Secretary Anne Sayers is an experienced organizational administrator and marketing professional who has served in leadership roles with a variety of nonprofit organizations at the state, national, and international level for more than two decades. She has authored an award-winning annual report, been a national spokesperson for the Great Lakes, and even helped design a “muppet” with The Jim Henson Company.

As Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, and for the preceding four years as Secretary-Designee, Acting Secretary and Deputy Secretary, Sayers led the effort to create the Office of Outdoor Recreation, spearheaded an industry-engaged strategic plan, reoriented advisory committees, and restructured operational processes to build the Department’s capacity. In January of 2021, Sayers was recognized as one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing and Revenue Optimization” by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.

Sayers holds degrees in International Relations and Geography as well as a Certificate of Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She sits on the Board of Directors for Taliesin Preservation, UW-Madison’s Nelson Institute, and Wisconsin State Fair Park. She and her family live in Cross Plains.