Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation has welcomed a new employee as Deb Hoppenjan has joined the staff as an accountant.

Hoppenjan has previously worked as plant controller of power stations in Dubuque and Cassville for Alliant Energy. Accepting the position with the UWP Foundation and moving to Platteville not only offers opportunities for her, but also for her six-year-old son Zach.

"I built a house and moved to Platteville four years ago. It's where I wanted to raise my child," Hoppenjan said.

The city of Platteville is unique in that it's small enough to offer the comforts of a small town but large enough to offer some of the opportunities of a larger city.

"It's got the university in town which adds another element, but it's still a small town," Hoppenjan said.

The fact that she has family in the area didn't hurt either.

"That backup day care is a big deal," she said.

Hoppenjan has never ventured far from the region she calls home. Raised on a farm in Belmont, Hoppenjan herself attended UWP and graduated with a degree in business administration in 1985. She has always enjoyed the campus.

"The ratio of students to faculty is great. You have all the greenery. You're outside and it's not just cement," Hoppenjan said. "It's a great campus."

In her new position, Hoppenjan will manage accounts payable and staff payroll and handle financial reporting.

"We're extremely fortunate to get a person of her high caliber in this position. Expectations for Deb are very high, to take our program to new levels of productivity and efficiency," interim director of the UWP Foundation Dennis Cooley said. "Her outstanding work ethic make it possible for us to achieve great things as we move forward."