Jay’s bio:

Jay Kolbe, a Milwaukee area resident, is a 20-year communications pro and co-founder / managing partner of Impact Partners, a New York-based strategic communications and growth advisory firm.

He works closely with high-net-worth individuals, family offices, investors, and emerging technology companies.

Jay also advises a wide range of technology and media-related brands and is known for helping founders, firms, and leaders create sharper, more ownable narratives around who they are and why they matter.

In this episode, Jay offers a sharp outside-insider perspective on Milwaukee and Wisconsin: a place with real substance, pride, and values, but one that too often under-owns its wins, hesitates to tell its story, and leaves too much room for bigger coastal markets to define the conversation instead.

Steve and Jay also get into one of the most uncomfortable but important tensions in the region’s tech ecosystem.

Sponsored by Concurrency and Secure Compliance Solutions.

This episode explains the evolution of Experience Milwaukee from a culture-focused podcast into a platform centered on business, tech, innovation, and the people shaping Milwaukee’s future, without losing sight of the city’s cultural fabric.

Steve shares more of his own story than he usually does, including how growing up with limited access to professional networks shaped his long-term mission: build connections and shorten the curve for others trying to grow their careers or companies in Milwaukee.

The conversation gets into why Milwaukee is both well-positioned and behind in tech: strong enterprise talent, strong big-company DNA, but not enough alignment, coordination, or shared direction to fully capitalize on that advantage.

Steve also lays out a more specific vision for where this could go next: an enterprise-led, Midwest-wide innovation movement that connects big companies, founders, and outside startups around real problems worth solving here.

Most of all, the episode sets up what you should expect from the refreshed Experience Milwaukee: more point of view, more honesty, more access to the leaders behind Milwaukee’s tech evolution, and more clarity on who ambitious people should know and why.

"In this episode, Steve sits down with Mark Fairbanks, Cofounder & Executive Director of Islands of Brilliance

Talking points include: Neurodiversity, Special Interest Focusing, Program Growth, and Trains!

Special thank you to local Milwaukee band Paper Valley for their track "Breakaway" - check them out at https://open.spotify.com/artist/4lsijeS7nxgLPGdqnsmmz4?si=f25NjrndTsO62Q-SuRYqnA

Episode edited by Stevie Salinas, Social Media & Content Director at Experience Milwaukee"

In this episode, Steve and Adam sit down with Charlie Connelly, Manager of Corporate Partnerships & Fulfillment for your Milwaukee Admirals.

Talking points include: Cortados, Collaboration, Coaching Sports, and Crappy Gifts!

Special thank you to local Milwaukee band Paper Valley for their track "Breakaway" - check them out at https://open.spotify.com/artist/4lsijeS7nxgLPGdqnsmmz4?si=jYdWejRQTXuosgy2TO9L2g

Episode edited by Stevie Salinas, Social Media & Content Director at Experience Milwaukee

In this episode, Steve sits down with Jockey President and Chief Operating Officer, Mark Fedyk.

Recorded live at the brand-new Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, this episode delivers an inspiring look at how one of Wisconsin’s long standing brands continues to innovate like a startup.

Mark breaks down how Jockey defines innovation—not just as a process, but as a mindset woven into its nearly 150-year DNA.

From “routine” updates to “disruptive” and even radical innovation, the company keeps close to its customers through data, insights, and an enduring human touch.

We also learn that through connection to community, legacy and innovation can coexist.

The conversation is both humorous yet insightful, exploring how a heritage brand stays fresh, relevant, and ready for what’s next.

Experience Milwaukee is presented by Habush Habush & Rottier, VISIT Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Admirals, nvisia, Summerfest, and Crescent 9 THC Seltzers and our official beer partner is New Barons Brewing Cooperative.

Thanks for listening.

Love you, Milwaukee.

In this episode, Steve and Adam dive into one of Milwaukee's most beloved annual traditions - Doors Open Milwaukee - celebrating its 15th anniversary this September 27th and 28th.

They're joined by Grace from Historic Milwaukee, who coordinates this incredible event that opens more than 150 locations across the city for free public tours, from private clubs like the Wisconsin Club to neighborhood gems you'd never normally see inside.

They also chat with Jeff from Milwaukee Fashion Week about how their fashion showcase is partnering with Doors Open at City Hall's rotunda, and CK from Villa Arco, the stunning former funeral home turned event space and art gallery.

Whether you're interested in historic architecture, local fashion, or discovering the hidden stories behind Milwaukee's most intriguing buildings, this episode has something for everyone ready to explore our city.

For more information on Doors Open Milwaukee: https://historicmilwaukee.org/doors-open

Experience Milwaukee is presented by Habush Habush & Rottier, VISIT Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Admirals, nvisia, Summerfest, and Crescent 9 THC Seltzers and our official beer partner is New Barons Brewing Cooperative.

Thanks for listening.

Love you, Milwaukee.

John DenBoer grew up in Waukesha raised by his mom and grandmother, which sparked his lifelong passion for working with older adults - he eventually became a geriatric neuropsychologist specializing in detecting dementia way before symptoms show up.

After studying at places like Harvard and building a successful digital health company out west, he and his wife decided to make Milwaukee home (funny how he had to move to Phoenix to meet someone from down the road!).

Now he's launching a venture studio to find and support game-changing technologies to tackle big problems - think dementia, farm tech, water, and more. Which really hits home here in Wisconsin.

This podcast series is going to follow John and his team as they build the venture studio from the ground up, working with some heavy hitters in the Milwaukee startup scene.

In this episode of the Experience Milwaukee podcast, Steve sits down with Carlo Emanuele, a Milwaukee business executive turned novelist, to discuss his debut book "The Sins We Inherit."

Carlo’s novel began as therapeutic journaling during his divorce and evolved into a Milwaukee-set crime family drama inspired by his own Italian-American family history.

The story follows a man who avoided his grandfather's mafia connections but gets pulled back into that world after personal trauma.

For more background on Carlo and the book: https://thesinsweinherit.com

Pre-orders start June 23rd with the book launching August 15th.

Pre-order the book on Amazon here.

Experience Milwaukee is presented by Summerfest, Crescent 9 THC Seltzers, and Habush Habush & Rottier. And our official beer partner is New Barons Brewing Cooperative.

Thanks for listening.

Love you, Milwaukee.

Welcome to STEAM in MKE, where we explore Milwaukee's thriving science, technology, engineering, art, and math ecosystem and infrastructure.

This episode features Joe Poeschl, who was just named the new Executive Director of the Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition.

The conversation traces Joe's journey from co-founding Startup Milwaukee to leading The Commons innovation program for nearly a decade, where he facilitated hundreds of tech-based innovation experiences for thousands of people across the region.

After sunsetting The Commons in 2023, Joe transitioned to the Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition as Director of Engagement before being selected as Executive Director following a national search.

Throughout his career, Joe has focused on creating inclusive, accessible pathways for students and professionals to engage with entrepreneurship and innovation, emphasizing the importance of building a "more leaderful community" in Milwaukee's growing tech ecosystem.

STEAM in MKE is proudly presented by nvisia, 7 Rivers, Summerfest Tech, Ontech Talent, Michael Best, Associated Bank, and Slalom.

For more information, visit us at STEAMinMKE.com.

Summerfest TechAI 2025 is the can't-miss tech event this summer (June 23-26)!

In this episode, Adam and I chat with Lena DeLaet from Summerfest TechAI and Jonah Turner from Molson Coors about the revamped pitch competition, which is broken into four industry tracks, plus new additions like "Entrepreneur Alley" for founders and a tech talent lounge for job hunting.

What makes it especially cool is that corporate sponsors like Molson Coors aren't just writing checks - they're guaranteeing actual meetings for pitch winners.

Oh, and we also talk about when deer attack.

Anyway, jump into this one then get over to Summerfest-Tech.com to register for FREE!

Experience Milwaukee is proudly presented by Summerfest, Crescent 9 THC Seltzers, Habush Habush & Rottier, and Milwaukee’s very own Palermo’s Pizza.

In this jam-packed episode of the Experience Milwaukee podcast, we dive deep with Patty Pritchard Thompson from the Bayview Neighborhood Association in our Hometown Voices segment sponsored by Habush Habush & Rottier. Patty reveals the magic behind Chill on the Hill – from rubber chicken symphony performances to how this all-volunteer operation draws 5,000 people weekly with help from 75+ local sponsors!

Then, in our VISIT Milwaukee segment, John Blust delivers the ultimate June festival guide, covering everything from free Father's Day perks (hello, dinosaurs and geodes!) to an absolutely stacked weekend featuring Polish Fest, lakefront art shows, and the East Side's Summer Solstice street takeover before Summerfest kicks off.

The Milwaukee Admirals' segment features Mr. Bitter who shares the secrets of hockey's offseason hustle, from maintaining those deep fan friendships to creative promotions like $17.76 Uncle Sam bobbleheads that double as military ticket donations – plus hints at next season's surprises!

We close with our nvisia tech segment with two tech scene dynamos Lena DeLaet and Dana Moyano, fresh off their 40 Under 40 wins, who school us on Milwaukee's tech ecosystem while juggling their own massive events – proving why our city's collaborative spirit makes every conference and gathering uniquely valuable!

Experience Milwaukee is presented by Summerfest and Crescent 9 THC Seltzers and our official beer partner is New Barons Brewing Cooperative.

Thanks for listening.

Love you, Milwaukee.