August 27, 2026
i.c.stars Names Samantha Maldonado Executive Director of Milwaukee Office
Veteran organizational development leader and longtime i.c.stars partner to lead Milwaukee’s growth and community impact
MILWAUKEE, WI — i.c.stars announced today that Samantha Maldonado has been named Executive Director of its Milwaukee office. Maldonado brings more than fifteen years of experience leading growth, culture, and leadership development at Fortune 500 companies, along with a deep, hands-on history with the i.c.stars’ Milwaukee community.
Maldonado has spent her career leading growth at organizations including Northwestern Mutual, Principal Financial, and Kohl’s, working across Organizational Development, People & Culture, and Executive Leadership Coaching. She is a trusted voice in strategy and change leadership, and her coaching and consulting work spans from individual contributors to senior executives across industries — covering leadership development, strategic planning, and organizational culture.
Maldonado’s connection to i.c.stars runs deep. Over the years, she has led a leadership development series for numerous cohorts, connecting interns directly with local community leaders to build exposure, connection, and awareness of the diverse careers, representation, and experiences available across Milwaukee. She also partnered with the former Executive Director Blanca Gonzales to deliver a successful StarBash last year, one of i.c.stars’ premier networking events. That history of hands-on investment in the organization’s talent and community shaped her decision to step into the role of Executive Director.
“Samantha isn’t stepping into this role as an outsider learning our mission — she’s spent years already living it alongside our interns and our Milwaukee community,” said Meg Newhouse, i.c.stars CEO. “She has a rare combination of Fortune 500 leadership experience and genuine, on-the-ground investment in the people we serve. I’ve learned about her building trust with our cohorts and our community partners firsthand, and I’m confident she’s exactly the leader Milwaukee needs for this next chapter of growth. Our staff and stakeholders across the organization are thrilled to welcome her into this role.”
Maldonado is drawn to contributing to a growing tech sector in Milwaukee and to investing in the growth of young adults, combining her experience in leadership, connection, and collaboration to build her own abilities while bringing others along.
“i.c.stars has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career — watching interns discover their own potential and step into rooms they never imagined for themselves,” said Maldonado. “Stepping into this role means I get to keep doing that work, but now with the chance to shape the vision for our Milwaukee community and help even more people access the careers, relationships, and growth they deserve.”
Maldonado will lead i.c.stars’ Milwaukee office as the organization continues to expand its presence and impact across the city’s tech and business community through its new strategic plan, promising to create an ecosystem of economic mobility in the cities it serves.
About i.c.stars
i.c.stars finds people who have what it takes to succeed in tech, but haven’t had the opportunity, and equips them with the technical skills, real-world experience, and professional network they need to launch tech careers that transform their lives.
Operating in Chicago, Milwaukee and Kansas City, i.c.stars has been finding, training, and launching overlooked talent into technology careers since 1999.
Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ferruelo
eferruelo@icstars.org