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View our event photos
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October 6, 7:30am
Get Moving Middleton (Register)
Hilton Garden Inn
October 6, 4-6pm
Open House
Goldstein & Associates/Kollath & Associates
October 10, 11:30am
Ambassador Committee
Gilda's Club
October 12, 8am (7:45 Registration)
Ask the Expert: Online Marketing (Register)
Edgewood College - Middleton Campus
October 12, 12pm
Annual Celebration Committee
Middleton Chamber
October 13, 4pm
Biz Trolley Tour: PPD & Electronic Theatre Controls (Register)
Departs from Middleton Chamber
October 19, 10am-6pm
In Business Expo - Visit our booth!
Alliant Energy Center
October 19, 12pm
Economic Development: WI Taxpayers Alliance (Register)
Wisconsin Bank & Trust
October 20, 4-7pm
Business Social Hour (Register)
Workspace Studio
October 25, 11:45am
Lunch & Learn: Using Online Images (Register)
Middleton Community Bank
View the Full Calendar
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All About Authenticity (Wolkoff, LLC)
(608) 279-5160
www.rogerwolkoff.com
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Barb's Fine Glass, LLC
7419 University Ave
(608) 445-6040
www.barbsfineglass.com
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Bloom Investment Group LLC
3409 Noll Valley Cir.
(608) 609-5016
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SRF Consulting Group, Inc.
901 Deming Way, Suite 101
608-298-5400
www.srfconsulting.com
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Members on the Move
Announcements|Awards|Hires & Promotions
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Share Your Holidays with Families in Need, It's that time of year again! MOM is preparing to brighten the holidays for our families in need, by pairing them with generous donors.
Local Remodelers Certify Their Expertise, NARI of Madison is proud to announce its most recent members to become certified by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).
City of Madison Selects Pop-Dot to Develop Branded Campaign, Pop-Dot announced a new partnership with the City of Madison, in which the agency was tasked with developing a strategically-focused, branded campaign to support a public listening intiative.
Starion Financial Changes Name to Starion Bank, Beginning September 28, Starion Financial will become Starion Bank to more clearly communicate its community banking focus and position it for the future.
August Real Estate Stats Released, Coldwell Banker Success has released the August 2016 Real Estate Statistics.
Middleton Endowment Seeks Board Members, The Middleton Endowment is seeking 2-3 advisory board members to replace those whose time as come to an end.
MGE Launches Energy 2030 Together, MGE hosted a Community Energy Workshop last April, one of the main messages we heard is that customers want us to provide more timely, relevant and useful information.
"Classical Conversations" Looking for Partners, Inter-generational learning, music and a meal. This is the foundation of "Classical Conversations", an initiative lead by Rhapsody Arts Center in partnership with the Verona Senior Center.
Hankes Completes WBA Commercial Lending School, Settlers Bank is excited to announce that Joseph Hankes, Credit Analyst, recently completed the WBA Introduction to Commercial Lending School.
ALTUS Announces Lease of Office Space, ALTUS Commercial Real Estate is pleased to announce that Anita Frey has completed the lease of office space at 8001 Excelsior Drive to Easter Seals Wisconsin.
Three New Retailers Coming to Greenway Station, With seven grand openings since last October, Greenway Station is going to top-off the lease year with three new retailers including Thirty State, LANG and Tuesday Morning.
Select a Local Contractor for Hail Damage & Repairs, When a hail storm tracks directly towards a densely populated urban area, there is often an immediate threat to the safety of individuals in the storm.
Middleton Endowment Accepting Grant Applications for the 2016 Fall Cycle, The Middleton Endowment Committee is again accepting grant applications from charitable organizations located in the Middleton area for its 2016 fall cycle.
ZDA Participates in PARK(ing) Day, ZDA was thrilled to participate in the global movement, PARK(ing) Day, again this year.
Sale of Lake Edge Luxary Apartments, Lou Reed of ALTUS Commercial Real Estate has completed the $8.3 million sale of Lake Edge Luxary Apartments to a private investor.
Register for "Profit Mastery" Seminar, Wisconsin Bank & Trust is sponsoring a hands-on financial training workshop for business professionals titled "Profit Mastery: Creating Value & Building Wealth for Business" on November 16-17 at St. Norbert College.
Overture Events Honor Hispanic Heritage Month, Overture Center welcomes Maraca & His Latin Jazz All Stars to the Capitol Theater on October 7.
UW-Madison Family Business Center Celebrates 20 Years, What could a golf course, dairy product transportation company, steel manufacturer, chicken processor and an ambulance service, possibly have in common?
Overture's Rising Stars Announced, Overture Center announce the 2016-2017 Rising Star finalists, they preformed on September 24 and William Taylor of Lancaster, WI, was the grand prize winner for his lyrical dance.
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10/4
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Sale - Join for $1,Anytime Fitness
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10/4 & 6
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October Travel Event Nights, Middleton Travel
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More Info
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10/5
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Frankly Speaking About Cancer: Clinical Trials, Gilda's Club
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10/6
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Data Security and Business, 5Nines
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10/6
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Art Show & Auction, Food Concepts Inc.
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10/8
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A John Denver Tribute, Friends of the PAC
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10/9
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Paws for Pints at Capital Brewery, Cat Care Clinic
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10/9
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9th Annual Gilda's Run, Gilda's Club
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10/11
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Dine to Benefit "Shop with a Cop", Quaker Steak & Lube
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10/11
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Focus Your Business Through Segmentation, Smith & Gesteland
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10/11
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2016 Dept. of Labor Overtime Rule Changes, Berndt CPAs
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10/11
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Volunteer Orientation, Agrace
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10/13
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QuickBooks Seminar, Broyles & Company CPAs
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10/18
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Small Business: The Fundamentals, UW Madison SBDC
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10/19
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Business Blogging for Beginners, Uw Madison SBDC
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10/27
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Roaring '20s Fundraiser, Middleton Historical Society
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How Did You Get From There to Here?
Profiles on the vo
cational journey
Interview by Patricia Eldred
Patricia joined MOM (Middleton Outreach Ministry) in December 2015 as Director of Development. She is currently engaged in inspiring and facilitating donations from community businesses, foundations, individuals, service and, faith-based organizations. Patricia has worked as a development professional with numerous Wisconsin nonprofit organizations for more than twenty years and holds the Certified Fundraising Executive credential.
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Meet: Gwen Bryan
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Gwen in Mardi Gras Attire
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Co-owner, Louisianne's Etc. Restaurant
Where did you grow up? What did you want to be when you grew up?
I grew up in a family that raised and grew much of its own food so I learned early on to appreciate fresh, simple, but delicious, home grown meals. I also got into the business world early with my own paper route in 6th grade and a stint at the local Dairy Queen when I was 14. I was always interested in travel and learning about other countries and cultures, so in 1988, I moved to Madison to study International Relations at the U.W.
How did you get involved with Louisianne's?
While I was a student, I worked at the old Cajun Way restaurant on Monroe St. The restaurant served simple Cajun cuisine but sparked my interest in New Orleans food. I also learned the basics of the restaurant business there. When the space that was then Middleton Station became vacant in 1992, I thought it would be a great opportunity to offer a New Orleans experience right here in Middleton, serving a sophisticated menu that emphasized Creole as well as Cajun style dishes. So, in 1992, along with another employee and the chef from Cajun Way, I opened Louisianne's Etc. In April 2017, we'll be celebrating our 25th anniversary here at Louisianne's by featuring dishes from past menus that customers have come to love, and continue to request.
What was the inspiration for a New Orleans-themed restaurant in Wisconsin? And what does the ETC stand for?
I've visited New Orleans many, many times over the years and continue to discover new foods and be inspired by my experiences there. To me, New Orleans food is truly American food because it is a fusion of the best of so many cultures, just like our country. Spanish, French, African, Asian, all of these and more are part of what makes New Orleans such a vibrant food town. The last time I was there I had a wonderful meal at a Vietnamese restaurant. So, it continues to inspire me.
The Etc. originally referred to the "extras" we decided to offer to make Louisianne's more than just a destination for excellent food. From the beginning we offered music and celebrated the culture. Johnny Chimes has been entertaining our guests with his New Orleans piano music for 24 of the last 25 years. Now, Etc. also refers to our upstairs "party room." That's the space where we host company parties, wedding rehearsal dinners, holiday celebrations, etc.!
What do you feel is Louisianne's best contribution to the Middleton community? What are you most proud of?
I'm proud of having been part of the community for 25 years and part of the lives of our guests. Many of our regulars had their first date here, then came back for a rehearsal dinner, celebrated their first anniversary here-then, maybe you don't see them for a year or two or three, and when they come back, they bring the kids. I feel like we've been a sort of anchor and inspiration for other businesses to come to Middleton. They saw our success and decided they could make it here too. And, as we can see now, Middleton has become a thriving community and is still growing.
What are some of your challenges as a restaurant owner?
Probably just keeping up with the trends (like gluten-free, dairy-free foods) while maintaining the integrity and authenticity of our menu. You know, dairy-free just doesn't work very well in New Orleans cooking-you've got to have that butter and cream. I've heard a lot of restaurant owners say their biggest problem is keeping staff. That's never been an issue for me. My chef has been here since Day One and the bartender, for 20 years. We're really like a family. Each of us has our area of expertise and we respect the skills each of us brings to making Louisianne's Etc. a success. We also are fortunate to have loyal customers and good friends in the community, like our special friend, a local man who brings us fresh vegetables and herbs from his garden each summer-just out of the goodness of his heart.
What changes have you seen in the industry? What's your vision of the future for you and for Louisianne's Etc.
I've been noticing a trend toward serving numerous small plates in a more informal setting and I'm thinking about maybe converting our Etc. space into a "small plates" restaurant when it's not being used for private parties. I think the growth and development that's happening downtown in the next year is going to bring in more customers and a more diverse clientele, who might be looking for a new kind of eating experience, plus that space has street exposure so it would offer a different atmosphere as well.
Tell me a little about your family. Any children, pets?
My husband, Erik, and I have been together since 1993 and married in 2010. He is one of the bartenders here at Louisianne's Etc. so it's a family effort. Nebu, our 10 year old, Abyssinian cat, is our other family member. I love cats and have had several Abyssinians.
What do you do for fun?
I love flowers and plants and have a huge garden in my yard. I put in thousands of plants each spring, my favorite season. This year, I've found a new creative passion. When I went shopping for a bird bath for the garden, I was amazed at how expensive they were and thought, "I could make one of those." So I decided to try. I started by using one of the restaurant mixing bowls to form a base of concrete into which I pressed terra cotta and other bright pieces of glass or stone. Then I figured out how to form the pedestal and decorate it and my new craft was born. Maybe I'll start a bird bath business on the side! I also like to golf and, of course, to travel
Closing thoughts? Anything else you'd like to add?
Just that Middleton has been a very welcoming and easy place to run a business. The "City and Chamber people" are very involved and accessible--Van is great! Our neighbors: Village Green, Vin Santo, Sofra, Villa and Chauette have been fantastic through the years. We can borrow things if we run short and we loan to them as well. Middleton, especially the downtown area, is a wonderful thriving community.
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Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance of WI, Inc.
Aquire Restoration, Inc.
Artis REIT
Auto Paint & Supply Company
Buschs Signs & Designs, Inc.
Caribou Property Management, LLC
Chauette
Coldwell Banker Success - Frank
Coldwell Banker Success - Roehl
Comfort Keepers
Community Pharmacy
Compel Consulting Inc.
Dale Carnegie Training
Easy Mortgage, Inc.
Fairfield Inn & Suites -
Madison West/Middleton
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Family Dentistry & Orthodontics
Fearing's Audio Video Security
Gary Brink & Associates, Inc.
Gilda's Club Madison Wisconsin, Inc.
Good Neighbor Liquor
Home Health United
JML II Team at Merrill Lynch
Kunkel & Associates
Lee & Associates of Madison
Liberty Professional Services
Milio's Sandwiches
MK Accounting & Tax LLC
Neil's Liquor
New York Life
Olson Toon Landscaping, Inc.
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Parmenter Circle Apartments
Personal Finance Company
Pop-Dot
PPD, Inc.
REACH-A-Child
Reynolds Urethane Recycling
Sam's Club
See Change Management
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Stark Company Realtors - Bidwell
Summers Christmas Tree Farm
T. Wall Enterprises Mgt, LLC
The Little Gym of Middleton
Tingalls Graphic Design, LLC
Top Promotions
Waddell & Reed
WBUW CW57
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Death's Door Spirits
Hallman Lindsay Quality Paints
REACH-A-Child
V-Soft Consulting
10 Years
Two Men And A Truck
15 Years
Liberty Professional Services
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Thank You for your continued support!
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