Speaker Huebsch Announces Public Members of I.T. Task Force



May 11, 2007

Madison… Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) and Representative Phil Montgomery (R-Green Bay) announced the eight private-sector members of the Speaker’s Task Force on Information Technology Failures. Along with eight legislative members, the task force will explore a number of failed information technology projects undertaken by the state of Wisconsin, and look to successes in both the private and public sectors to find working solutions.

“This bipartisan task force will work to make sure that the I.T. failures that have plagued our state are a thing of the past,” Huebsch said. “Drawing from the expertise of both the public and private sector, I am confident that the task force will be able to move Wisconsin forward, and explain and correct the waste of more than $170 million in junked technology projects.”

The public members of the task force will be:

• Tom Andreoli – CIO, Schreiber Foods (Green Bay)
• Tim Averbeck – Senior IT Manager, Business Objects (La Crosse)
• Steven Haroldson – Former CIO, Cuna Mutual Group (Mount Horeb)
• Jim King – CEO, Skyward Inc. (Stevens Point)
• Steve Lipton – Partner, Grant Funded Programs, WIPFLI LLP (Madison)
• Tin Nuckles – Owner, Nuckles Law Firm (Wausau)
• Kirk Strong – President, Smart Interactive Media (Cedarburg)
• John Vanderheyden – VP, Technology Support M&I Bank (Milwaukee)

These public members will join the legislative members of the task force, who will be: Rep. Montgomery (Chair), Rep. Sue Jeskewitz (R-Menomonee Falls), Rep. Don Pridemore (R-Hartford), Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon), Rep. Jeff Wood (R-Chippewa Falls), Rep. Louis Molepske (D-Stevens Point), Rep. Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee) and Rep. Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville).

“The taxpayers of Wisconsin deserve accountability for the state’s IT failures,” Montgomery said. “Our task force will look at ways the failures could have been prevented and work towards greater accountability so the people of Wisconsin can feel confident about the state’s future IT endeavors.”

Last month, the Legislative Audit Bureau released an audit of the Information Technology Systems Projects in the state, finding at least six IT projects that have experienced cost overruns and delays, including one that was terminated this year after more than five years and $23 million invested. The total bill for failed and troubled projects is estimated at more than $170 million.

(R-West Salem)
Rep. Mike Huebsch
(608) 266-2402