Fifth Annual MKE Business Now Summit sparks entrepreneurship

A showcase of resources available to help launch Milwaukee’s next great business ventures and an opportunity to connect with established local professionals, the MKE Business Now Entrepreneurship Summit took place Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the Business and Economics Academy of Milwaukee (BEAM), 3620 N. 18th St.
Celebrating its milestone fifth year, the event is sponsored by Milwaukee Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, and got underway at 10:00 a.m., as vendors and organizations showcased the resources they could provide to local entrepreneurs. Mayor Tom Barrett also participate in the day’s activities, and workshops focused on growing and developing a business. All parts of the event were free and open to the public.
The summit’s featured event was a panel discussion from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Guests on the panel discussion included (from left) moderator/community activist Andre Lee Ellis; Christopher (McIntyre) Perceptions of CMP Perceptions; Troy Reese of T. L. Reese Corporation; Ptosha Davis of the Lauren Group, LLC; Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs; Derek Hawkins of Hawkins Law Offices, LLC; and Rashaad Washington of Pro Trade Job Development.
Additionally, staff members were on hand to staff booths and answer questions from organizations including: Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee; Wisconsin Department of Children and Family Services; Milwaukee Website Designs; City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services; Legacy Redevelopment Corp.; Prism Technical Management & Marketing Services, LLC; Service Corps of Retired Executives; C. Renee Consulting and Management Group (CRC); Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation; Historic King Drive BID #8; Center Street Market Place BID #39; U.S. Small Business Administration; City of Milwaukee License Division ; Board of Zoning Appeals (BOZA); Seaway Bank; Milwaukee Public Library Patents and Business Librarian; Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC); Inner City Development Corporation; Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, Section 3; Marquette University Law School Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic; City of Milwaukee Development Center; Scale Up Milwaukee; and City of Milwaukee Office of Small Business Development.