Leadership Wisconsin

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


FY21 Board of Directors

President
Shelly Missall
, Green Bay, WI
Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin
Signature Program , Group XVI

Past President
Corinda Rainey-Moore – Madison
UnityPoint Health-Meriter
Signature Program, Group XV

President-Elect / Secretary
Lynn Wood – Madison
Wood Communications Group
Leadership Greater Madison Program Director

Treasurer
JoAnn Maedke – Eden
Maedex Tax and Farm Accounting, LLC
WRLP, Group VI

At-Large
Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf
Wisconsin Counties Association

At-Large
Jon Hochkammer
– Verona
Retired Local Government

At-Large
Debra Karp
Alan E. Guskin Center for Community and Business Engagement, UW-Parkside

At-Large
Anne Katz – Madison
Arts Wisconsin
WRLP, Group X

At-Large
Tracy Probst

Beaver Dam area Chamber of Commerce

At-Large
Casey Schumacher

Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce


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.

Photo of participants in the first group of the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program.
Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program, Group I

1980Stephen 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.

Photo of Leadership Wisconsin participants in Croatia in 2018
Leadership Wisconsin Group XVII, Croatia-2018
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