Special Olympics Wisconsin welcomed six new faces to its statewide staff, bolstering nearly every department as the organization celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2022. Additionally, former Vice President of Sports & Health Programs Don Wigington assumed the title of Interim President/CEO this January.
“I am both honored and humbled to have the opportunity to serve as the interim CEO of Special Olympics Wisconsin,” Wigington said. “With a new year comes a renewed sense of excitement. In 2022 we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Special Olympics Wisconsin. We have Team Wisconsin going to the USA Games. We have developed long range plans for brand awareness, fundraising and state level competitions—made possible with help from this group of very talented new staff. We have a lot to be excited for. And we have a purpose: the Mission and the Athletes.”
The SOWI Development team welcomed a trio of staff additions. Joe Seubert and Lucas Molloy stepped in as Directors of Development while Ashley Hansen was hired as Development Coordinator.
Seubert arrived at SOWI in September after a 21-year stint with the Stevens Point Area YMCA, most recently holding the title of Associate Executive Director. Included in his Director of Development efforts, he will handle all efforts associated with the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Molloy, a Maine native, joined Special Olympics Wisconsin in early December with more than five years of events management and fundraising experience. He most recently served as the General Manager of Breese Stevens Field in Madison and will focus on fundraising and special event efforts for greater Madison.
Hansen assumed her Development Coordinator position last fall. Previously, she was a Special Olympics intern who assisted with event-planning in the Wausau and La Crosse areas. A Marketing and Professional Writing alumna of UW-La Crosse, she will help grow events for the organization’s presence in northern and central Wisconsin.
The Sports & Health Programs department also welcomed a pair of new employees.
Brooke Trewyn assumed the role of Athletic Director this December. She earned a B.A. in Education, Health Human Performance & Recreation and M.S. in Education with emphasis in Athletic Administration. She was also a WBCA All-American Honorable Mention basketball player at UW-Whitewater and coach at Aurora University.
Grace VanBergen will join Special Olympics Wisconsin as the Young Athlete Manager in early February 2022. The Minnesota native graduated from the University of Kansas this past December and brings experience with both Special Olympics Kansas & Special Olympics Minnesota as a coach and volunteer.
Finally, Jay Messar joined Special Olympics Wisconsin as the Director of Communications. He spent nearly a decade in the realm of collegiate athletic communications, most recently at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee. The native of Luck, Wis., also serves as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association.
