Officers
Jason Gilman, President, Education Chair
Devin Sutherland, Vice-President
Sue Bessert, Secretary
Beth Plutchak, Treasurer
Directors
Tim Anderson - Strategic Alliance Chair, Development Chair
Jennifer Andrews – Communications Chair
Brian Fukuda
Amy Hansen
Anne Katz
Kathy Kopp
Elizabeth A. Nicols
Daniel J. Roarty – Membership Chair
Michael Stumpf
Troy Thiel
Ex-Officio Board Members
Jim Engle
Bill Ryan
Chuck Law
Jason Gilman – WDAC President
Land Use & Development Director, City of Onalaska
415 Main Street, Onalaska, WI 54650
Phone: 608-781-9590
Email: jgilman@cityofonalaska.com
http://www.cityofonalaska.com/departments/zoning.html
Jason was born in Sparta, Wisconsin and lived most of his childhood in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. He received his BS in Landscape Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987 and continued graduate studies in GIS, landscape architecture and downtown redevelopment at UW-Madison in 1989 after working for several landscape architectural firms in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas. He returned to Madison in 1989 to work for Schreiber/Anderson Associates from 1989 to 1995. His position with SAA as a landscape architect and project manager resulted in experience with many downtown and waterfront redevelopment projects in Sheboygan, Beloit, Moline (IL), Menomonee Falls and elsewhere. He also worked as one of the principal landscape architects on the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison and on several corporate campus projects around the state. In 1995, he accepted the position of City Planner with the City of Onalaska, a rapidly growing community of 12,000 just north of La Crosse in the Mississippi River Valley. He was promoted to Interim City Administrator in 1998 and then Land Use and Development Director in 1999, overseeing Zoning, Inspection and Planning for the city. His work for Onalaska has included the development of a comprehensive greenway system, a downtown redevelopment plan, a tourism strategy involving a National Scenic Byways grant, a rewrite of the city’s codes to a Unified Development Code format, impact fee ordinances, and the citizens’ advocacy group Centering Onalaska, which provides the public with an organization for ongoing downtown redevelopment efforts. He is now overseeing a 12 month planning process for the City’s waterfront area which resulted in part from his efforts to acquire a 47 acre tract of private land along the Black River in Onalaska.
Devin Sutherland
Executive Director, Downtown Racine Corporation
425 Main Street, Racine, WI 53403
Phone: 262-681-1562
Email: dsutherland@racinedowntown.com
http://www.racinedowntown.com/
Devin joined the DRC as the Executive Director in September 2003. Devin’s primary responsibilities include the continued coordination of downtown development and marketing; business development and management of a business improvement district; and serving as a key advocate for downtown revitalization. Prior to joining the DRC team, Devin was employed at Downtown Topeka, Inc. in Topeka, Kansas. His duties there were very similar to those in Racine. Devin was the Executive Director there from 1998 through 2003. Devin is a graduate of Washburn University in Topeka, with a BBA in Marketing and Business Management.
Sue Bessert – WDAC Secretary
7356 Freedom Trail, Wabeno, WI 54566
Phone: 715-473-4603
Email: bbessert@centurytel.net
Sue serves as Executive Director for Downtown Rhinelander, Inc. She has over 10 years leading downtown revitalization efforts utilizing the National Main Street four-point approach: organization, economic restructuring, design and promotion. She establishes firm foundations for positive change through working relationships with city government staff, business leaders and community volunteers. In October of 2007 Sue and her husband, Brad, moved from Green Bay to Forest County on Roberts Lake. Sue is enjoying her new community in the beautiful Northwoods. In addition to her downtown redevelopment and public relations experience, Sue has a background with non-profit organizations including the Girl Scouts of Lac Baie, YWCA and the NEW Arts Council. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in communications and public relations from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Beth Plutchak
Consultant, Beth Plutchak Consulting
Phone: 608-393-8843
Email: beth.plutchak@charter.net
http://www.bethpluchak.com/
bpluchak on twitter
Beth works with municipal and private business clients to design results-oriented strategic solutions. She has worked with municipalities to craft economic development strategies and has assisted private business in the following areas: strategic planning, plan implementation, financial feasibility studies, growth opportunity analysis and identification of funding sources. Her clients include municipalities, community banks, and agricultural and small service business. She worked closely with the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce to spearhead several economic development initiatives, including smart growth planning and a community market study. Prior to starting her own consulting firm, she had a twenty year commercial banking career.
Tim Anderson
Tim Anderson Consulting LLC
2126 Yahara Place, Madison, WI 53704
Phone: 608-514-5402
Email: tander2126@tds.net
Tim Anderson is a former Principal and founding Owner of Schreiber Anderson Associates, a Madison-based planning, landscape architecture and civil engineering firm established in January 1984. Tim has over 36 years of community planning and design experience working with public and private clients throughout Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. Tim’s work has focused on downtown and neighborhood master plans; urban infill and redevelopment projects; architectural design guidelines; waterfront, streetscape and public space designs; and historic preservation. Tim has particular expertise in facilitating meaningful public input throughout the planning process. Tim is a registered architect in the State of Wisconsin and a member of the American Planning Association. Tim also serves on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Downtown Action Council, the Wisconsin Main Street Council and Downtown Madison, Inc.
Jennifer Andrews
Planner, City of Waukesha Community Development Department
201 Delafield Street, Waukesha, WI 53188
Phone: 262-524-3753
Email: jmandrew@ci.waukesha.wi.us
http://www.ci.waukesha.wi.us/
As a planner with the City of Waukesha, Jennifer has focused on redevelopment efforts in downtown. She has acted as a liaison between between the City and the downtown Business Improvement District, working on projects involving streetscaping; review of redevelopment and rehabilitation plans; and organization of special events. Jennifer also owns a business in downtown Waukesha.
Brian Fukuda
Community Development Specialist, La Crosse County
400 4th Street, La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: 608-785-5792
Email: fukuda.brian@co.la-crosse.wi.us
http://www.co.la-crosse.wi.us/
Brian is the Community Development Specialist for La Crosse County, which allows him to work on a wide variety of development projects in a variety of communities. Recognizing the importance of the downtown area to the quality of life of a community, Brian has a particular interest in assisting with downtown development and revitalization. Brian has a BS in Consumer Affairs and an MS in Business – Real Estate and Urban Economics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He has professional experience as a residential property manager, a commercial real estate appraiser, and a city planner.
Amy Hansen
Executive Director, Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership
207 N. Main Street, Fond du Lac, WI 54935
Phone: 920-921-9500
Email: amyh@fdlac.com
Anne Katz
Executive Director, Arts Wisconsin
PO Box 1054, Madison, WI 53701-1054
Phone: 608-255-8316
Email: akatz@artswisconsin.org
Anne is Executive Director of Arts Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s non-profit statewide community arts action, service, and development organization. Arts Wisconsin’s mission is to nurture, serve, promote and speak up for the arts in Wisconsin and all of its communities. Under her leadership, Arts Wisconsin received the 2004 Governor’s Award in Support of the Arts from the Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts. Ms. Katz received the 2010 Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award from Americans for the Arts in 2010, and has been honored by Wisconsin Women Magazine in March 2010 and by Madison Magazine in June 2004 for her community cultural development work. She was also recognized in 2009 as one of the 25 most powerful arts leaders in the country, according to “Barry’s Blog,” an influential and widely-read arts blog written by former California Arts Council director Barry Hessenius.
Anne has worked with arts organizations in Madison and across the country, including the Madison Civic Center, Madison Committee for the Arts, Madison Repertory Theatre, O’Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, CT; and The Big Apple Circus, New Dramatists, Inc., and The Feld Ballet in NYC.
Anne was an Arts Administration Fellow in the Locals Program of the National Endowment for the Arts in 1988, was selected as a member of the first class of Leadership Greater Madison in 1993-94, graduated in 2004 from the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program, and graduated in 2007 from the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Organizations in St. Paul, MN. She has been a peer review panelist for the City of Milwaukee Arts Board, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Wisconsin Arts Board, Wisconsin Humanities Council, Iowa Arts Council, South Dakota Arts Council, Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, and the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts. She is a past chair of the State Arts Action Council, the national network of statewide arts service and advocacy organizations affiliated with Americans for the Arts, the national service organization for the arts, and serves on the boards of the Wisconsin Public Radio Association, Wisconsin Nonprofits Association and Wisconsin Downtown Action Council. She is chair of the City of Madison’s Cultural Plan Steering Committee, and was co-chair of the Madison Metropolitan School District’s Arts Task Force in 2008.
A noted speaker and trainer, she has been featured at the Maine Community Arts Conference and the Tennessee Arts Commission’s “Talk to Me” Conference, as well as numerous arts, creative economy, education, economic development and civic conferences in Wisconsin.
She is a graduate of Brandeis University, with a B.A. degree in Theater Arts, and studied drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. She is a singer and performer in the Madison area, but these days, spends as much time as possible as a dedicated soccer/basketball/baseball mom to her son, Raphael.
Kathy Kopp
Executive Director, Platteville Chamber of Commerce
275 Business Highway 151 W, Platteville, WI 53818
Phone: 608-348-8888
Email: director@platteville.com
Elizabeth A. Nicols
Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District #21
600 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 220-4700
Email: bethn@milwaukeedowntown.com
Chief Operating Officer of the District, Ms. Nicols executes decisions on behalf of her 19-member board. Ms. Nicols manages numerous contracts totaling over $2.9 million. She is responsible for overseeing District operations; designing, implementing and managing programs to ensure that Downtown Milwaukee is a clean, safe and friendly destination for visitors, residents and businesses; District strategic planning; marketing and communications; and representation of the District to local, state and national audiences. Ms. Nicols also serves as Director of Milwaukee Downtown, Inc., a not-for-profit agency that focuses on special events and community collaboration. She is also serving as interim Director of the Alliance for Downtown Parking and Transportation.
Milwaukee Downtown is a business improvement district that provides services for 120 square blocks in Downtown Milwaukee. Services include sidewalk sweeping and scrubbing, landscaping, graffiti removal, and the Public Service Ambassadors. Ms. Nicols also oversees and manages the Downtown Branding Campaign along with special events including Downtown Dining Week, Downtown Open House and Expo, Downtown Employee Appreciation Week and the annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival.
She has more than 20 years of management experience in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors; 14 years experience working for a board of directors with ongoing organizational and community work; extensive knowledge and experience in implementing downtown special events, projects and programs; and strong, effective relationships with business leaders, community based organizations, government staff and elected officials.
Ms. Nicols is a native Milwaukeean with two children, Justin and Shawna.. Beth has been named in The Business Journal as a leader in their “40 Under 40″ and a Milwaukee Woman of Influence. Beth was also named by the Shepherd Express as Milwaukeean of the Year for 2004. She is a 16 year member of the International Downtown Association, serves as a director on that board and also serves on a variety of other community boards and committees.
Daniel J. Roarty, AIA
Architect, Dimension IV
163 North Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54303
Phone: 920-431-3444
Email: djroarty@dimension-iv.com
Dan is the founding Principal of Dimension IV, a Green Bay based planning, design and community development firm. Dimension IV is licensed to practice architecture in 13 states. Also co-owner of Kempinger Putman Architects, a 75 year old Oshkosh based architectural company, Dan’s work has included architecture for small communities, historic structures, urban infill and community development. In the last two years, Dan’s award winning companies have completed the Presque Isle Library addition, the Hamilton Community House (Two Rivers) renovation, Gibraltar (Fish Creek) Community Center expansion, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (Howard) and the Red Awning (Green Bay) loft/condo remodeling among numerous other projects. Most recently, Dimension IV provided the master planning for the 22-acre Larsen Green, a mixed use, urban redevelopment on the site of the former Larsen Canning Company in downtown Green Bay’s Broadway District. Dan has a BA in Speech Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a BS in Architectural Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning, an Masters of Architecture from the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. An LEED Accredited Professional and a proponent of green and sustainable design, he has served the City of Green Bay as a committee member of both the Mayor’s Smart Growth 2020 Committee and the Mayor’s Sustainable Green Bay Task Force. Active with the redevelopment efforts of the Broadway District in Green Bay, Dan currently serves as Secretary to the Green Bay Broadway Business Improvement District Board, is co-chair of the On Broadway, Inc. (OBI) Design Committee and a member of the OBI Board of Directors. Additionally, he is an active participant in numerous other community organizations, such as the Howard Suamico Historical Society, the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce and Habitat for Humanity.
Michael Stumpf, AICP, CEcD
Place Dynamics
Phone: 262-510-2131
Email: michael.stumpf@placedynamics.com
http://www.placedynamics.com/
Michael is the owner/principal of Place Dynamics LLC, specializing in business district development; market analysis and retail site selection; neighborhood planning; office and industrial park feasibility and design; and economic development strategies. With more than 20 years of professional experience, Michael has provided analysis and planning for public and private projects in 21 states, ranging from small development sites to downtown districts, up to industrial parks with investment approaching $1 billion. Michael spent more than 15 years working in local governments in Illinois, Wisconsin and Colorado before beginning a career in consulting. His background also includes work as an analyst and site selection consultant for independent and national retail chains. He holds certifications in planning and economic development and is active in several state and national professional organizations. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and a master’s degree in urban and economic geography. He is a frequent author and speaker on community development topics.
Troy Thiel
First Weber West Towne
429 Gammon Place
Madison, WI 53719
Phone: 608-662-7078
Email: Thielt@firstweber.com
www.TroyThiel.firstweber.com
Troy is very excited to be a member of the board of the Wisconsin Downtown Action Council, joining it in spring of 2009. He currently sits on the Strategic Partners and Nomination committees. He was honored to also represent WDAC at the recent International Downtown Conference in Milwaukee.
His involvement with WDAC is a continuation of his long track record and very active involvement as a Real Estate Agent with the First Weber Group’s Capitol Office representing individual consumers, developers and investors with their Real Estate needs and as a community activist in Downtown’s across Wisconsin and Illinois.
Troy is very involved in the community and downtown issues in many ways, including:
- Chair of the City of Madison’s Downtown Coordinating Committee,
- Former Chair of the City of Madison’s “Living Downtown/Land Use” Subcommittee,
- Board Member, Madison’s Downtown Hospitality Council,
- Former Founding member and Chair, Evanston Small Business Association, using his experience to provide advice on strategy in the creation/operations of the “Dane Buy Local” group,
- Ongoing advocate for Madison Downtown Development potentials, including; Historic Preservation, the Arts, New Central Library, Yahara Station High Speed Rail Station, Economic Development and Job Growth in the East Washington “B.U.I.L.D” corridor and in the Downtown Core.
- Active Member, Downtown Madison Inc., member of the DMI Downtown Plan and Economic Development, Downtown Real Estate Professionals, Downtown Plan and Downtown Design Professionals Sub-Committees and also active in the Madison Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau,
- and much more.
Ex-Officio Board Members
Jim Engle, Director, Wisconsin Main Street Program
PO Box 7970, Madison, WI 53707
Phone: 608-267-0766
Email: jengle@commerce.state.wi.us
http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/CD/CD-bdd-overview.html
Bill Ryan, Community Business Development Specialist, UW Extension
610 Langdon, 329 Lowell Hall, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-263-4994
Email: bill.ryan@uwex.edu
www.uwex.edu/ces/cced
Chuck Law, Community Planning Specialist, UW Extension
610 Langdon Street, 229 Lowell Hall, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-265-2501
Email: chuck.law@uwex.edu