Speaker Spotlight: James Hanke, Vice President Wisconsin Community Support Program, CEDA

Monday–Tuesday, March 30–31, 2026 | Havenwood Event Center | Sparta, WI

James Hanke

Vice President Wisconsin Community Support Program

CEDA

James Hanke joined the Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) in 2023 to facilitate CEDA’s growth into the Wisconsin market. As a lifelong resident of western Wisconsin, James received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a master’s degree in Community & Economic Development from Penn State’s World Campus.

James has twenty-five years of community and economic development experience in Wisconsin serving in various roles in both the public and private sector.

As the Vice-President of Wisconsin Operations, James is responsible for overseeing CEDA’s community and economic development initiatives in Wisconsin to benefit rural communities throughout the state.

Presentation Info

Positioning Rural Communities to Grow and Thrive Through Staff Capacity
By James Hanke, Vice President, Wisconsin Community Support Program (CEDA)

Rural communities throughout Wisconsin historically lack community and economic development staff capacity, oftentimes resulting in rural city and village administrators or others to add these duties to their already full plates.

Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) has developed a proven organizational model that provides fractional staff capacity for rural communities, County EDO's and even regional economic development organizations to help them be more proactive in their community and economic development efforts.

CEDA has a forty year track record helping rural communities address important longer term issues around downtown revitalization, business and workforce retention, housing development and childcare, and we are excited to bring our model to Wisconsin.

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