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Home , Alaska Senate, Eduardo Bhatia, Gary Cammack, Kevin Meyer (politician), Peter Schwartzkopf

Participant Bios

Alaska

Honorable Senate President Kevin Meyer was elected to the Senate in 2008. He served as majority leader in 2011-2012. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008. Before his legislative service, he served in the from 1993 to 2012. Meyer works as a facilities support coordinator for ConocoPhillips Alaska. He earned a B.S. in business administration from the University of - Lincoln, an M.P.A. from the University of New Mexico-Albuquerque and an M.B.A. from Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage. He and his wife, Marty, have two daughters.

Arizona

Honorable John Allen House Majority Leader John Allen was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2012. He previously served in the House from 2001 to 2005. Allen worked for America West Airlines. He is a small business owner. He received a degree in business administration from Arizona State University. He and his wife, Tina, have three sons.

Arkansas

Honorable Jeremy Gillam Speaker of the House Jeremy Gillam was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2010. He has served on the White County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, the ASU Beebe Development Council, and the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Board. Gillam has been recognized with several awards from the Arkansas Farm Bureau. He is the owner of Gilliam Farms. He received degrees in criminology and psychology from Arkansas State University. He and his wife, Carissa, have two young sons.

Honorable Mat Pitsch House Majority Leader Matthew Pitsch was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2014. He serves on the Joint Committee on Advanced Communication Information Technology, the committee on Agriculture and Economic Development and the Committee on Public Transportation. He also chairs the House Small Business and Economic Development Permanent Subcommittee and serves as vice-chair of the Sportsman's Caucus. Pitsch attended the University of Missouri at Rolla. He is an electrical engineer and owns several business ventures. He and his wife, Seanna, have four children.

Colorado

Honorable Crisanta Duran Speaker-Elect of the House Crisanta Duran is in her third term in the Colorado House of Representatives. Before being elected to caucus leadership, Duran chaired the legislature’s powerful Joint Budget Committee. Among her many roles, she has been a leader in legislative economic development efforts. She serves on the board of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. Duran has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver, where she was a double major in public policy and Spanish, and a law degree from the University of Colorado. She is a sixth-generation Coloradan.

Connecticut

Honorable Joe Aresimowicz Speaker-Elect of the House Joe Aresimowicz was first elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 2004. Before being selected as speaker, he served as House majority leader. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army Reserve, where he served as a combat medic for almost a decade. He is a long-time member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Before his legislative service, Aresimowicz served three terms on the Berlin Town Council. He is also the head coach of Berlin High School's varsity football team and has directed Berlin Midget Football for the past 15 years. He and his family live in Berlin.

Honorable Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff was elected to the Connecticut Senate in 2004. In 2015, he was chosen by his colleagues to serve as majority leader. He is chair of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee and vice chair of the Legislative Management Committee. He previously served one term in the House of Representatives. Duff is a real estate professional. He earned his degree in political science from Lynchburg College in Virginia and was awarded the degree of doctorate of humane letters. He and his wife, Tracey, have two sons.

Delaware Honorable Helene Keeley Speaker Pro Tem Helene Keeley was elected to the House of Representatives in 1996. She currently serves as chair of the Capital Infrastructure Committee, vice chair of the Gaming and Parimutuels Committee, and vice chair of the Revenue and Finance Committee. She has worked as a marketing specialist with the Delaware Department of Labor, and as a project manager with Rosenbluth International. Keeley serves on the board of directors for Westside Health, Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center, and the American Council of Young Political Leaders. She and her husband, Michael Green, live in Wilmington.

Honorable House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst was elected to the Delaware House of Representatives in 2004. In 2008, she was elected as the House majority whip and after the 2012 election, her caucus elected her to be the House majority leader. Longhurst chairs the House Administration, Ethics and Rules committees. In addition to her responsibilities in the General Assembly, she plays an important role in many local and national organizations including the National Conference of State Legislatures Women's Legislative Network. She formerly worked for AIG Insurance in Chadds Ford, Penn.

Honorable David McBride Senate President Pro Tem-Elect David McBride was elected to the state Senate in 1980. He was selected as majority leader in 2012, and after the November 2016 election, he was selected as . He served one term in the Delaware House of Representatives from 1978 to 1979. He was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force from 1961 through 1969, and was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant. After being stationed in Texas and Alabama, he served in the Pacific, with stints in Okinawa and Tokyo in Japan, and one in Thailand. McBride works as a civil engineer. He obtained his B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from the University of Delaware. He and his wife, Margaret, live in New Castle.

Honorable Peter Schwartzkopf Speaker of the House Peter Schwartzkopf was elected to the Delaware House of Representatives in 2002. He served as majority leader for four years before being elected as speaker of the House in 2012. He is a full-time legislator with an extensive background in public safety. Schwartzkopf is a retired Delaware State Police captain and troop commander with 25 years of service. He is a member of the Administration, Rules, Ethics and Veteran Affairs committees. He is active with several nonprofit organizations, including the Delaware Special Olympics, the Delaware State Troopers Association and the National Kidney Foundation. Schwartzkopf graduated from Wilmington College with a B.S. in human resource management. He and his wife, Carol, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Georgia Honorable Jan Jones Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2002. She has served as speaker pro tem, the second highest position in the Georgia House of Representatives, since 2010. Born in Warner Robins, Jones has lived in Fulton County for 25 years. She graduated with a B.A. in journalism from the University of Georgia and an M.B.A. in finance from Georgia State University. She was a marketing manager for Home Box Office and owned a home-based small business while raising her children. She currently operates an energy consulting business with her husband, Kalin. She and her husband have four children.

Hawaii

Honorable Senate President Ronald Kouchi was appointed to fill a vacant seat in September 2010. He subsequently was elected to the seat, representing Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau islands. Before serving in the Hawaii Senate, he was an 11-term veteran of the Kaua’I County Council. Kouchi became president of the Hawaii Senate on May 5, 2015. He previously served as vice president of the Senate, majority caucus leader, vice chair for the Committee on Tourism, and vice chair for the Committee on Ways and Means. Kouchi received a B.A. from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He is married to the former Joy Tanimoto and they have two sons.

Idaho

Honorable Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill has served in the since 2001 and is a member of the Senate State Affairs and Local Government and Taxation Committees. Hill is a certified public accountant and certified financial planner with more than 35 years of experience working with business and agriculture. He attended Ricks College (now Brigham Young University-Idaho) and received a B.S. in accounting from State University. For more than 20 years, he served as the president and CEO of Rudd & Company. Hill is the author of numerous newspaper articles and publications, including a book entitled, “A Matter of Principle.” He and his wife, Julie, have four children.

Indiana

Honorable David Long Senate President Pro Tem David Long was first elected to the in 1996. Before his legislative service, he was a Fort Wayne councilman from 1988 to 1995. He serves on the board of trustees of the Boys and Girls Club of Fort Wayne and is a member of the board of directors of the Lincoln Museum. When not serving in the legislature, Long works as general counsel for Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne. He attended Wabash College and received a B.A. from the University of California at Davis. He received his J.D. from Santa Clara University. He and his wife, Melissa, have two sons.

Iowa

Honorable Mike Gronstal Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal has served in the since 1985 and was a member of the Iowa House from 1983 to 1985. In addition to serving as Senate majority leader, he serves as chair of the Rules and Administration Committee. He was previously employed as a social worker. Gronstal is a graduate of Antioch College in Ohio. He is a third generation Council Bluffs resident, where he lives with his wife, Connie. They have two grown daughters. Gronstal is president of NCSL.

Honorable Linda Upmeyer Speaker of the House Linda Upmeyer was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002. She served as majority leader from 2010 to 2016, then became the first female speaker in Iowa’s history in January 2016. Her professional experience includes working as an advanced registered nurse practitioner at Mercy Medical Center in North Iowa. She received her B.S.N. from the University of Northern Iowa and her master’s degree from Drake University. Upmeyer and her husband, Doug, have five children.

Maine

Honorable Kenneth Fredette House Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette is the House Republican leader. He is a member of the Maine Air National Guard and has served for 12 years as a judge advocate general. Currently an attorney in private practice, he also has taught at Eastern and Southern Maine Community Colleges. He earned a B.S. in accounting at the University of Maine at Machias, a master’s degree in public policy and management with a concentration in government finance from USM’s Edmund Muskie School for Public Service, and a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law. He also earned a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Fredette lives in Newport with his wife, Cyndi. They have two children.

Honorable Garrett Mason Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason is serving his third term in the . He serves as a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology. He is a 2006 graduate of Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Fla. He holds a B.S. degree in management and marketing. He has also completed graduate work in business administration at Southern New Hampshire University and in graphic design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. After college, r Mason was able to fulfill a lifelong dream and worked for the Portland Sea Dogs (AA affiliate of the Red Sox). After that he joined the Lewiston MAINEiacs hockey team as public relations director for two years before being promoted to director of administration. He is currently a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty in Portland.

Honorable Michael Thibodeau Senate President Michael Thibodeau is serving his third term in the Maine Senate. He was elected Senate president in 2014 and served as Senate minority leader from 2012 to 2014. He previously served two terms in the House of Representatives. Thibodeau is the owner and operator of T B Equipment, a heavy equipment dealer supplying new and used equipment to central and northern Maine. Thibodeau and his wife, Stacy, recently launched a new company, Mt. Waldo Plastics, which is the only company in Maine to manufacture snow shovels. Thibodeau is a graduate of Hampden Academy. He and Stacy live in Winterport and have two adult daughters.

Maryland

Honorable Anne Kaiser House Majority Leader Anne Kaiser was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2002. She is a member of the Ways and Means Committee, chairing the Education Subcommittee. She was appointed by Speaker Michael Busch in 2013 to serve as vice-chair of the 98 member House Democratic Caucus. She also chaired the 24 member Montgomery County House Delegation from July 2012 through December 2014. Between college and graduate school, Kaiser worked for U.S. Representative Neal Smith (D- Iowa) and for Maryland Delegate Hank Heller. She worked as an economist at the IRS from 1995 to 2002. She currently works part time at Bethesda Transportation Solutions. She also is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland teaching a course on women in politics. Kaiser received a B.A. in political science from the University of Chicago. She received master’s degrees in public policy and educational studies from the University of Michigan. Kaiser and her spouse, Nancy Lineman, live in Silver Spring.

Minnesota

Honorable Thomas Bakk Senate Majority Leader Thomas Bakk was first elected to the Senate in 2002. Before that, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. Bakk chairs the Senate’s Rules and Administration Committee. He also chairs the Rules and Administration Subcommittee on Committees. He currently is a member of the Senate Tax Committee and was chair of the Taxes Committee from 2007 to 2011. Bakk earned a B.A. from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He and his wife Laura, have four children.

Honorable Kurt Daudt Speaker of the House Kurt Daudt was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2010. He was minority leader in 2013-2014. After gaining the majority in the 2014 election, House Republicans elected Daudt as the speaker of the House. He now leads the largest House Republican Majority Caucus in over a decade. He previously served six years as an Isanti County commissioner. When he is not at the Capitol in St. Paul, Daudt supports Project 24, a nonprofit organization he helped found that builds orphanages in Kenya. He resides on the same farm his grandparents homesteaded.

Honorable Joyce Peppin House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin is serving her fourth term in the Minnesota House of Representatives having won her first election in 2004 in a three-way race. After college, Peppin worked as a campaign field representative for five legislative candidates and then became a communications specialist in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1992-1996. She went on to become communications manager and vice-president of public relations for US Bancorp. She graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with degrees in political science and speech communications. She earned her M.B.A. degree from the University of St. Thomas in 2007 and her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 2013. She and her husband, Gregg, have two children.

Montana

Honorable Scott Sales Senate President-Elect Scott Sales was first elected to the in 2012. He served in the Montana House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011, serving as speaker in 2007-2008 and minority leader in 2009- 2010. Sales has a bachelor’s degree in industrial business form Boise State University. He and his wife, Sandi, have three children.

Honorable Fred Thomas Senate Majority Leader-Elect Fred Thomas was first elected to the Montana Senate in 1996 and served until 2005. He served as majority leader for four of those years. He was re-elected to the Senate in 2012 and now serves as Senate majority leader. He previously served in the Montana House of Representatives. His professional experience includes working as a certified insurance counselor, and the branch manager of Western States Insurance Agency's locations in Hamilton and Stevensville. Thomas earned his B.S. in business and finance from Montana State University. He and his wife, Suzzie, live in Ravalli County. Nevada

Honorable Aaron Ford Senate Majority Leader-Elect Aaron Ford was elected to the in 2012 and previously served as minority leader. He was a public school math teacher before beginning his law career. He is a partner at Snell & Wilmer, LLP in Las Vegas. He is also a board member of the I Have a Dream Foundation and Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada. He earned his B.A. from Texas A&M University in interdisciplinary studies and his M.A. in international education from George Washington University. He went on to earn an M.A. in educational administration, as well as a law degree and Ph.D. in educational administration from the Ohio State University. He has his wife, Berna, are raising four children.

Honorable Speaker-Elect of the House Jason Frierson was elected to the in 2010. He has chaired the Assembly Committee on Judiciary and also served as the assistant majority leader. He previously clerked at the Nevada Supreme Court for Justice Myron E. Leavitt. He has held several legal positions including deputy attorney general and chief deputy public defender. He has worked as a football official with local high school and youth football programs. After graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno, he joined the charter class at the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law in 1998.

New Hampshire

Honorable Jeff Woodburn Senate Minority Leader Jeff Woodburn is serving his second term in the . He has the distinction of having the largest legislative district in the state, encompassing 27 percent of the state's landmass. Woodburn served in the state House of Representatives from 1988-1990 and as a top aide and campaign manager to U.S. Representative Dick Swett from 1990-1994. A love for history led him to start Historic Properties, an award-winning specialty real estate firm. He has taught in North Country schools and has written for several newspapers. Presently, he writes for New Hampshire Magazine and serves as the executive director of the Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions. Woodburn and his wife live in Dalton with their two school-aged children. They have three other adult children.

New York

Honorable Felix Ortiz Assistant Speaker of the Assembly Felix Ortiz was elected to the Assembly in 1994. He currently serves as a member of the Ways and Means, Rules, Corrections and Labor committees. He is the past chair of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force and is an active member of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. Ortiz has served as chair of Cities, Mental Health, Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and Veterans Affairs committees. He was born and raised in La Playa de Salinas, . In 1980, he became the first member of his family to move to the U.S. mainland. He served in the U.S. Army from 1986 to 1988. He received a B.S. in business administration from Boricua College and a M.P.A. from New York University.

Honorable Joseph Morelle Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle was elected to the New York Assembly in 1990 after serving six years in the Monroe County Legislature. He previously chaired the Assembly’s Insurance, Tourism, Small Business and Ethics committees. In January 2013, he was appointed majority leader of the Assembly. In that role, he is responsible for the day-to-day operational duties of the Assembly chamber including running the floor during debates. He also is a member of the Rules Committee. Morelle is a former small business owner. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from SUNY Geneseo. He and his wife, Mary Beth, have three children.

Ohio

Honorable Keith Faber Senate President Keith Faber is serving his second term in the . Before that he served in the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006. He is the principal partner with Faber and Associates. Faber earned his J.D. from the Ohio State University. He did his undergraduate work in public administration/policy with a minor in biology, graduating from Oakland University in Michigan. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Toledo. He and his wife, Andrea, have two children.

Oklahoma

Honorable John Sparks Senate Minority Leader John Sparks serves as Democratic floor leader and vice chair of the Senate Insurance Committee. He previously served as an intern for then U.S. Senator David Boren and as a legislative aide to U.S. Representative Bill Brewster. Following a long family tradition, Sparks is a member of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and Oklahoma Cattleman's Association and remains actively involved in family ranching. He attended Harvard College where he was an All Ivy League defensive tackle. He earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. Sparks is a founding partner of the Odom, Sparks & Jones law firm. He and his wife, Elizabeth, are raising their two sons in Norman where they have lived since college.

Puerto Rico

Honorable Gautier Senate President Eduardo Bhatia was sworn in as the 15th president of the Senate on Jan. 14, 2013. He is an attorney and former executive director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration Office in Washington, D.C. Bhatia was born in San Salvador, El Salvador. He received his bachelor's degree in government and public policy from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at . He was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study law, economics and politics in Santiago, Chile, for one year. He graduated from Stanford Law School, where he founded and edited the Stanford Journal of Law and Policy, an academic publication with an emphasis on the development of new laws and public policy. He and his wife, Isabel, live in San Juan.

Quebec

Honorable François Ouimet First Vice-President of the National Assembly François Ouimet was first elected to the National Assembly in 1994. Since then, he has held several key parliamentary functions including official opposition critic in important portfolios such as elementary and secondary education, justice, the Access to Information Committee, Greater Montreal and government services. Ouimet is working to facilitate and improve the National Assembly’s relations with other Canadian provinces and with the , and currently is vice- chair of the National Assembly Delegation for Relations with the United States. Ouimet holds university degrees in literature, civil law and common law. After obtaining three bachelor’s degrees and one master’s degree, Mr. Ouimet joined the Quebec Bar in 1989 and began practicing business law in Montreal.

South Dakota

Honorable Senate Assistant Majority Leader, National Policy Deb Peters was elected to the in 2010. She previously served as a state representative for six years. In the Senate, she serves as the chair of the Appropriations Committee and is a member of the Government Operations and Audit Committee. Peters is a certified public accountant and owns a business consulting company. She is a graduate of the University of South Dakota with a B.S. degree in business administration. She and her husband, Chris, have two sons. Peters is president-elect of NCSL.

Honorable Gary Cammack Senate President Pro Tem Gary Cammack was elected to the South Dakota Senate in 2014. He currently serves as president pro tempore. He previouisly served in the South Dakota House of Representatives for two terms. He is a rancher and owner of Cammack Ranch Supply.

Utah

Honorable Curt Bramble Senate President Pro Tem Curt Bramble was elected to the Utah Senate in 2000. In addition to his leadership role, he serves as chair of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Standing Committee and co-chair of the Legislative Information Technology Steering Committee. He began his college career at the University of Notre Dame, and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Brigham Young University. He founded Bramble & Company CPAs in 1986 and, in 2001, merged with Gilbert & Stewart CPAs. Bramble is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants. He and his wife, Susan, have six children. Bramble is immediate past president of NCSL.

Honorable Jim Dunnigan House Majority Leader Jim Dunnigan was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 2002. He chairs the Business and Labor Committee. He also serves as a member of the Political Subdivisions and the Business, Labor, and Economic Development Appropriations Committees. He previously served on the Taylorsville City Council from 1996 to 2002. He received a B.S. in business management from the University of Utah and currently owns his own insurance agency. He and his wife, Vicki, have two children.

Honorable Brian King House Minority Leader Brian King was elected to the House of Representatives in 2008. He was elected minority leader in 2015. He currently serves on the Commission on Federalism, Executive Appropriations Committee, Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. He is an attorney. He graduated with a B.S. from the University of Utah and a J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law. He and his wife, Alison, have four children.

Vermont

Honorable Mitzi Johnson Speaker-Elect of the House Mitzi Johnson was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002. She previously chaired the House Appropriations Committee. Her professional experience includes program and policy work for Hunger Free Vermont. In addition to being an artist and piano teacher, she is the vegetable production manager at Allenholm Farm. She received a B.S. from the University of Vermont.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Honorable Myron D. Jackson Senate President-Elect Myron Jackson is serving his second term in the U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature. He previously served as the secretary and chair of the Committee on Culture, Historic Preservation, Youth and Recreation. Jackson serves as liaison to the U.S. Department of Interior Office of Insular Affairs. He previously served as a delegate to the Virgin Islands Fifth Constitutional Convention. Jackson is a preservationist, artist and historian. He is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design in New York.

Wisconsin

Honorable Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Tyler August was elected to the in 2010. Before being elected, he was the chief of staff to former state Representative Tom Lothian. He is co-chair of the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions and serves on the Insurance Committee, Joint Legislative Council, Assembly Organization, and the Rules Committee. August attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Honorable Peter Barca Assembly Minority Leader

Peter Barca served in the Wisconsin Assembly from 1985 to 1993, and returned in 2009. He won a special election for Congess and served in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995. Afterward, he served for four years as the Midwest regional administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. He also led the National Regulatory Fairness Program and served as CEO of Northpointe Resources, a nonprofit organization focused on employment, training and rehabilitation. He also served as president of Aurora Associates International, a project management company that conducted projects in more than 25 countries. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and his M.A. in public administration and educational administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He attended graduate school at Harvard University. He and his wife, Kathy, have a son and daughter.

Honorable John Nygren Co-Chair Joint Finance Committee John Nygren was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2006. He is serving his second term as co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee. He began his professional career in financial services in 1998 and continues his work with Great Lakes Financial Management Group. Before his current career, Nygren spent more than 18 years in the restaurant industry. He eventually became the co-owner of a restaurant. John and his wife, Maggie, have three children.

Honorable Jim Steineke Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2010. In November of 2012, he was chosen by his Assembly colleagues to serve as assistant majority Leader and in 2014, he was elected as majority leader. He is a former realtor and member of the Realtors Association of Northeast Wisconsin. He served as Vandenbroek town supervisor from 2005 to 2007 and town chairman from 2007 to 2011, while also serving as Outagamie County supervisor from 2006 to 2011. Steineke attended the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh and at Milwaukee. He and his wife, Heather, have three children.

Honorable Speaker of the Assembly Robin Vos was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2004. He was selected as the 75th speaker in 2013. He served on the Racine County Board from 1994 to 2004. In addition to his legislative duties, Vos is a small business owner. He operates a variety of businesses in southeastern Wisconsin including a retail popcorn business, a car wash and rental properties. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science and political relations from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.