Chippewa County Board Chair Chuck Hull has announced the names of the final candidates for the position of County Administrator. The County Board’s Executive Committee met on February 4, 2025, to review applications for the position, ultimately advancing three candidates for further consideration.
In December, the County retained the executive search firm, Public Administration Associates, LLC, for assistance in finding qualified candidates. According to Chair Hull, “the County has been thorough in its search to date to arrive at our final candidates, adding that we are looking forward to learning more about the candidates when we meet them in person later this month.” Hull stated that “the finalists will be vetted further to determine which one will be the best fit for this position.”
The three finalists will visit Chippewa Falls on February 18/19 and participate in a variety of assessment activities.
The finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Andrew Albarado. Mr. Albarado currently serves as the Sawyer County, WI, County Administrator, a position he has held since 2022. Before that, he served as the Rusk County Administrative Coordinator from 2018 through 2022. He also served as the Rusk County Economic Development Director from 1998 through 2022.
Mr. Albarado holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.
Brad Hentschel. Mr. Hentschel serves as the City Planner/Transit Manager for the City of Chippewa Falls, a position he has held since 2018. Before that, he was employed as a Community Development Specialist/Project Manager and Client Service Manager at the Short Elliot Hendrickson (SEH) consulting firm from 2008 through 2018.
Mr. Hentschel has a Bachelor’s degree, majoring in both Sociology and Criminal Justice from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration, both from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Dana Schoening. Mr. Schoening has been the City Administrator of Tuttle, OK, since 2022. Prior to that, he served as Assistant City Manager/Director of Planning and Operations for the City of Sweetwater, Texas, from 2019 through 2022. Previous employment includes the following positions: Director of Community Development for the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, from 2017 through 2019, Director of Planning and Development Services for the City of Abilene, Texas, from December 2015 through October 2017; and Director of Community Development for the City of Duncan Oklahoma from September 2000 through December 2015. From October 1995 through September 2000, he was the Department Head/Community Resource Development Agent for Langlade County, Wisconsin.
Mr. Schoening has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy, both from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He also has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Midwestern State University.
