Werner Gade is the Director of Information Technology (IT) and Chief Information Officer at the University of Wisconsin-Shared Services. A strategic and innovative leader, Gade’s experience spans over 30 years in both private and public sector IT roles, enabling him to view challenges from multiple viewpoints.

Previous organizations include the University of Wisconsin two-year colleges; the University of Wisconsin-Extension; Mattel, an international toy company; the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Enterprise Technology; and Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), a national computer outsourcing company (now part of Xerox).

Recognizing the perception challenges between IT, business units and finance, Gade has successfully helped his staff develop their business acumen and furthered his business and finance peers’ understanding of the value of IT, fostering a change in the way IT is viewed.

Since 2018, Gade has been the Director of IT and Chief Information Officer for UW-Shared Services, a newly created administrative services organization within the University of Wisconsin System. He is a founding member of the organization, working with his peers and colleagues to establish it from the ground up.

From 2011-2018, Gade was Assistant Vice Chancellor for IT and Chief Information Officer for UW Colleges (two-year campuses) and UW-Extension, where he provided leadership and management for the Central Information Technology Services unit.

At UW Colleges and Extension, Gade transformed IT from a cost center to a value-added partner; spearheaded the standardization of 13 campus networks into a single consolidated network; increased focus on customer service; and transformed UW Colleges from a distributed IT model to a centralized services model.

At Mattel, Gade managed the support teams for the global e-Business financial systems, financial planning, sales forecasting, demand management, PeopleSoft HR, and iSeries supply chain systems. While at the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration, Gade participated in the development and implementation of his Division’s organizational values and core competencies; created and managed multiple effective management teams; established a Project Management Office and methodology; and managed multiple business areas including application integration, computer operations, customer service, project and program management, enterprise infrastructure and print-to-mail.

While at ACS, Gade managed the Technical Support teams for the Eastern Region, supporting data centers in Dearborn, MI and Pittsburgh, PA; worked with customers to resolve customer satisfaction issues; improved customer relationships; and performed sales and technical due diligence evaluating new business opportunities. Gade and his wife live in Waunakee, WI, and enjoy visits from their children and grandchildren. Outside of work, he likes traveling, golfing, landscaping and being outdoors.