Milwaukee man chosen as the first vice president of AARP Wisconsin

MADISON, WI – AARP Wisconsin State Director Martha Cranley announced today that Terrence Moore, Sr. of Milwaukee has been appointed as the inaugural Vice President of the statewide organization, joining volunteer State President Leslie Spencer-Herrera of Whitefish Bay.

Moore is among three new appointments to AARP WI’s all-volunteer Executive Council. Two staff additions are also being announced.

“We are thrilled to be diving into the new year with an AARP Wisconsin team of volunteer and staff leaders who are excited to work together on legislation and community-enhancing engagements that will make life better not only for those 50 and over, but all Wisconsinites as they age,” Cranley said. “Having Terrence as our first-ever vice president will really help us soar to new levels of advocacy and outreach – not only in the greater Milwaukee area where he is so highly thought of and well connected – but across the entire state.”

Moore is an Economic Development Specialist for the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development Commercial Corridor Team. Prior to that he was a Business Development Specialist for the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce. He also has experience in leadership development at numerous levels.

Moore is also Secretary of the Milwaukee County Commission on Aging and will serve as Vice-Chairperson beginning in 2024. He is Board of Director of the African American Leadership Alliance of Milwaukee (AALAM). He’s a member of United Way Reducing Barriers for Employment for African Americans and sits on many local, national and international boards and committees.

AARP WI’s Executive Council, which helps establish goals, strategies and tactics for efforts that help the more than 800,000 AARP members in Wisconsin, is led by Spencer-Herrera, who welcomes two other additional members to the council, including Sue Miller of Waupaca and Sue Dierksen of Gleason.

Cranley also announces that two staff members – David Bowen of Milwaukee and Martin Hernandez of Middleton – have joined the AARP Wisconsin team to lead the state office’s efforts around advocacy, campaigns, and volunteer management. Here is their information:

Sue Miller – Sue’s career spanned 27 years in sales and senior leadership in commercial insurance and health plan sectors. Since retiring to central Wisconsin, she found that her skills and experience were transferable to non-profit board leadership. In addition to serving on AARP WI’s EC, she is on the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Fund for Client Protection. “I find these and previous board roles both challenging and fulfilling. I enjoy a network of post-career connections which have contributed greatly to my personal growth and still enjoy plenty of time with family, friends, golf, and travel,” she said.

Sue Diersken – As an RN with a Master’s Degree in public health, Sue spent her career with two major corporations, developing and managing employee health and wellness programs which integrated with employee health benefits. In 2018 she joined the team of AARP WI volunteer advocates, supporting legislation affecting Wisconsinites age 50-plus. In this work she has connected with elected officials on issues such reducing the cost of prescription drugs, quality high-speed internet, and support for caregivers. She is 2022 alumni of the Wisconsin Women’s Network Policy Institute increasing her knowledge of the legislative process and connections with lawmakers. She hails from the rural Northwoods in the Tomahawk and Rhinelander area.

David Bowen – Is AARP WI’s new Associate State Director of Advocacy. He has 16 years of experience as a former elected official and director of a non-profit organization. After building a reputation for being active and present on local and state police for families and underserved communities, Bowen was then elected to represent the 10^th District on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, becoming the youngest member of the board and one of the youngest Black local elected officials in Milwaukee’s history. Bowen then advanced to the Wisconsin State Assembly, where he served four teams as State Representative for the 10^th Assembly District, helping to pass bipartisan bills under governors of each party.

Martin Hernandez – Was born and raised in San Diego, CA and is a graduate of Gonzaga University. As Associate Sate Director of Advocacy at AARP, he works alongside a dedicated team of volunteers, ensuring that Wisconsinites age 50-plus have their voices heard from the State Capitol in Madison and Washington, D.C. Hernandez has spent the last decade working on electoral campaigns from local city council races up to the presidential race in 2020. He has years of experience working with talented, dedicated, and insightful volunteers. “AARP, like any successful political campaign, is only going to go as far as our volunteers have the strength to carry us,” he said. “I’ve made it my goal to empower our Wisconsin advocates to achieve their legislative goals.”

“All of these staff members and volunteers are committed to being strong and capable voices for carrying out AARP’s mission here in Wisconsin, which is to make life better for all of us,” Cranley said. “We are so very pleased to have them leading our statewide efforts.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.