Experience

U.S. Air Force - Intelligence Operations
While much of the work in this period was classified in nature, it allowed Jack to develop a world view from a far broader perspective than that otherwise available, and it gave him a sense of scale and importance of national security. It was here that Jack developed an ability to quickly assimilate facts and develop a rational solution to a wide range of problems. Jack is a Vietnam-era veteran.

College - UW-Platteville - B.S. Construction Management / Business Minor
Finishing a four-year degree brought home the value of hard work and focus. Jack finished his degree in 3-1/2 years, with a 3.88 CGPA on a 4.0 scale.

Building Inspector - City of Platteville
Because interest rates were high when Jack graduated, little construction was occurring. He wrote and passed all of the exams to qualify as a building inspector. As luck would have it, Platteville needed a building inspector about the time he graduated. This work gave Jack an appreciation for city operations and it developed in him an understanding of what citizens want from city hall, and an understanding of interdepartmental workings.

Customer Service and Market Management - Wisconsin Power and Light
Starting with a position as a customer service representative in the Tomah office of WP&L, Jack quickly progressed through a series of promotions into progressively broader and more difficult assignments. In his final position with WP&L, while serving as a market manager, Jack had an $8 million dollar budget and 30 employees. In this position Jack directed the development and implementation of marketing plans to achieve corporate energy conservation and gas sales objectives. He also honed his skills in working across departments to achieve corporate-level objectives.

Madison School Board - Budget & Planning Committee
For two years Jack was a citizen (not elected) member of this committee, working with $220-225 million budgets. In this position Jack's appreciation for diversity grew, and he was involved in a broad range of policy issues arising out of student needs. While in this role Jack was instrumental in identifying computer training standards for new educators as a part of the recruitment process.

Estimator, Project Manager, and Process Consultant
Working with two area mechanical firms, Jack implemented a host of process improvements to refine an approach to bidding and cost controls. For one firm, he implemented an enterprise-level software system, reducing operational expenses over an eight month period by about $250,000.

Parent
No experience is as valuable as that derived from being a dad and husband, and it is among the toughest and most rewarding work of all. Jack is blessed to have a family, complete with all of the normal active family challenges, including two careers.

If you have a question for Jack, click here or email him at jack@hankesformayor.com