Title
Report of the Mayor submitting resident committee appointments (introduction 1-13-2026; action 1-27-2026).
Body
I hereby submit, for your consideration and approval, the following resident committee appointments.
*2/3 vote required for confirmation of non-city residents.
Pursuant to Sec. 3.30(2) of the Madison General Ordinances, "...provision shall not apply to a member of or candidate for appointment to a City of Madison board, committee or commission where, in the judgement of the mayor and two-thirds (2/3) of the Common Council, the best interests of the city will be served by the appointment of a non-resident member who is particularly well qualified by reasons of education, background, and experience with Madison business concerns or other Madison-based employers and the Mayor specifies fully to the Common Council the reasons why he or she is recommending such appointment."
COMMUNITY RESOURCES COMMITTEE
LAURA J. DRESSER (6th A.D.) - appoint to the position of Workforce Development/Employment-Related Services Representative. Laura Dresser is a clinical associate professor teacher/researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Rosenbaum School of Social Work and the associate director of High Road Strategy Center (former Center on Wisconsin Strategy).
TERM EXPIRES: 4-18-2028
BECCA A. COLLINS (18th A.D.) - appoint to the position of Workforce Development/Employment-Related Services Representative. Becca Collins is the programs director of the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin.
TERM EXPIRES: 4-20-2027
Correction - updating position and term
ROBIN SERENO (3rd A.D.) - appoint to the position of Social Service Needs Representative. This a correction to a previous appointment report which erroneously indicated that Robin Sereno was being appointed to the position of Workforce Development/Employment-Related Services Representative. Robin Sereno is the director of day treatment services at Family Service Madison and previously served on the boards of the Homeless Services Consortium and Wisconsin Housing First.
TERM EXPIRES: 4-20-2027
AD HOC MADISON LAKEWAY PUBLIC ART SELECTION COMMITTEE
BETHANY M. JUREWICZ (15th A.D.) - appoint to the position or Current/Recent Madison Arts Commission Member. Bethany Jurewicz is a recent member of the Madison Arts Commission, having served from 10/2018 to 10/2025. She is the director of business operations at Garver Events.
*FAISAL ABDU’ALLAH, Shorewood Hills - appoint to the position of Board of Park Commission Member/President Designee.
Rationale: Faisal Abdu’Allah an artist who has had several showings, including at the Tate Modern, Studio Museum Harlem and The Royal Academy. He is the Chazen Family Distinguished Chair in Art and Creative Arts Community Faculty Director at UW-Madison. He is also a professor at the University of Wisconsin. He previously served on the Madison Arts Commission.
Currently serving on: State Street Campus Garage/Hawthorne Court Public Art Ad Hoc Committee
BRENDA L. BAKER (13 A.D.) - appoint to the position of Madison LakeWay Partners Representative. Brenda Baker is a practicing artist and the co-CEO of the Madison Children's Museum. She is currently serving as chair of the Madison LakeWay Partners board.
KYLA H. S. BEARD (6th A.D.) - appoint to the position of Madison LakeWay Partners Representative. Kyla Beard is an enrolled Ho-Chunk Tribal Member. She is a founding member of the Teejop Community History Project. She works as a cage manager at Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison. She currently serves on the board of Mundo Esperanza.
TONI SIKES (4th A.D.) - appoint to the position of Public Artist/Public Art Professional. Toni Sikes is the founder and CEO of CODAworx - a leader in commissioned art. She is a public art professional involved in assisting artists in making a living through their art.
CHARLOTTE A. CUMMINS (20th A.D.) - appoint to the position of Public Artist/Public Art Professional. Charlotte Cummins is an artist/art educator. She spent 12 years with the Madison Metropolitan School District. She is currently the director of community partnerships with the Madison Children’s Museum.
MONONA TERRACE BOOKING EVENT ASSISTANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
JASON E. SALUS (18th A.D.) - appoint to the position of Madison Area Hotel & Lodging Association succeeding Tom Ziarnik. Jason Salus is the general manager of the Best Western Park Hotel on the Capitol Square.
TERM EXPIRES: OPEN-ENDED
SISTER CITY COLLABORATION COMMITTEE
Per MGO 33.33(3) - “Because resident participation of the Sister City Collaboration Committee goes beyond the boundaries of the City, up to twenty-five percent (25%) of appointees to the committee may be non-residents of Madison without the need for a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council for confirmation.”
ALIEU JALLOW, Sun Prairie - appoint to the remainder of a three-year term to the position of Sister City Representative succeeding Lamin Drammeh. Alieu Jallow serves as vice-president of the Madison-Kanifing Sister City Committee.
TERM EXPIRES: 2-1-2028
Respectfully submitted,
Satya Rhodes-Conway
Mayor