Walker appoints Reed Hall to head WEDC

Reed Hall, interim secretary/CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. since last November, today was named the chief executive officer of the WEDC.

In announcing the appointment, Gov. Scott Walker cited Hall’s experience as executive director of the Marshfield Clinic and his involvement in various civic organizations.

Hall was named to the interim post when his predecessor, Paul Jadin, left to become the president of Thrive, an eight-county economic development organization representing south central Wisconsin.

The WEDC is addressing various management issues, including the failure to adequately track business loans. The corporation, established in 2011 to revamp the state’s approach to economic development, is working with Financial Institutions Products Corp., a subsidiary of the Wisconsin Bankers Association, to evaluate its credit risk processes. 

“As interim CEO and secretary, I have been impressed by the dedication of the WEDC staff and the success WEDC has had in transforming the state’s approach to economic development,” Hall said in a press release. “I am fully aware of the challenges and opportunities associated with this transition.”

Hall serves on the board of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and has a master’s degree in health law from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health.

During Hall’s tenure with the Marshfield Clinic, which included a stint as general counsel, the clinic added 63 regional clinics and grew from 145 to 180 physicians.

Introducing Hall across the state, Walker promised more of a regional approach to economic development.