Jeff Martinka currently serves as the founding Executive Director of Sweet Water, an innovative partnership of environmental groups, local governments, business and academia, working to improve the water resources in the five Greater Milwaukee watersheds. Based at the UWM School of Freshwater Sciences, Sweet Water has become a national model in watershed-based, multi-jurisdictional environmental work.

In prior positions, Martinka was the Executive Director of the West 7th in St. Paul, MN, a multiservice community center with strong school, family and senior programs. He also managed Literacy Services of Wisconsin when its adult basic education programs were housed on Wells Street, just 2 blocks from Neighborhood House. Jeff has worked in management at the Milwaukee County Parks, in Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist’s Office, and at the Milwaukee Department of City Development. He earned an M.S. in Urban & Regional Planning and an M.A. in Public Administration at UW-Madison and a B.A. from UW-Milwaukee.

Reflecting on his new position, Martinka said, “I am so pleased to have this opportunity to return to community center work. Neighborhood House has a long and proud legacy; I look forward to working with the center’s board, staff and volunteers to build a strong future.”