James Haney
President and CEO
Haney became WMC President in 1985. He has a background in both the public and private sectors. He was an aide to Wisconsin’s Governor Warren Knowles, and served as assistant to the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations and as Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue under Republican Governor Lee Dreyfus.
Haney received a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He practiced law and then served as Public Affairs Director of the Bergstrom Paper Company and as District Manager of Public Affairs for Wisconsin Bell.
James Haney is a member of the Wisconsin Council on Workforce Investment, the International Trade Council, and also serves on the board of Kikkoman Foods, Inc. He is also a past Chairman of the Conference of State Manufacturing Associations.
Haney has contributed a total $29,343 to political candidates. Click to see the full breakdown of Haney's contributions.
James S. Haney is a registered lobbyist for WMC.
James Buchen
Vice President, Government Relations
Buchen is an attorney and is the chief lobbyist for WMC. He oversees the government affairs programs, directing a team of lawyers, lobbyists, and policy experts. They work with legislators and agency officials to advance WMC’s corporate agenda. Buchen also manages WMC’s political action and communications programs.
James A. Buchen graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in history and a degree in law.
Buchen has contributed a total $23,840 to political candidates. Click to see the full breakdown of Buchen's contributions.
James A. Buchen is a registered lobbyist for WMC.
Jim Pugh
Director, Public Relations
Pugh oversees WMC’s public relations and media activities. He has worked in a variety of public relations, and political campaigns. He worked in the Wisconsin State Legislature as a media counselor to the Assembly leadership and political candidates from 1990 to 1994. He also worked as communications director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin from 1994 to 1996.
Jim Pugh is a 1985 graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and worked as a newspaper reporter before entering public relations in 1990.
Pugh has contributed a total $895 to political candidates. Click to see the full breakdown of Pugh's contributions.
R.J. Pirlot
Director, Legislative Relations
R.J. Pirlot represents the interests of WMC on health care, transportation, energy policy and telecommunications. He is an attorney, having received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1994. He also received a B.S. degree in Biology from St. Norbert College in 1987.
Before joining WMC in 2003, R.J. Pirlot worked as a lobbyist for the Wisconsin Medical Society. He also worked as policy director and legal counsel for the Office of the Wisconsin Assembly Speaker, under Republican Scott Jensen. He oversaw research and analysis of policy issues for Jensen and other Assembly Republicans.
Pirlot is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, is on the board of directors for both the Wisconsin Public Utility Institute and the Transportation Development Association. Further, he is a member of the Wisconsin Highway Users Conference and the Wisconsin Healthcare Purchasers for Quality Steering Committee.
Pirlot has contributed a total $250 to political candidates. Click to see the full breakdown of Pirlot's contributions.
R.J. Pirlot is a registered lobbyist for WMC.
Scott Manley
Director, Environmental Policy
Scott Manley joined WMC in 2005 after working for more than ten years as a staffer in the Wisconsin State Senate. While working for former-Republican Senator Cathy Stepp, Manley aided WMC’s corporate agenda in several key policy and legislative areas. Manely also worked for former Republican Senators Joanne Hueslman and Gary Dryzwiecki. He also has extensive experience running political campaigns.
Manley represents WMC on environmental and policy regulations, including representing their interests before the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Legislature. He serves as Director of the Wisconsin Environmental Working Group, a WMC affiliate organization that advances corporate interests in environmental policy. Manley also sits on the Clean Air Task Force and the DNR Air Permit Improvement Task Force.
Scott Manley graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Manley has contributed a total $1,200 to political candidates. Click to see the full breakdown of Manley's contributions.
Scott Manley is a registered lobbyist for WMC.
John Metcalf
Director, Human Resource Policy
Metcalf started working for WMC in 1988. He represents WMC on issues of employee relations, with an emphasis on unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation matters.
Metcalf received a law degree from UW-Law School in 1981. He also received a B.A. in history and a M.A. in political science from UW-Madison in the late 1970’s.
Before coming to WMC, Metcalf worked as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. He also worked as Chief of Staff for Republican State Senator James E. Harsdorf.
He currently serves on a number of committees including the Department of Health & Family Services Advisory Council on Workplace Substance Abuse, Rating Committee of the Worker’s Compensation Rating Bureau, and WI Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council Safety Commission.
Metcalf has contributed a total $3,625 to political candidates. Click to see the full breakdown of Metcalf's contributions.
John Metcalf is a registered lobbyist for WMC.
James Morgan
Vice President of marketing and membership
Morgan has been with WMC since 1987. He is responsible for education activities and oversees the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which is a WMC affiliate. He also serves as WMC’s resource person to businesses and schools by collecting information on educational programs in Wisconsin.
James Morgan currently serves on the Wisconsin High School Graduation Test Advisory Committee, as liaison to local Chambers of Commerce, and as Secretary-Treasurer for the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives.
Morgan has a Bachelors and Masters degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Prior to working for WMC, James Morgan taught in Madison and worked as Public Relations Director for the Wisconsin Association of Nursing Homes.
Jeff Schoepke Director, Tax & Corporate Policy
Director, Tax & Corporate Policy
Schoepke joined WMC in the year 2000, after working for Republican Governor Tommy G. Thompson as an environmental and agricultural advisor. He worked five years as a Thompson advisor and two years as a press intern in the governor’s office. During that time he served on the Council of Great Lakes Governors Water Diversion Task Force, the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association and the Sauk County Reuse Committee for Badger Army Ammunition Plant.
Jeff Schoepke holds a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Schoepke represents WMC on environmental policy and regulations, including representing corporate interests before the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In addition he serves on the Wisconsin Clean Air Task Force, NR 445/Air Toxics Technical Advisory Group, DNR Voluntary Emissions Registry Advisory Committee, DNR Green Tier Advisory Committee, Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air, Lake Superior Public Advisory Team, NR 700 Focus Group, and the Mercury Citizens Advisory Committee.
Schoepke has contributed a total $3,700 to political candidates. Click to see the full breakdown of Schoepke's contributions.
Jeff Schoepke is a registered lobbyist for WMC.
