2001 Assembly Joint Resolution 27
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: congratulating Marlene A. Cummings for her long-term services and wishing her well in her future endeavors.
Whereas, on February 25, 2001, Marlene A. Cummings will retire as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing; and
Whereas, Marlene was the original appointee of Governor Tommy G. Thompson to be the secretary of the Department of Regulation and Licensing in 1987, and she has served as secretary for 14 years; and
Whereas, Marlene has become a veteran state official whose agency provides professional credentials to some 250,000 service providers -- from health care to real estate, and counseling to barbering and cosmetology, among other professions -- and whose agency reviews and disciplines these professionals when determined necessary by the department and its 24 regulatory boards; and
Whereas, under Marlene, the duties of the Department of Regulation and Licensing have been expanded by the Wisconsin legislature to license and regulate dozens of professions, including home inspection and marriage and family therapy; and
Whereas, the position of secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing was the 2nd cabinet-level appointment for Marlene; and
Whereas, Marlene previously served as adviser on women and family initiatives under Governor Lee Sherman Dreyfus for 4 years prior to moving into the private sector; and
Whereas, previous to her public service to the people of the state of Wisconsin, Ms. Cummings served as the human relations coordinator for the Madison Metropolitan School District and coordinated the development of a human relations education curriculum that was published and distributed throughout the United States, including her publications Individual Differences and No Two Alike; and
Whereas, Marlene was also a columnist for the Wisconsin State Journal, a host of a children's television program for WISC-TV, and an owner and manager of Norell Temporary Services and also Cummings and Associates Education Consultants; and
Whereas, upon her retirement announcement, Governor Tommy G. Thompson praised Marlene for developing deadlines to handle public complaints, developing a procedure to treat professionals with drug or alcohol addictions, and developing programs to require ongoing education by professionals, and he stated "Marlene truly is a great friend, a great leader and source of stability within the administration .... We will miss her sound judgment and her innovative ideas. She has worked well with the licensing boards and her resignation will be a great loss for hundreds of board members and the entire state of Wisconsin."; and
Whereas, Marlene has received various honors, including "Madison Jaycettes Woman of the Year"; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature applaud the career of Marlene A. Cummings, thank her for her contributions, and wish her a happy retirement; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to Marlene A. Cummings.
