Organic Valley exec Melissa Hughes tapped to lead the state's jobs agency

MADISON - A top executive at the billion-dollar dairy cooperative Organic Valley will lead the state's jobs agency, Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday.

Melissa Hughes, who has worked as general counsel at the Vernon County organization for 15 years, said in her application to Evers that she helped grow the number of participating family farms from 500 to 2,000 and from $150 million in annual sales to more than $1 billion.  

"With her background helping small businesses and family farms, coupled with her experience navigating complex governmental, regulatory, trade, and business matters, Missy Hughes will be an incredible asset to our team as we work to grow an economy that works for everyone,” Evers said in a statement. 

Hughes, who has degrees in political science and law, previously worked as a private attorney in Wyoming. 

She will take over as chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. on Oct. 1, replacing former CEO Mark Hogan, who was appointed by former Gov. Scott Walker.

Hughes takes over the agency as it continues to oversee its largest project to date: a nearly 1-million-square-foot display panel manufacturing facility in Mount Pleasant.

Foxconn Technology Group is set to receive up to $3 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies that will be distributed by WEDC.

FULL COVERAGE:Foxconn in Wisconsin

The agency is among the most scrutinized in state government, in part over whether its process to verify job creation will provide an accurate picture for WEDC officials tasked with releasing the subsidies to Foxconn. The Taiwanese tech giant must create jobs and invest capital in order to receive the tax credits.

WEDC also has been under a microscope since the agency was created after it failed to track whether businesses were repaying millions of dollars in loans from state taxpayers. The agency in its early years also awarded loans to businesses who provided false information.

A recent audit also showed the agency gave nearly half a million dollars to a company that cut more jobs than it created and handed out taxpayer funds to others for jobs in other states. 

Hughes in a statement focused on her work with the farming industry, which has been decimated in recent years amid low milk prices and new tariffs.

"Having worked in a high growth business for many years, with the goal of helping farmers stay on their farms now and for the coming generations, I am excited to bring my experience to the Evers Administration, and I look forward to helping all of Wisconsin thrive,” she said.

Hughes' appointment could be derailed by Republicans in the state Senate who have the power to reject Evers' decision through the confirmation process. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald did not respond to a request for comment. 

Evers' appointment comes just days after Sept. 1, the date set in a new state law passed by Republicans in December that took away Evers' ability to replace the WEDC CEO until then.

At Organic Valley, Hughes oversees legal and government affairs, including regulatory matters, lobbying, and working with Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Hughes beat out five other applicants, according to records obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel under the public records law, including the state's liaison to Foxconn. 

Sam Rikkers, a former Obama administration official who most recently was the executive director of the Tiny Earth network at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, was one of the six finalists for WEDC chief. 

Other finalists include:

• Elmer Moore, executive director of economic development group Scale Up Milwaukee, who previously worked as the director of business development for Allen Edmonds. 
• Brian Taffora, who works at Michael Best Strategies and previously worked as the director of economic development for Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. 
• Carrie Thome, chief investment officer at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. Thome also worked as an assistant portfolio manager, investment officer and credit analyst at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board. 
• Jamie Wall, who unsuccessfully ran in 2012 against then-U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble in the 8th Congressional District. He previously worked at the Wisconsin Department of Commerce in the 2000s.

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Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck.