39th ANNUAL DBE WORKSHOP AND NETWORKING SUMMIT
SPEAKERS
In September 2024, Governor Tony Evers appointed Kristina Boardman to serve as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). WisDOT is one of the largest state agencies, with more than 3,200 employees and a biennial budget of more than $8 billion.
The department supports all modes of transportation, including state highways, local roads, railroads, public transit systems, airports, and harbors. In addition, the department includes the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which serves about 50,000 customers each week, and the Division of State Patrol that enforces laws and assists motorists throughout the state.
Kristina’s public service career began with the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1995. She transitioned to WisDOT in 2005 and held previous positions including Deputy Secretary, DMV Administrator, DMV Deputy Administrator, and the Director of DMV Field Services.
Kristina enjoys both policy and operations work, and especially appreciates the rewarding work of serving the public through the implementation of new programs.
Kristina plays an active role at the regional and national levels and served as Chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) International Board of Directors for the 2022-23 federal fiscal year. Kristina has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Kristina and her husband live in Sun Prairie and have two adult children.
Rebecca Burkel leads a division of more than 1,300 employees who work throughout Wisconsin overseeing the development, maintenance, and operation of the state highway system. DTSD is comprised of five regions and six bureaus. Rebecca grew up in the Green Bay area and earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. Her WisDOT career began as an environmental coordinator in 1993.
She was promoted several times to managerial positions, most recently serving as deputy administrator before her 2019 appointment to administrator. Throughout her time at WisDOT, Rebecca has focused on process improvement, innovation, efficiency, and consistency of policy application among DTSD’s functional, technical and regional areas. Rebecca’s honors and achievements include honors from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve recognizing her efforts to help balance responsibilities for staff called away on military duties. She’s also a past honorable mention for the Virginia Hart Award, which recognizes exemplary women in state government.
Scott Lawry, Deputy Secretary
Tondra Davis is the Director of the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program (SDP), whose mission is to certify minority (MBE), woman (WBE), and service-disabled veteran-owned (DVB) businesses to give them a better opportunity to do business with the State of Wisconsin. She has proudly served in this role since 2019.
While under Tondra’s leadership, Wisconsin attained a record 6.34% diverse spend, spent a record $192M with MBE and DVB businesses, streamlined certification processes, revitalized the SDP website, grew DVB certifications by over 50%, and reached a record 1,400 certifications. Tondra recognizes the important role diverse businesses play in helping to close economic, social, health, and educational gaps in local communities, Wisconsin, and the United States. This is why she and her staff are committed to certifying diverse businesses and training them to successfully navigate the State procurement process.
Tondra has been married over 25 years to Norman Davis. They have 3 children. She is a UW-Madison Alum with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering. She received her Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certification in 2022 and is a small business owner.
A President and Chief Problem Solver of Abaxent, LLC, a 20+ year-old, certified MBE/WBE technology solutions company.
With over 40 years of technical and business experience, she has specialized in development of business startups, new services, and process improvement, with experience across a variety of industries including healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, and construction.
Adonica has served in technical, sales and management positions at GM, GE Medical Systems, IBM, and AO Smith Engineering Division, as well as founding multiple Professional Services businesses.
Adonica received her Master of Engineering degree in Biomedical/ Electrical Engineering from Marquette University and her B.S. in Computer Science from Missouri School of Science and Technology. Adonica is a Professor Emeritus from Alverno College Business School and is the creator of Computing and Information Technology and Business Analytics degrees. Her sabbatical research was in AI and Machine Learning.
Notable service: Entrepreneur in Residence at Marquette University, Minority Business Economic Input Committee 1st Vice Chair for North Central Minority Supplier Development Council, and Ambassador for Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (Wisconsin), Board Member of National Association of Minority Contractors, African Heritage International, Appointed WI Automated Vehicle External (WAVE) Advisory Committee, Enterprising Women Advisory Board, UW-Green Bay EDI Subcommittee and UW Erdman Madison Business School.
Membership: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Women in Technology, Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Northeastern Wi Manufacturing Association & the U.S. National Black Chamber.
She is an author and thought leader that speaks on the future of women and minorities in STEM.
Bill Mohr, WisDOT
Cua (Cece) Xiong is currently a Compliance Analyst with WisDOT Office of Business Opportunity Equity and Compliance (OBOEC). She joined OBOEC in May 2021 as a Compliance Program Specialist. Cece also manages a handful of projects in the Southwest region when she is not assisting with Labor Development efforts or AASHTOWare Project Civil Rights & Labor (AWP CRL). Before coming to WisDOT, Cece spent over 5 years in Policies and Procedures in the private sector. She is a UW-Madison Alum. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and has visited over 15 countries to date.
David Castleberg, Design and Construction Automation Supervisor at WisDOT’s Division of Transportation System Development (DTSD)
David Castleberg is a professional engineer with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Bureau of Project Development office in Madison, Wisconsin. David has been with the department of transportation for 36 years, where he has served as a construction project engineer, construction oversight engineer, project development supervisor, and for the last 27 years as the design and construction automation supervisor that includes the role of AASHTOWare Project (AWP) Business Administrator for the state of Wisconsin. He has been involved with management of the AASHTOWare suite of products since 1994. He was part of the team to be the first state to implement electronic bidding using Bid Express in 2000, led the implementation of AWP Preconstruction, AWP Construction, and is assisting with the implementation of AWP Materials and AWP Civil Rights and Labor.
Deborah Seip started her career with WisDOT in November2024 as a Labor Development Specialist with the Office of Business Opportunity and Equity Compliance (OBOEC) Labor Compliance Section. Her main role is overseeing the Highway Construction Workforce Partnership-North (HCWP) along with WisDOT’s Highway Construction Skills Training (HCST) program in northern Wisconsin. The focus will be on the I-41 corridor project, the Blatnik Bridge and Tribal areas with the recent grant award from the Federal Highway Administration.
Dennis Winters is a nationally recognized expert on human resource challenges in the competitive global economic environment. Mr. Winters has presented on the increasing value of talent to numerous audiences, including the Milken Global Conference, and the Society of Business Editors and Writers.
Dennis has expertise in economic analysis, modeling and forecasting; encompassing everything from designing commodity derivative strategies to long-term policy initiative scenario assessments. Mr. Winters’ areas of focus include regional and national macroeconomics, energy and labor markets, and economic impact analysis.
Dennis has been a consulting economist for over thirty years including senior positions at Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates (WEFA), DRI / McGraw-Hill (now combined into IHS Global Insights). He was Vice President and Director of Research for NorthStar Economics. Mr. Winters has served as an advisor to private industry, government agencies, and elected local, state, and federal officials. Mr. Winters has testified before governmental investigative bodies.
His current primary position is as the Chief Economist at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, He is also the Director of the Bureau of Workforce Information and Technical Support, and Labor Market Information Director.
He has authored many studies on economic development in Wisconsin including the award-winning Northeast Wisconsin Economic Opportunities Study, Wisconsin’s Economy in the Year 2010, Wisconsin High-Tech Opportunities, Economic Development Strategies for Neighboring States. Dennis also illustrates the unmatched economic returns on investment in quality early childhood development programs.
Dennis Winters was educated at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and Colorado State University.
Derek Mosley, JD graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1995. After graduation he served as an Assistant District Attorney for Milwaukee County from 1995-2002. As an Assistant District Attorney, he represented the State of Wisconsin in over 1,000 criminal prosecutions. In 2002, Mr. Mosley was appointed Municipal Court Judge in Milwaukee. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest African American to be appointed judge in the State of Wisconsin. For ten years Mr. Mosley served as the Chief Judge of the Milwaukee Municipal Court. In 2023, Mr. Mosley became the Director of the Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education at Marquette University Law School.
Judge Mosley sits on the Board of Directors of several organizations including Froedtert Hospital, the Urban Ecology Center, the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee, Safe & Sound, Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, the United Way Diversity Leadership Committee, and Transcenter for Youth. He has been a lecturer at both Marquette University Law School as well as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He sits on the Supreme Court of Wisconsin’s Judicial Education Committee. He received the Leaders in the Law Award from the Wisconsin Law Journal. He was inducted into the Milwaukee Community Journal’s Academy of Legends, named one of the Philanthropic 5 by the United Way, recipient of the Dean Howard B. Eisenberg Public Service Award from Marquette University Law School, voted “Jurist of the Year” by the Justinian Society of Lawyers, Professional of the Year by ONEMKE & The United Way, named Law Enforcement Official of the Year by Safe & Sound, received the William C. Frye Civic Engagement Award from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, was named “Milwaukeean of the ear” and “Milwaukee’s Most Trusted Public Official” by the Shepherd Express, was inducted into the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame, and received the Robert H. Friebert Social Justice Award from the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Judge Mosley routinely speaks both nationally and internationally about Unconscious Bias and Black History. Also, as a kidney transplant recipient, he is an ardent supporter of Donate Life Wisconsin, the National Kidney Foundation, and Versiti (formerly the Blood Center of Wisconsin). He currently serves as a Donate Life Hollywood advisor to the television and movie industries to promote accurate depictions of organ donation and transplant on television and in movies. In his spare time,
Judge Mosley is a local Milwaukee foodie and served as a 2022 James Beard Judge for the James Beard Foundation. Judge Mosley was recently honored by the Milwaukee Press Club with the “Headliner of the Year” Award in May.
Glenn D. Fulkerson, Division Administrator
FHWA Wisconsin Division
In June 2019, Glenn Fulkerson became the Division Administrator for the FHWA Wisconsin Division. Prior to that, Glenn had served as the Assistant Division Administrator (ADA) in the Illinois Division since 2001.
Glenn began his career with FHWA in 1985. Upon completing the Highway Engineer Training Program, he was assigned to the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division in Northern Virginia where he served as a Roadway Design Engineer, Bridge Design Engineer and as head of the Bridge Inspection Unit. In 1996, he became the Division Bridge Engineer in the Missouri Division.
Glenn has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in civil engineering from The George Washington University. He is also a certified NHI instructor for the Conducting Effective Program Reviews (CEPR) and the Writing Effective Program Reviews (WEPR) courses.
Jackie Q. Carter was selected in early 2023 by Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson as director of Port Milwaukee. In her role, Carter directs commercial and recreational operations at the city’s municipal port and oversees a staff of 21. She also works with business owners and government leaders to increase local and regional trade through maritime commerce. Prior to joining the port, she worked in the local nonprofit and public sector for more than 20 years.
James Bender, Innovation and Technology Manager at WisDOT’s Division of Transportation System Development (DTSD).
James Bender leads the Division’s Innovation Program, focusing on research, financial impact analysis, and implementation recommendations for DTSD and its partners. He also leads the Technology Program, organizing and directing key processes and activities, and driving implementation efforts. James collaborates with a remarkable team to coordinate and lead projects with division-wide impacts, including Geographical Information System (GIS), records and content management, process improvement, technology, and application support.
Jennifer Murray, A.I.C.P. is the Director for the Bureau of Transit, Local Roads, Railroads & Harbors at Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The bureau guides mobility decisions and provides local transportation investment support. Jen has worked for WisDOT for 23 years in transportation planning, traffic forecasting and management and has a Master of Architecture degree from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Marguerite Givings has served as a Labor Development Specialist with the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) in the Office of Business Opportunity and Equity Compliance since May of 2023. Marguerite oversees WisDOT’s Highway Construction Skills Training (HCST) program, a certified Pre-Apprenticeship training that prepares individuals for careers in Wisconsin’s heavy highway and road construction industry with specific focus on increasing the workforce of women, minorities, and disadvantaged individuals. In addition to traveling the state to present certificates at graduations, Marguerite provides consistent contact for participants and training providers while working to strengthen the HCST program through rebrand updates and outreach, helping the training receive national attention in 2024. Marguerite presents labor development initiatives at conferences and events throughout Wisconsin, including the WTBA-WisDOT Contractor-Engineer Conference and the Annual DBE Workshop & Networking Summit. She is chair of the Labor Sub-Committees in the Northeast and Southeast regions and provides labor data reports on WisDOT projects. Before joining the WisDOT OBOEC team Marguerite was an Unemployment Insurance Appeals Associate with the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), processing unemployment appeal hearings and working in conjunction with Administrative Law Judges and claims specialist.
Merrill Mechler-Hickson has served as the WisDOT Local Programs & Finance Section Chief since June 2020 and has served in the Local Programs & Finance Section since June 2016. He has a bachelor’s degree in history/archaeology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs.
Mike Johnson, Vice President of Benefits
Mike Johnson joined Hausmann Group in 2018 and brings a wealth of employee benefits knowledge and experience to the team. He recognizes that employee benefits are often one of the top three expenses for a business but benefits also directly impact employees’ everyday lives. From his point of view, the world of insurance has become seen as insensitive to the needs of employees and their families. To combat this, he aims to create a win-win situation for employees and employers.
Mike knows that the best problem he can solve is one he can identify proactively and transparently. By looking 2-3 years out and addressing any type of cost or compliance concerns head on, he can help his clients, and their employees achieve their goals. He works to build repeatable processes that address his clients’ benefit costs, compliance, and communications.
Besides employee benefits, one thing Mike can’t stop talking about is his family. He enjoys cooking weekend breakfasts for his wife, Shannon, and their three children, Cade, Atalie, and Quinn. He also enjoys fishing, hunting, and golfing in the great outdoors, and is a big Wisconsin sports fan. “Wisconsinite” describes Mike to a tee.
Mike is proud to be recognized as a member of the In Business Magazine “40 under 40.” He gives back to the community, through his role as Vice President of Membership for the Greater Madison Area Society for Human Resource Management, while also participating on the Advisory Board for Wisconsin Recruiters.
Pete Coffaro is the Director of Public Engagement at the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). In this capacity, he manages a host of public engagement and support functions aimed at maximizing the use of District resources including managing the procurement and supplier diversity function, managing, and executing the workforce and business development investments, information and outreach, and the marketing and sales of Milorganite. He has worked in the nonprofit and public sector for over thirty years, and prior to his role at MMSD he served in several leadership capacities at Employ Milwaukee, the State of Wisconsin’s largest workforce board.
Dr. Sabrina W. Robins, Executive Vice President at Abaxent LLC, is a workforce development strategist who focuses on helping DBEs build cybersecurity readiness to meet CMMC Level 1 requirements for government contracting. With over two decades of experience in workforce development and organizational strategy, she guides DBEs in creating sustainable cyber-ready teams that meet prime contractors’ supply chain requirements.
As the Chief Architect of B.O.O.S.T. (Building Opportunities for Overlooked Sustainable Talent), her expertise addresses the critical workforce challenges DBEs face in achieving and maintaining cybersecurity compliance for CMMC Level 1. Dr. Robins, who holds a Ph.D. in American Government, develops practical training frameworks and implementation strategies that enable DBEs to build strong cybersecurity cultures while meeting prime contractors’ requirements.
Named one of the “28 Most Influential African Americans in Wisconsin,” Dr. Robins brings insights on how DBEs can develop their workforce to achieve and maintain cybersecurity compliance through effective training and staff development, positioning them as trusted partners in government contracting supply chains.
Scott Schoenmann has been serving as the Director for the Bureau of State Highway Programs since October 2023. Prior to becoming the Director, Scott served in a number of leadership roles over the course of his almost 15-year career in the transportation industry including Program Development and Analysis Chief and Project Development Supervisor. Prior to joining WisDOT in 2016, Scott worked as a Project Engineer for a consulting firm on the I-41 Expansion project in Green Bay.
Scott is a lifelong Wisconsin resident and proud Wisconsinite. He grew up in the Stoughton area before attending UW-Platteville where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and is a registered Professional Engineering in Wisconsin.
Stephanie Mertens joined WisDOT Local Roads Program & Finance Section in September 2023 as the TAP/CMAQ Statewide Program Manager. Prior to joining WisDOT, Stephanie attended and received her master’s from the UW-Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs. Steph has a diverse professional background spanning state government, non-profit fundraising, and consulting. She is committed to enhancing micro-mobility within the State and effective stakeholder collaboration. Beyond work, she enjoys exploring the many paths and trails in Madison either running or biking.
Stjepan Mikulić is the founder of AI in AEC, a global training provider serving architects, engineers, and construction professionals in over 60 countries. Stjepan worked as a Constructing Architect at Europe’s largest engineering practice Sweco, and as a Project BIM Lead in the world-renowned architectural studio BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group). AI in AEC maintains the world’s largest database of AI tools for the AEC industry, the AEC AI Hub, accessible to everyone for free and recognized by more than 22k LinkedIn professionals.
Tim serves as Executive Director of Infrastructure Business Development for the National Association of Minority Contractors – Wisconsin Chapter (NAMC-WI). In this role, Tim manages the organization’s expansion of capacity building resources, workforce development, and strategic relationship building opportunities to benefit Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Small Business Enterprises (SBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) in highway construction to achieve readiness and to deliver substantial value in participation on major infrastructure projects.
Tim is Founder and President of Tim McMurtry International LLC, a business consultancy specializing in personal development coaching and training, government affairs, multicultural outreach, business-to-business marketing and community and corporate relations. Previously, Tim served as Public Relations & Brand Manager at Employ Milwaukee, the local workforce development board serving Milwaukee County. Employ Milwaukee convenes leaders from the business, economic and workforce development, education and government sectors to develop workforce solutions that promote regional economic growth and employment for all job seekers.
Tim also serves as Associate and North Campus Pastor at World Outreach Center in Milwaukee, serves as Wisconsin State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), the largest grass-roots pro-Israel advocacy group in America with over 11 million members nationwide.
Tim received his BA in Communication from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee and resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife, Cheryl, and two children.
Todd Heinz
Director – Enterprise Security Risk Management
Heartland Business Systems
Todd Heinz has over 30 years of professional and executive experience in risk management, information security, business continuity, and other IT and organizational practices. At Heartland Business Systems, Todd has led the Project Management Office (PMO), was Director of the Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM) Practice and currently leads the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Practice. Todd is a Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), a CMMC Certified Assessor (CCA), and was awarded a Masters Achievement in Business Resilience.
