AEDC Board & Officers

Paul Shafer, Executive Director

Paul has been Executive Director of the AEDC since March of 2011. Paul is a retired Plant Manager of a local food production plant employing 150 people and doing 100+ million pounds of product annually. Paul has lived in Amery since 1984. More About Paul
Paul Schafer

Tom Bensen, AEDC President

Tom Bensen has been a member of the AEDC board since 2009 and was elected President in December 2017. Tom is currently the principal at Amery Middle School and has worked in this position since 1999.
Phone: 715-268-9771 Ext 303, Email Tom Bensen

Tom Benson

Debra Rudquist, AEDC Vice President

Debra Rudquist joined the AEDC in 2018.  She is the CEO of Amery Hospital & Clinic which is the largest employer in the Amery community with 420 employees.  Deb grew up in Taylors Falls, MN and moved to the Amery area in 2015 after taking the CEO position at the Amery Hospital & Clinic.  She has strong ties to the area with parents who were longtime residents of Garfield Township and two sisters who live in the area.  Prior to her position at Amery Hospital & Clinic, Deb was a healthcare leader for 19 years at Allina and 5 years at Fairview.

Deb Rudquist

Matt Johnson, AEDC Secretary

Matt Johnson has served on the AEDC Board of Directors since its inception in 2008. He served as vice president from 2008-2011 and was elected secretary in 2011. Matt is a pharmacist and has owned Chet Johnson Drug in downtown Amery since April, 2000. Matt was born in Amery and has lived here his entire life.

Phone: 715-268-8121, Email Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson

Scott Jensen, AEDC Treasurer

Scott Jensen has served on the AEDC Board since its inception in 2008.  Scott is the President and General Manager of Northwest Communications where he has worked since 1999.  Scott was born in Amery and has lived here all his life.

Phone: 715-268-6066, Email Scott Jensen
Jensen

Kelly Boucher, Director

Kelly Boucher became a member of the AEDC Board of Directors in June of 2018.  Kelly manages the medical assembly department at SMC in Amery. Kelly and her family moved to Amery in 2011.

Kelly Boucher

Tom Hartmann, Director

Tom Hartmann was elected to the AEDC board in 2024 and has been a resident of Amery much of his life. Upon returning to Amery after college, he started a construction business which he ran for many years and has now been a realtor in Northwest Wisconsin since early 2011. Tom and his wife, Pam, are raising their son here and enjoying the beauty and relationships that make up our community.

Tom Hartmann AEDC Board of Director Picture


Steve Osero, Director

Steve Osero became a member of the AEDC Board in 2024. Steve is President of Amery Technical Products and Performance Molding and past owner of Dynatronix, and Anchor Point Archery. At the time of this writing, he is also a member of the Amery School Board and Chair of the West Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board. Steve grew up in Amery and he and his wife Erin have raised 4 kids in this wonderful community. Steve is excited to a part of a team looking to help foster economic growth in Amery.

Steve Osero AEDC Board of Director Picture

Jim Richison, Director

Jim Richison was elected to the AEDC board of directors in 2017. Jim and his family moved to the Amery area in 2009 and both of his sons are graduates of Amery High School. 

Jim Richison

Ed White, Director

Ed White was first elected to the board during its inception in 2008 and then after taking some time off was reelected in 2013. Ed is the owner of Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services and Stems from the Heart Floral and Gifts.
Ed White

Jason Whitley, Director

Jason Whitley lives in Amery, Wisconsin and is an alum of the Amery Public Schools - class of ‘89. He began his legal practice in 1996 and has been practicing in Western Wisconsin since that time. Jason is a partner in the Law Firm of Novitzke, Gust, Sempf, Whitley and Bergmanis.

Jason Whitley