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Get to Know Joel

Joel was born and raised with his 10 siblings in Wisconsin, and he and his wife Audra, raised their own kids here. Over the last 25 years, he’s worked with businesses and nonprofits solving problems, making progress and growing opportunities for Wisconsin. Joel served as Executive Director of Discovery World, the largest science museum in the state, expanding opportunities for thousands of students to learn about STEM, and most recently as President of the Greater Milwaukee Committee. 

In 2018, Governor-elect Evers appointed Joel as his top cabinet official, leading the Department of Administration. In that position Joel took on the challenge of putting Wisconsin back on firmer financial footing after eight years of mismanagement by Scott Walker and his rightwing legislature. Working with Governor Evers, Joel helped generate a nearly $4 billion dollar budget surplus and grew the state’s rainy-day fund. Joel was also a critical part of the state’s response to COVID, making sure small businesses, farmers and families across the state received the help they needed. 

A man in a striped collared shirt sitting inside a café or restaurant, looking down with a thoughtful expression, with a blurred menu board and interior lights in the background.
A man shopping in a grocery store, smiling and talking to an older woman, with shelves of food products in the foreground.
Three people sitting at a table inside a restaurant, laughing and smiling, with a large window behind them showing blurred outdoor scenery.
Two men shaking hands outdoors in a snowy, urban environment, smiling at each other.
A man with brown hair wearing a light striped shirt is sitting at a table inside a restaurant or cafe, engaged in conversation with another person who is partially visible in the foreground. The background features a blurred kitchen or service area w
Three people having a conversation inside a restaurant, with plants visible in the background.