Secretary Anne Sayers

Secretary Anne Sayers began her career in hospitality, serving up food and beverage in hotels and coffee shops. Today, Sayers is an experienced organizational executive and marketing professional who has served in a variety of leadership roles in government and nonprofits at the state, national and international level.  

Secretary Sayers has led the Wisconsin Department of Tourism since December 2020 after first serving as the Deputy Secretary beginning in January 2019. Tourism combines her love of marketing, executive leadership and all things Wisconsin. In her time with the Department, Secretary Sayers has led the industry to three consecutive record-breaking years for economic growth in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Under Sayers’ leadership, the Department of Tourism won three consecutive ESTO Mercury Awards from the U.S. Travel Association for its travel guide, public relations and a digital marketing campaign. Additionally, Sayers has drawn upon her experience championing Wisconsin’s natural resources by leading the creation of the Office of Outdoor Recreation to unite the state’s outdoor industry, which has now broken economic impact records for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023.   

Sayers previously founded Oh, Hello, a marketing, communications and nonprofit management consulting firm. She has authored an award-winning annual report, been a national spokesperson for the Great Lakes and even helped design a “Muppet” with The Jim Henson Company. In 2021, Sayers was recognized as one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds” by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International. In 2025, Sayers was honored by her peers as a finalist for State Tourism Director of the Year.   

Sayers holds degrees in International Relations and Geography as well as a Certificate of Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She sits on the Board of Directors of Taliesin Preservation and Wisconsin State Fair Park, chairs the binational consortium Cruise the Great Lakes and is vice chair of the National Council of State Tourism Directors. She and her family live in Wisconsin’s Driftless region where they spend their free time enjoying local restaurants, hiking public trails and supporting independent music. She is an aspirational gardener and birder.