Board of Directors
MadREP is grateful for the generous support of our many private and public sector board members and investors who help shape the future of the Madison Region’s economy.
Jason Vangalis
Jason has worked in community and economic development for over a decade. Most recently, leading economic development for Amazon in the Central Midwest. His experience in economic development includes working with international businesses and governments on large-scale attraction and expansion projects, location advisory and economic development consulting, and in-house economic development services for two multi-national corporations. He has worked across market verticals, including manufacturing, food and beverage, utilities, automotive OEMs, and tech. His work in economic development has helped to create over 5,000 new jobs and over $10 billion in capital investment.
Jason Vangalis, Board Chair
Manager, Economic Development, Amazon
Seth Lentz, Secretary
Seth Lentz serves as the Executive Director and CEO for the Workforce Development of South Central Wisconsin (WDBSCW), the second largest workforce development area in Wisconsin. Under his guidance, the WDBSCW continues to be at the forefront of workforce innovation, ensuring that the six counties of south-central Wisconsin are equipped with a highly skilled and responsive workforce tailored to meet the demands of industry.
Leveraging more than 20 years of programmatic and administrative experience, Lentz has cultivated effective partnerships with key stakeholders, including educational institutions, economic entities, and workforce system collaborators. Lentz has garnered both local and national recognition for his roles in cutting-edge workforce strategies and solutions aimed at strengthening the workforce ecosystem. He actively serves on several local and statewide councils and associations focused on workforce, community and economic development in south-central Wisconsin.
Seth Lentz, Board Secretary
CEO, Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin
Dr. Mark Thomas, Executive Committee Member
Dr. Mark Thomas has served Madison College for the past decade, overseeing the college’s policy, strategy, finances, administration, and operations. He currently is the college’s Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President for Institutional Policy and Strategy. Prior roles at the college include Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, as well as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance and Administration.
Prior to working at the college, Dr. Thomas held executive leadership positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in Chicago and southwestern Michigan for 20 years, serving in roles such as Chief of Staff, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Budget Director. He has lectured on finance and administration at the University of Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, and the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Dr. Thomas holds a doctorate degree in Higher Education Administration from Edgewood University; graduate certificate in Education Management from Harvard University; Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago; and Bachelor of Business Administration from Western Michigan University.
Dr. Mark Thomas, Board Treasurer
EVP, Chief of Staff, Madison College
Peter Tan, Board Chair
Peter is an architect with over 35 years of experience designing award-winning commercial, civic and urban design projects. Since 1993, he has worked at Strang, the In Business (IB) Executive Choice Top Architectural Firm for 10 consecutive years (2013-2022) and the IB Business of the Year Award Winner (51-100 Employees) in 2023. As the Chief Design Officer, he is responsible for Strang’s design vision and creative direction.
His client-focused design philosophy involves a commitment to thoughtful listening in order to create environments that truly reflect users’ needs and visions, while responding to their context of time and place. As a LEED Accredited Professional, he is passionate about sustainable design and our collective responsibility as stewards of our planet and the public realm.
A native of Malaysia, Peter came to the U.S. to attend Cornell University, earning a B.Arch and an M.Arch in Urban Design. In addition to MadREP, his community service includes the Madison Urban Design Commission, Upper House Advisory Council, Fitchburg Center Development Review Committee, and serving as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 122.
Peter Tan, Immediate Past Chair
Architect/Chief Design Officer Emeritus, Strang, Inc.
Juli Aulik, Immediate Past Board Chair
Juli Aulik has been director of community relations at UW Health since 2002. She oversees UW Health’s contributions program, community benefit reporting, and local government relations. Juli collaborates on community health improvement projects, the community dimension of population health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion work.
She has a background in economic development, historic preservation, and tourism, including working in the WI State Senate for the Senator who chaired the economic development committee, as a policy analyst for the former WI Department of Development, and leading Taliesin Preservation, Inc.
Other roles include:
- Board member, Downtown Madison Inc.
- Member and past president, Rotary Club of Madison
- Director’s Advisory Board, the Wisconsin Union
Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Master of Arts degree in Public Policy from Duke University
Juli Aulik,
Community Relations Director, UW Health
David de Leon, Executive Committee Member
David is responsible for the strategic, operational, and financial aspects of the company’s Wisconsin Utility. This includes the operation and maintenance of all fossil and renewable generation assets, the electric and gas distribution systems assets, engineering, and customer support and account management for Wisconsin customers. His responsibilities also include the planning and execution of large strategic projects across Alliant Energy. David’s previous responsibilities include managing large capital projects, managing several generation facilities and multiple engineering positions.
David has been with Alliant Energy (and in Madison) for over 30 years and is on the Board of Second Harvest of Southwest Wisconsin, regularly participates in initiatives and committees with the United Way of Dane County, is a member of the Leadership Greater Madison Alumni and a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Wisconsin.
His education includes an MBA from Edgewood College in Madison, WI and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville.
David de Leon, Executive Committee Member
President, Alliant Energy
Katie Boyce
Katie Boyce is the Senior Director of Corporate Affairs and Community Relations at Exact Sciences Corporation. In December of 2019, Katie started at Exact Sciences as the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility. Katie Boyce founded the Katie Boyce Company, LLC in 2011. She is a successful professional with over 23 years of management, fundraising, business and non-profit, political and government experience on multiple issues within Wisconsin and nationally. She is a strong leader who understands and has successfully navigated the dynamic relationships between the different worlds – legislative, business, labor, interest groups, philanthropy, media, donors. Strong community ties within the health care and industries as well as in the policy, government, philanthropic and business worlds. Katie is an effective communicator who builds and motivates high-performing teams that deliver measurable results. Highly motivated, results- oriented professional with extensive management and senior leadership experience. Proven strategic thinker with exceptional vision and ability to design action plans to implement that vision.
Before starting the Katie Boyce Company, LLC, Katie was most recently the deputy chief of staff in the office of Governor Jim Doyle. She oversaw all external relations for the local, state and federal level, with a focus on health care. Prior to her appointment in 2007, she was the finance director for Governor Doyle’s successful 2006 re-election campaign. In 2003, she started her work with Governor Doyle as his legislative director. She worked for the lobbying firm, Broydrick and Associates as a state level lobbyist for 7 years with focus on energy and health care. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in English and Political Science and is originally from Milwaukee, WI. Katie lives in Cross Plains, WI with her husband, Dan Ebert and daughter, Norah.
Katie Boyce
Senior Director of Corporate Impact and Community Relations, Exact Sciences
Dan Brown
Daniel Brown is the Executive Manager of Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison where he has served since 2012. Prior to arriving at Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison, he served a highly successful 4-year term of office as the Ho-Chunk Nation’s Vice President. As Vice President, one his more prominent accomplishments of many was leading Gaming Compact negotiations with the State of Wisconsin and finalizing a deal that has been very beneficial to his tribe and the State of Wisconsin. Another outstanding achievement was his leadership in more affirmatively pursuing an off-reservation gaming site in Beloit. Serving as the General Manager at Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells in the early 2000s, he led that property toward its most profitable years. As the Executive Manager at Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison, he has transformed that property into the most profitable gaming facility in the Ho-Chunk Nation 5 years running and the upward trajectory continues. He works tirelessly to establish substantive partnerships with the local business and non-profit communities and with local governments. A fine public speaker, he has given multitudes of presentations throughout the community educating audiences about many facets of the Ho-Chunk Nation as well as sharing his vision for a campus development that is designed to benefit not only the Ho-Chunk Nation but the City, the County and the State. His has been a 28-year journey of collaborative leadership for his tribe.
Dan Brown
Executive Manager, Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison
Jack Zwicker
As Vice President, Business Development in Miron’s Madison Office, Jack is responsible for the development, growth, and advancement of Miron’s footprint in the greater Madison region, as well as the care of new and existing client relationships.
Jack comes to the table with 10+ years of experience with Miron Construction across several markets including higher education, K-12, retail, government, and healthcare. With a strong background in project management, he leverages this extensive experience during the planning and preconstruction phases to ensure projects are set up for success from preconstruction to completion.
Jack has a bachelor’s degree in construction management from the University of Wisconsin – Stout and is a LEED accredited professional.
Jack Zwicker,
Vice President – Business Development, Miron Construction Co.
Bryan Chan
Bryan Chan is the Founder and President of SupraNet Communications, Inc, which he started over 28 years ago in Madison, WI. His goal in 1994 was to provide stellar Internet access to the local business community.
Today, SupraNet is one the few remaining independent, locally owned Internet Service Providers that owns its own fiber optic network infrastructure. As the company has grown, so have the service offerings, including managed Wi-Fi, data center services and bulk Internet to residential apartments.
Currently, SupraNet is proud to provide Internet to approximately 2,600 families in 45 apartment buildings, including market rate, mixed-income, condos and senior living facilities. The average cost for these families is $28/month at an average speed of 200 Megabits/second. But costs can be as low as $8/month and speeds can be high as 1 Gigabits per second.
Bryan co-founded the annual Forward Festival in 2010 to support and promote other local entrepreneurs, and has co-organized the monthly networking event, High Tech Happy Hour, since 2005. SupraNet also provides free Wi-Fi to travelers in the Dane County Regional Airport.
He is renowned in both the nonprofit and entrepreneurial communities for his philanthropic involvement, especially in the local Arts community. SupraNet provides gratis Internet services to the Madison Symphony, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the Madison Youth Arts Center, the Overture Center, and The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. He also serves on several boards including the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way of Dane County.
He won the Dane County Small Business Award in 2008. In 2010, he won The Isthmus Independent Business Award in the Dane and Beyond category. In 2014, he won Madison Magazine’s Best of Madison Business – Brian D. Howell Excellence in Innovation Award. And in 2015 he was named an Executive of the Year by InBusiness Magazine.
He lives on the far west side of Madison with his son and daughter. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, cooking and yoga.
Bryan Chan
Founder and President, SupraNet Communications
Pam Christenson
Pam Christenson is the Director of Customer and Community Relations for Madison Gas and Electric, a local utility company that generates and distributes natural gas and electricity to over 150,000 customers in south-central Wisconsin. In this role, Ms. Christenson manages talented teams within MGE that work with business accounts, residential customers, key community organizations, valued partners and economic development professionals, customer experience, and new products and services.
In addition to MadREP, Pam also serves on the boards of Downtown Madison Inc., Clean Lakes Alliance, Workforce Development Board of South-Central Wisconsin, Forward Bio Labs, Utility Economic Development Association, the Wisconsin Economic Development Institute, Wisconsin Economic Development Association, Wisconsin Business Development, Friends of Nolen Waterfront, Destination District Taskforce, the Director’s Advisory Board for the Wisconsin Union and Tri4Schools.
Prior to her work with MGE, Pam held positions in both the public and private sector including 15 years in a number of different roles with the State of Wisconsin. While working at the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, she served as the Director of the Bureau of Entrepreneurship and Technology Development and the Administrator for the Division of Business Development which housed the agency’s economic development and financial programs.
On the private sector side, Ms. Christenson spent several years working at the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, the statewide trade group for gas station and c-store owners as their Director of Public Affairs. She and her husband co-own Christy’s Landing, a third generation bar and restaurant on one of Madison’s beautiful lakes.
Pam is an avid runner, having completed 14 marathons and two Ragnar Races. She is also a six -time Ironman triathlon finisher and Tough Mudder survivor.
Pam Christenson
Director of Customer and Community Relations, Madison Gas and Electric
Jeannie Cullen Schultz
Jeannie is a 5th generation family business owner of JP Cullen and serves as the company’s co-president. Prior to her role as co-president, she was the Vice-President of JP Cullen’s Healthcare Construction Division. The division was founded and grew significantly under her leadership. Jeannie is an active member of her community both professionally and personally. She serves on several nonprofit and local organization boards and steering committees including Wisconsin Healthcare Engineering Association and the American Heart Association. In addition to her involvement, Jeannie is committed to increasing the number of women working in her industry.
Jeannie Cullen Schultz
Co-President, J. P. Cullen & Sons
David Frohling
David Frohling represents District 23 on the Dodge County Board Supervisors. He serves on the following committees: ARPA Project Evaluation Committee, Executive, External Audit Review Oversight, Inter-County Coordinating, Railroad Consortium, and Workforce Development/LEO.
David Frohling
Chairperson, Dodge County Board Supervisors
Chris Hughes
Professional:
Melli, Walker, Ruhly and Pease, SC
- Associate – 1993 to 1997
Stafford Rosenbaum LLP
- Associate – 1997 to 2002
- Partner – 2003 to present
- Managing Partner – 2013 to 2021
- Areas of Practice: Real Estate, Land Use, Utility, and Municipal Law
Professional Recognition and Awards:
- Best Lawyer in America since 2008 in areas of land use and zoning law, municipal law, and real estate law
- Rest Lawyers 2015 – Municipal Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Madison
- Fellow of the Wisconsin Law Foundation
- Fellow of the American Bar Association
Professional Memberships and Activities:
- Current Board Member, State Bar of Wisconsin Public Utilities Section
- Board of Governors, State Bar of Wisconsin 2016-2018
Professional Memberships and Activities:
- Current Board Member of the Madison Public Library Foundation
- Former Board Member of Groundswell Conservancy (f/k/a Dane County Natural Heritage Foundation)
- Former Board Member of Gathering Waters Conservancy Education
- Indiana University School of Law (Bloomington) (JD, 1993, cum laude)
- University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire (8.A., Business Administration, 1986)
Personal: Married with two grown sons.
Christopher Hughes
Partner, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP
Jeannie Cullen Schultz
Nick joined Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke in 2015, and since become a key driver of success in the industrial services team. He specializes in advising institutional investors, owners, and occupiers across Wisconsin, guiding them through complex industrial real estate transactions. With a strong track record in sales, leasing, and build-to-suit projects, Nick has facilitated major deals for e-commerce, manufacturing, and food & beverage clients. His expertise in land entitlements has directly contributed to over 1,164 acres sold since 2019. On average, he plays a leading role in closing more than 60 deals annually, generating over $300 million transaction value. His notable transactions include; Hendricks Commercial Properties, Hillwood, Link Logistics Real Estate, STAG, and Stockbridge. During his education time, he earned a BA in Economics, Political Science, & Philosophy. Being an active member in the Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin (CARW) and SIOR.
Nick Unger,
Principal, Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke
Erik Iverson
Erik Iverson is Chief Executive Officer of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), a nonprofit, mission-driven organization supporting scientific research within the UW–Madison community for nearly a century. He joined WARF in June 2016. WARF is the designated patent management organization for UW, partnering with university researchers on patenting and licensing their discoveries and providing grants to the UW to support further research.
Iverson has over 20 years of executive experience leading organizations and programs committed to entrepreneurial efforts that positively impact people worldwide. Prior to joining WARF, he served as a lead executive at the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), attorney at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and within the law firm of Perkins Coie.
He holds a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College, J.D. from the University of North Dakota, and an LL.M. from New York University.
Erik Iverson
Managing Director, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Glenn Johnston
Glenn Johnston joined Hy Cite’s team in 2017 as Vice President of Finance with over 20 years of experience in finance and operations. In 2018, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer and in 2021 Glenn added the role of Chief Operating Officer.
At Hy Cite Glenn has led significant capital markets transactions and spearheaded efforts to bring more data, analysis and reporting to the organization. He has also had the opportunity to recruit and onboard new executives to the leadership team in supply chain, client experience and information security. Glenn oversees all aspects of Hy Cite’s global operations including accounting and finance, information security, consumer finance, client experience and supply chain.
Glenn holds a BA in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin.
Glenn Johnston
Chief Operations Officer/Chief Financial Officer, Hy Cite
Robb Kahl
Executive Director, Construction Business Group
Traci Mann
Traci Mann serves as the President of the Wisconsin Region of Old National Bank (ONB). The Wisconsin Commercial Real Estate team report to Traci and she serves as a community leader, guiding the region’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts as well as community investment, volunteerism and financial literacy programs.
With 30+ years of financial services experience, Traci has been part of the bank’s leadership team since 1986 when she joined AnchorBank. She worked her way through the Mortgage division to Treasury Management and Commercial Banking before being promoted to Region President in 2019. In addition to her leadership responsibilities, Traci continues to manage a handful of clients with a portfolio of commercial holdings totaling $50MM and her team manages a $1 Billion CRE portfolio.
Traci Mann
Region President, Old National Bank
Tim McCumber
Tim McCumber has been the Village Administrator in Lake Delton since January 2022 and a member of the Sauk County Board representing District 20 primarily comprised of the Merrimac area since 2018. In April 2020, Tim was selected by his peers to serve as the Sauk County Board Chair.Tim began his career working for financial institutions when he was hired as a bank teller while in high school. In 1998, he began McCumber Real Estate Services and remained in business for 20 years. During that same period, he was also elected to the Merrimac Town Board. He eventually was appointed to serve as the Town’s first Zoning Administrator and eventually Clerk – Treasurer in 2003.
Today, Tim shares his knowledge of local government finance as an instructor for UW-Green Bay’s Clerk and Treasurer’s Institute; the Wisconsin Towns Association, and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. McCumber collaborates frequently with the UW Extension Local Government Education including contributions to the “Basic Financial Administration for Wisconsin Local Governments” handbook published in 2021. Tim resides in Merrimac, Wisconsin with his bride of over 30 years and has two daughters. The oldest recently graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in education. His youngest will be a senior at Valparaiso University in Indiana studying business administration
Tim McCumber
Chairperson, Sauk County Board of Supervisors
Jennifer Mnookin
Jennifer L. Mnookin is the 30th leader of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She is a national expert on law, forensic science and evidence, and has deep experience as an innovative and talented administrator.
Prior to joining UW–Madison, Mnookin served as dean of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and Ralph and Shirley Shapiro Professor of Law. She first joined the UCLA Law faculty in 2005, she served as Vice Dean for Faculty and Research from 2007 to 2009, and Vice Dean for Faculty Recruitment and Intellectual Life in 2012–13. She became dean in 2015.She received her A.B. from Harvard University, her J.D. from Yale Law School, and a Ph.D. in History and Social Study of Science and Technology from M.I.T.
At UCLA, Mnookin founded and was co-director of PULSE @ UCLA Law (the Program on Understanding Law, Science & Evidence), and her publications have focused on issues relating to forensic science, such as fingerprint identification, handwriting expertise and DNA evidence.
In 2020, Mnookin was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She also serves on the advisory board of the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
She served for six years on the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Science, Technology and Law, and co-chaired a group of senior advisors for a President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology report on the use of forensic science in criminal courts.
From 2016–19, Mnookin served on the steering committee of the Association of American Law Schools’ Deans Forum. She was elected to the American Law Institute in 2011.
Prior to joining UCLA Law, Chancellor Mnookin was professor of law and Barron F. Black Research Professor at the University of Virginia School of Law and visiting professor of law at Harvard Law School.
Born in Cambridge, Mass., and raised in Berkeley and Palo Alto, Calif., Mnookin and her husband, political scientist Joshua Foa Dienstag, have two children, 19 and 22.
Jennifer L. Mnookin
Chancellor, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Nate Olson
Nate serves as the Dodge County Community Development Administrator. In this role he is a resource to current and future Dodge County businesses, communities, and residents for the purpose of growing the Dodge County region in a positive manner. Community development services are varying, as Dodge County is spread across 900 square miles containing 43 communities that almost 90,000 people call home. During Nate’s 19 years at Dodge County, he has been involved in a wide variety of rural and urban activities that have proven to be successful and provide models for other communities to replicate. Areas of activities have included addressing broadband infrastructure deficiencies, balancing rural & urban community goals, leading manufacturing employer alliance, facilitate school district & employer activities, land use planning for cities/villages/towns, support city industrial expansion goals, facilitate business to business opportunities, recreational trail development, and leading county tourism activities. Nate holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from UW-Stevens Point, specializing in Regional Analysis and Community Development.
Nate Olson
Community Development Administrator, Dodge County
Tracy Pierner
Mark Borowicz is the Director of Workforce and Community Development at Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville. He has been there the last 6 years working with local businesses to connect college resources to employers for training and talent development solutions. In addition, Mark is the Coordinator at the Janesville Innovation Center (JIC) supporting innovative entrepreneurs through tenant and lease efforts while managing board relations. He has 30 years of experience in partnering with employers, workforce and economic development agencies, chambers of commerce and community organizations connecting them to higher education to support their comprehensive business efforts. He is passionate about building and training a talented workforce to ensure employer success. He holds a B.S. in Communications from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse and a M.S. in Career and Technical Education from the University of Wisconsin Stout.
Mark Borowicz
Director of Workforce & Community Development, Blackhawk Technical College
Satya Rhodes-Conway
Satya Rhodes-Conway is the 58th Mayor of Madison. She has extensive experience in local policy and practice, having worked with mayors across the country for over a decade, and serving three terms on the Madison Common Council. Elected in 2019, she is the city’s second female mayor and the first out LGBTQ person to serve as Mayor of Madison.
Satya Rhodes-Conway
Mayor, City of Madison
Andrew Roethe
Andrew is a Team Lead and Senior Relationship Manager within BMO’s Diversified Banking Group based in Madison, Wisconsin. His primary role is to serve as the main account officer on commercial accounts, which includes administering any credit facilities and collaborating with BMO partners to cross sell products and services. This role includes managing both existing banking relationships and finding new mid-market sized accounts for the Bank. As part of Diversified Industries, Andy will work within any industry segment (except Commercial Real Estate) and has a specialization in Institutional Markets, Healthcare, Construction and Technology. In addition to his Senior Relationship role, Andrew also manages a team of bankers that cover the Madison area and all of Southern Wisconsin. Andy is also actively engaged in external recruiting for BMO and serving as a mentor / coach for junior bankers and associates within the organization.
Andy has over 22 years of commercial banking experience and has been with BMO Bank (formerly M&I Bank) since 2001. He has held positions of increasing responsibility during his career including completing a formal bank training / credit program and working as an analyst and a commercial loan officer. Andy holds a BBA in Finance, Investments and Banking from University of Wisconsin – Madison and resides in Madison. He currently resides in the Fitchburg, Wisconsin and serves on the board of Downtown Madison Inc. and the Campaign Cabinet for the United Way of Dane County. In his spare time Andy enjoys chasing his toddler around and attending Badger sporting events.
Andrew Roethe
Senior Vice President, Director & Team Lead, BMO
David Stark
David Stark
President, Stark Company Realtors
Genia Stevens
Genia Stevens is the Founder and Executive Director of Rock County Jumpstart. She’s also a Rock County Board Supervisor, representing District 13.
For over 23 years, Stevens has supported small businesses with strategic communications, strategic planning, business plan development, and organizational design.
In 1999, Stevens started her company Belwah Media, a communications and marketing firm, helping locally-owned businesses in the Beloit and Janesville area with developing traditional and digital marketing strategies designed to successfully scale their business. In 2019, she launched Belwah Strategy, a subsidiary of Belwah Media, a consulting firm that helps companies solve complex organizational challenges by employing an iterative, human-centric, hands-on approach.
From 2019 to 2022, Stevens served as the Entrepreneur in Residence for Madison College – Goodman South Campus. In this role, she provided business coaching for students, faculty, staff, and Dane County community members who wanted to start a business.
In January 2019, Stevens founded Rock County Jumpstart, a collaborative initiative designed to improve the likelihood of success of minority business owners in Rock County, WI. Jumpstart has a specific focus on providing culturally-competent, culturally-relevant, and culturally-sensitive services designed to address the specific and unique needs of Black business owners in Rock County.
In April 2019, Stevens was appointed to the Rock County Board of Supervisors. She was elected in April 2022 to serve a full term.
Stevens has served on numerous boards and committees, including the City of Beloit Equal Opportunities Commission, the Beloit NAACP Economic Development Committee, the Beloit NAACP Political Action Committee, the Foundation for Madison’s Public Schools, Beloit Memorial High School’s Career Academy Master Planning Committee, the Beloit School District Strategic Planning Committee, and the Lt. Governor’s Small Business Academy Planning Committee.
In 2020, Stevens was named one of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Black Leaders by Madison365. In 2021, Stevens was named a YWCA Rock County Woman of Distinction.
Genia Stevens
Founder and Executive Director, Rock County Jumpstart
Jeremy Wodajo
Jeremy Wodajo provides comprehensive transactional guidance on business law, public finance and real estate matters. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and other commercial transactions, including real estate and commercial loan transactions, corporate governance, insurance regulation and general corporate counseling. Jeremy’s practice also includes health care transactions and public finance transactions as borrower’s counsel. He provides these services while also serving as outside general counsel to companies ranging from early-stage startups to large privately held companies. As part of the firm’s multidisciplinary Tax Credit team, Jeremy represents investors, developers, syndicators and other stakeholders in tax credit transactions, which includes experience reviewing and negotiating the loan/capitalization documents for these transactions.
Jeremy Wodajo
Associate, Quarles
Chris Yarbro
Steven L. Leverentz is the Property & Community Relations Manager at Promega Corporation, where he has contributed for over 25 years in roles spanning finance, community relations, property management, and project management. In addition to his work at Promega, he is a licensed real estate broker and has been a key community leader in the region. Leverentz has served as Past President of the Fitchburg Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of Woods Hollow Children’s Center, and is an accountant for the BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute. He also coordinates major community events including the Fitchburg Center Farmers Market and the Agora Art Fair. He holds a degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is the father of three children and resides in Evansville, Wisconsin.
Steven L. Leverentz
Property & Community Relations Manager, Promega Corporation
Jim Yehle
Jim Yehle is President & CEO of Findorff, a privately-held General Contractor based in Madison, WI, with additional offices serving the greater Milwaukee and greater Wausau areas. Findorff has been building for over 130 years and employs nearly 1,000 construction professionals and tradespeople. Jim has been with Findorff for 22-years, graduating from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Construction Management in 1999. Throughout his tenure at Findorff, Jim has managed iconic projects such as the Overture Center for the Arts, American Family Children’s Hospital and UW Health at the American Center. Jim went on to develop and lead the company’s Healthcare sector before matriculating to company leadership in 2012 as an Owner. In 2016 Jim transitioned to the role of Executive Vice President and on January 1, 2020 started his term as President & CEO. Jim is passionate about serving as a volunteer leader in the community. He currently serves as a Member of the Overture Center for the Arts Board of Directors, Member of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture Capital Campaign Committee, Past Chairman of the UW Department of Orthopedic & Rehabilitation Advisory Board, and Member of the MadREP Board of Directors.
Jim Yehle
President, J.H. Findorff & Sons, Inc.
Jim Yehle
Karl Zarling serves as Jefferson County Supervisor for District 4, Watertown, an area comprised of both downtown commercial and residential, and suburban single family. Adjunct to this role Karl is a member of three other boards: Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium, Human Resources, and Law Enforcement and Emergency Management. A top producing, longtime WI Realtor, he additionally performs Operations for a high-end masonry firm, and has extensive experience in software management in Nashville, TN, along with other artistic and creative pursuits.
Karl has strong personal and professional vested interest in all things touching Jefferson and several nearby counties, and his two young sons make sure he stays active and grounded. He’s genuinely thankful for consideration to serve with MadREP toward strengthening economic development, partnerships, and opportunities in its reach.
Karl Zarling
District 4 Supervisor, Jefferson County Board of Supervisors
Jim Yehle
criminal justice in 1988 and his master’s degree in guidance and counseling in 1992. He
worked for over 25 years for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in various roles, including
Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor, drug treatment specialist, certified hostage
negotiator, and diversity management instructor. He is currently an Online Instructor of
Criminal Justice at UW-Platteville.
Chris has spent much of his time serving in his community. He is currently an elected
member of the Madison Area Technical College Board of Directors, Chairmen of
Columbia County Board of Supervisors, and Village of Poynette Board of Trustees.
He is also active with his alma mater; he has served on the UW-Platteville Alumni
Association Board of Directors, providing guest lectures on campus, and participating in
the Criminal Justice Career Day, among other activities. Of these accomplishments,
Chris is most proud of his selection as the 2020 UWP LAE Commencement Speaker. He
was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2020.
Christopher Polzer
Trustee, Village of Poynette
