Contact: Laura Smith, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle announced today the appointment of Aaron Olver as the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, effective Monday, April 19, 2010. Olver, the department’s current Deputy Secretary, has been an integral part of the agency’s management team since 2003.
“Aaron Olver has been a key leader at the Department of Commerce for seven years, and is a close partner with Wisconsin’s business leaders in creating jobs, attracting new companies and helping existing companies expand,” Governor Doyle said. “Nothing is more important than helping our businesses create jobs, and Aaron’s talent and experience will be a strong asset as we continue our efforts to grow Wisconsin’s economy.”
Olver has served as Commerce Deputy Secretary since 2007. In Governor Doyle’s first term, Olver served as the department’s Executive Assistant. He also served on each of Governor Doyle’s transition teams.
Prior to joining Governor Doyle’s Administration, Olver was management consultant with McKinsey and Company in Chicago, where his practice focused on business development and growth strategy. Olver speaks regularly on economic development, manufacturing, technology, entrepreneurship, and management in the public sector. Olver earned an undergraduate degree in Economics from UW-Madison and a graduate degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University, Oxford, UK, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
Olver has been instrumental in the development of many of Governor Doyle’s economic initiatives, including helping:
* Develop the Governor’s economic strategy, Grow Wisconsin;
* Create the Angel and Venture Capital Tax Credits through Accelerate Wisconsin (Act 255) to assist early stage start-up companies and entrepreneurs;
* Launch the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network to help entrepreneurs create new ventures, grow existing businesses, and create new jobs;
* Work with the Wisconsin Technology Council to create the Wisconsin Angel Network and the Governor’s Business Plan Contest to increase early-stage investing and high-tech business growth;
* Reform numerous Commerce programs and consolidate Commerce’s tax credit programs to provide more flexibility for businesses as they expand and create jobs; and
* Develop the Enterprise Zone and JOBS tax credit programs – two new powerful economic development tools that have resulted in many of the Governor’s recent economic successes, including helping Mercury Marine and Republic Airlines create and retain thousands of jobs in Wisconsin.
“Governor Doyle has been focused on creating jobs and growing Wisconsin’s economy since day one,” Olver said. “I’m incredibly proud to be on his economic team, and I look forward to this opportunity to lead the Department of Commerce and continue our work to help businesses expand and bring new companies and good-paying jobs to Wisconsin.”
Governor Doyle also announced today the appointment of Zach Brandon, current Commerce Executive Assistant, as the department’s new Deputy Secretary, effective Monday, April 19, 2010.
