Contact Us
Shelly Strasser
Phone: 414-604-4937 | stram@wawmsd.org
Shelly is the Director of Recreation and Community Services Department. She has been with the department for a total of 23 years, not including the years she worked while in high school. She has a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse and a Master's in Education Professional Development also from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse. As a child her parents provided her the opportunity to experience recreation programs and also helped develop her love of community and service. Shelly was then introduced officially to the recreation department by her sister, where she started as a locker room attendant. She quickly was inspired by the staff and administrators at the time and decided to pursue it as a career.
Linda Gritzmacher
Phone: 414-604-4911 | gritl@wawmsd.org
Linda is currently the Program Manager for the WAWM RCS Department overseeing the Early Childhood, Preschool, Adult Fitness programs, and Indoor Walking Track. She has worked for the department for over 20 years, having started as a Playground Instructor at General Mitchell. Linda enjoys spending time at the programs and getting to know all of the participants. She also spends most of her free time with family, her two wonderful grandchildren, and her puppy.
Bobby Foreman
Phone: 414-604-4968 | foremanr@wawmsd.org
Bobby is the Out of School Time Program Manager overseeing all of the Action Programs, Non-School Day Camps and also manages the Summer Camps. He has worked in recreation for the last 11 years. He also has a special education background working as a Special Education Aide from 2014-2018 with the School District of Waukesha. In his free time, Bobby loves to watch sports, spend time with his family, and cook.
Jack Perry
Phone: 414-604-4914 | perryj@wawmsd.org
Jack is the Out of School Time Program Specialist helping Bobby with all of the Action Programs, Non-School Day Camps and Summer Camps. He has a background in teaching in the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District and coaching youth sports around the world. In his free time, Jack enjoys traveling, sports and exploring everything our wonderful community has to offer.
Cassie Stanton
Phone: 414-604-4925 | stantonc@wawmsd.org
Cassie is the Office Manager but has worked in many positions over the years, including the summer playgrounds, after school programs, and as an Office Assistant. She enjoys working at the WAWM RCS Department because she has participated in many of the same activities growing up in which she has very fond memories. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, hiking, and kayaking.
Amanda Schwichtenberg
Phone: 414-604-4963 | schwictenberga@wawmsd.org
Amanda started her journey with the WAWM RCS Department as a Youth Sports Official, Summer Playground Instructor, and a Grounds Crew member. She is now a Program Manager overseeing Youth and Adult Enrichment programs. During her youth, she participated in a variety of WAWM RCS programs such as Girls' Club, Summer Playground, and even earned a starring role in the world-renown Boys & Girls Club Plays. During her free time, she enjoys traveling, playing with her dog, and discovering new and local attractions.
Jill Ponzi
Phone: 414-604-4940 | ponzj@wawmsd.org
Jill is a lifelong resident of West Allis. She worked for the WAWM RCS Department while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After staying home and raising a family, she later returned to work at the Department as the District's Facility Scheduler. During her free time, Jill enjoys quilting and spending time with her family.
Tami Francis
Phone: 414-604-4910 | francist@wawmsd.org
Tami started with the WAWM RCS Department as an Assistant Teacher for the Preschool Program over 12 years ago. She now works as an Office Operations Specialist. In her free time, Tami enjoys spending time with her family, attending Brewer games, watching sports of all types, and traveling.
Cassy Ramirez
Phone: 414-604-4930 | ramirezc@wawmsd.org
Cassy is the newest Office Operations Specialist and is excited to be a part of the WAWM RCS team. She brings 14 years of customer service to the department and is looking forward to working with the community. Cassy has also participated in recreation programs and enjoys learning new things and trying different activities. In her free time, she loves spending time with her niece, listening to music, watching movies, and taking her two dogs for long walks. She has also recently adopted a rescue dog!
Sam Sujecki
Phone: 414-604-4959 | sujeckis1@wawmsd.org
Sam is the Program Manager for Intermediate School Athletics, Youth Sports Leagues, and Youth Sports Instruction. As a Nathan Hale graduate, he has always had great relationships with the RCS staff. This year will be his seventh year working in recreation. Sam graduated from UW-Stout with a degree in Golf Enterprise Management and recently finished his Master's Degree from Winona State in Education Leadership-Sports Management. He and his wife recently had their second child. In his limited free time, he tries to golf as much as he can!
Beau Benner
Phone: 414-604-4951 | bennerb@wawmsd.org
Beau is the Program Manager for Adult Sports, Adaptive, and 55+. He previously worked for Metro Parks in Tacoma, WA overseeing programs for people with disabilities. Before that, he worked at Madison School and Community Recreation as a Site Director for Adaptive Recreation. In his free time, Beau enjoys traveling, being active, and watching sports.
Ashley Phillips
Phone: 414-604-4938 | phillipsa@wawmsd.org
Ashley is the Program Manager for Aquatics, Youth Theater, Facility Rentals, and Community Groups. Ashley started her journey with the WAWM RCS Department, participating in the youth soccer and swim programs. She went on to work as a locker room attendant, swim teacher, and soccer referee. After graduating from Nathan Hale High School, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master's in Recreation Management from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse. In her free time, Ashely enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Robyn Elliott
Phone: 414-604-4912 | elliottr@wawmsd.org
Robyn is the Marketing and Design Specialist, a newly created position for the WAWM RCS Department. Robyn grew up in Sussex, WI, before attending UW-Oshkosh to earn a bachelor’s degree in Journalism while being a four-year starter for the women’s soccer team. After graduation, Robyn worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Strategic Communications and Marketing department within Parkside Athletics from 2018-20. Robyn graduated with her masters degree in Sport Management in May 2020, and during the 2020-21 school year, she excelled working for UW-Parkside communication office. Robyn returned to the Athletic Department in 2021-22 as the Marketing and Ticketing Coordinator, increasing the gameday atmosphere, ticket sales, and overall experience at Parkside Rangers events. In her free time, Robyn likes to workout and spend time with her Golden Retriever puppy, Phineas, and her family.
Joel Irizarry
irizarryj@wawmsd.org
Joel is the new Head Custodian for the WAWM RCS Department and is very excited to be a part of our team. For the past three years, he worked in Maintenance and Security at St. Joseph Academy in Milwaukee. Previous to that, as a Manager at an automotive service center. Joel loves spending quality time with his daughter and girlfriend of 15 years. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports with his friends and is an avid collector of video games and shoes. He also loves cars! Joel is looking forward to learning new things and all the opportunities this will provide him and his family.
Shawn Wirth
Shawn started working for the Recreation Department in various capacities over 5 years ago. He is currently one of the building cleaners at the WAWM RCS Department. In his free time, Shawn enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.
Mike Bruckner
Mike is one of the building cleaners at the WAWM RCS Department. He grew up in Milwaukee and has been a resident of West Allis for the last 20 years and has a young one child who keeps him and his mom pretty busy. If he has some free time, he enjoys riding his motorcycle and playing animal crossings (maybe a weird combo?) He considers himself a people person, so is excited to be on the RCS team and meet some more of his community.