Governor-elect Tony Evers has begun setting up his transition team as he prepares to take office in January. The Joint Finance Committee approved Evers’s $94,600 transition budget request, most of which will go to seven transition staff positions.

Transition Team

Evers named his campaign manager Maggie Gau his chief of staff and JoAnne Anton, director of charitable giving for Herb Kohl Philanthropies, his transition director. Tia Torhorst, director of strategic partnerships for Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, will be deputy transition director. Brian Pahnke, assistant state superintendent for the Division of Finance and Management, will serve as policy director, with Department of Public Instruction (DPI) policy adviser Jeff Pertl and Dane County supervisor Jamie Kuhn as policy advisers.

Evers has also announced the following members of his transition team:

• Chuck Pruitt, partner and co-managing director of the A.B. Data Group
• Amy Traynor, instructional coach in the Eau Claire Area School District
• Jan Allman, president, CEO, and general manager of Marinette Marine Corp.
• Dr. Veronica Gunn, CEO of Genesis Health Consulting
• Kevin Conroy, chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences
• Carrie Lynch, strategic communications specialist at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Personnel Advisory Council

Evers has created a Personnel Advisory Council to help with hiring in his administration. Aaron Olver, managing director of University Research Park, will serve as senior adviser to lead the personnel council. (Olver also served on former Gov. Jim Doyle’s transition team.) Members include:

• Griselda Aldrete, president and CEO of Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee
• Ruben Anthony Jr., PhD, president and CEO of Urban League of Greater Madison
• Buckley Brinkman, executive director and CEO of Wisconsin Procurement Institute
• Frank Busalacchi, former secretary of Wisconsin Department of Transportation
• Melissa Cook, intergovernmental affairs manager of Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
• Michael Decorah, senior intergovernmental affairs specialist of St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
• Sean Dilweg, senior vice president of MGIC, former Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner
• Shirley Ellis, senior adviser and district director to U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee)
• Roberta Gassman, former secretary of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
• Zach Halmstad, cofounder and partner of Pablo, cofounder of Jamf
• Chris Her-Xiong, founder and executive director of Hmong American Peace Academy Ltd.
• Ossie Kendrix, president of African American Chamber of Commerce
• Mike Laszkiewicz, senior vice president of operations at Rockwell Automation
• Darryl Morin, president and CEO of Advanced Wireless Inc.
• Barbara Nick, president and CEO of Dairyland Power Cooperative
• Angela Russel, vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion at CUNA Mutual Group
• Mara Swan, executive vice president of global strategy and talent at ManpowerGroup
• Bob Wills, owner of Cedar Grove Cheese Company & Clock Shadow Creamery
• Mary Schill, attorney at RuderWare
• Donsia Hill, executive director of LISC Milwaukee and former Department of Regulation and Licensing Secretary

Health Policy Advisory Council

Evers has also created an advisory council on health policy. Members include:

• Dr. Veronica Gunn, CEO of Genesis Health Consulting
• Karen Timberlake, Michael Best Strategies and former secretary of Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services
• Candice Owley, RN, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and vice president at American Federation of Teachers
• Jane Mahoney, Wisconsin Institute for Health Aging
• Barbara Beckert, Disability Rights of Wisconsin
• Dipesh Navsaria, UW Health
• Lisa Peyton-Caire, Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness
• Kofi Short, Diverse and Resilient Community, fellow at Wisconsin Health Leadership
• Tanya Atkinson, Planned Parenthood
• Tim Size, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
• Mary Jo Meyers, Milwaukee County Health and Human Services
• Mary Neubauer, Mental Health America of Wisconsin

What’s Best for Kids Advisory Council

 Evers has also created a “What’s Best for Kids” Advisory Council that will advise the transition team on issues affecting kids at agencies including the Department of Children and Families, DPI, and the Department of Health Services. Members include:

• Sal Carranza, Latino Education Council
• Hector Colon, Lutheran Social Services
• Angelina Cruz, Racine Unified School District
• Heather DuBois Bourenane, Wisconsin Public Education Network
• Sally Flaschberger, Disability Rights Wisconsin
• Andy Gussert, Boys & Girls Club of Wisconsin
• Peng Her, the Hmong Institute
• Christine Holmes, Penfield Children’s Center
• Duff Martin, Wisconsin Education Association Council
• Michelle Mettner, Children’s Hospital
• Sandy Morales, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County
• Doug Nelson, formerly of the Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Keith Psley, Milwaukee Public Schools
• Angela Russel, vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion at CUNA Mutual Group
• Paul Spink, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 32
• Ken Taylor, Kids Forward
• George Torres, La Causa
• Amy Traynor, instructional coach in the Eau Claire Area School District
• Julie Underwood, UW Madison Law School and Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis