Chancellor Mone and Sheldon B. Lubar presenting to a group of people at the LEC.

The UWM Lubar Entrepreneurship Center (LEC) uses a multidisciplinary approach to pair forward-thinking instructors with unique programming. Our mission is to help students, faculty, and staff: nurture their ideas; build confidence; succeed as entrepreneurs, innovators, and change-makers

Growing UWM’s Innovative Ecosystem

The Lubar Entrepreneurship Center is a cornerstone of UWM’s innovative ecosystem, engaging students and faculty across disciplines to enhance innovation and creativity. Our programs:

  • Provide skills in innovation, creativity, and design thinking
  • Build on UWM’s foundation in research and education
  • Engage our community, faculty, and students in innovation

As a pillar of Milwaukee’s innovative ecosystem, we:

  • Host key programs to create a pipeline of talent
  • Serve as a resource for growing businesses and budding ideas
  • Offer experiential learning in entrepreneurship, innovation, and design-thinking with instruction adapted to hands-on, real-world problem-solving scenarios

Building Hours

Spring 2025

Mon – Thurs | 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM

Fri | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Location

The Lubar Entrepreneurship Center is housed in a 24,000 sq. ft. facility at the northwest corner of E. Kenwood Blvd and N. Maryland Avenue, along with the UWM Welcome Center.

2100 E Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53211

Innovation Spaces

Our center is designed to inspire collaboration and creativity through signature spaces equipped with whiteboards, sticky-notes, craft materials, and more:

Innovation Commons

  • Large, open space – shown to inspire creativity and innovation
  • Features casual, comfortable seating for brainstorming and collaboration

Co-Working and Huddle Spaces

  • Whiteboards for brainstorming
  • HDMI-compatible TVs

Innovation Labs and Maker Spaces

  • Great for experimenting and prototyping
  • Assortment of crafts available for use

Touchdown and Launch Space

  • Collaborative area with tools for ideation and group work
  • Whiteboards, sticky notes, and markers for brainstorming

LEC Staff

Headshot of Ilya Avdeev, Director of the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Director, Lubar Enterpreneurship Center
Headshot of Gillian Chamberlin, Senior Director for Advancement at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Senior Director, Transformational Initiatives, University Advancement
Headshot of Amelia Coffaro, former Well-Entrepreneur at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Well Entrepreneur-In-Residence
Headshot of Priya Devpura, former Innovation Intern at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Innovation Intern, Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
Headshot of Colin Flanner, Operations Manager at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Operations Manager, Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
Headshot of Tristan Jarvey, Innovation Intern at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Innovation Intern, Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
Headshot of Nikko Javier, Innovation Intern at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Innovation Intern, Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
Headshot of Loren Peterson, Entrepreneur-In-Residence at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
Headshot of Samantha Sarenac, Innovation Intern at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Innovation Intern, Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
Headshot of Nathaniel Stern, UWM Startup Challenge Director at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Director, UWM Startup Challenge
Headshot of Brian Thompson, Chief Innovation & Partnership Officer at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Chief Innovation & Partnership Officer, UWM Office of Strategic Partnerships
Headshot of Tiera Trammell, Program Manager at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Program Manager, Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
Headshot of Ian Wiese, Entrepreneur-In-Residence at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
Headshot of Tiffany Yvonne, Entrepreneur-In-Residence at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
  • Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Lubar Entrepreneurship Center