Experience Milwaukee

Welcome to another Tech in MKE episode featuring a crew of both tech and Milwaukee fans who came together to recap Summerfest Tech 2023.

Summerfest Tech aims to showcase technology and provide a forum for attendees from the tech and business communities to network, educate, and celebrate the evolution of technology.

• What does Summerfest Tech mean to the community?
• What does Summerfest Tech mean to attendees?
• How did the event grow this year and what’s in store for the future?

All of this and more from a wild bunch of people committed to Milwaukee’s success. In addition to Steve and Adam, you’ll hear from:

• Lena DeLaet: Director of Sales and Summerfest Tech
• Tim Dickson: CIO at Generac
• Stephen Spadafora: Strategic Account Manager with Salesforce
• Matt Friedel: Angel Investor and Lecturer at UW-Milwaukee
• Cynthia Sternard: SVP, Technology Advancement & Outreach Senior Manager at Associated Bank
• ChaChi Gallo: Senior Director, Global Cloud Architecture at Generac
• David Manske: Senior Director, IT Digital Strategy and Technology at Generac

Tech in MKE is brought to you by Harley-Davidson, The Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, Expedient, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and Brooksource and the recording of this episode was also sponsored by Salesforce.

This is a long episode, so let’s get into it!

Thanks for listening!

This one gets wild as we play truth or shot with Heidi and John from New Barons Brewing Cooperative.

Are secrets unveiled?

Will we share too much?

Do we get drunk?

The answer to all of these questions become clear immediately. All in the spirit of announcing the Experience Milwaukee beer re-release in the New Barons taproom on Thursday, July 27 from 5-10pm!

Join us as Steve and Adam will be serving beer from 5-6 and then there for the rest of the night.

Thanks for listening. We love you, Milwaukee!!

Welcome to another episode of Tech in MKE: conversations with business leaders who have a connection to Milwaukee where we chat about the state of technology in their organizations, our community, and how both come together to attract talent and make a city more “techie”.

In this one, Steve is joined by Tom Murray, Harley-Davidson’s General Manager of Digital Growth.

Tom and Steve have a friendly conversation about the numerous ways tech shows up inside this iconic brand.

From that, they look to answer the following questions:

• How does a company as large and seemingly complex as Harley-Davidson deliver a consistent amazing experience across every channel, digital or not, on a global scale?
• How does Harley-Davidson get its arms around digital technology in a smart way, from talent to global commerce?
• And how, where, and what does technology growth look like at Harley-Davidson?

All of this and more is answered in this insightful and entertaining episode.

Tech in MKE is brought to you by Harley-Davidson, The Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, Expedient, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and Brooksource.

Welcome back to our Summerfest Series, a celebration of music including some of the bands playing at Summerfest 2023.

As locals, we might take it for granted, but Summerfest provides an amazing opportunity for artists to connect with longtime supporters and gain exposure with new fans. Milwaukee needs Summerfest.

This episode features Milwaukee based band, Gold Steps, a band with what we describe as a high energy indie rock vibe. And wow were they hilarious and fun to talk to.

Take a listen to this episode then get over to Summerfest on Saturday, July 1 at 6:00 for their performance on the Generac Power Stage.

Thanks for supporting a local podcast and local music.

We love you, Milwaukee.

https://www.summerfest.com/artist/gold-steps

https://linktr.ee/goldsteps

Here's another episode from our Summerfest Series, a celebration of music including some of the bands playing at Summerfest 2023.

As locals, we might take it for granted, but Summerfest provides an amazing opportunity for artists to connect with longtime supporters and gain exposure with new fans. Milwaukee needs Summerfest.

This episode features Milwaukee based artist, Cullah, someone who’s as brilliantly intentional about his craft as he is amazing as a musician.

Take a listen then get over to Summerfest on Friday, June 30 at 6:15 for Cullah’s performance on the Miller Lite Oasis Stage.

Thanks for supporting a local podcast and local music.

We love you, Milwaukee.

https://www.cullah.com/2024

Welcome to another episode of Tech in MKE: conversations with business leaders who have a connection to Milwaukee where we chat about the state of technology in their organizations, our community, and how both come together to attract talent and make a city more “techie”.

This episode features Expedient, a company that helps clients transform their IT operations through award-winning cloud solutions and managed services including disaster recovery, security and compliance, and more.

For this one, Steve was lucky enough to sit down with Bryan Smith, Expedient’s CEO. Bryan shed light on a number of things - not only about the company, but its commitment to Milwaukee.

• What does Expedient do and who do they work with?
• What do they mean by “a path to the cloud”?
• And what’s the value of trading burritos for knowledge?

All of this and more as Steve digs in with Bryan.

Tech in MKE is brought to you by Harley-Davidson, The Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, Expedient, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and Brooksource.

This episode features author Jenna Kashou. Not only is she super fun to talk to, her passion for Milwaukee is contagious and you can totally experience that in her new book, Milwaukee Scavenger.

• How does the book help you discover new things about the city?
• Where does Jenna’s passion for Milwaukee come from?
• What the hell is an Enneagram 7 and why is Jenna one?
• Where are her comfy Milwaukee spaces?
• What else is she up to?

All the answers, in this episode. Take a listen then jump over to https://www.jennakashou.com to learn more and buy her books.

We love you, Milwaukee!

Welcome to Tech in MKE: conversations with business leaders who have a connection to Milwaukee where we chat about the state of technology in their organizations, our community, and how both come together to attract talent and make a city more “techie”. This episode features a panel discussion from the Wisconsin Technology Association conference which took place a couple weeks ago. The topic is Robotic Process Automation or RPA. It’s not a new technology, but the panel gets into new spins and example use cases, especially as RPA bumps up against cybersecurity and ChatGPT.

Panel moderator: Tim Dickson, CIO at Generac

Panel participants:

• Missie Jakusz, Associate Director of Infrastructure and Operations at JJ Keller
• Luann Hopkins, Head of Automation COE at Generac
• Angie Dahl, Application Management Team Leader, Business Process Automation at Plexus

This informative, relatable discussion is focused on:

• What is RPA and how does it work?
• How do you decide what to automate?
• How does RPA help retain talent?

Tech in MKE is brought to you by Harley-Davidson, The Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, Expedient, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and Brooksource.

This episode features Kristin Brey from As Goes Wisconsin, which creates fun, innovative, and uncomplicated ways to talk about state and local politics while still celebrating all things Wisconsin.

To be clear, this is not a show about politics. It’s an honest conversation about what we like and dislike about a number of things including Kristin’s hair color, squirting weather, Adam’s birthday, hitting the dump button, how Adam and I don’t watch the news, and so much more. Along the way, we find out a lot about Kristin and what she’s up to these days.

Overall, we think this one is super funny and super honest.

Experience Milwaukee has its home studio in the Transfer Pizzeria Cafe, and our official beer partner is New Barons Brewing Cooperative.

And if you haven’t heard, check out our new project at TextMKE.com, Milwaukee’s only daily text on what’s happening in and around the city.

As a media partner of Summerfest, we're highlighting local music leading up to the kickoff of Summerfest's 55th year on June 22. This episode features local band Moonglow. Adam and Steve have a fun conversation with Joe (vocals/keyboard/dancing) and Sterling (drums) from the band while uncovering the origin of the name Moonglow, what's coming up for tours and new music, what's in Joe's mom's home office, and more. Jump into this one then get out and see them tonight, June 2, at New Barons Brewing Cooperative (https://newbaronsbrewing.com/events)!

We've partnered up with our friends at MKE Black on this episode, part of a mini-series that will be launched on their own platform soon, too.

A. Good Man's Desserts - Calories that you deserve!"

In this episode of the MKE Black Podcast, we're taking a sweet detour into the world of desserts with Alan Goodman, the inspiring entrepreneur behind A. Goodman's Desserts. A family tradition, a skipped library session, and a love for basketball set the stage for a journey that would lead to one of Milwaukee's most beloved dessert businesses.

Hear from Alan as he shares the humble beginnings of his business, born in his mother's kitchen back in 1982. As a young boy, Alan found himself grounded for choosing hoops over books, but little did he know, this punishment would turn into a passion. He was tasked with learning to cook and bake from family recipes, sparking a love for creating delectable treats that would stick with him for life.

Fast forward to 2018, Alan took a leap of faith and turned his lifelong passion into a thriving business, launching A. Goodman's Desserts with a mission to deliver happiness and satisfaction right to people's doorsteps.

Dive deep into the significance of desserts in our lives as Alan illustrates their role in our most cherished celebrations - weddings, baby showers, family reunions, and more. Learn why a great dessert is not just about satisfying our sweet tooth but also about evoking warm feelings, wonderful childhood memories, and a sense of love and togetherness.

Join us as we explore the secret behind Alan's success, his commitment to preserving the old-fashioned taste reminiscent of our grandmothers, and his aim to leave his customers not just with delicious desserts, but with a soulful experience, a satisfied sweet tooth, and the "calories they deserve!"

Don't miss this rich and flavorful journey into the heart of Milwaukee's dessert scene, only on the MKE Black Podcast.

Links:

A Goodman’s Desserts: https://www.agoodmansdesserts.com

MKE Black: https://mkeblack.org

Ambition Center Recording Studio: https://www.ambitioncentermke.org/studio

Audio Moguls Media: https://www.audiomogulsmedia.com

Experience Milwaukee: https://www.experiencemilwaukee.com

J. Leinenkugel’s Barrel Yard is a one-of-a-kind restaurant and brewery overlooking left field at American Family Field. This episode features the amazing food available there and how you can experience it all for yourself. Steve chats with Tom Hecht, Vice President of Consumer Experience for the Milwaukee Brewers and their Executive Chef, Loren Rue. Super fun and fast-paced conversations. Learn everything you need to know then get over to the Barrel Yard!

In this Work in MKE episode you'll get a behind the scenes view of what it’s like to work in tourism and hospitality in Milwaukee: two critical pieces to bring people here to experience the city.

This episode pulls together few conversations with members of the VISIT Milwaukee team as well as representatives from Lakefront Brewery and the Bartolotta Restaurants.

What is it like to work in hospitality and tourism in our great city?

What kind of transferable skills are acquired through this great work?

What are the cool perks of the job, and, is it a requirement that you love the city to be successful in Milwaukee’s tourism and hospitality scene or is that something that comes through in the passion for the work?

Even more, what did Steve learn from this experience?

All of this and more is answered in this insightful and entertaining episode.

One last thing: this episode was sponsored by our friends at VISIT Milwaukee!

Hey, hey, hey, look out! This episode features special guest co-host Tim Dickson, CIO of Generac. Tim is a much appreciated show collaborator and an even better friend. In this episode, we’re also joined by the one-and-only Kenny Ansel of the Green Bay Packers. This is part 2 (the first included the Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks) of a preview of a more in-depth panel discussion Tim will host with all three of our world-class professional sports teams at Summerfest Tech in June.

You'll LOVE this episode. Which is why we kept the mics on for a bit longer than usual. It’s worth the listen because the trio discusses things like…

What does sports tech look like?

What kind of people and skill sets are needed?

How does Kenny and his team work with the NFL, media, and others in the high pressure, high visibility of game day tech?

What happens if the tech fails?

All of this and more is answered in this insightful and entertaining episode.

Tech in MKE is brought to you by Harley-Davidson, The Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, Expedient, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and Brooksource.

This episode is part of our Work in MKE series where we showcase the dynamic culture of companies in greater Milwaukee.

This show features a one-on-one interview with Northwestern Mutual’s Chief Communications Officer, Joe Mandacina. Steve was lucky enough to get invited to the top of Northwestern Mutual’s tower for a beautiful view and even better conversation with Joe.

During the chat, Joe and Steve explored Joe’s professional journey to Northwestern Mutual and Milwaukee. They also talked about the new tower that Northwestern Mutual is building and its impact on Milwaukee and Milwaukeeans.

• Why is a new building at this time significant for Milwaukee businesses and residents?
• What about Northwestern Mutual employees?
• For NM itself to attract and retain talent?
• What was Joe’s biggest learning as he led this announcement?
• Finally, what excites Joe about the next horizon at NM?

These are just a few of the things they talked about during this informative and fun episode.

If you’d like to join Steve on a Work in MKE episode, you can get in touch at ExperienceMilwaukee.com.

Thanks for listening.

Love you, Milwaukee.

Looking for something to do tonight or any night? You've come to the right podcast. Check out this fun episode on how you can be a regular at the Explorium Brewpub. Even if you've never been there. In this episode, Steve has an entertaining and informative chat with Explorium owner, Mike Doble. Mike shares everything you need to know to have the best time at Explorium. Jump in, then get over to either of their locations to experience it for yourself. Check out their menus and make a reservation here: www.exploriumbrew.com!

Welcome to another episode of Tech in MKE: conversations with business leaders who have a connection to Milwaukee where we chat about the state of technology in their organizations, what makes a city “techie”, and Milwaukee's connected tech scene.

In this one, I sit down with Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) president, Dr. John Walz. MSOE is a school that contributes to the net "brain gain" in Wisconsin. A school that attracts students from across the country and around the world.

Dr. Walz and I touch on the usual topics about MSOE, of course. But, we also dig into how MSOE is doubling down on tech - specifically emerging technologies.

Will those investments pay off? Will Milwaukee be better for it? Jump into this one for the answers.

Tech in MKE is graciously sponsored by Harley-Davidson, The Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, Expedient, Brooksource, and the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

In this episode, Adam and Steve catch up with Henry from MobCraft Brewing. This year, MobCraft turns 10! And there is a lot happening, including their 5th annual Sour Fest on March 25 and expansion to new cities. Jump in to this one to get all the details. Then head over to www.mobcraftbeer.com/events/sour-fest for more info on everything happening at Sour Fest 2023.

Jump into this informative episode with Adam, Steve, and Heidi from New Barons Brewing Cooperative for all that's happening in and around the taproom this month. From news on Black Bier to events you need to check out, get all that's brewing right here each month with Heidi. So, what is happening in March? Welp, glad you asked. There's the New Barons / Experience Milwaukee Glow Party, Women's Month celebrations, a rare bottle sale, member happy hour (which will release a brand new beer, Dan's Trash!), and more. Oh yeah, and the member owner drive starts on 3/14 and runs through 4/14 with upgraded perks and a limited price until 4/14. Get all of this, some beer backstories, and the scoop on Adam's tramp stamp. Who loves ya? We do. Take a listen then get out and experience Milwaukee!!

This is it, everyone! Our very first episode of a new content stream called Tech in MKE. 

Check this one out as Adam and Steve hang out with Tim Dickson (Chief Information Officer at Generac Power Systems), Derek Hyde (Vice President of Information Technology at the Milwaukee Brewers), and Robert Cordova (Chief Technology & Strategy Officer at the Milwaukee Bucks). Maybe even a special guest appearance from Lena DeLaet (Director, Sales & Summerfest Tech at Summerfest). 

In this episode, get the preview, sneak peek into topics you'll get to dig into at Summerfest Tech 2023. Oh, and the backstories on Derek and Robert including how they landed these sweet gigs. Even more, how they evaluate the tech talent they need for operations and game time pressure situations. This is a fun one and includes some early details on Summerfest Tech.

Thanks to our presenting sponsors Harley-Davidson, The Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, Milwaukee School of Engineering, and Expedient for helping to make this content possible. 

Take a listen then get out and experience Milwaukee!!

WELCOME TO THE MILWAUKEE ATHLETIC CLUB! In this episode, Steve goes solo at the Milwaukee Athletic Club (MAC). We patched together three conversations with a few MAC teammates: Joe Kurth (Chief Operating Officer), Leslie Cadillac (Food & Beverage Manager), Tom McGinty (Executive Chef), then back to Joe to close it out. In the process, we learn about this 140 year old club. No, it's not old. In fact, newly renovated and focused more than ever on reflecting the faces of the city within the club, the MAC is hitting its stride as a downtown Milwaukee hub! Centered on $1M of athletic equipment (with classes and trainers), you can roam this spacious yet cosy building for events, meetings, networking, golf practice, socializing, an overnight stay in one of the hotel rooms, and so much more. And here's a secret: you don't have to be a member to stop by! Jump in to get the details then head over to www.themacwi.com for more!

Though full of information about cheese, this is not a cheesy episode. Yep, Adam and Steve have the pleasure of chatting with Bob Wills, Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker and owner of Clock Shadow Creamery. How did Wisconsin become so good at cheese? Do Chicagoans make their way to Milwaukee for Clock Shadow Creamery? Will cheese with Skittles ever come to be? What's Bob's take on Wisconsin and cheeseheads? Jump in for all of this and more about Milwaukee's first (and only?) cheese factory including how you can get your hands on this delicious cheese. And you can always head over to www.clockshadowcreamery.com for even more.

Hop into this episode with Adam, Steve, and Lauren from The Wicked Hop, located at the corner of Weekend Brunch and Bloody Mary (www.thewickedhop.com or Broadway and St. Paul in the Third Ward)! The trio quickly chat about the launch of The Wicked Hop's annual Ice Bar. Even though the weather might be cold, the Ice Bar is a must see and must stop for you while you're out and about. The Wicked Hop has made it wonderful and cozy and you'll be greeted with a smile from behind the Ice Bar. Oh, and there's awesome music playing. Shout out to Max from Art Below Zero (https://artbelowzero.net) for the dynamic work making the bar!

What do you get when you mix Adam and Steve with Milwaukee's own John McGivern? Endless laughs and amazing stories. In this hilarious episode you'll hear the backstory on John's career, inspiration for his stories, and what it is about Milwaukee that puts a smile on his face. Speaking of faces, ours still hurt from laughing so much. John is an incredible human being. Oh, and keep an eye out for a future Milwaukee morning show featuring the three of us!

Happy new year!! Ok, the news is out. Check this hilarious episode for all the details from Adam and Steve along with Heidi and John from New Barons Brewing Cooperative. Also, you might catch that the podcast is now presented by VISIT Milwaukee (yay!). And that we have new show music from NEWSKI! Take a listen then block your cal for January 19th!!!

In the spirit of ramping up for the new year, we thought we'd drop an episode for all of you who participate in dry January or those of you seeking some moderation in adult beverage balance. In this episode, Adam and Steve have some fun tasting KUL MOCKS craft mocktails with founder and CEO, Danielle Goss. From the KUL MOCKS origin story, to how delicious each mocktail option is, and everything in between, you'll have a blast with them and feel great in the morning! To learn more, buy your own, or just follow along, visit https://www.kulmocks.com!

OMG you guys, we know this is longer than our normal episodes but this one is so fun and entertaining. Adam and Steve have drinks and eat pizza with Lynne Fraser and Ryan Dembroski, co-founders of Ski Team, a video content agency here in Milwaukee. Learn about their journey to starting their own company, including interactions with Conan O'Brien, weird chemistry professors, the 54th floor of 30 Rock, theater class, agency life, and more! You'll be smiling from start to finish with this one. And after you take a listen, head over to https://goskiteam.com to connect with Lynne and Ryan and get some cool work done.

This episode is great companion to the audio and video episodes with Charter Manufacturing employees. Here, Adam and Steve dig in deeper in a fund conversation about what Charter Manufacturing is like from the perspective of its CEO, John W. Mellowes. Charter Manufacturing is a fourth-generation family-owned group of differentiated metals manufacturing businesses founded in 1936 with more than 1,200 employees in Milwaukee. Check this out then check out the many careers available at ExperienceMilwaukee.com/charter. You'll want to become part of the family!

This Work in MKE video episode features our friends at Charter Manufacturing, an amazing place to work. You'll hear the voices of numerous Charter Manufacturing employees, who explain what it's like to be part of the Charter family. Charter Manufacturing is a fourth-generation family-owned group of differentiated metals manufacturing businesses founded in 1936 with more than 1,200 employees in Milwaukee. Jump in and watch, then take a listen to the accompanying audio extended episode!

This Work in MKE episode features our friends at Charter Manufacturing, an amazing place to work. You'll hear Adam and Steve recap the numerous conversations with Charter Manufacturing employees, who all explain how they're part of the Charter family. Charter Manufacturing is a fourth-generation family-owned group of differentiated metals manufacturing businesses founded in 1936 with more than 1,200 employees in Milwaukee. Jump in and take a listen, then check out the accompanying video highlight episode!

In this episode, Steve chats with Dana Johnson, General Manager of the Saint Kate hotel, the Arts Hotel that offers a modern luxury experience with an artful twist. It's also the hub of Milwaukee's Theater District. In addition to the many guests the hotel hosts each day, Saint Kate is also a terrific spot for locals to mix it up! One of the most approachable spaces in downtown Milwaukee, you can enjoy amazing food and drink (before and after those holiday shows), live music, seasonal events, and, of course, amazing art around the beautiful spaces throughout the hotel. Learn more at www.saintkatearts.com, then get over there and check it out for yourself!

We know some of you might be looking to get out of the house to get some work done over the holidays or anytime! So, here's Adam and Steve's fun take on three unique spots in Milwaukee to work remotely. After a few beers and a Hayride, the guys talk through what they look for in remote workspaces outside of their homes and places where you can GSD and have an enjoyable, productive time. They hope this is helpful. But, as always, let them know where you work or other spaces they need to check into. We love you, Milwaukee!

Jump into this wildly entertaining episode with Adam and Steve, recorded LIVE at a Milwaukee Makers Market earlier this year. The guys are joined by numerous businesses and attendees from the Market, and they all share more about themselves, their business, or their experience hanging and shopping at the Market. So much fun as the guys roll through these brief conversations while enjoying several tequila/lemonade/orange juice cocktails. Jump in then head over to www.milwaukeemakersmarket.com for all of the details to get out and support Milwaukee small businesses at the next Market on November 26th (Milwaukee's Official Shop Small Saturday) at Discovery World!!

A sure way to win over Adam and Steve is to serve them up some complimentary food and drinks. Which is exactly what Kelly Mallegni did. Kelly is the marketing manager for Motor Bar & Restaurant at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Don't be fooled, this is not your average museum food afterthought. Motor brings a dining and drinks A-game experience every time. From nachos and burnt ends to mac-n-cheese and Bulleit Bourbon Spritzers, tune in for fun shenanigans with these three as they talk through all the things you never knew about Motor. Check out www.motorrestaurant.com, then get your butt over there!

This snappy and fun episode has Adam and Steve hanging out with Chris Adams, executive vice president of Benson’s Restaurant Group. Chris comes on the show to talk about the NEW Bridgewater Modern Grill which opens TODAY!! You'll get info on all 11,000 square feet of this new addition to Milwaukee's restaurant scene including what's on the menu, what's behind the indoor/outdoor bar, the 250' patio that runs along the Kinnickinnic River, 10 boat slips, and so much more! Also, learn how the hell Chris went from bussing tables in South Florida to EVP of all of this and choosing Milwaukee to start a family. The guys even talk about AJ Bombers, Blue Bat, tequila, bourbon...this episode is action packed. Check it out then head over to https://bridgewatermke.com to make a reservation!!!

Here's a complementary episode to the full length audio one below. The video highlights our conversation with Mary Mowka, senior general manager at the Bayshore. Such an amazing part of our community, Bayshore has you covered with live music, dining, shopping, living, and more!

In this episode, Adam and Steve sit down with Mary Mowka, senior general manager at the Bayshore (Steve's new name for it!). The guys learn so much about what's happening, what's new, and hints at what's coming to Bayshore. An important community hub, Bayshore offers something for everyone: from shopping to living and so much in between including music and dining. Jump into this one to learn more then head over to https://thebayshorelife.com to figure out how you can experience Bayshore!