Women In Design: Milwaukee

04/29/2026

Time to celebrate another round of successful Lightning Talks!

We had a great evening filled with laughter and learning at Freight38 in Bayview. The theme, Milestone Moments, led to stories of success, failure, and most importantly - growth. There was something for everyone to relate to when listening to this multigenerational cohort of women outline their milestone moments.

We are grateful to our presenters for lending us their time and sharing their experiences:

Kelly Jo McClanathan of Ring and DuChateau
Melissa Wolter of HGA
Andrea Hubbert of Hub+company
Katie Redel an Experience Designer in Milwaukee
Diana Billstrom of the Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce
Adrienne Hunter of Servant Manor
Lauren Bauman of Women in Design Students
Carrie Matteson of the Woman's Club of Wisconsin

A big thank you to our sponsor, Ring & DuChateau, our generous host, .38, and our co-host, the Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee.

We hope to see you at our FINAL EVENT OF THE SEASON - The Art of Vitality: Designing a Life with more Life In It.
Join us next week, Thursday, May 7th, from 5:30-7:30 at GRAEF.

04/24/2026

Our final event of the season is here!
The Art of Vitality: Designing a Life with more Life In It with leadership coach Tina Crave

This interactive, energizing workshop is designed for women who care deeply about their work AND what matters most outside of it. Together, we’ll explore what’s fueling your energy - and what’s quietly draining it - while learning simple, evidence-based ways to move from burnout to sustainable flourishing. Expect laughter, honest reflection, and meaningful conversation as you define what “flourishing” looks like in your life. You’ll leave with a personalized plan to help ensure you have plenty of energy to live a life with more LIFE in it.

Tina Crave:
A positive psychology practitioner and leadership coach, Crave brings a practical, action-oriented approach to help individuals and teams design their vision for a flourishing future - and move it forward. Having served as founding President & CEO of the Greater Watertown Health Foundation, Crave now focuses on helping leaders discover and step into their full potential. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch, a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and is leadership and performance coach training through Brown University.

Date: Thursday, May 7th
Time: 5:30-7:30 PM

Location: GRAEF
275 West Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 300
Milwaukee, WI 53203

Thank you to GRAEF for sponsoring this event. We hope to see you there!

04/08/2026

Don't forget to sign up for our Lightning Talks Tomorrow!

https://www.widmke.com/event-details/milestone-moments-lightning-talk

Join Women In Design and Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee for an inspiring night of stories from a dynamic lineup of women across industries. Each speaker will take the stage in a fast-paced 20x20 format, 20 slides, 20 seconds each, sharing their take on this year’s theme: Milestone Moments.

Through bold visuals and personal narratives, you’ll hear the experiences that have shaped careers, shifted perspectives, and made a lasting impact.

Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, connect with fellow professionals, and raise a glass (cash bar available) to the stories that move us forward.

Speakers:
Kelly Jo McClanathan | Ring and DuChateau
Melissa Wolter | HGA
Andrea Hubbert | Hub+company
Katie Redel | Experience Designer
Diana Billstrom | Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerc
Adrienne Hunter | Servant Manor
Lauren Bauman | Women In Design Students
Carrie Matteson | Woman’s Club of Wisconsin

Register here: https://www.widmke.com/event-details/milestone-moments-lightning-talk
Details:
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location:
Freight 38
838 S 1st St. Milwaukee, WI

Co-hosted with Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee
Sponsored by: Ring & DuChateau Consulting Engineers

03/26/2026

Join Women In Design and Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee for an inspiring night of stories from a dynamic lineup of women across industries. Each speaker will take the stage in a fast-paced 20x20 format, 20 slides, 20 seconds each, sharing their take on this year’s theme: Milestone Moments.

Through bold visuals and personal narratives, you’ll hear the experiences that have shaped careers, shifted perspectives, and made a lasting impact.

Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, connect with fellow professionals, and raise a glass (cash bar available) to the stories that move us forward.

Speakers:
Kelly Jo McClanathan | Ring and DuChateau
Melissa Wolter | HGA
Andrea Hubbert | Hub+company
Katie Redel | Experience Designer
Diana Billstrom | Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerc
Adrienne Hunter | Servant Manor
Lauren Bauman | Women In Design Students
Carrie Matteson | Woman’s Club of Wisconsin

Register here: https://www.widmke.com/event-details/milestone-moments-lightning-talk
Details:
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location:
Freight 38
838 S 1st St. Milwaukee, WI

Co-hosted with Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee
Sponsored by: Ring & DuChateau Consulting Engineers

03/25/2026

Only a few days left to apply for the WIDMKE Scholarship!

This $1,000 scholarship supports women pursuing careers in design and recognizes students who have demonstrated leadership and contributions toward advancing women in the design professions.

We ask for your help in spreading the word to students in your networks — including interns, mentees, university contacts, studio instructors, and emerging professionals you may know.

Eligibility highlights:
Undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a design-related program (architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, or similar)
Attending a Wisconsin university
Enrolled for Fall 2026
Demonstrated leadership and commitment to advancing women in design

Application Timeline:​​
Applications are now being accepted
Applications are due by March 27th by 3:00 PM
Awardee will be notified by April 10th, 2026

Apply here: https://www.widmke.com/advancingintofirmleadership

02/23/2026

The WIDMKE Scholarship is officially OPEN! ✨
We’re awarding a $1,000 scholarship to support women pursuing careers in design who are demonstrating leadership and actively advancing women in the profession.

Eligibility:
• Undergraduate or graduate student in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, or related field
• Attending a Wisconsin university
• Enrolled for Fall 2026
• Demonstrated leadership + commitment to advancing women in design
🗓 Applications due: March 27 at 3:00 PM

📣 Help us spread the word to interns, mentees, studio instructors, and emerging professionals in your network!
Apply here: https://www.widmke.com/advancingintofirmleadership

02/20/2026

Wrapped in Care: Silk Scarf Maker Event
Dye a scarf, share the love. 🎨💛

WID is excited to invite our members to a special Give Back opportunity!

Join us at Lombardi Brewing Company for a hands-on silk scarf dyeing workshop led by local textile artist Sandi Keiser. Inspired by the late Racine artist Maryruth Chorbajian, all scarves created at the event will be donated to a Racine women’s shelter—continuing her legacy of giving healing art to women rebuilding their lives.

These beautiful scarves will deliver warmth and love from our WID community to theirs.

🗓 Date: Wednesday, March 25
⏰ Time: 5:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: 2200 W Mt Vernon Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53233
👥 Limited to 25 participants

👚 Dress for dye! Please wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting permanent color on.

👉 Register here: https://www.widmke.com/event-details/wrapped-in-care-silk-scarf-maker-event

Let’s create, connect, and give back together! 💫

02/19/2026

Thank You for a Successful CANstruction Milwaukee!

Because of your support, 35,000 canned and non-perishable food items were transformed into imaginative, larger-than-life sculptures — all of which will now support the Jewish Community Pantry and local hunger relief efforts.

Congratulations to our incredible teams:
AG Architecture – Structural Ingenuity
Engberg Anderson Architects & CG Schmidt – Best Use of Labels
FGM Architects
Findorff & Thornton Tomasetti
Graef Engineering
HGA & Mortenson – Best Original Design
Kahler Slater – Most Cans
KORB Architecture & Gardner Builders
Quorum Architects & Berghammer Construction – People’s Choice
VJS Construction Services – Best Meal
Zimmerman & Boldt

Thank you to our co-hosts and partners: .wisconsin – Milwaukee, , , Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, , and

And thank you to our generous sponsors: , , , and Tileworks.

This event is proof of what happens when design, community, and generosity come together.

02/18/2026

Only 9 days left to apply for Advancing into Firm Leadership!

If you’re ready to better understand how your firm operates and how you can step into leadership, this six-week, in-person seminar is designed to give you the insight, tools, and confidence to move forward.

Applications close February 27.
Space is limited.

Wednesdays starting April 8
411 E. Wisconsin Avenue

Don’t wait — apply now: widmke.com/advancingintofirmleadership

02/03/2026

Applications are now live for our Advancing into Firm Leadership Seminar!

This six-week, in-person seminar supports women designers looking to better understand firm structure, leadership pathways, and how to grow into leadership roles within practice.

Apply by February 27!

Space is limited.

Learn more and apply: https://www.widmke.com/advancingintofirmleadership

Looking to better understand how your firm works and where you fit into its leadership future?

Advancing into Firm Leadership is a six-week, in-person seminar for women designers focused on firm structure, leadership pathways, and career advancement.

Wednesdays starting April 8
411 E. Wisconsin Avenue

Applications open February 2
Applications close February 27

Apply at: widmke.com/advancingintofirmleadership

02/01/2026

🥫 Vote for Your Favorite CANstruction Creation!

The cans are stacked. The sculptures are built. Now it’s your turn.

Visit the Milwaukee Public Museum and cast your vote for the CANstruction structure you love most. Each larger-than-life design is made entirely from canned and non-perishable food items, and every can will be donated to support local hunger relief through the Milwaukee Jewish Community Pantry.

Vote here: https://www.widmke.com/canstruction-voting

On display: January 31 – February 16
Location: Milwaukee Public Museum | 800 W Wells St

Stop by the Milwaukee Public Museum (or look at our photos), explore the builds, and vote!

Teams Participating:
AG Architecture
Engberg Anderson Architects & CG Schmidt
FGM Architects
Findorff & Thornton Tomasetti
Graef Engineering
HGA & Mortenson
Kahler Slater
KORB Architecture & Gardner Builders
Quorum Architects & Berghammer Construction
VJS Construction Services
Zimmerman & Boldt

Co-hosted by .wisconsin (Milwaukee) and
Partners: , Jewish Community Pantry, ,
Sponsors: , , , Ceramic Tileworks

01/30/2026

TOMORROW IS THE DAY!

Join us for CANstruction at the Milwaukee Public Museum to watch 11 local architectural, engineering, and construction teams construct structures out of canned food.