Public Administration Associates, LLC (PAA), a respected leader in local government consulting and executive recruitment, is proud to announce the addition of four accomplished professionals to its team of Associates. Tim Hanna, Emily McFarland, Amos Mikkelson, and Scott Mittelstadt bring a diverse and highly experienced set of skills to the firm, further strengthening PAA’s commitment to excellence in public service consulting.
“We are thrilled to welcome these individuals to our team,” said Kevin Brunner, Partner/President at PAA. “Each brings decades of leadership, innovation, and a deep understanding of the diverse needs of local governments. Their expertise will enhance our ability to provide strategic, high-quality solutions for our clients.”
Tim Hanna served as the Mayor of Appleton, Wisconsin from 1996 to 2020, where he led the city through transformational strategic planning and performance-based budgeting. Post-mayoral service includes founding Hanna Strategic Leadership Consulting and serving as Executive Director of the Local Government Institute of Wisconsin. His expertise in vision-driven planning, regional collaboration, and leadership development has made him a respected voice in public administration.
Emily McFarland brings 18 years of multi-level government experience to PAA, having served in federal, state, county, and local positions, including six years as the full-time Mayor of Watertown. Emily has held leadership roles with the Wisconsin Urban Alliance and the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from UW-Oshkosh and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Carthage College.
Amos Mikkelson offers over 30 years of fire service experience, currently serving as a Shift Commander with Neenah Menasha Fire Rescue and formerly as Fire Chief for the Village of Harrison. His knowledge of public safety mergers, emergency response management, and leadership in both urban and rural fire departments will be invaluable to clients navigating complex safety and operational challenges. Mikkelson has an associate’s degree in Fire Protection from Madison College, a bachelor’s degree in Fire and Emergency Response Management from the UW-Oshkosh, and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Managing Officer program.
Scott Mittelstadt, founder of Cultural Reconstruction, LLC, is a retired law enforcement executive with over 28 years of service, including 22 years with the Sheboygan Police Department and five years as Chief Deputy of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office. He brings a strong background in community-oriented policing, public safety leadership, and organizational development. Scott earned a master’s degree from UW-Oshkosh in Public Administration. He attended the Administrative Officers Course in 2012 at the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. He also graduated from the Executive Development Institute at Fox Valley Technical College.
With these additions, PAA continues to expand its capacity to provide expert guidance in executive recruitment, interim management, strategic planning, organizational analysis, classification and compensation studies, and fire and EMS consulting to local governments across Wisconsin and the Midwest.
