Gov. Walker: Appoints Chief of Staff Rich Zipperer to the Public Service Commission, Eric Schutt as Chief of Staff

• Rich Zipperer – Commissioner, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC).
• Eric Schutt – Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor.

“Rich Zipperer has been an outstanding leader in our office for the past five and a half years,” Governor Walker said. “Rich is reform-minded and a man of strong character, and I thank him for his service to our state, not only as chief of staff, but also as a state legislator and now as a commissioner on the PSC. We will miss his leadership in the office. We also welcome Eric Schutt back to the administration and thank him for his willingness to rejoin our team. He served as a well-regarded and successful chief of staff in the past, and I know he will do so again.”

Rich Zipperer will begin his role as a commissioner on the PSC on Monday, March 26. Zipperer fills the vacancy created by Ellen Nowak, who was appointed by Governor Walker to serve as Department of Administration secretary.

“Serving as Governor Walker’s chief of staff has been an incredible honor, and I am proud of all we have accomplished together as a team,” Rich Zipperer said. “We eliminated the state portion of the property tax, held successful listening sessions in all 72 counties, and brought about many consequential reforms. I thank the Governor for placing his trust in me to serve on the PSC, and I look forward to the work ahead.”

Zipperer has served in the Governor’s Office since September 2012 and as chief of staff since September 2015. Prior to his time in the Governor’s Office, Zipperer was elected to Wisconsin State Senate in 2010 as a senator for the 33rd Senate District where he served as chair of the Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce and Government Operations Committee. He was also elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2006 as a Representative for the 98th Assembly District where he served on the Energy and Utilities Committee. Prior to his time in the Legislature, he served as deputy chief of staff for U.S. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner and an attorney in private practice.

Eric Schutt will begin his role as chief of staff on Monday, April 2. Schutt joins the administration from UnitedHealth Group where he served as a senior vice president of external affairs.

“It is an honor to return to the Governor’s Office and lead this strong team,” Eric Schutt said. “We will continue to advance Governor Walker’s record of bold reform and get positive things done for the people of Wisconsin.”

Prior to his time at UnitedHealth Group, he served as Governor Walker’s chief of staff from September 2011 to September 2015, Governor Walker’s deputy chief of staff, vice president of state government affairs for UnitedHealth Group, chief of staff to State Representative and Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair Kitty Rhoades during the 2007-2008 legislative session, and chief of staff to State Senator Joe Leibham during the 2005-2006 legislative session.