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 Communications
Erin Celello
Erin began her service to the long term care community in 2008, when she was brought on to fill the critical role of enhancing external and internal communications and media relations. Erin brings important experience, including her service within Wisconsin government. Having served as the Deputy Press Secretary in Governor Doyle’s press office, and as the Media Relations director for the Wisconsin DNR and the recent Supreme Court campaign, she is uniquely qualified to assist the Association and its membership in communicating their important message of the value of the services they provide Wisconsin’s elderly and disabled communities. Erin brings direct and tangible value to members through her efforts to provide members with information, tools, resources and training in addressing media issues, proactive media and public relations, and crisis management.
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 financing 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.
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.