Evers Taps Cole as WI’s First African American DNR Secretary

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Evers Taps Cole as WI’s First African American DNR Secretary
Wisconsin Ag Connection – 12/20/2018


Governor-elect Tony Evers has announced his first four cabinet appointments this week, which includes the selection of Preston Cole as Natural Resources secretary. Cole currently serves as the commissioner of the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood
Services and drew distinction for becoming the first African American forester hired by the Conservation Department.

He previously served as the operations director for the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, where he was responsible for 2,400 employees and running a budget of $300 million. He also served as the former Parks Superintendent for the City of St.
Louis, as well as a Resource Forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation.

“Words cannot express how humbled and honored I am to serve as the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources,” Cole said. “As a natural resource professional, I endeavor to work tirelessly to serve the citizens of Wisconsin by restoring our rich
history of conservation.”

Evers said in a statement that his goal is to ensure that his team brings science back to the DNR after Democrats have long contended that the Walker administration became too lenient on environmental regulations.

Cole holds a bachelor degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in forest management.

Other cabinet appointments include Joel Brennan as Department of Administration secretary; Kevin Carr as Department of Corrections secretary; and Sara Meaney as Department of Tourism secretary.

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