Leo Talsky is leading the efforts for building small disadvantaged firms and helping them grow through mentoring and navigating through the competitive construction business market.

Leo comes to the ECBI with over 35 years of major policy level public service at both the State and local level governments. At the City of Milwaukee Leo was part of the team in the Mayor's Office that developed the first ever minority business program to appear anywhere in the State of Wisconsin. At Milwaukee County, Leo, with the support and encouragement of then County Executive O'Donnell, forged the most successful MBE sub-contractor participation effort yet sponsored by government that served as the model for adoption by the State of Wisconsin. Subsequently, while working for the Thompson administration at the State, level Leo served as the acting MBE director for nearly a year and was responsible for Chapter 16 statutory requirements.

Since joining the ECBI several years ago Leo has spent a great deal of his time learning the intricacies of the many Federal programs such as HUB Zones, Service Disabled Veterans, Native American set asides, 8(a) Business Development and the Federal “Mentor Protégé” effort.

In his current role with the ECBI, Leo brings this vast wealth of knowledge and experience on behalf of disadvantage firms navigating through the complex and competitive construction business climate.