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A Christmas Carol, celebrating its 49th year at Milwaukee Rep, got its start with help from MMAC By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist  2023 production. Pictured: Valentina Vega and Matt Daniels with cast. Photo by: Michael Brosilow The holiday season is right around the corner. For Milwaukeeans, this time of the year means enjoying Milwaukee Repertory (Rep) Theater’s annual production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The timeless tale of hope and redemption has remained a Milwaukee Rep tradition since 1975, sparking joy and nostalgia in over 1.7 million people. In fact, the theater holds the record for the second-longest running production of A Christmas Carol in the United States.
Milwaukee Rep is excited to welcome the community back for its 49th production of the show from Nov. 26 to Dec. 24 this season. Camo Crew Junk Removal: A veteran-owned business By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist  Nov. 11 marks the beginning of National Veterans Small Business Week, a time to recognize and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of veterans who continue to serve their communities.
Camo Crew Junk Removal is a local, veteran-owned business. Meeting the needs of both residential and commercial clients, Camo Crew helps with the removal and disposal of unwanted items. The company operates in the greater Milwaukee area, serving Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. Passion to profession By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist  If you ask Anna Lardinois what has shaped her career, she will likely tell you that it is her lifelong love of storytelling and her eagerness to learn. Lardinois is the Managing Editor of MKE Startup News, a media outlet highlighting the funders and founders of the Milwaukee startup ecosystem. Her storytelling is a key component of a larger project launched by the MMAC and board member Chris Abele in 2021. The project seeks to increase the visibility of startup businesses in the Milwaukee area. “It’s extremely exciting for me to have the opportunity to talk to all of these people who are so excited about their projects,” she said. “All I have ever wanted to do is write and now I’m writing plus I get to do something good for my city.”
Q&A with Lauren Feaster  Lauren Feaster is the CEO of Professional Dimensions, a leading women’s professional association in the Milwaukee area. Feaster will moderate a panel discussion at our Thankful Connections event from 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at The Ivy House. The panel, featuring prominent female entrepreneurs and industry leaders, will dive into a discussion surrounding the value of peer networks.
In this Q&A, Feaster shares how fostering connections has positively impacted her professional journey. Organization to expand fellowship program By: Ryan Amundson, Senior Director of Communications The Milwaukee Development Corp. (MDC) will help support three up-and-coming real-estate developers through its fellowship program after receiving a $250,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s (FHLBank Chicago) Community First® Diverse Developer Initiative. Spring Bank served as a FHLB member sponsor for the grant application. “Helping develop and mentor the next generation will go a long way in strengthening our neighborhoods in Milwaukee,” said Erica-Nicole Harris, MDC board member. “We appreciate the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and the investment they’re making in our community.”
Local professionals weigh in By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist  During the 2020 pandemic, employers across the nation were forced to pivot. Meetings in the office boardroom quickly shifted to video calls from kitchen tables and living room couches. Nearly five years later it seems that full-time, in-office work is rare. In fact, data indicates that Milwaukee area organizations have embraced flexible work options and will continue to do so moving forward.
In September, MMAC distributed a survey to chief human resources officers (CHRO) in the chamber’s peer roundtable program. The purpose of the survey was to gauge current and anticipated work modalities at local organizations. The AEM Manufacturing Express scheduled to visit Wisconsin By Allie Shane, Communications Specialist  According to a 2023 impact report published by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), equipment manufacturing created over 2.3 million jobs across the United States and generated $714 billion in total output and sales activity. In Wisconsin alone, the industry supported 30,520 jobs and contributed $4.7 billion of direct GDP. The bottom line is clear: Equipment manufacturing remains an invaluable industry in the United States. In its most ambitious advocacy effort to date, AEM introduced the AEM Manufacturing Express. This bus tour commenced on July 1 in Iowa, with the goal of visiting 20 states and 80 AEM member companies in the span of four short months. At each visit, manufacturers are invited to showcase their technology and share stories with attendees.
Sector has changed, but still vital to our economy By Dale Kooyenga  President, MMAC (October marks Manufacturing Month. The following appeared as a guest op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week.) As our Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the playoffs a baseball analogy seems appropriate. Fans know a successful pitcher needs a repertoire of weapons in his arsenal. A potent curveball or slider are nice for any pitcher to have in his back pocket. But that overpowering fastball is typically what gets the job done. The same holds true for a regional economy. A diverse make-up of business sectors defines any successful economic climate, but you need that one sector to drive the region forward. For generations here, it’s been manufacturing. Manufacturing is our fastball in Wisconsin. We have the highest concentration of these jobs in the country. We are makers and producers here.
Reagan High School celebrates building expansion By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist  Last Friday, Ronald W. Reagan College Preparatory High School hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, recognizing the completion of a $20 million expansion project. Community members and leaders of Milwaukee Public Schools joined Reagan students and staff to celebrate this momentous occasion.
The new academic and athletic spaces align with Reagan’s mission of encouraging student development and postsecondary preparation. The building’s added science wing is equipped with four science rooms and an aquaponics lab, supporting student exploration of STEM-related career paths. The addition of tennis courts, a gymnasium, a fitness center, an artificial turf field and a soccer field provide dedicated spaces for student athletes to train and compete.
Area manufacturers hear from Department of Defense By: Ryan Amundson, Senior Director of Communications Conflicts, and potential ones, dot the global landscape. From the West Bank to Ukraine, war with global ramifications continue. Considering the climate, a strong U.S. defense is paramount. And manufacturers play a huge role in providing the tools our country needs for success. On Thursday, a number of manufacturers from the region gathered at the Wisconsin Defense Industry Council Summit to network, share challenges and hear about resources available to them. The Council, launched in December, was created to bring more defense industry opportunities to manufacturers in the state. While Wisconsin sits No. 1 per capita when it comes to manufacturing, it ranks No. 30 in defense contract spending.
By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist A number of exciting school expansion and construction projects are taking place across Milwaukee. A few are highlighted below. Look for more news about K-12 education in the next edition of Milwaukee Commerce. Tenor Journal Square High School Tenor Journal Square High School, operating under the nonprofit organization Seeds of Health, Inc., will begin phase two of a four-phase renovation project in January 2025.
On the stage and in the sky By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist From playing bass guitar in a pop-punk band to flying planes across the Midwest, member engagement manager Ryan Rivas sure knows how to fill his time with fascinating hobbies.  Rivas began his musical journey in the fifth grade when his father encouraged him to learn how to play the trumpet. As high school approached, he found he was less interested in playing for the school band and more so inspired by the sounds of bands like Blink-182. “On a whim after seeing Blink-182 for the first time in 2000, I told my parents that I wanted to start taking bass lessons,” said Rivas. Today he plays bass guitar in a band named Gold Steps. The group of five musicians performs a combination of covers and original pop-punk pieces at local establishments, frequenting X-Ray Arcade in Cudahy. Gold Steps has taken the stage two years in a row at Summerfest and Summer Soulstice, both popular Milwaukee music festivals.
Airport looks to add international terminal  Business and civic leaders from around the area joined Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on Friday to show support for the county’s recent federal grant application to build an international terminal at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
“A redeveloped international concourse at Mitchell International Airport is important for the future of our regional economy. We know federal funding is critical for this economic development project to move forward,” said Crowley. “I am proud of Milwaukee County’s strong partnership with the federal government, and it’s my strong hope that we receive these funds to enhance the airport’s competitiveness, making it a more attractive option for airlines, businesses and travelers, thereby supporting the region’s and state’s economic vitality.” By: Hailey Pitcher, MMAC Communications Intern
Today, Leo and Maria own Anytime Arepa in Milwaukee, a food vendor selling Venezuelan arepas and empanadas using family recipes, all gluten free. They can be found in the 3rd Street Market Hall or at Zócalo Food Park. In addition, the business does catering and online ordering.
Cruz attended a Milwaukee Public School prior to beginning high school at Cristo Rey. Without Cristo Rey, Cruz thinks she would be a different person.
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is a rigorous, Catholic school dedicated to preparing students with limited financial means for life in college and beyond. Each student is connected with a work-study program through local employers, where students gain experience working in a professional setting five days a month in addition to studying in the classroom. The school hopes that students will use their faith and talents for justice and good in society. “I loved my Jesuit education, hence why I am attending a Jesuit college,” Cruz said. By: Hailey Pitcher, MMAC Communications Intern
Milwaukee ranked as one of the best cities for college students and graduates By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist  College and the years that follow is an exciting yet stressful period for young adults. Not only do students face the decision of picking a school that is affordable and offers their desired programs, but they must also consider the location of the school and the opportunities that the location provides during instruction and following graduation.
Milwaukee’s business community is fueled in large part by the talent of students and graduates of nearby schools. This makes the city an attractive option for prospective students and young professionals. In fact, Forbes ranked Milwaukee fifth on a list of the best cities for college students and graduates in 2024. This ranking is based on a variety of factors including the cost of housing, transportation and food, as well as the quality and proximity of educational institutions. |
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