Lisa Ellinger

Experience

• 

  State of Wisconsin Office of the Privacy Advocate

  Feb 1994 - May 1995

  Program Assistant

  Organized and managed a two-person office and clerked the State Privacy Council. Responsible for database design and maintenance. Performed policy, statutory and legislative research and analysis. Developed and created resource materials including brochures, handouts, press releases and minutes.

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  Lunar Corporation

  May 1995 - Feb 1998

  Communications Specialist

  Responsible for writing, editing, design and printing of sales materials including: brochures, press releases, media kits, marketing kits, and posters. Responsible for customer relations and support, and managing interns.

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  Wisconsin State Legislature

  Feb 1998 - Jan 2003

  Committee Clerk / Research Assistant / Legislative Assistant

  Responsible for bill and policy analysis, organizing hearings, press releases, speech writing, constituent contacts, database maintenance, legislative research, newsletter content and design, and managing interns and other staff. Particular focus on the following issue areas: health, transportation, labor, agriculture, higher education.

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  Office of the Governor

  Jan 2003 - Jun 2004

  Policy Advisor

  Responsible for conducting research and policy analysis for the Governor for the following issue areas: health, human services, insurance, workforce development, and transportation. Responsibilities also included serving as a liaison between the Governor's office and state agencies, lobbyists, and interest groups relevant to referenced issue areas. Duties also included working with Governor's D.C. office on federal issues, assisting in speech writing, legislative relations and bill tracking, and managing interns. Show less

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  The New Hope Project

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2007

  Policy Advisor

  Responsible for government affairs and legislative relations pertaining to program assisting ex-offenders in obtaining employment, as well as welfare reform issues. Responsibilities include research and development of legislation; collaborating with advocacy and other organizations; building partnerships with correctional institutions; grant writing. Results include securing a 3-year $1.5 grant from the Joyce Foundation and a $1 million appropriation in the current state biennial budget.

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  Wisconsin Health Project

  Sept 2004 - Oct 2007

  Assistant Director

  Responsible for coordination of a statewide campaign to build bi-partisan, multi-stakeholder support for comprehensive health care reform. Responsibilities include research and development of legislation; outreach with a wide variety of business, labor, health care, advocacy and other interest groups; strategizing public awareness and education outreach; legislative and governmental relations; coordination of media and other public relations including website development (www.wisconsinhealthplan.org); staff management; research and policy analysis; extensive statewide travel and public speaking. Results include the introduction of the Wisconsin Health Plan (2005-06 Assembly Bill 1140), and State Senate passage of "Healthy Wisconsin" in June 2007. Show less

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  Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds

  Jan 2008 - Feb 2018

  Administrator

  Responsible for policy development and implementation of the health, life, disability, and long-term care insurance programs, and employee reimbursement account and commuter benefit programs which cover state and local government employees across the state of Wisconsin. Responsibilities include contract development, negotiation, and oversight; IT/online systems development (e.g., myETF Benefits); staff training; external relations; Board relations; policy research and development; legislative analysis; outreach and education for members and employers; and staff management. In this role, I represent ETF on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO), the Steering Committee for the Office of Health Care Reform, and the Wisconsin Purchasers for Healthcare Quality. Show less

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  Wisconsin Hospital Association

  Feb 2018 - Dec 2019

  Vice President of Public Policy

  Responsible for policy research, analysis and development pertaining to state and federal programs that impact Wisconsin’s hospitals, with a focus on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Responsibilities include oversight and facilitation of membership workgroups and councils, Board presentations, government relations and strategic planning. In this role, I also represent WHA on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO), the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership Operations Council, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Transportation Advisory Council, the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, and the Wisconsin Policy Forum Social Services Committee. Show less

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  La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison

  Sept 2020 - now

  Leads the La Follette School of Public Affairs far-reaching efforts to expand its outreach mission.Oversees a team of outreach, legislative policy, and communications professionals, who develop and implement a wide range of public programs and activities as well as engagement opportunities for state lawmakers.Works closely with La Follette School faculty members to develop programming that allows them to communicate their research and teaching to a broad audience. Priority focus on building and sustaining partnerships with diverse constituencies and expanding the School’s state and national reputation for policy research and engagement. Show less

  • Director of Strategic Initiatives

    Jan 2023 - now

  • Outreach Director

    Dec 2019 - Jan 2023

  • Instructor

    Sept 2020 - Dec 2020