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| Friday, April 9, 1999 Governor Tommy G. Thompson Secretary Linda Stewart | News Media Contact DWD News Office 608/267-4400 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784 |
Kussart named to
key DWD position
Madison, Wis. -- Secretary Linda Stewart today announced the appointment of Gene Kussart as Workforce Excellence Division administrator in the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD).
He replaces June Suhling, appointed by the Governor earlier this year as Deputy Secretary of the State Regulation and Licensing Department after 12 years in her DWD post.
The division administers the comprehensive employment and training system known as the Partnership for Full Employment, and provides services through Job Centers located throughout the state.
It also developed and manages the JobNet computer system which employers and jobseekers can access from anywhere in the world via the Internet to find and fill jobs in Wisconsin. (Jobnet ‘s address is
<http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/jobnet>.)The division operates with a budget of $95.6 million a year and a staff of 475.
Kussart served most recently as Executive Assistant in the State Department of Transportation. He earlier held that same position in the old Departments of Industry, Labor and Human Relations and Health and Social Services.
He was named Dec. 29 by the Governor as his Special Assistant for the Governor’s Initiative on Building Tomorrow’s Workforce, an appointment which he also continues to hold.
"As a DWD division administrator, he will be an important member of the Department’s workforce development team, in addition to being responsible for the day-to-day operation of the division," Stewart said.
"As Special Assistant to the Governor, he will play an influential role in assuring coordination among all state agencies, and will undertake special projects for the Governor."
The division administrator’s appointment is effective immediately Stewart said. Kussart’s annual salary is $89,001.
Eric Baker has been the acting division administrator and will continue as deputy administrator.
The Department has an annual budget of $1.3 billion and about 2,400 staff. It was established in mid-1996 as part of a reorganization of state government. Many of its programs previously were assigned to the Department of Industry, Labor and HumanRelations, which was abolished.
In addition to Kussart’s unit, DWD has seven other divisions -- Connecting Education and Work, Economic Support, Equal Rights, Unemployment Insurance, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Worker’s Compensation, in addition to Administrative Services.