Dave Emanuelson is the President and CEO of Strategic Management Alliance. He is an assistant professor at the George Williams Campus of Aurora University, Williams Bay, WI., where he teaches graduate and undergraduate public administration.

Prior to his full time position with AU, he was a visiting assistant professor at Northern Illinois University, DePaul University, Elmhurst College, Aurora University and Beloit College teaching graduate level courses in budgeting and financial management, leadership, commercial and public recreation administration, state government, and metropolitan government.

Dave earned his PhD from NIU in Political Science in 2002, with an emphasis on public administration and public policy. His dissertation, "A Comparative Analysis of Illinois Park Districts and Illinois Municipal Parks and Recreation Departments," has been the basis for several award-winning articles for both the Wisconsin and Illinois Parks and Recreation Association magazine.

Dave earned his Masters in Public Administration from NIU in 1997, his Masters in Business Administration from Indiana University in 1985, and his BS from the University of Illinois in Recreation Administration in 1971.

As a professional public administrator, Dave served as executive director of the DeKalb Park District from 1983-2003, winning the national Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management in 2003, and nine consecutive Certificates of Achievement from Excellence in Financial Reporting from the GFOA. Prior to his tenure in DeKalb, he served as superintendent of the Highland (IN) Parks and Recreation Department from 1977-1983, and as director of the Rantoul (IL) Playground and Recreation Department from 1972-1977.

Dave has presented at the Wisconsin Parks and Recreation Association and Illinois Park and Recreation Association state conferences, the National Recreation and Park Association Midstates Conference, the Midwest Political Science Association, and the WPRA Leadership Academy.