Dept. of Commerce: Leinenkugel resigns as Commerce secretary

Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

MADISON – Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel is resigning as Secretary of the Department effective Friday, April 9, 2010.

“I am privileged to have led Wisconsin’s Department of Commerce over the past 18 months,” said Secretary Leinenkugel. “I want to thank the Department employees who have worked diligently to retain and create quality jobs with Wisconsin’s businesses. I want to thank Governor Doyle for this opportunity, and I know the team at Commerce will continue to drive economic growth while promoting safe and healthy communities.”

“I want to thank Secretary Leinenkugel for his service to Wisconsin,” Governor Jim Doyle said. “Since I took office, creating jobs has been one of my top priorities. My last budget created powerful new tax credits to help manufacturers create and retain jobs, new tools to help investors create start-ups, and new incentives to spur research and development. The Department of Commerce has put these to good use in a tough national economic downturn, which has resulted in attracting and retaining numerous businesses and creating thousands of jobs.”

Secretary Leinenkugel said he was resigning to pursue a new opportunity.