Milwaukee Business Journal Weekly

It’s the final episode of the Milwaukee Business Journal podcast. Reporter Teddy Nykiel talks with Mike Ansay, CEO and chairman of Ansay & Associates in Port Washington and the Honorary Consulate of Luxembourg for the State of Wisconsin about the recent local connections with the small European country and how that relationship can benefit both business communities. Later, Teddy talks with Milwaukee Business Journal editor-in-chief Mark Kass about why the podcast is ending. They also reflect on the last two years of the show and discuss the Business Journal’s annual Power Brokers list. For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/.

Cruise ship traffic will rebound in a big way in 2022 for the city of Milwaukee, and the port is seeking a developer to build a welcome center for them at the lakefront. Covid-19 quashed cruise traffic over the past two years, but that is to change going forward. MBJ Reporter Sean Ryan interviews Port director Adam Tindall-Schlicht on how many visitors that could bring to the city, and the planned welcome center development on port land near Bay View.  Later on, Ryan interviews reporter Teddy Nykiel about American Family Insurance’s substantial new financial commitment to innovation and startup groups focused on Milwaukee’s minority neighborhoods. For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

MBJ’s Margaret Naczek features Marcus Corp. CEO Greg Marcus and executive vice president and CFO Doug Neis about the Milwaukee’s company’s efforts to recover from the huge impact of the pandemic on its hotels, restaurants and movie theaters. Later on, Margaret interviews reporter Teddy Nykiel on her cover story in this week’s paper that takes an in-depth look at four startup founders, their experiences in Milwaukee and why they left the city. She explores what can be done to keep talented startups, such as these, from skipping town in the future. For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

MBJ’s Teddy Nykiel spoke with Chad Johnson, the founder of Tip a Scrxipt, a Milwaukee-based startup building a platform to help people crowdfund out-of-pocket medication costs. Tip a ScRxipt's announced this week that it raised $500,000 in seed financing led by the new Milwaukee venture capital firm, Gateway Capital Partners.  Later on, Lori Richards and James Madlom of Mueller Communications share tips for being a “Best Place to Work.” Lori and James spoke at the Business Journal’s Best Places to Work Awards this week and we’re sharing their entertaining and informative remarks. For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/  

Southeast Wisconsin manufacturers are continuing to cope with higher labor costs – trying everything including bonuses – to lure workers. MBJ’s Rich Kirchen talks with two executives who are on the front lines of the search process.  The labor shortage in manufacturing and warehousing is giving a chill to real estate developers who say they won’t build if workers aren’t available to staff new facilities. Rich discusses the trend with the MBJ’s real estate reporter, Sean Ryan.  For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

One of the region’s biggest local restaurant chains is making news for their real estate development plans.  Cousin’s Subs of Menomonee Falls is looking to add more locations in Wisconsin and out-state, and it’s adopting a higher-investment approach to building those future restaurants. Milwaukee Business Journal’s Sean Ryan talks with Joe Ferguson, Cousins’ Vice President of Development, about their plans.  There is a new MBJ feature this week on People to Know in the local Commercial Real Estate and Construction industries.  Sean chats with one of the local leaders profiled in that feature - Tricia Braun with JP Cullen.  Braun was previously with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, so she has a solid perspective on the local industrial real estate market and workforce development efforts. They also dug into the ongoing push to bring more women into the construction industry. For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

For decades, commercial real estate development in metro Milwaukee was the domain of white men – with a couple exceptions. That’s changed in recent years as more minority developers are emerging.  Milwaukee Business Journal’s Rich Kirchen talked with fellow reporter Sean Ryan about his story on leading minority developers overcoming challenges to gain a foothold.  Later, the western section of Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Milwaukee has languished for years with vacancies and the collapse of the Grand Avenue mall. The mall is being redeveloped as The Avenue opening this fall and the Wisconsin Center convention facility is undergoing a major expansion. Rich chats with leaders of both projects.  For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

October is Wisconsin Tech Month, as declared by Gov. Tony Evers.  MBJ’s Teddy Nykiel talks with Milky Way Tech Hub Founder, Nadiyah Johnson about that designation and how her organization is focused on building Milwaukee’s diverse tech ecosystem.  They also discuss what the group plans to lobby for this month, as well as other upcoming tech events.  Later, Teddy chats with fellow MBJ reporter Sari Lesk about this week’s cover story, which looks at how the various federal government grant and loan programs have impacted Wisconsin small businesses.  For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

This week again, all eyes are on southeastern Wisconsin, particularly in the sports world. Just a few months after the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA championship, Whistling Straits in Kohler hosts the Ryder Cup. MBJ’s Margaret Naczekspoke with Visit Milwaukee’s Peggy Williams-Smith on the economic impact.  They talked about the significance of southeastern Wisconsin hosting an event of such a high caliber in the golf industry and what it may mean for future tourism success in the region.  Later Margaret talked with fellow MBJ reporter Teddy Nykiel on her most recent cover story- Wisconin Inno Under 25  Teddy’s story looks at the 2021 rising tech leaders to watch and shares some insights into some of these young professionals and trends throughout the tech industry. For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

MBJ’s Sean Ryan talks to one of the region’s most prominent voices in the fight against Covid-19.  Dr. Ben Weston has emerged as one of the lead communicators of clear and accurate Covid info over the past year and a half. He’s working with both Milwaukee County and the Medical College of Wisconsin, and is an experienced emergency room doctor. The Milwaukee Business Journal also recognized Weston as a public health leader in this year’s Health Care Champions  program. Later, Sean is joined by two of Marquette University’s leaders in real estate education. There was the big announcement this week that a new Marquette program will let real estate undergrads participate in a $1 million investment fund to buy and manage properties. We’ll hear more about that and other real estate talent pipeline efforts from Vito Taphorn, who will direct the new program, and Andy Hunt, director of Marquette University’s Center for Real Estate.  For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https:/

Global Brigades is the largest student-funded humanitarian organization, and was started by Marquette University students in 2003. Most recently, it launched a for-profit spinoff, Eskala, which is a microfinance company focused on breaking the cycle of poverty through banking. MBJ’s Margaret Naczek spoke with some of the founders on this new endeavor.  Later, Margaret talked with Greg Hanis, president of New Berlin-based Hospitality Marketers International, about all things hotels.  They discussed some of the biggest trends the hospitality industry is watching right now including when there will be a return to corporate travel, the high demand for leisure travel this summer and what hotels are succeeding. For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

It’s the first weekend of Summerfest with their new format, so that’s what we’re talking about this week. But we’re not talking about the music today — we’re talking about Summerfest Tech, the one-day technology event on September 8. MBJ’s Teddy Nykiel talked with organizer Lena DeLaet who has all the details. They also talked about who will be there, from Google Cloud executives to local startup founders.  Later on, you’ll hear from Kevin Conroy, CEO of Exact Sciences, a cancer diagnostics company based in Madison. Conroy spoke at the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Power Breakfast last week, and we’re actually sharing a clip of the conversation in case you missed the event.  He’ll share the story about why his company decided to mandate vaccines for employees as well as the fascinating history of the company’s quest to develop screenings for early cancer detection.  For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

Julia Taylor will retire at the end of this year after a remarkable 19 years leading the Greater Milwaukee Committee. MBJ’s Rich Kirchen recently interviewed Julia for her perspectives on the GMC’s accomplishments during her tenure – and the challenges Milwaukee still faces.  Milwaukee Business Journal reporter Sari Lesk was selected as one of four journalists for this year’s O’Brien Fellowship in Public Service journalism at Marquette University. She joins Rich to discuss the fellowship and what she’ll focus on over the next nine months.  For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

This week, developer Josh Jeffers celebrated the completion of new apartments for Milwaukee Area Technical College students in a former Journal Sentinel office building. He’s got control of that whole city block around it, and he talks with MBJ’s Sean Ryan about how work has already begun for the next phase of construction to bring market-rate apartments to the 1924 former newspaper office next door.  Later on, MBJ’s Margaret Naczek joins Sean to discuss Wisconsin’s next big sports event: The Ryder Cup golf tournament. Last month it was the NBA Championship, and next month it’ll be the Ryder Cup in Kohler. Margaret addresses what that means for our local businesses in the hospitality industry and beyond. For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visithttps://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

After a long wait, activity returns to Henry Maier Festival Park. Irish Fest is the first full weekend festival to return to Milwaukee’s lakefront in over a year!  MBJ’s Margaret Naczek talked with Mike Mitchell who is Executive Director of Celtic MKE, which operates Milwaukee’s Irish Fest.  They discuss what to expect from this year’s festivities.  Later, Sarah Maio, Vice President of marketing and communications at theWisconsin Center District joins the podcast.  Margaret and Sarah not only discuss Sarah’s C-Suite awards, but also plans for the Wisconsin Center District expansion. For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

MBJ’s Teddy Nykiel interviews Stephanie and Houston Hoskins, the founders of Debtle, a Sheboygan-based startup creating a platform for organizations to negotiate and settle invoices directly with customers. Later on, Teddy talks with fellow MBJ reporter Rich Kirchen about this week’s cover story, “Rexnord reimagined”.  They discuss why and how one of Milwaukee’s old-line and still prominent manufacturers is transforming into a water-management company. For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

MKE Urban Stables is a nonprofit Milwaukee development that is using horse stables to offer treatment to vets and improve relations between the police department and community.  MBJ’s Sean Ryan talks with Kent Lovern, chief deputy district attorney for Milwaukee County and president of the MKE Urban Stables board of directors.  Later, MBJ’s Margaret Naczek talks with Sean about the possible long-term economic development boost created by the Bucks NBA championship. Theydiscuss those potential benefits, including how it affects plans by Bucks ownership to develop land around Fiserv Forum.  For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

The Milwaukee Bucks run for the NBA championship raised Milwaukee’s profile around the world. How can area businesses capitalize on all the attention? MBJ’s Rich Kirchen discusses the possibilities with Peggy Williams Smith of Visit Milwaukee and Brian Bennett ofStir Advertising.  The housing market continues booming in metro Milwaukee and across the country. MBJ’s Teddy Nykiel joins Rich to provide an update on how area homebuilders strive to address the demand.  For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

MBJ just held the annual Women of Influence Awards.  This terrific celebration of professional women in our community recognizes leaders in business, non-profit, and public policy.  And this week for the podcast, MBJ’s Sari Lesk and Beck Salgado talked to 2 of the honorees -  Aruna Lal and Tammy Belton-Davis. For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/

Milwaukee Pride cancelled its annual June PrideFest in both 2020 and 2021, but the organization now has some exciting news for an event in October.  MBJ’s Margaret Naczek talks with the president of Milwaukee Pride, Wes Shaver on what the organization is planning to engage the community a little bit later this year.  Later, Margaret chats with Kendra Ingram, CEO of The Marcus Performing Arts Center.  They discuss the programming to expect at the performing arts center this summer and how the Marcus Center is also preparing to welcome back large crowds in fall. And finally, Inge Plautz, Senior Vice President and Executive Officer at Old National Bank joins the podcast to discuss the role of women on corporate boards.  For more information on some of the stories featured in today’s episode, visithttps://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/