In advance of Small Business Saturday, set for Nov. 29, we’re highlighting some of the many UWM alumni-owned businesses you might consider visiting and supporting.
You can find more Panther-owned businesses in our Alumni Business Directory. Please reach out if you or someone you know has a business that should be included in the directory. And if you haven’t already, consider joining Panthers Connect, UWM’s exclusive networking platform, which is another great way for Panthers to support Panthers.
Emerald Mills ’04
Diverse Dining
After some 20 years in the public health sector, Emerald Mills wanted a new career chapter, but one where she could still make a difference in the community. She fulfilled it by founding Diverse Dining, which simultaneously fosters constructive conversations – often among people with opposing viewpoints – while also serving them delicious meals across a spectrum of cuisines.
In addition to catering meals, Diverse Dining also serves as an incubator for startup food entrepreneurs through the Diverse Dining Market in downtown Milwaukee. It houses a rotating menu of offerings from vendors who learn the dining ropes, perfect their product and grow their customer base, then head off to fully launch their businesses. It’s the latest way Mills is serving the community and nurturing the seeds that were planted at UWM.
“The opportunity to study abroad at UWM and take my first flight to Ghana cracked my world wide open,” Mills says. “Seeing culture, commerce and community through a global lens reshaped how I lead and serve in Milwaukee. That trip gave me the perspective that powers Diverse Dining—food as a bridge, people as the point.”
In addition to catering meals, Diverse Dining also serves as an incubator for startup food entrepreneurs through the Diverse Dining Market in downtown Milwaukee. It houses a rotating menu of offerings from vendors who learn the dining ropes, perfect their product and grow their customer base, then head off to fully launch their businesses. It’s the latest way Mills is serving the community and nurturing the seeds that were planted at UWM.
“The opportunity to study abroad at UWM and take my first flight to Ghana cracked my world wide open,” Mills says. “Seeing culture, commerce and community through a global lens reshaped how I lead and serve in Milwaukee. That trip gave me the perspective that powers Diverse Dining—food as a bridge, people as the point.”
Bryan Bergner ’96
Highlands Honey
What began as a backyard project with Miles, Bryan’s then-6-year-old son, has turned into a thriving business producing delicious, small-batch raw honey. Highlands Honey uses bee-centric management practices to ensure the health of its 68 hives spread across southeastern Wisconsin because, as the Bergners say, happy bees make happy honey.
It all started with one hive in the Milwaukee suburb of Bay View as a way to provide Miles with people skills and develop a sense of ownership. Miles sold the first batch of honey out of the back of a battery-powered toy tractor, and today, it’s available for purchase directly through the Highlands Honey website.
“My education experience at UW-Milwaukee is something that I cherish to this day,” Bryan Bergner says. “It put me on the path to our current business and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”
It all started with one hive in the Milwaukee suburb of Bay View as a way to provide Miles with people skills and develop a sense of ownership. Miles sold the first batch of honey out of the back of a battery-powered toy tractor, and today, it’s available for purchase directly through the Highlands Honey website.
“My education experience at UW-Milwaukee is something that I cherish to this day,” Bryan Bergner says. “It put me on the path to our current business and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”
Floating Flame
Ben Caya had already put his mechanical engineering degree to use by founding Spike Brewing, a homebrew beer equipment company. Now, he’s expanded his small business interests to Floating Flame, which sells portable fire pits that customers can use at cookouts, tailgating parties and yes, even boats.
The self-contained, propane-powered fire pits are popular with pontoon boat owners, and Caya’s customers also use them on docks, yachts and houseboats. Designed with boat safety in mind, the pits produce the warmth of a cozy, campfire atmosphere that’s perfect for socializing, or just chilling out. And for Caya, it’s a fun way to continue exercising an entrepreneurial spirit that got its start at UWM.
“I was the UWM Club Football president for two years during my time at UWM,” Caya says. “This gave me great experience in leading a diverse team but also was great for time management and prioritization.
The self-contained, propane-powered fire pits are popular with pontoon boat owners, and Caya’s customers also use them on docks, yachts and houseboats. Designed with boat safety in mind, the pits produce the warmth of a cozy, campfire atmosphere that’s perfect for socializing, or just chilling out. And for Caya, it’s a fun way to continue exercising an entrepreneurial spirit that got its start at UWM.
“I was the UWM Club Football president for two years during my time at UWM,” Caya says. “This gave me great experience in leading a diverse team but also was great for time management and prioritization.