Strong Women, Strong Coffee – Maysee Herr

Fueled by entrepreneurs, this FREE virtual networking event is for people who are focused on growing their business, expanding their business networks, and getting fresh ideas for their business. This networking event will feature a local speaker and his journey! All are welcome. Join us to connect with other entrepreneurs and get inspired.

Dr. Maysee Herr is Chief Executive Officer of HWCC (Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce), a statewide Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides business and financial assistance to entrepreneurs and business owners of underserved communities. Since taking on her role at HWCC, the organization has doubled its staff size and has increased the number of offices it has around the state from two to five. HWCC has also increased its revolving loan fund capacity to small businesses from $75,000 to $150,000. 

Prior to coming to HWCC, Dr. Herr was an Associate Professor at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and taught there for nearly 10 years. Her experience and passion for working with business owners stemmed from growing up with entrepreneurial parents who owned several types of businesses in Central Wisconsin. She saw first hand the challenges that they often encountered as first generation Hmong Americans with gaining access to capital and other business resources. This background knowledge fuels the work that she does everyday for underserved business communities. 

Dr. Herr’s love of community extends far and wide. She co-founded Hmong Phoojywg (Friend) Enrichment Program in Central Wisconsin in 2012 as a way to provide youth the opportunity to learn how to speak Hmong and to understand Hmong culture and history. She has been a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant for numerous organizations in the nonprofit and for-profit world for many years. She now lives in Milwaukee with her husband and son but while living in Wausau, she was very active in the community, serving as board members of the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, Marathon County Child Development Agency, Wisconsin Humanities, among others. Dr. Herr was one of the founding members of Toward One Wausau and is currently Co-Chair of Toward One Wisconsin. She also serves on UWSP Chancellor Gibson’s Advisory Council and the Board of Advisors for Wisconsin Institute on Public Policy and Service (WIPPS). 

Dr. Herr was recognized as a BizTimes Media Notable Minority Executive and one of 48 Most Influential Asian Americans in Wisconsin by Madison365. She was most recently awarded TITAN 100 CEOs in Wisconsin in 2023 as well as WEDC Governor’s Conference Marketplace CEO of the Year in 2022.