Madison, Wis. – The Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) is pleased to announce Mike Semmann as the new President and Chief Executive Officer. Semmann takes over on April 2 for former WGA leader Brandon Scholz, who recently retired from his position.
Semmann brings over 25 years of trade association experience and joined WGA as the Vice President of Government Affairs. As Vice President of Government Affairs, Semmann has been instrumental in shaping the association’s advocacy efforts, specializing in lobbying, policy analysis, and trade association management. His commitment to building trusted relationships and crafting meaningful policy solutions has been pivotal in advancing the interests of Wisconsin’s grocery industry.
“The Board is impressed with Mike’s strategic insight, his track record of innovation and operational excellence, and advocacy leadership,” said Bob Jaskolski, WGA’s Chairman. “We are confident that Mike is the best person to help advance the interests of Wisconsin’s competitive grocery industry now and into the future.”
Semmann expressed appreciation for his new role, stating, “I am honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead the Wisconsin Grocers Association and advocate on behalf of its members. Wisconsin’s grocers are focused on serving their communities and I look forward to working collaboratively to address the challenges and opportunities facing the grocery industry.”
Prior to joining WGA, Semmann held key positions in both the private and non-profit sectors. He most recently served as the Senior Account Executive at SAS, the nation’s leading data analytics firm as well as the Executive Vice President/COO for the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA), where he oversaw advocacy, legal, and communications initiatives. He co-founded Advancing AI Wisconsin, a grassroots organization that was focused on increasing awareness of machine learning’s impact on the state’s economy.
