Press Release: Gov. Evers Announces Brennan Leaving Evers Administration, Blumenfeld to Lead Department of Administration

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary Joel Brennan will be leaving the Evers Administration on Mon., Jan. 17, 2022.

 

“Secretary Brennan has been a part of my administration since the very beginning, and I want to thank him for his service to the people of Wisconsin over the last three years,” said Gov. Evers. “Especially over the last 19 months, the Department of Administration has been a critical partner in supporting our state and our economic recovery efforts, and I wish Secretary Brennan and his family all the best.”

 

Gov. Evers appointed Secretary Brennan in December 2018.

 

“I am grateful to Governor Evers for his trust throughout the last three years as he tasked the Department of Administration with executing his vision for what state government can and should do for the people we serve and for his support as we faced the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic as a department and a state,” said Secretary Brennan. “It has been an incredible honor to serve the people of Wisconsin and the Evers Administration throughout this time as we have worked to build a Wisconsin that works for everyone.”

 

Gov. Evers also announced today he is appointing Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Secretary Kathy Koltin Blumenfeld to serve as Secretary-designee of the DOA upon Secretary Brennan’s departure in January. Secretary Koltin Blumenfeld will assume the role of DOA secretary on Mon., Jan. 17, 2022.

 

“Secretary Blumenfeld has been an incredible partner and leader at DFI since the beginning of my administration, including during the pandemic, providing guidance and steady leadership for Wisconsin’s financial institutions and the financial well-being of folks across our state,” said Gov. Evers. “I know she will bring the same sort of strategic and dependable leadership to the Department of Administration, and I'm really looking forward to her serving in this new role.”

 

“I’m humbled and honored that Governor Evers has appointed me to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Administration,” said DFI Secretary Koltin Blumenfeld. “I will provide steady leadership to help the department fulfill its mission to deliver effective and efficient services to government agencies and the public. Thank you, Governor Evers, for your continued confidence in me to serve the people of Wisconsin.”  

 

Secretary Koltin Blumenfeld was appointed by the governor to lead the DFI in December of 2018. She was confirmed by the Wisconsin State Senate in October 2019. Prior to her appointment to DFI, Secretary Koltin Blumenfeld was the Executive Vice President of Special Operations of Total Administration Services Corporation. She is both a Certified Public Accountant and a Project Management Professional. A photo of Secretary Koltin Blumenfeld is available here.

 

Additionally, Gov. Evers announced he is appointing DFI Deputy Secretary Cheryll Olson-Collins to succeed Secretary Koltin Blumenfeld as the secretary of DFI. Deputy Secretary Olson-Collins will assume the role of DFI secretary on Mon., Jan. 17, 2022. Prior to serving as deputy secretary, Olson-Collins was the acting administrator of DFI’s Division of Banking. 

 

“Deputy Secretary Olson-Collins has extensive experience and has been a great public servant and leader during her time at the DFI,” said Gov. Evers. “I have no doubt that she will continue the good work she and Secretary Blumenfeld have accomplished during the first three years of our administration, and I look forward to our work together ensuring the financial health and security of Wisconsinites and our financial institutions in the days ahead.”

 

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Governor Evers for appointing me to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Financial Institutions,” said DFI Deputy Secretary Olson-Collins. “The people of Wisconsin, our financial industry stakeholders, and our agency staff have all benefited from Secretary Blumenfeld’s leadership these past three years. Her work has helped keep Wisconsin’s financial industry strong throughout the pandemic. I am committed to continuing the work of strengthening the financial well-being of the people of Wisconsin by protecting the safety and soundness of Wisconsin’s financial institutions, safeguarding the investing public, facilitating commerce, and increasing financial capability throughout the state.”

 

A photo of Deputy Secretary Olson-Collins is available here.