By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Jun 06, 2006 at 5:48 AM

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.

 

  1. Chris Abele, philanthropist, Argosy Foundation
  2. Bob Babisch, Summerfest music man
  3. Tom Barrett, Milwaukee mayor
  4. Joe & Jennifer Bartolotta, restauranteurs
  5. Wanda Beals, founder of Milwaukee School of Massage
  6. Marc Bianchini, restaurateur, owner On the Marc Restaurants (Osteria del Mondo, Cubanitas)
  7. Jerry & Bridget Boyle, father and daughter attorneys
  8. Kevin Brandt, radio personality and musician known simply as "K.B."
  9. Vince Bushell, founder of Riverwest Currents, Riverwest Co-op, and involved with many other environmental and artist projects
  10. Dr. James Cameron, founder of America's Black Holocaust Museum
  11. Molly Cassidy, co-founder of Brew City Bruisers roller derby team; owner of Milwaukee's first woman-owned sensual shop, The Tool Shed
  12. Paul Cebar, musician
  13. Dick Chudnow, founder of ComedySportz
  14. Steve Cohen, musician
  15. Maria Cieslik and Sharon Celek, interior designer squad
  16. Demetra Copoulus, artist who created the mechanical pepper at La Perla
  17. Tom Crawford, WMSE station manager
  18. Michael Cudahy, philanthropist and owner of Pabst Theater
  19. Russ Davis, restaurateur (Lakefront Palm Garden, Café Vecchio Mondo)
  20. Andreas Delfs, conductor at MSO
  21. Victor DeLorenzo, Violent Femmes drummer, actor and studio owner
  22. Tim Dixon, developer (Roots, others)
  23. Timothy Dolan, Milwaukee archbishop
  24. Genyne Edwards, WYMS radio/entrepreneur
  25. Mike Eitel, restaurateur with Midas touch (Scott Johnson, Leslie Montemurro and Eric Wagner -- all owners of Hi-Hat, Trocadero, etc.)
  26. John Ertl, the man to see if you wanna play a festival gig in Milwaukee
  27. Bridget & Gareth Evans, artists and husband-wife business partners who previously owned Luckystar Gallery and currently, M-80
  28. Ward and Lincoln Fowler and Paul Miller the Alterra Coffee triumvirate
  29. Freeway, local personality and dancer
  30. Dominic Frinzi, president of the Italian Community Center, Italian consul representative in Milwaukee, lawyer
  31. Frank Gimbel, attorney and chairman of the Wisconsin Center District
  32. David Gordon, Milwaukee Art Museum director
  33. Jon Greenberg, Admirals president
  34. Bob Greenstreet, UWM architecture prof. and the city's architecture guru
  35. John Gurda, historian
  36. Ashanti Hamilton, Milwaukee alderman
  37. Nan Hegerty, chief of police
  38. Marty Hintz, author
  39. Peggy Hong, Milwaukee's poet laureate
  40. Daniel Holter, Burst Collective director
  41. Kate Huston, Milwaukee's top librarian, for now (she's due to retire in summer)
  42. Craig Karmazin, owner of Milwaukee's ESPN Radio
  43. Dasha Kelly, owner Mecca Lounge and local poet
  44. Jim and Russ Klitsch, Lakefront Brewery owners
  45. John Koethe, poet
  46. Julilly Kohler, doyen of Brady Street
  47. Karl Kopp, custard and Elsa's king
  48. Steve Jagler, executive editor of the Small Business Times
  49. Bill Jennaro, attorney, Festa Italiana bigwig and arbitration king
  50. Rob Jeter, UWM men's basketball coach
  51. Tom Joerres, president of Milwaukee Radio Group
  52. Matt Johnson, top man at Strive Institute
  53. Julia LaLoggia, restaurateur and bar owner (Barossa, Lee's Luxury Lounge, Red Room, Stonefly)
  54. Faythe Levine, gallery owner, curator and founder of Art vs. Craft
  55. Jim Liban, musician
  56. James Liddy, poet
  57. Sammy Llanas, BoDean
  58. Jim Lombardo, executive vice president of Bell Ambulance
  59. Barry Mandel, real estate developer, Mandel Group
  60. Rocky Marcoux, Department of City Development boss
  61. Steve Marcus, owns your local movie theater, The Pfister and a lot more
  62. Marc Marotta, former DOA secretary, high-powered attorney and possible future candidate
  63. Mary McCarthy, CEO of Schwartz Bookshop
  64. Kate Mohle-Borders, director of East town Assocation
  65. Gwen Moore, U.S. representative
  66. Peter Mortensen, head concierge at The Pfister Hotel
  67. Christine Neumann-Ortiz, activist
  68. Nancy O'Keefe, executive director, Historic Third Ward Association
  69. Michael Pink, Milwaukee Ballet
  70. Jim Plaisted, director of The East Side BID
  71. Jim Powell, Brewers radio announcer
  72. Shanel Reiger, fashion designer
  73. Jon Richards, state representative
  74. Bill Rouleau, owner of Rush-Mor Records
  75. Andrea Rowe, Department of City Development go-getter
  76. Carlos Santiago, UWM chancellor
  77. Walter Sava, Latino Arts Inc. executive director
  78. Bud Selig, commissioner of baseball
  79. Bill Sell, Bike the Hoan project; performance artist; writer
  80. Omar Shaikh, restaurateur (Carnevor)
  81. Ron Shapiro, rabbi and interfaith activist
  82. Troy Shaw, TV personality and activist
  83. Deloris Sims, co-owner Legacy Bank
  84. Kevin Sloan, restaurateur (The Social, Sol Fire, Room 434)
  85. Don Smiley, head honcho at Summerfest
  86. Sigmund Snopek III, musician and composer
  87. Randy Sprecher, brewer
  88. John Steinmiller, Bucks vice president
  89. Joe Tate, investor and philanthropist
  90. Julia Taylor, president of Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC)
  91. Vic Thomas, who works with Babisch booking the Big Gig
  92. Harris Turer, owner of the Milwaukee Admirals and board member of the Brewers
  93. Deb Usinger, sausage queen of Milwaukee
  94. Tom Wackman, Downtown club owner, Milwaukee St. innovator
  95. Fr. Robert Wild, president of Marquette University
  96. Ellen Winters, director of Westown Association
  97. Dashal Young, Milwaukee County community relations director
  98. David Zach, futurist and the only guy who knew he'd be on this list
  99. Frank Zeidler, former mayor
  100. Evan Zeppos, PR professional