Kathy Blumenfeld, the new Secretary (designee) of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, outlined four priorities in a brief address to bankers attending the WBA Executives Conference in Milwaukee on Feb. 5. Blumenfeld was appointed in January by Wis. Gov. Tony Evers. Blumenfeld’s appointment becomes official upon confirmation by the State Senate.
Blumenfeld said the DFI will promote financial literacy, work to protect senior citizens from financial fraud, help students gain affordable access to higher education, and foster economic development throughout the state.
“I want to be helpful so that it benefits your customers, Wisconsin consumers working to maintain the safety and soundness of all our financial institutions in Wisconsin,” Blumenfeld said.
Blumenfeld announced Heather MacKinnon has been named administrator of the Division of Banking. MacKinnon had been chief legal counsel for the Department of Financial Institutions.
Cheryll Olson Collins is Deputy Secretary, responsible for day-to-day operations of the Department.
Blumenfeld is a certified public accountant and a project management professional. For the last three years, Blumenfeld worked as vice president of special operations at Total Administrative Services Corporation in Madison. There she oversaw a large federal contract with the Office of Personnel Management.
Previously, she worked at CUNA Mutual Group, a mutual insurance company providing financial services to credit unions and cooperatives. She concluded her 26 years of service there as vice president of lending and payment security. During her time at CUNA Mutual Group, she co-founded the Women’s Leadership Network and served on the Diversity and Inclusion Council and the Employee Philanthropy Committee. She also served for 10 years on the board of Madison-based Summit Credit Union.
“I hope to see many of you as I tour the state and come visit you at your banks and in your communities, and look forward to hearing your thoughts, your comments, your concerns so that I can carry them back to the State Capitol,” she said.