Milwaukee Brewers principal owner and co-founder of Crescent Capital Group Mark Attanasio spoke about leadership, career growth, community investment and the business of baseball at the Business Leaders Fireside Chat at O’Brien Hall on Monday, Oct. 5.
The talk was facilitated by John Schlifske, Marquette Business Executive-in-Residence and retired chairman and CEO of Northwestern Mutual. Attended by over 200 Marquette students, faculty and staff, the event opened with Attanasio’s firsthand play-by-play of the Brewers’ dramatic walk-off win over the San Diego Padres the evening before.
During the discussion, Attanasio reflected on his decision to purchase the Brewers and shared his approach to building a consistently competitive team in a mid-market city. Notably, he emphasized the value of identifying and investing in talented players early in their careers. In addition to supporting on-field success, the approach also helps Milwaukee fans build lasting connections with the team.
The discussion also highlighted Attanasio’s commitment to Milwaukee and the importance of organizations investing in the communities they call home. He and Schlifske spoke about the integral role business ethics play when building trusted partnerships, including the Brewers’ relationship with Northwestern Mutual and the company’s presence on the team’s uniform patch.
Amid refreshments and a casual setting, the fireside chat offered the Marquette Business community an engaging look at how values-driven leadership, long-term investment and a deep connection to place can shape success, both in business and in baseball.
