Every once in a while, WPS President and CEO Mike Hamerlik can be found playing the organ at a local church — just for fun. It’s relaxing, stress relieving, and allows the accomplished musician moments of mind-clearing, uninterrupted satisfaction.
Unfortunately, those moments are rare. After taking over the leadership role in January for one of the largest health benefits providers in the state, he had to deal with the aftermath of losing a government contract in 2012, which he said forced some excellent WPS employees to lose their jobs through no fault of their own. “We’re looking to grow,” he said, “but on the government lines, you win big and lose big. It takes a while to recover from the loss of a government contract.”
If there was a bright spot through those changes, it was that actual job losses were “significantly less than what was published.”
Hamerlik, 52, came to WPS in June 2012 after 21 years at Noridian Administrative Services in Fargo, including 10 as the company’s CEO. Since the competing companies are similar in nature, his transition has focused more on getting to know WPS’s people and culture, and making sure the company is on track for success. “I know the business pretty well,” he said, “and intuitively have an understanding of what’s going on in the industry. I also like making positive change, but recognize that it does take time.”
A Grand Forks, N.D., native, Hamerlik has an undergraduate and law degree from the University of North Dakota, and though he practiced law for a while, a lifelong interest in business was fueled by Sam Silverman, proprietor of the local men’s clothing store Hamerlik worked at for years, beginning in high school. “Sam was the old-fashioned family businessman that tended to every detail. Service was paramount, as was quality, integrity, and treating his employees well.” The two remained lifelong friends.
To this day, Hamerlik is known as an impeccable dresser who irons his own clothes, even polo shirts and T-shirts, in deference, perhaps, to Silverman’s classic style.
A family man, Hamerlik and his wife have a grown son pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame and a daughter soon to graduate from high school at home in Fargo.
Nearly every weekend, Hamerlik flies home, where he might also sneak a peek at his car collection, which includes the first car he ever purchased, a 1938 Ford two-door standard he’s had since high school. He restored it, sold it, and bought it back four years ago. Then there’s the rare four-door 1967 Lincoln Continental convertible with just 40,000 original miles on it; or his grandparents’ car, which they purchased new in 1957; and an uncle’s car dripping in sweat equity. Hamerlik declined to say how many cars he actually owns — only that he has a storage area that his wife has never seen. “We have a détente,” he said.
And though family goodbyes are always difficult, returning to the friendlier confines of America’s Dairyland each week affords him the opportunity to immerse himself in WPS and the Madison business community, and the freedom to finally exercise his lifelong passion for the Green Bay Packers with unabashed enthusiasm. (Did we mention that he’s also a fan of Spotted Cow beer and cheese curds?)
Meanwhile, he’s leading WPS through changes both inside and out. An ongoing initiative to update WPS’s buildings for energy efficiency started long before he arrived and could save a cumulative $3.9 million by 2020.
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Some changes are cosmetic: Of the four buildings on the Madison campus, Hamerlik’s building is the oldest and hasn’t been updated since it was built. “In the classic president’s office, you can get isolated. We’re going to try to open things up a bit and be more welcoming.” Candy dishes around the office invite staff to stop in and chat awhile. “I prefer to be out and visible and talking to people,” he said. “That’s how you learn what’s going on.”
Meanwhile, WPS has been preparing for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act for years and now awaits several major reforms that go into effect in 2014. The health insurance exchanges, Hamerlik noted, will drive everything. “The next six to 12 months will be a transition. The conversion to the exchanges is monumental. I don’t think anyone’s ready for it.
“It’s just huge!”
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