Commission

Eugene Manzanet, Ph.D.

COMMISSON CHAIR

Senior Director Diverse Business Development, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Eugene Manzanet, Ph.D.,

after serving eight years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve has dedicated his time and energy to serving the Milwaukee area as resource of information for financial education, community, and economic development.  As a current resident and homeowner of the near northwest side of Milwaukee, he was born in New York City and raised in the heart of the "South Bronx." He is currently the Senior Director of Diverse Business Development for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. He is responsible for providing strategic leadership to the Diverse Business Development (DBD) team that supports diverse businesses and communities statewide. Primary roles s leading the DBD staff and being responsible for operations within the DBD unit. The Senior Director interacts with other state agencies, WEDC staff, and external partners to design strategies to impact the economic well-being of diverse businesses statewide positively. 

Eugene previously had been in the banking industry for twenty-five years and in various roles and capacities. His last position was Vice President of Community Lending at US Bank Home Mortgage Wisconsin. Before rejoining US Bank for fourteen years, he served as the Vice President of Community Development Banking for PNC Bank. In that role, he provided direct support to community social services organizations with financial resources to increase homeownership, enhance small businesses' growth, and support economic development through catalytic projects in southeastern Wisconsin.

Eugene attended The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he developed his passion for social responsibility as a student majoring in history. He has continued his education locally at Cardinal Stritch University, earning a bachelor's Science Business Administration, a master's degree in Business Administration and successfully defended his research as a Doctoral Candidate in his studies of Leadership for the advancement of Learning and Service.

Eugene continues to serve on numerous nonprofit boards and advisory councils throughout the Milwaukee area.  He serves as a mayoral appointment as the Chair of Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Employ Milwaukee.  He is highly passionate about his work within disenfranchised communities and is committed to making it his life's work to help in enhancing the quality of life in Milwaukee.  Although committed to community work, his true passion is raising his three boys, Gabriel, Emanuel, Mateo, and daughter, Malia, with his wife, Gladys.

Jeff Stone

VICE CHAIR

SENIOR CONSULTANT, KAPUR & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING ENGINEERS

Jeff Stone has a broad range of experience in both public and private sector roles in our community and state. That experience includes nearly 20 years of service in elected office at both the state and local level where he served for more than 15 years as State Representative for the southwest Milwaukee County area. He currently is a Senior Consultant with Kapur & Associates Consulting Engineers as well as being owner and partner in several business ventures.

During his tenure in the legislature Jeff served for 6 years on the Joint Finance Committee, as well as chairing the Transportation, Small Business, Health and Highway Safety Committees. At the local level Jeff served as Alderman, Finance Chair and Common Council President for the City of Greenfield. In addition to these elected roles he also served the state as a water utility regulator with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission with rate and construction oversight responsibilities for all of the nearly 600 water utilities in Wisconsin. 

Jeff has served on various boards including the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Wisconsin Center District, UW Hospital and Clinics, Milwaukee County Historical Society, Wastecap Wisconsin, Local Initiatives Support Corporation and the UW Population Health Institute.
Jeff has been honored with the National Legislative Leadership Award granted by the National Commission Against Drunk Driving. He also has received numerous state legislative awards as well as having been named Business Person of the Year by the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce. 

Robert Bauman

ALDERMAN, CITY OF MILWAUKEE

Alderman Robert J. Bauman was first elected in April 2004 after a 27-year career as an attorney and businessman. A native of Chicago, Alderman Bauman received his B.A., cum laude, from Marquette University in 1974 and his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law in 1977.

After working five years with a major Milwaukee law firm, Alderman Bauman formed a start-up company on Milwaukee’s north side that rebuilt and remanufactured railroad passenger cars and transit equipment. After the sale of that company, he worked as a consultant to the transportation industry.

Alderman Bauman has been an advocate for improved and expanded public transportation and improved land use planning in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin. He served as chair of the Southeast Wisconsin New Transportation Alliance; served on the Technical Advisory Committee of the East-West Corridor Study and on the Advisory Committee of the Downtown Transit Connector Study; and served as a commissioner on the Milwaukee Transportation Commission. 

Dan Bukiewicz

MAYOR, CITY OF OAK CREEK
Dan is currently in his 2nd term as the Mayor of the City of Oak Creek. Prior he served 5 terms as an Alderman and Council President. He has also been appointed to serve on various boards and commissions. They include the Joint Milwaukee County TIF Review Board, Oak Creek Community Center Board of Directors and the Oak Creek Franklin School District Career Advisory Committee. The Intergovernmental Cooperation Council, Wisconsin State Building Trades Council Secretary/Treasurer, Milwaukee County Opioid Task Force, and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.

He was elected as President of the Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council in January of 2014. Before being elected to serve as Council President, Dan began his career in the trades as an apprentice with IBEW Local 494 in 1987. He has spent over 30 years in the building industry. 

Along with his role as Building Trades President, Dan also serves as Co-Chair of Building Advantage. He is also the Construction Co-Chair of WRTP/BIG STEP. He also is an Executive Board member to the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, the Bradley Tech Foundation and Greater Milwaukee Committee. The United Way, Employ Milwaukee, Regional Transportation Committee, and the Milwaukee County Research Park Board.

Michael D' Amato

CITIZEN MEMBER

Dan Devine

MAYOR, CITY OF WEST ALLIS

Dan Devine was elected Mayor of West Allis in 2008 and is serving his third term.  Prior to serving as mayor, he served one term on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors representing the 17th District.

He serves as a member of the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board and is currently Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council.  He is also Past President of the Wisconsin League of Municipalities.

Devine is married and has two children.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Assembly Assistant Minority Leader Kalan R. Haywood II represents Wisconsin’s Sensational 16th Assembly District. He is the youngest African American to ever be elected into the state office in Wisconsin’s history, and potentially, the nation. While in office, Rep. Haywood plans to push the needle forward on key issues like education, economic development, and public safety. In the legislature, Rep. Haywood serves on five Assembly committees: Housing and Real Estate (Ranking Member), Small Business, Subcommittee on Education and Economic Development (Co-Chair), Committee on Assembly Organization, Committee on Rules, Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, and Tourism. He also has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and Wisconsin Center District.

Prior to his first election, Haywood served as President of the City of Milwaukee Youth Council for two terms. He represented the 6th aldermanic district on the City of Milwaukee Youth Council for three terms. In this role, he was responsible for assessing and communicating the needs of the community, as well as the resources relative to the protection and advocacy of Milwaukee’s youth. Additionally, he was tasked with evaluating and recommending changes in laws, policies, practices, and procedures in order to improve the conditions of the community and promote wholesome youth development. As a member of the Youth Council, he recommended funding allocations for ten percent of the city’s CDBG reprogramming dollars.

A Milwaukee native and business student at Cardinal Stritch University, Rep. Haywood serves as Chair of the City of Milwaukee Restorative Justice Advisory Board. He is a dedicated member of his district with experience in community organization and empowerment, reaching out to the neighborhoods to understand their firsthand concerns and lend a friendly face.

At the refreshing age of 23, Rep. Haywood has shared his vision for a Greater Milwaukee on both local and national media outlets. He works tirelessly to change the narrative of the possible achievements of young people with the hopes to inspire them, his peers, and let them know that the time is now; you don't have to wait to be great.

Bryan Kennedy

MAYOR, CITY OF GLENDALE

Bryan Kennedy was elected Mayor of Glendale in 2015, after being elected three times to the Glendale-River Hills School Board. He was re-elected in 2018 to a second term. Bryan and his family have been Glendale residents since 2001. 

Mayor Kennedy holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Kennedy was a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee for ten years and served three terms as President of the American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin, a statewide teachers union of mainly higher education employees. Since 2014, Kennedy contracts as an organizational development and government relations consultant. He works primarily with US companies that have interests in Latin America, helping them to expand their footprint in Brazil, and to attract and retain the best employees.

In addition to serving as Mayor and MMSD Commissioner, Mayor Kennedy chairs the Milwaukee County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council, composed of the county executive and the 19 mayors and village presidents in the county.

John Swan III

BUSINESS AGENT LOCAL 113

John Swan III was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. He graduated from John Marshall High School and in August of 1997 he became a member of Laborers International Union of North America, Local No. 113 working as a Labor Apprentice. John has been an active member of Laborers International Union of North America, Local No. 113 for nearly 20 years; he currently serves as President and Business Agent for Laborers Local No. 113 and serves as a representative on several Boards within the organization.

Before he was called upon to serve as a Business Agent for Local No. 113, John worked in the field on several major construction projects in the Milwaukee Area; a few of these projects include the Miller Park Project, the Pleasant Prairie Power Plant Project, and the Oak Creek Power Plant Project, where he served as a Superintendent. Some of his current responsibilities as President and Business Agent for Local No. 113 include mediating disputes, educating apprentices, checking construction projects throughout Milwaukee County, and organizing and building relationships with contractors to ensure a safe and prosperous jobsite.

John has partnered with Bradley Tech High School and Barack Obama High School to become a mentor to students who have an interest in the skilled construction trades industry; he does this with the hope of helping to prepare students for careers in the construction industry and teaching them the importance of work ethics, and job safety.

John is proud to call Milwaukee his home; he strives daily to make a positive impact in his community and focuses his work on helping to improve the social and economic growth and development of this city and county.

Corey Zetts

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MENOMONEE VALLEY PARTNERS

Corey Zetts serves as the Executive Director of Menomonee Valley Partners, the public/private partnership facilitating the redevelopment of Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley. Since its inception in 1999, Menomonee Valley Partners has worked to revitalize the Valley through economic development, environmental restoration, and community building programs that benefit the greater Milwaukee community. Through this collaborative effort, more than 300 acres of brownfields have been redeveloped, 50+ businesses have moved to the Valley, 5,000+ jobs have been created, 1 million square feet of sustainably designed buildings have been constructed, and 60 acres of public park and trails developed. 

Corey joined Menomonee Valley Partners in 2005 and became Executive Director in 2014. Through the years she has led diverse projects, including real estate development and business recruitment, infrastructure and sustainable design planning, habitat restoration, greenspace and recreational planning, public art and community engagement. She is actively engaged in several nonprofit organizations, including the Friends of the Hank Aaron State Trail, MetroGO, the Regional Transit Leadership Council, Urban Manufacturing Alliance, and Highland Community School. She received her MS in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin. Corey lives in Milwaukee with her husband and daughter.

JoCasta Zamarripa

ALDERWOMAN, CITY OF MILWAUKEE

JoCasta Zamarripa was born and raised in Milwaukee, graduated from St. Joan Antida High School, and holds a bachelor’s degree from UW-Milwaukee. Throughout her career, JoCasta has been a dedicated community activist working to better the lives of others by creating positive change.

She previously worked as a Community Outreach Coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, and was active in the 9 to 5 National Association of Working Women. She has also held board positions with 9 to 5 Milwaukee and Equality Wisconsin, and currently serves on the boards of Citizen Action of Wisconsin and Emerge Wisconsin.

JoCasta’s public service career began in 2010 when she made history by becoming the first Latina elected to the Wisconsin State Legislature. She served in the Legislature for five terms before making history once again in 2020 by becoming the first Latina and the first openly LGBTQ member of Milwaukee’s Common Council.

She looks forward to advocating for her constituents on Milwaukee’s near south side. Her priorities include fighting for equality for all people, supporting our public schools, creating family supporting, living wage jobs, and keeping our community safe.