Dean Amhaus currently serves as President of The Spirit of Milwaukee, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing Milwaukee’s brand image through educating the public about greater Milwaukee’s many cultural, educational, historical and scientific institutions, and encouraging increased use of these wonderful Milwaukee assets.

Previously, Dean served for nearly two years as the President of Forward Wisconsin, a unique public-private promotion group whose job is marketing outside Wisconsin to attract new businesses, jobs and investment to the state.  Prior to his position with Forward Wisconsin, Dean was the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Commission, the chief executive officer responsible for the two-year planning of programs and activities related to a yearlong 1998 statewide celebration of the 150^th Anniversary of Wisconsin’s Statehood. 

Dean was with the Wisconsin Arts Board from 1990 – 1996; first as Deputy Director for one year, followed by a five-year stint as Executive Director.   He worked in Washington, D.C. from 1982 – 1990 in the areas of government relations, event management and corporate fundraising.  Dean is currently President of Wisconsin-Chiba, Japan, Inc., on the National Governing Board of Americans for the Arts, a member of the Hessen-Wisconsin Society Board, a member of the Advisory Committee of the Wisconsin Foundation for the Arts, as well as a number of additional state associations.  Dean Amhaus has over 20 years of experience in fundraising, marketing, public relations, government affairs, and partnership building.