Meet Our Staff & Board

Our staff and board members’ have extensive experience in advocacy and health & human services across Wisconsin. This means that our members have immediate, 1:1 access to help developing relationships with policymakers, workforce training, and—above all—a community that supports them and the work they do to ensure Wisconsin’s children and families reach their full potential.

Our Staff

Kathy Markeland, Executive Director

Kathy joined the WAFCA staff in 2007 and was selected to serve as Executive Director in 2019 to guide the continued growth of the Association.  

Prior to joining WAFCA, Kathy served for eight years as an associate director for the Wisconsin Catholic Conference—the public policy voice for Wisconsin’s Roman Catholic bishops. She also served for seven years at the Wisconsin Counties Association, where she provided both member support and public policy advocacy services to elected representatives on Wisconsin’s 72 county boards. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Behavioral Science and Law in 1992 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. More about Kathy...

Allyson Forseth, Director of Education & Communications

Allyson joined the WAFCA staff in 2020 and moved into her current role in 2024. Prior to joining WAFCA, Allyson dedicated her career to working with students. She worked for four years as a public high school Spanish teacher, followed by a year serving as a tutor and Assistant Director at a Madison-based education company. 

Throughout her life, she has worked and volunteered at various K-12 schools in the Madison area and has extensive experience in trauma-informed practices, facilitating groups, developing curriculum, presenting at regional and state education conferences, and providing academic and social-emotional support. Allyson continues her dedication to serving others both in and out of her work at WAFCA. She is also bilingual (Spanish/English). 

Allyson is a proud first-generation college graduate. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2015. 

 Kyla Wussow, Operations Assistant