January 2004

State Treasurer Jack Markell

When Jack Markell was first elected State Treasurer in 1998, he brought energy and innovation to an office that had previously operated in the background of State government. By the time Jack was elected to his second term in 2002, he had transformed the office.

Soon after taking office, Jack automated business practices in the Treasurer's Office; provided State employees with new options, flexibility, and access in their deferred compensation plan; and ramped up the Delaware College Investment Plan.

Financial education has been central to Jack's vision. He created the Delaware Money School, which offers classes that more than 10,000 Delawareans have attended. Jack has hosted conferences for thousands of Delawareans on money management and fiscal responsibility. He spearheaded the Everywoman's Money Conference that had an immediate “sold-out” response. Jack partnered with the University and Delaware, the State Chamber, and Delaware banks to launch the Delaware Bank At School Program which has “branch banks” in schools in all three counties teaching children the basics of money and savings. Jack has hosted the “Money $marts Conference for Kids and Their Parents” for hundreds of children and their parents.

In addition, Jack chaired the Information Services Task Force, to revamp the State's information technology, and led an effort to cut government waste via state-of-the-art purchasing techniques. He serves as Chairperson of the Electronic Government Steering Committee and the Delaware College Investment Plan Board and Co-Chairperson of the Deferred Compensation Council and the Governor's Task Force for Financial Independence. Jack will tell us what's next.

Beverley Baxter