Kat Kroll

Kat Kroll. Photo courtesy of NEWaukee.

Where do you work and what makes your role awesome?I am a Product Owner at Penrod, a cloud consulting agency and Salesforce.com partner. What makes my job and the company as a whole awesome is the positive culture. We work extremely hard at Penrod so having company events outside of work keeps us all motivated. Going out to breakfast, to Brewer games, dodge ball tournaments and late night Disney-themed-sing-alongs are just a few of the fun things we get to do at Penrod.

How long have you lived in Milwaukee and what brought you here?

I moved to Milwaukee from La Crosse almost six years ago. I had just graduated college and was looking for new opportunities in a bigger city. I got really lucky with a great first job in Milwaukee and haven’t looked back since.

What do you love most about Milwaukee?

I love that Milwaukee is a “big” city with small city vibes. There are a lot of big box stores and chain restaurants, but also so many small eclectic stores and restaurants that give Milwaukee its unique style.

What is one word that you would use to describe Milwaukee?

Evolving. There is constant growth and change and I am happy to see it all happening!

Where do you see Milwaukee in five years?

In five years I see the continuing growth and development revitalizing the Downtown area, along with the completed arena attracting new and exciting events for our city to enjoy.

What local restaurant is at the top of your list?

There are so many! Major Goolsby’s before Bucks game, La Merenda for dinner, Uber Tap Room for Cheese Pairings and wine, Gloriosios’s for lunch and Collectivo for coffee any time!

With planned or proposed development projects all over Milwaukee like Century City, the arena and harbor district, my hope is that these projects are able to accomplish their intended purpose and have a lasting positive and uplifting effect on each of the surrounding areas.

What is your favorite Milwaukee tradition? 

Summer festivals are such a great tradition. With so many different cultural backgrounds in Milwaukee, the festivals are able to showcase the diversity of our city. The views from the Lakefront combined with the amazing food and drinks are a great way to spend a summer day.

What does your ideal Milwaukee weekend look like?

I like my weekends pretty quiet. I love to be outside with my dog if the weather is nice- running the Lakefront or exploring trails. At night, a glass of wine on a patio is my go to. Also, I am a huge sports fan so anytime I can get to game, fight or match is a great day.

What neighborhood do you live in and why do you love it?

I have lived Downtown for four years and love the convenience and walkability. With great vibes from Old World Third to the lakefront, there is always something to see and do.

What do you think is going to be a game changer for the city in the year of 2016?

Although it probably won’t happen this year, the idea of eventually having grocery in Grand Avenue would truly be a “game-changer” for me.