Gov. Tony Evers announced that Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions Secretary Cheryll Olson-Collins will retire Feb. 3 and he will appoint Wendy Baumann to the position.
Baumann currently serves as president and chief visionary officer at the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiatives Corporation, a position she has held since 1994. Prior to her role at WWBIC, Baumann served as the director of small business development at the Milwaukee Enterprise Center, executive director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Wisconsin, director of development and research for the Council for the Spanish Speaking Inc., and as a program coordinator for Goodwill Industries of Greater Milwaukee.
Baumann has served on several boards and commissions including the Association of Enterprise Opportunity, the Association of Women’s Business Centers, the Consumer Federation of America- America Saves Initiative, and as chair of the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy and Capability.
Baumann earned a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and later earned a master’s degree in exceptional education from UW-Milwaukee.
Before being appointed DFI secretary, Secretary Olson-Collins previously served as DFI deputy secretary and has held several leadership positions at the agency since 2007.
