Congratulations to 2024 Teen Financial Capability Champion award winner, Joe Schlidt!
The Teen Financial Capability Champion Award recognizes exceptional individuals who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to SecureFutures and its mission to provide financial education and mentorship that strengthens our communities. As the mastermind behind the Investment Conference, Joe’s journey with SecureFutures began 17 years ago when his neighbor, Brenda Campbell, asked him to join the board of a newly founded nonprofit called Make a Difference Wisconsin. Joe has been Chairperson of the Investment Conference planning Committee since inception, served on the Board for 8 years, including as Board President, is a trusted member of SecureFutures’ Advisory Council, providing invaluable insights, guidance, and leadership, has been an active volunteer for the past 12 years and has been the one and only emcee of the Investment Conference, of which he made possible, for the past 16 years.
When Joe first got involved with SecureFutures in 2008, the Board wanted to create a fundraising event that was tied to the organization’s mission. Joe’s daring idea, drawing inspiration from the hugely successful Ira Sohn conference in New York, was to hold a local investment conference. He was confident we could pull off something similar on a scale appropriate for our community. With 150 in attendance the first year and $18,000 raised,…we knew we were on to something.
The second year, Joe leveraged his connections and secured David Einhorn as the keynote speaker – the first of many notable keynotes – and both corporate sponsorships and attendance numbers for the conference took off. After the third year, conference proceeds enabled us to pay off the startup loan and the organization has been in the black ever since.
With Joe continuing to lead the charge, the SecureFutures Investment Conference has grown every year, raising a total of over $4 million and enabling SecureFutures to bring much-needed financial education and mentorship to teens in our community and across the state. Joe Schlidt is truly a Champion of Financial Capability
“Joe steps up over and over for SecureFutures and the kids we serve. There is no single individual who has impacted this mission and organization more than Joe Schlidt.”
– Brenda Campbell, President and CEO
