2023 WWBIC Luncheon Highlights

by Laurel Peterson | Nov 29, 2023 | News, Uncategorized

WWBIC extends a sincere thank you to the over 1000 attendees who made our 2023 annual luncheon a resounding success! Clients, funders, partners, volunteers, staff and friends all gathered at the Brookfield Conference Center on November 28th to honor “The Cities of Our State.”

At the centerpiece of this theme, WWBIC presented a panel of seven mayors from across the state: John Antaramian of Kenosha, Dan Devine of West Allis, Cavalier Johnson of Milwaukee, Cory Mason of Racine, Mitch Reynolds of La Crosse, Satya Rhodes-Conway of Madison and Jake Woodford of Appleton. These leaders openly discussed the state of small business in their communities with emcee Mary Stoker Smith of Fox 6 Milwaukee. Before and after the luncheon, over 80 entrepreneurial clients showcased their products in the Small Biz Market. Centerpieces, coffee and desserts featuring WWBIC clients were also shared with attendees.

Follow the links provided on this page for a video of the luncheon and Fox 6 video clips from the Small Biz Market, or click here to see event coverage from the Milwaukee Business Journal.

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Click on the link above for a video of the full program from the 2023 WWBIC Annual Luncheon.

Special thanks to Brian Kramp and the team at Fox 6 Milwaukee for covering our Small Biz Market the morning of the event. See our clients in these segments on the Wake Up show and Real Milwaukee show.

View an interactive list of all our sponsors here

2023 WWBIC Annual Luncheon

by Laurel Peterson | Nov 16, 2023 | Uncategorized

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Location:	Brookfield Conference Center 325 S Moorland Rd, Brookfield, Wisconsin (just south of Brookfield Square Mall)
Format:	In Person
Time:	10:30 am, Small Biz Market 12:00 noon, Luncheon & Program 1:30 pm, Networking & Small Biz Market
Registration:	Online at wwbic2023.givesmart.com
Sponsorships:	Begin at $500; Individual tickets also available

WWBIC works hard every day expanding economic equity and empowering individuals as business owners. Our annual celebration, “The Cities of Our State,” is two-fold in nature, with a small business market followed by a luncheon and program.

The Small Biz Market will feature over 70 WWBIC supported businesses. Attendees are encouraged to come early or stay late and meet many local small business owners. WWBIC loves connecting these clients to our partners and supporters! During our program, you’ll hear first-hand about the work and impact of WWBIC from our President/CVO Wendy Baumann and WWBIC clients. Our guest panel of mayors from seven cities across Wisconsin will also discuss the impact of small business on our communities now and into the future.

WWBIC looks forward to increasing support and opportunities for entrepreneurs. Intentional work with our partners truly helps advance economic equity. Together, we are making a difference – “Putting Dreams to Work!”

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Additional event details on the small biz market, sponsors, schedules and more will be posted here as they become available

For questions, information or to discuss opportunities, contact:

Brianna Wright

Call 414-395-4548

Email bwright@wwbic.com

Sponsorship levels begin at $500

Individual tickets also available

John Antaramian, Mayor of the City of Kenosha

Dan Devine, Mayor of the City of West Allis

Cavalier Johnson, Mayor of the City of Milwaukee

Cory Mason, Mayor of the City of Racine

Mitch Reynolds, Mayor of the City of La Crosse

Satya Rhodes-Conway, Mayor of the City of Madison

Jake Woodford, Mayor of the City of Appleton

Mary Stoker Smith, Anchor/Reporter for Fox 6 in Milawukee, will be our mayoral panel emcee

Presenting City (Lead) Sponsor

Gold City Sponsors

Silver City Sponsors

Bronze City Sponsors

Media Sponsors

Giving Tuesday Sponsors

Emerging City Sponsors

Anonymous

AARP Wisconsin

American Family Insurance

Better Business Bureau

CIBM Bank

Creative Carrier Solutions

Dakonte Product Group

Edward Jones

Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee

Husch Blackwell

Ixonia Bank

KMT Accounting & Invictus Transporation

Marquette University

Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP

Milwaukee Capital

Milwaukee North Shore Rotary Club

New Covenant Housing Corporation

Palo Alto Software

Saving Ophelia Services

Summit Credit Union

United Community Center

UWM Women Leaders

Visit Milwaukee

WBDC

zizzl

Booth Sponsor

U.S. Small Business Administration

2023 Statewide Committee Meeting and Reception at the Wisconsin State Capitol

by Laurel Peterson | Aug 9, 2023 | Uncategorized

On Tuesday, August 8th, WWBIC hosted a statewide joint committee meeting and reception at the State Capitol building in Madison! Thank you to all who attended for making it a fantastic day, and especially our sponsors Laurie Benson, The Dakonte Product Group/Heartland Information Research, Madison Gas & Electric, Organic Payroll, and the Wisconsin Women’s Council who made the event possible through their support.

The highlight of the event was a series of WWBIC client stories shared with the more than 150 attendees who were present at the reception in the Senate parlor. A big thank you to Jennifer Nicholson and Stacy Wagner of Forward Integrated Services, LaShanda Carr of The Inspiration Event Space and Jayson Wismueller of Forged in Fire Fitness for sharing your entrepreneurial journeys with us in such an inspirational way!

The event also featured food, beverages and other products from the following WWBIC clients: Aggie’s Bakery, Gaylord Catering, Greige Patisserie, JNJ Gifts and More, Just Veggiez, Kul Mocks, MOR Bakery, Perennial Soaps, The Ugly Apple Cafe, Uni Uni of Appleton and Wisco Pop! Beverage Co. Please thank all of these small businesses with your patronage in the future.

We invite you to join us as the celebration continues on a larger scale in Brookfield on November 28th for WWBIC’s annual luncheon and small biz market.

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WWBIC 2022 Luncheon Highlights

by Laurel Peterson | Nov 16, 2022 | Uncategorized

Thanks to the over 950 attendees who made our 2022 annual luncheon a resounding success. Clients, funders, partners, volunteers, staff and friends all gathered at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino on November 15th to celebrate WWBIC’s 35th anniversary.

Three industry thought leaders – Connie Evans, Dan Betancourt and Donna Gambrell – discussed the latest trends and opportunities in the world of economic development; and four WWBIC clients – Rafael Escobar, Danielle Goss, Sandra Harvey, and Christye Johnson also shared their success stories with luncheon attendees. Before and after the luncheon, 70 entrepreneurial clients showcased their products in the Small Biz Market. Centerpieces and desserts featuring WWBIC clients were also shared with attendees.

Stay tuned to this page to browse photos from the event and a recorded video of the event livestream as they become available, or follow the links provided below to access our client directory for your holiday shopping needs or donate to WWBIC now online.

Online Client Directory

Donate Now Through Paypal

DONNA GAMBRELL

Donna J. Gambrell is President & CEO of Appalachian Community Capital, which attracts and directs investments to CDFIs and other mission-driven lenders in Appalachia. Gambrell serves on several CDFI boards and is the board chair of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Towson State University and a Master of Science degree from New York University.

DANIEL BETANCOURT

Dan Betancourt is President & CEO of Community First Fund with over 25 years of experience in community economic development lending. Under Betancourt’s leadership, Community First Fund has grown into a regional Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), attracting multimillion-dollar investments and with nearly $200 million under management.

CONNIE EVANS

Connie E. Evans is President & CEO of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), the national trade association for microbusiness representing over 1700 practitioners and advocates in the United States. With international experience spanning 43 countries, Evans draws on her expertise in developing and implementing strategies to further economic development, health and social change in communities.

Lead Sponsor

Shop Small Sponsor

Stories of Impact Sponsors

Small Biz Market Sponsors

Anniversary Sponsors

WWBIC Makers Sponsors

CIBC

Greater Milwaukee Foundation

Herzing University

Horicon Bank

Huntington Bank

Landmark Credit Union

Molson Coors

Old National Bank

Pick ‘n Save/Metro Market

PNC Bank

US Bank

WHEDA

Anonymous

Media Sponsors

BizTimes Media

Milwaukee Business Journal

The Milwaukee Times

Shepherd Express

Associated Bank and Brewers Community Foundation Announce Continued Support of WWBIC Clients

by Laurel Peterson | Oct 5, 2022 | News, Uncategorized

WWBIC is thrilled to announce the continued support of Associated Bank and the Brewers Community Foundation for our clients through new funding for 2023.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of these two outstanding organizations,” says WWBIC President and CVO Wendy Baumann. “These funds will help 15 of our clients continue their success in serving their communities and also allow us to continue to serve even more small businesses across Wisconsin in the future.”

Read our press release with complete details here

Clients receiving grants are as follows (photos provided below also):

About You Solutions (Lodi)

Battlebox Studios Limited (Milwaukee)

Chicago’s House of Hoagies (Menasha)

Duncan’s Dog Daycare (Madison)

Esperanza Coffee Collective (Kenosha/Racine)

Fleet Clean (Madison)

I Love Tamales (Racine)

Jamaican Season Island (Milwaukee)

Metric Forrest Studio (Madison)

MOR Foods (Milwaukee)