about Us

Margaret Hanrahan

Chair

Margaret's legal expertise in advocating for abused and neglected children and vulnerable adults, along with her knowledge of the services that can better support them, brings a unique perspective to the Foundation board.

She graduated from Michigan's Kalamazoo College and went on to receive her law degree from Marquette University Law School. Her legal background includes private law practice and serving as Law Clerk for the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District II; and Staff Attorney for Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. Margaret resides in Lake Mills where she has served on the Friends of the Lake Mills Library Scholarship Committee and the Lake Mills Main Street Program Economic Development Committee. She is a current member of the Jefferson County Bar Association, serves as an Election Inspector for the Town of Lake Mills and an adult literacy tutor for Jefferson County Literacy Council.

Steve Battenberg

vice-chair

Steve is a partner at Carlson Black O'Callaghan & Battenberg LLP, a real estate and business-focused law firm located in Madison, Wisconsin.

With extensive experience representing nonprofit corporations of varying size, Steve has worked closely with tax-exempt entities on organizational and tax compliance issues. He currently serves as general counsel to multiple trade associations and charitable organizations.

Steve grew up in the area and graduated from Johnson Creek High School. He later returned to raise his own family, and is now looking to give back to a community that provided his–and his four children's–start in life.

Steve continues to be an active member of the community, having served many organizations, including the Town of Portland Planning Commission (Chair), the Waterloo CATV Board (Chair), Pantheon Industries (President and board member), Waterloo Youth Sports Organization (Coach and board member), Waterloo Community Foundation (President and board member) and the Johnson Creek Education Foundation (scholarship committee member).

He earned his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from the University of Washington, his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Ben Wehmeier

President and Chief Executive Officer

A longtime community leader, Ben brings a wealth of experience and a high-performance track record to the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation. In his prior role as Jefferson County Administrator, he drove large-scale projects that enhanced wellbeing and prosperity for the region, most notably accelerating economic development on a tremendous scale, growing access to technology, focusing on intergovernmental collaboration and partnering to add innovative mental health supports.

Ben's background in leading teams that get results, his expertise in state and local government, his deft ability to build coalitions across silos, and his bold vision for change on a regional scale make him the ideal leader to spearhead the next evolution of the Foundation's journey, nurturing local, state and national partnerships and mobilizing resources to create transformational improvements in family and community wellbeing.

Ben is a retired Army Officer with time on active duty and the National Guard. He holds a Juris Doctor and Master's Degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University, a Master’s in Management from Webster University, an undergraduate degree in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and an executive certificate in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.

Ben serves on the Thrive Economic Development Board, Chairs the Finance Committee for the Rock River Community Clinic and serves on the Fifth WI Congressional District Service Academy Nomination Advisory Board.

Randall J. Phelps

Finance Committee Chair

Randy brings experience in business management to the GWCHF board, having held many leadership positions in the manufacturing industry.

Employed by the ORBIS Corporation for 32 years, he held leadership positions including Marketing Manager, Venture Manager, General Manager and VP of Business Development including Acquisitions. Randy has served on the Watertown Regional Medical Center Board for 22 years where he served as Chairman and as a member of the Finance Committee. He also serves on the Educational Foundation of Watertown, Inc. board as Vice President and is Chairman and Finance Chairman for Wisconsin United Methodist Church. Randy obtained his bachelor's degree from Wartburg College with an emphasis in Business Administration/Economics. He furthered his education with an MBA from the Wharton Graduate School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania with an emphasis in marketing.

Elliott D. Clark

Elliot’s passion for the healthy youth and strong families, combined with his "boots on the ground approach" lends a valuable perspective to the GWCHF Board.

A graduate of UW–Oshkosh with a degree in English, Elliott has built a diverse professional background. He served four years in the United States Army and Army Reserves and previously held the role of Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Scott-Systems. Through three years of experience as a truancy officer working with the Watertown Unified School District and the Watertown Police Department, Elliott has developed a strong understanding of—and connection to—the diversity, challenges, and strengths within our community. Education is also a central part of his family life: his wife has taught in the WUSD for more than 20 years, and his daughter is an educator in the Johnson Creek School District.

Health and wellness play a central role in Elliott's life and career. He currently serves as Facility and Service Manager at Fitbench, a company dedicated to improving physical health on a global scale. He also remains closely connected to youth in our surrounding communities as a WIAA official for football, basketball, baseball, and softball, and through his 26 years of experience as a varsity and collegiate coach. Outside of work, he is an avid hiker and mountain climber.

Orlando Dominguez

Orlando's passion for helping others grow, and his strong commitment to advocacy, spurred his interest in the work of the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation.

He has lived in the Watertown, Wisconsin area for two decades and found ways to give back to youth, including his current role as a WIAA Basketball Official, Watertown Youth Basketball coach, and previous licensure as a substitute Teacher.

As a lifelong learner and first generation college graduate, Orlando values the positive impact of education. He holds a Master's Degree in Human Resources from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, along with Bachelor's and Associate’s degrees.

Orlando is a Human Resource Manager at MetalTek in Watertown. His career experience in human resources, plant management, and training bring valuable perspective to the Board, in addition to his expertise in process-management, project management, and data analysis.

Dr. Michael Grajewski

Retired as a Family Physician after forty years, Dr. Grajewski’s personal and professional life in Watertown continues to support improving health for all in the hospital, office and the larger local community.

Dr. Grajewski has worked with Community Health Assessments and their implementation since inception. As Medical Director of the Watertown Network, and prior Chief of Staff at Watertown Regional Medical Center, he facilitated quality improvement. He is a volunteer physician at Rock River Community Clinic.

Dr. Grajewski’s BS and MD are from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, then residency in Kansas City, MO. He has practiced in the ICU, OB, ER, surgery, nursing homes, but mostly in office-based practice, owning his practice for many years.

Involved with running and bicycling, Dr. Grajewski supports the Interurban Trail. He is a Trustee at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish. His four daughters grew up in the community and he lives in Watertown with his wife, Monica.

Barb Gudgeon

Barb has always had a passion for working with children, founding a soccer program and youth center in Waterloo 30 years ago. She has served on the Waterloo Plan Commission for nine years, was a founding member of the Waterloo “2000 and Beyond” committee, and served on several school board sub-committees.

Barb has worked in the dental field for 47 years, with 15 years as Executive Director of the Community Dental Clinic, a nonprofit dental clinic that provided care for patients who were low income, uninsured and Medicaid recipients. She brings a vast amount of expertise in personnel management, training, inventory control, vendor and IT relations, grant writing and submission, policies and procedures, and facility operations. She was also the primary force in developing services for special needs patients both in the clinic and in hospital settings.

Additionally, Barb has worked as a lead dental assistant, operations manager, and clinic director for several offices in Madison and the surrounding area. She also has small business experience, having owned and operated a bed and breakfast.

During her free time Barb enjoys spending time with her five grandchildren. She is a fixture with the Waterloo rec program she founded, continuing to coach soccer over the past 30 years.

Jenifer Hedrick

Jenifer has spent most of her professional career working as an occupational therapist in school settings throughout Dane and Jefferson Counties. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations-German Area Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Bonn, Germany, and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS OTR) from Mount Mary University in Milwaukee.

A proud Watertown High School graduate, Jenifer grew up in Watertown and remains deeply committed to the community she calls home. Besides the Foundation Board, she currently serves on the boards of three community organizations, including the Education Foundation of Watertown, Bread and Roses, and the Women of Immanuel Church, having previously served as Parish Educational Director. Jenifer also serves on the Dodge County Board of Supervisors, where she chairs the Human Services and Health committee and is a member of Building a Welcoming Watertown, where she actively supports their warming shelter initiative.

Jenifer’s volunteer and leadership work centers on creating and sustaining thriving individuals, families, and communities—values that are reflected in both her educational background and personal interests. Motivated by her own positive upbringing, she is dedicated to advocating for the needs of others and strengthening the well-being of the community.

Richard (Dick) Jones

Dick Jones brings a lifetime of dedication to education and community service to his role as a board member. He holds a degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and spent 35 years teaching and coaching at Waterloo High School. During his tenure, he founded and led Y.O.S.T, an intergenerational program that strengthened connections between students and the broader community, reflecting his long-standing commitment to collaborative learning and service.

Beyond the classroom, Dick has been deeply involved in numerous professional, civic, and faith-based organizations, including the National Education Association, Wisconsin Education Association, Waterloo Education Association, Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Board, Avestar Credit Union Board, and Lake Mills Methodist Church, where he served as Finance Director.

Since 2006, Dick has served on the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors, holding multiple committee roles, including 18 years on the Human Services Committee (six years as Chair) and 16 years on the Finance Committee (14 years as Chair).

Carol Quest

Carol has dedicated more than 40 years to advancing the health and well-being of our region as a Registered Nurse. For over 25 of those years, she has served as the Director and Health Officer of the Watertown Department of Public Health, providing steady leadership and a deep commitment to Public Health.

Throughout her career, Carol has worked across the full spectrum of public health and clinical care. Her experience includes bedside nursing at Watertown Regional Medical Center, as well as roles within county and city health departments where she served both as a Public Health Nurse and as an administrator. These experiences have allowed her to support and shape both current and emerging public health practices at the local and state levels.

A dedicated advocate for public health, Carol brings a strong understanding of the complex challenges involved in improving population health. Along with her Foundation service, she serves on several other boards including the Watertown Regional Medical Center Joint Venture Board, Rock River Community Clinic, Dodge/Jefferson Healthier Community Partnership, and Watertown Family Connection. Carol has also served on numerous State and Regional boards.

Dan Rahfaldt

Dan is deeply connected to the community and is passionate about supporting a healthy environment and creating sustainable growth. His professional career focuses on business development, technical sales and product management for industrial automation components. Dan founded and led Xsell Products, Inc. (2000–2022), an independent industrial power transmission and automation sales agency, and currently operates Deerfield Properties, a Watertown-based commercial and residential property improvement firm, which he founded in 2016.

In 2025, Dan expanded his ventures by founding Silver Creek Investors, the current owner of the Watertown Country Club.

Dan is a long-time Watertown resident and is married with two children. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. His community involvement includes serving as a member of the Good Shepherd School Board for 5 years, Watertown Main Street Program for 4 years, and service on the Watertown Country Club Board 2025-present.

Nate Salas

As a founding board member, Nate has been instrumental in shaping the Foundation’s strategic direction and advancing its mission. He is committed to guiding the Watertown region toward a healthy, vibrant future and brings strong strategic thinking, planning, and communication skills to the Board.

Nate earned his BS in Engineering with a Major in Political Science from the US Air Force Academy. He went on to earn his MBA in Finance at UW-Whitewater and a professional degree from the Graduate School of Banking from UW-Madison. He served 7 years in the military; four years as a cadet and three years as an officer in the Office of Special Investigations Aviano Italy. Nate spent over 10 years in the banking industry and has spent the last 5 years as part of the ownership team at Maas Bros. Construction. Nate’s current and past community involvement includes board roles on YES!Watertown, Watertown Branding Commission, Watertown Redevelopment Authority, Leadership Watertown and ThriveED.

Mick Selck

After more than 30 years of dedicated service in law enforcement, Mick recently retired as Chief of Police for the City of Lake Mills Police Department, concluding a career marked by a strong commitment to community well-being.

Throughout his career and beyond, Mick has been deeply involved in civic and charitable service. His community leadership includes serving as Chair and Co-Chair for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and long-standing membership in the Rotary Club of Lake Mills, where he has served on the board of directors, as club president, and as Assistant Governor for Rotary District 6250. He has also given his time and care as a foster parent.

Mick has served the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation as a grants committee member since 2022 and joined the Board of Directors in 2023. In retirement, he founded Selck Life Services, LLC, where he applies his skills and experience to mentoring juveniles and adults living with mental health diagnoses.

Mick and his wife, Kelly, reside in Lake Mills and share a passion for travel, having visited countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Iceland, Switzerland, and Italy.

Michael Sullivan, MD

As a family physician, Dr. Sullivan brings a firsthand understanding of the health needs of the Watertown community. He has been a physician partner at Watertown Family Practice since moving to the area in 2004.

Dr. Sullivan has held several key leadership roles at Watertown Regional Medical Center, including Vice Chief and Chief of Staff on the Medical Executive Committee, and he is currently serving again as Vice Chief. He earned both his Bachelor of Science in Biology and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois.

In addition to his professional leadership, Dr. Sullivan is committed to community service. He previously served on the WRMC Board of Directors, provided care at the Watertown Area Cares Clinic, and contributed as a member of YES! Watertown and the YMCA Capital Campaign Committee for the Schultz Family YMCA. A founding charter member of the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, Dr. Sullivan has twice served as Board Chair.

Ben Wehmeier

President and Chief Executive Officer

A longtime community leader, Ben brings a wealth of experience and a high-performance track record to the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation. In his prior role as Jefferson County Administrator, he drove large-scale projects that enhanced wellbeing and prosperity for the region, most notably accelerating economic development on a tremendous scale, growing access to technology, focusing on intergovernmental collaboration and partnering to add innovative mental health supports.

Ben's background in leading teams that get results, his expertise in state and local government, his deft ability to build coalitions across silos, and his bold vision for change on a regional scale make him the ideal leader to spearhead the next evolution of the Foundation's journey, nurturing local, state and national partnerships and mobilizing resources to create transformational improvements in family and community wellbeing.

Ben is a retired Army Officer with time on active duty and the National Guard. He holds a Juris Doctor and Master's Degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University, a Master’s in Management from Webster University, an undergraduate degree in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and an executive certificate in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.

Ben serves on the Thrive Economic Development Board, Chairs the Finance Committee for the Rock River Community Clinic and serves on the Fifth WI Congressional District Service Academy Nomination Advisory Board.

Tina Crave

Chief Transformation Officer

As Chief Transformation Officer, Tina Crave leads innovation to build flourishing, future-ready youth and communities. A positive psychology practitioner and leadership coach, Tina brings a research-informed lens to support change leaders in building flourishing individuals, teams and communities.

Tina believes lasting social innovation is powered by strong relationships, connectedness, and a “get it done” spirit. Known for her entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to lifelong learning, she supports partners in proactively advancing policies and systems that shape wellbeing. Tina served as the Foundation’s founding President and CEO, stewarding its first decade of catalytic investments, aligning leaders across sectors to move from talk to action—and from good intentions to real results.

With a professional background as a healthcare provider and administrator, Tina holds a Masters of Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University. She also holds a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied the science of flourishing and human potential. She serves on the board of Rainbow Community Care.

Nate Peters

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Nate provides strategic leadership for the Foundation’s investment strategy and portfolio, helping to shape its long-term vision and strengthen its financial capacity in service of the region. He oversees financial modeling and forecasting and provides disciplined oversight across all investments and accounting to ensure alignment with the Foundation’s mission and values.

He leads several of the Foundation’s largest impact investment initiatives, including the multi-year redevelopment of the former Bethesda Corporate Campus into a community asset site that brings together housing anchored by mission-aligned, community-serving uses. As part of this work, Nate heads the Foundation’s housing strategies, advancing practical solutions that reduce the share of household income spent on housing and expand access to affordable homeownership opportunities across the region.

In addition to his Foundation responsibilities, Nate serves on the Finance Committee of Rock River Community Clinic, the Loan Committee of the Live Local Fund, and chairs the Collective YMCA Condominium Association.

Nate brings a background in finance, commercial banking, and small-business lending, and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.

Outside of work, Nate enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, cheering on the Green and Gold, and is a firm believer that listening closely at home is excellent preparation for leadership everywhere else.

Kim Melcher

Chief Impact Officer

Kim weaves together the people, strategies, and data that drive the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation's mission to measurably advance the wellbeing of young children and families throughout Dodge and Jefferson Counties. Kim's high-touch, collaborative leadership style effectively engages staff, stakeholders, and community leaders around the complex challenges of systems change.

Kim continuously builds the capacity of the multi-sector teams she leads, modeling innovation and an entrepreneurial approach. Her role, in part, is finding ways to powerfully connect people to the work–and to each other–using data, best practices, and inspiration.

An experienced community health strategist, Kim has been shepherding successful programming for more than two decades. Past roles include Deputy Director for ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Suburban Milwaukee County Coordinator for the Wisconsin Well Woman Program, Coordinator of Community Workforce Health at Community Memorial Hospital, and Health Educator with Independent Care. She holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Concordia University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Community Health Education from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. Kim holds a Professional Certification in Results Based Accountability.

Tom Linder

Data Specialist

Tom advances the Foundation's culture of data-driven decision making and continuous quality improvement. He supports the planning and evaluation of Foundation programs, grants and investments to ensure they are "moving the needle" on priority measures of health and wellbeing.

Gifted at parsing complex information and providing thoughtful interpretation, Tom proactively supports our community partners in their understanding of the results-based accountability questions of: "How much?" "How well?" and "Is anyone better off?" His previous work includes strategic planning, research and market analysis in the fields of pediatric healthcare and commercial real estate. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

Andi Merfeld

Grants and TalkReadPlay Coordinator

Andi is the approachable, knowledgeable interface for community change leaders. With a focus on equitable grant-making practices, she prioritizes accessibility by facilitating the grant process at every stage. She keeps an open ear to community needs, helping ensure foundation investments benefit those who need it most. She is also the driver of the TalkReadPlay program, building a network of trusted messengers who support parents as their child's first teacher, and managing a high-profile, multi-channel communications campaign that supports TalkReadPlay messaging.

On a team made up of people who wear many hats, Andi is perhaps the most versatile member. She has been part of the team since the beginning, and her role has continued to grow and change over her tenure. Andi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Susan Olson

Social Impact Coordinator

Susan is a highly-skilled project manager, overseeing complex initiatives that require coordinating people, perspectives, resources and deadlines. With the belief that "progress happens at the speed of relationships," Susan creates community around strategic priorities. She convenes organized, effective and gracious work sessions that build momentum for our collaborative teams.

Work experience in both technology and parks and recreation (where she created award-winning programs and was recognized twice as employee of the year) built Susan's management and project leadership skills, which are complemented by intermediate proficiency in Spanish. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Deb Portman

Office Manager/Community Manager of the Collective

Deb provides the essential functions with attention to detail that keep both the Foundation and the Collective running smoothly. As the Foundation’s Office Manager and the Collective’s Community Manager she creates a welcoming and supportive environment for tenant-members, partners, and visitors.

In her role with the Collective, Deb oversees events, activities, room rentals, and day-to-day engagement. She is a friendly, knowledgeable resource for dozens of community members and works proactively to foster connection and collaboration among the many organizations that work within the space.

In addition to her community-facing work, Deb plays a key administrative role in supporting the Foundation team. She manages office operations, coordinates logistics, and provides behind-the-scenes support that allows staff to focus on mission-driven work.

Deb was instrumental in developing the vision and operational processes for the Collective and successfully oversaw a seamless relocation of the organization’s headquarters. She attended the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh and brings extensive experience in finance and operations management.

Jill Van Sickle

Early Childhood Learning Coordinator and Coach

Jill is an essential part of the team working to collectively "move the needle" on early childhood outcomes. She coordinates with internal team members to manage projects and drive strategy but spends a large amount of time out in the community, building the capacity of early care and education leaders through training and coaching.

Jill is generous and encouraging as she shares her extensive knowledge of best practices that support the social-emotional learning of young children, and is passionate about supporting community partners in structuring environments, routines and interactions that measurably improve outcomes for children and families. Jill is a Pyramid Model trainer and holds Wisconsin Infant Mental Health Endorsement at Level II. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. Jill completed the Infant, Early Childhood, and Family Capstone Certificate Program from University of Wisconsin - Madison.