After graduating from the University of Illinois in Chicago, Harris went to work for McDonald’s Corporation as a management trainee. He worked his way up the ranks to become the Director of Operations and Field Service for the Chicago Region. When the opportunity presented itself to become a franchisee, he went to Ohio to run his first restaurant as an owner. Five years later, Harris purchased a group of McDonald’s restaurants in Madison Wisconsin where he spent the next 10 years building up that market. After selling that business, he went on to be the COO for a small start up, Speche Communications, which was sold the following year.
After taking a few months off, Governor Scott McCallum asked Harris if he would serve as president of Forward Wisconsin, the state’s marketing arm, and serve on his cabinet. When the governor was not re-elected two years later, Harris decided to go back in to business. He partnered with a friend and started Glowac, Harris, Madison, a full service marketing firm. In 2008 Wayne bought out his partner and re named the agency 6AM Marketing where he is currently the owner and CEO.
Harris has been active in the not-for-profit community serving on several boards. He is currently serving as chair of the Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund and serves on the Gard Against Cancer board and The Greater Madison Area Chamber of Commerce Board. He previously chaired the board at the Madison Ronald McDonald House, The Badger Chapter of The American Red Cross and Gilda’s Club. Other boards Wayne has served on include, Centro Hispano, Crimestoppers, DECA Foundation, and The Madison Children’s Museum He also served on additional for-profit boards including US Foods and Pharmaceuticals, Jimmy John’s and Park Bank.
He is currently a partner and co-founder of CETS (an agri-bio company) and board member and major shareholder in El Norteno meat snacks
Harris enjoys Badger sports, baseball, golfing, playing racquetball, and reading.