Julia Taylor was appointed as the first woman president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee in December 2002. The GMC convenes and collaborates with other organizations and groups in the community on an issue- by-issue basis and leads by initiating projects and implementing strategies. The GMC membership is comprised of 200 CEOs and leaders in various sectors including business, labor, academic, philanthropy and nonprofit.

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The GMC promotes equitable solutions through collaboration on regional issues and opportunities, focusing on the areas of Innovation and Talent, Economic Prosperity and Vibrancy of Place. It is the creator of initiatives like The Commons, a talent and leadership development and pipeline initiative; Scale Up Milwaukee, an initiative working with small and minority-owned businesses in Milwaukee to create economic prosperity; creative placemaking and a lead partner on MKE United, a 10-year action agenda for downtown and the adjacent neighborhoods; the Beerline Trail Neighborhood Development Project, and Move Forward MKE, a collaborative initiative with the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and MMAC to increase sales tax in Milwaukee County by 1%. The GMC has also been a catalyst for initiatives like The Water Council, Milwaukee 7 Regional Economic Development Partnership (M7), and the Higher Education Regional Alliance (HERA).

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Before coming to the GMC, Ms. Taylor was president of the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee for 16 years. She is known for her collaborative, innovative, and forward-thinking leadership. By successfully bringing together private and public partners, Ms. Taylor has a history of creating sustainable impact throughout the community. She currently serves on the boards of the United Performing Arts Fund, The Water Council, the University Club of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Film.