James Klauser - Advisory Chairman

James R. Klauser was senior vice president at Wisconsin Energy Corp., retiring in April 2007.  Prior to joining Wisconsin Energy corp., he was senior partner with the law firm of Dewitt Ross and Stevens.  Jim served as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration from 1986-1996 under Governor Tommy Thompson.  He was special counsel to the Governor from 1994 to 1996.

Jim served on numerous boards, commissions and committees.  He was a consultant from 1992 to 1996 for the republican national Committee and republican Governors Association. He served as general chairman of the Thompson for Governor Committee.  He also served as co-chairman of the Bush for president-Wisconsin committee in 2000 and as Chairman in 2004.Jim is a member of the board of regents of the Milwaukee school of Engineering and a member of the board of trustees at Carthage College.  Jim received a B.S. in 1961, a J.D. in 1964 and a M.A. in public law in 1968, all from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Among his many awards for achievement and service, Jim was presented the Bundesverdienstkreuz (the German Service Cross, 1st Class or knight’s Cross) in April 2001, recognizing his personal service in relation to the reconstruction of Germany.  It is the highest recognition that the Federal Republic of Germany confers.

Jose Delgado - Advisory Vice-Chairman

José Delgado oversaw the creation of American Transmission Company (ATC). ATC became operational Jan. 1, 2001 as the first multi-state transmission-only utility in the U.S.; it currently has transmission facilities in portions of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. Delgado served as President and Chief Executive Officer of ATC from initial operations until April 2009 when he became Executive Chairman of the Board of the Company. Mr. Delgado retired from ATC on February 28, 2010. He will continue to reside in the Milwakee area, engaged in public service actrivities, electric industry issues and corporate boards.

Personal Website

Professor Javier Tapia

Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Policy & Community Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Areas of expertise include Hispanics and Education, Global/International Education, Immigration, and Latino Studies. He has a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California at Riverside, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology and Bilingual Education from the University of Arizona.

Professor Tapia has served as chairman of the committee on Spanish-Speaking Concerns for the Council of Anthropology and Education, and he is past president of the Association of Latino/a Anthropologists for the American Anthropological Association.

He is currently writing a book on the Mexicano community in Wisconsin based on extensive research conducted in the last ten years in Wisconsin and Mexico.

Jose Vasquez

In his capacity as President and CEO of Felician Sponsored Ministries in Milwaukee, José Vásquez is the Chief Executive Officer of three nonprofit organizations in Milwaukee; the Child Development Center of St. Joseph, Villa St. Francis Assisted Living Residential Center, and the St. Francis Foundation. He has approximately 30 years of senior management experience in the private sector, county government, and education, including both the technical college and university level.

In addition to his management background, José also has extensive nonprofit experience on the governance side of the sector. He has served as a board director in organizations ranging from all volunteer, social services, arts, education, medical and foundations. Currently, he serves on the Board of the Directors of the United Community Center, Notre Dame Middle School and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - Foundation for St. Francis and Franklin.

José is also a member of the University of Wisconsin System, Board of Regents and a member of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board of Directors.

Vásquez holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas and a master’s degree in Educational Rehabilitation Counseling from UW-Milwaukee.

Anselmo Villarreal

Mr. Anselmo Villarreal is the President and CEO of La Casa de Esperanza, a community-based organization dedicated to serving Waukesha’s low-income and Latino population since 1966. With 24 years of experience in non-profit management, Anselmo’s primary responsibility as President and CEO is to provide strategic vision, planning, and direction of the organization under the guidance of the Board of Directors and in line with the organizational mission.

Susan Mitchell

Susan Mitchell is the founder and president of School Choice Wisconsin. For nearly twenty years, she has worked in Milwaukee and nationally to expand parent choice. She has served as president of two national organizations dedicated to advancing educational opportunity and long has worked in partnership with her husband, George Mitchell, to achieve that goal.

In 2007, Susan received the John T. Walton Champions for School Choice award in honor of her work.

Susan holds degrees from Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin. She was a journalist at The Wall Street Journal and other newspapers. She also has served as Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Wisconsin and Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing and has held executive positions in two insurance companies.