Staff
The WiCAL staff draws from the tremendous strength and experience of the entire WHCA staff members. Staff combine for over 115 years of service to Wisconsin’s long term care provider community.
WiCAL Executive Director
Director of Legal Services
Brian R. Purtell, J.D.
Brian serves as the Executive Director of WiCAL and the Director of Legal Services to the WHCA. He has 15 years of health law legal experience, 13 of which have been in service to the WHCA. He is a leading voice of the long term care profession within Wisconsin and nationally through AHCA/NCAL. His years of association experience allow him to establish the necessary skills, knowledge, reputation and credibility to serve the WiCAL and WHCA memberships. As one of three registered lobbyist on staff, he supports legislative advocacy and leads the association’s regulatory advocacy efforts.
WHCA Executive Director
Thomas P. Moore, J.D.
Tom is the leader of WHCA and is recognized as one of the most influential individuals in Wisconsin’s long term care community. Having first applied his legal degree with the Wisconsin Medicaid program, Tom joined the WHCA as its first Director of Legal Services, quickly rising to the Executive Director Position. He is responsible for overseeing the association activities, policy directives and advocacy efforts. Over the past few years Tom has focused his expertise in considerable workforce development efforts benefiting Wisconsin’s entire long term and health care provider communities.
Director of Government Relations
Jim McGinn
Jim has spent his entire career in Wisconsin politics, beginning in 1973 as a legislative staffer to several State Representatives and Senators. He joined WHCA in late 1984, and for the past 24 years, he has been one of the most recognizable individuals within the Capitol as the legislative voice for long term care. His experience allows him to focus on those issues of most importance and relevance to Association members, and to spot issues that only distract and divert attention and resources from the most pressing of issues.
Director of Special Projects
George W. (Skitch) MacKenzie, NHA
Skitch has literally spent nearly his entire personal and professional life within the long term care community. Having grown up in a family that operated nursing homes, Skitch followed the family tradition into long term care. After years on the operations side of long term care, Skitch joined the Association in the role of Director of Special Projects. He is responsible for membership development, educational programming, oversees the annual Spring Conference & Exposition and Fall Convention, and special programming and initiatives.
Director of Financial Services
L. Tom Schwoegler
Tom provides finance and technical expertise to the association and its membership. In his thirty years of service to the WHCA he has been witness to and a participant in the dramatic changes to the reimbursement systems for Wisconsin’s long term care provider community. His experience and skill are valuable to association efforts and advocacy as Wisconsin continues its Family Care expansion and modifications to the Medicaid program.
Director of Communications
John Vander Meer, MPA
John J. Vander Meer joined WHCA/WiCAL as Communications Director in 2011. With more than 10 years of experience in media and legislative relations, John holds a Master’s Degree in public affairs from the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs and graduated with a double major in history and media studies from Calvin College, in Grand Rapids, MI. During his career, John has worked as a newspaper reporter coving health care and other issues, served as the communications and public policy coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and worked for several Wisconsin state legislators, most recently serving as Chief of Staff to an Assembly Representative and Committee Clerk of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee. He has held internships in both broadcast and print media, including with the British Broadcasting Corporation, Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, as well as several newspapers and a magazine. As WHCA/WiCAL's Communications Director, John understands internal and external communications from all sides, and is always willing to help members get their message out to prospective clients, current residents, employees, politicians, reporters and the public.
Executive Assistant
Jammie Moore
Jammie oversees the day to day operations of the association. She provides member services and manages membership information, along with processing registrations, purchases, accounts receivable and communications to the membership. Her organizational skills keep the association office running smoothly and are instrumental in the success of conventions, conferences and member publications.