Milwaukee Magazine is proud to present
This special section features some of our city’s most accomplished female leaders. These women represent a wide variety of fields, from finance and education to interior design, health care and more. Join us in saluting them in our third annual Women of Distinction!
Photography by
R E P R E S E N T I N G T H E S E C O M PA N I E S :
Boutique Photographer Linda Smallpage
Text by Everett Sullivan
Berkadia Commerical Mortgage
Golden Path Senior Living and Golden Path Home Care
MGIC Investment Corp.
BILTRITE Furniture-LeatherMattresses
Goody Gourmets
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Bravent Carroll University Comfyist Fringe Interior Design & Home Furnishings
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Heiser Automotive Group Home at Heart IAG Wealth Partners Lady Legacies
Pella Windows & Doors of Wisconsin The Greater Milwaukee Urban League
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“We’re always approached by people asking us about how we started these businesses. There are so many people who need that help.” - Nicosia King
L A DY L E GAC I E S
Kizzie Anderson
Founder, Home at Heart Co-Founder, Lady Legacies
Nicosia King and Kizzie Anderson are launching Lady Legacies, a new business offering training, consulting and mentoring for budding entrepreneurs. King founded her own business, Golden Path Senior Living, in 2010, and in 2013, she founded Golden Path Home Care. Anderson, who worked as a nurse for seven years, also went into business for herself in 2012, opening Home at Heart, an in-home care and homemaking service. "I went into my business blind that first year," Anderson says. "I didn't know anyone to help me with accounting, bookkeeping, administration. I had to figure it out on my own." As the successful founders of similar businesses, King and Anderson connected and realized the value of all they had learned. They decided to pass it on through Lady Legacies. "We want to help drive others through that process to create their businesses and build legacies of their own," King says.
Nicosia King
Founder, Golden Path Home Care and Golden Path Senior Living Co-Founder, Lady Legacies
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“After building this company from scratch, my greatest joy is watching it expand beyond me to build upon the strengths of everyone on our team.” – Lori Watt
IAG WE ALTH PA R T N E R S When she founded IAG Wealth Partners in 1985, Lori Watt started out on her own. Susan Kuhlenbeck joined as a co-owner the next year, and many female advisors have since found a home at IAG. Jayme Heineck met Watt when she was working as a restaurant server and studying for a degree in financial planning. “We got to know each other, and she invited me to start working at IAG for just eight hours per week while I was finishing my degree.” Others, like Anne Sapienza, joined IAG from different firms after hearing about the positive culture, while some like Debra Melvin started out as just an intern. “We each have different skill sets and areas of expertise,” Melvin says. “We are there for each other. In the fast-paced investment world, that is invaluable.”
Lori Watt
Founder and President
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Susan Kuhlenbeck
Vice President, Co-Owner, COO
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Debra Melvin
Financial Advisor
Jayme Heineck Financial Advisor
Anne Sapienza Financial Advisor
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“It’s important for women to explore and be courageous and not fear failure.”
T H E G R E AT E R M I LWA U K E E URBAN LEAGUE Dr. Eve M. Hall began her career with one principle in mind. “At my core, I always wanted to be in a position where I could make change,” she says. Her initial focus primarily always included working directly with young people, but in the ’90s, when she was working as the district School to Work director of Milwaukee Public Schools, she saw the importance of reaching and encouraging adults. “Just one teacher is responsible for at least 30 to 50 students every year. Multiply this with the responsibility of a principal. Think about how much he or she can change and positively influence those students’ lives.” Hall’s career as a changemaker has since taken her from the Governor’s Office to Thurgood Marshall College Fund to the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin and finally to her current position as the president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Urban League. “The Urban League is instrumental in helping citizens understand how we can coalesce our efforts to make our community, our city, our state a better place to live.”
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Dr. Eve M. Hall President and CEO
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“The most rewarding thing has been taking a chance on myself and seeing it pay off.”
B R AV E N T A N D COMFYIST Amy Fallucca's life as an entrepreneur began in 2016 with the birth of her son. She worked for 10 years in human resources, and now with a child at home, she wanted the flexibility that comes with being your own boss. She left her job and started Bravent, an HR consulting and recruiting company. Within five years the company has expanded to a team of six and continues to grow. In 2021, Fallucca launched another business. Comfyist (comfyist.me) is a line of luxury women's basic apparel with integrated bra cups that is now available for presale. Fallucca also runs a short-term rental business and a commercial real estate property. "Anytime you have an idea, there will be people lined up to tell you why it won't work," Fallucca says. "Thankfully, I'm the kind of person that's motivated by that – I feel the strong desire to prove them wrong."
Amy Fallucca
Founder and CEO
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Sherry Konek
Leigh Mattila
Sales and Leasing Consultant
Sales and Leasing Consultant
Alayna Finch Service Manager
Jordyce Heizmann Lorri Aiono-Dimoff Sales and Leasing Consultant
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Equity Director
Samantha Calmes Marketing Manager
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Mary Bennett
Director of Sales and Finance
Mary Ann Scaffidi CEO
“There are always going to be people who doubt you. Prove them wrong.” - Mary Ann Scaffidi
Maureen Calmes Director of Operations
HEISER AU T O M AT I V E GROUP Heiser Automotive has been in Mary Ann Scaffidi’s family for decades, but when she started her first job there at age 17, she wasn’t interested in running the business. “I just saw it as my dad’s and brothers’ responsibility,” she says. As an adult, she started her own business in Colorado Springs, and then many years later returned to live in Wisconsin near family and became a real estate broker. It was only after her brother died unexpectedly that she realized the traditional family business could become her responsibility. Leaving real estate behind, she started as a sales representative at Heiser and worked her way up, eventually to the position of CEO. “My dad was a very traditional man, so at first it was hard for him to consider having a woman in the family take over,” she says. “As the years went on, he saw that I had the same drive and ambition as he did. He was my mentor and coach.” As the leader of Heiser, Scaffidi has opened the door for many other women to take on important positions in the company. “These women have been monumental to the future and success of Heiser.”
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“As an executive, you have to pay attention to people, including those who tell you things you might not want to hear.” MGIC INVESTMENT C O R P. After 19 years working at Kohl’s, most recently as the senior vice president of human resources, Annette Adams saw the opportunity for a change. “While I was fortunate to have that position at Kohl's, I wanted to stretch myself and to do more,” she says. In 2019, MGIC Investment Corp. had named a new CEO, Tim Mattke, who wanted Adams to help strengthen the company’s attention to talent and culture. She stepped up to the role of senior vice president and chief human resources officer in August of 2020. “We’re now recognizing that HR plays a very strong role in shaping the thinking of a company,” she says. “Diversity, equity and inclusion are very important to me, and I've been fortunate to have the chance to continue elevating the attention that we're giving those areas.”
Annette Adams
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
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“To help our students succeed is an honor and a privilege.” M I LWA U K E E A R E A TECHNICAL COLLEGE In high school, Dr. Vicki Martin didn’t know anyone who went to college. “I thought my career path was much narrower," she says. Then, during senior year, her boss at her part-time secretarial job took her to visit UW-La Crosse. “I just thought it was absolutely the right place for me,” she says. With the help of Pell Grants, Martin became the first person in her family to attend college. After graduation, she pursued a career in higher education and in 2014 was named president of Milwaukee Area Technical College. In that role, Martin created the MATC Promise program, a public-private partnership that offers eligible high school graduates free tuition. In 2018, she expanded the program to also serve adult students. “The program has been successful because of the great staff here who have worked so hard to make this happen for the good of our students and our community.”
Dr. Vicki Martin President
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“Milwaukee is rich with opportunity.”
BERKADIA COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE Amy S. Barry grew up in Shorewood and moved to Washington, D.C., to pursue her career in financing multifamily housing. She and her family came back each year to see relatives, Summerfest and UW football. Having always wished for the chance to move home, during one such visit in 2018, her son said, “Why are we waiting?” She says, “I didn’t have a good answer!” Berkadia, a national commercial mortgage company, caught wind of the impending move of Amy and her husband, Mark Dellonte, and offered them the chance to open a new Milwaukee office. In 2019, Barry moved home to launch Berkadia Milwaukee to better serve multifamily investors and owners across the Upper Midwest and West. Barry’s background in commercial real estate investments as well as operational management made this a great fit. “By providing competitive financing, we’re helping developers build something that adds sustainable value to our community,” she says. “That could be affordable rental housing, much needed senior housing, health care facilities or even hotels. I love seeing these things being built from the ground up.” Now with a team of nine and growing, Barry and her family are grateful to Berkadia and their home city. “Milwaukee is an amazing place!”
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Amy S. Barry
Director of Operations
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“I have so much passion and drive for what I do, my goal in the next five years is to be doing exactly what I am right now.”
PELL A WINDOWS & DOORS OF WISCONSIN Twenty-five years ago, when Gina Della first started her career as the owner of a replacement window business, she walked into the local office of a manufacturer and overheard people talking. “The office girls were literally chatting about me, saying, ‘She’s exactly who you picture sitting around worrying about her manicure and hair and eating bon bons,’” Della says. Only one month into her new career, it was a painful moment. “To overcome it, I sold a record amount of windows as one of their subcontractors in my first year,” she says. “They soon started taking me seriously.” Della has continued to deliver that record-breaking success across years in the sales business. Most recently, as the general manager at Pella Windows, she’s boosted the company’s sales by double digits.
Gina Della
General Manager
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“Helping to create stories is my passion.” CARROLL UNIVERSITY Tiffany Wynn went to college planning to be a sports broadcaster. Her freshman year, an English professor commended her writing skills and asked her if she had ever thought about working in public relations. “I didn’t know what that was,” she says. “I did some research, and I thought, ‘Gosh, this is what I actually want to do.’” She went on to work in PR for several companies, including two years as a senior PR strategist for Carroll University. She left that position in 2016, but last year, when the university was looking for a new vice president of marketing and communications, the leadership team remembered her. She got the job in October and has spent the past year leading Carroll’s marketing and communications strategy. She is also a board member of several nonprofits, including Grateful Girls, an organization that helps women who have escaped sex trafficking, and Independence First, which advocates for people with disabilities.
Tiffany Wynn
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
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“The best feeling in the world is to see how proud clients are of their finished designs.” FRINGE INTERIOR DESIGN & HOME FURNISHINGS With a passion that began early on, interior designer Jessica Forston has always been inspired by the design process and the satisfaction it leaves clients with. Observing an interior designer who brought her childhood home to life, Jessica explains, “I loved every moment of it! Watching as they planned the space, narrowed down selections and chose furnishings; that became my passion.” That led Jessica to pursue a career in design, where she strengthened her skills by working for furniture and design firms. In 2015, she achieved the dream of opening her own store, Fringe Interior Design & Home Furnishings in Whitefish Bay. Since then, the company has thrived. In addition to the daily duties of design, Jessica continues to grow her love of everchanging styles and trends in the furniture and design industry by attending nationwide furniture markets, confidently selecting the furniture and accessories curated in the store’s showroom that inspire clients every day. With more people staying in their homes, the residential interior design market continues to flourish. Hard work and perseverance allow Jessica to lead her team of talented women in overcoming current challenges within the design industry while still prioritizing clients’ needs.
Jessica Forston Owner
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“We don’t have a corporate mentality – we have a family mentality.” – Randi Komisar Schachter
B ILTRITE Furniture-Leather-Mattresses Founded in 1928 by Irwin Kerns, BILTRITE Furniture-Leather-Mattresses remains in the family four generations later. Kerns’ great-granddaughter Randi Komisar Schachter started working at BILTRITE when she was just 12 years old and went from doing odd jobs to directing the store’s sales and marketing efforts. Her mother, Gail Komisar, has been a part of the store’s leadership team since 1977, and Sarah Komisar, Gail’s daughter-in-law, joined BILTRITE in 2013 and is now a sales and design associate and the lead employee trainer. “We're a women-led business,” Randi says. “Three out of the five family members running the store are women.” Over 93 years, BILTRITE has expanded dramatically from a small storefront on North Third Street to its current expansive showroom in Greenfield. “We’re the largest locally and family-owned store left in Wisconsin,” Randi says. “It's just amazing to see all the passion that our family and our team brings to the table.”
Sarah Komisar Gail Komisar
Randi Komisar Schachter
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“It’s important for aspiring entrepreneurs to invest in their mindset.”
G O O DY G O U R M ET S In 2005, Jacqueline Chesser was working for an insurance company full time. She knew she wanted to do something else, something that took advantage of her love of cooking and baking, but she wasn't quite sure what that would look like. Her business started with chocolates, and after brainstorming with friends and visiting other cities, she decided to bring flavored popcorn to Milwaukee. Initially an online store, the concept proved so successful that one year later, Chesser opened her first location in Shorewood. Goody Gourmets has since expanded to another location in Glendale. Chesser recently launched a coaching business as well. "I would really like to see the two businesses merge in the sense that Goody Gourmets can become sort of a classroom for entrepreneurship," Chesser says. "Because a big part of service, for, me is helping young people cultivate new ideas."
Jacqueline Chesser Founder
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