Governor-elect Tony Evers and Lt. Governor-elect Mandela Barnes last week announced Aaron Olver as a senior advisor to lead the transition personnel recruitment efforts for their administration, including staff for the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s offices as well as many cabinet agencies.
The governor-elect also announced Tia Torhorst as deputy transition director.
Olver is the managing director of University Research Park, a University of Wisconsin-Madison affiliated research and technology park supporting early-stage businesses. He is also the former state Secretary of Commerce in the administration of Jim Doyle.
Torhorst currently serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee. Torhorst previously worked at the National Partnership for Women and Families and as Legislative Director for Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.
Olver will lead a new Personnel Advisory Council “who will work to ensure the incoming administration is reflective of the talent that exists in every corner of the state,” according to a press release. “Governor-elect Evers and Lt. Governor-elect Barnes have asked these business and community leaders to assist their Transition Team by referring potential candidates for key state positions. The Council is composed of twenty leaders who will help connect diverse, accomplished people who are eager and ready to work as a team to move Wisconsin forward.”
The Personnel Advisory Board includes:
• Griselda Aldrete, President & CEO, Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee
• Ruben L. Anthony Jr, PhD, President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Madison
• Buckley Brinkman, Executive Director & CEO, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
• Frank Busalacchi, Former Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Transportation
• Melissa Cook, Intergovernmental Affairs Manager, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
• Michael J Decorah, Sr Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist, St Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
• Sean Dilweg, Former WI Insurance Commissioner, Sr Vice President Government Relations, MGIC
• Shirley Ellis, Senior Advisor/District Director, Gwen Moore, US House of Representatives
• Roberta Gassman, Former Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
• Zach Halmstad, Co-founder and Partner, Pablo; Co-founder, Jamf
• Chris Her-Xiong, Founder/Executive Director, Hmong American Peace Academy, Ltd
• Ossie Kendrix, President, African American Chamber of Commerce
• Mike Laszkiewicz, Senior Vice President of Operations, Rockwell Automation
• Darryl Morin, President & CEO, Advanced Wireless Inc
• Barbara Nick, President & CEO, Dairyland Power Cooperative
• Angela Russell, Vice President Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, CUNA Mutual Group
• Mara Swan, Executive Vice President, Global Strategy and Talent, ManpowerGroup
• Bob Wills, Owner, Cedar Grove Cheese Company & Clock Shadow Creamery
• Mary Ellen Schill, Attorney, RuderWare
• Donsia Strong Hill, Former Secretary, WI Department of Regulation and Licensing/Executive Director, LISC Milwaukee
Governor-elect Evers will make numerous new appointments in the near future, but hiring a team for the new administration is a process that will play out over the next several months, the press release said. Any application materials of qualified individuals submitted to the Transition Team will also be provided to incoming cabinet secretaries for additional consideration as they work on hiring their leadership teams.
Applicants may use the website to apply for positions at https://nws.wisconsin.egov.
