Online Application Form

Civitas is an exciting educational and informational approach to both encourage more people to get involved in the processes of local government and to provide a deeper level of information for those already engaged.

To enhance their knowledge and understanding of property taxes, economic development, municipal finance and budgets, K–12 school finance and budgets, transportation, human services and public safety, Civitas participants learn from the best. One of the goals of Civitas is to give participants access to the people who know how things really get done. Our faculty includes the most experienced administrators and former elected officials in Dane County including former Madison and suburban mayors, former Dane County executives, school superintendents, state secretaries, a nationally known UW professor, the former state budget director and many other highly qualified individuals.

Our faculty members share their expertise at monthly Civitas luncheon forums where participants have the opportunity to ask questions of our experts as well as network with our speakers and fellow Civitas members. In addition, interested participants are invited to attend monthly supplemental seminars where they informally engage in dialog with Civitas faculty over coffee and doughnuts.

Civitas gives business people an inside look at why
Government is the way it is, but I hope it also inspires
them to think about how things could be improved.”
– Lon Sprecher, Chief Operating Officer
Dean Health Plan

Here is a list of our distinguished faculty from 2007:

2007 Faculty

    • Ray Allen, former member, Madison School Board
    • Debra Amesqua, Fire Chief, Madison
    • Barbara Arnold, former member, Madison School Board
    • Deedra Atkinson, Senior Vice President of Community Impact, United Way of Dane County
    • Jonathan Barry, former Dane County Executive, State Representative and UW Regent
    • Todd Berry, President, Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance
    • Dorothy Borchardt, former President, Madison Common Council
    • Dean Brasser, Comptroller, City of Madison
    • Nan Brien, former member, Madison School Board
    • Mary Burke, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Commerce
    • Rafael Carbonell, Executive Vice President, Regional Economic Development Entity
    • Rod Clark, Director, Bureau of Transit, Local Roads, Railroads & Harbors, Wisconsin Department of Transportation
    • Tim Culver, Superintendent, Sun Prairie Schools
    • G. Paul (G.P.) Foster, Deputy Director, Dane County Department of Human Services
    • Kevin Hayden, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
    • Charles Hicklin, Controller, Dane County
    • Steve Holtzman, former Alder, Madison Common Council
    • Ed Huck, Executive Director, Wisconsin Alliance of Cities
    • Rachel Krinsky, Executive Director, Interfaith Hospitality Network of the Madison Area
    • Gerald Mandli, Commissioner and Director, Dane County Department of Public Works, Highway and Transportation
    • John Matthews, President, Madison Teachers, Inc.
    • Nancy Mistele, former member, Madison School Board
    • Cynthia Moore, former member, Sun Prairie School Board
    • JoAnn Orfan, former Mayor, Sun Prairie
    • Brian Pahnke, Assistant State Superintendent, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
    • Roger Price, former Assistant Superintendent, Madison Metropolitan Schools
    • Art Rainwater, Superintendent, Madison Metropolitan Schools
    • Andrew Reschovsky, Professor, UW–Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs
    • Phil Salkin, former Verona Mayor and Dane County Supervisor
    • Joe Sensenbrenner, former Mayor, Madison
    • Joel Skornicka, former Mayor, Madison
    • Paul Soglin, former Mayor, Madison
    • Lon Sprecher, former Budget Director, Madison and Wisconsin
    • David Trowbridge, Manager and Senior Transportation Planner, Transport 2020
    • Michelle Turner Magnan, Research Specialist, Consortium for Policy Research in Education
    • Mark Vivian, former Mayor, Fitchburg
    • Dick Wagner, former Chair, Dane County Board of Supervisors
    • Kristi Williams, former member, Monona Grove School Board
    • Noble Wray, Police Chief, Madison


    If you would like to join Civitas, or know someone who should, please submit the form below. Participation is by invitation only. Interested citizens may be nominated by Civitas sponsors, members of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (GMCC), graduates of GMCC’s Leadership Greater Madison (LGM) program, Civitas graduates, your employer or you may nominate yourself. All nominations are subject to acceptance.

    All applicants must live or work in Dane County and must be at least 21 years of age.

    The cost of the 2008 Civitas Forum Series is $225, which covers the cost of 10 lunches and the materials for each program.
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Civitas would like to sincerely thank our Platinum Sponsors for their support

Civitas would also like to sincerely thank our Titanium Sponsors for their support

Civitas is a joint effort of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and Wood Communications Group