Meet Our Staff

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.

Labor Force Madison WI Primary Industries Fields

Jason M. Fields, CFEI, CCRS | President & CEO

608.571.0401 | Email Jason

Jason Fields joined the Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) in January 2021 and was recognized as a Certified Economic Developer by the International Economic Development Council in September 2022. The CEcD program is the most prestigious designation in the economic development profession. Prior to joining MadREP, he served as a Wisconsin State Legislator.

Jason represents the United States as a senator of the World Business Angel Investment Forum (WBAF). He is founder of The Financial Promise Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization that teaches personal financial & business literacy. He is also the Founder and Managing Director of Dark Knight Capital Ventures, a venture fund that seeks to invest in underrepresented founders across America.

Jason started his career in the financial services sector where he collaboratively managed over $100 million in assets. His experience includes bonds, equities, derivatives, insurance, and both residential and commercial loans. He has also worked as a financial advisor, investment advisor, personal banker, credit union branch manager and investment banking associate.

He is a published author with six books, four of which focus on financial topics for beginners. Jason is a certified financial education instructor & certified capital raising specialist. He holds a BS Degree in business management from Cardinal Stritch University. Jason is the President of the Regional Leadership Council, a member of the Governor’s Financial Literacy Council and the Rotary Club of Downtown Madison. He serves on the board of directors of Destination Madison, Wisconsin Technology Council, MKE Tech, Competitive Wisconsin, the Green Bay Packer Mentor Protégé Program, and the Convergence Resource Center.

Jason M. Fields, CEcD, CFEI, CCRS
President & CEO

Labor Force Madison WI Primary industries Collins

608.571.0402 | Email Kathy

Kathy Collins joined the Madison Region Economic Partnership in 2021 as Vice President of Economic Development, working to promote and grow investment in the eight-county regional economy.

Before joining MadREP, she worked with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Business Engagement, where she served as a key connector for university-industry partnerships engaging corporate interests in research, talent, professional education, tech transfer, etc. support of the Wisconsin Idea.

Kathy started her career in banking, where she worked as a personal and business banker, branch and market business development manager. She then took the opportunity at the WI Department of Commerce to work across a broad range of economic and community development programs from Minority to Rural Business Development. She served as Technology Finance Manager in the development and implementation of several innovative initiatives, including Act 255 grants, loans and investment tax credits, CAPCO management, and the WI Entrepreneurs Network- resulting in key business start-up, job retention, company expansions, recruitment of businesses and investment across the state. Kathy promoted and advocated for the biotech industry sector from state service with BioForward, the WI trade association for biohealth.

Kathy holds a BA in Finance from UW-Whitewater, WBA Graduate School of Banking Certificate, Economic Development Finance Professional certification through the National Development Council, and UW-Madison Masters Certificate in project management.

Kathy Collins
Vice President of Economic Development

Labor Force Madison WI Primary Industries Dalhoff

608.571.0403 | Email Gene

Gene joined MadREP in February 2013. In his role with the organization, Gene oversees strategic-related activities in education, workforce development, diversity and inclusion, and fostering communication among the private sector, education, and workforce development communities. Gene is responsible for driving MadREP’s business retention and expansion efforts. Together with MadRep’s economic development partners, Gene maintains the region’s database for people, place, and prosperity. He also serves as the primary MadREP liaison with local chambers of commerce, educational institutions, and workforce development boards. Selected activities led by Gene include managing the Inspire Madison Region workforce development initiative, coordinating MadREP’s planning and participation in the annual Madison Region Economic Development & Diversity Summit, and managing the annual Madison Region Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Survey.

Prior to joining MadREP, Gene served as executive director of the Sauk County Development Corporation (SCDC). In that role, he promoted economic development efforts in Sauk County by facilitating business start-ups, job retention, company expansions, and the recruitment of businesses.

Before his tenure at SCDC, Gene served as the executive director of the Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce for several years and before that as the director of community relations and marketing at a college, communications specialist with a state department of commerce, and independent strategic planning facilitator/consultant.

Gene’s education includes a M.A. in anthropology and a B.B.A. in business administration/marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organizational Management program. He has served on several professional boards including, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Athens Institute for Organization Management, the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin, as president for the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives, and as a founding member of the Sauk County Institute of Leadership. A product of the upper Midwest, Gene has resided in Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois, and Wisconsin. Gene and his wife have three children and two well-fed, spoiled dogs.

Gene Dalhoff, IOM
Vice President of Talent and Education

Labor Force Madison WI Primary Industries Kettleson

608.571.0405 | Email Craig

For the last decade before joining MadREP, Craig served as VP of Finance, Principal, and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, for U.S. Foods and Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (USFP), Eslabon Consulting and Investments, LLC, and Woodridge Venture Group, LLC. Craig’s expertise with USFP centered on the fiscal side of the business, including the generation of historical and pro forma financial statements, business planning, development of private equity placement materials, and completion of due diligence with potential investors. The company has successfully raised $1.2MM to date. With Eslabon, Craig analyzed several real estate projects on behalf of a syndicate for potential acquisition and financial investment in the Madison market, as well as provided business planning assistance for a computer web portal business, incubator management services for the Portage Enterprise Center, and business retention and expansion services for the City of Waterloo. In 2003, Craig was a founder and CFO of a venture capital business (Woodridge) focused on providing investment resources and technical assistance to businesses seeking to commercialize early-stage renewable technologies. During his tenure, the company raised over $14MM for equity placements in two start-up companies.

From 1998-2003, Craig served as Business Development Manager for the Wisconsin Business Innovation Corporation, where he marketed and implemented a $1.2MM Defense Conversion Loan Fund and a $2.7MM USDA Intermediary Relending Program Loan Fund. He also assisted in developing a rural Enterprise Center Network and the development and implementation of the Wisconsin Rural Enterprise Fund (a venture capital style funding tool for tech-led businesses in rural areas). Craig was a Lead Planner for MSA Professional Services in Beaver Dam, WI, where he managed community and land use planning projects, created 25 Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts, and secured millions in business development and infrastructure grants. These federal and state government grants ultimately led to company formations, expansions, private investment leverage, and job creation. Craig was also a planner and business development specialist with the State of Wisconsin, Department of Development, and Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission from 1988-1994.

Craig holds the American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP) title by the American Planning Association (APA). He is a GrowthWheel Certified Advisor® and was recently designated a certified Incubator manager by the National Business Incubation Association. He has a B.A. in Political Science with an emphasis in architecture and economics (UW-Milwaukee) and an M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning (UW-Madison). Craig was also a Board Member of the Wisconsin Business Incubator Association, formerly serving as their Treasurer and Executive Committee Member.

Craig Kettleson
Enterprise Development Director

Labor Force Madison WI Primary Industries Reilly

608.571.0407 | Email Jessica

Jessica Reilly joined MadREP in March 2018. She came to MadREP from the healthcare industry, where she gained ten years of knowledge working in marketing and communications roles for corporate, startup, and nonprofit organizations. Most recently, she was a member of the marketing team at SSM Health.

A native of Buffalo, New York, Jessica relocated to Madison in 2012 to join her family, already residing in the area. She established deep roots in the community through her involvement with the Middleton Chamber of Commerce and Connect Madison.

She now serves on the board of the Rodney Scheel House Foundation. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, playing tabletop games, and spending time with her fiance and their dog.

Jessica Reilly
Marketing & Communications Director

Labor Force Madison WI Primary Industries Moore

608.571.0408 | Email Jana

Jana Moore joined MadREP in October 2019. In her role with the organization, Jana plans events and executive meetings, prepares presentations, and assists with external communications. She enjoys working with MadREP’s partners.

She brings community leadership experience as a Business Engagement Manager at the Latino Chamber of Commerce and as a Business Development Executive at the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. She gained valuable sales experience at Capital Newspapers, The Dallas Morning News, and Isthmus. Jana recently earned a Leadership Certificate and has a degree in Journalism with Advertising Emphasis from UW-Eau Claire.

When she isn’t at MadREP, Jana enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, watching hockey, and supporting Madison’s restaurants and shops.

Jana Moore
Operations & Communications Specialist

608.571.0409 | Email Everett

Everett joined MadREP in August of 2021. As Grants Manager, she manages and coordinates funding development opportunities for MadREP and its partnering organizations.

Prior to joining MadREP, Everett gained experience in non-profit programming and development in her roles working for non-profit organizations, including 826 Chicago and Kennedy Heights Community Center.

In her free time, Everett enjoys volunteering and spending time in nature. She serves on the Board of Directors for Kennedy Heights Community Center.

Everett Mulroe
Grants Manager

Meet Our Staff

Jason M. Fields, CFEI, CCRS | President & CEO

Madison RegionEconomic Partnership

Madison Region
Economic Partnership