Meet the Staff
Wisconsin Youth Company is led by a seasoned executive team with many years of experience in the school age care and enrichment fields.
Kay Stevens, Executive Director, has been with the organization since August, 2009. She has a BA in Recreation Administration from University of Iowa and an MS in Recreation Administration from University of Minnesota. She has more than 30 years experience working with non-profits including 18 years as a Girl Scout executive director. She provides leadership and administrative oversight to the entire organization and manages an administrative staff of 30.
Marylou Grzadzielewski, Director of Administration, has been with the organization since June, 1986. She has a BA in Recreation Administration and an MS in College Student Personnel, both from UW-La Crosse. She manages support services for all programs, serves as facilities manager for the organization's two administrative buildings and print shop, coordinates space use agreements with school districts for all camp and program sites, and handles all human resources duties for the organization.
Mary McCarthy, Director of Finance, has been with the organization since August, 1982. She has a BS in Communication Disorders from UW-Madison. Mary has held nearly every position in the organization including AFTER SCHOOL program staff, site supervisor, administrative assistant and registrar. Currently she provides oversight and management of the organizations budget, prepares the annual audit and assures timely delivery of required government quarterly reports.
Jason Anderson, Camp and Enrichment Programs Division Director, has been with the organization since January, 1994. He has a BA in Sociology from UW-Madison and a MS in Experiential and Environmental Education. He has served as an AFTER SCHOOL program specialist in the Dane Region and community supervisor in Waukesha Region. He manages and provides oversight of AFTER SCHOOL Summer Day Camp for Dane and Waukesha regions, Wander Wisconsin, Middle School U and World Language, art and science enrichment classes.
Jean Colvin, Communications Director, has been with the organization since October, 2004. She has a BA in Journalism from Purdue and an MS in Social Work from UW-Milwaukee. She handles writing and editing for the organization including four quarterly newsletters, operations manuals, job descriptions, web content and press releases. She supervises the organization's in-house print shop operation and serves as liaison to the Wisconsn Youth Company Board of Directors. She was a Dane Region AFTER SCHOOL site supervisor, 1980-1991.
Nora Capps, Dane Regional Director of AFTER SCHOOL, has been with the organization since August, 2008. She holds a School Age Credential (equivalent to Child Development Associate). She developed and managed a school district after school program in South Dakota before moving to the Madison area. She provides management and oversight of AFTER SCHOOL program services for the Dane Region.
CindySue Nielsen, Waukesha Regional Director of AFTER SCHOOL, has been with the organization since January, 2000. She has an associate degree in Management, Instructional Assistance and Early Childhood Education and is currently working on her BA in Elementary Education from Carroll University. She provides management and oversight of AFTER SCHOOL program services for the Waukesha Region.
Amy Thomas, Office Manager, has been with Wisconsin Youth Company since September 2007. She started as an office assistant and was promoted to office manager in December 2009. She has nearly completed her degree in marketing from UW-Madison. She supervises the main administrative office staff as well as the Waukesha regional office staff. She brings three years of office administrative experience to the position.
Kathy Smith, Risk Management Director, began working for Wisconsin Youth Company in 2007 as the Wander Wisconsin program director. She has also served as the program support coordinator for the AFTER SCHOOL Division. She has a BS in Elementary Education from Indiana University and 25 years experience with the Girl Scouts, YMCA and American Camp Association in camp directing, camp property management and licensing and accreditation standards. She has oversight of all safety and risk aspects for AFTER SCHOOL school year programs and summer day camps.
Kirsten Wineke, Director of the Wisconsin Youth & Family Center, began working for the center in February of 2011. Kirsten worked for the Boys and Girls Club of America since 1998. She was arts director in Cedar Rapids, and in Madison supervised staff delivery of services to elementary and middle school students. She has a degree in Human Services from Madison Area Technical College.
Visit http://www.afterschoolwi.org/ to see bios of AFTER SCHOOL site supervisors and summer camp directors.
Visit http://www.wanderwisconsin.org/meetthestaff.html to see bios of Wander Wisconsin trip leaders.
Visit www.middleschoolu.org/schedule/CourseProviders.php to see bios of Middle School U course providers.