Gov. Scott Walker has named Reed Hall Interim CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Hall replaces former CEO Paul Jadin who resigned last month to take over as President of Thrive, an eight county economic development group based in Madison.

Hall served as Executive Director of Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, Wisconsin, from January, 2000 to July, 2010 at which time he retired. From June 1976 until January 2000, he served as General Counsel to Marshfield Clinic, which is one of the largest private medical clinics in the U.S. Net revenue for Marshfield Clinic and its subsidiary, Security Health Plan, exceeded $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2010.

Hall received his M.S. in Health Law from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health in 1974, J.D. degree from the University of North Dakota in 1973, and B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1970.

A native of Tomah, Hall is a member of the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) Board of Directors, WMC Executive Committee; Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters Board of Directors; WisconsinEye Board of Directors; Employee Benefits Corporation Board of Directors; and 7th Congressional District Health Care Advisory Council.

WEDC has been in the news recently for some disconcerting administrative and oversight failings leading to the resignation of WEDC’s Chief Financial Officer Mike Klonsinski. Ryan Murray remains on as the agency’s Chief Operating Officer.

“WisBusiness: The Show,” a twice-a-month Web show covering state business news and issues, featured an interview with Hall on a recent episode. Hall said he is confident the WEDC is headed in a good direction. For now, he said, “we’re doing an inventory of what the issues are confronting us and then we’ll put a plan of action together.”
 

Also on “The show,” Tom Still talks about the growing number of new business establishments in Wisconsin and their high survival rate compared to new businesses in other states.