Whitburn Center

Chris was a Clerk/Treasurer for almost 17 years and an Administrator/Deputy Administrator for 10 years in Wisconsin; most recently for the Town of Oakland in Jefferson County. He served on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association for six years, was its 37th President, and proclaimed a Clerk-at-Heart at the 2021 Annual Conference. Currently he teaches Public Administration at Rochester University (MI), consults for Town Web Design and HeyGov, two world-wide companies specializing in digitizing municipal government and municipal websites, is a national speaker, and takes minutes on the side just for fun. 😉 Chris has his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Master of Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He, his wife Dr. Julie, and their dog Thumper moved to Las Vegas in September of 2021 to escape the frigid Wisconsin Winters. They both are proud Green Bay Packers Owners, Disney fans, and love to travel. Chris loves to bike, shoot photography, the New York Yankees, and the incredible food Las Vegas has to offer; especially In N Out Burger!

John Fitzpatrick is currently the Assistant City Manager / Director of Administrative Services for the City of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and has also been a Lecturer in Online and Continuing Education / Public Administration for the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, teaching Introduction to Public Administration, Administrative Leadership & Behavior, and Contemporary Public Issues. His experience in the public sector ranges from work as a Custodian to Interim City Manager.

He has earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Public and Environmental Administration from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a Special Emphasis in Human Resource Management from the University of Wisconsin Platteville, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

John’s experience was developed by working for several University of Wisconsin System institutions as well as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation before accepting his current position with the City of Oshkosh.

As Assistant City Manager, John supports his elected officials, department heads and City Manager in the planning and execution of any and all responsibilities required of the City Manager. As Director of Administrative Services, he is responsible for three divisions that encompass twelve functional areas. In conjunction with his oversight of these activities, he is also designated as the City’s: HR Director; WRS Agent; AA/EEO Officer/LGBTQIA+ Liaison; ADA Coordinator; Secretary for the Police & Fire Commission; and Department Liaison to the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee.

Mikko Hilvo received his Bachelor’s of Arts in Secondary Education from Valparaiso University in Indiana and his Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. Mikko has over 20 years of professional experience in local government management. Since July 2020, Mikko has served as the City Administrator of the City of Cedarburg. Prior to becoming the Administrator, Mikko was an Interim Administrator, Assistant Administrator, and Director of Parks, Recreation, & Forestry for the City. Mikko began his municipal career working for the City of Hartford as an Aquatic/Fitness Supervisor and has served both the City of Hartford and City of Cedarburg as a volunteer Firefighter/EMT.

Mikko is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and Wisconsin City/County Management Association (WCMA). He is also a recipient of the UW-Oshkosh Master of Public Administration Stephen Hintz Award (2019).

Monica Jackson is the Director of Environmental Planning & Sustainability, Health & Safety and Custom Management & Leadership at UC Davis’ Division of Continuing and Professional Education. Her areas of expertise include: public policy administration, leadership, environmental management, public & community health, geographic information systems, conflict resolution and environmental health and safety, EMT & Paramedic training and diversity, equity and inclusive programs for leaders in the public/private sector. A Wisconsin native, she received her BA from UW-Milwaukee and her MPA from UW-Oshkosh in 2022.

Prior to joining UC Davis, Monica was an appointee in former California Governor Gray Davis’ Administration. She was also the VP of Education and Legislation for the California Association of Economic Development and spent 13-years working in the editorial departments of both the Journal Sentinel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and The Sacramento Bee in Northern California.

Zach serves as the Director of Municipal Services for the City of Wauwatosa, where he champions a culture of data-based decision-making to drive process improvements and foster innovation. His expertise in municipal government spans customer service, data analysis, performance measurement, budgeting, and strategic communications. He earned his MPA in 2024 and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Zach enjoys reading, building Lego creations, following the Milwaukee Brewers, and spending quality time with his family.

Jess Wildes is a public administration and communications professional with a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from Eastern Michigan University (2012) and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh (2022). Jess has served in leadership roles within the nonprofit and public sectors, including Communications Director positions at Northland College, Mount Mary University, and the Museum of Wisconsin Art. At the City of West Bend, Jess became the first Communications and Economic Development Director, later advancing to Assistant City Administrator. In this capacity, she supervised five city departments and played a pivotal role in transformative community projects.

Throughout her career, Jess has secured more than $7 million in grants, spearheaded impactful community development initiatives, and cultivated partnerships with local and state leaders. Jess has been selected as a speaker at the prestigious International City/County Management Association’s annual conference three times and many other forums across Wisconsin.

Jess is the co-owner of Innovative Public Advisors (IPA), a public sector executive recruitment and strategy firm. She serves on the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) board and is dedicated to advancing the profession of public administration.

Taylor Zeinert is a proud UW-Oshkosh alumna with a Master of Public Administration and a passion for community growth. She recently stepped into the role of Director of Planning and Development for the City of Sheboygan, where she leads initiatives focused on sustainable development, land use planning, and economic vitality. Prior to this, she served as the Economic Development Director for the City of Whitewater, where she facilitated over $30 million in new development and spearheaded key housing and business retention efforts. With a background in municipal government and a commitment to strategic planning, Zeinert brings a collaborative, forward-thinking approach to shaping Wisconsin communities.