Attendees were encouraged to participate by signing up for a BoothTag account and downloading the Microsoft Tag Reader for their smart phones. Attendees were able to compete for points by networking with BizTech Exhibitors and scanning their Microsoft Tags, going to BizTech events and seminars and also competing for extra points in a BizTech Scavenger hunt. For more information visit www.boothtag.com.
Yelp names community manager in Milwaukee
San Francisco-based Yelp! Inc., a national online business review website, recently named Rachel Fell, community manager and marketing director of Yelp Milwaukee.
According to Kristen Whisenand, senior PR specialist for Yelp, Inc., the company has around 60 community managed cities across the country.
“Yelp exists pretty much everywhere people want to use it,” Whisenand said. “Community managers are placed in Yelp cities where there seems to be growing activity and potential for the site.”
Fell will be responsible for harnessing and organizing what is already being done in the Yelp community here in Milwaukee, Whisenand said.
“Having Rachel on the ground here in Milwaukee, means she can be a better resource for companies looking to utilize some of Yelp’s free business tools or help promote and plan events on the Yelp Milwaukee events page.”
Fell has already organized one ‘Yelp elite user’ event, where elite users gather at a local business to network with other designated ‘elite users’ of the review site. Another one is being planned for early summer, Fell said.
“I’m so excited for Milwaukee,” Fell said. “Milwaukee is a community of culture and there are so many great places both within the city and into the suburbs that I can’t wait to explore right along with other Yelp users. It will be exciting to be able to effectively showcase our city to travelers so they can experience it the way we as locals do.” For more information visit www.Yelp.com/milwaukee.
African American Chamber names board
The African American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Milwaukee (AACC) has named its board of directors.
The membership elected Jim Gaillard of Pyramid Electric to its board. Gaillard joins Bennie Joyner Jr. of B&B Painting and Wallace White of W2Excell, LLC, the immediate past chair, who will remain on the board.
The remaining board members and new officers include: Randy Crump, Prism Technical Inc., chairperson; attorney Avery Goodrich Jr., first vice chair; Jim Milner of Urban Strategies, second vice chair; Stephanie Findley of FABS Inc., secretary; Karen Eaton of Eaton CPA and Eaton’s Asphalt, treasurer; and Shanna Reid of One Accord as parliamentarian.
The AACC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, whose mission is the economic empowerment of greater Milwaukee’s African American business community.
"The AACC Board of Directors would like to publicly thank corporate member Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin for their sponsorship and support of this annual event," Crump said of the organization’s annual meeting. "In addition, we would like to thank Curt Harris, our executive director, and especially our office administrator, Ms. Gloria Miller, for her hard work and dedication to the chamber and its membership."
Lake Express earns entrepreneur award
Lake Express Ferry was recently honored with the BizStarts “Inspirational Entrepreneur” Award. David Lubar, the lead investor in Lake Express, and Ken Szallai, chief executive officer of Lake Express, accepted the award. Lake Express has terminals in both Milwaukee and Muskegon, Mich., and accommodates 250 passengers and 46 vehicles during each trip across Lake Michigan. Tickets for Lake Express can be purchased using the ferry’s online reservation system at www.lake-express.com. The site also permits users to alter reservations if necessary.
