Leadership Wisconsin
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!
Community Leadership 2.0
February 2025 – October 2025
Leadership Wisconsin is pleased to introduce its new advanced statewide leadership development program designed to catapult motivated, high-potential leaders from across the state into solution-based collaboration that will have significant impact on issues that matter.
The “Community Leadership 2.0” program is available exclusively to those thousands of individuals across the state who have benefited from one of several esteemed local community development programs. These alumni have the skills, awareness and demonstrated commitment to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. They’re ready for advanced leadership training and opportunities and this program will inspire and prepare them even further to engage.
The 2.0 program provides participants the opportunity to work collectively with a cohort of peers from across the state to engage in deep learning and exploration on a single, critical issue. The issue serves as the “learning lab” through which they will hone their skills and connect their own local communities to a network of better practices, valuable resources and collaborative thinking/doing.
UW-Madison Division of Extension and Leadership Wisconsin, Inc. have a longstanding history of partnering together to connect, cultivate and amplify the effectiveness of leaders across the state.
Leadership Wisconsin, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit foundation whose mission is building a stronger Wisconsin through increased leadership capacity. The organization does this by seeking out innovative and collaborative strategies that promote and invest in the ability of leaders to address community and organizational challenges.
Connect with Leadership Wisconsin, Inc.
Email: lwood@wcgpr.com
Facebook: LeadershipWisconsin
Website: http://leadershipwi.org/
2024 Board of Directors
President
Anne Katz – Madison
Arts Wisconsin
WRLP, Group X
Past President
Shelly Missall, Green Bay, WI
Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin Signature Program , Group XVI
Vice President
Debra Karp
Alan E. Guskin Center for Community and Business Engagement, UW-Parkside
Treasurer
JoAnn Maedke – Eden
Maedex Tax and Farm Accounting, LLC
WRLP, Group VI
Secretary
Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf
Wisconsin Counties Association
At-Large
Jon Hochkammer – Verona
Retired Local Government
At-Large
Corinda Rainey-Moore – Madison
UnityPoint Health-Meriter
Signature Program, Group XV
At-Large
Tracy Probst
Beaver Dam Area Chamber of Commerce
At-Large
Whitni Kral
Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay
History
Over its 30-year history, Leadership Wisconsin, Inc. (LWI), and its predecessor Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program, has strived to develop leaders to strengthen communities. In doing so, it has developed a solid and important network of stakeholders and constituents who care about and are invested in both the legacy and the future of LWI.
1980 – Stephen Smith (UW-Madison), Roger Swanson (UW-River Falls), and Laura Beane (agricultural leader from Jefferson county) attended an informational meeting about W.K. Kellogg-sponsored leadership programs in Michigan, Washington, Montana, California, and Pennsylvania.
1981 – The Agricultural and Natural Resource Consortium of the University of Wisconsin System approved preparation of a draft proposal to initiate a rural leadership development program in Wisconsin. UW-Extension was asked to administer and coordinate the project.
1983 – With the approval of a provisional board of directors, the UW-Extension director submitted a proposal to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which subsequently funded the project. Later that year the Board of Directors was officially organized.
1984 – The Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program (WRLP) Group I was selected and began their two-year experience.
2008 – Twenty-four years after Group I, an in-depth evaluation process confirmed the WRLP had significant, positive impact on participants. Alumni reported developing new leadership skills and abilities as a direct result of their program experience, and went on to play active leadership roles benefiting their respective communities, organizations and businesses, and our state as a whole. The WRLP Board of Directors and UW-Extension recommitted to their joint mission and re-branded as Leadership Wisconsin, positioning the program to fill the critical and growing need for quality, integrated leadership development training for leaders throughout all of Wisconsin.
2018 – Ten years later UW-Extension and the Leadership Wisconsin Board of Directors recognized that the landscape had changed. Largely thanks to the work of Leadership Wisconsin Program partners and alumni, local leadership programs had been created throughout Wisconsin. These programs offered leaders affordable, community-specific development opportunities lasting 6-9 months. The Board of Directors and Extension acknowledged that the Leadership Wisconsin Program model was no longer sustainable, and agreed to pivot towards new models of leadership development.
2019 – UW-Extension, Leadership Wisconsin, Inc., and the Wisconsin Counties Association launched a new leadership development opportunity – the Wisconsin Local Government Leadership Academy. Designed for individuals in local government who want to increase their impact and lead the way to greater results. The Academy builds upon the education and resources Wisconsin’s local government leaders already have access to, and focuses on the nuanced skills of being an effective leader.
2020/Present – Over the past 3-4 years, the Leadership Wisconsin, Inc. Board of Directors, in partnership with the UW-Extension, has been engaged in a comprehensive restructuring effort to ensure the organization’s effectiveness and long-term viability. The restructuring began with a preliminary assessment of potential programmatic changes and enhancements. It has evolved into a more in-depth structural analysis that includes the examination of various strategic partnerships and organizational models that could have transformational impact on the future of community leadership development in the state.
