In a city of a half million or so people, there are hundreds of movers and shakers who make Milwaukee tick. Some are politicians, philanthropists or executives. Others are musicians, artist or activists. Whatever they put on their business cards, all contribute to Milwaukee in their own special way -- and you'll be better off adding them to your list of acquaintances.
Here's the first 100 Milwaukeeans you need to know, listed in alphabetical order. Before you tell us who we forgot, we have hundreds more to list -- so stay tuned for part two. In the meantime, feel free to list your own selections using the Talkback feature below.
- Chris Abele, philanthropist, Argosy Foundation
- Bob Babisch, Summerfest music man
- Tom Barrett, Milwaukee mayor
- Joe & Jennifer Bartolotta, restauranteurs
- Wanda Beals, founder of Milwaukee School of Massage
- Marc Bianchini, restaurateur, owner On the Marc Restaurants (Osteria del Mondo, Cubanitas)
- Jerry & Bridget Boyle, father and daughter attorneys
- Kevin Brandt, radio personality and musician known simply as "K.B."
- Vince Bushell, founder of Riverwest Currents, Riverwest Co-op, and involved with many other environmental and artist projects
- Dr. James Cameron, founder of America's Black Holocaust Museum
- Molly Cassidy, co-founder of Brew City Bruisers roller derby team; owner of Milwaukee's first woman-owned sensual shop, The Tool Shed
- Paul Cebar, musician
- Dick Chudnow, founder of ComedySportz
- Steve Cohen, musician
- Maria Cieslik and Sharon Celek, interior designer squad
- Demetra Copoulus, artist who created the mechanical pepper at La Perla
- Tom Crawford, WMSE station manager
- Michael Cudahy, philanthropist and owner of Pabst Theater
- Russ Davis, restaurateur (Lakefront Palm Garden, Café Vecchio Mondo)
- Andreas Delfs, conductor at MSO
- Victor DeLorenzo, Violent Femmes drummer, actor and studio owner
- Tim Dixon, developer (Roots, others)
- Timothy Dolan, Milwaukee archbishop
- Genyne Edwards, WYMS radio/entrepreneur
- Mike Eitel, restaurateur with Midas touch (Scott Johnson, Leslie Montemurro and Eric Wagner -- all owners of Hi-Hat, Trocadero, etc.)
- John Ertl, the man to see if you wanna play a festival gig in Milwaukee
- Bridget & Gareth Evans, artists and husband-wife business partners who previously owned Luckystar Gallery and currently, M-80
- Ward and Lincoln Fowler and Paul Miller the Alterra Coffee triumvirate
- Freeway, local personality and dancer
- Dominic Frinzi, president of the Italian Community Center, Italian consul representative in Milwaukee, lawyer
- Frank Gimbel, attorney and chairman of the Wisconsin Center District
- David Gordon, Milwaukee Art Museum director
- Jon Greenberg, Admirals president
- Bob Greenstreet, UWM architecture prof. and the city's architecture guru
- John Gurda, historian
- Ashanti Hamilton, Milwaukee alderman
- Nan Hegerty, chief of police
- Marty Hintz, author
- Peggy Hong, Milwaukee's poet laureate
- Daniel Holter, Burst Collective director
- Kate Huston, Milwaukee's top librarian, for now (she's due to retire in summer)
- Craig Karmazin, owner of Milwaukee's ESPN Radio
- Dasha Kelly, owner Mecca Lounge and local poet
- Jim and Russ Klitsch, Lakefront Brewery owners
- John Koethe, poet
- Julilly Kohler, doyen of Brady Street
- Karl Kopp, custard and Elsa's king
- Steve Jagler, executive editor of the Small Business Times
- Bill Jennaro, attorney, Festa Italiana bigwig and arbitration king
- Rob Jeter, UWM men's basketball coach
- Tom Joerres, president of Milwaukee Radio Group
- Matt Johnson, top man at Strive Institute
- Julia LaLoggia, restaurateur and bar owner (Barossa, Lee's Luxury Lounge, Red Room, Stonefly)
- Faythe Levine, gallery owner, curator and founder of Art vs. Craft
- Jim Liban, musician
- James Liddy, poet
- Sammy Llanas, BoDean
- Jim Lombardo, executive vice president of Bell Ambulance
- Barry Mandel, real estate developer, Mandel Group
- Rocky Marcoux, Department of City Development boss
- Steve Marcus, owns your local movie theater, The Pfister and a lot more
- Marc Marotta, former DOA secretary, high-powered attorney and possible future candidate
- Mary McCarthy, CEO of Schwartz Bookshop
- Kate Mohle-Borders, director of East town Assocation
- Gwen Moore, U.S. representative
- Peter Mortensen, head concierge at The Pfister Hotel
- Christine Neumann-Ortiz, activist
- Nancy O'Keefe, executive director, Historic Third Ward Association
- Michael Pink, Milwaukee Ballet
- Jim Plaisted, director of The East Side BID
- Jim Powell, Brewers radio announcer
- Shanel Reiger, fashion designer
- Jon Richards, state representative
- Bill Rouleau, owner of Rush-Mor Records
- Andrea Rowe, Department of City Development go-getter
- Carlos Santiago, UWM chancellor
- Walter Sava, Latino Arts Inc. executive director
- Bud Selig, commissioner of baseball
- Bill Sell, Bike the Hoan project; performance artist; writer
- Omar Shaikh, restaurateur (Carnevor)
- Ron Shapiro, rabbi and interfaith activist
- Troy Shaw, TV personality and activist
- Deloris Sims, co-owner Legacy Bank
- Kevin Sloan, restaurateur (The Social, Sol Fire, Room 434)
- Don Smiley, head honcho at Summerfest
- Sigmund Snopek III, musician and composer
- Randy Sprecher, brewer
- John Steinmiller, Bucks vice president
- Joe Tate, investor and philanthropist
- Julia Taylor, president of Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC)
- Vic Thomas, who works with Babisch booking the Big Gig
- Harris Turer, owner of the Milwaukee Admirals and board member of the Brewers
- Deb Usinger, sausage queen of Milwaukee
- Tom Wackman, Downtown club owner, Milwaukee St. innovator
- Fr. Robert Wild, president of Marquette University
- Ellen Winters, director of Westown Association
- Dashal Young, Milwaukee County community relations director
- David Zach, futurist and the only guy who knew he'd be on this list
- Frank Zeidler, former mayor
- Evan Zeppos, PR professional