Deborah Blanks is executive director of the Social Development Commission, a position she has held since June 1997.

Blanks has solid experience and expertise in administration and management. Prior to joining SDC, she was the City of Milwaukee purchasing director. She oversaw the City's purchase of more than $50 million in services, products and other commodities. She also managed staff in the areas of procurement, accounts payable, inventory and material management, printing, records management and mail processing. Blanks has also worked for Milwaukee County, Milwaukee Area Technical College and CIGNA Corporation.

Blanks' experience is enhanced by her impressive academic credentials. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Park Administration. Blanks also has two Master's degrees - one in educational psychology and another in public administration.

An accomplished writer, Blanks' bylines appear in The Business Journal, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Minority and Women in Business Magazine and The Milwaukee Courier. She enjoys writing poetry, plays and books. Blanks recently authored the book, "Weaving Diversity Into the Fabric of America."

Blanks is a Future Milwaukee Alumnus and a member of the National Forum of Black Public Administrators