Stanek Elected to Wisconsin Energy Board of Directors

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mary Ellen Stanek, managing director and director of asset management of Robert W. Baird & Co., has been elected to the board of directors of Wisconsin Energy Corporation (NYSE:WEC), effective immediately.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120119/CG37110)

"I'm delighted that Mary Ellen has agreed to serve as a Wisconsin Energy director," said Gale Klappa, chairman, president, and chief executive officer. "Her extensive management experience and her broad understanding of business strategy will strengthen an already strong and engaged board of directors."

Stanek, 55, has more than 30 years of investment management experience and is currently responsible for the development and portfolio management of all proprietary asset management services offered by Robert W. Baird & Co.  She also co-manages several fixed income mutual funds as well as a number of taxable and tax-exempt portfolios. Stanek holds a bachelor's degree from Marquette University and a master's of business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has been a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) since 1983.

Stanek serves on the boards of directors of Journal Communications, Inc., Robert W. Baird & Co., The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and West Bend Mutual Insurance Company.  In addition, she is a trustee and past chair of Marquette University and trustee of the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Energy Corporation (NYSE: WEC), based in Milwaukee, is one of the nation's premier energy companies, serving more than 1.1 million electric customers in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula and more than 1 million natural gas customers in Wisconsin. The company's principal utility is We Energies.  The company's other major subsidiary, We Power, designs, builds and owns electric generating plants.

Wisconsin Energy Corporation (www.wisconsinenergy.com), a component of the S&P 500, has more than $13 billion of assets, approximately 4,600 employees and 44,700 stockholders of record.

SOURCE Wisconsin Energy Corporation