VP of Student Relations

Kate Pelchat – Incumbent

Kate Nicholas Pelchat has been a member of the Brew City HDI since 2006 and was appointed this winter to the Executive Board in the position of VP of Student Relations. In her tenure she has been instrumental in leading the 2013 Technology Fair as well as hosting HDI Board meetings and several other technology events. Kate also was able to coordinate and execute a Continuing Education Partnership between the Mid-West Region of HDI and DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management offering tuition discounts, waived application fees and other benefits to active members. This has sparked an interest nationwide for such educational benefits which she is helping to coordinate.  Kate has also worked closely with other area schools to drive student attendance and membership and plans to create a student mentorship program where current professional members partner with students members to help them feel welcome and learn the benefits of HDI membership.

Professionally, Kate currently serves as the Dean at DeVry University in Waukesha, WI. Previously, she was the Vice President of Operations and Educational Services at PC ProSchools (Brensten Education). Pelchat has worked closely with her students to transition to the professional world of information technology and encourages membership in professional organizations such as HDI as a way to gain valuable insider information as well as networking connections.

Kate holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Science’s Degree in Education.

Kate’s 15+ years of experience in education paired with her extensive HDI involvement make her a perfect candidate to continue on in the role of VP of Student Relations.

Christopher Zahn

My name is Christopher Zahn and I received two Bachelor’s degrees from UW-Milwaukee. While attending college, I was also was a member of Student Government, United Council, and the UWM Track and X-Country teams. I received several leadership awards while in Student Government and United Council. I also finished with senior honors.

While at Brensten Education, I’ve worked with everyone from seasoned veterans to aspiring professionals. It has helped me to better understand their passions and strengths in help desk and networking. It’s helps to define their professional paths to finding a satisfying and fulfilling position in IT. I was fortunate to work with Laura Polancich and mentor with her while she was the Manager of Career Services. She was a valuable asset in helping me understand how to develop and implement strategies on how to stay connected with our current students and recent graduates from the program.

I feel that I would be a wonderful addition to HDI team and the VP of Student Relations because it’s feels like an extension of what I’m currently accomplishing at Brensten Education. I reach out to continuing students and recent graduates on a consistent basis to promote different positions in IT. Since HDI shares several of the same interests in that field, coordinating meetings and events almost second in nature. I’ve had some experience when coordinating one of your chapter meetings in March and would love to expand upon that.

VP of Finance

Wendy Klemp – Incumbent

Wendy has been a member of the Brew City HDI since April 2010 holding the VP of Finance position for the past two years. Last year Wendy was awarded the professional certification of HDI Support Center Manager.  Wendy is an IT professional with 13 years industry experience in the area of security and compliance, computer operations, network support and service desk. She holds an Associate of Applied Science – Computer Information Systems/Microcomputer Specialist degree from Gateway Technical College and a Bachelor of Science – Information Technology degree from the University of Phoenix. In the fall Wendy will be enrolling at the University of Phoenix to begin working on her Master’s degree. Wendy is currently an Information Technology Instructor at Gateway Technical College and enjoys sharing her passion for the Service Desk with her students. Wendy’s past positions include Supervisor, Help Desk and Computer Operations with Time Warner Cable from 2005 to 2012 and Network Support Specialist with Sta-Rite Industries beginning in 1999.  For fun and exercise Wendy enjoys doing Zumba Fitness and relaxing on the pontoon boat every Sunday with her family, weather permitting. Wendy has been married to Jeff for 25 years and they have three daughters, a soon to be son-in-law, one Siberian husky named Nakita, and a one year old grandchild.

Janet Driscoll – Nominee

I am interested in using my accounting skills to help Brew City HDI maintain accurate and reliable financial records. Having a sound accounting system is essential to any entity looking to grow and expand. By carefully monitoring receivables and making sure all expenditures are authorized and approved, I have helped many companies improve their cash-flow.

I use tools developed by IT professionals to make accounting procedures more efficient and enjoy working with creative people who develop new ideas and smarter ways to work. Also, connecting with people on a monthly basis seems like a great way to keep current on the latest industry developments.

VP of Marketing

Phil Gerbyshak – Incumbent

Working with businesses to increase their customer and prospect connections to grow their bottom line is my passion. This often means I am asked to do social media speaking, social media training, social media writing and social media marketing for entrepreneurs, small businesses, authors, and speakers.

Milwaukee Social Media was created to teach businesses and their organizations how to best use online technology to generate and nurture leads, create a customer community that improves customer engagement, typically using social media tools and attitudes to do so. I’ve been working in one way or another with social media since 2005.

Additionally, I have written over 2500 articles and 4 physical books. I have also been the lead contributor, curator and contributor to numerous electronic books.

Sharing my expertise on TV, the radio and in print, in the Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, the Daily Globe and Mail, USA Today, CBS SmartPlanet and more is always fun for me.

15+ years in IT

10 years on Brew City HDI

4 years as chapter president

4 years as Midwest Regional Director

Passionate about helping people achieve their full potential and marketing and telling their stories.