George A Klaetsch
VCUR Applicant
Madison,WI
Summary
With a track record of public policy victories and strategic leadership, I leveraged my cross-partisan experience from roles in Governor Tommy Thompson's administration and Alliant Energy to establish Klaetsch Public Affairs Strategies. Specializing in government relations and advocacy, I excel in team collaboration and have achieved significant legislative successes, most recently, the pivotal 2023 Wisconsin Act 12, which updated and increased Wisconsin's shared revenue formula for the first time in a generation.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Owner/President
Klaetsch Public Affairs Strategies
10.2005 - Current
- Launched a well-known and respected governmental relations firm leveraging cross-partisan experience obtained during seven years of service in Republican Governor Tommy Thompson's administration and five years thereafter at the direction of former Democratic State Senator Majority Leader David Helbach.
- Established and developed a diverse team of public affairs professionals to provide professional government relations, grassroots advocacy and association management services to various international, national, regional and state-based clients.
- For almost 20 years, have provided strategical advice and executed deliverables to a diverse and unique portfolio of over two dozen clients.
- Directed and managed all aspects of operations and outreach that included, but is not limited to, developing comprehensive strategy, employing targeted tactics, stakeholder identification, outreach, recruitment, engagement and retention that has resulted in federal and state government policy victories.
- Most recent significant policy victory – 2023 Wisconsin Act 12 relating to increasing shared revenue formula for all counties, cities, villages and towns.
- On behalf of specific public safety organization, lead and assisted efforts to ensure struggling public safety services serving Wisconsin communities received the resources necessary to continue providing aid to those most in emergency situations.
Manager, Government & Public Affairs
Alliant Energy
07.2000 - 09.2005
- Managed all employee public affairs programs.
- Coordinated all political, grassroots advocacy and legislative activity at Alliant Energy.
- Directed all grassroots and retiree programs to support regulatory / legislative agenda and lobbying efforts.
- Advised and provided guidance and briefings to Alliant Energy executives and staff on company policy positions, government relations and state legislative and grassroots lobbying efforts.
- Increased political engagement and grassroots membership 400% over five-year period.
- Created and implemented inaugural strategies that established a new and positive culture in employee and retiree engagement to benefit Alliant Energy's relationship with local, state and federal elected officials, community members, and the commercial, industrial and residential rate payers within Alliant Energy's service territory.
- Partnered with all above-mentioned groups to advance Alliant Energy's multiple rate cases and successfully overcome strong state and local opposition to Alliant Energy's 2002 rate equalization petition of the Iowa Utilities Board
Governor Thompson Administration / Campaign(s)
Governor Tommy G Thompson
10.1993 - 07.2000
- Governor Thompson Committee – 1993-94
- Department of Development - 1995
- Department of Commerce - 1996
- Department of Administration - 1997
- Governor Thompson Committee – 1997-98
- Office of the Commissioner of Insurance - 1999-2000
- Served in multiple support and leadership roles within Governor Thompson's administration and campaigns. Gained invaluable cross partisanship governance experience and mentorship over a seven-year tenure that has fostered a successful professional approach to achieving policy success regardless of partisan make-up of federal or state executive administrations or legislative majorities. Duties and responsibilities included but not limited to:
- Served on the Governor Thompson Committee 1994 Finance Team
- Set a record for raising over $4 million in receipts.
- Supported Secretary William McCoshen within the Department of Development and Department of Commerce Office of the Secretary.
- Acted as liaison between Office of the Secretary and Division Administrators
- Served as primary point of contact for statewide outreach supporting statewide Department of Commerce outreach engagement to establish state/local partnerships to ensure mutually beneficial economic development victories for state and local stakeholder groups.
- Directed Coalition and Political Engagement for 1998 Governor Thompson Committee
- Organized statewide grassroots field organization and coalitions operation that consisted of over 500 volunteers statewide.
- Identified, targeted, recruited hundreds of conservative and liberal state, county and municipal elected officials to publicly support Governor Thompson during his final re-election campaign.
- Surrogate for Governor and Campaign Manager, Bob Wood at public campaign events
- Legislative Liaison for Commissioner Connie O'Connell
- Responsible for Wisconsin OCI legislative agenda.
- Advised Commissioner, OCI staff and state legislators on pending and passed legislation affecting OCI and the insurance industry.
- Ensured that was a collaborative and responsive partner with both legislators and regulated community providing health, property and casualty, long-term care, and workers compensation insurance in Wisconsin.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Political Science & Policy Analysis
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WISkills
- Proven Government Relations Professional – Dozens of state and federal public policy victories resulting in the enactment or defeat of targeted legislation
- Strategic Leadership – Have established an ability to organize complex and competing stakeholder groups to achieve a set goal
- Ownership – As the owner of a private sector business, my skill set has been established to work on a task until it is completed, not work to the “end of the day”
- Decades of Cross Partisanship Engagement – Ability to effectively communicate bipartisan messages that result in bipartisan public policy victories
- Decades of Cross Partisanship Engagement – Ability to effectively communicate bipartisan messages that result in bipartisan public policy victories
Honors/Awards
- Honorable Discharge – Wisconsin Army National Guard
- Edison Electric Institute Advocacy Excellence Award
- Alliant Energy Chairman's Circle Member
- Lyndon Baines Johnson Congressional Award
- Big Brothers / Big Sisters Successful Mentorship Certificate
Related Experience
Veteran - WI Army National Guard June 1989 - June 1995
Mortarman (11C) Mechanized Infantry
- Served for Troop E 105th Cavalry Detachment Unit of the 32nd Infantry Brigade
- Attained the rank of Specialist E-4 by conducting field training exercises, preparing soldiers for command inspections and instruction of platoon advanced tactical training.
- Responsible for safety and working cohesiveness of personnel.
Affiliations/Memberships
- Executive Director, Association of Wisconsin Lobbyists – 2012 – Present
Timeline
Owner/President
Klaetsch Public Affairs Strategies
10.2005 - Current
Manager, Government & Public Affairs
Alliant Energy
07.2000 - 09.2005
Governor Thompson Administration / Campaign(s)
Governor Tommy G Thompson
10.1993 - 07.2000
Bachelor of Science - Political Science & Policy Analysis
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
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