Milwaukee Magazine | Faces of MKE Part 2

PART II

PHOTOS BY LINDA SMALLPAGE, BOUTIQUE PHOTOGRAPHER

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(left to right) RANDI K., fourth generation SARAH K., fourth generation GAIL K., third generation

BILTRITE Furniture-Leather-Mattresses Face of Family-Owned Furniture IN 1928, IRWIN KERNS OPENED BILTRITE’s first location at Third and Garfield in Milwaukee. Ninety-four years and four generations later, the business is still family-owned and operated. Irwin’s grandson Marty Komisar runs the store alongside his wife Gail, their children Randi and Brad, and his daughter-inlaw Sarah. Randi and Brad have both been involved in the business since they were children.

“I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a part of the family business,” Randi says. “I went to High Point University in North Carolina for an interior design degree, and then came back to work full time.”

BILTRITE has grown considerably since that small storefront. It now operates out of an expansive 45,000-square-foot showroom in Greenfield, plus an additional 42,000-square-foot warehouse that keeps thousands

of items in-stock, including 500 mattresses and affordable, better-quality furniture.

“We’re the largest local, family-owned furniture store in Wisconsin,” Randi says. “We’re hands-on and we care about our customers. We don’t skip steps. We want the customer to have the best experience possible. That’s the family-owned mentality.”

BILTRITE Furniture-Leather-Mattresses 5430 W. Layton Ave., Greenfield 414-238-2020 biltritefurniture.com

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Krause Funeral Home & Cremation Services Face of End-of-Life Planning & Services MARK KRAUSE IS THE THIRD GENERATION of Krauses to

lead the family business. With four Milwaukee-area locations, Krause Funeral Homes is Wisconsin’s largest funeral service provider. In recent years, Krause is most proud of how his business has embraced diverse cultures in funeral celebrations.

“Our staff is very diversified. We’ve broken through many barriers a lot of funeral homes struggle with,” Krause says. “Funeral homes tend to be very entrenched in how they’ve always done things. Businesses that don’t evolve and change become dinosaurs.”

Krause Funeral Home offers both religious and non-religious funerals. To host more celebratory events honoring one’s life, Krause began offering drinks and food at services, while also including touches like personalized music and photo slideshows. Krause also now offers a therapy dog (a Portuguese water dog named Bennie), and livestreaming for all services.

“My goal is to get rid of the grim, old funeral,” Krause says. “Our job is to make the difficult time a little bit easier.”

Krause Funeral Home & Cremation Services 7001 W. Brown Deer Rd., 414-377-4121 9000 W. Capitol Dr., 414-326-9781 21600 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield, 262-395-7476 12401 W. National Ave., New Berlin, 262-395-7468 krausefuneralhome.com 108 milwaukeemag.com

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(left to right) TIM GOKHMAN, Chief Executive Officer ANN SHUK, Chief Culture Officer SHELDON OPPERMANN, Chief Financial Officer

New Land Enterprises Face of Sustainable Development WALTER SHUK AND BORIS GOKHMAN co-founded the real estate development and property management company New Land Enterprises in 1993, after the two men emigrated to the United States from what is now Ukraine.

Shuk’s daughter, Ann, and Boris’ son, Tim, are now continuing their fathers’ legacy at New Land, while adding a contemporary twist: New Land’s portfolio of apartments now feature eco-friendly amenities and construction that set them apart from many other buildings in Milwaukee.

This includes high-efficiency boilers, smart home technology, green roofs, New Land’s signature radiant-hydronic heating system and - what Gokhman’s most proud of - the use of sustainable building materials, like the mass timber in Downtown Milwaukee’s new Ascent development. “We’re

really at the forefront, not just in Milwaukee but the entire country, with our buildings’ carbon footprints,” says Gokhman.

Gokhman sees this focus on sustainability as part of the company’s unwavering commitment to quality that his father instituted decades ago.

“We’ve always built to a high grade,” he says. “Building sustainably is just the right way to do it.”

New Land Enterprises 1840 N. Farwell Ave., 414-271-5263 newlandmke.com

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(left to right) ODIN KRZESINSKI ADDISON TANK ZOEY TANK PARKER TANK EMILY BUCKHOUSE

The Smiley Barn Face of Children’s Toys ANYONE WHO’S DRIVEN past Delafield on I-94 knows the eye-catching barn with the huge smiley face on its side. But you may not know the story behind it.

The barn was part of a large dairy farm from the 1830s until the 1970s, when the freeway was built straight through the land. The farm ceased operations, and the barn was converted into an indoor shopping mall. To promote the new mall,

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a plywood smiley face was attached to the barn wall. In 1982, one of the mall tenants suggested painting the building bright yellow, and it’s been a beloved landmark ever since.

In 2018, Maria Luther, after a career as a corporate attorney, bought the building to turn it into a toy store. “It wasn’t just about opening a toy store,”

(left to right) HANNAH BUCKHOUSE MARIA LUTHER, Owner SOPHIE DOBKOSKI MAYA DOBKOSKI

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Luther says. “It was about restoring this historic landmark. When I saw the Smiley Barn, I knew this was what I was meant to do.”

Luther kept the century-old building’s ceiling beams and petrified logs intact, while stocking the inside with a massive selection of toys. Her goal is to offer what big-box stores don’t, including letting kids play with toys and engage with staff. Long tables crafted by Luther’s husband and comfy chairs encourage both playtime and rest.

“We carry specialty toys that are higher quality – that the child will remain interested in long after the purchase,” says Luther. The Smiley Barn also carries a wide selection of fine chocolates, which are ideal for a gift box. Vintage candies are another allure, such as Charleston Chew, violet gum, rock candy, wax bottles, Satellite Wafers and rainbow-whirly lollipops. The Smiley Barn also has one of

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only three Playmobil-sponsored playrooms in the U.S. Store manager Jessica Buckhouse, a parent herself, has a background in organizing trade shows and special events. She and Luther hold events for children throughout the year, such as a gold coin hunt for St. Patrick’s Day, a petting farm on Labor Day weekend, and letter-writing to Santa for Christmas.

“I feel like I’m giving back to the community,” Luther says. “We’re embedding lifelong memories.”

The Smiley Barn

2420 Milwaukee St., Delafield, 262-303-9037 thesmileybarn.com

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(left to right) TONY GAZZANA ERIN RUSSELL PATRICK O’CONNELL JACKIE GUANSING

Tim O’Brien Homes Face of High-Performance Homes 112 milwaukeemag.com

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(left to right) PETE LANGE CHARLIE TINDAL EMILY FEAGLES AMY PETRUS

POSITIVELY IMPACTING PEOPLE’S LIVES. That is Tim O’Brien Homes’ core purpose and something that every team member at the company is passionate about. The team loves what they do and strives to achieve a genuine connection with every homeowner to build them the home of their dreams.

Tim O’Brien Homes works together with customers from the first stages of planning, all the way to the day they move in and beyond. The team has a proven track record, with members being nationally recognized for their customer satisfaction and communication skills.

For the past four years, Tim O’Brien Homes has received the Housing Innovation Award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which recognizes homebuilders for leading the way in energy efficiency and indoor air quality. By prioritizing high performance building strategies, Tim O’Brien homes is in the top 1% of builders in the country as a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home partner.

Tim O’Brien Homes

N27 W24075 Paul Ct., Pewaukee, 262-239-7342, TimOBrienHomes.com

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(left to right) NOOR SALAMEH, student ELENA CRESSY, teacher AMELIA RIESING, student MAX LEVINE, student

Kettle Moraine School for Arts and Performance Face of Performing Arts Education A STUDENT AT KETTLE MORAINE SCHOOL for Arts and Performance might start the day with a normal high school class, like Algebra II. Then maybe they’ll have history – but it won’t be a standard history class. It might be “History on Screen, Stage and Page” or “Broadway Teaches History: Titanic and More,” classes that combine a conventional high school subject with the arts.

“We teach through interdisciplinary seminars,” says Kevin Erickson, the director of KM Perform. “The students are taking different seminars and workshops every four to six weeks, which gives them the ability to get what they need for college prep, while also being exposed to different instructors, guests and artists.”

Students at KM Perform focus on music, art, theater or writing. A music

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focus, for example, gives students hours of instruction in their chosen instrument or in singing – from teachers, guest instructors and experts, alongside interdisciplinary seminars and a vigorous college prep curriculum.

“Students at KM Perform are fully immersed in their art,” Erickson says.

“What makes our school exceptional, I think, is marrying a rich academic pedagogy with this fantastic arts program.”

Kettle Moraine School for Arts and Performance 349 N. Oak Crest Dr., Wales, 262-968-6273 ext. 4800 kmsd.edu/kmperform

(left to right) TRACY STRAUB LUTTKUS MICHAEL STRAUB KIMBERLY STRAUB

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Treiber & Straub Jewelers Face of Fine Jewelry YOU DON’T NEED TO TRAVEL to New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago to experience the elegance, style and ambiance of one of the nation’s most prestigious jewelers.

Locally owned, Treiber & Straub Jewelers offers Milwaukee residents breathtaking selections of the world’s most captivating designer jewelry and world-class precision timepieces for the fashion forward and the connoisseur alike.

Since opening its doors, Michael Straub, co-founder/owner of Treiber & Straub Jewelers, wanted to approach jewelry differently from other local retailers by providing Milwaukeeans with a carefully curated selection of the finest jewelry from elite brands, in an atmosphere which reflected an unmatched level of quality and elegance. “For over four generations, we have collaborated with prestigious jewelers around the world and stived to present our clients with tasteful, high-quality jewelry, which will endure the test of time,” Straub says. “Every client is regarded as an individual and each buying experience is to be unique and tailored to their personality and lifestyle.”

Today, Treiber & Straub is recognized as one of the nation’s finest jewelers

by staying true to the business’ founding principles of integrity and style. The retailer offers Milwaukeeans an expansive collection of the finest diamonds available and the largest selection of the industry’s most sought-after brands including Rolex, Cartier, Mikimoto, Gucci and David Yurman. The business is still locally owned and family-run. Straub’s daughters are an integral part of the company – from day-to-day operations to strategic planning. Kimberly, who has been an essential part of the business for over 25 years, along with her sister Tracy, who recently joined the business, collaborate closely with their father to help customers find exceptional jewelry they can not only treasure for a lifetime, but pass on from generation to generation.

Treiber & Straub Jewelers 14740 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield, 262-790-5757 treiberandstraub.com

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Marquette University Face of Graduate Programs SINCE DOUGLAS WOODS BEGAN AS THE DEAN of the graduate school at Marquette University in 2016, graduate school enrollment has increased 30%, and professional school enrollment has increased 10%.

“We’ve made many changes to achieve that growth,” Woods says.

“We’ve started 18 new graduate programs, we’ve started offering many

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graduate programs in online or hybrid format, we’ve come up with creative scholarship opportunities to help students, and we’ve built up our career development opportunities for our graduate students.”

Woods points to several student success stories in recent years that demonstrate the diverse career opportunities students pursue. Two alumni of political

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science and international affairs M.A. programs created Bridge the City, a platform that inspires Milwaukeeans to take action in their communities. Another who received a Ph.D. in counseling is now a psychologist with the Milwaukee Brewers. With over 70 graduate programs, as well as schools in law, dentistry, nursing and health sciences, enrollment continues to grow as more students take advantage of the professional opportunities.

One of the newest degrees is a master’s in applied behavior analysis, training future psychologists to treat children with autism and developmental disabilities. Another is a master’s in data science, preparing students for a growing field, as well as health care analytics. “We’re mission-focused,” Woods says. “We want our students to take their work out in the community and use it for the betterment of others.”

(left to right) ALLYSA OZZELLO KAREN ROBINSON TAYLOR PAMPERIN SAÚL LÓPEZ ANGIE SANDOVAL MAGGIE NETTESHEIM HOFFMANN DOUGLAS WOODS, Dean KEANA BERKHALTER STU ROCHE

Marquette University

1250 W. Wisconsin Ave., 414-288-7137, marquette.edu/grad

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(left to right) LISA RASMUSSEN SUZAN FETE

Renaissance Theaterworks Face of Women in Theater FOR 30 YEARS, Renaissance Theaterworks has addressed gender disparity as Milwaukee’s first professional theater founded and led by women and the nation’s second-oldest professional theater company devoted to gender equality. For over 100 years, 1908-2008, the percentage of Broadway productions by female playwrights remained at 12.8%. Since 1993, Renaissance Theaterworks has been improving that statistic right here in Milwaukee, and the work of equity is not done yet.

Led by Artistic Director and Co-Founder Suzan Fete and Managing Director Lisa Rasmussen, this 30th-anniversary season kicks off with a celebration, Raise a Glass (Sept. 8), followed by the ninth Annual BRINK New Play Festival (Sept. 10-11).

The season’s theme, “Resilient,” centers women’s stories of

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perseverance, and includes The How and the Why by Sarah Treem (Oct. 21-Nov. 13), Martyna Majok’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Cost of Living (Jan. 20-Feb. 12) in collaboration with Pink Umbrella Theater Company and Phamaly Theatre Company, and the world premiere of Tidy by Kristin Idaszak (March 24-April 6), as part of the World Premiere Wisconsin Festival.

Renaissance Theaterworks: “Theater By Women For Everyone” 255 S. Water St., 414-278-0765, R-T-W.com

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(left to right) SYDNEY KUNZ, LPC-IT JACOB MARTINEZ, LPC ANIKA HEAVERLO, LPC-IT DAWN GIORNO, LCSW JENNIFER HASTINGS MEINHOLDT, LPC LISA HILLARY, LCSW MEGAN ANDERSON, LPC KATELYN GRUSECKI, PSY.D

Hillary Counseling Face of Holistic Therapy SINCE FOUNDING HILLARY COUNSELING 12 years ago Lisa Hillary, MSW, LCSW, has built a team of skilled psychotherapists serving metro Milwaukee and offering virtual sessions across Wisconsin.

“We provide a safe space for in-depth psychotherapy that is inclusive and accessible,” she says. Both adolescents and adults seek out Hillary Counseling for help with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, grief, life transitions, low self-esteem, relationships, parenting and personal growth. Adopting a “modern, relatable and holistic” approach, Hillary’s team focuses on prevention before an issue becomes overwhelming. They incorporate physical, spiritual and psychological aspects of experience into therapy so the entire person is engaged.

“Not only do I love hearing people’s stories of where they came from and understanding what has shaped them to become who they are today, I feel honored to have people trust me enough to share their innermost secrets and struggles,” Hillary says. “Fulfillment and happiness are about how you view your life’s limitations – and having the right tools to overcome them.”

Hillary Counseling 316 N. Milwaukee St., 414-522-7512 hillarycounseling.com

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(left to right) J.J. GRUBE JOE FERGUSON CHRISTINE SPECHT

Cousins Subs Face of Lunch THE IDEA FOR COUSINS SUBS first came to Bill Specht when he moved from the East Coast to Milwaukee in the late 1960s, and couldn’t find a sub shop in town that lived up to those back East. He approached his cousin Jim Sheppard about opening a sub shop, and the rest is history. Specht and

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Sheppard opened the first Cousins Subs at the corner of 60th Street and Silver Spring Drive in Milwaukee on June 19, 1972.

Today, Cousins Subs remains rooted as a Wisconsin-based company and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The company’s Make It Better

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(left to right) JUSTIN McCOY JASON WESTHOFF

Foundation offers grants, product donations and scholarships to Wisconsin high school students every year. The brand has also partnered with many other prominent Wisconsin-based businesses and organizations including the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Green Bay Packers, Johnsonville, Milwaukee Bucks, Sprecher Brewing and UW Athletics, to name a few.

“At the end of the day, our work is simple; we make and sell sub sandwiches. But that simple task is what provides us the platform and opportunity to continually improve the communities around us, while also improving the lives of our employees and guests,” says Christine Specht, CEO at Cousins Subs and daughter of founder Bill Specht. “Here at Cousins Subs, we firmly believe in our mission: We believe in better through the continual improvement in

everything we do. We believe our guests deserve a better product, served in a better environment and by dedicated team members who genuinely care.”

This year, Cousins Subs opened three new Wisconsin locations and has another slated for later this year in Stevens Point. In the coming years, the brand plans to continue to grow its Wisconsin footprint both through corporate development and franchising with a focus on the central and western areas of the state.

Cousins Subs

cousinssubs.com

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(left to right) JACKIE DREYER HENRY CLORAN JACK NICKEAS ZACH BEAMAN

Concept Co. Face of Brand Marketing AFTER WORKING FOR SEVERAL marketing and web development agencies throughout the country, Zach Beaman and Migueal Lockhart had seen the same problems in the industry. “There was this old-school mentality in how these agencies operated,” Beaman says. “Most of these agencies had been

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born in traditional advertising and were seriously lacking in emerging digital strategy and web development.” After reuniting at a firm in Milwaukee, the duo decided to take a leap and founded Concept Co. Focused on helping businesses build a digital presence, the agency leaned in on the future of

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(left to right) MIGUEAL LOCKHART KEVIN CIESIELSKI NICK PELLECHIA JEREMY TECHTMANN ASHLEY RASTOGI

digital marketing and web development. As a startup, Concept Co. built their client base, working with well-known brands like Cabela’s and the Milwaukee Brewers – showcasing their talents in creative production, digital brand strategy and eCommerce development.

Beaman points to a recent custom development project as an exemplar of Concept Co.’s work. A sports technology startup who wanted to disrupt the digital trading card world – but didn’t know how. “That really showcased our capabilities across channels,” Beaman says. “We developed the entire platform in-house, including a complex API and the brand itself. We produced it and led the activation to market. It was a culmination of everything we’re

capable of, and it’s become an extremely successful platform.”

Today, Concept Co. has locations in Milwaukee and West Palm Beach.

As the agency grows so does its client base. The team is a collective of the most talented creatives, techs and storytellers with a passion for connecting brands with culture through digital brand marketing and experiential development.

Concept Co.

1433 N. Water St., 262-446-6823, conceptcompany.com

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Illume Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa Face of Cosmetic Surgery ILLUME COSMETIC SURGERY & MEDSPA WAS FOUNDED IN 2019, the merging of two of Milwaukee’s top cosmetic surgery practices. Now it is Milwaukee’s largest cosmetic and plastic surgery practice, with six doctors on staff at its Waukesha and Glendale clinics. Clients range from 25 to 75 years of age

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and include both men and women.

Clients visit Illume for help with skin care, laser treatments and weight loss.

A menu of around 100 services includes injectables (Botox and dermal fillers), liposuction, rhinoplasty, face lifts, breast augmentation and tummy tucks. Three

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operating rooms are available and staffed by board-certified plastic surgeons with decades of experience. Dr. Timothy P. Bruce, a graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin, is the latest to join the staff. “Our Illume brand signifies the area’s greatest selection of board-certified plastic surgeons on-site, supervising care through the most extensive offering of state-of-the-art technology, operating rooms and patient treatment options,” says Dr. Thomas Korkos a co-founding partner of Illume.

Illume Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa 6002 N. Port Washington Rd., Glendale; N4 W22370 Bluemound Rd., Waukesha 414-439-3000 illumecosmeticsurgery.com

(left to right) DR. THOMAS G. KORKOS, MD DAWN GRABOWSKI, RN ANGIE LEWIS, NP DEE GURU, RN CINDY TURNER, RN DR. JENNA G. CUSIC, MD CONNIE LAUX, RN DR. TIMOTHY P. BRUCE, MD AMANDA PICORD, RN DR. CHRISTOPHER J. HUSSUSSIAN, MD DR. KENNETH D. DEMBNY, MD DR. MARK F. BLAKE, MD

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White Dress Bridal Boutique Face of Bridal Fashion IN EARLY 2015, CHRISTINA WEGNER NOTICED

that a lot of brides who lived in Milwaukee traveled to Chicago or New York to purchase their wedding dresses.

“I felt like a fresh fashion-forward, yet timeless, bridal boutique was missing in the Downtown Milwaukee area,” Wegner says.

That gave her an idea. In 2015, she left her 25-year career in property management and opened White Dress Bridal Boutique on Pittsburgh Avenue. The boutique brings fashion forward luxury wedding dresses to Milwaukee brides, and has quickly attracted a strong clientele. Every year since 2016, White Dress has been awarded the Best Luxury Bridal Boutique in the state of Wisconsin by Wisconsin Bride Magazine. In 2020, Wegner opened White Dress Off The Rack, offering dresses that brides could purchase and take from the store the same day at a lower price point.

“Brides can really experience the difference when they come into our boutiques,” Wegner says. “The quality of the designers we carry is amazing. We set the bar high because for us it’s all about the bride.

I’ve had so many brides say over and over again, ‘I don’t even know why I went other places. I should have just come here first.’”

White Dress Bridal Boutique 237 E. Pittsburgh Ave., 414-897-7208 whitedressbridalboutique.com

White Dress Off The Rack 196 S. Second St., 414-810-3626 whitedressotr.com

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(left to right) JOEY NICGORSKI RAQUEL ALEMAN

Milwaukee Area Technical College Face of Milwaukee’s Diverse Talent Pipeline JOEY NICGORSKI STARTED COLLEGE at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2004. “I didn’t have a clear path or goals. I was just going to college because it was something you were supposed to do,” he says. He left after two years, not completing his degree. Raquel Aleman had a similar experience around the same time at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Being a single mother, she left college to work full time.

When Aleman and Nicgorski heard about MATC’s Promise for Adults program, over a decade had passed since they left their respective colleges.

The program allows individuals 24 years or older who have achieved at least six college credits in the past and meet the financial requirements to finish their degree at MATC and have tuition paid for by the college. Over 78% of Promise students identify as students of color.

Both Nicgorski and Aleman completed associate degrees in business management tuition-free with the Promise program. After Aleman graduated in 2020, she realized that a volunteer youth-mentoring organization she had

started, Your Move MKE, had the potential to be a lot more. She turned it into a nonprofit organization combining chess with hip-hop music, teaching life lessons and skilled trades to help keep young people on a positive track. She now serves as executive director. Aleman also attained a real estate certificate at MATC. Since graduating in 2021, Nicgorski joined the brand marketing department at Harley-Davidson and is pursuing a bachelor’s in marketing from UW-Madison. “The Promise Program just made it possible for me to start down the path I’m on now,” Nicgorski says. “My life is completely different since the day I enrolled at MATC. From my career to my schooling, it’s just been unbelievable.”

Milwaukee Area Technical College 700 W. State St., 414-297-6282 matc.edu/impact

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MELINDA WILKE, CFP®, CLU®, WMCP®, ChFC®, RICP®, CASL®, CLF®

Wilke Wealth & Investment Planning Face of Financial Planning WHEN MELINDA WILKE was 12 years old, her father owned a business and taught her the ins and outs of being a business owner, including how to read financial forms and even doing their taxes. For some kids, this may not have been an opportunity they thrived on, but for Melinda, it sparked a lifelong passion.

“I thought it was the greatest thing in the world, understanding how money

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works,” Melinda says. She went on to study finance at Marquette University and shortly after graduation, started Wilke Wealth & Investment Planning.

Melinda has since cultivated an all-female team of experienced professionals.

“We know how to listen,” she says. “Our clients feel comforted knowing we’re hearing them, we listen to their goals, and they know they can trust us.

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of MKE (left to right) RENEE PREIS CHRISTINE MICHALSKI BETH SCHUMACHER, CFP®, MBA, APMA® LAUREN PROCARIONE

We teach them the facts, show them what their financials lives could look like, and have confidence in their financial future.”

Wilke Wealth specializes in financial planning for physicians, medical professional, business executives, and their families; this includes managing loan debt, saving for retirement, estate planning, and more.

Ultimately, Wilke Wealth’s goal is to help their clients achieve their goals and dreams.

“We want our clients to feel informed and empowered about their

financial situation,” Melinda says. “Our team’s goal is to support them, educate them, and give them resources so they can feel empowered in their financial future.”

Wilke Wealth & Investment Planning

5307 S. 92nd St., Suite 128, Hales Corners, 414-856-3060 wilkewealth@nm.com

Melinda Wilke uses Wilke Wealth & Investment Planning as a marketing name for doing business as a representative of Northwestern Mutual. Wilke Wealth & Investment Planning is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency or federal savings bank. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM) (life and disability Insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries, including Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, and member of FINRA and SIPC, and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (investment advisory and trust services), a federal savings bank. NM and its subsidiaries are in Milwaukee, WI. Melinda Wilke is an Insurance Agent of NM. Investment brokerage services provided as a Registered Representative of NMIS. Investment advisory services provided as an Advisor of NMWMC.

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The Bartolotta Restaurants Face of Fine Dining With a Purpose IN 2023, THE BARTOLOTTA RESTAURANTS will celebrate 30 years since the opening of the group’s first location, Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993 in Wauwatosa.

In those three decades, the company has grown tremendously and has

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established itself as the premier restaurant group in the greater Milwaukee area. Co-founders Joe and Paul Bartolotta found their formula for success by committing to taking care of their employees, guests, community and

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PAUL BARTOLOTTA (CHEF/OWNER/CO-FOUNDER) PICTURED RIGHT FRONT AND CENTER WITH THE BARTOLOTTA TEAM

vendors before worrying about the bottom line. With a focus on exceptional food and hospitality, the restaurant group helped put Milwaukee on the culinary map at a national level and paved the way for the vibrant restaurant scene we now enjoy. Now, the name “Bartolotta” has become synonymous with fine dining and memorable experiences.

But many people may not realize the broad impact the family-owned company has on our community.

The Bartolotta Restaurants now employs around 600 people in its 17 Milwaukee-area locations, supports many local vendors and businesses, and is a major force in boosting the city’s economic growth.

The Bartolotta Restaurants understands its purpose in the community is much larger than just operating restaurants.

The heart of the company is the dedication its employees feel to the community and each other. Through its charitable giving and commitment to community events, The Bartolotta Restaurants helps Milwaukee realize its full potential as a great place to live, work and dine.

The Bartolotta Restaurants 414-258-7885, bartolottas.com

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(left to right) TIM LIGHTNER LISA PALEY

Two Men and a Truck Face of Moving WHEN TIM LIGHTNER started the Madison-area franchise of the moving company TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® in 1993, its name was literal – just Lightner, his partner and a truck. But within a few years it grew into one of the area’s biggest franchises. It now offers full-service local and long-distance moving, including packing and unpacking, junk removal and storage.

In 2000, Lisa Paley joined the company and quickly found that she had a passion for the business. “It’s rewarding to help people during a stressful time,” Paley says. “Our customers frequently share that our movers are compassionate, kind and go the extra mile.”

Last year, Lightner and Paley acquired the Milwaukee franchise of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, which now celebrates its one-year anniversary with the group that also includes Waukesha, Racine and Madison locations. Paley also celebrates an anniversary of her own – one year as president.

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According to Paley, outstanding employees are what set the company apart. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK never farms out services to contractors, and each team member adheres to the “Grandma Rule®” – treat everyone the way they would want their own grandmother treated. This approach has paid off, with the franchise boasting a 96% customer referral rate.

“Our mission is to move people forward,” Paley says. “We do that by providing great service to customers and great opportunities for our employees. We want our employees to grow and evolve as a result of their time with us.”

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK 11800 W. Burleigh St., Wauwatosa, 414-209-3256, twomenmilwaukee.com

(left to right) ERIC PHILLIPS BAILEY KREBS LAMONTE BRIGGS CHESTER ISON

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Toppers Pizza Face of Pizza HEADQUARTERED IN WHITEWATER, this pizza company strives to be different – in both its toppings and culture. Targeting college towns and late-night pizza lovers by staying open until the wee hours of midnight to 3 a.m., Toppers prides itself on its selection of toppings, including buffalo chicken, mac ’n’ cheese, tater tots, bacon, Wisconsin cheese curds and the gluten-free cauliflower crust. The company has 70 locations, 14 of which are in the Milwaukee area.

“Milwaukee is our largest market,” says marketing manager Simona Ebner, “and we’re Wisconsin’s largest pizza company.” The company is invested in building a strong culture for its team members here. Many corporate-office employees began their career as delivery drivers and took advantage of Toppers’ leadership and training programs.

“Scott Gittrich, our founder and CEO, set up Toppers Pizza to be an alternative to the big-box places,” Ebner says. “We’re just a little more fun.”

Toppers Pizza 262-473-6666, toppers.com

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