Greater Oshkosh EDC: Elects new board members

April 10, 2020 – The Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce six new members, Javad Ahmad, Joel Burow, David Porter, Kevin Ralofsky, Gina Schwanke, and Courtney Sheers to its Board of Directors, as well as, their new committee chairs: Will Deppiesse (Revolving Loan Fund Committee), Diane Penzenstadler (Board Development Committee), and Dan Shea (Industrial Development Committee).

Javad Ahmad

Javad Ahmad is the president and COO of Smart IS. Ahmad serves as the chairman of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and also as a board member for the NEW IT Alliance. He is an alumnus of University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied Marketing and MIS and completed Executive Education certificates.

Joel Burow

Joel Burow is a veteran of 30+ years in the energy industry and serves as the Manager of Economic Development for WEC Energy Group. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is his Alma Mater, where he earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering. In previous roles, Burow oversaw instrumental business development activities.

David Porter

David Porter joins the Greater Oshkosh EDC board as Administrator for the Village of Winneconne. He earned both bachelor and master’s degrees from Harvard University, where he studied, respectively, History and Public Policy. In 2015, Porter Co-Founded Tri-Sector Advisors.

Kevin Ralofsky

Kevin Ralofsky is the President and CEO at Verve, a Credit Union. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton and his MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University as well as several post-graduate courses from the Wharton School, Cornell University, and Darden Business School.

Gina Schwanke

Gina Schwanke is the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at Amcor with 21 years of professional finance and accounting experience. She earned her BS in Accounting from University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Schwanke has varied financial experience from working as a CPA in public accounting and auditing, as well as industry specific experience in transportation and manufacturing finance.

Courtney Shears

Courtney Shears moved to Oshkosh 24 years ago from a small town to attend Nursing School at UW-Oshkosh. She has 21 years of experience working at Ascension Mercy Hospital. Shears has a BSN and an MBA and is currently the Director of Patient Care Services at Mercy.  Shears is eager to share ideas on how to continue to improve and grow the Oshkosh community as well as strengthen our healthcare options available.

Current Greater Oshkosh EDC Board Members are:

Brad Baumann, CLA (Board Chairman); Ken Arneson, Evergreen (Vice Chair); Tom Castle, Castle-Pierce (Immediate Past Board Chairman); Stan Leedle, Nicolet National Bank (Treasurer); Javad Ahmad, Smart IS; Amy Albright, Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau; Joel Burow, WEC Energy Group; Vickie Cartwright, Oshkosh Area School District; Kristin Fassbinder, Oshkosh Corporation; Jim Fletcher, UW Oshkosh; Chris Golem, Dynamic Drinkware; Mark Harris, Winnebago County; Steve Hoopman, First Weber; Rob Keller, Town of Black Wolf; Dale Walker, Fox Valley Technical College; Darren Lett, CR Meyer; John Newman, Aurora Health Care; Diane Penzenstadler, 44º North Advertising & Design; David Porter, Village of Winneconne; Kevin Ralofsky, Verve, a Credit Union; Mark Rohloff, City of Oshkosh; Gina Schwanke, Amcor Flexibles North America; Courtney Shears, Ascension Health Care; Wayne Trembly, Oshkosh Coil Spring; Bill Wyman, Oshkosh Area Community Foundation

The Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation is a private-public organization committed to providing leadership, direction, coordination, and services to advance economic development in the greater Oshkosh area. Greater Oshkosh EDC accomplishes this mission through building upon greater Oshkosh’s strong economic base of existing enterprises and industries, diversifying the economic base by encouraging new industries, and further developing businesses that fill gaps and improve the regional quality of life – all aimed at raising the economic well-being of the greater Oshkosh area and its residents.

For more information about Greater Oshkosh EDC and its initiatives visit: www.GreaterOshkosh.com