Commission Members

Maria Monteagudo, Chair - Term Expires 08/01/2024

Ms. Maria Monteagudo earned her B.B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Puerto Rico, Recinto Universitario de Mayaguez. Ms. Monteagudo is the Employee Relations Director for the City of Milwaukee. She has served as the Personnel Officer for the City of Milwaukee’s Department of City Development and Milwaukee Health Department. She has also served as a Compensation Analyst for the City of Milwaukee’s Department of Employee Relations.

Ms. Monteagudo is a member and former Vice President and President of the International Public Management Association-HR Central Region.

Janet Cleary - Term Expires 08/01/2024

Ms. Janet Cleary earned her B.S. in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University and her Masters in Industrial and Labor Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Ms. Cleary is the Acting Field Placement and Licensure Coordinator with the College of Education at Marquette University.

She retired from the Milwaukee Public Schools in 2013 after 34 years of service in the Human Resources Department as a Manager in Staffing Services and Classified Staffing, Staffing Specialist and Supervising Dietitian.

Dr. Karen Jackson - Term Expires 04/20/2023

Dr. Karen Jackson earned her B.A. in Sociology and Correctional Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her Masters and PhD in Guidance Counseling and Urban Education with a specialty in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Jackson is an Online Instructor at Concordia University.

Dr. Jackson recently retired from Milwaukee Public Schools after serving as their Chief Human Capital Officer for five years. She has also served as the Director of Human Resources for Milwaukee County Government, District of Columbia Public Schools, Wauwatosa School District and an earlier appointment with Milwaukee Public Schools. Dr. Jackson has worked for additional school districts that include Shorewood and Racine Unified.

Dr. Jackson is on the Board for St. Charles Youth & Family Services, as well as the Chair for the Cream City Chapter of The Links Board of International Trends & Services.

Dr. Elliott Moeser - Term Expires 04/20/2023

Dr. Elliott Moeser earned his B.A. in Education, History and Sociology from midland Lutheran College, his M.A. in History from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and his PhD in Educational Administration from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Dr. Moeser is the Executive Director for the 26 school district Closing the Achievement Gap Consortium. He is also an Associate Professor in Educational Administration at Concordia University.

Dr. Moeser has served as the Superintendent of five school districts, most recently for Richfield Joint School District No.1 in Richfield. He has served as Principal at Webster Stanley Middle School in Oshkosh and Assistant Principal at South Milwaukee Junior High School.

Carlos Pastrana - Term Expires 07/02/2023

Carlos Pastrana is an attorney at SBR Law Group, where he practices in all areas of labor and employment law, including matters involving discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, labor relations, unfair labor practices, unemployment insurance, workers compensation and workplace safety.

Mr. Pastrana has litigated before both local and U.S. Courts and agencies, including the U.S. Court for the Wisconsin Eastern and Western Districts, U.S. Court for the District of Puerto Rico, United States Court for the Eastern District of Washington, the United States Courts of Appeals for the First and Seventh Circuits, National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Fully bilingual, Mr. Pastrana has advised and trained local, national, and international private and public-sector employers with both English and Spanish-speaking unionized and non-unionized workforces on how to handle day-to-day issues that arise from managing employees. He has also provided legal advice in labor and employment matters to clients who are in the process of setting up, or who already have, operations in Latin America, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and California.

Mr. Pastrana is a graduate of the University of Florida and the University of Puerto Rico Law School.