Contact: DSPS Newsroom, (608) 266-6795

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Madison, WI – The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) Secretary-designee Dawn B. Crim announced three additional appointments to her leadership team today.

Brennan Nardi has been appointed to serve as communications director effective February 28, 2019. She will manage internal and external communications, public relations, news and social media for the agency.

Nardi has more than twenty years of experience in journalism and communications, mostly recently as Communications Director of Madison Community Foundation. Prior to that, she served as Editor of Madison Magazine, where she continues to write a monthly column on entrepreneurship.

Nardi is a committed community volunteer. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of the UW-Madison Center for Journalism Ethics. Her past community service includes the Board of Directors of the Madison Parks Foundation, founding Community Board member of Clean Lakes Alliance, and coach of Girls on the Run Dane County.

Nardi holds a B.A. in Women’s Studies from the University of Virginia and an M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Tom Ryan has been appointed as the Division Administrator for the Division for Legal Services and Compliance, effective March 4, 2019. He will oversee legal services to professional boards and the Department regarding the investigation and discipline of licensed credential holders for violations of professional regulations. Ryan has been an administrator in the Division of Policy Development at DSPS for over 16 years. He has served several Boards, Councils and Committees, assisting them in advancing their public protection mission.

Prior experience in consumer protection includes four years with the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (1993-97) and over two years as a practicing attorney with Legal Action of Wisconsin (2000-03).

Ryan has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the LaFollette School of Public Affairs and a Law Degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Yolanda McGowan has been appointed as the Division Administrator for Policy Development, effective March 4, 2019. She spent the majority of her legal career as a litigator in private practice prior to joining the Department in 2008, where she has since served in multiple capacities including as Executive Director, Legal Counsel and most recently, as a prosecuting attorney in the Division of Legal Services and Compliance.

McGowan graduated cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. In 1993, she obtained her law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Crim said she would announce additional appointments as they are made.

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