VISIT Milwaukee has announced that the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) has will hold its 2025 General Conference & Exhibition in Milwaukee, bringing an expected 4,000 attendees to the city, where they will have an estimated economic impact of more than $6.5 million.
The 147th annual conference – slated for Aug. 22-25, 2025 – is the group’s annual business meeting, which is attended by officers from the United States Army and Air National Guard, as well as others, including industry staffers, local officials and family members, according to VISIT Milwaukee.
“Active duty military, veterans, and those who lost their lives in service are an important part of the Milwaukee community and the Milwaukee story. We could not be happier to welcome these members of the United States Armed Forces to our city,” said Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO for VISIT Milwaukee.
“This continues a long and successful relationship with the National Guard. From 1998 to 2025, Milwaukee will have hosted the NGAUS three times, more than any other city.”
The conference will include a range of related events, says VISIT, including outings, receptions, dinners, mixers and luncheons.
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome thousands of citizen soldiers and airmen from the National Guard Association to Milwaukee,” said Major General Paul Knapp, Wisconsin’s adjutant general.
“This conference represents a wonderful chance to showcase what makes Wisconsin and Milwaukee such a special place. With delegations from all 54 states and territories, we're promoting the professional development, knowledge sharing, and partnerships that make the National Guard a vital part of our nation's military.”
The announcement came on Thursday, which Meetings, Conventions, and Events Day during National Travel and Tourism Week.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
