Divisions

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) is responsible for ensuring the safe and competent practice of licensed professionals in Wisconsin. The department also administers and enforces laws to assure safe and sanitary conditions in public and private buildings. It provides administrative services to the state occupational regulatory authorities responsible for regulation of occupations and offers policy assistance in such areas as evaluating and establishing new professional licensing programs, creating routine procedures for legal proceedings, and adjusting policies in response to public needs.

DSPS licenses and regulates more than 200 different types of credentials. The agency also provides centralized administrative services to nearly 100 boards, councils, and advisory committees. The boards, councils, and advisory committees have varying levels of responsibility and professional oversight based on statutory provisions.

The Department is organized into five divisions and the Office of the Secretary. The divisions are Industry Services, Legal Services and Compliance, Management Services, Policy Development, and Professional Credential Processing. Information on each division can be viewed by clicking on each of the titles below.

DIS is divided into two bureaus, an Administrative Services Section, and the Fire Prevention program.

  • The Bureau of Field Services performs inspections of commercial buildings, amusement rides, boilers, elevators, pressurized gas systems, and electrical systems. The bureau also performs plan reviews of elevators, boilers, and private onsite wastewater treatment systems. The bureau is also responsible for auditing third party and municipal inspection agencies.
  • The Bureau of Technical Services performs commercial building, plumbing, and fire suppression plan review. The bureau is also responsible for administering the Uniform Dwelling Code program, the federal HUD Manufactured Housing program, and provides consultations and training to local building officials, as well as commercial and residential contractors.
  • The Administrative Services Section provides administrative support to internal and external stakeholders.
  • The Fire Prevention Program administers the 2% Fire Dues program and provides consultation, support, and training to over 800 fire departments throughout the state.
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Branden Piper / Division Administrator for the Division of Industry Services

Branden Piper was appointed as the Division Administrator for the Division of Industry Services, effective March, 2020.

He was a bureau director for the Division of Industry Services for nearly three years before accepting the division administrator position. Prior to that, he had extensive management experience in private sector telecommunications, including TDS Telecom and Frontier Communications. The Janesville native also served eight years as an infantryman in the U.S. Army.

Branden has an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a bachelor's degree from Herzing University. He is currently pursuing a second graduate degree, a master's in engineering management from UW-Madison.

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DLSC provides legal services to professional boards and the Department regarding the investigation and discipline of licensed credential holders for violations of professional regulations. The Division is also responsible for the complaint intake process, compliance monitoring and a confidential program for impaired professionals. In addition, the Division conducts business compliance inspections and financial audits.

Mary Richards

Mary Richards / DLSC Division Administrator

Mary Richards was appointed as the Division Administrator for the Division of Legal Services and Compliance, effective June 2022.

Mary joined DSPS as attorney supervisor in July 2020. Prior to joining DSPS, Mary worked for 16 years at American Family Insurance, spending her last 6 years there as Managing Attorney-Litigation Unit, Claims Legal Division.

Also in the private sector, Mary practiced at Emile Banks & Associates. She also served as a Judicial Clerk in District 1 of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

Mary, an Illinois native but Wisconsin resident since 1986, received her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Northern Illinois University.

DMS provides administrative services to the Office of the Secretary and all other Divisions within the Department. These services include human resources, employment relations, affirmative action, payroll, planning, budget, accounting, information technology, safety, fleet management and facilities management.

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Angela Banks / DMS Division Administrator

Angela Banks joined the Department of Safety and Professional Services in November 2021. She came to the agency from the Wisconsin Department of Administration where she was the administrator of the Division of Gaming for two and a half years. Prior to that she held various gaming positions, including director of internal audit (the chief audit executive) for the past 13 years. In all, Angela has more than 25 years of gaming experience and expertise with multiple states, including Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Her resume also includes private-sector positions with Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. , Caesars Entertainment, an MGM Resorts/Hyatt Gaming joint venture, and Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.

She has a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

DPD is responsible for providing administrative support and policy guidance to the professional boards in the state by facilitating board meetings, serving as a liaison between the boards and the Department, and managing the administrative rule promulgation process for self-regulated professions. The Division also manages the administrative rule promulgation process for professions and technical programs that are directly regulated by the Department. This Division is also responsible for continuing education and examination requirements for regulated professions and administration of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).

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Gwendolyn Jones / DPD Division Administrator

Gwendolyn Jones was appointed as the Division Administrator for the Division of Policy Development in July 2021.

Prior to joining the Department of Safety and Professional Services, Gwen had retired from the Madison College School of Professional and Continuing Education, where she supervised enrichment programming and directed all marketing activities. Her career also includes extensive private-sector marketing and communications experience as well as varied volunteer and leadership roles in several Madison community organizations.

Gwen earned a bachelor's degree in history and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

DPCP is responsible for all credential application processing, including determination of credential eligibility and renewal. The division is responsible for licensure, renewal and verification of health, business, trades and manufactured home owners/communities credentials, operation of the Department's Customer Service Center and regulation of the state's Unarmed Combat Sports program.

​Niko Ruud / DPCP Division Administrator

Niko Ruud was appointed as Division Administrator for the Division of Professional Credential Processing, effective January 2023.

In his role, Niko oversees approximately 50 employees who process initial and renewal applications for health, business, and trades professionals; provide​ legal services to the division; and call center services for the agency.

Before joining the department, Niko had been the supervisor for the Comprehensive Health and Wellness Program at the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs. 

Niko served as a Maintenance Officer in the U.S. Air Force. He led teams of maintenance professionals during three assignments at units worldwide before his fourth and final active-duty assignment as an International Programs Officer and Instructor of French at the U.S. Air Force Academy.