Campaign Leadership
Campaign Co-Chair - David L. Omachinski
David L. Omachinski is an executive management consultant with a history of taking organizations to highly profitable, sustainable results. He recently has been engaged with several companies as interim chief executive officer. Omachinski’s previous position was president and chief operating officer of Oshkosh B’Gosh Inc., a $400-million global designer, wholesale distributor and specialty retailer of children’s apparel. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from UW Oshkosh in 1974 and in 1992 was a recipient of the College of Business Alumni Association Outstanding Alumni Award.
Omachinski has served as independent or inside director for a number of public and privately held companies, including Anchor Bancorp Wisconsin Inc., Oshkosh B’Gosh Inc. and White Clover Dairy Inc. He also currently serves on the board for Chamco Inc. and is secretary/treasurer of the UW Oshkosh Foundation Board of Directors.
Active in the community, Omachinski is a member and past president of Oshkosh Southwest Rotary and chairman of Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh Inc.’s investment advisory committee. He also was involved in several fundraising activities, including the highly successful Paine Art Center and Gardens capital campaign. He is an ardent supporter of the pride. purpose. promise. campaign and enthusiastically champions the benefit it will bring to the people and the economy of Northeastern Wisconsin.
Campaign Co-Chair - Bill Raaths
William A. Raaths, MBA '74, is the chief executive officer at Great Northern Corporation, a privately owned, $200-million packaging solutions company. Under his leadership over the past five years, Great Northern has nearly doubled its size through organic growth, an acquisition and a start-up venture. The corporation currently has nine locations across the U.S.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Great Northern Corporation, First National Bank-Fox Valley, United Paper Corporation, YMCA Fox Cities, St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Valley Packaging Inc. and the UW Oshkosh Foundation. A dedicated volunteer, Raaths has played an active role in several successful fundraising campaigns, including the expansion/modernization of the Menasha Library; expansion of the YMCA Fox Cities; and several juvenile diabetes campaigns. He is a passionate believer that the pride. purpose. promise. campaign will further strengthen and transform UW Oshkosh for years to come.
Campaign Cabinet and Community Advocates
- Carla Altepeter, President/CEO, CitizensFirst Credit Union
- Renee Boldt, Community Friend
- Mike Dempsey, President/CEO, Associated Bank Fox Valley
- Dave Gitter, President, M & I Fox Valley
- Patrick Hietpas, VP/General Manager, US Oil Co. Inc.
- Scott Jabas, Executive Vice President, Associated Financial Group
- W. Scott King, Senior Vice President, Nicolet Bank
- Fred (Fritz) Merizon, President/CEO, Modern Business Machines
- Terri Pawer, Director of Finance, Dental City
- Kathi Seifert, Chairman, Pinnacle Perspectives, Community Advocate
- Walter Scott, President, W. F. Coe & Associates, Community Advocate
- Joseph Toonen, Managing Partner, Grant Thornton
- Dave Vierthaler, International Human Resources Director, Bemis Company, Inc.
- John Wollner, Director of Community Relations, Thrivent
- Beth Whealon-Wyman, Community Friend
- E. Alan Hartman, Dean, College of Business
- Susan Neitzel, Campaign Director, UW Oshkosh Foundation
- Arthur Rathjen, President, UW Oshkosh Foundation
- Richard Wells, Chancellor, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Leadership
"Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself. Before you can move their tears, your own must flow. To convince them, you must yourself believe."
Winston Churchill