BloomMKE’s work is led by the dedicated volunteers on the Board of Directors. With no paid staff, all financial contributions directly serve our mission. We are inspired to grow healthy communities in the city that we all call home, Milwaukee.
Rick, Kelly, Lisa & William’s photos courtesy of Ellen Cook Photographer
Originally from the Chicago area, Rick discovered Milwaukee while receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University, and has lived in the Milwaukee area for most of his adult life. He has been a volunteer youth volleyball coach at St. Sebastian Parish for more than 25 years.
In 2011, Rick and his wife Lisa led the volunteer effort to build the Cherry Street Community Garden, working with SET Ministries and the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM). In 2016, Rick and Lisa were honored as Volunteers of the Year by HACM. And, in 20018, Rick helped establish another community garden at HACM’s Riverview apartment building.
As a donor and then volunteer with SET Ministry, he learned about the challenges facing people in central city Milwaukee and the benefits of community-based trauma informed care. Unfortunately, shortly after a merger and renaming of the organization to Unison, the organization closed its doors in March 2019. Still dedicated to the mission, Rick spearheaded the founding of BloomMKE to continue this work.
Rick is excited to lead BloomMKE’s efforts to expand the powerful model of combining the health and social benefits of community gardens with trauma informed care programs for both adults and children in Milwaukee.
Will has 30 years’ experience in information technology and more recently has turned his focus to assisting nonprofit organizations. In 2019 Will completed a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from UW-Milwaukee. He serves as a Director and committee chair on the Friends of Art board which oversees the annual Lakefront Festival of Art on the Milwaukee Art Museum grounds. Will has also worked with fundraising events for Habitat for Humanity and United Way. He is excited to have the opportunity to be a part of BloomMKE and the social benefits offered by pairing structured enrichment program with community gardens.
Kelly received her Bachelor of Accounting degree from Marquette University and is also a Certified Public Account. She is presently working as a campus recruiter for US Bank and has a proven track record of attracting top talent. Kelly is passionate about the Milwaukee community and being able to use her financial acumen to further enhance BloomMKE’s mission.
Lisa began her work in Milwaukee’s nonprofit sector in 2011 with her now-husband Rick, as co-founders and lead volunteers of the Cherry Street Community Garden.
Her passion for gardening started as a child in central Illinois in her family’s vegetable garden and grew into community gardening after moving to Milwaukee in 2009. Through her volunteer work with SET Ministry, Lisa saw first-hand how the Cherry Street Community Garden Club is about much more than just growing healthy food; it’s about growing healthy families and communities.
Lisa enjoys living and working in the city of Milwaukee, and is currently employed at Rockwell Automation. She received her General Engineering degree from the University of Illinois, her MBA from the University of Chicago, and has more than 25 years of experience in the factory automation industry.
In 2018, Lisa and Rick were married in the Cherry Street Community Garden surrounded by family and their Garden Club friends.
William received a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Development from Springfield College in Springfield Massachusetts. William has worked for the Youth Diversion Program with at-risk gang members and with the Boys and Girls Club as an Employment Coordinator. William moved into the Education field teaching and counselling at-risk youth at Charter Schools in Milwaukee, substituting teaching with MPS and is presently working for Milwaukee Health Services.
Zach received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame and spent the last 5 years in the technology industry, initially in Chicago then moved to Milwaukee in 2018. Originally from Indiana, he loves the Milwaukee community and is excited to embed himself here for the foreseeable future. Zach has worked with several non-profits the past 10 years, primarily assisting individuals with intellectual disabilities. Zach is honored for the opportunity to assist with BloomMKE’s efforts in continuing to strengthen the greater Milwaukee community.