Kyle Willkom

How long have you lived in Milwaukee and how did you choose to live here?
I’ve lived in Milwaukee for 5 years beginning with my time as a student at Marquette University.

What about Milwaukee makes it a place you want to live, work, and play in?
Milwaukee has all the desirable aspects of a big city and a small town that make me feel happy to call it home. The people are genuine, the business community is exciting, the social culture is evolving, and the sports world stays active year-round. What’s not to love?

What is your favorite Milwaukee event?
At the risk of being cliche, my favorite Milwaukee event is definitely Summerfest. As Kid President would appreciate, Summerfest gives people a reason to dance, and I’m a big fan. There is music for everyone, and I really enjoy the wide range of people I see and interact with while there.

What is one thing about Milwaukee you’d like to see change?
I’d like to see Milwaukee continue to establish a culture of tolerance, acceptance, and trust. It would be great to see some of the gaps (racial, economic, etc.) filled throughout the surrounding Milwaukee area.

What do you do?
I am a Brand Manager, Keynote Speaker, and Author for FOCUS Training. I speak and run leadership workshops for high school students across the country, and I oversee our online marketing efforts. My book, Wake Up Call, was published in April and talks about the 5 lessons they won’t teach you in school.