Ben McCarville

Ben McCarville. Photo courtesy of NEWaukee.

What is your job and its responsibilities?

I’m a Consumer Marketing Specialist for Associated Bank. My team works with our lines of business to develop marketing campaigns and programs throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. With all the changes that have impacted the financial services world in the past decade, it’s a fascinating industry to work in (I swear!). Plus, it doesn’t hurt to be the Bank of the Green Bay Packers.

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

I first moved to Milwaukee when I enrolled at UWM in 2007, and moved back after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2011. I was drawn back to Milwaukee because the city had (and still has) so much potential. There are a lot of passionate, creative people here who want to see that potential realized, and it’s a really exciting movement to be a part of.

What is the one thing you’d like to change about Milwaukee?

Sometimes I think we (myself included) spend too much time worrying about how we stack up next to cities like Chicago, Portland, Denver, etc. and not enough time embracing what makes Milwaukee such a unique place to live. We have a lot to be proud of, and we don’t need Thrillist or Buzzfeed to prove it!

What is your favorite Milwaukee beer?

On the record: Lakefront’s Bridge Burner Ale. Off the record: Schlitz. I know Schlitz isn’t technically being brewed in Milwaukee right now, but I’m holding out hope for the future.

Is there an issue you believe all Milwaukeeans should turn our attention to?

Every day, we receive regular updates about the growth of downtown and all the development projects underway. We have every reason to be excited by that momentum, but I also love hearing about the work organizations like the Walnut Way Conservation Corp. are doing to help rehabilitate Milwaukee’s underprivileged neighborhoods. If you’re not familiar, check out Georgia Pabst’s article ‘Agents of Change’ in the October issue of Milwaukee Magazine. It’s a fantastic read.

What is your favorite Milwaukee tradition?

Dive bars! Milwaukee’s brewing history has given us a lot of unique, neighborhood bars with tons of character. How many bars outside of Wisconsin have bowling lanes in the basement? My guess is not many.