Board of Visitors Biographies
James Haney
President Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (Madison)A native of Amery, Wisconsin, Jim Haney has a background in both the public and private sectors. He served as an aide to Wisconsin Governor Warren Knowles, and under Governor Lee Dreyfus served as assistant to the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations and as Deputy Secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. In the private sector, Haney served as Public Affairs Director of the Bergstrom Paper Company and as District Manager of Public Affairs for Wisconsin Bell.
In 1985, Haney became President of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), representing more than 4,000 members statewide. Under Haney's leadership WMC has become known as the state's largest and most influential business and industrial organization.
His current professional involvement includes service to the Wisconsin Council on Workforce Investment, International Trade Council, Wisconsin's Labor Management Council, Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Wisconsin Economic Summit. Haney's community service includes his work with the Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts, American Players Theatre, and Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters.
Haney has a law degree from UW-Madison.