Former Dane County Executive Rick Phelps is back in Madison, helping with civic projects and resuming work as a senior vice president for M&I Bank, after years in New York City helping rebuild lower Manhattan following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

"It's been an amazing experience. I never would have dreamt of having an opportunity to help restore lower Manhattan," Phelps said.

He and his wife, Hannah Rosenthal, moved to New York several years ago because she accepted a job there as director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. While there, Phelps was recruited to be senior director for federal affairs for the Partnership for New York City from 2002 through 2004. The partnership, a premier business organization, focuses on the city's civic needs, including rebuilding lower Manhattan and increasing counterterrorism and transportation funding.

"I helped them establish their federal priorities and strategy. They wanted a fresh view, and I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to make a contribution to New York," said Phelps, who was Dane County executive from 1988 to 1997.

"But Madison and Dane County are home. After a couple of years, I knew I wanted to come back to Madison," Phelps said. "If we ever retire, we plan to retire here. Our daughters are here. Shira, who is 27, and her husband, Ed Herro, are here. She's in law school and active in Project Respect, a health outreach for women. Our youngest daughter, Francie, is 25 and teaches at the Woodland Montessori School and sings at the Slipper Club cabaret on Thursday nights."

Meanwhile, Phelps said, "We moved the New York part of our lives to Chicago ... last August. Hannah is director of the Chicago Foundation for Women. I returned to M&I, and I live half-time in Chicago. So it's been a fantastic life adventure for us to live and work in the country's two largest cities at a time when they are healthy and improving."

- Brenda Ingersoll

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