By Adam Holton, Chief People Officer
For more than 75 years, GE HealthCare has been at the forefront of transformation in Wisconsin. As a leading global healthcare solutions provider with a comprehensive portfolio, we are committed to serving our local communities, growing the state’s economy and delivering innovation to benefit patients around the world. Wisconsin is our cornerstone for success in delivering precision care and economic growth. We’re not just building a hub of global innovation – we’re driving it, with a focus on lasting impact for Wisconsin. And this purpose is what brought me back to the Badger State.
Wisconsin has always been my home. I was born in Milwaukee, and though we moved away when I was 3, most of my family remains or has returned to Southeast Wisconsin. My parents and youngest brother are here, my grandparents lived their whole lives in the city and my godparents are still in Wauwatosa. For more than five decades, I have seen firsthand the pride and winning spirit of the people who make this state their home.
My life journey took me to the United States Naval Academy, followed by eight years of service to our country in the Marine Corps. In 2004, I had the honor of a lifetime to deploy overseas to Iraq with a reserve infantry unit based out of Madison. As the company commander, my callsign was “Badger 6” in alignment with our unit moniker and indicative of the immense pride we felt representing the people of our state. My experience leading large teams in the military naturally led me to a career in developing people, culture and designing organizations to succeed. Last year, when I had the opportunity to come back to live in my home state and serve as GE HealthCare’s Chief People Officer based in Waukesha, I didn’t hesitate.
My return to Wisconsin coincides with a new era for GE HealthCare, which spun off as an independent company in 2023. It comes at a time when Wisconsin is evolving into a hub for cutting-edge biomedical technology – an achievement exemplified by its 2024 designation as a BioHealth Tech Hub, further positioning the state’s leadership in personalized medicine. GE HealthCare is not only embracing Wisconsin’s thriving tech ecosystem but is helping to lead the way by actively investing in its future and people.
From West Milwaukee to Madison and beyond, Wisconsin is home to GE HealthCare’s largest concentration of employees, with nearly 7,000 of my fellow colleagues and contractors. Our presence supports a deep statewide supplier network, fuels strong academic research partnerships and brings more than 40,000 visitors to the state each year. Our collaboration with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a relationship that has spanned more than 40 years, has brought medical imaging to new frontiers and is advancing tomorrow’s digital and disease-focused solutions.
We recently launched Powering Milwaukee Forward, a $1 million collaborative philanthropic initiative among GE HealthCare, the GE HealthCare Foundation and the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation designed to expand access to essential resources in Milwaukee’s underserved communities.
In 2023, GE HealthCare made a commitment to invest more than $100 million over five years in our West Milwaukee and Waukesha campuses to modernize and grow our manufacturing capabilities and redesign workspaces to better meet the needs of our workforce. Our Waukesha campus is a centerpiece of our vision for the future where every role is vital. Waukesha offers the resources and environment needed to enrich our colleagues and attract top experts who will shape the future of healthcare technology.
And the impact of GE HealthCare on Wisconsin extends well beyond the walls of our facilities. As a key contributor to the state’s economy, we create high-quality jobs, forge strong research and clinical partnerships and fuel innovation that benefits not only the healthcare sector, but communities statewide. Our total annual economic impact – a measure of the economic activity in the state from GE HealthCare and our suppliers – was $8.53 billion in 2024. This includes more than $1.3 billion from supplier-driven economic activity and $5.7 billion from household spending. Our
Wisconsin facilities also generated more than $500 million in exports, further contributing to the state's role as a global production hub.
We are revitalizing the company’s Waukesha campus to enhance the workplace experience for our colleagues, foster greater collaboration and innovation among teams, further grow our strong company culture and broaden our impact on hospitals and health systems. We are building a 30,000-square foot, state-of-the art customer experience center to showcase our innovations, bringing hospital and health systems from around the world to our campus and community to learn about the solutions we develop that can deliver precision care for patients.
We are steadfast in our commitment to shaping the future of healthcare innovation right here in Wisconsin, with a focus on improving patient outcomes. From manufacturing and design to research and engineering, we continue to attract and retain a highly skilled workforce that supports a prosperous Wisconsin and contributes to reshaping the future of healthcare globally.
The people of the great state of Wisconsin, whether lifelong residents or newcomers, contribute to the fabric of Wisconsin – their intellect, commitment and purpose create a powerful combination that benefits our state and society as a whole. Together with our colleagues, customers, partners and communities, we will continue to lead, innovate and grow together. The future is incredibly bright for GE HealthCare, and for Wisconsin, as a leading innovator for the world.
