The Upswing

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ's Jeff Sherman welcomes Taylor Hibl, COO of Sussex-based Exterior Pros, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of running a family-owned home remodeling business. Hibl shares her journey into the family business, the importance of building a strong workplace culture, and how Exterior Pros is connecting with younger customers and employees. She also explores the...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes Bryan MacKenzie, owner of 1st & Bowl in Wauwatosa, to discuss bringing the unique combination of football and bowling from Detroit to greater Milwaukee. MacKenzie shares how the business has expanded beyond its signature game with pickleball, cornhole, a Nerf arena and other activities designed for families, friends and corporate events. He al...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman celebrates 10 years of Third Space Brewing with co-founder and president Andy Gehl. Gehl looks back at building the Milwaukee brewery and its statewide distribution network, while discussing how Third Space is adapting to changing drinking habits with offerings like its new 3.0 beer. He also shares lessons from opening the Innovation Brewhouse in Menom...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes Wes Shaver, president and CEO of Revolve Ventures, to preview the inaugural Freshwater Food & Wine Festival, coming to the Summerfest grounds Sept. 19-20. Shaver shares how his career in Milwaukee’s entertainment and festival scene helped shape the new event and explains how Freshwater will showcase local chefs and restaurants while creating n...

This month on Marquette on the Move, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman reconnects with Marquette University President Kimo Ah Yun as a new academic year gets underway. Dr. Ah Yun reflects on welcoming the Class of 2030, helping first-year students find community, and what both students and parents experience during the transition to college. He also shares highlights from his summer trip to Rome, including meet...

On this football and fitness edition of The Upswing, host Jeff Sherman speaks with Dr. Kate Essad, a neurologist with Aurora Health Care, about the facts and myths surrounding concussions, head injuries and CTE. As fall youth sports begin, Dr. Essad explains what parents, coaches and student-athletes should know following a possible concussion. She stresses a simple guiding principle: “When in dou...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes Alverno College President Christy Brown for a conversation about the future of higher education and Alverno’s role in greater Milwaukee. Brown discusses preparing graduates to contribute from day one, building AI and problem-solving skills, and why Alverno’s distinctive ability-based learning model remains relevant today. She also addresses th...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes back Milwaukee Business Journal senior reporter Rich Kirchen to break down some of the biggest business stories shaping southeastern Wisconsin. They discuss the Wisconsin Center District’s search for a new CEO and what it could mean for downtown development, along with challenges at Molson Coors, UMB’s Milwaukee footprint, and recent activity...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman takes a look back at some of his favorite conversations from 2026 so far. Revisit Cheryl Nenn on Milwaukee’s push to become a swimmable city, Martin Moore on who deserves to be represented in downtown murals, and Tedd Lookatch on the collaborative spirit that gives Milwaukee an edge. The show also returns to Steve “Saz” Sazama’s reflections on 50 years...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman spotlights two Milwaukee success stories centered on long-term investment and community impact. First, Purslane chef-owner Mary Kastman discusses her restaurant’s recognition as one of America’s top Mediterranean destinations, the realities of running an independent restaurant, and why Milwaukee continues to be a great place to build a culinary busines...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes Ryan Laughlin, CEO of PLM Paving, and Mike Blaney of America Sports Construction for a conversation about the business behind the surfaces we often take for granted. From parking lots and drainage systems to the growing demand for pickleball and padel courts, they explain how quality construction, long-term planning, and strong customer relati...

This week, The Future of Almost Everything returns to The Upswing as WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman and Martin Moore explore how technology, media, and culture are shaping the future. They discuss the rise of artificial intelligence, whether it’s time for a “return to IRL,” Netflix’s evolving strategy, and why the Milwaukee Bucks’ return to local television could strengthen the team’s connection with fans. T...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes Milwaukee Riverkeeper Cheryl Nenn to discuss Milwaukee’s new membership in the Global Swimmable Cities Alliance and what it means for the city’s future. Nenn explains how years of improving water quality have positioned Milwaukee to join the international movement, while outlining efforts to make local waterways safer and more accessible throu...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman explores two stories centered on growth and innovation. First, Tommy Pennington and Kevin Schmoldt, franchise owners of 7 Brew, discuss the drive-thru coffee chain’s expansion across Wisconsin, their community-first approach to site selection, and how new locations can help drive business for surrounding retailers. Later, Thomas Fisher of Platform94 jo...

This month on Marquette on the Move, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes Marquette University President Kimo Ah Yun, Rose Howard, and Sarah Pancheri for a conversation about the unique connection between Marquette and Milwaukee. The group explores how the city’s festival culture, volunteer spirit, and sense of community create opportunities for students to engage beyond campus and become active citizens...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes back Tedd Lookatch, managing partner at the ERA Group, for a conversation about business, community, and making smart decisions in a changing economy. They discuss the opportunities and challenges that data center growth presents for Wisconsin businesses, the pressures facing nonprofits, and why Milwaukee’s collaborative culture continues to b...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity CEO Brian Sonderman for a conversation about one of the region’s most pressing challenges: housing. Sonderman explains why housing is fundamentally a public health issue and discusses the collaborative efforts among nonprofits, businesses, developers, and government to expand homeownership opportunities in Milwau...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes Martin Moore of Koss Headphones for another edition of The Future of Almost Everything. The conversation explores the intersection of creativity, leadership, and artificial intelligence, including why human imagination still matters in an AI-powered world and where businesses should draw the line when using generative tools. Jeff and Martin al...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes Tina Jones, executive director of Girls on the Run Southeastern Wisconsin, for a conversation about confidence, mentorship, and the connection between physical activity and mental well-being. Jones shares how the organization helps girls build resilience through movement, previews the upcoming non-competitive 5K at American Family Field, and r...

It’s National Nurses Month, and this edition of Marquette on the Move on The Upswing brings together leaders helping shape the future of healthcare and nursing education. WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman is joined by Marquette University President Kimo Ah Yun, Children’s Wisconsin CEO Gil Peri, and Madeline Schmidt from Marquette’s College of Nursing for a conversation about workforce demand, mental health, te...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman sits down with two family-owned food businesses from southeastern Wisconsin — and the similarities in their journeys stand out. First, John and Maria Ranieri of Sheboygan Pasty Company share how they grew their business out of a family bar during the pandemic, built key distribution partnerships, and continue to expand with new products. Then, Hannah a...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman welcomes Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of downtown. They dive into the nighttime economy, including Water Street, food truck curfews, and efforts to balance safety with a vibrant entertainment district. Bauman also shares updates on housing development, long-term plans for The Hop streetcar, and how policy...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman opens with his “Two Up” segment, highlighting a new boutique hotel in Hartland and Brian Williams’ return with a Netflix podcast. From there, Jeff explores cultural shifts — including more young men returning to church and declining alcohol consumption among younger generations — and what those trends could mean for community and local businesses. He a...

This week on The Upswing, WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman tackles one of the biggest challenges facing Milwaukee and communities nationwide: housing. From rising first-time buyer ages to the need for real solutions, Jeff explores what it will take to move from conversation to action, drawing on insights from a recent Greater Milwaukee Committee panel. He’s joined by Luke Knapp from the Mayor’s Office to break...

WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman goes (mostly) solo this week on The Upswing, diving into a little bit of everything Milwaukee. From new restaurant openings like Nino’s Southern Sides in Fox Point to rising gas prices and MCTS’s new tap-to-pay system, Jeff explores how daily life in the region is evolving. He also looks at changes in local retail, including Metro Market’s shift away from in-store bars, and ref...