MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele today announced his appointment of Holly Davis as director of the County’s Department on Aging. Ms. Davis began serving as interim director of the Department in September.
Ms. Davis comes to Milwaukee County having run large and complex agencies and organizations. Most recently, she served as the Bureau Director for the Milwaukee Early Care Administration (Wisconsin Department of Children and Families). As Bureau Director Ms. Davis managed a $12.2 million operating budget and was responsible for the coordination of Milwaukee-based early care programs, policies, and procedures. Prior to her state employment, Holly was the Executive Director of Next Generation Now, a nonprofit agency in Racine, and also spent time at various other nonprofit agencies in the Racine, Kenosha, and Milwaukee area.
“Holly Davis has a sincere passion for community service and caring for the most vulnerable residents of our community, which is one of the many reasons that I’m excited to have her join our team.” County Executive Chris Abele said. “We are always looking for leaders that have the ability to think big and make changes that result in more empowering government services for the most vulnerable in our community. We have found that person in Holly Davis.”
In her short tenure with Milwaukee County, Ms. Davis has made it a priority to build relationships with the strong aging network in Milwaukee County and statewide to learn about the unique challenges that the aging population faces. Ms. Davis’s skills and expertise in approaching challenges such as the need for comprehensive social services, food security, and transportation make her a great fit to lead the Department on Aging – especially at a time when the older population is growing but available resources are not keeping up.
Maybe most importantly, Ms. Davis has a track record of service to under-served and vulnerable populations. While her previous experience did not take place within Milwaukee County’s aging network, her skills and expertise in the areas of budget management, employee coaching and mentoring, fundraising, and performance management are fully transferable to the Department on Aging. Throughout Ms. Davis’s career, she has struck the right balance between focusing on data and metrics that drive positive outcomes for customers while maintaining a sincere passion to help the customer.
“I’m thrilled to be here at the Milwaukee County Department on Aging. This is an incredible opportunity to work in partnership with the hard-working Department staff, volunteers, and community organizations that are helping to ensure Milwaukee is a community that values our older adults and can provide the best, most supportive resources possible,” Holly Davis said. “I’m encouraged by the productive meetings I’ve had with supervisors in just the past couple of months and the good ideas we’ve shared so far. I look forward to a continued partnership with the County Board in the years to come.”
Background:
Ms. Davis appointment to Director of the Milwaukee County Department on Aging is made pursuant to Wisconsin Statute Sec. 59.17(2) and is subject to confirmation by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.