About
Nick Novak joined WMC in 2016 as Director of Communications & Marketing and was promoted to Vice President in 2019. He is an award-winning communications and marketing professional with nearly a decade of experience in both politics and public policy. Prior to joining WMC, he served as Director of Marketing & Communications for Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin and Director of Communications for The John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy. Previously, he worked for the Republican National Committee, and on multiple state and federal political campaigns. In 2011, Nick served on Gov. Scott Walker’s external relations team while the governor advocated for and eventually signed Act 10, which gained national attention for reforming the state’s public-sector collective bargaining laws. Nick is a former columnist for The Washington Times and has written for many other local, regional and national publications. He provides regular commentary for print, radio and television media outlets, including numerous appearances on FOX News, FOX Business and others. In 2015, he was honored with a Spark Freedom Trendsetter Award for his creativity, execution, achievement and overall excellence in free market communications and marketing. He was born in the Chicago suburbs, and grew up in southeastern Wisconsin. Nick has a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and he lives in Verona with his family, and their dog, Cooper.
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Vice President, Communications & Marketing - Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
2016 - Present
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Director, Communications & Marketing - Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin
2015 - 2016
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Director, Communications - The John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy
2013 - 2015
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Political Staffer - Various Campaigns for Governor, U.S. Senate & President
2009 - 2012
Latest news
Milwaukee Public Radio: Nick Novak Provides Analysis on Gov. Evers’ Income Tax Veto
MILWAUKEE – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed off on a two-year spending plan Wednesday after gutting a Republican tax cut and using his broad veto powers to increase school funding for centuries. Evers reduced the GOP income tax cut from $3.5 billion to $175 million, and did away entirely with lower rates for the two[…]
WCLO Radio: Nick Novak Details New Demographic Report
JANESVILLE – Nick Novak joined 1230AM WCLO Radio in Janesvill to talk about a new WMC Foundation report that details the unfortunate demographic situation Wisconsin finds itself in. While population grew slowly in Wisconsin from 2010 to 2020, the trend actually was negative over the three year period from 2020 to 2022. Making the situation[…]
WSAU Radio: Nick Novak Breaks Down Wisconsin’s Demographic Challenges
WAUSAU – Nick Novak joined Meg Ellefson on 550AM WSAU Radio in Wausau to talk about a new WMC Foundation report that details the unfortunate demographic situation Wisconsin finds itself in. While population grew slowly in Wisconsin from 2010 to 2020, the trend actually was negative over the three year period from 2020 to 2022.[…]
620WTMJ Radio: Nick Novak Breaks Down Gov. Evers’ Budget on The Steve Scaffidi Show
MILWAUKEE – Nick Novak joined Steve Scaffidi in-studio on Thursday to respond to Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed two-year budget that increased spending by more than 20 percent. In addition to the massive growth in spending, the proposal also included $650 million in new taxes on the state’s manufacturers. Novak and Scaffidi also spoke about the[…]
Wisconsin Public Radio: Nick Novak Reveals Employers’ Concerns Over Potential Recession
MADISON – A new industry survey shows the majority of Wisconsin businesses worry the state is headed toward a recession, but economists are less certain. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce released the results of a survey of 164 employers from various industries last week. The survey shows that 60 percent of businesses fear a looming recession,[…]
WSAU Radio: Nick Novak Joins Wausau’s Morning News to Discuss Economy, Tax Reform
WAUSAU – Joining Meg Ellefson on WSAU radio in Wausau, WMC’s Vice President of Communications & Marketing Nick Novak explained why Wisconsin’s business community is concerned about the economy at the beginning of 2023. More than half of respondents believe the state will enter a recession at some point during the year, and economic optimism[…]
FOX11 Green Bay: Nick Novak Details Latest Wisconsin Economic Survey
GREEN BAY – More than half of Wisconsin businesses expect the state’s economy will enter a recession this year. That’s the finding of the latest Wisconsin Employer Survey by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. According to Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the survey found that 39% of Wisconsin business owners rated the state’s economy as strong or[…]
The Center Square: Nick Novak Previews Potential Recession in 2023
MILWAUKEE – Wisconsin’s largest business group says most companies are expecting a recession this year. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce released its latest Employer Survey Thursday. It says 39% of employers rated the Wisconsin economy as strong or very strong. That is a five-point drop from the summer, and well below the 53% who said the[…]
NewsTalk1130 WISN: Nick Novak Joins Jay Weber Show to Discuss Economy, Tax Reform
MILWAUKEE – WMC’s Nick Novak joined The Jay Weber Show on NewsTalk1130 WISN to discuss the findings from the latest Wisconsin Employer Survey – conducted every six months by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC). The survey details a potential recession and decreasing optimism in the economy. Listen to the entire interview at newstalk1130.com or below:[…]
WisBusiness: Nick Novak Discusses Latest Economic Survey from Wisconsin Businesses
MADISON – Business leaders are feeling increasingly uncertain about the outlook for the state and national economy, according to the latest Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce survey. “Heading into 2023 here, there is a lot of uncertainty from the business community,” WMC Vice President of Communications and Marketing Nick Novak said yesterday in an interview. “There’s[…]