Staff Directory

Katy Ryder Pettersen
Director of Strategic Advancement
Wisconsin Technical College System

Katy Pettersen started as the Director of Strategic Advancement in February 2022. She is charged with effectively communicating the efforts of the Wisconsin Technical College System and championing the 16 colleges comprising the System. She is the Public Information Officer for the state office and part of the WTCS executive team.

For five years before her current role, Katy served as the Director of the Statewide Marketing Consortium for Wisconsin Technical College System. She worked closely with the colleges on statewide marketing efforts to enhance the image of a technical college education and make technical colleges the first choice for people seeking continuing education.

Prior to joining the Consortium, Katy spent 12 years at Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), Wisconsin’s leading business advocacy organization as the state chamber of commerce and manufacturers’ association. Most recently she was Vice President of Marketing and Editor of Wisconsin Business Voice, Wisconsin’s only statewide business-focused print publication. Her background working with employers facing workforce shortages lends a sense of understanding and awareness of the issues impacting our state’s economy.

Before her time at WMC, Katy spent seven years in event planning and development at the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. There she earned a strong admiration for the hospitality industry and a love for tacos.

Katy serves on the board of 100+ Women who Care of Madison, a philanthropic organization which uses the power of giving in numbers to donate to worthy causes throughout the year, and volunteers for We Are Many – United Against Hate, an organization of common people—urban and rural, spiritual and secular—seeking equal protection for all, united against hate, bigotry and racism.

A native of Racine, she holds a bachelor’s degree in business and lives just outside of Madison with her husband and their dog Ripp.