Nettles a strong advocate for minority businesses

Former secretary of the state Department of Commerce Cory Nettles has become an important advocate for the needs of minority-owned business in Wisconsin.

Currently a partner in the Corporate Services and Government Relations group with the law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP, Nettles was Gov. Jim Doyle's main adviser on business and economic development for Wisconsin, managing 450 employees and overseeing an annual budget of $225 million. He also dealt with a variety of issues from negotiating a $500 million venture-capital package to helping develop banking and commercial lending legislation. He was one of the key developers of Doyle's "Grow Wisconsin" economic development plan.

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Before joining Doyle's Cabinet, Nettles worked as an attorney at Quarles & Brady, focusing primarily on product liability and commercial litigation. He has experience working with a variety businesses from small technology firms to large, multinational corporations to community churches.

Following is a question-and-answer session that examines Nettles' commitment to a prosperous minority business sector in Wisconsin.

A: First, it is important to note that the appointment to secretary of Commerce was not based on race, but rather on expertise and ability. Having said that, being a black man was a significant in-cidental benefit to the position of secretary of Commerce. This was a nontraditional role for an African-American man and it provided me an opportunity to act as a role model to young minorities. However, it provided me an opportunity to challenge underlying and unspoken beliefs by non-minorities that minorities cannot perform well and should therefore not be in positions of power. It is also important to note that Gov. Doyle's Cabinet is the most diverse in the country.

A: The focus of the Doyle administration led my focus areas. Specifically, we focused on job creation and bringing new businesses to Wisconsin. The administration's goals and my personal goals were aligned because I was and am committed to seeing the Wisconsin economy improve. Minority businesses prosper in part because the Doyle administration is working hard to improve conditions for all businesses, including minority businesses. In addition, resources have been made available to minority businesses, perhaps more resources than have ever been available in the past.

A: There is no specific program or initiative in the state that was more highly regarded than another. Generally, the administration and I did make an effort to increase resources available to minority businesses. We went about this in a quiet way, working behind the scenes without a lot of hype and fanfare, in an effort to truly make a difference. Some of the more notable initiatives include the Minority Business Development Fund, the Early Planning Grant Program and the Minority Business Certification Program.

A: No, there should not necessarily be area-specific initiatives. There should be a more general, regional focus. It is unproductive and expensive to compete for businesses across county and even city lines. It is really a zero-sum game to trade businesses across county lines; what is most important is bringing new businesses in from out of state and supporting the organic growth of startups and expansions from within the state.

A: If the state is not supporting everyone, including minorities, then we are leaving talent on the sidelines. When Doyle entered office with a $3.2 billion deficit, it was immediately evident that it would be impossible to cut expenses and tax people to make that up. What we realized was that in order to amend a deficit of that nature, Wisconsin needed to grow the economy. Encouraging minority businesses is not an egalitarian or altruistic goal but an imperative. As the minority population increases in Wisconsin, it is important that they become engaged with the economy. Wisconsin must move all of its residents from being potential liabilities to being assets.

A: This new position offers me a tremendous platform to support minority businesses in the state. The firm is known nationally for its excellence and has many high-caliber lawyers. In my new position, I am able to offer minority businesses the benefits of a corporate law firm and provide them with the support they need to succeed. I can supply them with resources to start and expand their businesses. In addition, I continue to be involved in policy issues, hosting forums and seminars to help minority businesses in their efforts.

A: Gov. Doyle has allowed me to maintain the relationships that I began while I was secretary of Commerce. I am honored to still be involved in the thinking process of the Grow Wisconsin plan. He continues to keep me as a member of the team and really as a member of his extended family. I still completely support Gov. Doyle's focus areas and hope to continue my involvement with his efforts.