Mary Burke is an American businesswoman, executive, politician, and philanthropist. She is the former Secretary of Commerce for the state of Wisconsin and served as the Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Wisconsin in 2014. Burke is a former executive at Trek Bicycle Corporation, having worked there for 10 years in various positions, including Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning and Business Development. She is also active in philanthropic organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County and WISPIRG Foundation. Burke’s career has focused on creating jobs through economic development initiatives that expand opportunity for Wisconsin businesses and workers.Mary Burke is an American businesswoman, philanthropist, and politician. She is the former Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce and a 2014 Democratic candidate for Governor of Wisconsin. Burke was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the daughter of former Trek Bicycle Corporation owners Dick and Patricia Burke. She attended St. Ambrose Academy in Madison, then Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay, and graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in finance and international business. After graduating from college, she worked in investment banking at Robert W. Baird & Co., then joined her family’s business, Trek Bicycle Corporation. Burke served as Trek’s Managing Director of European Operations from 1991 to 1993, and was Vice President of the company from 1993 to 2005 until she left to focus on her philanthropy full-time. In 2011, she was appointed as Wisconsin’s Secretary of Commerce under Governor Jim Doyle. In 2013 she announced her candidacy for governor of Wisconsin in the 2014 election.
Mary Burke’s Early Life
Mary Burke was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1959. She is the youngest of six children born to Jean and Richard Burke. Her father was a highly successful businessman who served as CEO of Trek Bicycle Corporation while her mother was an active volunteer for various charitable organizations. Mary attended Edgewood High School in Madison and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business from Georgetown University in 1981. After graduation, she worked at Trek for four years before returning to Wisconsin to become the company’s vice president of European operations. During her time at Trek, Mary was also involved with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation, a nonprofit organization that helps women start and grow businesses. She eventually left Trek in 1999 to pursue other interests, including teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and working as an economic development consultant for local governments. In 2013, Mary decided to run for governor of Wisconsin, making her the first woman ever to do so.
Education & Qualifications of Mary Burke
Mary Burke is an experienced business executive and politician. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgetown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She also has an executive management certificate from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Burke began her career as a consultant for KPMG in the early 1990s, before working as a marketing analyst for Trek Bicycle Corporation. She then went on to become the Vice President of Strategic Planning at Trek Bicycle Corporation, where she helped to double the company’s revenue and increase its market share by 40%.
In addition to her professional experience, Burke has been active in Wisconsin politics since she was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2004. Since then, she has served as Chairwoman of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and was a candidate for Governor in 2014. In 2015, she was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Burke’s combination of education and experience makes her well-suited for public office. Her background in business gives her an understanding of economic issues that could be beneficial to Wisconsin’s economy, while her political experience helps her understand how government works and how to effectively work with other leaders to get things done.
Mary Burke’s Professional Career
Mary Burke is a business executive and politician from Wisconsin. She has had a successful career in both the public and private sectors. Burke began her career in the private sector, working for Trek Bicycle Corporation for over ten years. During that time, she held numerous positions, including president of the company’s European subsidiary.
After leaving Trek, Burke took on a role as Secretary of Commerce for the state of Wisconsin. In this role, she was responsible for leading economic development initiatives and creating jobs in the state. Burke also served as chair of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation during her tenure as Secretary of Commerce.
In 2013, Burke ran for governor of Wisconsin but was unsuccessful in her bid. After her run for governor, she returned to the private sector, taking on an executive role at Building Committee Inc., an investment and consulting firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2020, she again ran for governor but was unsuccessful once again.
Throughout her professional career, Mary Burke has been dedicated to creating jobs and economic development in Wisconsin and beyond. Her experience spans both the public and private sectors and she continues to work towards economic growth in the state of Wisconsin today.
Mary Burke’s Political Career
Mary Burke is an American politician and businesswoman who served as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin from 2011 to 2015. She was the first woman to serve as Governor of Wisconsin. Burke began her political career in 2002, when she successfully ran for a seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly. In 2004, she was re-elected to a second term and served until 2007. From 2007 to 2009, Burke served as Secretary of Commerce in the cabinet of then-Governor Jim Doyle.
In 2013, Burke ran for Governor but was defeated by incumbent Republican Scott Walker in the 2014 Gubernatorial election. Following her defeat, Burke returned to her successful business career, but remained politically active in her home state of Wisconsin. She currently serves on the board of directors for several organizations, including the Greater Madison Area Chamber of Commerce and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.
Burke is also a strong advocate for women’s rights and education reform. She recently launched a campaign called “Be Bold Wisconsin,” which is aimed at encouraging young people to get involved in politics and pursue their dreams. In addition, she is an advocate for workforce development and job growth in Wisconsin.
Burke is an inspiring example of how anyone can make a positive impact on their community through hard work and dedication. Her commitment to public service has earned her respect from both sides of the aisle and has made her one of Wisconsin’s most popular politicians.
The Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election of 2014
The 2014 Wisconsin gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of Wisconsin. Incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker ran for re-election to a second term in office. He faced Democrat Mary Burke, a former Trek Bicycle Corporation executive and the former Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce. The Libertarian Party candidate was Robert Burke. Walker won the election with 52% of the vote, compared to Burke’s 46%.
Walker’s victory was seen as a major victory for Republicans in what had been viewed as a potential swing state in the 2016 presidential election. Walker’s victory also put him in a strong position for a potential presidential run in 2016. The election was seen as a referendum on the policies of Walker and his administration, which had been highly controversial during his first term in office.
Walker ran on his record of economic growth during his first term, touting his record of job creation and cutting taxes. He also campaigned on his education reforms which had been implemented during his first term. Burke ran on her opposition to Walker’s policies and promised to take Wisconsin in a different direction if elected. She proposed raising the minimum wage and expanding access to health care coverage for low-income residents.
The race was seen as very competitive and attracted national attention from both political parties. Ultimately, however, Walker was able to secure another victory with increased support from rural areas across the state as well as support from independents who had previously voted for Barack Obama in 2012. Walker became only the third governor in Wisconsin history to be elected to two consecutive terms, following Tommy G Thompson (1987–2001) and Warren Knowles (1965–1971).
Mary Burke’s Campaign for Governor of Wisconsin
Mary Burke is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and former executive with Trek Bicycle Corporation. She is running for governor of Wisconsin, and her campaign focuses on creating jobs, improving the economy, and investing in education. Burke has proposed a plan to create 10,000 new jobs in Wisconsin by 2018 through a robust job creation program that includes tax credits for businesses that create jobs in targeted areas. She also wants to invest in public education by increasing funding for K-12 schools and making college more affordable. In addition, she has proposed increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour as well as reducing taxes for the middle class.
Burke is running against current Governor Scott Walker in the November 4th election. She is campaigning on her record of job creation while at Trek Bicycle Corporation, where she served as president from 1993 to 2004. During her tenure there, the company grew from 300 employees to 1,300 employees and expanded its international presence from one country to 17 countries worldwide. Burke has also been active in philanthropy and non-profit work throughout her career.
Burke’s campaign has been endorsed by several organizations including Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, AFSCME Council 32 (the state’s largest union representing public sector workers), and Citizen Action of Wisconsin (a grassroots progressive organization). She has also been endorsed by several high-profile individuals including former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden.
Burke’s campaign emphasizes creating economic opportunity for all Wisconsinites through investments in job growth and education reform. She believes that these investments will help create a better future for the state’s citizens and build an economy that works for everyone. Her commitment to creating economic opportunity is an important part of her campaign platform and resonates with many voters across the state who are looking for change in their state government.
The Result of the Election and How it Affected Mary Burke
The 2014 Wisconsin gubernatorial election saw a tight race between incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Mary Burke. The result of the election was a victory for Walker, with him receiving 52% of the vote compared to Burke’s 46%. It was a tough loss for Burke, who had campaigned hard throughout the state in an effort to unseat Walker.
Burke had been widely seen as a strong candidate, having served as Secretary of Commerce under former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. She had also earned a successful business career as an executive at Trek Bicycle Corporation, based out of her hometown of Wauwatosa. Burke’s campaign also had strong support from labor unions and progressive groups across the state.
Despite all this, however, it was not enough to overcome the incumbent Walker’s well-oiled political machine. Walker had held power in Wisconsin for four years leading up to the election and had presented himself as a successful leader who could bring jobs back to the state. This message resonated with many voters in Wisconsin and allowed him to win re-election.
For Mary Burke, the election result was a disappointment but one that she took in stride. She congratulated Scott Walker on his victory and thanked her supporters for their hard work during the campaign. She also offered words of encouragement to those who may have been disappointed by her loss: “I am proud that we ran a positive campaign focused on creating economic opportunity for everyone,” she said. “This is just one step in our journey together—we will continue fighting for progress in our great state!”
Mary Burke has since moved on from politics and is now focusing on her philanthropic work through her foundation, The Mary Burke Foundation. The organization focuses on providing opportunities for women entrepreneurs around the world and addressing issues related to poverty, education, health care, and more. Despite her defeat in 2014, Mary Burke remains an inspirational figure in Wisconsin politics and an example of how even in defeat there is still room for hope and progress.
Conclusion
Mary Burke has proven herself to be a formidable candidate for Wisconsin governor. Her impressive career in business and government, her commitment to creating jobs in Wisconsin, and her work on education reform have all contributed to her strong candidacy. She is an advocate for women’s rights, equality, and economic development. Burke is an experienced leader with a commitment to public service and a vision for the future of Wisconsin. Her candidacy represents an opportunity for the state to move forward with progressive policies that will benefit all citizens.
Burke has a clear plan for moving the state of Wisconsin forward and has demonstrated her commitment to creating jobs, improving education, and advocating for social justice. Her experience in business and government make her an ideal candidate for the position of governor of Wisconsin. With Mary Burke as governor, Wisconsin can look forward to progress on many fronts, from job creation to education reform.