Jeff Baldus is currently a Mower County Commissioner.

Baldus is past Executive Director of the Austin Area Foundation. He was selected as the organizations first executive director in May of 2014.

Baldus is a longtime resident and prior to joining the foundation was employed by the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, supporting Ambassador activities, membership and the 4th of July Freedom Fest. His career includes 33 years of restaurant management and was the successful owner/operator of Austin Culver’s Restaurant until he sold in June of 2009.

Currently active on many local boards and in volunteer positions including past Austin Chamber of Commerce president, Freedom Fest Director, KSMQ board member, Mower County Health Services advisory board member, Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau board member, Austin ArtWorks steering committee co-chair member, Paint the Town Pink steering committee member and past board member on The Hormel Foundation.

Jeff lives in Austin with his wife Kris and has two adult children.

Austin Public Schools Representative

Dale Wicks, Human Resources Director has been with Quality Pork Processors, Inc. since it began operations in 1989. Starting out on the Production line, moving into management as Sanitation Supervisor and then in 1991 into the Personnel Department. His primary role in Human Resources is Labor Relations along with Payroll, Recruiting, Training, and Safety. He has served on several community Boards including, Oakland Baptist Church Board, Austin Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Austin Rotary Club Board. A lifetime resident of the Austin area, he continues to operate the small family farm with crops, cattle and horses in rural Austin. He and his wife, both Austin High School Graduates, have 5 grown children, who all live in the Austin area, and has 18 Grandchildren.