Department of Workforce Development

Thursday, February 6, 2003 Governor Jim Doyle Secretary Roberta Gassman

News Media Contact Christopher Marschman 608/261-6705 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Madison – Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman today announced the appointment of Lucía Nuñez, Deputy Secretary; Larry L. Studesville, Administrative Services Administrator; Frances Huntley-Cooper, Workers Compensation Division Administrator; and Micabil Díaz-Martínez, Equal Rights Division Administrator.

"I am proud to announce the appointment of these new members of the Department of Workforce Development management team," Secretary Gassman said.

Lucía Nuñez has twenty years of experience in the non-profit social service and education sectors working with Latino and multicultural communities. Since 1999, she served as Executive Director of Centro Hispano of Dane County, an organization that seeks to empower Latino individuals and families to find employment, excel in education, and seek appropriate resources and counsel to become productive members of Dane County. She was responsible for managing the daily operations, an annual budget and working with a 12-member board of directors.

Nuñez earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Hispanic Studies from Connecticut College and a Masters in International Education from the University of Massachusetts, Center for International Education.

Gassman has re-appointed Larry L. Studesville to Administrative Services Division Administrator, a post he held for the past two years. The Administrative Services Division is responsible for managing all business functions including Finance, Budget and Planning, General Facilities Services, Human Resources, Office of Project Management and Information Technology.

Prior to joining DWD, in November 2000, Studesville worked in the energy industry for 27 years, 22 of which he worked in different capacities for Wisconsin Power and Light Company (now known as Alliant Energy). During this time, Studesville gained broad managerial experience including customer relations, sales and marketing, as well as several administrative management positions. Studesville’s other experience includes Vice President and Director of Midwest Operations for Planergy, in Chicago, IL; Vice President for Energy Services with First Power LLC, in Muskegon Michigan; and Senior Associate for Business Development for MSB Energy Associates, in Middleton, WI.

Frances Huntley-Cooper has 28 years of experience in the field of social work. During this time she was a Social Work Supervisor for the Dane County Department of Human Services and a Foster Care Specialist in the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services.

In 1991, Huntley-Cooper made history by becoming the first African American to be elected mayor of a Wisconsin city when she was elected mayor of Fitchburg. She has served as President of TEMPO Madison and former President of NAACP – Madison Chapter.

Huntley-Cooper earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Service from North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University and a Masters of Science in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin School of Social Work. She also earned a Masters in Public Policy & Administration from the University of Wisconsin LaFollette Institute.

Micabil Díaz-Martínez comes to DWD from the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Foundation, Inc., where he served as the legal director of the state affiliate of the national ACLU, preserving the civil liberties and civil rights of all Wisconsin residents.

Prior to this, Díaz-Martínez served as the affirmative action/equal employment opportunity officer for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. He also served as an associate attorney for Legal Services of Northeastern Wisconsin, Inc., where he handled a number of legal disciplines including civil rights law. Díaz-Martínez also spent five years serving as a military attorney for the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, where he served as a legal representative on behalf of the U.S. Army to civilian communities and their agencies both in the United States and overseas.

Díaz-Martínez earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science and a law degree from Marquette University. He is also fluent in reading, writing and speaking English, Spanish and French.

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