Milwaukee is a city in motion. From physical therapists to gym teachers, bicycle manufacturers to dance instructors, meet seven UWM alumni who work hard to keep Milwaukee moving.
Nicole Watson, Pedal Pushers and Riverwest24
“Milwaukee is doing a pretty good job with its cycling infrastructure but I’d love to see the trails maintained through the winter so we can keep the city pedaling year round.”
Evenings and weekends, Nicole Watson pursues her passion for cycling as part of the women’s riding group Pedal Pushers. Since 2010, she’s shared that passion with the masses as a volunteer organizer of the community-favorite Riverwest24 bike race. Last summer’s event saw 295 teams ride 24 hours – mostly nonstop – around the Riverwest neighborhood. As bonus checkpoint coordinator, Watson’s job is to get riders off the course to showcase slivers of the neighborhood. “Last year we had riders paddle out in canoes on the river,” said the 2007 communication graduate. “Many of them didn’t want to come back. I love that I get to facilitate those moments.”
Kelly Drake, manager of Danceworks Youth Performance Company
“I hope to inspire younger kids to continue to move and use their bodies to express how they feel. I love to see the excitement on the faces of my younger students when they finally master a step.”
Kelly Drake graduated from UWM in 2000 with a dance degree, certification to teach K-12 and two jobs in her field – a full-time teaching position at Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts and a part-time position at Danceworks Inc. Since 2007, she’s made Danceworks her focus as a project manager for Mad Hot Ballroom and Tap (MHBT), which provides art and physical education to hundreds of Milwaukee’s fifth and sixth graders, and assumed other roles. Today she teaches classes, workshops and camps and manages the Danceworks Youth Performance Company. Her dancers, ages 10-17, perform at community events and functions throughout the city.
Nick Ginster, owner at Fyxation Bicycles
“I’m excited to be growing a business that employs passionate individuals, produces products locally and promotes a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Best part is we are doing that right here in Milwaukee.”
Nick Ginster is talking about his company Fyxation Bicycles, which he opened after three years as chief engineer for HB Performance Systems’ Asia operations. While in Taiwan, the 1998 mechanical engineering graduate learned Mandarin and started his own product design and sourcing firm. Back in Milwaukee in 2008, Nick and his brother Ben Ginster launched Fyxation Bicycles to fill a gap in the bicycle market – a need for more durable and stylish tires. The company opened with a single tire mold, and has grown to include nearly 100 parts and accessories and five bike models. Fyxation has dealers across the United States and in Australia, Canada, England and Japan, and the Ginster brothers recently opened a new showroom and retail store in Riverwest. “I guess you could say I have my own fixation with the bicycle,” Nick Ginster said.
Betsy Guerrero, co-founder of Mezclando Milwaukee Dance Company
“Mezclando is Spanish for mixing and I want to mix Milwaukee. In a city known for being segregated I want to help to shake things up and inspire others to move together in a positive, healthy way.”
Betsy Guerrero graduated in 2007 with a degree in international politics and a minor in Spanish. She also loved to dance. While still at UWM, she began teaching dance for Milwaukee Recreation. In her first class she met fellow UWM student Matt Woida. The two married and in 2008 they founded Mezclando Milwaukee Dance Company, where they have been teaching and spreading their love of dance ever since. Mezclando’s space at Delaware House has become ground zero in Milwaukee for salsa and Latin dance. There are drop-in salsa and bachata classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. At Mezclando’s First Friday Salsa Socials, students can dance and groups can share their performances. The couple also teach at Danceworks Inc., and both helped to organize the annual Milwaukee Latino Carnival.
Sandra Jordan, dance instructor at Milwaukee High School of the Arts
“In dance and in life, you have to be patient and stay focused on your goal. Your time will come when it is meant to happen. Stay on course and have faith in your talent.”
Sandra Jordan saw a dance performance at her middle school and immediately knew what she wanted to do with her life. Since then it’s all been about dance. She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in dance from the Peck School of the Arts, in 1987 and 2000, and an MBA from UW-Madison. As a student teacher during her UWM studies, Jordan made such an impression on students and faculty at her placement site, Milwaukee High School of the Arts (MHSA), that she was asked to stay on. Apart from teaching, one pet project is the Summer Dance Intensive at MHSA, which brings in guest artists to give local students a look at the dance world outside of Milwaukee.
John Kuhn, inpatient rehab physical therapist at Milwaukee VA Medical Center
“I see people who have had life-altering events every day, and I love that I get a chance to make a significant positive impact on their lives.”
John Kuhn’s love of sports and interest in the human body led him to study physical therapy. He earned his doctorate of physical therapy in 2010. Kuhn works at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, specializing in treatment for patients suffering neurological, musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions. Outside of work, Kuhn has implemented a scholarship for first-year physical therapy doctoral students, is an instructor and guest lecturer in the College of Health Sciences and volunteers with Equip Africa to deliver computers to developing countries.
Gail Milbrath, physical educator at Greenfield Bilingual
“I want my students to learn that exercise will help them think better, feel better and look better, and that they don’t have to be a sports star to be healthy and active.”
Gail Milbrath always thought she’d be a nurse, but her love for working with children led her to earn a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1984. Generations of Milwaukee children have benefited from that choice. Milbrath has now been teaching for 30 years, the last 25 of those in Milwaukee Public Schools. In 2014 she was named Wisconsin Health PE Teacher of the Year, followed by the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) Midwest Physical Education Teacher of the Year award for 2015. Milbrath said that it’s important to her to “help get the message of movement, learning and health across to my students, their families and all the staff.”
