Appointment will give Northeast Wisconsin strong voice in statewide economic development
NEW NORTH, March 5, 2026 – New North Inc. Vice President of Talent Development Rebecca Deschane has been named chairperson of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) board of directors. She is scheduled to serve as board chair through January 2027.
WEDA, comprised of 450-plus members, is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to advancing and strengthening Wisconsin’s economy. It represents the economic development interests of both the private and public sectors through leadership on state-level initiatives, providing advocacy, networking and education to its members.
“I look forward to supporting the work of WEDA President & CEO Melissa Hunt, in conjunction with other board members, to enhance economic development in Wisconsin,” says Deschane. “As WEDA launches its 2026-28 strategic plan, our focus will be on strengthening advocacy efforts, expanding education and professional development opportunities, and fostering meaningful member connections. Our members increasingly seek strong data and emerging trend information; it is incumbent on us to provide that.”
As part of her commitment to inclusive governance, Deschane is working to bring an ex officio Tribal representative onto WEDA board later this month.
Deschane, a long-time member of WEDA, first joined the board in February 2023. She additionally has been chair of the Economic Development Women of Wisconsin (ED WOW) committee for the past two years.
At New North, Deschane coordinates and manages initiatives, projects and programming around talent development, including industry alliances in construction, information technology, and healthcare. She collaborates with local and regional partners in her talent-attraction efforts, which have included the New North Talent Hub, military-veteran attraction, and college-alumni recruitment with area institutions of higher learning. Deschane additionally has led regional upskilling initiatives such as the Microsoft/gener8tor Skills program and the NEW BOOST™ for Hidden Talent digital literacy training.
“We are tremendously proud to have Rebecca represent the New North region on a statewide level as WEDA board chair,” says Patti Habeck, president and CEO of New North Inc. “In my short time with New North, I have seen firsthand her expertise in talent development and attraction, and know that her voice will be an impactful one in Wisconsin’s economic development efforts.”
Deschane has served New North in her current role for the past five years. She previously spent a decade with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), working in legislative and public policy as well as talent attraction and development roles, implementing statewide talent strategies to meet current and future workforce needs.
A native of the New North region (Crivitz), Deschane is a graduate of Marquette University.
