Meet the Commissioners
Add your voice to the equal rights conversation!
As dedicated community volunteers, ERC Commissioners have the opportunity to attend monthly commission meetings, participate in at least one board committee, and represent the interests of the City of Milwaukee and its residents, workers, and visitors on important matters related to equal rights. This role offers a meaningful way to contribute your voice, skills, and passion toward advancing equity in our community. To apply, submit your interest via the ERC Applications & Nominations page.
At this time, there are no open Volunteer Commissioner positions. However, there are several meaningful opportunities to get involved as a committee member, and we would be happy to explore those options with you. Please let us know if you are interested in becoming involved in this capacity.
We will also keep your résumé on file and will be sure to contact you should a Commissioner position become available in the future. We truly appreciate your interest and encourage you to stay connected with us.
Tony Snell Rodriguez, Chair
Tony Snell Rodriguez (he/him) is a lifelong human rights advocate dedicated to equity, inclusion, and fostering meaningful community relationships. Originally from South Carolina, he contributed to Southern Perspectives of the Queer Movement, sharing his experiences with coming out and LGBTQ+ political organizing. He was a founding member of the National Equality Federation and played a pivotal role in passing the City of Columbia Human Rights Ordinance, a landmark achievement in the South.
Tony has led national initiatives that bring people together, serving as Senior Director of Volunteer Management for the Democratic National Convention, where he built relationships and developed a statewide engagement strategy for LGBTQ+ communities. He later served as Wisconsin State Coalitions Deputy Director for the Biden-Harris campaign, managing coalition directors and organizing over 30 events, including the campaign’s first state-level LGBTQ+ Pride Month launch.
Currently, Tony is the Community Engagement and Inclusion Director at Visit Milwaukee, where he has expanded the organization’s visibility, strengthened connections with local leaders and organizations, and deepened community engagement. He is an active member of Visit Milwaukee’s Unique Unites Committee and IDEA Committee, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and represented.
Beyond his work at Visit Milwaukee, Tony chairs the City of Milwaukee’s Equal Rights Commission, leading efforts that have secured Milwaukee’s top score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index since 2018. He is a member of the Milwaukee Downtown Plan Community Council and previously served on the Board of Directors for Milwaukee Pride and the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, where he built coalitions to pass a city ordinance banning conversion therapy.
Tony is deeply embedded in Milwaukee’s equity and inclusion efforts, serving on the City of Milwaukee Racial Equity Leadership Team, the Health Department's Equity Advisory Committee, and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Speakers Bureau for Hours Against Hate. He is a lead on the Destinations International Social Inclusion Committee, co-chair of the Destinations International Community Connection Task Force, and actively contributes to Travel Wisconsin’s IDEA Committee and the Milwaukee Downtown Community Intervention Team.
A trusted collaborator and speaker, Tony works alongside community partners, businesses, and elected officials to ensure that equity and inclusion remain central to Milwaukee’s growth and success.
Nathan Guequierre, Vice Chair
Nathan Guequierre is an urban planner with 20 years’ experience in managing project focusing on urban redevelopment, economic analysis, policy analysis, and transportation planning and design. All his work is centered on effective and equitable public and stakeholder involvement. He leads teams of professionals for a variety of public sector clients. He has a special focus on pedestrian systems planning and environmental justice evaluations. He works for a Fortune 500 company.
Born in Milwaukee, Nathan grew up in Michigan. He returned to Milwaukee in 1988 with an undergraduate degree in English. He worked as staff writer at the Milwaukee Art Museum, associate editor of Milwaukee’s Art Muscle magazine, and regularly wrote articles for newspapers and magazines around the country, including Milwaukee’s Shepherd Express, where he served as the paper’s art critic for a decade. He is the author of City-Smart: Milwaukee (1997, John Muir Press, San Francisco), a hopelessly out of date guidebook to Milwaukee.
Nathan earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. For the last decade and a half, his work has focused on public involvement, particularly in the framework of environmental justice evaluation: assessing the disparate impacts of infrastructure development on minority and low-income populations and working with the people affected by those projects to maximize their benefits and serve the needs of all residents. He leads complex projects for municipal, state and Federal agencies. In addition to the City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commissions, Nathan serves on the board of directors of the Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin.
Jessica Boling
Jessica Boling is the Assistant Deputy Director at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, appointed by Governor Evers in 2022. She is leading efforts to transform WHEDA into a data-driven organization and is developing its first statewide housing plan. With a diverse background in political campaigns, angel investing, and community organizing, Jessica is the Co-Chair of the Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition of Wisconsin, advocating for the AAPI community.
Her previous roles include Director of Community Engagement for the AAPI at the Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee and Wisconsin State Director for the AAPI during the Biden 2020 campaign. Additionally, Jessica has international experience, including a Fulbright Fellowship in Cameroon and serving as Secretary-General for a nonprofit in Seoul, South Korea. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Seattle University and a Master's from Boston College, and enjoys tennis and travel.
Jacqueline Cook
Jacqueline Cook is the epitome of human resources (HR) with over 30 years of experience as an HR professional with 15 years of academic experience teaching HR and other business-related courses in three institutions of higher education; most notably the development of Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) A.A.S. Human Resource Program. Her story is one of triumph, perseverance, and the unabashed tenacity to defy odds. Her authentic and transparent style of leadership has garnered her accolades and respect among her peers, superiors, and subordinates. Driven by results and motivated by achievement, with steadfast determination, she has a proven track record for success.
From serving as a lead Human Resource Consultant for WE Energies to Faculty Innovator for MATC, Cook has relied on her keen insight, subject matter expertise, and strategic alignment to create avenues for personal and organizational success. In combining her passion for HR and education, she has crafted a path uniquely her own. Her uncanny ability to market any company’s mission, vision, and philosophy, as well as identify top talent, has propelled her to the next level of her career. As president of J.A. Cook Consulting – “The Oracle of HR Legal and Academic Services”, Cook offers HR services, education, and training, as well as legal consultation in matters of employment law. In addition, as an entrepreneur, Jacqueline counsels and advises leadership on HR and corporate initiatives.
Cook holds a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University, a Master of Science in Administrative Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Master of Legal Studies-Human Resource Management from Trinity Law School. Relying on passion and competency to outline her destiny, Cook holds certifications in Diversity and Inclusion for HR with Cornell University, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Wisconsin Technical Colleges – Milwaukee District.
Cook is affiliated with numerous civic and professional organizations, including SHRM, American Bar Association, International Society of Female Professionals, Association of Blacks in Higher Education, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She has been recognized among the elite in academia in Who’s Who in Community Colleges Higher Education, Who’s Who in Black Milwaukee, and is a Future Milwaukee Leadership Development Program alumna.
William Crowley
William Crowley is a lifelong advocate with a deep passion for Milwaukee. Born in Chicago, he moved to Milwaukee to attend law school at Marquette University. Since graduating, he has demonstrated a commitment to serving marginalized populations throughout the community. In 2014, he joined the staff at Disability Rights Wisconsin, where he works as an attorney advocate for people with disabilities on long-term care Medicaid programs. Also in this role, William has served on a number of committees, including the Diversity and Inclusion committee and worked with local government and county transit officials on public transportation program implementation for riders with disabilities.
Since 2023, William has served as a board member with All Wheels Up, an organization dedicated to improving air travel accessibility for people with disabilities. William also serves on the board of directors for Independence First, and served as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Caregiving, working on solutions to address the caregiver workforce crisis in Wisconsin.
In his spare time, William also runs a blog detailing his adventures on wheels and showcasing his love for all things Milwaukee.
Elle Halo
Elle Halo (she/her/hers), is a Black woman of trans experience, and a dedicated LGBTQ Health Equity Advocate and Educator. Founder and Consultancy Director of TRANCE Consulting L.L.C. and has founded The Paris Tikka Mahon Memorial Transition Fund. She is a writer model and singer. Elle is a Media Communications student at The Los Angeles Film School.
She was The First Transgender woman Community Co-Chair of SAPG STATEWIDE ACTION PLANNING GROUP FOR HIV AND AIDS OF WISCONSIN. She was an inaugural member of The Black AIDS Institute Ambassadorship of Biomedical Prevention. She is also the new Secretary of the Board of Directors at Diverse and Resilient, as well a new Equal Rights Commissioner for Milwaukee. She's also the Social media Director for Love On Black Women and SHEBA is the EmpowerHer Summit Facilitator for Black Trans Women Inc. She has experience as a public speaker and subject matter expert in areas of LGBTQIA health/ Transgender health, safety, and social disparities. In 2023 she received the Woman of the Year Award -Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC) a 2019 Milwaukee Pridefest Individual of the Year Award 2021, and 2021 Best LGBT Advocate Best of Milwaukee Award- Shepherd Express and LGBT Progress Award in activism recipient, The Black Rose Initiative Community Rose Award and a Transfaith Bobbie Jean Baker Grantee.
Denise Manjarrez-Renteria
Denise Manjarrez-Renteria supports the administrative and program coordination for two organizations. In her role, she also focuses on projects ranging from community outreach to engagement activities. After work, she teaches community activism at Alverno College.
She comes with experience in civic engagement, operations management, and social justice advocacy. She recently led election outreach initiatives at Leaders Igniting Transformation. She comes with a strong foundation in program coordination, strategic communications, and equity-focused practices, and is committed to fostering inclusive and impactful change across communities.
Denise holds a Master’s in Sustainable Peacebuilding from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Bachelor’s in Global Studies and Political Science from Alverno College. She grew up in the south side of Milwaukee, but recently moved to the east side, where she lives with her partner Henry, bichon frisé Rocky, and her many plants.
Paul Smith
My name is Paul R Smith. I am a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, and I am part of the Turtle Clan. My tribal or Longhouse name is La Gee Gwa Gahdt Stay or Strong Warclub. I earned that name from my tribe for the work I have done to fight for the impoverished. I am married to a hard-working undervalued educator of 23 years all with MPS. She teaches the lucky students at Fernwood Montessori, and we have a 11-year-old son River.
I was born in the Silver City neighborhood of the lower south side before we moved to the Thurston woods neighborhood were my family spent most of my childhood. We spent every summer at the Silver Spring Neighborhood center and swam every day at McGovern Park. We moved back to the South Side to be closer to school and work for my parents. My mother, was a nurse and father worked at A.O.Smith for 31 years, two weeks after graduating from Milwaukee Boy’s Technical high school. My great grandparents moved here in 1933, and my family has been serving the Native community since then over 90 years. I have lived in Milwaukee my entire life and have either lived in or went to school at or worked in every part of Milwaukee. I love this City.
I am a proud graduate of Riverside University high school, I attained my associate degree in Teacher Education from MATC, and I received my undergraduate degree from UW Milwaukee in History. During my time at MATC I was elected president of the Student Teacher Association and when I was at UWM I was elected to be president of the American Indian Student Association.
I served a term of service for AmeriCorp at Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity where I trained over 1,000 volunteers during my service term and four years as a staff member there. I sit on and started the American Indian Advisory Committee at the Milwaukee Art Museum. I also sit on the Educational Advisory Board for MATC. I have over 31 years in the building trades and over 15 years of that in the non-profit realm. My team and I recently filed our papers for a 501 3c nonprofit status where I will serve as the Vice President of the Milwaukee Intertribal Circle. We have a goal of building a mix use tribal center for all of the tribal nations of Milwaukee.
Alexandria Staubach
Alexandria Staubach is a policy analyst and writer for the Wisconsin Justice Initiative. Prior to joining WJI in 2023, Staubach worked for several years as an assistant district attorney in Colorado’s 4th judicial district and then as a commercial litigator here in Milwaukee. In addition to extensive institutional knowledge gained as an ADA and litigator, Staubach has dedicated her spare time to various nonprofit organizations. She has worked with the Kentucky Innocence Project, volunteers with Milwaukee Justice Center’s Pardon and Expungement Clinic, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee.