WALSAA Board of Directors

John Brunnquell – Director, President

jbrunnquell@egginnovations.com
John Brunnquell graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in Agronomy and master’s degree in Poultry Science. His research led to his being awarded patents for both fat and cholesterol reduction in shell eggs. Since founding Egg Innovations in 1999 and leading the company to a national presence, John earned his Ph.D. in Avian Ethology at the University of Kentucky. He has served on numerous industry boards and committees and has been recognized many times for his volunteer work; including induction into the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame and being named an Outstanding Alumni of the University of Wisconsin. John and his wife, Cathy, were selected as the United States’ Outstanding Young Farmers by both the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Jaycees organization. John served as past President of the Wisconsin Agricultural Alumni Association, The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation and Organic Egg Farmers of America. John and Cathy have three children and five grandchildren.

June Roush – Director, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer

juneroush@charter.net
June Roush grew up on a dairy and livestock Century Family Farm near Plain, Wisconsin. Today, she continues to do the bookkeeping for the family farms. June earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics, with a business and industry option, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and then a master’s degree in business administration from Edgewood College. The majority of June’s work experience was with John Deere Financial (JDF). June held individual contributor roles in acquisitions, collections, credit analysis/underwriting, strategic and IT business analysis, and process improvement, along with customer and merchant management supervisor roles and IT division leader responsibilities for business analysis, project management, and quality assurance/testing. June retired in 2019 after 30 plus years with JDF. Additionally, in 2010, she founded her own income properties company, Roush Investments, LLC. In 2019, June accepted the Harmony Hill Farm Sanctuary Board of Director and Treasurer roles. In her free time, June enjoys classes at Harbor Athletic Club, as well as golfing, hiking, traveling, and a Wisconsin college and professional sports fan. She has two children, Isaac and Ashlyn.

Michael Murphy – Director, Past President, Events Chair

mmurphy2202@gmail.com
Michael Murphy, Ph.D., is a 1987 University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) graduate in agricultural economics who has a passion for learning and employee performance. Murphy continued his education at UW-Whitewater to earn a master’s degree in business administration, and then at Benedictine University for his Ph.D. in organizational development. Currently, Michael works for St. Ambrose University as a Business Development Manager. Murphy and his wife, Nancy, live in DeWitt, Iowa, close to their three adult children and grandchild.

Curt Lauderdale – Ex-Officio Director (CALS)

curtis.lauderdale@wisc.edu
Curt Lauderdale works in the Office of Academic Affairs at the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS).  Curt serves as the assistant dean for student advising and development.  In this role, Curt works closely with Career Services and Academic Advising across the College.  Curt grew up on a multi-generational dairy farm in Elkhorn, WI, attended Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, for his undergraduate degree, and has a Master of Arts in Education degree from The George Washington University Graduate School of Education.  He enjoys exploring Madison with his dog Tilly.  

Andrew Stevens – Ex-Officio Director (CALS Faculty)

awstevens@wisc.edu
Andrew Stevens is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research and teaching activities focus on economic decision-making throughout the food supply chain from agricultural production to consumer demand. By better understanding how individual producers and consumers make decisions, he hopes to support producers, address market failures, and inform evidence-based policymaking. Andrew is originally from the Twin Cities area in Minnesota, earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Chicago, earned his MS and PhD degrees in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and worked for two years as an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State University before joining the faculty at UW-Madison in 2019.

Nicole Broege – CALS Student Rep

Nicole Broege is currently a senior at UW-Madison, majoring in Dairy Science with a certificate in Data Science. She is originally from Janesville, Wisconsin, where she grew up owning and showing a small herd of registered Holsteins, Rock-Edge Holsteins, with her two older sisters, Kristen and Jenna. Active in the industry, Nicole was dedicated to the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association, where she was chair of the Junior Activities Committee and Outstanding Holstein Girl. On campus, Nicole is very involved with student organizations, serving this year as Secretary for the Association of Women in Agriculture, Treasurer for Collegiate Farm Bureau, and President of Badger Dairy Club.

Gabi Conidi – CALS Student Rep

Gabi Conidi is an undergraduate student in her senior year from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin studying Animal Sciences and Conservation Biology on the pre-veterinary track. Conidi received WALSAA’s 2022 Outstanding Sophomore Award and joined the board in July 2022. She is also a CALS Ambassador and has been involved in the COMPASS program on campus. Conidi is a member of the Comparative Orthopedics and Genetics Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Veterinary Medicine where she assists in research on genetic conditions in dogs, cats, and horses. She is also a student assistant in the Special Species, Ophthalmology, and Primary Care departments of UW Veterinary Care. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her animals, hike, and enjoy UW-Madison’s campus.

Halei Heinzel – FISC Student Rep

Halei Heinzel graduated from the Farm and Industry Short Course program in March of 2022 with certificates in Farm and Agribusiness Management and Dairy Herd Management. She is continuing her education at UW-Madison, studying Life Sciences Communications. Halei stays busy by being involved in the agriculture community on campus. She is a member of the Badger Dairy Club and Dairy Judging Team, the Historian for the Babcock House, and works at the Dairy Cattle Center. She has also continued involvement with the Short Course program as their marketing intern. She is looking forward to helping serve her community as one of the student representatives on the WALSAA Board!

Caitlin Hanley – CALS Ambassadors Student Rep

Caitlin Hanley is currently a senior pursing a bachelor’s in Animal Science with a certificate in Food Systems and plans to graduate Winter 2024. As the CALS Ambassadors Alumni Chair, she coordinates with both perspective students and alumni to help forge CALS memories that last a lifetime. She is also involved in the Pre-Veterinary Association as the CALS Representative and Slow Food UW as the South Madison Program Director. Outside of school, Caitlin loves to go hiking, especially with her two German Shepherds. She is currently working on her goal to visit all of Wisconsin’s State Parks, her favorites being Governor Dodge and Pattison.

David Cooper – Director, Scholarship Chair

dbcooper2727@gmail.com
David Cooper is the Operations Manager for Semex. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at UW-Madison in Dairy Science. While on CALS campus he participated in a number of organizations and served as president of the Badger Dairy Club. A lifelong supporter of agriculture, he has served in a number of volunteer roles locally and nationally. He believes it is critical for current and future students to communicate with alumni about the accomplishments and needs of their alma mater. David and his wife Cindy (CALS graduate) reside in Sun Prairie, WI.

Alison Demmer – Director, WALSAA Connection Lead

alison.wedig@gmail.com
Alison Demmer is a UW-Madison CALS graduate in Agricultural Communications and Journalism and is the Marketing Specialist for Culver’s. At UW-Madison, she was involved with Collegiate Farm Bureau, Association of Women in Agriculture and National Agri-Marketing Association. She currently serves on the WALSAA Marketing and Development Committee as the lead of the WALSAA Express newsletter. Alison resides in Peosta, Iowa with her husband Royce.

Pierce Dopp – Director, Student Outreach Co-Chair

pierce.dopp@gmail.com
Pierce Dopp is a financial advisor working for BMO Harris Bank. He’s a UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences animal sciences graduate currently serving on the WALSA financial management committee. He’s been actively involved in the Wausau community in various civic volunteer roles.

Taylor Fritsch – Director

ttfritsch@michaelbest.com
Taylor Fritsch is an associate attorney with Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. He grew up on his family’s dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin and was a UW-Madison CALS student from 2010-2014 graduating with degrees in both agriculture and applied economics and life sciences. He then attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln focusing on agricultural and environmental law. He was very active in several student organizations while on campus.

Jane Hillstrom – Director, Sponsorship Lead

jane.hillstrom@gmail.com
Jane Hillstrom found her passion for agriculture at an early age on her grandfather’s dairy farm. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with double majors in Meat and Animal Science and Ag Education in 1980. A first generation graduate, she credits CALS scholarships with helping her through college. She has served on the boards of a theater company and the Door County YMCA. She recently retired from a career in public relations. Jane and Mark Breseman, her husband, returned to Southwest Wisconsin after 25 years in Door County.

Mike Kawleski – Director, Membership Lead

michael.kawleski@gmail.com
Mike Kawleski recently retired from serving as the Public Affairs Manager for Georgia-Pacific in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism from UW-Madison. At UW-Madison, he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and Alpha Zeta. Kawleski was also a UW CALS lecturer for Agricultural Journalism Publicity and Farm and Industry Short Course Business Communications. He resides in Sobieski, Wisconsin with Jeanne, his wife of 37 years. They have three children, Daniel (married to Karen), Laura and Amy. Mike enjoys woodworking, music, reading, cooking and playing guitar.

Kay Maas – Director

kay@mcservices.com
Kay Wilhelm Maas is a consulting clinical registered dietitian nutritionist. She attended UW-Madison and CALS to earn an undergraduate degree in bacteriology, meat and animal science, and a master’s degree in meat and animal Science. Maas and her husband, Duane, live in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and they have three daughters. Maas is a lifetime member of WALSAA and is interested in focusing on scholarship opportunities for CALS students while serving on the Board of Directors.

Dawn Manthei – Director

dawn.manthei@gmail.com
Dawn Manthei is the Vice President of Research and Development for Denali Ingredients. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree at UW-Madison in Food Science. She was an active 4-H member in her youth and has a strong passion for agriculture and the dairy industry. She is currently a mentor for Women in Dairy through the IDFA and is passionate about serving others. She resides in Hartland Wisconsin with her husband and has two children. In her free time, she enjoys travel, food, music, and anything involving water.

Paul Mitchell – Director

pdmitchell@wisc.edu
Paul Mitchell has been on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 2004 in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. He grew up on a farm in northeastern Iowa and attended Iowa State University for his PhD in Economics. At UW he runs an active research, teaching and Extension program focused broadly on agriculture. As director of the Renk Agribusiness Institute, he leads the Institute’s broad mission to enhance education for students and support research and outreach for the state’s agribusiness sector, which includes putting on the Wisconsin Agricultural Outlook Forum each year. He is currently serving as the CALS interim associate dean of academic affairs.

Lindsey Sarbacker – Director, Social Media Lead

lindsey.sarbacker@rainhail.com
Lindsey Sarbacker is currently a Lead Crop Insurance Adjuster for Rain and Hail serving farmers and ranchers in eastern South Dakota. She is a recent UW-Madison CALS graduate, earning degrees in Dairy Science and Life Sciences Communication with a certificate in Agricultural Business Management. At UW-Madison she was active in Collegiate Farm Bureau, National Agri-Marketing Association and Badger Dairy Club. She currently serves on the WALSAA Marketing and Development Committee as lead of WALSAA’s social media platforms.

Brooke Trustem  – Director, Student Outreach Co-Chair

btrustem@boumatic.com
Brooke Trustem is a sixth-generation dairy farmer from Evansville, Wisconsin, and is the Sales & Marketing Coordinator for BouMatic. Trustem was raised on her family’s 2,500-cow dairy farm.  She is passionate about the dairy industry.  A recent UW-Madison CALS graduate, Trustem was highly involved in many agriculture-related organizations on campus.  She was the President of CALSAA and the Badger Dairy Club, Secretary of the Association of Women in Agriculture and Director of Public Relations for the Collegiate Farm Bureau. In these roles, Trustem helped coordinate events that helped educate the public about agriculture. She is the Rock County Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Agriculturists chair along with serving on the Evansville FFA Alumni Board. 

Rachel Zwieg – Director, Farm & Industry Short Course

rmayzwieg@gmail.com
Rachel Zwieg graduated from UW Madison’s Farm and Industry Short Course in 2008. She earned both Soil Science and Green Industry certificates. Rachel is an owner/operator at Zwieg’s Maple Acres LLC, a seventh-generation robotic dairy and crop farm. Rachel and her husband Kyle have focused on sustainability efforts and the integration of technology to gain efficiency and economic advantage. Zwieg’s Maple Acres has been the top producing robotic dairy in North America for multiple years. Rachel and Kyle lead the way in preserving farmland by being one of the first 15 farms to enroll in a conservation easement in 2010 through the State of Wisconsin’s PACE Program (Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements). Rachel and Kyle were selected as National Outstanding Young Farmers in 2023. The couple have three children, Theodore, and twins Landon and Logan.

Stephanie Hammerly  – Membership and Events Coordinator

admin@walsaa.org
Stephanie Hammerly joined WALSAA as their Membership and Events Coordinator in 2016. In addition to WALSAA, she works with other organizations in the agricultural and dairy industries. Hammerly is an alumnus of UW-Platteville with a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness and Animal Science with an emphasis in Communications and Marketing. She owns Polled Dairy Cattle #PolledPlace in Wisconsin Dells, and started Dreamstone Dairy, a small herd of Polled Holsteins and Red & Whites, with her husband Joel. They have three children, Hannah, Hunter and Hudson. She is the Board of Education Vice-Chair for Trinity Lutheran School and serves as a Director, Board Secretary and Promotion and Education Chair for Columbia County Farm Bureau.

Jill Makovec – Bookkeeper

jillmakovec@uwalumni.com
Jill grew up on her family’s dairy farm, Lazy M Acres, near Muscoda, Wisconsin .  Today, she is a Strategic Marketing Executive with Learfield Communications representing Wisconsin Radio and Brownfield Ag Networks. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned her master’s degree in dairy science for her research and focus on milk quality, along with a bachelor’s degree in dairy science and agricultural journalism.
A strong advocate for Wisconsin agriculture, Jill served as the 60th Alice in Dairyland where she worked to promote the industry’s significance to the state’s economy and quality of life.   In addition to serving as the WALSAA Bookkeeper, she works on the Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair committee. She utilizes her public speaking skills and Dale Carnegie training to conduct media and etiquette presentations for the WI FFA state officer team, Association of Women in Agriculture, and other organizations. 
Outside of work, Jill continues her family’s legacy in agriculture managing her family’s century farm.