Peggy Gunderson was appointed to the board in late 2019 by Governor Evers and serves as the committee chair. She is the president and CEO of Strategic Brand Marketing, which she has owned and operated for 11 years. When asked why she is passionate about helping Wisconsin small businesses, Peggy says "I am passionate about helping small businesses for many reasons; primarily because I understand the dream as well as the challenges of being a small business owner. When we look at the downtowns in cities across Wisconsin, we see small businesses hard at work supporting their community." Peggy currently resides in McFarland, just outside of Madison.
Peggy and her company, Strategic Brand Marketing, have earned 'Best Companies to Work For', 'Best Place to Work', 'Executive Choice Award' (In Business Magazine) in both 2016 and 2017, 'Best of Madison' (Madison Magazine) and during the pandemic, the 'Looking for the Helper' award (Dane Buy Local).
Peggy graduated from Jefferson High School in Jefferson, Wisconsin. She attended Madison College and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where she studied political science. Gunderson currently resides in McFarland, Wisconsin with her husband, Ted, and together they have four adult children and six grandchildren.
Contact: peggy@sbmbrands.com; (608) 298-7311
State Senator André Jacque (R-De Pere) represents the 1st State Senate District in Northeast Wisconsin and chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government, Small Business, Tourism and Workforce Development and serves as the vice-chair on the Small Business Regulatory Review Board. Prior to his election to the State Senate in 2018, Senator Jacque represented Wisconsin’s 2nd State Assembly District since January 2011 and worked for the Brown County and City of Green Bay as communications director, planning coordinator and grantwriter.
Sen. Jacque also works part time for an environmental consulting business and has served on the DNR’s Small Business Environmental Council since 2013. He is currently on the board of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority its Finance Committee, and several non-profit groups dedicated to children and crime prevention. André has received the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award, the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Legislator of the Year Award, Future 15 Award, and 25 People You Should Know recognition, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform State Legislative Achievement Award, and the Wisconsin Counties Association Outstanding Legislator Award, among other recognitions.
André graduated from Green Bay Southwest High School, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the LaFollette School of Public Affairs Graduate Capstone Program, and lives in De Pere with his wife Renée and their five children.
Contact: Sen.jacque@legis.wi.gov; (608) 266-3512
Representative Nancy VanderMeer was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2014. Nancy and her family owned and operated VanderMeer Motor Company for over 38 years in Tomah. Nancy sold the family's long owned building in October 2017.
Nancy is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. She has been active in community service including Gloria Dei Lutheran Church council, Tomah Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, Tomah Chamber Board of Directors, and Handi-Shop Board of Directors - helping handicapped grow in dignity and self-sufficiency.
Advocating for job training, Nancy collaborated to help young people transitioning to work prepare for the 21st century in Tomah School District's School to Work Program.
Together with her husband of 25 years, David Hall, they reside on Dave's family fifth generation dairy operation milking over 200 head daily.
 Hana Cutler was appointed to the board in February of 2020 as a business representative. Hana is the owner of Emy J's in Steven's Point.
Contact: emyjshana@gmail.com;(715) 252-4059
| Ruth Zahm was appointed to the board in May of 2020 as a business representative. Ruth is the owner of the Driftless Cafe in Viroqua.
Contact: wiscochef@gmail.com; (608) 576-1893
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Brian Cummins was appointed to the council in May of 2020 as a business representative. Brian is the owner of the Great Northern Distillery in Plover.
Contact: brian@gndwi.com; (715) 544-6551 |
Elizabeth Krause was appointed to the board in January 2020 as a business representative.
Contact: ehkrause1@yahoo.com; (262) 903-8035
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Alycann Taylor was appointed to the board in February 2020 as a business representative.
Alycann Whalen Taylor is a Wisconsin native who, after living and adventuring with her husband in different parts of the country, decided to return to their Wisconsin roots. In October 2005, they moved to Viroqua to raise their family and start their business Bluedog Cycles. Soon to follow they established Vernon Trails – a 501 C 3 dedicated to outdoor recreation and created Camp Bluedog – A Youth Mountain Bike camp.
In addition to Bluedog Cycles, Alycann is the Human Resources Manager for the Viroqua Food Cooperative. She serves as a Vernon County Board Supervisor. She is actively involved in her children’s school, serving as the treasurer and school board member. Alycann holds a bachelor’s degree of Psychology from the University of Minnesota.
When time allows her favorite place to be is outdoors with her family.
Contact: alycanntaylor@gmail.com; (608) 632-3527
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Mickey Judkins was appointed to the board in February 2020 as a business representative.
Mickey Judkins is the CEO of Details,Inc doing business as Details and detailsdirect.com.
In 2008,she was appointed by Governor Doyle to the Commerce Department and served as Executive Director of Global Ventures tasked with attracting investment to the state of Wisconsin. She was the President of the Eau Claire Economic Development Board of Directors and served on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for three terms. She currently serves on the Water Street BID board. Mickey can be reached at mickey@detailsdirect.com
Contact: mickey@detailsdirect.com; (715) 215-8860
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