Mary Burke
Mary Burke | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1958 or 1959 (age 65–66)[1] |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Georgetown University Harvard University |
Mary Burke is a member of the Madison, Wisconsin school board, and a former executive at Trek Bicycle Corporation. Burke also served as the Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce. She is the daughter of Trek Bicycle Corporation founder Richard Burke.[2]
Early life and education
Mary is the daughter of Richard Burke, founder of Trek Bicycle Corporation.
Mary Burke grew up in Hartland, Wisconsin.[3] She attended Georgetown University, where she received a finance degree. She then attended Harvard Business School, where she earned a master's of business administration degree in 1985.[4]
Career
Burke began her career as a consultant in New York and Washington, D.C. In the late 1990's Burke moved back to Wisconsin to work for Trek. In 2005, Burke was appointed Secretary of Commerce of Wisconsin by Governor Jim Doyle. In 2008, Burke led a study on the financial troubles facing Milwaukee schools.[5] In 2012, Burke was elected to a seat on the Madison school board.[6]
Philanthropy and personal life
Burke donated $450,000 to Road Home, a nonprofit agency serving homeless families in Dane County. She has also supported the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County and Madison Prep, a charter school.[7] Burke joined with teacher Kate Brien to found AVID/TOPS, a non-profit dedicated to help kids striving to be the first in their family to attend college. Burke had begun her volunteering as a teen, teaching tennis on inner city Milwaukee playgrounds.[8] In 2011, Madison Magazine named Burke one of their "People of the Year."[9]
2014 Gubernatorial Candidacy
On October 7, 2013 Mary Burke announced[10] that she is running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Governor Scott Walker in the 2014 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
References
- ^ Bauer, Scott (25 June 2013). "Democrats testing potential candidacy of Mary Burke against Walker in 2014". AP. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ Marley, Patrick (6 July 2013). "Could former Trek executive Mary Burke unseat Scott Walker?". Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ Troller, Susan (6 October 2011). "Q&A with Mary Burke: Making sure minority students have full chance to excel". The Capital Times. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ Emmons, Gary. "A Commitment to Education". Harvard Business School. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ Comp, Nathan J. (22 December 2011). "Philanthropist Mary Burke believes everybody deserves a chance to be successful". Isthmus. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ Davidoff, Judith (4 April 2012). "Achievement gap dominated Madison school board races that netted wins for Arlene Silveira, Mary Burke". Isthmus. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ Comp, Nathan J. (22 December 2011). "Philanthropist Mary Burke believes everybody deserves a chance to be successful". Isthmus. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ Troller, Susan (6 October 2011). "Q&A with Mary Burke: Making sure minority students have full chance to excel". The Capital Times. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ Nardi, Brennan. "People of the Year". Madison Magazine. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ Stein, Jason (7 October 2013). "Mary Burke announces candidacy to challenge Scott Walker for governor". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 7 October 2013.