About Us

We are Wisconsin residents who've seen these proposals arrive in our communities. We're neighbors who want to help.

Meet Charlie

Meet Charlie

Charlie Berens is a comedian, Emmy-winning journalist and beer enthusiast who believes communities should decide their future, not Big Tech. After Berens posted a Manitowoc Minute video about the Oracle/Open AI data center in Port Washington, his inbox was filled with people asking for help about proposals in their town. Berens and a group of local experts traveled the state holding town halls to empower residents. But people weren’t just asking for help, they were asking how they could help. So Berens and other concerned Wisconsinites started Build Wisconsin Better to promote transparency, accountability, protections (and the occasional beer) across the state.

Meet the Team

Adam Magnuson

Adam Magnuson

A native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Adam co-founded LedgeStone Vineyards in Greenleaf, WI and Gnarly Cedar Brewery in Wrightstown, WI. When Cloverleaf Infrastructure introduced plans for two massive hyperscale AI data centers to his area, he helped spearhead local conversation and organization. By mobilizing the community, hosting town halls, and demanding transparency on unanswered questions, they successfully paused the proposals. Recognizing the broader need and pathways to community powered decision making, he began advising other groups across the country facing similar development proposals. He believes that any technological or economic advancement that cannot withstand public scrutiny does not constitute positive growth.

Eduardo Garza

Eduardo Garza

Eduardo Garza was a U.S. Naval Officer and served during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A dedicated advocate for the Veteran community, he has spent years supporting homeless Veterans and their families by helping them secure housing and meet their basic needs. Among his notable achievements, he led the effort to build a new Veteran homeless shelter and Mental Wellness Center in Milwaukee, providing critical resources to those who have served. He is currently completing his Doctorate in Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.

Jodi Arndt Labs

Jodi Arndt Labs

Jodi is a shareholder with the Law Firm of Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry, S.C. She has been with the firm since 1999. Jodi devotes the majority of her practice to representing the needs of businesses while concentrating on environmental, employment, construction, real estate and general business matters. Over the years, Jodi has served as a board member for a number of local and national non-profit organizations focused on conservation and development issues. Jodi strives to protect our natural resources for not only this current generation but also for future generations. Jodi is not anti-development but wants to ensure that all parties involved in a project consider the potential impacts of the project so they can properly address and mitigate the adverse impacts, particularly when it comes to our natural resources.

Mike Schoenleber

Mike Schoenleber

Mike Schoenleber lives in Wauwatosa with his family and is an entrepreneur and former United Nations diplomat. He is Board President of a policy think tank, Institute 2100, and a humanitarian organization that runs community kitchens in Latin America, Alimenta la Solidaridad. Mike’s private and public sector work has mostly been in agriculture and global food security. Mike is passionate about supporting initiatives for Wisconsin’s economic development that are aligned with our core industries and the desires and ambitions of Wisconsinites.

Steve Zimmerman

Steve Zimmerman

Steve Zimmerman is the Principal of Spectrum Nonprofit Services, a national consulting firm that partners with nonprofit organizations to align impact, finance, and people. He is co-author of two influential books, The Sustainability Mindset: Using the Matrix Map to Make Strategic Decisions, and Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability and has presented to thousands of nonprofit leaders across North America on adaptive strategy, nonprofit business models, financial leadership, revenue strategy, and governance. Steve believes in the power of the nonprofit sector to bring people together to strengthen their communities – the very premise behind Build Wisconsin Better.

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What We Do

We are a hub for residents and grassroots organizations navigating AI data center development. Our goal is to share collective human wisdom, learn from one another, and provide resources so we can make the best decisions for Wisconsin. Together, we're working to ensure that Wisconsin’s resources, economy, and identity are shaped by, and work for, the people who live here.

01

Host town hall events to share experts' collective knowledge while bringing the community together.

02

Help communities navigate the process of large scale development.

03

Share local stories and the voices that are doing great things.

04

Maintain a database of development proposals across the state.

05

Uplift and support grassroots organizations doing incredible work for their communities.

06

Help support the legal efforts of communities impacted by hyperscale development.

07

Advocate for transparency, accountability and protections for Wisconsin residents.

08

Be a leader and a voice on reason for Artificial Intelligence and the impact on Wisconsin.

Our Mission

Dedicated to helping Wisconsin navigate artificial intelligence, Build Wisconsin Better urges our officials to embrace transparency, accountability, and protections for its residents.

Our Vision

A Wisconsin that can grow and prosper while supporting the values that make our state great. We shouldn't sacrifice our farms, identity, health, or natural resources for Big Tech's gain.

Our Values

We are stewards of this beautiful state. Be a good neighbor. Help one another. Be Midwest nice. Protect what makes Wisconsin special... and protect our beer too.