Press Release

For Immediate Release
December 15, 2003

Contact: Pam Henning, (608) 267-2929

Secretary Announces Executive Staff Changes

MADISON -- Department of Employee Trust Funds (DETF) Secretary Eric Stanchfield announced today the appointment of two key management positions:

• David A. Stella, Middleton, appointed Deputy Secretary

• Rhonda Dunn, Fitchburg, appointed Acting Executive Assistant

Stella recently returned to DETF after serving as the executive director/chief executive officer of the Denver Public Schools Retirement System. He previously held management positions in Wisconsin State government since 1982 and DETF management positions from 1986 to 2001, including six years as administrator of DETF's Division of Retirement Services. Stella replaces former Deputy Secretary David Mills, who was appointed Executive Director of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board last week.

Stella will oversee various operating units within the Department, including the Division of Trust Finance and Employer Services, Legal Services, and two large divisions responsible for providing retirement and health insurance benefits for more than 500,000 retirees, active State, university, municipal, county and school district employees and inactive former public employees.

Dunn, Administrator of the Division of Management Services, has held management and leadership positions at DETF for 26 of the 30 years she has been with the Department. She replaces Stella, who was the executive assistant. In her new position, Dunn will manage Department divisions responsible for budget and legislation, internal audit activities, communications, and information technology, in addition to her current responsibilities overseeing DETF's human resources team and the bureaus responsible for quality assurance services, records management, and office services.

Said Stanchfield, "We are pleased and fortunate to have two such experienced, high quality individuals working on behalf of the Wisconsin Retirement System and its members. We will all benefit from their strong leadership abilities and proven management skills."