It takes determination, perseverence, and hard work to open and run a business – and having a degree from the UWM College of Letters & Science doesn’t hurt either.
L&S alums have long been an intrinsic part of Milwaukee’s small business community. From food trucks to sustainable energy to doula and birth services, our alumni are sharing their passions and pursuing their dreams as entrepreneurs. Meet some of our L&S business owners from across the disciplines and learn more about how they add to Milwaukee area’s vibrant arts, culinary, and entertainment industries.
Jack DeDecker (’12, BA Linguistics) – Jasher’s Organic Tea House
How did Jasher’s Organic Tea House come to be?
My wife and I are both tea lovers at heart – she grew up in India and would drink masala chai (spiced tea) almost every day. I, on the other hand, had a late start in my journey of tea: It was in my college days at UWM, and I vividly remember my first cup. It was at Roast on Locust and Maryland where I had the green jasmine tea, and the whole experience was amazing. I started exploring more tea from there. Whenever we host friends or family at our home, we almost always serve tea. So when we thought about starting a business, naturally we dreamed about a tea house in Milwaukee.
What is the best part about running your business?
We simply love to host, and we also want to expand our guests’ imagination when it comes to tea. Most Americans don’t always have a great experience with tea, so we want to leave them with a better taste in their mouth, literally and figuratively speaking. There are also certain nuances about the culture of tea vs. other drinks: the slow and relaxed pace, multiple steeps, and enjoying the cup in community.
How did your UWM education help you along the way?
I remember that I took an ethics class, and I learned generally about the global food supply chain and that has helped me to make informed decisions about where we source our tea and other ingredients. It is very important to us that all of our ingredients are certified organic, so that there is another level of accountability and the highest quality product is served to our customers without the need for any natural or artificial flavors.
What one thing do you want people to know about Jasher’s Organic Tea House?
We really enjoy hosting community events like live music every month and also serving our scratch-made-daily masala chai as well as the iced teas.
Simon (’23, BA Actuarial Science) and Emily (’21, BA Psychology) Dembiec – 2D Photo Booths, LLC
What’s the story behind 2D Photo Booths?
We rent Photo Booth open air, enclosed, video and 360 Photo Booth experiences and balloon garland backdrops for weddings and other life celebrations! We found out we were pregnant with our first child and wanted to make more income to give my wife the option to stay at home. I used to DJ and our dream is to own a wedding venue, so we thought about the best way to get back into the space. Photo booths was the clear winner for us! We also married young and have a deep desire to provide quality and affordable services for people with all budgets. We have premium packages and experiences but we also have options for any sort of celebration and budget with packages starting around $300!
What is the best part of running your business?
The best part is seeing how what we offer transforms people’s events for the better! The smiles, laughs, memories, and experiences that we create are what motivate us to keep going!
How did your education at UWM help you along the way?
It did get me a secure and stable job that could supplement what goes into starting a business!
What do you want people to know about 2D Photo Booths?
I think the most fun thing for me is being able to provide these things for the people I love!! We have been able to provide backdrops and photo booths to multiple family members and friends for baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, and more!!
Dominique Lambright (’15, BA English) – DML Editing & Writing
What services does your business provide?
Founded in 2014, DML Editing & Writing provides professional editing, writing, coaching, and virtual support services for authors, entrepreneurs, and professionals. From manuscripts and business content to career documents and speaking engagements, we help clients communicate their ideas with clarity, professionalism, and confidence.
How did you decide to start your own company?
Honestly, I got pregnant my 3rd year at UW-Milwaukee and lost my job at Target in West Allis. I panicked, as I was 20 and didn’t know how I was going to help support having a baby, so I signed up for Thumbtack and went from there, creating a business name on the fly and then sending out quotes to people left and right. Finally, I landed an older client, and from that point on I knew I wanted to continue the journey I started. (I have) the ability to do what I love and get paid for it. It really is a blessing.
How did your UWM education help you along the way?
My Business Writing course sharpened my written communication, allowing me to properly explain the benefits of working with me to clients via brochures, web content, blogging, PowerPoints, email, etc. Additionally, all the creative writing courses that improved my overall writing have been phenomenal in propelling my author career as well.
What’s one thing you wish people knew about running a business?
When you own a business that you love from the bottom of your heart, never forget why you love doing what you do. If you don’t forget that WHY, you will always have a reason to keep going, a reason to stay motivated, a reason to keep growing. Nothing will be able to stop you.