Kelly Brown, '07, '09
Alumna unexpectedly pursues banking career, now named to Business Journal’s "40 Under 40" list 
If it hadn’t been for the $25,000 credit card debt that overwhelmed her when she was 19, Kelly Brown, ’07, ’09, managing partner and founder of The American Deposit Company, probably never would have discovered her passion for banking. Yet, since those dark days, she has not looked back as she has climbed the ranks of the
banking industry and recently was named to the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 2011 "40 Under 40" list, which recognizes successful young professionals making a difference in the community. In the end, Brown’s unfortunate debt has turned out to be an unexpected blessing.
"I just felt like I was in this downward spiral," said Brown, recalling how the debt consumed her. "I was out of school, I couldn’t manage my finances, I was working two or three jobs to try to make ends meet, and I was on my own. I kept thinking, ‘What am I doing?’"
Feeling utterly hopeless, Brown confided in a bank teller about her debt, and the teller recommended she apply for a debt consolidation loan. Not thinking she would qualify for the loan, Brown remembers the glee she felt when she got the phone call saying she was approved.
"That changed my life," Brown said. "I listened to the personal banker, and I did what she told me to do. I paid that credit card off within three years, and I’ve never been in debt since. That experience is what made me realize that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be the person who helps people like she did."
Around that time, Brown moved from Michigan to Wisconsin to be with her then boyfriend, now husband, who eventually inspired her to leave her retail management position to begin a banking career. She applied at First Bank Milwaukee and was hired as a personal banker.
"That’s how I tripped and fell into banking," Brown said with a laugh.
From that first job, she worked her way up through the ranks in the banking industry, eventually becoming a regional manager. Then she had the chance to realize a dream.
"In 2005, I was asked to start a bank, and I thought, ‘This is my opportunity,’" said Brown, who went on to become a founder of First Wisconsin Bank and Trust.
The bank did well but, in a difficult economy, the incredible growth of the business exceeded available capital. So the group sold the bank for a premium in 2008, which Brown said was a gut-wrenching experience. However, the selling of First Wisconsin Bank and Trust provided the platform on which to start The American Deposit Management Company, a consulting, treasury management and financial services organization. There Brown works with both public and private finance managers in their cash management strategies while managing relationships at more than 150 banks throughout the U.S. The company has already posted a successful first full year and all indications point to another good year in 2011.
"My background in banking and my education from Cardinal Stritch University have given me the tools to allow me to do all of these things," Brown said.
Brown is a very vocal advocate for Stritch, having earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in management through the College of Business and Management. She had enrolled in a few other college programs prior to working in banking, but had never completed a degree until she came to Stritch.
"It was a life-changing experience," Brown said of coming to Stritch. "It was a huge commitment, but I met great people, and I loved the structure, the location. I loved it enough that I stayed after finishing my bachelor’s degree to earn my master’s from Stritch."
While her Stritch degrees have benefited her banking career and given her added credibility among colleagues, Brown said the best perk of earning her master’s degree is that it allows her to teach courses at Waukesha County Technical College and Carroll University in Waukesha. In the near future, she intends to pursue a doctoral degree.
"I now use a lot of the ideas and tools that my instructors gave me as a student, and I use them today in the same capacity," Brown said. "It’s just been a tremendous experience."
Teaching the business and management courses has been so fulfilling that Brown hopes to teach full time once The American Deposit Management Company has reached "a pinnacle of success." She said she connects well with her students, since many are juggling home, work and school just as she did when she was going to Stritch. She encourages them to persist and never give up on their dreams.
"I don’t think people hear this enough, but I make sure to tell my students, ‘Guys, you can do anything,’" Brown said. "’If you want to be a doctor, then be a doctor. There is nothing stopping you. I was in that spot – a lot of debt and didn’t know where I was going. You get stalled until somebody says, ‘Open your eyes. Put your hands on the wheel. You can do anything.’ I’ve had really good mentors in my life, and I’m thankful for that. Now I need to do that for others. I really truly feel that’s what I need to do."
When she’s not working or teaching, Brown can be found spending time with her husband and two children. She also serves on the board for Junior Achievement, an organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. In addition, she is a concert violinist, has a passion for economics and government, and enjoys many outdoor activities including running, fishing, boating and golf.
Greg McManners, '91
Alum steps up to manage thriving community center 
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, located just blocks from the Wisconsin state capitol building, and boasting exquisite rooftop views of Lake Monona, the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center hosts private and public events that attract thousands of people every year. As of Jan. 3, the responsibility for maintaining this thriving, historic venue lies in the hands of Gregg McManners, '91, the new executive director of Monona Terrace.
"On behalf of the Monona Terrace Board of Directors, we are thrilled to have someone with Gregg's talents and know-how moving into the role as Executive Director of Monona Terrace," Board President Mona Adams Winston said when McManners' appointment was announced in November. "In addition, his well-established network of connections in the Madison area enhances the breadth of experience he brings to the position. We look forward to the continued great success of our facility under Gregg's leadership."
Previously the director of operations for the center, McManners said he is ready for the challenges of his new position, having a background in property management, 20 years of experience managing shopping centers (including Brookfield Square in Brookfield, Wis; Westgate Mall in Fairview Park, Ohio; and East Towne Mall in Madison), three professional certifications, and an MBA from Stritch.
"I think hand-in-hand, all those certifications as well as the MBA, give me a well-rounded background for the types of positions I've had throughout the course of my lifetime," McManners said.
Looking toward the future, McManners said he along with members of the Monona staff have created to a 10-year plan that builds on the mission and vision of the center, with goals to attract more conventions and conferences to Madison, to improve infrastructure to support those events, to emphasize the community's access and connection to the facility, and to showcase the unique design and history of the building.
"There are not many buildings left that Frank Lloyd Wright designed and Monona Terrace is one of the most unique and controversial Frank Lloyd Wright designs that took a community 60 years to complete," McManners said. "We, as stewards, have a responsibility to maintain this for generations to come, to make sure people have an understanding of who Frank Lloyd Wright was and the legacy that led to Monona Terrace."
Aside from work, McManners enjoys spending time with his wife, Wendy, and his son, who also works in Madison. An avid basketball fan, he holds season tickets to UW-Madison. In addition, McManners currently serves as president of Madison's downtown Kiwanis Club.