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The Park People Board of Directors & Staff
Board of Directors
President
Dan Cody
UW Milwaukee
Dan Cody has been an administrator at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee since 2005. After pursuing a degree in computer science at South Dakota State University, he moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1998 to lead a new internet practice division at Oracular, one of the Fox Valley’s premier IT consultancies and then accepted a position as an IT manager with a Milwaukee-based consulting firm in 2002. Cody serves on the board of the Quality of Life Alliance, is a member of the Milwaukee Forum, serves on the membership committee of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Milwaukee, and plays an active role in his neighborhood association. He also owns one of Milwaukee's premier small businesses in the IT sector, Progressive Networks, which serves the IT needs of hundreds of clients in Southeastern Wisconsin and throughout the country. Since becoming involved with The Park People in 2008, Cody has served as the chair of the membership committee and is the current board president.
Vice President
Susan Spoerk, JD
Thomson Reuters
Susan Spoerk has been with Thomson Reuters since 1991. She currently works with large law firms in Wisconsin as a Westlaw Account Manager. Spoerk earned her Master’s in Leadership in 2011 and her law degree in 1991, both from Marquette. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986. Between undergraduate studies and law school she worked for U.S. Senator William Proxmire. Spoerk is a member of the Milwaukee Bar Association and Wisconsin State Bar. She is also the past-president of the Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association. She served on the board of directors of The Park People since 2006, and was the chair of the Friends Group committee though 2011. She currently serves as the vice-president of The Park People.
Treasurer
Jim Ciurlik, CPA, MBA
Security Financial Services
Jim Ciurlik has over 20 years of diverse business experience including three years in public accounting and 10 years in the banking industry. In addition to working with such large firms as Arthur Andersen, Ernst Young, Phillip Morris and Suntrust Bank, Ciurlik has extensive consulting experience and has been involved with four start-up ventures, which used direct mail, catalogs, printing and the internet as key marketing initiatives. He graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration where he also qualified and participated in two national cross-country championships. In addition to holding a C.P.A. and Securities 7, 63 and 65 licenses, Ciurlik graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He describes himself as a naturalist at hear, having worked on a farm for five years through high school and for five years with the Milwaukee County Parks System as a summer seasonal employee during college. He also enjoys art, music, dance and innovation. In his free-time, He also runs a small greeting card company.
Secretary
Cheri Briscoe
Community Volunteer
Cheri (Frederick) Briscoe has been interested in nature and conservation all of her life. She was elected to the Waukesha County Board from 1984-1996, where she served as Chair of the Recycling and Waste Management Committee and several others. She helped start recycling centers in Elm Grove and Brookfield and also helped to found the Elmbrook Senior Taxi. She was a founding member of AROW (Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin). Upon leaving the Waukesha Board she moved to Milwaukee and resumed teaching . After retiring from Milwaukee High School of the Arts in 2001 she became involved with the Great Waters Group of the Sierra Club and served as Chairperson for 5 years. She also volunteers as a teaching assistant with the Urban Ecology Center. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Public Parks Alliance and as an alternate to the Milwaukee County Parks Advisory Commission. Cheri has a B.S. Degree in Education from Southeast Missouri State College.
Robin Barry
Aurora Health Care
Robin Barry is a marketing and communications professional with over 15 years of experience mostly in the nonprofit sector. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Professional Communications from Alverno College. Barry currently works for Aurora Health Care as a senior communications specialist. Prior to joining Aurora, she worked as the director of community relations for the Elmbrook Humane Society, held several marketing-related positions at the American Society for Quality, served as the public relations manager for the Koss Corporation, which also included overseeing donations from the Koss Foundation. As a volunteer, she is involved with several organizations including The Park People of Milwaukee County where she is a board member and chair of the membership committee. Barry is also the current president of Residents for Off-leash Milwaukee Parks and previously served on the board of the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County where she was vice president and chaired the strategic planning and development committees.
Lauren R. Grahovac Harpke
Quarles & Brady LLP
Lauren R. Grahovac Harpke is an attorney with Quarles & Brady LLP where she practices primarily in the environmental law group. Harpke advises clients on site remediation, records retention policies, and insurance litigation in addition to environmental due diligence and permit transfers in connection with corporate transactions. During law school, she worked with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Harpke is currently the coordinator of Quarles & Brady’s pro bono program in connection with the Sojourner Family Peace Center’s courthouse restraining order clinic. Harpke is a member of the Milwaukee Bar Association, American Bar Association, Federation of Environmental Technologists, and FUEL Milwaukee.
Kelly Kiel
Community Volunteer
Kelly is a lifelong resident of Milwaukee County and grew up in South Milwaukee. She graduated from Carroll College with an Elementary Education degree in 1991 and taught in the Milwaukee Public Schools. She has also worked for Time Insurance and Midwest Express airlines. She recently completed her degree in Landscape Architecture from UW-Madison. Her future goals include designing parks, playgrounds and campuses. She is currently employed with the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Kelly enjoys camping, backpacking, and traveling. She continues her lifelong enjoyment of running and has competed in local road races, marathons, and triathlons. Kelly is also a musician who plays viola with Dolce Corde string quartet for weddings.
Inge Lindeque
PNC Bank
Inge Lindeque is a Corporate & Institutional Banking Associate Relationship Manager at PNC Bank, PNC Financial Services Group in the Milwaukee Middle Market Segment. Prior to moving to PNC Banks she was a Commercial Banking Officer at Marshall & Ilsley Bank in the Specialized Industries Group. She worked with the Special Assets Group, the Dealer Floor Plan Group, and the Health Care Group. Inge has also worked as a Commercial Banking Officer focused on financing Leveraged Buy-out deals with Private Equity Firms nationwide. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, graduating with a triple major in Finance, International Business and French. She also attained a minor in Business French and studied abroad in Paris, France. She holds FINRA Securities Series 7 and 63 licenses.
John E. Lunz
Community Volunteer
John Lunz retired from Rockwell International in 1998 and from the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in 2007. Lunz still occasionally teaches courses in Electrical Engineering at MSOE and devotes his spare time to creating and maintaining natural areas to improve the habitat of our insects, butterflies and birds: in his yard, in nature centers, and in area parks. He serves as the chair of the environmental committee of The Park People and is also on the board of directors of Preserve Our Parks, where he currently serving as president. John received his degree in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University in1966 following five years in the United States Navy. He received his master’s in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1970.
Chad Piechocki
South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center
Chad Piechocki has worked as a nonprofit manager and event fundraiser since 2003. He is currently the Executive Director of the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center and a member of FUEL Milwaukee’s Creative Council Committee. Previously, he worked with fundraising events at the Milwaukee Art Museum and as volunteer manager for the museum, Milwaukee Film Festival and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Piechocki holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the United State Military Academy at West Point. He helped plan and manage The Park People’s Green Gala in 2008 and was elected to board in 2009.
Casey Renn
United Way of Greater Milwaukee
Casey Renn is a communications and events professional with experience in both corporate and non-profit. Casey is proud to call Milwaukee his home since moving here to attend Cardinal Stritch University in 2002 where he later earned his degree in business marketing and communications. Having grown up on a Wisconsin family owned dairy farm, he is an avid enthusiast of being active and the outdoors. He understands the value of our diverse park system to our community and our quality of life and is a passionate advocate for them. Casey lives in the Riverwest area and is employed at United Way of Greater Milwaukee as their Communications and Events Specialist. Prior experiences include being a meeting and event planner for MillerCoors and managing the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee’s AmeriCorps program. Additionally he has served on the Alumni Board for Cardinal Stritch University, is a member of FUEL Milwaukee and MPI (Meeting Professionals International).
Chuck Rozewicz
Select Milwaukee, Inc
Chuck Rozewicz joined the Park People Board of Directors in January of 2010. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and has served on the UWM Athletic Board of Directors and as President of the Hales Corners Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He has worked in sales and marketing with the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club and Atlantic Records. Rozewicz is dedicated to making Milwaukee a better place through promoting affordable housing, and is currently a Homeownership Specialist for Select Milwaukee’s Employer Assisted Homeownership program. Since joining the Board, he has helped develop the annual Run for the Parks and the Storytime in the Park series.
Nadine Weske
Community Volunteer
Nadine Weske earned her bachelorʼs degree in business administration from UW Milwaukee in 1997. After graduation, she continued working in the insurance industry switching from sales to claims. In 1999, she moved to Madison with her husband and was employed by General Casualty. While there, she earned the prestigious Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation and was a loaned executive to United Way. In 2005, they returned home to Milwaukee to start a family and she is now a stay at home mother of two. Nadine has been the treasurer then president of Rainbow Preschool, she is a member of the Junior League of Milwaukee and Lake Park Friends. During her free time she enjoys gardening, yoga, and using the parks with her family.
Ex-Officio
Gerry Broderick
Milwaukee County Supervisor
Sue Black
Parks Director
Directors Emeritus
Roger Boerner
Robert Cowan
Staff
Executive Director
Jim Goulee
Jim Goulee joined The Park People in June 2006 and currently serves as its Executive Director. Prior to The Park People, he spent 35 years with the Milwaukee County Parks Department in various positions and ended his career serving 17 years as a Regional Manager in the operations division. Goulee graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1986. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for three non-profit organizations: Milwaukee Environmental Consortium, Preserve Our Parks and Public Parks Alliance.