This Women’s History Month, join Social X MKE and Gentleman Jack as we celebrate women who inspire, overcome and re-write history with a shared voice and one spirit. We’ve curated a panel of phenomenal women in Milwaukee to discuss how they’re breaking down barriers and exuding an entrepreneurial spirit!
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Featuring
Alexa Alfaro
Meat on the Street, co-founded by Alexa and her brother, Matthew, was created with the philosophy “food is love”. They decided to embark on entrepreneurship by representing their culture through cuisine. In 2013, Alexa Alfaro dropped out of engineering school her senior year to pitch a Filipino food truck to her parents. Meat on the Street (MOTS) hit the streets of Milwaukee on June 26th, 2014. MOTS has been published in a cooking anthology, The New Filipino Kitchen cookbook, done national food tours with stops at Google’s Sunnyvale CA, Lee’s Private Dining New York City, and Kramerbooks & Afterwords Washington DC and has appeared on NBC News and Serious Eats where she discussed creating and growing an Asian business in the midwest. She also raised $30,000+ and served over 3,500 meals to local hospital staff with the Feed the Frontline Hospital Staff MKE campaign. Alexa was recently recognized as a 2021 Milwaukee Business Journal - 40 under 40 inductee and as a Madison365 - 48 Most Influential Asian American Leader. Alexa defines her 'why' as culture through cuisine with community, as food is the central part of the Filipino culture. She introduces her culture through cuisine and gives her customers the ability to enjoy moments through meals with their loved ones, afterall, food is love!
Marquayla Ellison
Marquayla Ellison is the owner and creative force behind Ellastic Designs, LLC. Her innate creative skills were enhanced at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM) where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Design & Visual Communication from the Peck School of the Arts (PSOA) in 2013. She started Ellastic Designs, LLC a small design firm set on creating customs digital and print designs for small businesses, local philanthropic professionals, non-profits, and organizations. Since May 17, 2011, Ellastic Designs has illustrated a creative vision for many clients including: Historic King Drive BID, Near West Side Partners, Traci Braxton, The Milwaukee Health Department, Milwaukee Film, Goodwill Industries – just to name a few. In addition to building her clientele list, Marquayla values the opportunity to work, play, and visually enhance Milwaukee as a servant leader. She regularly gives back to the community as and entertains her social side as co-owner and president of Social X MKE, a young professional diversity and inclusion consulting group. She is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., AIGA, and chairwoman of The City of Milwaukee Millennial Task Force.
Angela Quigley
After a 10+ year career as a CPA / Internal Auditor at various International Companies, Angela Quigley, now co-owns Married In Milwaukee -- an online media company founded in 2012 that is dedicated to connecting couples with locally-owned wedding vendors. Married In Milwaukee continues to expand their business model to other cities including most recently Orlando and Palm Beach, Florida. A Milwaukee native and advocate for all things Milwaukee, Angela has a passion for helping people & spreading positive vibes.
Imani Ray
She a life-long learner, young entrepreneur and activist, committed to creating social change. Imani owns and operates her own business, Natural E, that aims To inspire self-love and affirmation in young adults, empowering them to fulfill their purpose and reach their full potential. She hopes one day that her business will be a household name and a global brand that gives young adults the ability to follow their dreams. She credits a huge part of her success to the support she receives from her family and community for providing her with the resources and skills to build a foundation for herself.
Tyshun Wardlaw
Tyshun Wardlaw is the owner of Wardlaw Productions. Wardlaw Productions is a boutique independent film and television production company located in the Midwest, with an office in Milwaukee and Chicago. They create and produce independent/studio feature films, documentaries, television projects and branded storytelling. After graduating from Santa Clara University with a B.A. in Business, Wardlaw relocated back to the Midwest and then earned a Master’s degree in Business Management. She had over 10 years of broadcasting and television experience before starting her own production company. Wardlaw recently directed and produced the Growing Up Milwaukee documentary which is now streaming on HBO MAX. Behind every statistic is a story. Three Black youth grapple with the daily experiences of growing up in the heart of Milwaukee, while fighting to avoid becoming just another statistic. The film premiered at the 2020 American Black Film Festival Online Edition last August. Wardlaw is also engaged with building communities through video partnerships, with a goal of empowering youth and communities to tell their own stories through the lens.
Hyacinth Nembhardt
An entrepreneur, radio personality, and mother originally from the Bronx, currently living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was raised in a multicultural home with immigrant parents from Canada and Jamaica. Rooted in her heritage, she was raised with strong values and a solid work ethic, which play a significant role in her present-day ambition and success. Hyacinth started Concoctions in 2009, a specialty beverage bar, as a festival vendor. In 2012, she offered mobile bartending services for private events, and in 2014 she expanded the business to include Milwaukee’s first mobile drink truck. In 2020, she opened a brick and mortar bar offering drinks to-go in the heart of Milwaukee. Hyacinth graduated from Alverno College with a bachelor’s degree in Professional Communications. She also earned an associate degree in Business Administration. She believes in continuing her development and completed the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s Entrepreneur Training Program. Expanding her business endeavors, she became a licensed real estate agent in 2020. Concoctions was recognized for having one of Milwaukee’s best margaritas by the Shepherd Express Newspaper. Additionally, Hyacinth was recently featured in the nationally publicized Washington Post. Locally, she continues to thrive on radio and is a sought-after brand ambassador. Hyacinth is mother to her daughter, Hyleah, who she is grooming to inherit the Concoctions empire. In her spare time, she loves cooking and enjoys traveling the world.