Brandon Tschacher

Brandon Tschacher

What is your job and its responsibilities?

I currently work in two worlds, professionally as a Senior Communicators Manager for HSA Bank located in Schlitz Park and in the start-up environment as the Co-Founder of MyCombine, Inc. a tech based company with a focus on performance testing and assessment for amateur athletes. (www.mycombine.co)

What strikes you as the most unique thing about Milwaukee?

From my time volunteering with Historic Milwaukee, Inc. I gained a real appreciation for all of the unique architecture around the city. The blend of new and old when it comes to design is something I find extremely appealing, compared to other cities that could be described as “Cookie-cutter” or bland.

Favorite place to grab coffee/an after dinner drink?

Although I seem to meet at various coffee shops three plus days a week, I’m actually not much for coffee, so I’ll take stab at the after dinner drink. I’d have to give the nod to not just one spot, but an area. That being Cathedral Square. On a Wednesday or Thursday night, between Taylor’s, Mikey’s, Belmont, etc. I don’ think you can find a more fun atmosphere that provides drinks, food, entertainment and so on. Throw in some warm weather, Jazz in the Park or other similar downtown event and it’s a combination I’ve yet to see be beat.

If the city can get out of its own way and allow for the growth and development currently being pursued, I see a waterfall effect of even greater local investment and an end result of Milwaukee leading the charge as a fast growing, best place to live not just in Wisconsin, but nationally.

What do you think of Milwaukee as a place to work and do business?

The Milwaukee business community to me feels like a group on the verge of a breakthrough, but that is weathering the last surge of a past generation uncomfortable or unwilling to relinquishing control. It’s a long and complicated discussion but in my opinion the stark reality is that many businesses in Milwaukee, because of a lack of understanding of the technology and workforce necessary to adapt, are hesitant to do so and as a result focus more about survival, rather than growth. The talent is here, so it’s a fixable issue, but will require the collaboration of all involved to make a difference. Hopefully sooner than later!

What do you think of Milwaukee as a place to socialize and play?

Milwaukee when it’s at its best is as fun of a place to socialize and play as any place I’ve ever been. Between natural resources like the river and the lake, a growing list of attractions around those areas and the retention of a “small town feel in a big city”, it seems like just a matter of time before we’re known nationally as a place to visit to have a unique, enjoyable time.