Fehrenbach Joins Commerce's ERS Division

When Mike Fehrenbach started working as the new director of the Petroleum Products and Tanks Bureau within the Division of Environmental and Regulatory Services (ERS) at the Department of Commerce (Commerce) this past August, people barely blinked. Fehrenbach, the former (15 years as chief, 32 as a volunteer firefighter) fire chief in Sauk City, has been a familiar face in the halls for years.

"I worked with Commerce all the time," he explains of his three decades as a volunteer firefighter, during which time he held a variety of fire department positions – including fire inspector and tank inspector - and consequently knew a lot of the names, faces and operations at Commerce. "Just felt natural stepping in here!"

Indeed, late this past summer, Mike stepped down from his leadership position at the fire department to step into one at Commerce. As the new bureau director, he explains, he oversees the operations of the Petroleum Products and Tanks section including all of the "retail"tank inspectors in the state. (His counterpart supervising the non-retail inspectors is Sheldon Schall.) As such, he and his staff (which includes the tank inspectors and personnel in 11 labs statewide) are responsible for over 4,000 inspections a year for such things as: fuel quality, octane rating, purity, etc.

While this is Mike's first foray into state service, he's long been involved at the community level having served as a firefighter, EMT, village trustee and board president in Sauk City which began after serving in the navy which included two tours of Viet Nam on the destroyer USS Turner Joy.

Born in Marshfield, Mike's family moved to Reedsburg in 1963 to open a photography studio. Graduating from Webb High School in 1967, he says began his "lifelong educational career,"resulting in "finally"obtaining his BS degree this year.

Along the way, he married his wife Genevieve "Jenny,"a nurse, in 1973. He says he can easily remember his wedding anniversary year because, as he kids Jenny, "I've been married to the fire department one year longer!"

The couple have two sons, Anton, 27, a project engineer living in St.Paul, MN and Jacob, 23, a City of Beloit firefighter/paramedic.

"Both of our buys were also volunteer firefighters in Sauk,"Mike explains. "There was a one-month period where all three of us served at the same time."

Public service and giving back to one's community was a strong lesson learned in the Fehrenbach house. "It gets in the blood,"Mike explains. "I think everyone should serve their community."

When Mike wasn't fighting fires – including "three career fires"– the ones that are not easily, if ever, forgotten – he ran a satellite studio of his family's photography business. As a regular at the community's weddings and celebrations, very few in Sauk did not know the affable fire chief.

As the years flew by, Mike found himself wanting to do "more"for his community and state. He'd like to run for the Wisconsin Assembly or Senate – but that is "after I retire"– so when he saw the position opening at Commerce, "it intrigued me,"he explains. "I thought I'd be a natural fit, and I decided that state service is just another level of service."

He threw his hat – or resume, so to speak – into the ring, and came out with the brass ring. He was thrilled to start his new duties.

"I like it here,"he allows after his first few months. "The atmosphere is wonderful. It seems like everyone just wants to do their job – efficiently and effectively. It's been great."

Mike explains that his philosophy is, "A happy employee is a productive employee,"and believes that if he comes to work every day with a positive attitude, it helps bolster that philosophy by spreading good vibes around the bureau.

When he's not working, very little moss grows under his feet. "I can't sit around a lot,"he admits. An avid sailor, he unwinds on his 20 foot catamaran on Lake Wisconsin.

His other passion is rolling out his vintage city of Madison, 1956 Pirsch fire truck (built in Kenosha) that he "parks in a barn about a mile from my house."A staple in community parades, he says that he hasn't had it out for joyrides much lately – the engine gets a whopping four miles to the gallon.

An area ice hockey referee for 25 years, he's recently given it up and reluctantly joins his wife "uphill"(cross country) skiing ("it's a lot of work") and snowshoeing.

Mike likes everything about his new job – even his new 5:00 a.m. wake-up time to facilitate his commute. He's winding down the photography business, and says he is happily here to stay.

-- Barbro McGinn