Profiles in Leadership

This page will periodically feature a different alumnus. The focus of this page is share with you what some of the alumni are currently involved in and the long-term impact their experience had on their leadership.

Casey Langan (Group IX) "A Man of Passion"

When his supervisor Jim Massey (Group IV) recommended he apply for the program, Casey Langan had no idea how his life would change.  Langan recalled, “ at the time I was still in my 20s, so for me I likened it to going to graduate school.”

“My classmates were a microcosm of rural Wisconsin. Over the two years in what I called a 'test tube' situation, I got a sense for what motivates and inspires people. I learned to not always trust my first impressions, to never underestimate people and to recognize that everyone has a role to play in their community.  Our international experience in China was truly eye-opening. While it was not my first pick of places to visit, I am much better off for having seen this country that will define this century, for better or worse. It also drove home something I already knew. It's a big world out there, and each of us can make a difference whether we are near or far from where we started.”

Langan found that he was no longer was satisfied just reporting about public policy. He wanted to be part of the process. It inspired him to leave a journalism job for the rough and tumble world of state politics, noting “The breadth of issues that WRLP exposed me to was a good precursor to life as a legislative aide.”

Langan believes “the problems facing leaders on the local and state levels are not getting any less complex, and rural Wisconsin continues to evolve. No matter what it's called, I think every corner of our state needs the kind of well-rounded leader this program produces.”

Yet, Langan remains humble, keeping perspective about how his life has changed. “My job at the Farm Bureau requires me to draw on my past work experiences in journalism, agriculture and politics. I write for our member publication, produce a weekly radio spot, work with the media to ensure accurate coverage of agriculture, and am a registered lobbyist for Wisconsin's largest grassroots trade organization for agriculture. In a society further removed from the farm, it's increasingly important to convey why we do what we do in farming. I still find it strange that I went from being a kid milking cows and harvesting tobacco on his grandparents' farm, to being a voice for a $59.1 billion ag industry. I know that Leadership Wisconsin played a role in that transformation. “

Judy Klusman (Group II) "I get to help people help people"

Actually that's what Judy Klusman has been doing all of her life - spanning private, public, and nonprofit environments. In her twenties, she and her husband Tim Klusman (Group V) were involved in Young Farmer programs, along with full-time farming. Always interested in expanding her horizons, Judy became involved in WRLP upon the prompting of Pete Knigge (Group I). Her WRLP international trip to Russia & Poland was Judy's first travel overseas. She recalled, "the farther from Moscow, the freer it seemed. I can still see in my mind, the Kiev Farmer's Market where I traded a Land O' Lakes cap." After WRLP, she knew she wanted to go on to serve in areas where she could practice leadership.

Judy was one of the first WRLP leadership fellows to run for public office after her 2-year training experience, serving six terms in the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 56th Assembly District from 1988-2000. Past-Representative Klusman casts a long shadow, having received many "outstanding" leader or legislator awards across business, public service, education, agriculture, and nonprofit circles. Besides being the Assistant Majority Leader for a time, Judy's legislative work ranged from important farmland preservation legislation to retirement systems, campaign finance reform, and human services. During her tenure, Judy was a friend to education, business, agriculture, technology, environmental concerns, and public servants - always leading by example.

Known for building bridges, not burning them, Judy's lessons learned in the legislature ultimately led her on another important journey. When their two sons decided not to farm as a career, Judy and husband Tim took a big mid-life turn, sold their farm and she enrolled in seminary. After internship in Colorado and a final year of study in Austin, Texas, pastoral calls took them to Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) churches in Wisconsin as well as major disaster responses in the Gulf Coast of Mississippi following Hurricanes Katrina. These days, Pastor Judy Klusman, the Assistant to the Bishop of the North Carolina Synod of the ELCA works directly in Social Ministry Outreach & Congregational Health, including a partnership with Lutheran Family Services, helping congregations look outward, not inward. She guides church leaders in developing community and social ministry that improves the quality of life for youngsters, adults, and families. Judy leads with purpose and continues to support WRLP noting, "we need to raise up principled leaders for Wisconsin, people willing to listen, people willing to take a stand. WRLP addresses how to do this on multiple levels."

Chuck Dallas (Group VI) says he's a student of leadership styles and learns every day.

Chuck is Vice President of Finance for Genex Cooperative, the largest subsidiary of Cooperative Resources International. Headquartered in Shawano, Genex is an $85 million cattle-breeding cooperative that markets products throughout the United States and the world. Besides nearly two decades with Genex and the Genex board of directors, Chuck is also very active in the Shawano area community, serving on the City of Shawano Plan Commission, CoVantage Credit Union board, Junior Achievement-Shawano County, Dollars for Scholars, Shawano Optimists, and Shawano Community Middle School football program. The Shawano County United Way and Chamber of Commerce have also benefited from his past leadership. Chuck will tell you that one of the most important community activities of which he has been a part, was as a founding member of Leadership Shawano County. Chuck knew after his WRLP experience that he could play a pivotal role in grooming emerging leaders for his area. And he has. Through his influence, new leaders are taking on leadership roles in organizations, public boards, and private concerns.

Chuck remains actively involved with Leadership Shawano County. "A big driver for me from a leadership standpoint," Dallas says, "is that with everyone's busy schedules nowadays, we're finding fewer and fewer people who are able to step up and serve on school boards or whatever it might be. So, it's important to try to prepare some of those individuals to take on positions down the road. And we've been able to do that. It's been quite rewarding to see graduates of the Leadership Shawano County program who are involved in committees and boards." He adds, it's so important to try to get people motivated to give back to their community." Chuck is straightforward in his approach to leadership stressing, "you really don't need to be an expert in every area to step up and help out. Go out and get involved. Get your hands dirty, get your feet wet. Get into something you're interested in or passionate about and just start working in it.

Apply your training. Just raise your hand, volunteer, and get involved." When it comes to volunteering, Chuck admits, "I have a hard time saying 'no' because I do like to be involved in the community. I enjoy working with other people on projects that need to be accomplished." Dallas sees networking as another crucial component. "Now I can connect with so many people on so many different issues, whether it's work- or community-related. It's been fun to develop a strong network of people that you can work with and get things done. That's the joy of living in a smaller community." Dallas concludes, "one of the most important things today you can be is a good leader. We're committed to our support of WRLP because that's what you learn to do."

Greg Schopen -- Passion + Concentrated Focus = Far-Reaching Impact "What's most important is the lasting impact."

That's how Greg Schopen, Group 7 alumna and current Board of Director, describes WRLP. "You can't do it all, but you can do some things really well. When you're a leader, sooner or later you have to decide where you can have impact and concentrate on that, without getting pulled away into every other matter. WRLP teaches you how to make that decision." Unlike other prospective participants, Schopen didn't know anyone who'd been through WRLP when he applied some 10 years ago. Yet, he was attracted to the breadth of the leadership development curriculum. Later throughout his two-year experience, Schopen recognized the significant advantage there was in direct, real-world exposure to state, national, regional, and international leaders. Schopen explained, "after WRLP, you appreciate the magnitude of a problem or situation in a completely different way."

"You get a chance to experience how the rest of the world works beyond your particular community or area. You recognize there's not so much 'right or wrong' as there is 'different'." Today, you have to be able to work with all types and groups. You must be more open and learn how to work with everyone. There's a lot of opportunity for all of us to be more accepting, whether it's applying a practice in a new way or making room in your organization to accept all kinds of people with different opinions or approaches." Schopen noted some of the key leadership learning he applies to his personal and professional life every day includes: recognizing the diversity of effective leadership styles, using emotional intelligence in understanding people, building relationships based on trust and principled practice. "This is the kind of stuff that isn't fully learned through a traditional classroom experience, but is gained through repeated exposures in various ways."

"I came away from it (WRLP) knowing there were some things I'd do differently. And it made me want to be different." Greg's International seminar to Vietnam and Thailand had lasting impact on him - so much so that he's traveled back to Vietnam several times in the past 10 years. Schopen also serves as a Flame of Hope Foundation board member (founded by another Group 7 alumna, Karen Dahl, as a culminating response to the need for improving the educational standard and living conditions in Thailand). More recently, Greg is spearheading a Badgerland program called Agriculture & Rural Community Business Project Funding. Projects can be public or private, but must be in communities of 50,000 or less. Examples of potential ARC Bond projects include: facilities for independent or assisted living, water treatment, rural business, fire station equipment, healthcare (such as outpatient surgery, physician, or dental) multi-family housing, processing or manufacturing, hotel or convention, communication towers and broadband, agribusiness, industrial development parks, etc. He's excited about the impact of his work on Wisconsin communities.

(For more information about your locale, contact greg.schopen@badgerlandfcs.com). Although Greg was known by his Group 7 as a man who didn't waste time making long, lengthy comments when a few words might be enough, Greg can't really be described in only two words. But these might be close: passion + concentrated focus = far-reaching impact.

Sheri Fanning Helps Others after Hurricane Katrina

Sheri Fanning, RN, (Group 9) recently went to a San Antonio, Texas Children's Home to provide temporary care for children with special needs and frail elderly affected by Hurricane Katrina. Sheri had to quickly raise $1500 for travel expenses in order to volunteer in Texas. She noted, "had I not had the opportunities that I had with the Leadership Wisconsin Program, I do not know that I could have done it."

Sheri noted she went to Texas, "with all the skills and courage that I learned from Leadership Wisconsin (formerly called WRLP-Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program) ." When Sheri arrived at her site, coordination was minimal. "We had enough donated medical supplies to set up a hospital, but no one was taking charge to gain order over the chaos." Sheri quickly rallied several other nurses and volunteers, set up processes for care and infection control, created a simple charting system, and assigned tasks for other evacuees to do so they could contribute to the shelter work, too.

FEMA representatives were impressed with Sheri's quick leadership and effective effort. They asked Sheri to assist at the shelter with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Center for Disease Control (CDC) activities, too. Sheri worked with "3-star" Mexican Army generals, physicians & nurse volunteers to interview evacuees or assess for the evacuee's needed next steps. Sheri commented, "It was exciting to work with these officials. I surprised myself at how easy it was to do what had to be done. I feel lucky to have had this opportunity. The days were long, often from 6am-10pm, but I just decided to do what I could, wherever I could, for as long as they needed me."

Sheri credited the Leadership Wisconsin (formerly called WRLP-Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program) experience for her success in Texas: "It's what I learned in ‘Rural Leadership' that has helped me here…making good decisions, working through problems, knowing how to conduct myself with diverse groups, knowing when to exert myself and when to step back and let others lead in a different way. Having gone through Leadership Wisconsin (formerly called WRLP-Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program) made all the difference."

Top | Return to Impacts