Nick Walls

Nick Walls. Photo courtesy of NEWaukee.

Where do you work and what makes your role awesome?

I’m the Managing Director at the Lueder Financial Group, Mequon district office. I have the opportunity of enriching the Mequon and greater Milwaukee area through providing financial security solutions. In addition, I also get to positively impact the lives of those who get the gift of this career.

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

I was born and raised in Milwaukee and went to Wauwatosa East H.S. I went away for school and spent some time after that in a few different cities but came back home to attend Marquette University Law School.

What do you love most about Milwaukee?

I love the rich history of Milwaukee and the cultural blend that we have in abundance. I also enjoy having the lake as a center piece of our community and it adds a really cool dimension to our growing city. And of course…the Pack, Brew Crew and the Bucks!

What is something that is missing from our community that you would love to see implemented?

We need to have more conversations around how we can become more united as a community as opposed to growing further apart which is the direction we have been going in the recent past. We will all grow better and faster if we do it together.

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

Potential

Where do you see Milwaukee in five years?

Hopefully, we are an integrated community that is welcoming to all types of individuals and can attract diverse talent that is on the cutting edge to drive our city forward. And ideally we can do that in a way that will not lose the character of the city.

I truly hope we can bring professional soccer to the Milwaukee area. We have a very rich history of soccer in our city and I think it would be widely supported. Efforts have failed in the past due to lack of a plan and the backing of key stakeholders but I hope it can work in the future.

What is your biggest hope for this city?

Again, I just hope that we can reverse the trend of segregating our community and come together. Additionally, we need to create more opportunity for growth in our urban areas which will reduce the crime that has taken over some parts. This includes investment, not divestment in our public schools.

What is your favorite Milwaukee tradition?

Tailgating at Brewers and Packers games. We have one of the best sports fan bases in the entire country, bar none. One of the things that makes it a special experience is the tailgating and fun that is had both before and after the game.

What do you think is going to be a game changer for the city in the year of 2018?

I think the new Bucks arena as well as Northwestern Mutual’s investment in the city will spur great growth in 2018 and beyond. Downtown should be a destination for families and individuals, and that is the direction the new Bucks arena will take us.