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Capital Markets & the Pandemic: Where are the markets headed?

Curious about Capital Markets? Interested to learn exactly what that term truly means, how the market has been impacted by the pandemic and other drivers of change in the markets? On our most recent episode of MKE Forward, our hosts Adam Connor and Tom Shepherd delve into the world of real estate investing with Andy Sinclair, CEO and President of Midloch. Midloch, a boutique real estate firm, is a strong institutional investor of real estate private equity. Listen in as we discuss both the i...

Ringing in the New Year: What the Real Estate Market Learned in 2020

In MKE Forward’s 2020 wrap up episode Colliers | Wisconsin market experts, Matt Fahey, Bill Langhoff and Josh Minkin, review the challenges and successes of their respective sectors from the past year.  Despite the challenges, the Office, Industrial and Retail markets all proved that the markets can be resilient and expectations can be exceeded with a thoughtful and intentional mindset. Tune in and listen to our year in review and the aspiration we have for the year ahead.

Office Space Trends: What You Need to Know

Where we work and how we work have changed trajectory drastically since March. Office space, specifically how we build and operate within space is a fascinating topic that is ever evolving. More and more, furniture designers are a key player in how a finished space is used by its occupants. On this episode of MKE Forward, listen in to hear our conversation with two individuals who are experiencing these shifts first hand.  We are fortunate to welcome New York based Dennis Murphy and Annette ...

Light the Hoan, More Than Meets the Eye

On October 22, the west side of the Hoan Bridge was officially lit. At first look, the lights make for a pretty picture or a unique urban infrastructure project.  But those who were behind the lights will tell you it is so much more. Light the Hoan is a symbol for our community and our city. It is bridge between cultures, backgrounds and experiences meant to Shine a Light on the areas in which, as a community, we can do more to come together to strengthen our city. Listen in to hear from two...

Cycling Through Time With Wheel & Sprocket

From memorable advertisements and marketing, to best-in-class customer service and selection, Wheel & Sprocket is Wisconsin’s most iconic bicycle shop. This week we sit down with is Noel Kegel as he gives an inside look at this larger than life brand. Noel’s father Chris was hired as a bicycle mechanic two weeks after their opening in 1973, and over the course of the next 16 years, worked his way up to sole owner and president. Fast forward to today, Wheel & Sprocket operates 9 locations thr...

How Wisconsin Stacks Up

While many property types are facing uncertainty, industrial product nationwide seems to be persisting, and in some cases, even exceeding expectations. To gain insight on how the industrial market has changed and adapted during the ongoing pandemic, MKE Forward is talking with Senior Vice President of Acquisitions for STAG Industrial, Brad Sweeney. With 91.8 million square feet across 38 states, the team at STAG Industrial has a bird’s-eye view of the events, trends and activity impacting pr...

Real Estate's Role in the Racial Divide Part III

In the third part of our series on race, one of our community’s leading leader joins MKE Forward for this important conversation. Keith Stanley, Executive Director of Near West Side Partners shares the integral role his family had on his journey and also key experiences throughout his life when he has been exposed to new things. While for some, exposure to new things is nice to have, for Keith, and many others in our community, it can make all the difference. Keith credits the success of pro...

Chad Johnson: Strengthening MKE for Everyone

Real Estate’s Role in the Racial Divide

Our nation and our community are hurting. Over the next few episodes, we are taking a step back to have a difficult conversation about race on MKE Forward. We enter this conversation not because we have the answers but because we want and need to listen and learn. It’s too important not too.  Our first guest is Michael Emem, founder of Emem Group and an important leader in the Milwaukee real estate industry. Michael, an ACRE and UWM graduate, is a black commercial real estate professional i...

Downtown Dining is Back

Milwaukee’s downtown halted in mid-march. Now almost three months later, many are asking will downtown ever be the same? What will dining look like and when? While we don’t have all the answers, we at Colliers, along with our guests from Milwaukee Downtown BID #21, are eager to do our part. Hear from Beth Weirick and Erica Chang of BID 21 about what they have done through the pandemic to continue to serve our downtown community. From surveys to an exciting new challenge, Comeback Cuisine, th...

Growing the Network Between Madison and Milwaukee

To kick off year two, we are taking MKE Forward on the virtual road and are headed to Madison! The relationship between Madison and Milwaukee has not always been smooth, but this episode looks at how we can continue to connect the Wisconsin’s cities, especially as it relates to tech. Joining us to share his insight and experience is tech entrepreneur and former Madison City Councilperson, Scott Resnick. Listen in to hear about Scott’s journey, his take on how Madison has become a tech town a...

Milwaukee's Storyteller

He may not be the most famous or well-known person in a room, but if you are lucky enough to be in the same room as him, you will be drawn to this guest. What is it that draws you in? His uncanny ability to tell a story.  Lyle Landowski and Scott Welsh are joined by Greg Marshall, Chief Storyteller at Milwaukee based CI Design, for this episode of MKE Forward. Whether it’s a personal message, the story of a community, neighborhood or city, stories are powerful when conveying a message and G...

Beyond Events: Newaukee’s Impact on Milwaukee

You’ve heard the name from events like the Night Market and Urban Island Beach Party, but what else do you know about social architecture agency Newaukee? From its beginnings 11 years ago, to where it is today, the impact Newaukee has had on our city extends far beyond its signature events. Jeremy Fojut joins MKE Forward to talk about Newaukee’s journey and how the group continues to evolve and adapt. Hear about the Beacon Project in Walker’s Point and what Newaukee has planned moving forwar...

COVID-19 Hits Commercial Real Estate

From news stories, articles and webinars, it’s hard not to be inundated with COVID-19. But when it comes to how it impacts commercial real estate, specifically in southeastern Wisconsin, do you have a sense what the industry is seeing and experiencing on a large scale? Industry experts Andy Hunt (Marquette University), Tracy Johnson (CARW) and Jim Villa (NAIOP Wisconsin) join MKE Forward to discuss what they are hearing from YOU and have an open conversation about what that means for US. Joi...

A Suddenly Remote Workforce: Now What?

Across the United States, COVID-19 has drastically changed our lives. Since March 2020 working from home with our children, virtual meetings and nights in have become the norm. On this episode of MKE Forward, the team sits down with Todd McLees, founder of Pendio Group and an internationally known strategist and speaker, who has spent recent weeks uncovering how to maintain productivity with a suddenly remote workforce. Listen in to hear Todd’s advice and to understand how both you and your ...

Elevating Milwaukee One Expansion at a Time

If you are looking for someone to dub “Mr. Milwaukee”, this guest is definitely a top contender. From devoting his time to arguably the best steakhouse in the city, giving back to community through multiple boards and organizations, and frequenting his children's wrestling tournaments, Omar Shaikh is constantly elevating our city. While Omar’s impact on our city is vast, most recently, he has been instrumental in phase three of the Convention Center expansion. Omar talks about his experience...

Timber! Mass Timber Construction Makes Its Way to Milwaukee

The latest episode of MKE Forward is all about pushing boundaries and embracing creativity and change. Hear from Tim Gokhman of New Land Enterprises on the trajectory of the development company and how they strive to step up to the challenge and solve problems creatively. From Crossroads Collective, “Milwaukee’s Foodiest Food Hall” on Farwell, to Ascent MKE, Milwaukee’s first Mass Timber project that is currently under construction, New Land Enterprises has and will continue to change Milwau...

Big Business or Small Business: Why not both?

When it comes to supporting big box or local businesses, it’s not either or, it’s and. 85% of businesses are micro/small businesses, and helping them succeed in Wisconsin is the Wisconsin’s Women’s Business Initiative Corporation. On MKE Forward’s first episode of 2020, the team sat down with WWBIC’s President and Chief Visionary Officer, Wendy Baumann. Under the leadership of Wendy, the economic development corporation provides critical resources to individuals who face barriers to accessin...

Creativity Sparks Movements (LIVE from PodFest)

On the last episode of 2019, MKE Forward is brought to you LIVE from PodFest MKE 2019. The team was joined by Reginald Baylor and Melissa Courtney from Reginald Baylor Studios, a brand icon that seeks to serve the creative industry culture. Throughout the conversation there is an intentionality around terminology and mission that is undeniable. It is through this intentionality that Reginald and Michelle aim to change the conversation around the creative industry in Milwaukee and beyond. 

The Road to Sherman Phoenix (LIVE from MKE)

Juli Kaufmann, one of the co-developers of Sherman Phoenix didn’t envision herself in real estate. Instead, her focus has always been her community. Sherman Phoenix is a community project that bucks the traditional real estate model and had it not been for the community responsiveness, relationships, and crowdfunding, the project might not have happened. For the various tenants and stakeholders, the road that led them to Sherman Phoenix is very different. On this episode of MKE Forward, the ...

The Hop's Next Loop

Over 800,000 rides taken, 90,000 miles covered, 45,000 trips completed. It’s been one year since the Milwaukee Streetcar, known as The Hop began servicing Downtown Milwaukee. What’s next and where is the Hop headed? To reflect on the first year of the Hop and to discuss its future, the MKE Forward team sat down with Ashley Booth of HNTB.   

The Layers of Milwaukee and the Sane City

Milwaukee does not have the population growth of some of its peers, but that does not mean the city is flat or unable to attract talent. On this episode of MKE Forward, Lyle Landowski and Tammy Babisch talk with Meg McKenna of Visit Milwaukee, and her niece Trudy Watt, a recent transplant, on Trudy’s experience visiting Milwaukee and her decision to make Milwaukee home. Meg and Trudy recall the experience, discuss the lessons learned, and reflect on Milwaukee as a city of neighborhoods and, ...

The MSO’s “Major” Impact on Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) has been a Milwaukee institution for over 60 years. MKE Forward had the pleasure of sitting down with President and Executive Director, Mark Neihaus.  The excitement that Mark has for the MSO and its future is contagious. From newly appointed Musical Director Ken-David Masur, to construction being underway on the MSO’s future home, there was a lot to talk about. If that wasn’t enough, the passion that the symphony has for being active and a part of our ...

Open Office: A Complete Failure?

As companies and organizations look at their workplaces, more and more are looking at their space through a strategic lens, seeking to improve productivity, collaboration and even culture. As a result, the prevalence of open office concepts has increased across the globe. But, do they work? Are open workplaces increasing worker productivity and collaboration? Tune in to hear from Dr. Anthony Pennington-Cross and Andy Hunt from Marquette University’s Center for Real Estate, as they discuss th...

The Intersection of Culture and Space

We’ve skimmed the topic, but never jumped in. On the latest episode of MKE Forward, the team sits down with Heather Turner Loth, workspace strategy guru. Heather spends her time helping companies integrate their culture with their physical space. The intersection of these two aspects of an organization is not straight forward and one size does not fit all, or even two.  Listen in as we discuss the impact both culture and space have on the success and future of an organization. 

Return on Community

Ryan Pattee is a Milwaukee-based developer whose approach to development is unique. Instead of solely focusing on ROI (Return on Investment) he places a heavy emphasis on ROC (Return on Community). Ryan aims to create community spaces that are both utilized by the local community and serve as a place for creative uses and tenants. In order to make a project financially feasible, Ryan and his partners get creative, leveraging financing tools used in more traditional development projects. On t...

Fostering Tech & Community

As a continuation of Episode 7, where we discussed Milwaukee’s tech environment from the perspective of a start-up, on this episode of MKE Forward, the team welcomed James Hischke, Senior Director of Tech Advancement and Outreach at Northwestern Mutual (NM), to the studio to continue the conversation. James talks about NM’s commitment to grow the tech talent pool for the city and how the company can in turn grow their share of that talent. To NM, it is not just about investing in themselves,...

Let’s get TECHnical

On the latest episode of MKE Forward, the team welcomes Matt Cordio of Startup Milwaukee and Chris Widmayer, of Milwaukee based technology firm Penrod. Listen in to uncover the opportunity that awaits Milwaukee, from tech talent, to whether or not Milwaukee is a tech city, and how, as a community, we can continue to embrace technology and leverage it to drive our city forward. 

The Man Behind the Music

Festival season is finally here and the MKE Forward team celebrated by sitting down with Bob Babisch, Vice President of Entertainment at Milwaukee World Festival. Learn about what it takes to put on Milwaukee's festival of festivals, what is new this year and how bringing people together through music has and will continue to positively impact our city.

Milwaukee’s Soaring Downtown

Beth Weirick, champion and queen of downtown Milwaukee joins the team to discuss the momentum of downtown. Listen in to hear how downtown is just getting started.

A “Moderne” Take on Milwaukee

Rick Barrett of Barrett Lo Development and Matt Rinka of Rinka Architecture join the team to discuss their past successes and the role they have had in shaping the current and future skyline.  Find out how their pasts have informed why both returned to Milwaukee and learn about the status of their current joint undertaking, the Couture. 

Bucking the Milwaukee Mindset: How we got the DNC

The team snags Alex Lasry to discuss how he became a champion for the city and the journey to get the DNC in Milwaukee. Listen in as the team discusses how Milwaukee can embrace 2020 and avoid being caught on its heels.

Commercial Real Estate: Where are all the Women?

In 2019, commercial real estate remains an industry that lacks diversity and remains dominated by men. Join Tammy Babisch, an industry veteran, and Maggie Blair, a young leader, as they hijack this episode to have an all-female conversation with Denise Thomas and Shar Borg.  Thirty minutes is not nearly enough time, but join us as we discuss the importance  of attracting diverse talent to the industry and how the industry and Milwaukee will be better because of it.

Doing it all: Ultra-marathoner, CEO, addressing the education gap and seeking to redefine the political landscape

From All American swimmer to the White House and becoming the CEO of Husco International, Austin Ramirez has accomplished a lot, yet, he still finds time to give back to his community. In our latest episode, find out what drives Austin and how he works to turn his vision into reality. 

Why MKE Forward?

What heights can Milwaukee reach and what trajectory is our city on? How do we shift into high gear and continue the momentum? What more can we be doing? In this intro episode, join the Colliers Team to learn how throughout this podcast, we will seek to answer these questions. Steve Palec, Scott Welsh, and Lyle Landowski are industry veterans who have seen the impact real estate has had on this community and how one person can move the needle. Learn about what types of guests will join us as...