Susan Engeleiter
Encyclopedia
Susan Shannon Engeleiter (born March 18, 1952) is a member of the Republican Party who served in the Wisconsin State Senate
from 1980 to 1989 and in the Wisconsin State Assembly
from 1974 to 1979.
Engeleiter's districts consisted of most of Waukesha County
, which included her birthplace/hometown of Brookfield
. She is married and has two children.
, in 1974, and received her juris doctor
from the University of Wisconsin Law School
, in 1981.
When she was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly, in 1974, Engleiter was, at age 22, the youngest woman ever elected to the Wisconsin Legislature
. She served in the Assembly until January 1979, having decided against running for re-election in 1978 and, instead, seeking the open congressional seat being vacated by then-U.S. Rep. Bob Kasten
, who decided to run for WI governor. Engeleiter lost the primary to then-State Senator Jim Sensenbrenner
by 589 votes. Engeleiter made a comeback of sorts when she was elected in a special election to the Wisconsin State Senate in April 1980. In the Wisconsin State Senate, Engeleiter served as Assistant Minority Leader from 1982 - 1984, and as Minority Leader from 1984 - 1989.
in 1988. In the primary election, she defeated State GOP Chairman Steve King in a close race. King had labeled Engeleiter a moderate while touting his conservative credentials. Engeleiter's victory allowed her to face Democrat Herb Kohl
, former chairman of the state Democratic Party, in the November general election.
On November 2, 1988, as polls showed Engeleiter and Kohl running neck-to-neck, President Ronald Reagan
visited Milwaukee to headline a campaign rally and fundraiser for Engeleiter. However, Engeleiter narrowly lost the race to Kohl, by a 52% to 48% margin.
, in January 1989. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and served in that position until 1991, the first woman to hold the position.
After leaving the SBA, Engeleiter moved to the western-Wisconsin town of Somerset
, to take a position at Honeywell
, which was then based in Minneapolis. Engeleiter served as Vice-President of Government Affairs at Honeywell
, from 1992 to 1998, where she led the Honeywell Home and Building Control business to approximately $200 million in sales, in 1998. At Honeywell, she handled extensive legislative and regulatory efforts in energy, environmental and procurement areas to support business unit objectives at the national and state levels. She represented Honeywell on several industry association boards as well as on United States government agency advisory boards.
Engeleiter has been President and COO
of Data Recognition Corporation since 1998 and the company's CEO
since December 11, 2006. It is headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota
. The company was founded in 1978 and remains a privately held company that provides services to state departments of education, medium-to-large-size global businesses and to the United States government.
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
from 1980 to 1989 and in the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
from 1974 to 1979.
Engeleiter's districts consisted of most of Waukesha County
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2008, the population was 380,629. Its county seat is Waukesha.-History:The part of Wisconsin that Waukesha County now occupies was a part of Michigan when Milwaukee County was organized in September 1834. On July 4, 1836, the...
, which included her birthplace/hometown of Brookfield
Brookfield, Wisconsin
Brookfield is a city located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. It had a population of 37,920 in the 2010 census. Brookfield is the second largest city in Waukesha County, and the leading commercial suburb of Milwaukee. The City of Brookfield was formed in 1954 from the Town of...
. She is married and has two children.
Personal and elective office background
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, in 1974, and received her juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Wisconsin Law School
University of Wisconsin Law School
The University of Wisconsin Law School is the professional school for the study of law at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The law school was founded in 1868.-Facilities:...
, in 1981.
When she was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly, in 1974, Engleiter was, at age 22, the youngest woman ever elected to the Wisconsin Legislature
Wisconsin Legislature
The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house Wisconsin Senate and the lower Wisconsin Assembly...
. She served in the Assembly until January 1979, having decided against running for re-election in 1978 and, instead, seeking the open congressional seat being vacated by then-U.S. Rep. Bob Kasten
Bob Kasten
Robert Walter "Bob" Kasten, Jr. , is a Republican politician from the state of Wisconsin who served as a U.S. Representative from 1975 to 1979 and as a U.S. Senator from 1981 to 1993.- Background :Kasten was born in Milwaukee...
, who decided to run for WI governor. Engeleiter lost the primary to then-State Senator Jim Sensenbrenner
Jim Sensenbrenner
Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr. is an American politician who has been a member of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives since 1979, representing . The district, the state's richest, includes many of Milwaukee's northern and western suburbs, and extends into rural...
by 589 votes. Engeleiter made a comeback of sorts when she was elected in a special election to the Wisconsin State Senate in April 1980. In the Wisconsin State Senate, Engeleiter served as Assistant Minority Leader from 1982 - 1984, and as Minority Leader from 1984 - 1989.
1988 U.S. Senate campaign
Engeleiter ran an aggressive campaign for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by William ProxmireWilliam Proxmire
Edward William Proxmire was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senator from Wisconsin from 1957 to 1989.-Personal life:...
in 1988. In the primary election, she defeated State GOP Chairman Steve King in a close race. King had labeled Engeleiter a moderate while touting his conservative credentials. Engeleiter's victory allowed her to face Democrat Herb Kohl
Herb Kohl
Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl is the senior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin and a member of the Democratic Party. He is also a philanthropist and the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks National Basketball Association team...
, former chairman of the state Democratic Party, in the November general election.
On November 2, 1988, as polls showed Engeleiter and Kohl running neck-to-neck, President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
visited Milwaukee to headline a campaign rally and fundraiser for Engeleiter. However, Engeleiter narrowly lost the race to Kohl, by a 52% to 48% margin.
Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and private sector positions
After her defeat in the Senate race, newly elected President George H.W. Bush nominated her to be the Administrator of the Small Business AdministrationSmall Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
, in January 1989. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and served in that position until 1991, the first woman to hold the position.
After leaving the SBA, Engeleiter moved to the western-Wisconsin town of Somerset
Somerset (town), Wisconsin
Somerset is a town in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,644 at the 2000 census. The Village of Somerset is located within the town.-Geography:...
, to take a position at Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
, which was then based in Minneapolis. Engeleiter served as Vice-President of Government Affairs at Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
, from 1992 to 1998, where she led the Honeywell Home and Building Control business to approximately $200 million in sales, in 1998. At Honeywell, she handled extensive legislative and regulatory efforts in energy, environmental and procurement areas to support business unit objectives at the national and state levels. She represented Honeywell on several industry association boards as well as on United States government agency advisory boards.
Engeleiter has been President and COO
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of Data Recognition Corporation since 1998 and the company's CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
since December 11, 2006. It is headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota
Maple Grove, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 50,365 people , 17,532 households, and 13,955 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,532.3 people per square mile . There were 17,745 housing units at an average density of 539.9 per square mile...
. The company was founded in 1978 and remains a privately held company that provides services to state departments of education, medium-to-large-size global businesses and to the United States government.