Carah Koch is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Federal Program Officer for Wisconsin.  Carah has over 25 years of experience in federal, regional, and local government, serving in both professional and elected roles. 

Rory Tikalsky is manager of the Wisconsin Broadband Office (WBO) and is responsible for overseeing grantmaking, outreach, mapping, and planning efforts to make high speed internet accessible and affordable for all Wisconsinites. Rory has a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining WBO, Rory worked in budget management and policy development for the Wisconsin Legislature. 

Andy Phillips  Andy is the President and CEO of Attolles Law, s.c., where he focuses on assisting counties, school districts and other governmental entities with their most difficult and challenging legal concerns.  He is proud of his service as outside general counsel for the Wisconsin for nearly 20 years and enjoys being a part of the local government family where important policy decisions, impacting real people, are made.

Gail Huycke 

Gail is a Professor of Practice with the University of Wisconsin Extension where she serves as a Broadband Specialist. Gail has 39 years of experience in delivering community outreach programs in family and community economic development. She joined the Broadband Education Center in 2015 serving as Director for the Connected Aging Communities Initiative. Connected Aging Communities is a groundbreaking initiative that’s uses a unique “high tech, high touch” holistic, community development approach to enable aging residents to live independently at home. Gail’s current broadband efforts center heavily on community planning for broadband access. She is a member of the National Digital Extension Education Team and has played a key role in the development of broadband community planning curriculum, training Extension staff at a national level. Gail has developed training materials for the National 4-H Council’s Tech Changemakers- Digital Ambassador program on digital inclusion. Over the last two years, Gail has served as a member of the Wisconsin’s Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. 

Chris Stark is the Digital Equity Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison, Division of Extension. Based in Eagle River, he is responsible for working with Wisconsin communities to improve broadband access, affordability, and adoption for all Wisconsin residents. A believer in the power of the internet to transform people’s lives, Chris is focused on building the conditions to help all generations of Wisconsinites learn digital skills. 

Prior to taking this role in 2022, Chris was a Community and Economic Development Educator for Vilas and Forest County Extension offices for 10 years. Prior to joining UW- Extension, Chris worked as a NASA Contractor and was a state and local economic development practitioner. 

Jessica Beckendorf is a Community Economic Development Specialst focusing on Broadband Partnerships at UW-Madison Division of Extension. Jessica was facilitator for the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband during its first year, 2020-2021. Her previous roles have spanned the community and economic development spectrum – from Cartographer/GIS to Urban & Regional Planner to AVP of Economic Development. Jessica holds a master of arts degree in Communications & Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, and a bachelor of arts degree in Urban & Regional Studies from UW-Green Bay. 

John graduated from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Geography and a certificate from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and then began his career working on geographic information systems in the telecommunications, energy, and defense industries. After serving in the U.S. Army as a Geospatial Engineer, John used the G.I. Bill to earn a Master of Science in the Urban Agglomerations program at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Since then, he has worked on policy issues in the field of community and economic development for local and state governments. John and his wife enjoy the great outdoors in Wisconsin, especially biking along the 400 and Elroy-Sparta state trails.

James Yach comes to the DNR from the Department of Workforce Development where he was a district director before being named the DNR’s northern region Secretary’s Director in July of 2017. Prior to joining the State of Wisconsin, James retired from the United States Navy after serving on active duty for over 20 years as a Naval Aviator at multiple duty stations across the country and abroad.

A Wisconsin native, James was born and raised in Stevens Point and has a degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego, and currently resides in Rhinelander. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, enjoying many outdoor activities and spending time at his lakefront property in Presque Isle, though his great passion is musky fishing.

Gail Huycke 

Gail is a Professor of Practice with the University of Wisconsin Extension where she serves as a Broadband Specialist. Gail has 39 years of experience in delivering community outreach programs in family and community economic development. She joined the Broadband Education Center in 2015 serving as Director for the Connected Aging Communities Initiative. Connected Aging Communities is a groundbreaking initiative that’s uses a unique “high tech, high touch” holistic, community development approach to enable aging residents to live independently at home. Gail’s current broadband efforts center heavily on community planning for broadband access. She is a member of the National Digital Extension Education Team and has played a key role in the development of broadband community planning curriculum, training Extension staff at a national level. Gail has developed training materials for the National 4-H Council’s Tech Changemakers- Digital Ambassador program on digital inclusion. Over the last two years, Gail has served as a member of the Wisconsin’s Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. 

Joe Potente is the Communications Manager for Kenosha County. Prior to that, he was an award-winning Reporter and Editor for the Kenosha News, covering local and state government and countless other issues of community interest. Joe is a Kenosha native who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He lives in Pleasant Prairie with his wife and two children. 

Carah Koch is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Federal Program Officer for Wisconsin.  Carah has over 25 years of experience in federal, regional, and local government, serving in both professional and elected roles. 

Rory Tikalsky is manager of the Wisconsin Broadband Office (WBO) and is responsible for overseeing grantmaking, outreach, mapping, and planning efforts to make high speed internet accessible and affordable for all Wisconsinites. Rory has a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining WBO, Rory worked in budget management and policy development for the Wisconsin Legislature. 

Andy Phillips  Andy is the President and CEO of Attolles Law, s.c., where he focuses on assisting counties, school districts and other governmental entities with their most difficult and challenging legal concerns.  He is proud of his service as outside general counsel for the Wisconsin for nearly 20 years and enjoys being a part of the local government family where important policy decisions, impacting real people, are made.

Chris Stark is the Digital Equity Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison, Division of Extension. Based in Eagle River, he is responsible for working with Wisconsin communities to improve broadband access, affordability, and adoption for all Wisconsin residents. A believer in the power of the internet to transform people’s lives, Chris is focused on building the conditions to help all generations of Wisconsinites learn digital skills. 

Prior to taking this role in 2022, Chris was a Community and Economic Development Educator for Vilas and Forest County Extension offices for 10 years. Prior to joining UW- Extension, Chris worked as a NASA Contractor and was a state and local economic development practitioner. 

Jessica Beckendorf is a Community Economic Development Specialst focusing on Broadband Partnerships at UW-Madison Division of Extension. Jessica was facilitator for the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband during its first year, 2020-2021. Her previous roles have spanned the community and economic development spectrum – from Cartographer/GIS to Urban & Regional Planner to AVP of Economic Development. Jessica holds a master of arts degree in Communications & Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, and a bachelor of arts degree in Urban & Regional Studies from UW-Green Bay. 

John graduated from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Geography and a certificate from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and then began his career working on geographic information systems in the telecommunications, energy, and defense industries. After serving in the U.S. Army as a Geospatial Engineer, John used the G.I. Bill to earn a Master of Science in the Urban Agglomerations program at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Since then, he has worked on policy issues in the field of community and economic development for local and state governments. John and his wife enjoy the great outdoors in Wisconsin, especially biking along the 400 and Elroy-Sparta state trails.

Geri Radermacher is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Madison with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology and Biological Aspects of Conservation and a Certificate in Environmental Studies. Geri has served as a Water Management Specialist (WMS) in the DNR’s Office of Energy since October 2017. Previously, Geri was a WMS in the Southern District from 2001 to 2017.  They have completed numerous WDNR sponsored training sessions as well as external training sessions on waterway and wetland related topics and utility infrastructure.

Kathy Jennings has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. In her current position in the Bureau of Highway Maintenance at WisDOT, she is involved with reviewing and approving permits for various utilities in WisDOT right-of-way, including electric transmission lines and fiber optic (broadband) cable. Prior to Kathy’s work at WisDOT she worked in the private sector, with 20 years of experience in municipal street and utility design, transportation projects and construction.

Brittany Beyer is a Community Economic Development Specialist with UW Madison, Division of Extension. Brittany brings her decades of experience to the team, with positions that have spanned arts and culture management, economic development, rural prosperity, and community engagement. She is a member of the statewide broadband support team with a focus on Relationship Procurement. Broadband became a focus of her work as the director of Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation (2018-2022), leading her to be named the inaugural Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband (Chair 2020-2022, continued membership) and working as a Senior Broadband Consultant for HealthTech Solutions / Solarity on multiple projects around the country. Brittany is also the recipient of the 2021 Wisconsin Idea Award.

Carah Koch is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Federal Program Officer for Wisconsin.  Carah has over 25 years of experience in federal, regional, and local government, serving in both professional and elected roles. 

Alyssa Kenney is the State Broadband and Digital Equity Director for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. At the Commission since 2019, Alyssa manages the talented team that coordinates the BEAD and Digital Equity program along with numerous state and federal broadband grant programs, the Wisconsin Broadband Map, the State Universal Service Fund and numerous projects and initiatives that support a more connected Wisconsin. Before coming to the Commission Alyssa served as the executive director of a digital equity and community technology focused non-profit. She serves as the Chair of the Madison Public Library Board, and vice-chair of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and serves as Governor Evers designee on the FCC’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. Alyssa is a proud University of Wisconsin-Madison alumna and longtime Wisconsin resident. She was named a Top 25 Doer, Dreamer, and Drivers by Government Technology in 2023. She is passionate about solving wicked problems and connecting people to each other (mostly through great broadband).

Andy Phillips  Andy is the President and CEO of Attolles Law, s.c., where he focuses on assisting counties, school districts and other governmental entities with their most difficult and challenging legal concerns.  He is proud of his service as outside general counsel for the Wisconsin for nearly 20 years and enjoys being a part of the local government family where important policy decisions, impacting real people, are made.

Gail Huycke 

Gail is a Professor of Practice with the University of Wisconsin Extension where she serves as a Broadband Specialist. Gail has 39 years of experience in delivering community outreach programs in family and community economic development. She joined the Broadband Education Center in 2015 serving as Director for the Connected Aging Communities Initiative. Connected Aging Communities is a groundbreaking initiative that’s uses a unique “high tech, high touch” holistic, community development approach to enable aging residents to live independently at home. Gail’s current broadband efforts center heavily on community planning for broadband access. She is a member of the National Digital Extension Education Team and has played a key role in the development of broadband community planning curriculum, training Extension staff at a national level. Gail has developed training materials for the National 4-H Council’s Tech Changemakers- Digital Ambassador program on digital inclusion. Over the last two years, Gail has served as a member of the Wisconsin’s Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. 

Brittany Beyer is a Community Economic Development Specialist with UW Madison, Division of Extension. Brittany brings her decades of experience to the team, with positions that have spanned arts and culture management, economic development, rural prosperity, and community engagement. She is a member of the statewide broadband support team with a focus on Relationship Procurement. Broadband became a focus of her work as the director of Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation (2018-2022), leading her to be named the inaugural Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband (Chair 2020-2022, continued membership) and working as a Senior Broadband Consultant for HealthTech Solutions / Solarity on multiple projects around the country. Brittany is also the recipient of the 2021 Wisconsin Idea Award.

Chris Stark is the Digital Equity Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison, Division of Extension. Based in Eagle River, he is responsible for working with Wisconsin communities to improve broadband access, affordability, and adoption for all Wisconsin residents. A believer in the power of the internet to transform people’s lives, Chris is focused on building the conditions to help all generations of Wisconsinites learn digital skills. 

Prior to taking this role in 2022, Chris was a Community and Economic Development Educator for Vilas and Forest County Extension offices for 10 years. Prior to joining UW- Extension, Chris worked as a NASA Contractor and was a state and local economic development practitioner. 

Jessica Beckendorf is a Community Economic Development Specialst focusing on Broadband Partnerships at UW-Madison Division of Extension. Jessica was facilitator for the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband during its first year, 2020-2021. Her previous roles have spanned the community and economic development spectrum – from Cartographer/GIS to Urban & Regional Planner to AVP of Economic Development. Jessica holds a master of arts degree in Communications & Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, and a bachelor of arts degree in Urban & Regional Studies from UW-Green Bay. 

John graduated from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Geography and a certificate from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and then began his career working on geographic information systems in the telecommunications, energy, and defense industries. After serving in the U.S. Army as a Geospatial Engineer, John used the G.I. Bill to earn a Master of Science in the Urban Agglomerations program at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Since then, he has worked on policy issues in the field of community and economic development for local and state governments. John and his wife enjoy the great outdoors in Wisconsin, especially biking along the 400 and Elroy-Sparta state trails.

Natasha Gwidt is a licensed professional engineer with the state of Wisconsin and has a Bachelors of Civil Engineering degree from Michigan Technological University.  Her experience includes working at WisDOT managing and overseeing various design and construction projects in the NER region including the US41 Mega projects in Brown and Winnebago counties, as well as many environmental projects.  Currently she is the Field Operations Director for the Waste and Materials Management program at DNR where she oversees the implementation of regulations related to solid and hazardous waste.  Additionally, she is the Acting NER Secretary’s Director for the DNR.

Kathy Jennings has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. In her current position in the Bureau of Highway Maintenance at WisDOT, she is involved with reviewing and approving permits for various utilities in WisDOT right-of-way, including electric transmission lines and fiber optic (broadband) cable. Prior to Kathy’s work at WisDOT she worked in the private sector, with 20 years of experience in municipal street and utility design, transportation projects and construction.

Kelly Scarbrough is the Lands Program Manager with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. She has held that position since August 2022 and started with the Forest February 2020 as a Realty Specialist.

Kelly has held federal service positions since 2010 when she joined the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Lewistown, MT under the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) as an Outdoor Recreation Planner. 

She holds an MS in Applied Geospatial Sciences from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.

Barb serves as the President & CEO of New North, Inc., an 18-county regional economic development corporation in northeast Wisconsin whose mission is to be a catalyst for regional prosperity for all through collaborative action. This is done primarily through the creation, implementation, and marketing of regional strategies for business and talent development.

Prior to this role Barb served as Vice President of business and community development for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). In addition to working with companies and communities on growth strategies and investments, she directed Downtown and Minority Business Development and has over 25 years of senior leadership experience in economic development.

Barb holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics from Lakeland University.  She is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a designation granted by the International Economic Development Council that is the industry gold standard for excellence in the profession. She also received her Economic Development Finance Professional certification through the National Development Council.  Barb currently serves on the boards of the Transportation Development Association, the Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation, Wisconsin Procurement Institute, On Broadway District, Wisconsin Innovation Board, and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).  Barb is a Trustee with Lakeland University, a Commissioner with the Brown County Harbor Commission, Board member of UWGB’s Institute for Women’s Leadership and the NEW Manufacturing Alliance, mentor with the Green Bay Packers Mentor Protégé Program, and Advisory Board member of African Heritage, Inc.   Barb recently was named one of the top 275 most influential business leaders in Wisconsin by BizTimes Media and a top 100 Titan for Wisconsin.  She is a recent past president of the Mid-American Economic Development Council (representing 12 Midwestern states) and recent board members with the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, UW Madison Grainger Institute, and the UW-Stevens Point Wisconsin Sustainable Technology Institute (WIST).  Barb has been appointed by governors of both parties to serve on various state commissions.

Barbara Koldos is the Vice President, Business Development at New North Inc., the regional marketing and economic development organization for the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin.

With extensive experience within architecture, engineering and construction firms and a deep history of developing relationships, Barbara leads the organization’s regional business attraction efforts, which includes the site-selection process, marketing of Opportunity Zones, the Gold Shovel site-certification program, and engagement with local partners and real estate professionals to proactively identify and market sites/buildings. She also guides Global New North efforts around Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and export activity, represents the region at trade shows and site selector events, and oversees regional broadband efforts.

A firm believer in being a part of a community versus simply living in it, she serves on a variety of boards, committees, and task forces for the De Pere Area Chamber, Mid-America Economic Development Council, the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband, and is President of ACEL (Asian Corporate + Entrepreneur Leaders) Northeast Wisconsin Chapter. A past recipient of the Greater Green Bay Chamber’s Current Young Professionals’ Future 15 award and named one of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Asian American Leaders, Barbara is a frequent presenter in the region on real estate market trends and her lived Asian American experience.

Barbara holds a bachelor’s degree in business-marketing. She is a member of the Leadership Green Bay Class of 2020, a member of the inaugural class of Leadership Howard-Suamico School District, and a Forward 48 Fall 2022 co-hort alum as well as an emeritus of the Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay Advisory Board.

Brian Leone-Tracy has served as the Executive Director of Fox Valley Literacy since 2019. He has 20 years of experience focused on non-profit operations and fundraising and a Bachelor’s from University of Illinois and a Master’s from University of Southern California. He also served on Fox Valley Literacy’s Board of Directors, assuring a thorough understanding of the organization, its mission and its challenges to provide quality adult educational services without restrictions.

Mike Zuege is the GIS Manager at East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and has been with the Commission for 23 years.  He is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh with a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography.  Mike’s primary duties include representing GIS interests on project teams, coordinating work with planners and staff, developing and maintaining work schedule for GIS division.  Other duties include developing data sets and producing digital maps and graphics for analysis, reports, and presentations. 

Mick O’Malley has been with Nsight for 20 years working in a number of different roles and is currently Director of Sustainability, Government Relations and Project Management. Nsight is parent company of Nsight Telservices & Cellcom. 

Mick is an experienced grant writer and has worked closely with community leaders, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin staff, and internal stakeholders at Nsight to build partnerships and craft successful broadband expansion grant applications in every PSCW broadband grant round since FY2018.

Keri Solis is Marquette County Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator. With a career that began in marketing and communications roles, Keri is known for her ability to take complex topics and break them down into easy-to-understand context, thinking outside the box, and picking up on trends in the very early stages.

With a knack for market research, she has successfully used market insights to make changes to both products and their marketing. These changes resulted in significant increases in sales on multiple product lines throughout her career. Using these same strategies with her current tourism duties, she has also been successful in driving growth in traffic to websites and creating social media content with engagement above industry standards.

Within her economic development duties, she has helped initiate new events, including those for downtown businesses. She has assisted businesses and municipalities with grants and led large county-wide initiatives such as broadband expansion. She has been a resource for communities and entrepreneurs, assisting them with the tools they need for initiatives.

Carah Koch is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Federal Program Officer for Wisconsin.  Carah has over 25 years of experience in federal, regional, and local government, serving in both professional and elected roles. 

Alyssa Kenney is the State Broadband and Digital Equity Director for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. At the Commission since 2019, Alyssa manages the talented team that coordinates the BEAD and Digital Equity program along with numerous state and federal broadband grant programs, the Wisconsin Broadband Map, the State Universal Service Fund and numerous projects and initiatives that support a more connected Wisconsin. Before coming to the Commission Alyssa served as the executive director of a digital equity and community technology focused non-profit. She serves as the Chair of the Madison Public Library Board, and vice-chair of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and serves as Governor Evers designee on the FCC’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. Alyssa is a proud University of Wisconsin-Madison alumna and longtime Wisconsin resident. She was named a Top 25 Doer, Dreamer, and Drivers by Government Technology in 2023. She is passionate about solving wicked problems and connecting people to each other (mostly through great broadband).

Andy Phillips  Andy is the President and CEO of Attolles Law, s.c., where he focuses on assisting counties, school districts and other governmental entities with their most difficult and challenging legal concerns.  He is proud of his service as outside general counsel for the Wisconsin for nearly 20 years and enjoys being a part of the local government family where important policy decisions, impacting real people, are made.

Gail Huycke 

Gail is a Professor of Practice with the University of Wisconsin Extension where she serves as a Broadband Specialist. Gail has 39 years of experience in delivering community outreach programs in family and community economic development. She joined the Broadband Education Center in 2015 serving as Director for the Connected Aging Communities Initiative. Connected Aging Communities is a groundbreaking initiative that’s uses a unique “high tech, high touch” holistic, community development approach to enable aging residents to live independently at home. Gail’s current broadband efforts center heavily on community planning for broadband access. She is a member of the National Digital Extension Education Team and has played a key role in the development of broadband community planning curriculum, training Extension staff at a national level. Gail has developed training materials for the National 4-H Council’s Tech Changemakers- Digital Ambassador program on digital inclusion. Over the last two years, Gail has served as a member of the Wisconsin’s Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. 

Brittany Beyer is a Community Economic Development Specialist with UW Madison, Division of Extension. Brittany brings her decades of experience to the team, with positions that have spanned arts and culture management, economic development, rural prosperity, and community engagement. She is a member of the statewide broadband support team with a focus on Relationship Procurement. Broadband became a focus of her work as the director of Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation (2018-2022), leading her to be named the inaugural Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband (Chair 2020-2022, continued membership) and working as a Senior Broadband Consultant for HealthTech Solutions / Solarity on multiple projects around the country. Brittany is also the recipient of the 2021 Wisconsin Idea Award.

Chris Stark is the Digital Equity Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison, Division of Extension. Based in Eagle River, he is responsible for working with Wisconsin communities to improve broadband access, affordability, and adoption for all Wisconsin residents. A believer in the power of the internet to transform people’s lives, Chris is focused on building the conditions to help all generations of Wisconsinites learn digital skills. 

Prior to taking this role in 2022, Chris was a Community and Economic Development Educator for Vilas and Forest County Extension offices for 10 years. Prior to joining UW- Extension, Chris worked as a NASA Contractor and was a state and local economic development practitioner. 

Jessica Beckendorf is a Community Economic Development Specialst focusing on Broadband Partnerships at UW-Madison Division of Extension. Jessica was facilitator for the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband during its first year, 2020-2021. Her previous roles have spanned the community and economic development spectrum – from Cartographer/GIS to Urban & Regional Planner to AVP of Economic Development. Jessica holds a master of arts degree in Communications & Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, and a bachelor of arts degree in Urban & Regional Studies from UW-Green Bay. 

John graduated from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Geography and a certificate from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and then began his career working on geographic information systems in the telecommunications, energy, and defense industries. After serving in the U.S. Army as a Geospatial Engineer, John used the G.I. Bill to earn a Master of Science in the Urban Agglomerations program at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Since then, he has worked on policy issues in the field of community and economic development for local and state governments. John and his wife enjoy the great outdoors in Wisconsin, especially biking along the 400 and Elroy-Sparta state trails.

Jill Schoen works for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as Director for DNR’s Watershed Management Program.  She is currently serving as acting Secretary’s Director for DNR’s West Central Region based out of the Eau Claire Office.

Kathy Jennings has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. In her current position in the Bureau of Highway Maintenance at WisDOT, she is involved with reviewing and approving permits for various utilities in WisDOT right-of-way, including electric transmission lines and fiber optic (broadband) cable. Prior to Kathy’s work at WisDOT she worked in the private sector, with 20 years of experience in municipal street and utility design, transportation projects and construction.

Chris Hardie has been the CEO of the 7 Rivers Alliance, one of nine regional economic development organizations in Wisconsin, since Sept. 2017. Prior to joining the 7 Rivers in September, Chris was the executive director of the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce for two years. He spent more than 30 years in the newspaper industry as a reporter, editor and publisher, where he was the past president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and has received numerous state and national journalism awards, including being nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2001. He still writes a weekly column published in many state newspapers.

Tamaya is the Executive Director of the Juneau County Economic Development Corporation and has completed nearly a decade of service there.  Her recent initiatives have included broadband expansion, workforce attraction & retention, housing development, inventor & entrepreneur training, childcare services fortification, and government contracting.

A Wisconsin native, Tamaya studied and worked in the Greater Boston Massachusetts area, completing her undergraduate work and Master’s in Business Administration before returning home.  The variety of education and employment she pursued has served her well and cultivated strengths in creative problem-solving, strategic guidance, servant leadership, and relatability to others.

Tamaya also loves spending time with her family and 4 young grandsons.  She maintains a hobby homestead and teaches others about self-reliance and holistic living.

Charlotte is a Community Development educator at La Crosse County Extension.

MaryAnn Lippert has over 30 years’ experience working in and with rural communities.  For 6 years she served as the Wisconsin Governor’s Northern Director, and now consults with rural Central Wisconsin counties and organizations with a focus on broadband access, community capacity building and advocacy.

T.J. Pyzyk is a Broadband Policy and Program Analyst for the Public Service Commission. He was born and raised in Grafton, Wisconsin, and is a proud Badger. He joined the PSC upon completing his master’s degree at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where he focused his studies on digital infrastructure and economic development. Prior to Columbia, he worked in commercial real estate investment and development.

Andy Phillips  Andy is the President and CEO of Attolles Law, s.c., where he focuses on assisting counties, school districts and other governmental entities with their most difficult and challenging legal concerns.  He is proud of his service as outside general counsel for the Wisconsin for nearly 20 years and enjoys being a part of the local government family where important policy decisions, impacting real people, are made.

Gail Huycke 

Gail is a Professor of Practice with the University of Wisconsin Extension where she serves as a Broadband Specialist. Gail has 39 years of experience in delivering community outreach programs in family and community economic development. She joined the Broadband Education Center in 2015 serving as Director for the Connected Aging Communities Initiative. Connected Aging Communities is a groundbreaking initiative that’s uses a unique “high tech, high touch” holistic, community development approach to enable aging residents to live independently at home. Gail’s current broadband efforts center heavily on community planning for broadband access. She is a member of the National Digital Extension Education Team and has played a key role in the development of broadband community planning curriculum, training Extension staff at a national level. Gail has developed training materials for the National 4-H Council’s Tech Changemakers- Digital Ambassador program on digital inclusion. Over the last two years, Gail has served as a member of the Wisconsin’s Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. 

Brittany Beyer is a Community Economic Development Specialist with UW Madison, Division of Extension. Brittany brings her decades of experience to the team, with positions that have spanned arts and culture management, economic development, rural prosperity, and community engagement. She is a member of the statewide broadband support team with a focus on Relationship Procurement. Broadband became a focus of her work as the director of Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation (2018-2022), leading her to be named the inaugural Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband (Chair 2020-2022, continued membership) and working as a Senior Broadband Consultant for HealthTech Solutions / Solarity on multiple projects around the country. Brittany is also the recipient of the 2021 Wisconsin Idea Award.

Chris Stark is the Digital Equity Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison, Division of Extension. Based in Eagle River, he is responsible for working with Wisconsin communities to improve broadband access, affordability, and adoption for all Wisconsin residents. A believer in the power of the internet to transform people’s lives, Chris is focused on building the conditions to help all generations of Wisconsinites learn digital skills. 

Prior to taking this role in 2022, Chris was a Community and Economic Development Educator for Vilas and Forest County Extension offices for 10 years. Prior to joining UW- Extension, Chris worked as a NASA Contractor and was a state and local economic development practitioner. 

Jessica Beckendorf is a Community Economic Development Specialst focusing on Broadband Partnerships at UW-Madison Division of Extension. Jessica was facilitator for the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband during its first year, 2020-2021. Her previous roles have spanned the community and economic development spectrum – from Cartographer/GIS to Urban & Regional Planner to AVP of Economic Development. Jessica holds a master of arts degree in Communications & Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, and a bachelor of arts degree in Urban & Regional Studies from UW-Green Bay. 

John graduated from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Geography and a certificate from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and then began his career working on geographic information systems in the telecommunications, energy, and defense industries. After serving in the U.S. Army as a Geospatial Engineer, John used the G.I. Bill to earn a Master of Science in the Urban Agglomerations program at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Since then, he has worked on policy issues in the field of community and economic development for local and state governments. John and his wife enjoy the great outdoors in Wisconsin, especially biking along the 400 and Elroy-Sparta state trails.

Kathy Jennings has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. In her current position in the Bureau of Highway Maintenance at WisDOT, she is involved with reviewing and approving permits for various utilities in WisDOT right-of-way, including electric transmission lines and fiber optic (broadband) cable. Prior to Kathy’s work at WisDOT she worked in the private sector, with 20 years of experience in municipal street and utility design, transportation projects and construction.

Kelly Scarbrough is the Lands Program Manager with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. She has held that position since August 2022 and started with the Forest February 2020 as a Realty Specialist.

Kelly has held federal service positions since 2010 when she joined the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Lewistown, MT under the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) as an Outdoor Recreation Planner. 

She holds an MS in Applied Geospatial Sciences from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.

John Robinson has been a member of the Marathon County Board of Supervisors since 2006.  He is currently the chair of the Human Resources, Finance and Property Committee and the Marathon County Broadband Task Force.  He and his wife Mary live in Wausau.

Justin Huebner, CPA.CITP
Justin is the General Manager at Solarus. He transitioned into this role in early 2017 after sixteen years in a consultative environment at Kiesling Associates. His extensive experience coaching telecoms through a host of financial, regulatory and tax projects has fostered a keen sense for economic growth and strategy development. Now part of the operative team environment, he’s excited to have the breadth of shared knowledge, experience and resources to execute on that strategy. Justin exudes a genuine passion for all things technological – that he says can even be evidenced in his family life, where his wife, Stefanie, and children Greta and Oliver, are often “forced” to be test subjects of his most recent discoveries.

Jason Grueneberg has served Wood County government for 26 years. As the director of Wood County Planning & Zoning, Jason has expertise in economic development, planning and development services.

Gerry leads an IT team that supports Marathon County, the City of Wausau, North Central Health Care and law enforcement agencies in Marathon County.   Gerry has been working with the various county broadband task forces since 2009 on broadband planning.   He worked with the local technical college in 2010 to build 11 miles of urban fiber connecting 20+ community anchor institutions.  Today, the Wausau Community Area Network is still going strong!

Carah Koch is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Federal Program Officer for Wisconsin.  Carah has over 25 years of experience in federal, regional, and local government, serving in both professional and elected roles. 

Rory Tikalsky is manager of the Wisconsin Broadband Office (WBO) and is responsible for overseeing grantmaking, outreach, mapping, and planning efforts to make high speed internet accessible and affordable for all Wisconsinites. Rory has a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining WBO, Rory worked in budget management and policy development for the Wisconsin Legislature. 

Sheldon Johnson is the Executive Director of Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NWRPC), a ten-county regional planning organization located in Spooner, Wisconsin. Mr. Johnson has been with NWRPC since 1994 working with local units of government, tribal nations, and community organizations on a wide range of community development projects, such as comprehensive planning, grant writing, technical assistance, tax increment district creation, housing rehabilitation administration, transportation planning, and recycling responsible unit administration.

Crystal Rohde is a Business Development Specialist at Northwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and serves as the Administrator to the Visions Northwest Regional Economic Development Organization. She works closely with local government, economic development partners, communities, and businesses, aiming to enhance the economic vitality of our region. She has extensive experience in assisting multiple planning and economic development projects with research, development, and implementation. A graduate of Chippewa Valley Technical College, Crystal grew up in Northwest Wisconsin and is proud to serve the communities she has called home for most of her life.

Andy Phillips  Andy is the President and CEO of Attolles Law, s.c., where he focuses on assisting counties, school districts and other governmental entities with their most difficult and challenging legal concerns.  He is proud of his service as outside general counsel for the Wisconsin for nearly 20 years and enjoys being a part of the local government family where important policy decisions, impacting real people, are made.

Gail Huycke 

Gail is a Professor of Practice with the University of Wisconsin Extension where she serves as a Broadband Specialist. Gail has 39 years of experience in delivering community outreach programs in family and community economic development. She joined the Broadband Education Center in 2015 serving as Director for the Connected Aging Communities Initiative. Connected Aging Communities is a groundbreaking initiative that’s uses a unique “high tech, high touch” holistic, community development approach to enable aging residents to live independently at home. Gail’s current broadband efforts center heavily on community planning for broadband access. She is a member of the National Digital Extension Education Team and has played a key role in the development of broadband community planning curriculum, training Extension staff at a national level. Gail has developed training materials for the National 4-H Council’s Tech Changemakers- Digital Ambassador program on digital inclusion. Over the last two years, Gail has served as a member of the Wisconsin’s Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. 

Brittany Beyer is a Community Economic Development Specialist with UW Madison, Division of Extension. Brittany brings her decades of experience to the team, with positions that have spanned arts and culture management, economic development, rural prosperity, and community engagement. She is a member of the statewide broadband support team with a focus on Relationship Procurement. Broadband became a focus of her work as the director of Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation (2018-2022), leading her to be named the inaugural Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband (Chair 2020-2022, continued membership) and working as a Senior Broadband Consultant for HealthTech Solutions / Solarity on multiple projects around the country. Brittany is also the recipient of the 2021 Wisconsin Idea Award.

Chris Stark is the Digital Equity Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison, Division of Extension. Based in Eagle River, he is responsible for working with Wisconsin communities to improve broadband access, affordability, and adoption for all Wisconsin residents. A believer in the power of the internet to transform people’s lives, Chris is focused on building the conditions to help all generations of Wisconsinites learn digital skills. 

Prior to taking this role in 2022, Chris was a Community and Economic Development Educator for Vilas and Forest County Extension offices for 10 years. Prior to joining UW- Extension, Chris worked as a NASA Contractor and was a state and local economic development practitioner. 

John graduated from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Geography and a certificate from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and then began his career working on geographic information systems in the telecommunications, energy, and defense industries. After serving in the U.S. Army as a Geospatial Engineer, John used the G.I. Bill to earn a Master of Science in the Urban Agglomerations program at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Since then, he has worked on policy issues in the field of community and economic development for local and state governments. John and his wife enjoy the great outdoors in Wisconsin, especially biking along the 400 and Elroy-Sparta state trails.

James Yach comes to the DNR from the Department of Workforce Development where he was a district director before being named the DNR’s northern region Secretary’s Director in July of 2017. Prior to joining the State of Wisconsin, James retired from the United States Navy after serving on active duty for over 20 years as a Naval Aviator at multiple duty stations across the country and abroad.

A Wisconsin native, James was born and raised in Stevens Point and has a degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego, and currently resides in Rhinelander. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, enjoying many outdoor activities and spending time at his lakefront property in Presque Isle, though his great passion is musky fishing.

Kathy Jennings has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. In her current position in the Bureau of Highway Maintenance at WisDOT, she is involved with reviewing and approving permits for various utilities in WisDOT right-of-way, including electric transmission lines and fiber optic (broadband) cable. Prior to Kathy’s work at WisDOT she worked in the private sector, with 20 years of experience in municipal street and utility design, transportation projects and construction.

Kelly Scarbrough is the Lands Program Manager with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. She has held that position since August 2022 and started with the Forest February 2020 as a Realty Specialist.

Kelly has held federal service positions since 2010 when she joined the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Lewistown, MT under the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) as an Outdoor Recreation Planner. 

She holds an MS in Applied Geospatial Sciences from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.

Bill Niemuth is President of Loss Mitigation Solutions, a Boulder Junction-based consultancy providing Security Management, Business Resiliency, and Special Project services to Fortune 500 and other organizations.  As a volunteer and resident of Boulder Junction, Bill serves as Vice Chair of Boulder Junction’s High-Speed Broadband Committee where he has played a critical role in getting high-speed broadband service to each home and business throughout the Town.

Stephanie Becken is the Broadband Manager for ConnectSuperior, the City of Superior’s broadband utility. With a master’s degree in public and nonprofit administration, she brings experience from various city roles, including in the Planning and Economic Development department and the Clerk’s office. Stephanie resides in Douglas County with her family.

Bill Kurtz hold an engineering degree and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and has been part of Norvado for 1.5 years as the Director of Engineering and Construction.  In this role, Bill manages significant telecommunications infrastructure projects across Northern Wisconsin, leveraging advanced tools like Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, PowerBI, monday.com, and ArcGIS to enhance operational efficiencies and connectivity.  His responsibilities also include drafting and executing contracts, analyzing legal documents, and preparing detailed reports for the CEO and the Board of Directors.

Mari Kay-Nabozny is a workforce development professional who collaborates with non-profit organizations, municipalities, and other entities to grow the regional economy and connect employers to workers and vice-versa. After spending seven years working as the Chief Information Officer for the Wisconsin Workforce Development Association, Mari knows the hard work and creativity necessary to successfully implement impactful  workforce solutions across Wisconsin. Mari has served as the C.E.O. of the Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board since 2012 and continues to pursue innovation and inspiration in every aspect of  the Board’s work.

Michael Bub from Medford WI.  I’m a member of the Taylor County Board of Supervisors and the Medford City Council.  I graduated from UW- Lacrosse with Bachelor of Science degree with a Computer Science major.  Early in my career I world for 3 companies.  Primarily starting in 1985 I worked for Tombstone Pizza, Kraft Pizza and Nestle Pizza Division.  My focus was developing handheld Computer systems for our sales force.  The handhelds used wireless communication to transmit customer sales and orders.  I’m currently the Chair person of the Taylor County Broadband Committee.

Gail Huycke 

Gail is a Professor of Practice with the University of Wisconsin Extension where she serves as a Broadband Specialist. Gail has 39 years of experience in delivering community outreach programs in family and community economic development. She joined the Broadband Education Center in 2015 serving as Director for the Connected Aging Communities Initiative. Connected Aging Communities is a groundbreaking initiative that’s uses a unique “high tech, high touch” holistic, community development approach to enable aging residents to live independently at home. Gail’s current broadband efforts center heavily on community planning for broadband access. She is a member of the National Digital Extension Education Team and has played a key role in the development of broadband community planning curriculum, training Extension staff at a national level. Gail has developed training materials for the National 4-H Council’s Tech Changemakers- Digital Ambassador program on digital inclusion. Over the last two years, Gail has served as a member of the Wisconsin’s Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. 

Chris Straight is a Senior Planner with West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission based in Eau Claire.  As a regional planner, he provides counties and communities with a diversity of traditional community development support ranging from comprehensive planning and grantwriting to watershed planning, hazard mitigation and economic development.  In 2010-2011, Chris participated on the regional and state steering committees for the PSC’s Broadband Investment Planning effort.  Since then, he has assisted communities with broadband analysis, continues to facilitate regular meetings of the West Central Wisconsin Broadband Alliance, and serves as a regional liaison on the PSC’s Broadband Stakeholder Workgroup.

Carah Koch is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Federal Program Officer for Wisconsin.  Carah has over 25 years of experience in federal, regional, and local government, serving in both professional and elected roles. 

Matt Marcus is the Broadband Policy Lead at the Wisconsin Broadband Office (WBO) and is responsible for leading the design, planning, and implementation of broadband-related policy projects that span multiple state and federal programs. Matt has a Master’s degree in International Public Affairs from the La Follette School at UW-Madison and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from CUNY Hunter College. Prior to joining the WBO, Matt worked in broadband-related policy and advocacy roles with the New America Foundation Open Technology Institute and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. 

John graduated from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Geography and a certificate from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and then began his career working on geographic information systems in the telecommunications, energy, and defense industries. After serving in the U.S. Army as a Geospatial Engineer, John used the G.I. Bill to earn a Master of Science in the Urban Agglomerations program at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Since then, he has worked on policy issues in the field of community and economic development for local and state governments. John and his wife enjoy the great outdoors in Wisconsin, especially biking along the 400 and Elroy-Sparta state trails.

Andy Phillips  Andy is the President and CEO of Attolles Law, s.c., where he focuses on assisting counties, school districts and other governmental entities with their most difficult and challenging legal concerns.  He is proud of his service as outside general counsel for the Wisconsin for nearly 20 years and enjoys being a part of the local government family where important policy decisions, impacting real people, are made.

Kathy Jennings has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. In her current position in the Bureau of Highway Maintenance at WisDOT, she is involved with reviewing and approving permits for various utilities in WisDOT right-of-way, including electric transmission lines and fiber optic (broadband) cable. Prior to Kathy’s work at WisDOT she worked in the private sector, with 20 years of experience in municipal street and utility design, transportation projects and construction.

Dave Rozeboom is the Deputy Regional Director for the West Central Region at DNR. He has been with the department for 23 years, the first 22 as a Hydrogeologist and supervisor in the Remediation and Redevelopment program.

Kelly Scarbrough is the Lands Program Manager with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. She has held that position since August 2022 and started with the Forest February 2020 as a Realty Specialist.

Kelly has held federal service positions since 2010 when she joined the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Lewistown, MT under the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) as an Outdoor Recreation Planner. 

She holds an MS in Applied Geospatial Sciences from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.

Tyler has been at Citizens Connected for 4 years where he is currently the Engineering Manager.  He has been in the telecommunications industry for 18 years having various roles within the industry but mainly focusing on outside plant.  He manages several telecommunications projects in Northwest WI, of which some of the responsibilities include design, executing contracts, permitting, and construction management using various software, tools, and techniques.

Brittany Beyer is a Community Economic Development Specialist with UW Madison, Division of Extension. Brittany brings her decades of experience to the team, with positions that have spanned arts and culture management, economic development, rural prosperity, and community engagement. She is a member of the statewide broadband support team with a focus on Relationship Procurement. Broadband became a focus of her work as the director of Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation (2018-2022), leading her to be named the inaugural Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband (Chair 2020-2022, continued membership) and working as a Senior Broadband Consultant for HealthTech Solutions / Solarity on multiple projects around the country. Brittany is also the recipient of the 2021 Wisconsin Idea Award.

Chris Stark is the Digital Equity Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison, Division of Extension. Based in Eagle River, he is responsible for working with Wisconsin communities to improve broadband access, affordability, and adoption for all Wisconsin residents. A believer in the power of the internet to transform people’s lives, Chris is focused on building the conditions to help all generations of Wisconsinites learn digital skills. 

Prior to taking this role in 2022, Chris was a Community and Economic Development Educator for Vilas and Forest County Extension offices for 10 years. Prior to joining UW- Extension, Chris worked as a NASA Contractor and was a state and local economic development practitioner. 

Cliff Albertson has served rural telecom for 55 years and currently is the Polk County Broadband Consultant, Momentum West Broadband Outreach Coordinator & Co-chair of the West Central Wisconsin Broadband Alliance.

Amber Scharenbroch is the Community Impact Director for the Digital Equity & Inclusion Initiative at United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley (UWGCV). She oversees a variety of digital inclusion programming that connects individuals in need with quality and affordable internet service, devices, digital literacy training, and technical support. She works closely with 35+ partners in the Chippewa Valley that are working together to bridge the digital divide. Recently, UWGCV and several partners established a Chippewa Valley Digital Inclusion Partnership to increase digital inclusion collaboration and resource sharing. Amber is a strong believer that broadband access is a creator of opportunities. She is very passionate about meeting each individual where they are to address their unique learning goals and needs.

Dairyland Power Coop

Gail Huycke 

Gail is a Professor of Practice with the University of Wisconsin Extension where she serves as a Broadband Specialist. Gail has 39 years of experience in delivering community outreach programs in family and community economic development. She joined the Broadband Education Center in 2015 serving as Director for the Connected Aging Communities Initiative. Connected Aging Communities is a groundbreaking initiative that’s uses a unique “high tech, high touch” holistic, community development approach to enable aging residents to live independently at home. Gail’s current broadband efforts center heavily on community planning for broadband access. She is a member of the National Digital Extension Education Team and has played a key role in the development of broadband community planning curriculum, training Extension staff at a national level. Gail has developed training materials for the National 4-H Council’s Tech Changemakers- Digital Ambassador program on digital inclusion. Over the last two years, Gail has served as a member of the Wisconsin’s Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. 

Steve Maier is the Vice-Chair of the Langlade County Board.

Carah Koch is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Federal Program Officer for Wisconsin.  Carah has over 25 years of experience in federal, regional, and local government, serving in both professional and elected roles. 

Alyssa Kenney is the State Broadband and Digital Equity Director for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. At the Commission since 2019, Alyssa manages the talented team that coordinates the BEAD and Digital Equity program along with numerous state and federal broadband grant programs, the Wisconsin Broadband Map, the State Universal Service Fund and numerous projects and initiatives that support a more connected Wisconsin. Before coming to the Commission Alyssa served as the executive director of a digital equity and community technology focused non-profit. She serves as the Chair of the Madison Public Library Board, and vice-chair of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and serves as Governor Evers designee on the FCC’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. Alyssa is a proud University of Wisconsin-Madison alumna and longtime Wisconsin resident. She was named a Top 25 Doer, Dreamer, and Drivers by Government Technology in 2023. She is passionate about solving wicked problems and connecting people to each other (mostly through great broadband).

John graduated from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Geography and a certificate from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and then began his career working on geographic information systems in the telecommunications, energy, and defense industries. After serving in the U.S. Army as a Geospatial Engineer, John used the G.I. Bill to earn a Master of Science in the Urban Agglomerations program at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Since then, he has worked on policy issues in the field of community and economic development for local and state governments. John and his wife enjoy the great outdoors in Wisconsin, especially biking along the 400 and Elroy-Sparta state trails.

Andy Phillips  Andy is the President and CEO of Attolles Law, s.c., where he focuses on assisting counties, school districts and other governmental entities with their most difficult and challenging legal concerns.  He is proud of his service as outside general counsel for the Wisconsin for nearly 20 years and enjoys being a part of the local government family where important policy decisions, impacting real people, are made.

Kathy Jennings has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. In her current position in the Bureau of Highway Maintenance at WisDOT, she is involved with reviewing and approving permits for various utilities in WisDOT right-of-way, including electric transmission lines and fiber optic (broadband) cable. Prior to Kathy’s work at WisDOT she worked in the private sector, with 20 years of experience in municipal street and utility design, transportation projects and construction.

James Yach comes to the DNR from the Department of Workforce Development where he was a district director before being named the DNR’s northern region Secretary’s Director in July of 2017. Prior to joining the State of Wisconsin, James retired from the United States Navy after serving on active duty for over 20 years as a Naval Aviator at multiple duty stations across the country and abroad.

A Wisconsin native, James was born and raised in Stevens Point and has a degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego, and currently resides in Rhinelander. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, enjoying many outdoor activities and spending time at his lakefront property in Presque Isle, though his great passion is musky fishing.

Kelly Scarbrough is the Lands Program Manager with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. She has held that position since August 2022 and started with the Forest February 2020 as a Realty Specialist.

Kelly has held federal service positions since 2010 when she joined the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Lewistown, MT under the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) as an Outdoor Recreation Planner. 

She holds an MS in Applied Geospatial Sciences from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.

Jessica Beckendorf is a Community Economic Development Specialist focusing on Broadband Partnerships at UW-Madison Division of Extension. Jessica was facilitator for the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband during its first year, 2020-2021. Her previous roles have spanned the community and economic development spectrum – from Cartographer/GIS to Urban & Regional Planner to AVP of Economic Development. Jessica holds a master of arts degree in Communications & Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, and a bachelor of arts degree in Urban & Regional Studies from UW-Green Bay.

Chris Stark is the Digital Equity Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison, Division of Extension. Based in Eagle River, he is responsible for working with Wisconsin communities to improve broadband access, affordability, and adoption for all Wisconsin residents. A believer in the power of the internet to transform people’s lives, Chris is focused on building the conditions to help all generations of Wisconsinites learn digital skills. 

Prior to taking this role in 2022, Chris was a Community and Economic Development Educator for Vilas and Forest County Extension offices for 10 years. Prior to joining UW- Extension, Chris worked as a NASA Contractor and was a state and local economic development practitioner. 

Brittany Beyer is a Community Economic Development Specialist with UW Madison, Division of Extension. Brittany brings her decades of experience to the team, with positions that have spanned arts and culture management, economic development, rural prosperity, and community engagement. She is a member of the statewide broadband support team with a focus on Relationship Procurement. Broadband became a focus of her work as the director of Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation (2018-2022), leading her to be named the inaugural Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband (Chair 2020-2022, continued membership) and working as a Senior Broadband Consultant for HealthTech Solutions / Solarity on multiple projects around the country. Brittany is also the recipient of the 2021 Wisconsin Idea Award.

Angie Close serves as the Executive Director of Economic Development for Langlade County, leveraging her passion for nurturing growth and prosperity within Langlade County. With a keen focus on cultivating an entrepreneurship-driven economy, Angie spearheads initiatives to empower local businesses and foster sustainable development. Beyond her executive role, she spearheads transformative endeavors like chairing the Langlade County Broadband Commission to bring connectivity to all, she leads the Langlade County Child Taskforce Committee, advocating for the well-being of the county’s youth and workforce needs. Angie’s influence extends regionally as President of the Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation and sits on both the Northcentral Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and Workforce Development Board where she fosters collaboration and prosperity throughout northern Wisconsin.

Through her leadership, Angie is dedicated to building strong partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and community stakeholders to drive sustainable economic development and improve the quality of life for residents.

Drawing from 35 years of operational leadership within the pulp and paper manufacturing sector across the Midwest and East Coast, Jeff has solidified his reputation as a seasoned Manufacturing Executive. Retiring from the paper industry in 2019, Jeff transitioned into the role of Executive Director at the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC), all while maintaining his consultancy in manufacturing. Within OCEDC, Jeff has spearheaded initiatives dedicated to enhancing broadband accessibility throughout Oneida County. Understanding the pivotal role of broadband in catalyzing economic prosperity, Jeff passionately advocates for its expansion as a foundational driver of sustainable economic growth.

Tommy Wartman is the Newly appointed Executive Director at Grow North Regional Economic Development; in addition to this, he currently administers the Small Business Administration’s Community Navigator Pilot Program Federal Grant which is an effort to connect small businesses with resources of all kinds. Tommy has undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Business Management from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Tommy’s professional background features companies of all sizes, but he has spent the majority of his time at smaller firms and entrepreneurial ventures. Most recently, he has been involved with an effort in the Northwoods called The GRID which stands for Guiding Rural Innovation and Development, and is committed to finding ways to engage with entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

Steve Huelsmann has been with Design Nine for 32 years starting off as an Engineer Tech/Draftsman and now Vice President- Secretary of Design Nine. Design Nine has been in the railroad engineering business since 1986. We started assisting utility companies last year with utility permit applications to railroads partly from our relationship with another engineering company that reviews permit applications on behalf of a couple of railroads, and partly from our extensive experience of working with railroads across the country and understanding their requirements and way of doing business.

Gail Huycke 

Gail is a Professor of Practice with the University of Wisconsin Extension where she serves as a Broadband Specialist. Gail has 39 years of experience in delivering community outreach programs in family and community economic development. She joined the Broadband Education Center in 2015 serving as Director for the Connected Aging Communities Initiative. Connected Aging Communities is a groundbreaking initiative that’s uses a unique “high tech, high touch” holistic, community development approach to enable aging residents to live independently at home. Gail’s current broadband efforts center heavily on community planning for broadband access. She is a member of the National Digital Extension Education Team and has played a key role in the development of broadband community planning curriculum, training Extension staff at a national level. Gail has developed training materials for the National 4-H Council’s Tech Changemakers- Digital Ambassador program on digital inclusion. Over the last two years, Gail has served as a member of the Wisconsin’s Governor’s Task Force on Broadband. 

Carah Koch is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Federal Program Officer for Wisconsin.  Carah has over 25 years of experience in federal, regional, and local government, serving in both professional and elected roles. 

Matt Marcus is the Broadband Policy Lead at the Wisconsin Broadband Office (WBO) and is responsible for leading the design, planning, and implementation of broadband-related policy projects that span multiple state and federal programs. Matt has a Master’s degree in International Public Affairs from the La Follette School at UW-Madison and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from CUNY Hunter College. Prior to joining the WBO, Matt worked in broadband-related policy and advocacy roles with the New America Foundation Open Technology Institute and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. 

John graduated from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Geography and a certificate from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and then began his career working on geographic information systems in the telecommunications, energy, and defense industries. After serving in the U.S. Army as a Geospatial Engineer, John used the G.I. Bill to earn a Master of Science in the Urban Agglomerations program at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Since then, he has worked on policy issues in the field of community and economic development for local and state governments. John and his wife enjoy the great outdoors in Wisconsin, especially biking along the 400 and Elroy-Sparta state trails.

Andy Phillips  Andy is the President and CEO of Attolles Law, s.c., where he focuses on assisting counties, school districts and other governmental entities with their most difficult and challenging legal concerns.  He is proud of his service as outside general counsel for the Wisconsin for nearly 20 years and enjoys being a part of the local government family where important policy decisions, impacting real people, are made.

Kathy Jennings has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. In her current position in the Bureau of Highway Maintenance at WisDOT, she is involved with reviewing and approving permits for various utilities in WisDOT right-of-way, including electric transmission lines and fiber optic (broadband) cable. Prior to Kathy’s work at WisDOT she worked in the private sector, with 20 years of experience in municipal street and utility design, transportation projects and construction.

Jessica Beckendorf is a Community Economic Development Specialst focusing on Broadband Partnerships at UW-Madison Division of Extension. Jessica was facilitator for the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband during its first year, 2020-2021. Her previous roles have spanned the community and economic development spectrum – from Cartographer/GIS to Urban & Regional Planner to AVP of Economic Development. Jessica holds a master of arts degree in Communications & Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, and a bachelor of arts degree in Urban & Regional Studies from UW-Green Bay. 

Chris Stark is the Digital Equity Outreach Specialist for UW-Madison, Division of Extension. Based in Eagle River, he is responsible for working with Wisconsin communities to improve broadband access, affordability, and adoption for all Wisconsin residents. A believer in the power of the internet to transform people’s lives, Chris is focused on building the conditions to help all generations of Wisconsinites learn digital skills. 

Prior to taking this role in 2022, Chris was a Community and Economic Development Educator for Vilas and Forest County Extension offices for 10 years. Prior to joining UW- Extension, Chris worked as a NASA Contractor and was a state and local economic development practitioner. 

Brittany Beyer is a Community Economic Development Specialist with UW Madison, Division of Extension. Brittany brings her decades of experience to the team, with positions that have spanned arts and culture management, economic development, rural prosperity, and community engagement. She is a member of the statewide broadband support team with a focus on Relationship Procurement. Broadband became a focus of her work as the director of Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation (2018-2022), leading her to be named the inaugural Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband (Chair 2020-2022, continued membership) and working as a Senior Broadband Consultant for HealthTech Solutions / Solarity on multiple projects around the country. Brittany is also the recipient of the 2021 Wisconsin Idea Award.

Melanie Platt-Gibson, Sauk County Economic Development Director, handles development for Sauk County in government relations, economic, community and business development, brand and special projects. She is a life-long resident of Sauk County. With her extensive experience in branding, government, economic development and areas like strategic planning, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the position.

Steve Huelsmann has been with Design Nine for 32 years starting off as an Engineer Tech/Draftsman and now Vice President- Secretary of Design Nine. Design Nine has been in the railroad engineering business since 1986. We started assisting utility companies last year with utility permit applications to railroads partly from our relationship with another engineering company that reviews permit applications on behalf of a couple of railroads, and partly from our extensive experience of working with railroads across the country and understanding their requirements and way of doing business.