The Forward Janesville Annual Dinner is THE premier business event of the year in Rock County. It is typically held in early November, drawing together hundreds (we had a record 725 attendees in 2025) of local business professionals, entrepreneurs and community champions into one room for a night of networking, sharing a meal, sharing updates on Forward Janesville initiatives and being inspired by a dynamic speaker.
Mark Johnson, eight-time NCAA Championship Head Coach of the University of Wisconsin women’s hockey program and player on the 1980 U.S. Olympic “Miracle On Ice” team, was this year's featured speaker.
The Nov. 5 event, presented by ABC Supply Co., Blain’s Farm & Fleet, Boomerang Home Rentals, JP Cullen, Nowlan Law and Zilber Property Group, was held Nov. 6 at the Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center.
Previous speakers have included: Frederick W. Smith, Founder and Executive Chairman of FedEx Corporation; Congressman Bryan Steil and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small; General Andrew Poppas, the 24th commander of United States Army Forces Command; former University of Wisconsin athletic director and football coach Barry Alvarez; and more.