County Executive Hires Melissa Malott of Clean Wisconsin, Lakes and Watershed Commission, as New Executive Assistant

August 12, 2013
Casey Slaughter Becker, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 843-8858
County Executive

 

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced today that he has hired Melissa Malott, Water Program Director for Clean Wisconsin and Chair of the county’s Lakes and Watershed Commission, to serve as an Executive Assistant in his office.

 

“Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in environmental protection to our office,” said Parisi.  “Her unique qualifications will be a great asset in our work to clean up our lakes and to protect our natural resources.”

 

For the last seven years, Malott has advocated for and advanced clean water policy in Dane County and across the state of Wisconsin at Clean Wisconsin.  She played an instrumental role in crafting the state’s new phosphorus rule, considered one of the most innovative solutions in the country to reduce stormwater runoff from entering our waterways; the signing of the Great Lakes Compact; and obtaining water rate structures that incentivize water conservation in several communities across the state.

 

Malott’s clean water work extends to her role as Chair of the county’s Lakes and Watershed Commission, a formal advisory agency that works with the county to protect and improve water quality, as well as the scenic, economic, recreational, and environmental value of Dane County's water resources.  She was first appointed to the commission by then County Executive Kathleen Falk in 2007 and has been elected chair of that body three times.

 

Prior to joining Clean Wisconsin, Malott co-founded the non-profit law firm, Community Justice, Inc., which offers legal services to low-income people.  Malott has co-founded several other organizations including Wisconsin Environmental Law Advocates, where she participated in research and preparation for Clean Water Act citizen suits and prepared public comments on proposed water pollution permits; and Emerge Wisconsin, an organization dedicated to increasing the number of women in government.

 

Malott received her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from St. Norbert College in De Pere.  She currently lives in downtown Madison.  Malott’s start date will be in early September.
 

# # #