About MUS

Tracey Carey leads Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS), a consortium of 13 of the largest urban workforce boards in the Midwest. With more than $20 million in federal and philanthropic investment and a growing portfolio of business and service partners, MUS delivers high value resource to its members. The consortium’s mission is to grow business investment and expand and diversify talent in the Midwest. Prior to her tenure with MUS, Ms. Carey enjoyed nearly two decades of service developing and supporting workforce development programs and strategies. As the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Tracey facilitated the summer youth employment program that provided first jobs for more than 500 young people annually. She also developed and facilitated training programs for opportunity youth that reengaged them in school and/or work. In 2014 she joined Employ Milwaukee, the workforce development board for Milwaukee County (WI) as the Director of Fund Development & Strategic Initiatives. While serving in that capacity, Ms. Carey raised an additional $13 million dollars and supported the startup of MUS. Then, in 2018, she left Milwaukee to join the staff at Partner4Work, the workforce development board for the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, PA. As the Chief Strategy Officer. At P4W, Tracey led a team of innovators working to improve workforce development practice, including the restart of the area’s workforce funding collaborative. Through her leadership, P4W brought more than $10 million dollars to the region in her first year. Tracey holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Certificate in Women’s Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Summa cum laude, Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the Center for Non-Profit Management, and Business and Economic Development Finance Professional Certification from the National Development Council.

William Clay brings over 40 years of expertise in workforce development, nonprofit capacity building, economic development, and youth programs, with a strong focus on community impact and family-strengthening initiatives. As Board Liaison and Corporate Advisor for Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS), William provides strategic guidance and technical assistance, serving as a project liaison to the Board of Directors in the development and ongoing maintenance of its strategic plan and board committees.

Throughout his career, William has played a pivotal role in advancing workforce solutions and economic mobility. He has worked extensively in Milwaukee and beyond, collaborating with nonprofit leadership to design services that address holistic family needs. His leadership experience includes serving as:

• Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer at the Opportunities Industrialization Center of Greater Milwaukee (OIC-GM), where he led the largest welfare reform program in Wisconsin.
• Director of Economic Development & Community Programs at Milwaukee Area Technical College, where he advised the president on community affairs, employment strategies, and minority workforce development in specialized careers.
• Chief of Staff to the Chancellor at North Carolina A&T State University, where he managed strategic initiatives, budget oversight, and sustainability programs, including energy conservation and green technology.
• Project Liaison for AMTC, where he supported the launch and implementation of nine Department of Labor workforce and reentry projects.

Now retired from full-time executive roles, William focuses on executive coaching, project evaluation, and strategic planning for workforce and nonprofit organizations. His expertise spans welfare reform, workforce development, green jobs, weatherization, youth programming, and capacity building.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and remains dedicated to advancing workforce equity, strengthening community partnerships, and mentoring future leaders.

David Eft is a seasoned Financial Director with a robust track record of elevating business performance and delivering strategic financial insights that empower informed decision-making. As the Finance Director at Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS), he spearheads critical budgetary planning and cost management initiatives to ensure the organization's financial stability and alignment with strategic goals. Engaging actively with the board finance committee, David addresses key issues and operational changes, fostering transparency and ensuring organizational alignment.  

Previously, David served as Accounting Director at Jigsaw, LLC a marketing and public relations firm in Milwaukee, WI where he oversaw all accounting functions, including A/R, A/P, payroll, and HR, implementing best practices to enhance financial efficiency and compliance.

David’s nonprofit background also includes significant roles as Business Director at City on a Hill in Milwaukee, WI and Grants Manager at Health Care for the Homeless of Milwaukee (Now known as Outreach Community Health Center).  Throughout David’s non-profit roles he has demonstrated his passion for helping people in need.  

David’s background also includes various contracted accounting positions in the Milwaukee area that provided a broad spectrum of financial experience.  In the early part of his career, David worked as a Financial Analyst & Accountant at Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC) and as an Accountant for Nordberg Inc. (Now known as Metso).  

David holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his dedication to fostering professional growth, improving operational efficiency, and maintaining the highest standards of financial accuracy and integrity.

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Carolyn C. Harper is a goal-driven and results-oriented professional with over 40 years of executive level management expertise across many public, private, and non-profits sectors; both domestically and internationally.   She has a proven track record in organizational leadership, business development, program design, training and technical assistance, and integrated service delivery process development.

After serving as the Chief of Staff for Public Safety for the City of Philadelphia under former Mayor Nutter’s administration, Carolyn started her own consulting business, Harper & Associates, LLC in 2007. As a consultant she has worked with executive leadership as a senior project manager and business strategist for Pfizer, Temple University, Public/Private Ventures, National Restaurant Association, Black Enterprise Magazine, AmeriCorps, National Urban League, OIC of America, Bethlehem Area Public Library, Philadelphia Center for Literacy, numerous national consulting firms and for Federal Government Agencies including Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMSHA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor (DOL), and Health and Human Services (HHS).   For the last 14 years, Carolyn has provided project manager services as an independent contractor with Coffey Consulting, LLC. In her time at Coffey, she worked with over 80 public, for-profit, and non-profit organizations who received over $200 million in grant funding from the DOL, DOJ, and SAMSHA. Carolyn also served as the DOL’s subject matter expert, coach and technical advisor. In this role, Carolyn provided guidance, training, and strategic support to clients, sub-awardees, and colleagues in the social justice, workforce development, labor sector strategies and leadership development helping to shape program design that benefited the country’s growing economy and future workforce.  Carolyn is very excited to join the Midwest Urban Strategies as Director of Reentry Programs.

executive-level management expertise across many public, private, and non-profit sectors, both domestically and internationally.

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Kellie Landaker is the Membership Director for Midwest Urban Strategies.  She comes to M.U.S. after retiring from a 42-year career in human services.  She retired as the Director of the juvenile detention center in St Louis County, Missouri.  She is the founder and owner of Fortified Wellbeing LLC, a coaching and consulting firm.  Kellie holds a B.A. in Sociology, an Academic Certificate in counseling with juvenile offenders, and an M.S. in Management and Leadership.  She is certified to provide training in Mental Health for Juvenile Justice Workers, Law of Attraction, crisis prevention, Girls’ Circle (One Circle) and is a Life Coach certified through American Union of Neurolinguistics.  She has done extensive collaboration and has presented workshops on trauma, group work, leadership, law of attraction, manifesting, case planning, community engagement, among many other topics.  Kellie joined MUS and built her business by doing what she loves to do the most, teaching, program development, conducting workshops, coaching, and consulting.  Kellie lives in St Louis and has two grown sons, a tiny canine companion, and a beautiful chosen family.

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Melanie Martin – Regional Workforce Connector

Melanie Martin is the Regional Workforce Connector for Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS), where she develops strategic partnerships, leads fund development, and designs marketing opportunities that connect employers, workforce boards, and community organizations. She also spearheads the MUS Connector newsletter, a platform showcasing workforce innovation and sponsorship engagement across the Midwest.

With over seven years in regional and national workforce development and two decades in strategic partnerships and business development, Melanie has helped organizations expand their reach through impact-driven marketing programs.  

Melanie has dedicated her career to breaking down barriers to education and employment. Her expertise in WIOA compliance and program development has helped individuals access the training and career pathways they need to thrive.

Melanie’s commitment to WIOA led to the development of digital literacy training programs that help individuals overcome technology barriers in their job search and career advancement. She has also worked extensively with American Job Centers, non-profits, and employers to bridge the gap between education and workforce readiness.

Passionate about creating meaningful connections, Melanie thrives on crafting marketing strategies that elevate workforce initiatives, generate revenue, and create lasting solutions that uplift people and strengthen economies. Her work at MUS continues to strengthen regional collaboration, investment, and program innovation in workforce development.

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Originally from Chicago, Illinois with a career spanning over 30 plus years in government, accounting, advertising, manufacturing, communications, and insurance in various administrative roles, Ms. McMahon brings her broad experience in various industries to the fore in her new role at Midwest Urban Strategies.  She has also called Monterey, CA and Cleveland, OH home before relocating to Milwaukee in 2001 for a role with General Electric Medical Systems. She most recently assisted executives at Employ Milwaukee.

Her daughter Erin resides in Chicago and is a writer and business owner.  Her son Kevin is a commercial painter and musician and lives in Milwaukee. She loves hiking and history.

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With over 30 years of nonprofit work experience, Robyn currently serves as Senior Director for Operations and Grants Administration with Midwest Urban Strategies. Prior to joining MUS, Robyn was Vice President of Workforce Initiatives at the Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI). During her 13-year tenure at CWI, she was responsible for the integration, alignment, partnering, and innovation of the State’s Northwest Indiana regional WorkOne (Career Services and One Stop) Centers. She also shared her expertise as a School of Business Faculty Member at the University of Phoenix for ten years.

Robyn’s tenure in the nonprofit world led her to positions where she developed model programs and quality initiatives, set strategic direction in areas where change and crisis management were required, and stood as a human capital expert and coach while managing multi-site operations. She is a results-driven and business-oriented leader.

Before moving to the Midwest, Robyn was a Program Director at the Nashville, Tennessee YWCA where she managed day-to-day operations of the state’s largest domestic violence services program. Her role included program development and expansion, human capital management, (capacity building, community awareness, grants management, volunteer management and quality improvement initiatives. She oversaw this $1.7 million program with proven success and is proud to say that the programs initiated under her direction are still in existence and continue to grow and evolve. While at the YWCA, Robyn worked on initiatives with the United States Department of Justice and the Violence Against Women division in creating and evaluating best practice models.

Prior to the YWCA, Robyn’s social services work in Tennessee included her position as Associate Director at Omni Residential Treatment Service where she managed operations, personnel, and the design and oversight of therapeutic protocols.  She also served for ten plus years as a Program Coordinator within the children and youth division of Centerstone, Inc.. Her position with Centerstone involved program development, managing grants, volunteer coordination, and fiscal oversight.  

Robyn has an MBA from Vanderbilt University-Nashville, Tennessee. She earned her M.A. in Counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University, and a B.A. in Sociology from Kentucky Wesleyen College.  She is a member of Leadership Northwest Indiana (LNI, 27) and is a commissioned Honorable Kentucky Colonel (’85).

She was a recipient of the Non-Profit Management Scholarship from Nashville’s Center for Non-Profit Management & Vanderbilt University. In addition, her leadership of volunteer recruitment and retention strategies for a school based HIV education program, garnered her recognition on a national level when she was recognized with the Golden Rule Award for Volunteer Management.

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