angela Elliott of Habitat for Humanity of Racine and Kenosha.
The terms for the new board members expire in 2029.
Keynote speaker
John Koskinen, chief economist for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, highlighted the growth of Wisconsin’s economy in recent years. Wisconsin was ranked seventh among US states in growth of private establishments in 2025.
Kenosha County specifically had 4,502 private establishments in 2025.
In September 2025 the state received 8,000 applications to open a new business.
Wisconsin also has the seventh lowest unemployment rate in the country and is among states with more job openings than unemployed people. Koskinen said that there are around 20,000 jobs without people to fill them.
The state also has the seventh highest labor participation rate at 87.4 percent among the total population (ages 25 to 54). The state ranks second in youth labor force participation with a 74.1% participation rate of people ages 16 to 24.
Read more at the Kenosha News.