Kimberly (Kim) Becken

I am the program manager & outreach education specialist for the Extension Lakes Partnership at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point. I assist UWEX and DNR personnel as well as the general public with lake related issues. I also coordinate the Wisconsin Lakes Convention, Lake Leaders Institute, and other Wisconsin Lakes Partnership events. Our family farms in Custer, WI where we practice managed intensive grazing and use an original wind mill water system for raising beef cattle and naturally grazed chickens. I am a 4-H Leader in Portage County, charter member of Sustainable Stockton and in my spare time I love to camp, bike, kayak and garden! (and plant trees).

Bobbie Boettcher

I have been at UW-Baraboo/Sauk County since 2000 when I started as the Student Activities Coordinator and Academic Advisor. Since 2001 I have been working with our returning adult students as a recruiter, academic advisor, and outreach coordinator. I have served the campus on various governance committee and the UW Colleges by advising the Student Governance Council and coordinating the Student Leadership Conference. I currently serve on the UW Colleges Senate as an Academic Staff Representative. Within Senate I serve on the Academic Policy Committee. I earned my masters degree in Postsecondary Education Student Affairs from the University of Northern Iowa in 1998.

Sarah Carroll

Sarah has managed the Whad'Ya Know? Show with Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) since October 2004, with prior (private sector) work experience in theatre management, organizational consulting and human resources. In addition to show manager responsibilities, Sarah serves on the UW-Extension Systemwide Extension Council and on the WPR Madison Area Outreach Team; works as a backup on-air producer for Talk Radio programs; and serves as the creator/ coordinator of WPR's Staff Development Series and on other project teams. Sarah enjoys gardening, dancing, studying wing chun, and traveling. She's helped build solar panels in Nicaragua for villages without electricity, studied modern dance and Spanish in Mexico, and once meditated for six weeks in a Buddhist monastery.

Nancy Coffey

Nancy is married with three grown children. She is the grandmother of a two year old. Nancy has coordinated the Eau Claire County Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program (WNEP) since 1995. Currently Nancy oversees a $400,000 annual budget and two full time staff. Last year the Eau Claire County WNEP made over 5,000 educational contacts. Over half of those contacts involved multi-session teaching. Besides teaching and program oversight, Nancy Coffey is chair of the County Hunger Prevention Coalition, and co-chair of the Child Nutrition Coalition.

Donna Duerst

I have been a 4-H Youth Development Agent since 1989, starting in Crawford County and working the past 18 years in Rock County. My programming focus has been on strengthening community clubs and youth/adult partnerships. More recently, I have shifted focus to 4-H After School and other outreach programs. I am also working to expand service learning opportunities for Rock County youth. My personal interests include horseback riding, hiking and spending time with my husband.

Carol Edquist

I have more than thirteen years of financial management experience. I have worked for the University of Wisconsin for more than seven years, beginning my career in 2000 as the Business Manager for UW-Milwaukee's Center for International Education. I joined UW-Extension as the Budget Director in December 2007. I manage the planning and development of UW-Extension's budgets and the annual and biennial operating budget processes.

Maureen Friend

Instructional Communications Systems uses a variety of unified communications systems; I primarily work with videoconference and webcast services. Prior to 2001, I worked in manufacturing and retail firms around Madison mentoring, training, managing people and producing merchandise for sale. John and I live in Middleton. Our son Michael is 16 and daughter Madeline is 13. We're planning a trip to the UK for 2009, the year Mike graduates from high school.

Maggie Gellings

My current position is on the UW- Fond du Lac Campus. I have been a Student Services Coordinator since 2005. I maintain an active working relationship with students, faculty and staff. I am the Coordinator for the Student Work Zone (learning/tutoring center) and am the advisor for the Student Government and Student Activities Associations. I also am the campus contact for students with disabilities as well as having academic advising duties. I teach a Career Exploration and Learning Skills class on campus. I began my work here at UW-Fond du Lac as a graduate intern. I am alum of UW -Washington County, have a BS in Resource Management from UW- Stevens Point and an MSE in Student Affairs and College Counseling from UW-Oshkosh.

Patrick Goggin

Before coming to UWEX earlier this year, I have been active in natural resource management for nearly 20 years here in Wisconsin, working for both the private sector and government at the federal, state, and local (county) levels. Presently, as a statewide lake specialist, I work for a nationally recognized venture known as the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership, a model collaboration that includes UWEX people, staff with the WDNR, and citizens from around the state that are members of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes (WAL). Together we address lake concerns such as recreational user conflicts, water law, lake management planning, aquatic invasive species, and the economics of water. I look forward to establishing new relationships with colleagues from throughout the state in the academy and to honing my leadership skill set in order to better assist and serve Wisconsin citizens in leaving a legacy of lakes.

Kathleen Haas

Kathleen Haas is the Columbia County University of Wisconsin-Extension Community Development Educator located in Portage, Wisconsin. Her educational programming focuses on strengthening organizational and leadership capacity for change. Prior to her time in Columbia County, she was worked for the WI Dept. Natural Resources as a statewide technical outreach specialist focusing on business and commercial waste reduction and recycling. Kathleen has a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Univ. of IL and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Benjamin J. Jordan

Benjamin J. Jordan is a Program Director at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Department of Engineering Professional Development (EPD), where he develops and delivers non-credit continuing education courses for civil engineers and public works professionals. Ben is affiliated with the Wisconsin Transportation Information Center (TIC), providing training and technical assistance to county highway departments, town road departments and city and village public works departments throughout the state. He has over twenty years of experience in civil engineering and public works, serving as a Director of Public Works and City Engineer and working for a State Department of Transportation in the areas of design engineering, construction management and materials engineering for highway rehabilitation projects. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois.

Katie Kalish

Katie Kalish is entering her third year as a tenure track professor in the English department. She teaches a variety of classes including composition and literature. While her academic background and research are in British literature, she recently taught a class on literature of the Holocaust as part of a learning community with her colleagues in the Music and History departments. In addition, Katie works on various campus and departmental committees and enjoys creating special presentations to benefit her students. When not on campus, Katie delights in spending time with her husband and two year old daughter, Hadley.

Lisa Karnes

As part of the corporate development team at Wisconsin Public Radio, I fundraise for the stations and create effective underwriting announcements for area businesses. I also help promote WPR and produce on-air membership campaigns. Previously, I was an event planner for an institute in Florida and prior to that I worked for a public radio station in Iowa. My husband and I live in Madison with our one-year-old daughter, Maya.

Amanda Kostman

I have the pleasure of working with some very exciting older youth programming (not just the 4-H community club program) in Lincoln County. Some of my favorites includes: 4-H Ambassadors, the 4-H Board of Directors (both youth and adults), afterschool programming, camp programs, county fair, and the Teen Court Program. I also work with other community organizations to fill needs in the community. I also have the pleasure of working with the WI 4-H Youth Leader Council as their advisor, the Youth as Partners in Civic Leadership Group and Engaging Youth Serving Communities Initiative to help to promote youth leadership in the State of Wisconsin. Personally, I enjoy basketry, training my dog and spending time with family and friends.

Darlene Kramer

Work Experience: Began my career as a District Director for the American Cancer Society in 22 counties in Northwestern Wisconsin; followed by Volunteer Director at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, WI; and then a Workplace Consultant for Fox Valley Unites, a drug and alcohol coalition. Current responsibilities with Cooperative Extension include management of 4 nutrition educators and the WNEP grant program in a tri-county project.

Personal: Married for 26 years, two daughters, 17 years and 21 years old. Enjoy tennis, walking our Kerry Blue Terrier, great books..fiction and non-fiction, and traveling to sunny locations.

Mary MacKendrick

Part of my work involves projects for the chancellor and keeping current on state legislative and budget issues affecting the UW System, and particularly, the UW Colleges and UW-Extension. Working for two statewide organizations means developing relationships with all 132 state legislators and their staff. It also includes providing talking points and advocacy information for our deans/directors and advocacy networks. In the past, I've translated and written in three languages, French, Spanish, and German, and worked as an editor for two national magazines. I have 26-year-old twins, love the outdoors, and have many interests that keep me busy when I'm not at work.

Agnes Maloney

I currently run the food operations for the Extension Conference Centers and work with a variety of customers within the UW Extension system. I am currently a registered dietitian. I am a UW- Madison alum and majored in dietetics. My husband Jeff and I live in Madison with our daughter, Erin who is ten months old.

Cheryl Michie

I am a student services coordinator for UW-Extension's Independent Learning program in the division of Continuing Education Outreach & E-Learning. I also coordinate student services for online degree programs with UW-Platteville, UW-Green Bay and other UW System schools. My work fits in nicely with my educational goals as I am a distance student myself; just recently completing a distance master's program in Student Affairs and Higher Education. Working for UW-Extension fits my overall value system, as I am a strong believer that everyone should have access to education.

Lisa Nalbandian

Lisa Nalbandian has served as Regional Manager in northeast Wisconsin for Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) for over three years and has been with the organization for nearly seven years, starting in the Milwaukee office. She focuses her efforts on marketing the multiple audio services WPR provides to northeastern Wisconsin. She holds a masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from UW-Milwaukee and a bachelor's degree in French Studies from UW-Parkside.

Rosemary Potter

Rosemary Potter is Director of Government Relations for UW Colleges and UW-Extension. In that capacity, she is responsible for organizing the legislative and advocacy efforts for both institutions. Before coming to the University, she ran her own consulting business where she specialized in public affairs, facilitation, communication and leadership coaching. Rosemary served in the Wisconsin State Assembly for almost a decade, where she held a leadership position. Rosemary has studied at the United Nations, taught international relations and has lived and taught in Europe, South America and Asia. She recently completed a three year Leadership Course, called "Future Thinking" through the Center for Authentic Leadership in Atlanta. Her background gives her the experience needed to both honor cultural differences and gain insight into present day issues.

Julianne E. Raymond

I am a former business owner who now works with dozens of business start-ups and high growth entrepreneurs through the Small Business Development Center at UW-Superior. I have been responsible for handling one-to-one counseling in eight Wisconsin counties since I became employed by the University in 2000. Early on, individual counseling included three road trip days per week visiting with clients at UW-Coop Extension offices. I became SBDC Director in Superior in 2004 and have continued to expand the department's reach through "First Steps," business plan writing, and financial management classes, as well as facilitating a CEO Roundtable in Superior. Through a Program Improvement Fund grant in 2007, I helped launch a two-way video counseling system this year in the Northern District. I hold an MBA from the University of Minnesota, have two grown sons and three granddaughters.

Rod Rotar

Rod is a WisLine Audio & Web Services Coordinator with Instructional Communication Systems at UWEX. Areas of responsibilities include coordination of day-to-day WisLine scheduling, billing and services for our customers. Prior to joining the ICS team, he had management, sales, and customer service job experiences. Outside of work, Rod is working on finishing up an associate degree in supervisory management and certificates in computer software and human resources from MATC-Madison. He is active in the community through his membership and activities with the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees).

Sarah J. Rudolph

I was born in Laramie, Wyoming where my father was law professor (and eventually dean) at the University of Wyoming. Early on I fell in love with theatre-so I guess it only makes sense that I am a theatre professor. I got my BA in Theatre with a History minor at the University of Wyoming, spent one summer studying at a professional acting conservatory in New York before getting my MA degree in Theatre and Drama from Indiana University. I went to the University of Wisconsin Madison to earn a PhD in theatre and have been happily in Wisconsin ever since. I began at UW Marathon County in 1991. I enjoy working with a range of students and being able to get people from varied backgrounds involved in my theatre program. My husband, Brad Schmicker, teaches fifth grade for his "day job" but has a rich theatre background and much creativity; he has worked along side me building our theatre program. We look forward to the realization of our long standing desire to get a new theatre facility. If all goes as planned, that facility should make its debut in the Fall 2010 or Spring 2011. Our eldest son is a junior in computer science with a minor in business at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Our younger son just began college at UWMC where he is majoring in art.

My interest in leadership stems from the experience I had as the chair of the Communication and Theatre Arts Department of the UW Colleges for seven years. Additionally, I served as conference organizer for my national organization, Association for Theatre in Higher Education, in 2001-2002 and enjoyed immensely the opportunity to share ideas with a creative group of individuals. I see successful theatre direction as an ideal arena for studying the possibilities for leading: trying to get the best of out of individuals in the interest of a shared vision brings me great satisfaction and I keep learning.

Terry Tao

Terry Tao is the manager of design and development unit at UW-Extention Continuing Education, Outreach and E-Learning. He and his team is responsible for supporting faculty, programs, schools, and campuses in the conversion or development of adult-centered courses and programs to innovative online and other technology-assisted educational venues utilizing cutting-edge and creative design and course delivery options. Terry Tao received a M.A. degree in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Central Florida in 2002 and has been pursuing Ph.D degree in Instructional Technology since then. His instructional design and management experience include both academic programs and cooperation training projects. His current researches involve student perceived online social presence and motivation in an online learning environment.

Mary Vilmo

I work with four full-time coordinators to provide educational advising for people during their educational transition. Our clientele include students of all ages, parents, school counselors and UW System colleagues. Our responsibilities include but are not limited to: coordinating and developing UW System publications, developing electronic access points to the UW System, ddvising people about UW System options, maintaining relationships to provide coordinated UW System student services, performing numerous outreach activities.

Ingrid West

For the past 25 years I have been working in the field of aquatic environmental monitoring, planning, and restoration, as well as working on building eco-participation in urban communities in NE Illinois. Two years ago I was fortunate to be able to return to Wisconsin and start my current position with UW Extension to build regional capacity in conservation professional training for NRCS and other technical service providers in the USEPA Region 5 states. My husband of 25 years Rae and I are empty nesters who live in the ultimate money pit in Stoughton with our three high energy dogs and two very tolerant cats.

Bill Whipple

I have been working with computers and technology for over 25 years and for UW-Extension Instructional Communications Systems (ICS) for the past 13 years. I develop software applications for ICS and oversee much of the hardware and software for WisLine teleconferencing and WisLine Web. I provide support for ICS administration, reservations and operations staff. I also support external sites including Wisconsin county offices, UW campuses, other universities and private companies throughout the world that participate in classes delivered via distance education systems. In my spare time, my I enjoy kayaking, guitar, photography, and Disney cruises.

Patti Wise

I am currently serving as the Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Enrollment Management for the UW Colleges. My responsibilities include oversight of the following areas: admissions, registration and academic records, financial aid, marketing, enrollment management, student accessibility services, legal compliance, Title IX compliance, programs for multicultural and disadvantaged students, the UW Colleges Student Support Services Program and Precollege Programs, the UW Colleges Alcohol and Other Drug Education (AODE) Program, and institutional student government and student leadership. I also handle student misconduct, student insurance, external scholarship programs, and support services to the UW Colleges campuses' student services staffs. My most recent position was as Special Assistant to the Provost and Prevention Specialist for the AODE Program. I live in Baraboo, and I'm married with two children.