Bridgette Ridgeway, president and CEO of TaylorField & Company in Brown Deer
Name: Bridgette L. Ridgeway
Title: President and CEO
Company: TaylorField & Company
Company address: 3900 W. Brown Deer Road, Suite 250 Brown Deer
Company web site: www.TaylorField.us
Industry: Media production, public relations, strategic marketing
Education: UW-Milwaukee; triple major in communications, international studies and political science
Family: Son, Kendall
Hobbies and Interests: “Co-hosting NBC’s ‘What’s Hot’ segment on Mondays, planning for my new national talk show to launch in 2010, producing two feature length documentaries (one on post-genocide in Rwanda Africa and its affect on women and families), and motivating women and young professionals to conquer their fears and reach their full potential. I also enjoy writing poetry, reading biographies, listening to national public radio, watching documentaries, studying world history and geography and just stepping outside of my comfort zone.”
Favorite book and/or movie: Movie: “Sometimes in April” – a riveting film about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, Africa. Book: “Start Where You Are” by Chris Gardner
Favorite musician/band: Stevie Wonder – Definitive Collection
Favorite place to visit/vacation: JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Favorite local restaurant: Happy Hour: Mccormick and Schmick’s Seafood
Words to live by: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths” – Proverbs 3:5-6
What is your core philosophy for doing business? “Show up over prepared and ready to deliver!”
Who is your role model and why? ‘Pearl Brumfield: My mother. Her resilience, love, work ethic, spirit, smile, laughter, wisdom, character and values continue to light my path.”
What was the funniest thing that has ever happened to you? “I was in Chicago recently to meet with an executive at OprahRadio. I didn’t expect the meeting to last more than 20-30 minutes and I was over-prepared (as usual) to talk about anything. Instead of meeting, she took me on a behind the scenes tour of Harpo Studios– I saw everything from where the Oprah Winfrey Show is taped, the control room (which is incredible) and staff offices to the salon, gym, and back corridors filled with photos of Oprah and celebrity guests. Oprah was taping a show that day so I got to see her as well. The entire experience was an unexpected whirl wind. Thank God I wore comfortable shoes. I was introduced to every staff person we encountered along the way. My ‘meeting’ ended in my new friend’s office about 2 hours later and included a trip to the Oprah Store.’
