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Content referencing Don Smiley
The Last Paycheck of Don Smiley
He was supposed to be replaced as Summerfest CEO in 2024. So what happened?
Dec 17th, 2025 by Bruce Murphy
Don Smiley’s 12 Years of Lavish Pay
Continuing in 2023 even after new Summerfest president appointed.
Mar 10th, 2025 by Bruce Murphy
The Year’s Most Popular Murphy’s Law Columns
What do Don Smiley, Ryan Clancy and Eric Hovde have in column?
Dec 30th, 2024 by Urban Milwaukee
Does Summerfest Get Special Treatment?
Its bar license owned by private company never gets a thorough review by the city.
Dec 4th, 2024 by Bruce Murphy
Why Does Summerfest Run a Private Company?
Its managers Ron San Felippo and Mike White can't explain it. And Summerfest won't say. Third story of investigative series.
Oct 7th, 2024 by Bruce Murphy
Don Smiley Paid $3.3 Million in 2022
Summerfest boss has collected $9.9 million in 6 years for running tax-exempt charity.
May 20th, 2024 by Bruce Murphy
Aurora Summerfest Deal Raises Questions
Why is a hospital chain paying for music? And where will money for sponsorship deal come from?
Dec 12th, 2023 by Bruce Murphy
Aurora Becoming Stage Sponsor at Summerfest
Former Johnson Controls World Sound Stage will become The Aurora Pavilion, receive upgrades.
Dec 7th, 2023 by Sophie Bolich
Summerfest Attendance Up 40%, 3-Weekend Format To Continue
But overall attendance was still well below pre-pandemic levels.
Jul 11th, 2023 by Sophie Bolich
Don Smiley’s Latest Paycheck Was $991,154
Summerfest boss has collected $6.56 million in five years for running tax exempt charity.
Jun 21st, 2023 by Bruce Murphy
MCTS Will Provide Buses for Summerfest
MCTS returning to Summerfest with shuttles from two park-and-ride lots.
Apr 25th, 2023 by Graham Kilmer
Summerfest Unveils 2023 Schedule
Here's an easy-to-read schedule, grouped by date and stage.
Mar 23rd, 2023 by Jeramey Jannene
Most Popular Murphy’s Law Columns
Readers liked stories about Tims -- Michels and Ramthun. And Summerfest, its well paid leader and IRS complaint were hot stuff.
Dec 28th, 2022 by Bruce Murphy
Summerfest Will Keep 3-Weekend Format
Festival says format will return in 2023 and survey shows attendee prefer it.
Aug 30th, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Summerfest To Provide Shuttle Service
Private service will be twice as expensive and provide fewer stops than now cancelled public option.
Jun 3rd, 2022 by Graham Kilmer
Summerfest Leader Will Step Down At End of 2023
Don Smiley will return at the end of 2023. Sarah Smith Pancheri named president.
Jun 3rd, 2022 by Jeramey Jannene
Want To Visit Summerfest’s Children’s Park? Check The Schedule
Northwestern Mutual Community Park is free and popular, but availability is based on fest calendar.
Apr 21st, 2022 by Jeramey Jannene
IRS Complaint Filed Against Summerfest
Complaint challenges festival’s nonprofit status, claiming it now operates ‘as a commercial entity.’
Mar 30th, 2022 by Bruce Murphy
Summerfest CEO Collects $2.49 Million
Don Smiley gets total compensation of 1.19 million in 2019 and $1.29 million in 2020.
Jan 18th, 2022 by Bruce Murphy
Summerfest Lands One of the City of Milwaukee’s Top Attorneys
Mary Schanning will become general counsel, chief administrative officer at Milwaukee World Festival.
Dec 9th, 2021 by Jeramey Jannene
Indoor Concert Complex Planned Next To Summerfest
800 and 4,000 seat theaters would offer year-round entertainment.
Dec 2nd, 2021 by Jeramey Jannene
Summerfest Will Offer Its Own Shuttles
Festival to offer scaled-down version of MCTS park-and-ride bus network.
Aug 24th, 2021 by Jeramey Jannene
Summerfest Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination or Negative Test
Music festival is first major outdoor event in Milwaukee area to implement requirement.
Aug 10th, 2021 by Jeramey Jannene
Northwestern Mutual Builds New Park on Summerfest Grounds
New park replaces the Children's Theater and Playzone.
Jun 17th, 2021 by Hope Moses
Summerfest Moving to September for 2021
Another June festival announces delay.
Feb 2nd, 2021 by Jeramey Jannene
Summerfest Trades Harley-Davidson for Generac
Generator manufacturer will sponsor stage on festival grounds.
Nov 10th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Summerfest Canceled
Due to the pandemic, for the first time in the festival's history it is canceled
Jun 4th, 2020 by Andrea Anderson
Summerfest Flush With Cash
Festival has $47 million net fund balance. Aldermen say it can afford to pay for police services.
Feb 4th, 2020 by Bruce Murphy
Summerfest Pays No Net Rent
Charges ethnic festivals more rent than it pays city, like “a greedy landlord,” alderman charges.
Nov 26th, 2019 by Bruce Murphy
Summerfest Got $48 Million in Gifts
Total donations from 2010 to 2018 helped pay for CEO Don Smiley’s "caviar lifestyle"?
Nov 21st, 2019 by Bruce Murphy
Should Summerfest Pay Higher Rent?
Harbor House pays at least 7 times more than Summerfest per acre of lakefront land.
Nov 14th, 2019 by Bruce Murphy
Journal Sentinel’s Huge Mistake
Newspaper vastly inflates growth of Summerfest CEO Don Smiley’s compensation.
Nov 11th, 2019 by Bruce Murphy
Summerfest CEO Awarded $2.33 Million
Don Smiley’s 2017 pay package includes $1.3 million deferred from prior years. City officials “shocked.”
Nov 8th, 2019 by Bruce Murphy
The Bogus Studies of Miller Park
How we've been misled -- repeatedly -- about Brewers “economic impact.”
May 10th, 2017 by Bruce Murphy
New Summerfest Name, New Amphitheater
American Family gets naming rights to Summerfest, helps pay for amphitheater.
Jan 26th, 2017 by Michael Horne
New Stage for Summerfest Coming
U.S. Cellular inks 10-year deal; will spend millions to replace its music facility by 2018.
Dec 8th, 2016 by Michael Horne
The Design Competition That Wasn’t
Lakefront Gateway competition picked a team, not a design. So what will that mean for the lakefront?
Nov 23rd, 2015 by Tom Bamberger
New Penthouse for Old Third Ward Building
Eppstein Uhen short of space in Headquarters; Bauman rips Summerfest traffic woes; and his challenger kicks off campaign
Aug 12th, 2015 by Michael Horne
Milwaukee’s Biggest Building Breaks Ground
"A beautiful day in Milwaukee" and for assembled power brokers as Northwestern Mutual's new skyscraper gets underway.
Aug 26th, 2014 by Jeramey Jannene
The Return of Flying Car
What will be featured at next month’s third annual showcase of technology and innovation.
May 21st, 2014 by Brett Kihlmire
The House of Hank the Dog
The Brewer's canine mascot has a nine-room Whitefish Bay home and 10,000 square foot lot to roam in, all worth $570,000.
Mar 24th, 2014 by Michael Horne
Don Smiley’s Ever-Higher Salary
His salary rose by $114,000, to more than $886,000, and the explanations keep getting thinner.
May 20th, 2013 by Bruce Murphy
The Arrogance of Summerfest
Mayor Barrett met with Summerfest board members, who agreed to share more information about its finances and director’s compensation.
May 7th, 2013 by Bruce Murphy
County Board Violates Its Own Law
Lobbyists have worked without board approval, which could be a cause for “discharge” of board chair Dimitrivjevic.
Apr 18th, 2013 by Bruce Murphy
Pabst Leader’s Salary Far Below Smiley’s
Pabst boss Gary Witt makes less than a third of what Smiley makes. Ald. Bauman questions this.
Apr 10th, 2013 by Michael Horne
The Arrogance of Summerfest
Why the tax-exempt, city-supported non-profit should be transparent about its director’s salary.
Apr 9th, 2013 by Bruce Murphy
Don Smiley’s Cool Condo
It cost him $646,000, but heck, that's less than a year's salary for the Summerfest CEO.
Mar 29th, 2013 by Michael Horne
Common Council Expands BID Board
To begin the proceedings Don Smiley the CEO of Summerfest gave a presentation regarding this year’s Summerfest during which he pointed out two items of interest. First, they have demolished the Harley Davidson Roadhouse and constructed a new stage that will open on June 26th. They’ve opened up that stage to the lakeside and created a 3,000 square foot deck so the general public at large can enjoy the lake front while enjoying the music. Secondly, Smiley made it clear that part of Summerfest’s marketing would be to tie the marketing to the City of Milwaukee. These improvements should be applauded and hopefully Summerfest will continue to improve the grounds and connection with the City of Milwaukee. The first items taken up at the Common Council meeting were to complete unfinished business from the previous cycle. Although all five appointments had been held at the encouragement of Alderman Nik Kovac specifically included in this was the appointments of Boris Gokhman and Joel Lee to BID #41. The delay provided time to expand the board from five to seven members and with the history between New Land Enterprises and Alderman Kovac it at least gives the appearance that this board expansion was done to dilute the influence that New Land Enterprises may have on BID #41. The Common Council also approved resolution 080121 which would accept funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities 2008 grant. The City of Milwaukee is one of twelve cities selected for this grant which will be used to provide training for solar panel installation and funds for educational materials to help promote solar technologies. Alderman Tony Zielinski sponsored and encouraged these efforts and it is clear this is just the beggining of his attempts to “green” the City of Milwaukee.
Jun 15th, 2008 by Dave Reid
