Wauwatosa mayor to take county economic development post
Wauwatosa Mayor Jill Didier reportedly will announce today that she will accept a new job as Milwaukee County economic development coordinator.
WauwatosaPatch.com reported that Didier has decided to accept the position.
The City of Wauwatosa sent BizTimes a press release this morning announcing that Didier will make an announcement with Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele at 2 p.m. today in the Milwaukee County Courthouse.
WauwatosaPatch.com cited unnamed sources for the story. Abele and Didier were not available to comment this morning.
NCAA to give Roosevelt Award to Allen
The NCAA will give its 2012 Theodore Roosevelt Award, also known as “The Teddy,” to Milwaukee urban farmer and Good Food Revolution leader Will Allen.
The award is the highest honor the NCAA bestows. Each year, the award is presented to a former NCAA student-athlete for whom athletics in college and attention to physical well-being after graduation have led to a distinguished career of national significance.
Allen will receive the award Jan. 13, 2012, at the NCAA Honors Celebration during the 2012 NCAA Convention in Indianapolis.
When Allen left his family’s farm to play basketball at the University of Miami (Florida), he thought he had left the farm for good. Now, 40 years later, Allen is elbow deep in dirt again with his Growing Power initiative in Milwaukee.
“I believe that healthy communities cannot exist without healthy food systems,” Allen said. “I really value this award, because it shows that student-athletes can provide more than just entertainment, You can do something positive to impact people’s lives beyond just having them watch you play a sport. I hope other student-athletes will realize that there’s so much more to life than their sport.”
To grow healthy communities, Growing Power welcomes anyone who is interested in urban sustainable food systems, renewable energy, the environment, and of course, food, to participate in the many educational opportunities the organization offers. In particular, Growing Power provides regular trainings, resource development, technical support and outreach for limited resource farmers and socially disadvantaged communities.
"Will Allen is one of the many examples of a student-athlete who makes a difference in the world after their playing days have ended. Mr. Allen’s passion to create healthy communities by providing fresh, safe, affordable and nutritious food – regardless of economic background – is inspiring,” said NCAA president Mark Emmert. “I am pleased to present the 2012 Theodore Roosevelt Award to Mr. Allen."
Milwaukee Realtors name officers
The Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors installed its leadership team for 2012 Thursday night.
The GMAR officers installed were: Jeff Joseph, Encompass Realty Group, chairman; Tina Balaka, Shorewest Realtors Greenfield, chair-elect; Bob Larson, First Weber Group Waukesha, treasurer; Betsy Head, Realty Executives in Whitefish Bay, corporate secretary; and Steve Wiedenfeld, Shorewest Realtors, past chair.
The GMAR’s annual award winners included: Realtor of the Year, Barb McGill, First Weber Group; Lifetime Achievement Award, Peter Shuttleworth, Metro MLS Inc.; Dedicated Service Award, Jim Somers, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage; Affiliate of the Year, Alex Leykin, A+ Mortgage;
The GMAR represents more than 4,000 members involved in all aspects of the residential real estate industry.
Marquette hires Williams to be athletic director
Larry Williams has been hired to be Marquette University’s next vice president and athletic director.
Marquette University president Scott Pilarz, S.J., announced the appointment of Williams today.
Williams has been the director of athletics and recreation at the University of Portland since 2004. He will begin at Marquette on Jan. 2, 2012, reporting directly to Pilarz.
"After personally reviewing and interviewing a highly talented group of applicants and consulting with an outstanding Search Committee, I know that Larry Williams is the right choice to lead Marquette Athletics into its next great chapter," Pilarz said. "In addition to his experience and success as a leader in the world of collegiate sports, he demonstrates a true alignment with the values of a Catholic, Jesuit university, through both his commitment to competition at the elite level and his dedication to the highest ethical, personal and academic standards for our student athletes and for our entire program."
Under Williams’ leadership, the Portland Pilots won a NCAA Division I Championship in women’s soccer in 2005, and earned top 10 finishes in men’s cross country and first-ever national rankings in men’s basketball, baseball and tennis.
Under his direction, the University of Portland has consistently achieved above the NCAA prescribed Academic Progress Report baseline, with nine programs recognized in the last three years for performing in the top 10 percent in the country and individual student athlete awards including a Rhodes Scholar finalist, Fulbright Scholarship winners and numerous Academic All-America and All-Conference recognitions.
He also oversaw significant facility expansion, brand development and increased exposure through television contracts and game attendance.
Williams was a two-time all American football player at the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1985 with a bachelor of arts degree. He played professional football in the NFL from 1985 to 1993, while at the same time earning a law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1992. He then practiced law for the Indianapolis-based law firm of Baker & Daniels, before returning to Notre Dame in 1999 to work on licensing and product marketing for the Athletics Department.
"Marquette is one of the elite names in collegiate athletics. But after getting to know the people here, it was clear to me that this was a program with not only a storied history, but an extremely bright future. Just as importantly, it was a place my family and I could call home," said Williams. "As I join this community, I look forward to working with an outstanding group of coaches, staff members and student athletes, and getting to know the alumni and fans who love this great university."
Williams and his wife, Laura Lee Williams, have five children.
Allie McGuire, a 1973 alumnus, former starting guard at Marquette and son of the late coach Al McGuire, chaired the search committee for the new athletic director. McGuire is a retired executive with Fidelity Investments in Boston, Mass. Other members of the search committee included Doc Rivers, head coach of the Boston Celtics, a Marquette trustee and a 14-year NBA veteran; Dr. Margaret Callahan, dean of the College of Nursing; and Matt Mitten, professor of law and director of Marquette’s National Sports Law Institute.
"I was extremely impressed with Larry’s fierce commitment to the values that have always distinguished Marquette, and to the vision he shares with Father Pilarz – for our student athletes to have a transformational education and for our teams to succeed as national leaders in athletics," said Allie McGuire. "He’ll be a great fit at Marquette."
