I'm now at 8pmWarrior.com

I decided to broaden my horizons and blog about more than just Milwaukee so I started http://8pmWarrior.com and blog about 4 times per week.

I'm writing about the following topics:

Leadership

Marketing

Social Media

Our Changing World

Entrepreneurship

I'd love to have you join me! Click here to check it out.

Have a great night,

Aaron@Biebert

Welcome Home Harley Riders!

For those of you who live in Milwaukee, you may have noticed the roughly 200,000 motorcycles rolling through the streets of our home town. You may know that this weekend is the 105th Birthday Party for Harley-Davidson, but after watching the parade this morning, I believe that this event is something much bigger. This is one of the biggest events ever for Greater Milwaukee.

This evening over 100,000 people are watching Bruce Springsteen, and also more than 125,000 tickets were sold to "Harley Fest" at the Summerfest grounds. For comparison's sake, that is more tourists than the Super Bowl or Olympic Opening Ceremonies. But when will we ever see a successful bid for an Olympic Games or find ourselves the selected city to host a Super Bowl. Not any time soon...

With food, drinks, lodging, fuel, and event tickets all being purchased right here is our local economy, this event is bringing millions of dollars of sales to our local businesses. Not to mention that all the great things we love our about Milwaukee will be on showcase for visitors from all 50 States and over 30 countries!

All in all, this week, there will be about 200,000 motorcycles and even more visitors to the city, and we should be thankful and eager to welcome them!

National City Bank to Open New State Headquarters in Milwaukee

In just another sign of downtown Milwaukee's emergence as a hot spot for big business, National City Bank has announced that as part of it's expansion into Wisconsin, it will be opening 11 new locations over then next three years and that it will be opening a 22,000 square foot state headquarters in downtown Milwaukee's 411 building.

Beth Wnuk, president of National City's Wisconsin banking, said: "Combining our existing Milwaukee operations into a downtown headquarters provides a dramatic and visible base to grow market share and strengthen the connection between our employees and their customers. We want to invest in the region's future and be a part of its success."

National City Downtown and Community Commitment

With a history of community involvement that exceeds 160 years, National City has been actively engaged in the Greater Milwaukee community since entering the market early this year. For instance:

-- National City is the major sponsor of the Milwaukee Museum's Act/React Exhibit opening October 4 and is a Cure Level sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and "Pink in the Park" at downtown's lakefront Veterans Park in September.

-- This spring, National City committed $100,000 to the Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) in the form of a $50,000 two-year program grant, which is matched with a $50,000 grant investment from the National City Community Development Corporation for WWBIC's Impact Revolving Loan Fund.

-- In June, National City's Community Development Corporation invested $4.8 million in the Blue Ribbon Loft Apartments located on the former Pabst Brewery site presently being redeveloped by local Milwaukee developer Joseph J. Zilber and also contributed $50,000 to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council for providing free assistance to consumers in helping curtail foreclosures.

"Our goal is not to be just another bank in Greater Milwaukee," said Wnuk, "but to be a vital community and economic partner in the development and growth of our community."

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2488317&title=National_City_Opens_New.html

Milwaukee: The Call of the Young Professional

Today I am proud to announce that as of 6:00 P.M. today, there will be two new young professionals moving to Milwaukee from Mankato, MN to start their careers. I happen to know a little bit more about this average couple because it is my sister, Marissa, and her great husband Josh.

Both thought they would never move to Milwaukee, but after college, they noticed that not only was Milwaukee beautiful and a lot of fun, but there were many great companies for Josh (an automotive engineer with a 4 year degree), and lots of great sports teams and quality high school/college athletic departments for her (an athletic trainer with a 4 year sports medicine degree).

Not only were great jobs and companies calling their name, but so was the great nightlife, and excellent real estate market. Josh plans on doing real estate investment and they both plan on buying a home once they get everything figured out.

Now these two aren't the only young people moving to Milwaukee. As part of the FUEL Milwaukee initiative (http://www.fuelmilwaukee.org/ ) many young people are either moving here or staying here after college. The combination of great jobs, lots of fun, and an excellent quality of life have led Forbes Magazine to name Milwaukee one of the top 10 cities for young professionals in the US.

Welcome Marissa, Josh, and any other young professionals that are looking to find great careers and Enjoy Milwaukee!

Loyal DC-based Brewers fan loses bet...forced to be homeless

All he needed was for the Brewers to win 4 more games last year...

In just one more example of a Milwaukee-Is-Back type fanatic...last baseball season, 36 year-old Washington D.C. native and Milwaukee Brewers fanatic Chris Jollay made a bet with a college buddy (David Christman), a Phillies fan, that his Brewers would win more games than the Phillies.

If Jollay won, he would trade homes for a bit with Christman. Christman would become a bachelor in Jollay's pad, and Jollay would enjoy the home cooked meals and company of Christman's wife for a week.

If Christman won, Jollay would live homeless on the streets of Washington D.C.

Although the Brew Crew had a great year with 83 victories, the Phillies ended up with 87...

So, true to his word, this July he packed up and hit the streets of Washington D.C.

Read more about it here:
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/brewers-fan-loses-bet-forced-to-go-homeless-18875

This year he should have no problem winning the bet!

Milwaukee's Beaches are heating up!

As part of its place on a beautiful freshwater inland sea (Lake Michigan), Milwaukee does have some great beaches for getting sun, building sand castles, and swimming.

This year, after a facelift and new management, Bradford Beach near Milwaukee's downtown is looking more and more like it's old nickname "Bikini Beach" from the 70's.

In fact, tomorrow, the beach will play host to the classy Balzac at the Beach Wine Tasting event.

Have a great time, learn about wine! Sample over 50 wines served with light appetizers on the Bradford Beach House patio along our beautiful lakefront.

- Three hours of wine tasting for $25!
- 3PM – 6PM Music and Entertainment, Wine Tasting
- Tickets available in advance at the Bradford Beach House, Balzac, and Hi Hat Lounge.
- Tickets are also available the day of the event.

Next Weekend at the Beach: Bradford Beach Jam!

Volleyball, soccer, rugby, dodgeball, wrestling, wind surfing, BMX, skate, freestyle motocross, disc golf, live music Friday evening, all day Saturday, Sunday afternoon. Four-person beach volleyball event feature former AVP Pro players on Sunday.

Read more at:

http://www.bradfordbeachjam.com/beachjam.htm

Other upcoming events at the Beach:

- July 28-31: Downtown Employee Appreciation Week

- Aug. 2: Copa de Praia beach soccer

- Aug. 16: Bradford Beach Rock 'N' Roll Art Show (Art Show and live music)

- Aug. 23: AVPNext Midwest Region Beach Volleyball Championships (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

- Aug. 23: AVPNext Midwest Beach Volleyball Championships

- Aug. 24: Balzac at the Beach Wine Tasting (Wine tasting and live music)

- Aug. 29-30: Milwaukee Harley Davidson Bradford Beach Roadhouse

- Aug. 31: Bradford Beach Labor Day Beach Party (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beach volleyball, soccer, Baggo, live music on Party Deck.)

- Sept. 13: Lakefront to Lakefront Bike Ride & Bike Swap (1pm to 10pm)

- Sept. 20: Sand and Bands Beach Party UWM Sandcastle Competition, Jigglesfest Music Festival (a festival that dates back to 1986 with roots at Marquette University).


Friends of Bradford Beach:

http://www.parkpeoplemke.org/park/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28&Itemid=41

If you want to cool off and enjoy some great people watching, check out the beach and Enjoy Milwaukee!

Milwaukee, the new Hollywood?

Question: What do Johnny Depp (Jack Sparrow) and Christian Bale (the new Batman) have in common?

Answer: They are both stars in a new movie filmed in Milwaukee and other Wisconsin towns!

As part of Wisconsin's new 15-25% tax credit incentives for companies that make movies, TV shows, or video games here in Wisconsin, the future blockbuster movie, "Public Enemies" was filmed here over the last two months.

(http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/07/17/ap5225851.html)

The public/private partnership Film Wisconsin (http://www.filmwisconsin.org/) is leading the charge and has announced that there is more to come, including a video game production, a TV show, and a new Sci-Fi thriller. (http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/GPG0101/807170591/1207/GPG01)

New studios are popping up and excitement is growing as the reality sets in that Milwaukee and Wisconsin might be the hot new destination for stars and blockbuster film.

Milwaukee as the new Hollywood? What do you think?

Enjoy Milwaukee!