Meet the MMSD Communications Department staff

Liz Avery Merfeld, Communications Coordinator

Liz leads a team of developers, designers and content creators in producing authentic and engaging multiformat stories, news and marketing materials, maintaining brand and message continuity. Liz manages personnel and oversees strategic planning, training and supporting schools and other Central Office departments in their efforts to engage, solicit feedback from and communicate with stakeholders. All project requests come through Liz. Have a request? Please submit through our project request form.

Phone: 663-1935
Email: elmerfeld@madison.k12.wi.us

Ryan Budziszewski, Bilingual Communication Specialist

Ryan supports families as a first point of contact on the main MMSD phone line, providing assistance in both English and Spanish. He also serves as a web buddy to several departments, assisting with website updates and layout design. Ryan is the main contact for sending out districtwide messages through the SchoolMessenger system and maintains the Community Events board on the MMSD website.

Phone: 663-1879
Email: rjbudziszews@madison.k12.wi.us

 Evan Halpop, Communications Intern

Evan is a Madison West alum and will be working with us as a communications intern for the 2018 summer before heading back to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he is majoring in journalism with an emphasis on broadcast/print/web. Evan specializes in photography and has an associates of the arts degree in photography from Madison College. Evan takes pride in having been diagnosed with high functioning autism in 1996 and always works hard to exceed expectations with his work and classes. Evan will be gaining experience in video, web development, accessibility, writing, design and social media during his time here. We are so lucky to have him on our team. He is a talented photographer and is full of creative ideas we can’t wait to try out!.

Phone: (608) 886-3850
Email: ehalpop@madison.k12.wi.us

Eric Jochem, Communications Intern

Eric is currently a high school senior attending West High school. We rely on Eric for help with a variety of key projects including web accessibility, design work, video captioning, and more. Eric is a tremendous resource for anyone who has questions about creating content that is accessible to users with disabilities. We are excited to have Eric continue to work with us through the 2018-19 school year. In his spare time Eric can be found reading or playing video games.

Email: ehjochem2@madison.k12.wi.us

Taryn Johnson, Bilingual Project Specialist

Taryn helps coordinate projects for the department, including producing, managing and executing strategic communications plans. She supports internal and external communications functions using online, print, social and other media, produces the district’s large-scale print publications, creates graphic materials for print and web, translates the MMSD family newsletter and MMSD en español social media outlets, and maintains the MMSD Spanish language website. She also serves as the communication liaison for all west side schools.

Phone: 663-1898
Email: tssoza@madison.k12.wi.us

Amy Knight, Designer

Amy is responsible for developing and maintaining the district’s brand through print, video, web and multimedia materials. She advises on the overall goals and strategies of communications campaigns and translates ideas into visual content.

Phone: 663-1969
Email: ajknight@madison.k12.wi.us

Brad Mackey, Web Developer

Brad is our Drupal expert, the platform all MMSD websites run on. His expertise is in website design, web forms and specialized functions. In his spare time, Brad keeps MMSD's cable tv channels 992 and 993 up and running.

Phone: 663-1961
Email: bmackey@madison.k12.wi.us

Marla Peterson, Communications Specialist

Marla coordinates production of the Principals' Bulletin, and the MMSD Connect staff newsletter, and provides communications support to all east side schools. She is skilled in the use of MMSD's many tools for communication and a great resource for getting your story distributed in MMSD publications, social media tips and tricks, and e-newsletter development.

Phone: 663-1964
Email: mrpeterson@madison.k12.wi.us

Tony Rodriguez, Web Team Leader

Contact him if you need web help and training. Tony facilitates web editor meetings and quarterly web editor workshops. Tony also has expertise in social media.

Phone: 442-2937
Email: amrodriguez@madison.k12.wi.us

Hywania Thompson, Copywriter

Hywania writes and edit copy for a variety of formats including articles, social media posts, web, brochures, e-newsletters, posters, reports, advertisements, PSAs, scripts and more, maintaining brand voice and message continuity.

Phone: 442-2949
Email: hfthompson@madison.k12.wi.us

Mike Wetzel, Media Designer

Mike produces multimedia and specializes in video production. He directs live TV coverage of the Board of Education meetings and has come to be known as the go-to person for creative and efficient solutions to audiovisual communications challenges.

Phone: 663-1965
Email: mwetzel@madison.k12.wi.us