Board of Directors

Overall Responsibilities
The GMCVB Board is responsible for governing the Bureau, the direction of its work and the control of its property. The Board shall review and direct all Bureau policies and assume responsibility for directing its finances and affairs. The Board has the authority to dispose of and acquire property, to invest funds and to incur indebtedness. Board members are responsible for conveying information about the GMCVB back to their respective companies or designated organizations.

Retiring Directors - April 2008
The GMCVB would like to thank the following board members for their service to our organization, to their community and to our great destination.

Steve Bartlett, 1996 – 2008, Capital Investment Partner’s
Diane Buchanan, 2004-2008, Monona Catering/Madison Chapter of Wisconsin Restaurant Association
Jim Davis, 2006-2008, Crowne Plaza/Madison Chapter of the Innkeepers Association
Steve Fleischman, served on the board 2000-2008- was treasurer from 2006-2008, MMoCA
Mike Liautaud, 2004-2008, Milio’s
Thuy Pham-Remmele, 2007-2008, District 20 Alderperson/City of Madison Common Council Appointee

Current GMCVB Board of Directors:

Deb Archer
GMCVB
Board Position: President/CEO

Since April of 1995, Deb has been at the helm of the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau. Deb previously held the positions of VP of Convention Sales at the GMCVB, Associate Director of Sales at the CVB of Greater Kansas City and CEO of the Park City, Utah Chamber of Commerce/Convention & Visitors Bureau. Deb’s professional affiliations include PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association, WSAE (Wisconsin Society of Association Executives) and ASAE (American Society of Association Executives). Deb is also a member of DMAI (Destination Management Association International)and serves on its Board of Directors. She currently chairs the Governor's Council on Tourism and is also an Instructor of Destination Management at Madison Area Technical College. Deb holds a B.A. degree in Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management from Michigan State University. Community activities include Rotary, TEMPO-Madison and serving on the board of the Black Hawk Council of Girl Scouts. A native of Lake Forest, Illinois, Deb is actively involved with her church and enjoys walking and spending time with her family – husband Dean, VP Meetings & Special Events at CUNA, and daughter Jenna.

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Wayne Glowac
President and Founder, Glowac+Harris+Madison, Inc
Board Position: Chairman

Wayne was born in Illinois and graduated from Northern Illinois University earning a BS in Journalism. Wayne is currently a member of the Madison Advertising Federation, Council of Independent Managers (CIM), Marketing Agency Communications Network (MCAN), and the Madison Area Builders Assn. He also teaches at the UW School of Business-Extension. Wayne enjoys biking, boating and photography. He and his wife, Laurie, have three children, Preston, Taylor and Connor.

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William Haight
President, Magna Publications/InBusiness
Board Position: Vice Chair

Bill, a native of Madison, is founder and president of Magna Publications, Inc., a producer of periodicals and conferences for higher education institutions. In 1988, Magna acquired the business magazine, In Business. Bill also serves as a member of the Mendota Gridiron Board. In 2001, Bill received the Madison Advertising Federation's Silver Medal Award for "Lifetime contributions to the field of advertising" Bill enjoys his home on Lake Mendota with his wife, Nancy, and their three children, Will, Vicki and Ginnay.

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Joel Weitz
Owner, President & PGA Professional, Vitense Golfland
Board Position: Treasurer

Joel, the owner and president of Vitense Golfland, a family-based recreation business founded by his grandfather, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since 1996, he has been a member of the Professional Golfers' Association of America, and in 2003 he was elected to the President's Council. Joel also presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Madison Junior Golf Foundation and is a member of Wisconsin PGA Golf Services, Inc., Wisconsin State Golf Association, and Wisconsin Golf Superintendents Association.

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Jeanette Riechers
Owner, Cornblooms & Heartland Birkenstock
Board Position: Secretary

After earning a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication at UW-Madison, Jeanette spent over a decade at a Madison publishing company as the editor of a monthly magazine circulated nationally to restaurant owners and operators. She then joined a Madison-based advertising and public relations agency where, as vice president and associate director-public relations, she worked with a variety of national clients. In 1999, she and her husband, Larry, purchased the long-established Madison shoe store, Cornblooms, located at Hilldale Shopping Center. Two years later, they opened a second shoe store, Heartland Birkenstock, located on Madison’s famed State Street. Their son David attends UW-Madison, and son Michael is a student at Madison East High School.

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Tom Ziarnik, CHA
Director of Hotel Operations, Neviaser Investments
Board Position: Immediate Past Chair

Tom has been a member of the GMCVB board since the mid-1990s and is currently serving as Board Chairman, Tom is a CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator) and a CFBE (Certified Food & Beverage Executive), as well as a member of the Wisconsin Innkeepers Association and the American Hotel/Motel Assn. Tom also serves on the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Board and the Workforce board of south central Wisconsin. A native of Manitowoc Wisconsin, Tom is an alum of the MATC Hotel-Restaurant Management Program at MATC. Tom is married to Mary and his interests include fishing, golf, skiing and snowmobiling.

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James Bradley, Jr.
President, Home Savings Bank

Jim is a native of Madison, having earned a Bachelors of Business Administration degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jim is very active in several community-based initiatives, and is an acknowledged leader in several efforts associated with Madison’s strong eco-friendly culture. He is a board member of Downtown Madison, Inc., Sustain Dane, Center for Resilient Cities, and National W Club. Jim has served as Race Director of Crazylegs Classic for over 20 years, and enjoys biking around the picturesque and rolling hills of Dane County. He and his wife Libby have three children and live in Madison.

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Dawn Crim
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Acting Special Assistant to the Chancellor, Director of Community Relations

Dawn was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and earned her BA degree in Rhetoric and Communications at the University of Virginia. Dawn also earned her Masters of Education/ Counselor Education from The Pennsylvania State University. Dawn is a Founding Member of Madison Network of Black Professionals, President of UNITY, Co-chair City of Madison Joint West Campus Area Committee, and a member of Rotary Club of Madison. In 2006, Dawn was named as one of In Business Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40. Her interests include sports, reading and travel. Dawn is married to UW faculty member Dr. Elton J. Crim Jr and they have two children, John and Danielle.

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Chris Eigenberger
Adams Outdoor Advertising

Chris is the General Manager of Adams Outdoor Advertising and part owner of Steve's Liquor & More. He presently serves as Vice President of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Wisconsin and is a member of the Henry Vilas Zoological Society Board of Directors. Chris has also served on the Board of Directors for the Madison Advertising Federation and the Epilepsy Foundation. In 2004, Mr. Eigenberger received the Adams Outdoor Advertising Wings Award for Excellence recognizing Chris’ leadership within the Madison market and the entire Adams organization. A University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point graduate, Chris' family includes wife Karen and their two daughters Delaney and Isabel. He enjoys golfing, cooking and travel.

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Mary Feldt
Park Towne Management

Mary is currently President/CEO of Park Towne Management, Inc., a family owned Madison- based Real Estate Company. Park Towne has been developing real estate in south central Wisconsin for over forty years. Currently Park Towne is developing their most innovative development yet, Conservancy Place. Mary is also Vice President of Park Towne Development Corporation.

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John Kavanaugh, Sr.
Owner, Kavanaugh Esquire Club
Board Position: Appointee, Dane County Tavern League

John Kavanaugh has represented the Dane County Tavern League on the GMCVB Board of Directors since 1996. John has served as the Board’s Treasurer and Secretary. His professional affiliations include active participation in the National Restaurant Association, Wisconsin Restaurant Association, Dane County Tavern League and Northside Business Association. John is a certified FMP (Food Management Professional). The Esquire Club has received the “Restaurant of the Year - Small Business Award” and the National Restaurant Association “Grassroots Leader” award. He is active in several service clubs, including Northeast Optimist Club, the Elk Moose Lodge and the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife, Linda, have four children - Jackie, John IV, Molly and Bridget. John is a native Madisonian whose hobbies include golf, swimming and traveling.

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Lori Kay
UW - Madison
Board Position: Appointee, UW Chancellors Office

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Steve Kraus
Madison Gas & Electric

As Manager of Media Relations at Madison Gas & Electric, Steve directs the company’s advertising and external communications. He joined MGE in 1981 as a community education specialist after teaching high school marketing classes in Middleton and Madison. Steve is currently a two-term trustee on the Waunakee Village Board and a member on the community’s Plan and Utility Commissions. Before his Village work, he was elected three times to the Waunakee School Board and also served as a director on the Waunakee Chamber of Commerce board. In 2003, Steve was elected president of the Waunakee Community Foundation, a charitable organization he co-founded that enhances the quality of life of area residents. Steve enjoys automobiles, boating, motorcycling and running events. He and his wife Diane have two sons Eric and Michael.

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Scott McDonell
Dane County Board of Supervisors
Board Position: Appointee, Dane County Board

Scott McDonell was first elected to the Dane County Board of Supervisors in April 1996 and became County Board Chairman in 2005. In addition to being Chairman of the Board, Scott serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee, Co-Chair of the Transport 2020 Committee (a joint city/state/county long-range transportation planning committee), and is on the Board of Directors of the Alliant Energy Center and the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau. From 2004 to 2006 Scott also served on the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center and the Dane County Regional Airport Commission. Scott graduated in 1996 with a BA in political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he played varsity soccer. He is married to his wife Megin and has a baby daughter Eleanor. Scott has also worked for the past 10 years as a policy analyst at the state Department of Administration, Division of Enterprise Technology.

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Carl Nolen
President, Capital Brewery

Carl, President of Capital Brewery, has been in the brewing industry for a long time. His appreciation of the business began back in 1978 in the driver's seat of a beer truck, delivering kegs on State Street in Madison, WI. After stops in Golden, Colorado with Coors Brewing Company and 16 years at the distributor end, he took over as President of Capital Brewery in February 2004. He celebrated his inauguration at Bockfest 2004, and hasn't looked back since. In interviews, when he is asked about his background, Carl often sums it up with "I'm a beer guy."

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Michael Schumacher
District 18 Alderperson
Board Position: City of Madison Common Council Appointee

Michael was elected to the City Council on November 7th, 2007. He is the City Council appointee to the GMCVB Board of Directors.

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Marsh Shapiro
Owner, Marsh Shapiro's The Nitty Gritty

Marsh is a native of Madison and a 1963 graduate (BA, Radio & TV) of UW-Madison - a member of the UW boxing and baseball teams. Marsh spent 25 years at Madison's WKOW. He first starred as "Marshall the Marshall", that channel's popular kid's show (where he first showed his penchant for hosting birthday parties!), moving on to News Director at WKOW Radio, and Sports Director. Marsh is a member of the National Restaurant Association, and was honored in 2004 as the Madison Chapter of the WI Restaurant Association's Restauranteur of the Year. In 2006, Marsh was also named an Honorary Member of the National W Club. He serves on the boards of the Madison-Dane County Restaurant Association, Wisconsin Restaurant Association and the Madison-Dane County Tavern League. Marsh likes to golf, fish and travel. His wife (and business partner) is Susan Shapiro and their kids are Ragan and Lauren.

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Bob Sorge
Vice President, Strategic Development; Madison Community Foundation

Bob is a native of Burlington, WI and received a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from UW-Madison. Prior to taking the newly created position at the MCF, Bob served as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. His volunteer activities include the Parkwood Hills Neighborhood Association, Walbridge School, American Red Cross, and Rotary Club of Madison Foundation Board of Directors. Bob has served as past president of Rotary Club of Madison and has been named to In Business Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 list. He has attended the Leadership Greater Madison and Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management (Harvard Business School) leadership programs. Bob lives in Madison with his wife, Lisa and their two sons Phillip and Peter.

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Vince Sweeney
Sr Associate Athletic Director for External Relations, UW-Madison - Athletics
Board Position: Appointee, UW Athletics

In Vince's capacity as an Associate Athletic Director, he manages the department’s branding and revenue-generating components, including marketing and promotions, ticketing, fund raising and development, multi-media rights and corporate sponsorships. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sweeney is a past board member for the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators. He also has served as a member of the NCAA’s subcommittee on Basketball Marketing and as consulting editor for Collegiate Sports Marketing. A native Madisonian, Vince graduated from UW-Madison with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications. He and his wife Sharon have two daughters, Kelsey and Keara.

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Jack von Rutenberg
Co-Owner, von Ruttenberg Ventures

Jack is a native of Madison and is a graduate of the University of Iowa. His 40-plus years in the hospitality industry includes managing (with his brothers Bill and Robert) the company’s many successful businesses, which include Mariner’s Inn, Nau-Ti-Gal, Captain Bill’s, Betty Lou Cruises, and Westport Marine. Jack is a member of WRA (Wisconsin Restaurant Association) and NRA (National Restaurant Association). His hobbies are all water sports, snow skiing and snowboarding, and any of his kid’s activities. Jack’s wife is Tammy and their children are Jeremy, Jordan and Marina.

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Tom Walker
Mid-West Family Broadcasting

Tom is President of Mid-West Management, Inc. Born in Rockford, IL, Tom received his BBA & MBA from the University of WI-Madison. He is a member of WICPA, WI Broadcasters Assn and Madison Downtown Rotary. In addition to serving on the GMCVB Board, he also serves on boards for United Way of Dane County, WI Broadcasters Assn and the WI Broadcasters Assn Foundation. Tom and his wife, Jill, have five children, Bethany, Bridget, Kevin, Karen and Diana. He enjoys sailing and skiing.

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George Wiesner
GM, Best Western Inn on the Park
Board Position: Innkeepers' Association - Madison Chapter Appointee

George is originally from Neenah, WI where he attended Xavier High School in Appleton. He went on to receive a BA degree at UW-Madison. George's long-time service to the hospitality industry includes his current roles as the President of the Greater Madison Chapter of Wisconsin Innkeepers Association, and Secretary of Spirit of Greater Madison.

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