He was a good guy who had a positive impact on Wisconsin’s economy, government, friends, and family. He will be missed.
Former state Sen. Ted Kanavas, the chairman and co-founder of Michael Best Strategies, has died, friends and colleagues said today. He was 56.
The Brookfield Republican, who had been battling cancer, was named chair of Michael Best Strategies last week with Rob Marchant succeeding him as the firm’s president.
“Ted was a tremendous business partner and leader, but more than anything, he was a great man,” said Marchant, a former Senate chief clerk “He cared deeply about those close to him and always treated people with dignity and respect. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with him both in the Senate and here at Strategies, and I will miss him dearly.”
In addition to serving in the state Senate from 2001 to 2011, Kanavas served as an aide to U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Menomonee Falls, and worked in the software industry. He co-founded Michael Best Strategies, a government relations and public policy firm affiliated with Michael Best & Friedrich, in 2014.
I’ll always remember him and his tireless efforts to reform the Jim Doyle DOR. He gave me a spot to testify about my “gotcha” rules shifting sales tax audit at a state senate hearing for the committee he was Chairing at the time.
He was respectful and attentive despite having to listen to DOR drone on and on forever how they “do no wrong” at hearing. After I was done testifying about my experience, he had a smile on his face when DOR quietly slithered out of room, completely blowing out the endless lies of DOR testimony in one swoop. Several audience members, including a local assemblywoman thanked me for being unexpected “star the show” on the bill. Senator Lassa was only Democrat to show for hearing and she was engaged because she had small business background, other Democrats were completely disrespectful for not being there for such an important piece of legislation.
Senator Kanavas pushed the bill even though it has no hopes of being signed by Diamond, constituent abuser, Jim Doyle.
He was a great State Senator.