Junior Achievement of Wis. Welcomes New Leadership

MILWAUKEE, WIS.— Junior Achievement of Wisconsin (JA) announced today the addition of new leadership and fresh talent to its state level Board of Directors with April Dunn to serve as the new Board Chair, joined by four new board members representing some of Milwaukee’s largest and most reputable brands.

Dunn was elected as the new board chair at Junior Achievement’s annual meeting in Milwaukee September 17. She will take the helm of one of Wisconsin’s most well-established nonprofits as the organization seeks to leverage its resources in new ways to support young people as they confront shifting career and economic challenges. Dunn’s focus for the 2025-26 school year will be to help JA meet the demand for programs designed to accelerate economic opportunity for young people across Wisconsin.

“I am honored to step into the role of Board Chair for Junior Achievement,” said Dunn. “I am deeply grateful to the incredible leaders who have paved the way with vision and dedication, and I am excited to work alongside my fellow board members to continue advancing our impact. Together, we will empower even more young people with the knowledge and skills they need to build bright futures. As a volunteer and advocate for Junior Achievement, I am especially proud to champion this mission in my new role.”

Dunn most recently served as Interim Director of Milwaukee Women Inc. and previously held senior level positions with Manpower Group and GE Healthcare, among other global brands. She has been a Junior Achievement of Wisconsin board member since 2019. She also serves on boards for Women United, Milwaukee Women, Inc. and Susan G Komen. Dunn received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from Queen’s University and her Master's of Business Administration Degree from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Dunn will be joined by new board members Andrew Gohsman, VP Relationship Manager for Wells Fargo; Matt Haas, Senior VP, Commercial Banking for Johnson Financial Group; Christian Rothe, Senior VP and CFO for Rockwell Automation; and Bryant VanCronkhite, Senior Portfolio Manager for Allspring. Former interim Junior Achievement President, 20-year board member, and long-time friend of JA, Troy Carrothers of Merchant Advisory Group, will join the board’s Emeritus members.

JA works in partnership with schools across Wisconsin to offer K-12 in-class curriculum, hands-on learning at brick-and-mortar experiential learning centers, JA's 3DE instructional model in Milwaukee, and entry to a variety of workforce pathways through job shadows, career days, and career speakers.

“We’re proud to welcome April in her new role and excited to have Andrew, Matt, Christian and Bryant join us as we work to drive meaningful change across the state,” said Julie Granger, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin President. “Through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to access and impact, JA is building a future-ready generation and strengthening communities throughout Wisconsin.”

The following board officers and committee members will continue in their current roles: Sean Torinus, CEO of Serigraph as Secretary; Benjamin Otchere, VP & Controller for A.O. Smith Corporation as Treasurer; Representative Executive Committee Member, Tim Daanen, President of B&D Warehouse, Inc.; At-Large Executive Committee Member, Joanne Szymaszek of Summit Construction; and April Dunn, Community Volunteer Chair.

About Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA learning experiences are delivered by corporate and community volunteers and provide relevant, hands-on lessons that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, Junior Achievement is expanding its reach to 18-to-25-year-olds to provide young adults with critical life skills. Since 2021, more than 14,000 Junior Achievement volunteers have taught JA life skills to 340,000 Wisconsin students. For more information, visit Wisconsin.ja.org.

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