Women In Design: Milwaukee

09/18/2025

Join WIDMKE and WIDs for an evening that goes beyond traditional design!

Careers (like life) rarely follow a straight line. Hear from a panel of professionals who’ve taken untraditional paths in design, sharing their unique stories, honest conversations, and lessons learned along the way. Connect with students, professionals, and peers while exploring the many twists and turns a career can take.

Details:
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
UWM SARUP First Floor Commons
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Panelists:
Danielle Bell – Owner, Ecologist & Designer, Native Roots LLC
Kate Bartlett – Associate VP, Business Development, HGA Architects + Engineers
Rochelle Brien, AICP – Project Manager, Menomonee Valley Partners

Come for the stories, stay for the connections.

Register here: https://www.widmke.com/event-details/beyond-the-blueprint-unconventional-career-pathways

09/08/2025

SPEAKEASY & STORYTELLING

Join us for an evening of drinks, light appetizers, and an inspiring panel of women sharing their journeys in historic preservation and why Milwaukee’s architectural heritage matters.

Panelists: Jen Davel, Donna Weiss, Kim Trent, Allyson Nemec

After the panel: Keep the night going with a pub crawl hosted by the AIA Historic Resources Committee.

Details
Date: September 17
Time: 5:30–8:00 PM
Location: Milwaukee County Historical Society, 910 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr

Cocktails will be available for purchase, with complimentary light bites provided.

Sponsored by: Quorum Architects, New Histiroty, AIA Historic Resources Committee

Register here:

An Evening of Preservation & Conversation

09/02/2025

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for CANstruction MKE 2026!

This year’s theme is CAN’t Forget the Magic! Teams will bring the Milwaukee Public Museum’s iconic exhibits to life through CanArt — but remember: each exhibit can only be claimed by one team. First-come, first-served!

Register now: www.widmke.com/event-details/canstruction-milwaukee-2026-team-registration

Registration closes Oct 10, 2025 — spots are limited!

08/29/2025

CANstruction 2026 - REGISTRATION OPENS SEPT. 2ND AT NOON!

The countdown is on for one of Milwaukee’s most creative community events. This year’s theme is CAN’t Forget the Magic! — celebrating the wonder of the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Each team will choose one of the museum’s iconic exhibits to inspire their CanArt design. But here’s the twist: each exhibit can only be claimed by ONE team. Selection is first-come, first-served, so be ready to secure your spot quickly.

Exhibits to select from:
Streets of Old Milwaukee
European Village
Rainforest
Pacific Islands
Living Oceans
The Third Planet: Earth
Asia
Africa
Crossroads of Civilization
Bugs Alive!
Wisconsin Woodlands
Arctic
Sense of Wonder
Daniel M. Soref Planetarium
Jack Puelicher Butterfly Garden

Pro Tip: Before registration opens, review the exhibit list and rank your choices in order of preference. Since each exhibit can only be claimed by one team, having your list ready will make it easier to secure the best available option when it’s your turn

REGISTRATION opens September 2ND, 2025, https://www.widmke.com/event-details/canstruction-milwaukee-2026-team-registration

We’re proud to host this event in partnership with AIA Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Wisco NOMA, the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, and the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Help us CANstruct the magic!
Become a 2026 sponsor — widmke414@gmail.com

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your creativity and make a difference!

08/18/2025

CANstruction Exhibits!

This year’s theme is CAN’t Forget the Magic! Each team will choose one of the Milwaukee Public Museum’s iconic exhibits to inspire their CanArt design. But here’s the twist: each exhibit can only be claimed by ONE team. Selection is first-come, first-served, so register early to secure your exhibit selection!

Pro Tip: Before registration opens, review the exhibit list and rank your choices in order of preference. Since each exhibit can only be claimed by one team, having your list ready will make it easier to secure the best available option when it’s your turn.

Exhbits to select from:
Streets of Old Milwaukee
European Village
Rainforest
Pacific Islands
Living Oceans
The Third Planet: Earth
Asia
Africa
Crossroads of Civilization
Bugs Alive!
Wisconsin Woodlands
Arctic
Sense of Wonder
Daniel M. Soref Planetarium
Jack Puelicher Butterfly Garden

REGISTRATION opens September 2ND 2025, on our website, and spots are limited!

We’re proud to host this event in partnership with AIA Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Wisco NOMA, the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, and the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Help us CANstruct the magic!
Become a 2026 sponsor — widmke414@gmail.com

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your creativity and make a difference!

08/11/2025

GET READY CANstruction is returning in January 2026!
We’re thrilled to partner with AIA Wisconsin – Milwaukee and Wisco NOMA to host this exciting event alongside the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center and Milwaukee Public Museum.

Theme: CAN’t Forget the Magic!
We’re celebrating the magic of the Milwaukee Public Museum! Each team will choose one of the museum’s iconic exhibits to inspire their CanArt design - but here’s the twist: each exhibit can only be claimed by one team. Selection is first-come, first-served, so claim your inspiration early and secure your spot!

Mark your calendars - registration opens September 1, 2025, on our website, and spots are limited!

Key Dates:
Registration Opens: Sept 2ND, 2025
Registration Closes: Oct 10, 2025 (Limited Spots!)
Build Day: Jan 31, 2026
Awards Ceremony: Feb 5, 2026
De-Canstruction: Feb 18, 2026

We’ll share more details soon! In the meantime, we’re accepting sponsors for the event — if you’re interested, email widmke414@gmail.com.

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your creativity and make a difference!

05/20/2025

Congratulations to the incredible women recognized in the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 2025 Women of Influence Awards!

We’re especially proud to celebrate Roberta (Robbie) Oldenburg among this year’s honorees. Her leadership, motivation, and impact on those around her continue to inspire, and this recognition is a true testament to the difference she’s making in our WIDMKE community.

Well deserved, Robbie!

This is the 24th year the Milwaukee Business Journal has honored Milwaukee’s most influential women.

05/19/2025

Are you attending the AIA Wisconsin's Conference on Architecture this week? Join WID MKE on Wednesday, May 21, at 1:15 PM for our session, Beyond Architecture: Harnessing a Cross-Disciplinary Community for Professional Resilience.

WID board members Mo Zell, Ali Kopyt, Robbie Oldenburg, Alexis Meyer, and Taruna Gupta will lead the discussion and guide an interactive activity focused on building your own personal board of directors.

We look forward to connecting with you there.

04/16/2025

Big congratulations to not one, but two members of WIDMKE’s leadership team for being recognized by BizTimes Media as Notable Women in Construction, Design, and Engineering!

Roberta Oldenburg
Therese Hanson

Your leadership, vision, and dedication continue to inspire and elevate women across the industry. We’re so proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition with you both.

Visit the links below to read more about Robbie and Therese’s incredible contributions, featured by BizTimes.

https://biztimes.com/category/notables/notable-women-in-construction-design-engineering/

https://biztimes.com/notable-women-in-construction-design-and-engineering-therese-hanson/

https://biztimes.com/notable-women-in-construction-design-and-engineering-roberta-robbie-oldenburg/

Up-to-the-minute business news, thoughtful analysis and valuable strategic insights for Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin business leaders.

04/10/2025

What an incredible evening of Lightning Talks centered around the theme: Time, Change, and Everything Between! We were deeply inspired by the powerful stories, insights, and reflections shared throughout the night.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing speakers, generous sponsors, and collaborative co-hosts—your energy and support made it all possible!

Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee

03/27/2025

Join Women in Design and Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee for an inspiring night for our 10-year anniversary Lightning Talk Series. This event features women from various industries showcasing their work or passion via 20 slides / 20 seconds each. Their presentations are each an interpretation of the theme Time, Change, and Everything Between

Speakers:
Paula Verboomen - HGA
Krista Hansen - GMR Marketing
Suzanne Jurva - Three Turn Productions
Courtney MacDonald - Meteor Education
Marion Clendenen-Acosta - Kahler Slater
Lana Zoet, AIA - Smith Group
Starla Thompson - Indigenous Policy and Justice Ambassador
Donna Lewis - Genisx
Angy K. Singh, Ph.D. – K. Singh & Associates, Inc.
Mo Zell - University of Hawaii at Manoa

Date:
Wednesday, April 9th
5:30 - 8:00 PM
Location:
Relic Rentals
420 South 1st St. Milwaukee
Drinks and light appetizers will be provided.
This is FREE event and open to all

REGISTER HERE: https://www.widmke.com/event-details/time-change-and-everything-between-lightning-talk

Sponsored by Relic Rentals
Co-hosted with Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee

03/25/2025

APPLY FOR THE WIDMKE SCHOLARSHIP!

WIDMKE is committed to supporting the next generation of designers by offering a $1,000 scholarship for students pursuing education in design-related fields. This scholarship aims to recognize emerging talent, provide financial assistance, and encourage diversity within the design community.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, this annual scholarship continues to help students invest in their education and professional growth. Whether you are studying architecture, interior design, graphic design, landscape architecture, urban planning, or another design-related discipline, we encourage you to apply.

Key Dates:
Application Deadline: March 28, 2025, at 3:00 PM
Award Notification: April 11, 2025

The selected recipient will receive a $1,000 scholarship to support their academic journey.

How to Apply:
Eligibility criteria and application details are available on our website. Be sure to review the requirements and submit your application before the deadline.

Learn more and apply: https://www.widmke.com/widmke-scholarship
We look forward to supporting the future of design!