WEDC Looks for Fresh Start with New Leadership

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is making some big changes to its leadership team and internal policies in an effort to correct past mistakes that have cost the public-private hybrid agency money and credibility.

WEDC, which was created to replace the Department of Commerce, was designed to be more nimble than the old agency, but a recent audit found that the transition resulted in lack of oversight.

Interim chief executive Reed E. Hall, the retired director of Marshfield Clinic, was been brought in to address the issues, and the agency’s response to the audits and 2012 annual report suggest Hall is making good progress.

Soon Hall will turn the organization over to a new CEO. The finalists for the position are Ralph Howard, Random Lake; Michael Jenkins, Cedarburg; and Jason Jensen, Madison.