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PTIONCELAEXSPONSORED FEATUREWOMEN2020In this special section, we highlight women who go beyond exceptional.We outline 10 historical pioneers who made it possible for women to vote, becomedoctors, purchase homes and be present in the courtroom. Because of thesewomen, young girls were able to imagine themselves as educated business ownersand executive directors who have presence in any room.What makes all 30 women in this section unique is not that they are the onlyones doing the work — but that they are encouraging other women to standby their side and blaze the trail for the generation after them.
EXLAPTIONCEWOMEN2020DONDI SZOMBATFALVYBella DomicileDondi Szombatfalvy is one of two people in Wisconsin to become CLIPP Certified and was the 527th personinternationally to complete the coursework and testing administered by the Living In Place Institute . CertifiedLiving In Place Professionals make it their mission to incorporate elements into their designs that make homescomfortable, safe and accessible for all.When you consider that 60% of falls occur in the home and 33% of child injuries result from falls, it’s easy tounderstand why one of the primary goals for a CLIPP is fall prevention. Falls resulted in 50 billion in directmedical costs in 2015 according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While some updates canbe major, often simple updates such as light-emitting outlet covers or towel bars that function as grab bars canmake an important impact. It’s key that a home functions for visitors as well as its occupants.“Exceptional design,” Szombatfalvy said, “seamlessly incorporates a broad spectrum of elements that make ahome beautiful and functional.”To learn more about CLIPP design pleasevisit belladomicile.com or give Dondi a callat 608-271-8241.
SPONSORED ONCELAEX“And I have loved Germany so much.”Those were the last words spoken byMildred Fish-Harnack before she wasbeheaded. The World War II resistancefighter was the only American civilianto die by Adolf Hitler’s direct order,sentenced to death for the crime ofspying. Together with her husband and asmall resistance group — known to Nazisecret police as the “Red Orchestra” —Fish-Harnack smuggled secrets andhelped many Jews escape persecution.Mildred Fish was born in Milwaukeein 1902. Growing up, she learned how toread, write and speak both German andEnglish. A natural writer, she earned herWOMEN2020bachelor’s degree and a master’s degreeat the University of Wisconsin and taughtliterature in the English department. Shewrote for the Wisconsin State Journaland the Wisconsin Literary Magazine.At the UW, she also met her futurehusband, a student on fellowship fromGermany named Arvid Harnack. Heproposed at Picnic Point and they marriedon Mildred’s brother’s farm, two days aftershe passed her master’s degree exams.The couple soon moved to Germany.Fish-Harnack earned her doctorate andtaught at Berlin University, though shewas fired a short time later for not being“Nazi enough.”As Hitler and his regime rose to power,Mildred and Arvid were inspired to jointhe resistance. They published anunderground newsletter, transmittedmilitary intelligence to Moscow andhelped Jews flee Germany.German High Command discoveredthe pair’s espionage and arrested theHarnacks in 1942 while they vacationednear the Baltic Sea. Arvid was convictedof treason and hanged in December 1942.Mildred was originally sentenced to sixyears in prison, but Hitler himselfordered she be retried, and in February1943, she was executed.Because of their connection withCommunism, much of the world didn’tknow of the Harnacks’ heroism until afterthe Cold War. However, in 1986, Wisconsinestablished September 16 as MildredFish-Harnack Day, which is also herbirthday. In 1994, the UW–MadisonInternational Division established anannual lecture series in her name to honorher courage, idealism and self-sacrifice.Last summer, a sculpture paying tributeto Fish-Harnack was dedicated atMadison’s Marshall Park, just across LakeMendota from the campus where she andher husband fell in love nearly a centuryago. At the dedication ceremony, artistJohn Durbrow said his sculpturerecognizes “Mildred’s strength, courageand resolve to address early on the forcesof oppression which eventually inflamedthe entire world.”Laurie AdamsBreathe Salt & SaunaMeet Laurie Adams, owner of Breathe Salt &Sauna and certified nutritional andfunctional health coach. Drawing from herown personal health journey and lifechanging impact from halotherapy (salttherapy) and infrared sauna therapy, sheknew bringing awareness of these therapiesto family and friends was a must. Her goal isto improve the health and happiness of thecommunities around her. Adams invites youto Breathe, to enjoy a day of calmingrelaxation while sampling aromatherapy,chromotherapy, infrared sauna therapy andsalt therapy.breathesaltandsauna.comMARCH 2020 MADISON MAGAZINE83
SPONSORED FEATUREVEL PHILLIPSVel Phillips holds a prominent placein Wisconsin history as a dedicatedchampion for racial equality and women’srights. A pioneer in law and politics, theaccomplished Milwaukee native achievedmany firsts, which helped pave the wayfor others: In 1951, she became the first AfricanAmerican woman to graduate from theUniversity of Wisconsin Law School. She was the first woman and the firstAfrican American to be elected to theMilwaukee Common Council. In 1958 she became the first Africanissue. Together, they organized 200 daysof marches, which were met by violentcounterprotests and police who deployedtear gas. Phillips defied the mayor’s banon marching and was arrested at onedemonstration. “I felt nothing was goingto stop us,” Phillips later said.For six years, Phillips continued toreintroduce her fair housing proposal.In April 1968, six weeks after theassassination of Martin Luther King Jr.,the Milwaukee Common Council finallypassed Phillips’ fair housing law.In the 2015 Wisconsin Public Televisiondocumentary about her storied career, “VelPhillips: Dream Big Dreams,” Phillips saidthis: “I just thought that I would have achance to really make a difference.”Phillips died in 2018 at the age of94. Her legacy carries on, with a UW–Madison residence hall namedin her honor, as well as a street inMilwaukee and the Juvenile JusticeCenter in Wauwatosa.Julie Umhoeferand Jennifer HaleyDwellingsThis designing sister duo provides the missinglink to the Madison furniture market with theirnew store in Fitchburg. It is everything theydreamed of while growing up working in theirfamily’s furniture store.The vaulted ceilings, skylights and polishedconcrete floors create a fresh retail experienceas customers browse the distinct selection ofupholstered furniture and personalized homeaccessories.The sisters offer their 150 in-home designconsultation to get you started on your dreaminterior. Customers can take advantage ofeither avenue to create a home they love.PTIONCELAEXdwellings-furniture.comWOMEN202084 MADISON MAGAZINE MARCH 2020PHOTO BY VOCES DE LA FRONTERAA Woman OfMany FirstsAmerican woman elected to theDemocratic National Committee. In 1971 she was appointed the firstfemale judge in Milwaukee County, alsobecoming the first African American toserve in the state’s judiciary. She was the first African Americanto win a statewide office when she beateight primary candidates and waselected secretary of state in 1978.Phillips helped lead the fight againstunfair housing discrimination during thecivil rights era, starting with her 1962 FairHousing Law. The proposal, which wouldhave made it illegal to discriminateagainst African American renters, wasinitially rejected by the MilwaukeeCommon Council.Growing more frustrated, Phillips,who was already active in the Leagueof Women Voters and the NAACP,partnered with noted civil rights activistFather James Groppi and the NAACPYouth Council to call out the fair housing
PTIONCELAEXSPONSORED FEATUREWOMEN2020ADA JAMESA RichlandCounty LegacyOn June 10, 1919, Wisconsin became thefirst state to ratify the 19th Amendmentgiving women the right to vote. Suffragistleader and social activist Ada James playedan important role in that distinction byconvincing her father, former statesenator David G. James, to personallydeliver the ratification papers by trainto Washington, D.C., barely beating amessenger from neighboring Illinois.James spent much of her lifechampioning various causes and learneda great deal about organizing at home.Both of her parents were active in thewomen’s suffrage movement. Her motherfounded the Richland Center Women’sClub, which in 1866 invited Susan B.Anthony to speak.James herself formed a club whilestill in high school to advance the causeof suffrage. After graduating from theUniversity of Wisconsin, Jamesco-founded the Political Equality Leagueof Wisconsin in 1911 and served as itspresident for two years.Employing some creative campaigntactics — including hiring a motorboatto distribute brochures along the riverand dropping pamphlets on county fairsfrom an airplane — she fought for herfather’s 1912 women’s suffrageamendment, which voters ultimatelydefeated in a statewide referendum.After the passage of the 19thAmendment, James turned her attentionto temperance, pacifism and world peace,among other social issues. She lobbiedRichland County government officialsto create a local children’s board toprovide assistance for children in poverty,the first such organization in the state.Today, Ada James Place in RichlandCounty offers affordable housing topeople experiencing homelessness.Kimberly MonroeAllure Skin HealthAt Allure Skin Health, aesthetic nurse Kimberly Monroe understandsthat when people look in the mirror, they’re often their own worst critic.Beginning her career as an oncology nurse, she quickly discovered herpassion for helping people look and feel their absolute best.With over 25 years of experience in aesthetics, Kimberly is not onlyable to provide exceptional service to clients, she also improves theirlives through personal connection. She opened Allure in 2012 as apractice where clients can rely on her to be a confidant and friend.Kimberly believes that an “exceptional woman” has the confidence inherself to believe and support other women. This is why Allure supportsother women in business by aligning with like-minded establishmentsand working to bring girls and women of all backgrounds together.There’s no place like Allure, and it’s all because care and kindnesstake priority. Kimberly attributes her success to her passion andconnection with people, saying, “Being kind is what real beauty is!”804 Liberty Blvd, Suite 206Sun Prairie608.772.0069allureskinhealth.comMARCH 2020 MADISON MAGAZINE85
SPONSORED FEATUREBETSYTHUNDERPTIONCELAEXNative AmericanHealer for AllWOMEN2020UW Credit Union“UW Credit Union welcomed me into my first executive role withincredible support.”—Anne Norman, senior vice president and chief marketing officer“We see diversity as a source of strength and work hard to sustain aninclusive culture.”—Sheila Milton, director of cultural competency and inclusion“Programs like caretaker leave reflect our commitment to work-lifebalance. I’ve thrived in my career while being the mom I want to be.”—Pam Peterson, associate vice president of human resourcesEvery woman has what it takes to be exceptional. Whether you bankwith us or work for us, we’ll help you build a life that makes you proud.86 MADISON MAGAZINE MARCH 2020Throughout much of her life, Betsy Thunderwas known across west central Wisconsinas an extraordinary healer for usingtraditional Ho-Chunk medicine to treatboth Native American and white patients.Thunder was born near Black RiverFalls as a member of the Ho-Chunk tribe(also known as the Winnebago). Thundermarried a medicine man several years hersenior who trained her in traditional andceremonial medicine, which includedproperly collecting, preparing andadministering herbs and treatments.As her husband had hoped, she passedalong her knowledge and skills to futuregenerations; at least one son and onegrandson became natural healers, as well.Residents in Jackson County andbeyond trusted her as a skilled medicalpractitioner. Patients often gave herclothing, food or blankets in exchangefor her services.Despite knowing little English,Thunder also worked with many whitepatients. As the story goes, she treated theson of a prominent lumberman when theyoung boy became critically ill anddoctors with more formal trainingcouldn’t find a cure. The child recoveredafter Thunder treated him for a few dayswith herbs, roots, barks and berries. Toshow his gratitude, the businessman gaveThunder enough lumber to build a smallcabin on her 40 acres of land, and thetownspeople helped build it to show theirsimilar appreciation for her years of service.In the 1900s, the U.S. governmentordered Thunder’s tribe to relocate toNebraska. Thunder refused and hid in thehills of her ancestral land until she died.Her exact birthdate is unknown, but anobituary published in a 1913 Black RiverFalls newspaper reported her age at thetime of her death to be an impressive 96years old.
EXLAPTIONCEWOMEN2020JANA GYURINAOak Park DentalReal life experiences oftentimes create compassion and this holds true for Dr. Jana Gyurina of Madison’s Oak ParkDental. After getting her braces removed as a child, Dr. Jana suffered chronically from TMJ, a condition thatcauses severe headaches, neck pain, and jaw pain. When she discovered neuromuscular dentistry at the age of28, she knew she could help others who suffered from temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ).“I’m passionate about helping others relieve their pain. Medications and other treatment modalities would workfor a short period of time but were only temporary fixes that did not address the underlying cause of my pain.”With her focus on neuromuscular dentistry, her drive to find ways to relieve others’ pain, ultimately fueled hersuccess. “My personal experience with chronic pain combined with my extensive continuing education, has allowedour team at Oak Park Dental to change patients lives.”Dr. Jana’s talented, all female practice is able to continue changing the lives of patients by utilizing the latesttechnology, such as prepless veneers, 3-D guided implant placement, full mouth cosmetic restorations, TMJ treatment,and sleep apnea treatment without the use of a CPAP.OakParkDentalMadison.com
PTIONCELAEXSPONSORED FEATUREWOMENCARRIECHAPMAN CATT2020‘Emblemof Equality’Patti MackeseyBoardman Clark Law FirmA standard poodle named Hazel goes to work daily with Patti Mackesey, aparalegal at Boardman Clark.It’s a way for Hazel to get used to behaving in public, part of her trainingto become a service dog for Custom Canines Service Dog Academy, whichprovides service dogs to people with varying needs. Hazel has become apopular guest at the law firm over the past several months.“She brings a smile to everyone’s face,” Mackesey said.Mackesey is glad her commitment to volunteering is shared by BoardmanClark, a law firm with century-old roots in Madison. The firm’s employeesare encouraged to take a day of paid volunteer time to help at their favoritelocal charities. They also organize employee volunteers for events such asBrat Fest and the Special Olympics.“It’s a fun way to get to know your coworkers,” Mackesey said. “It’s ateam-building activity.”boardmanclark.com88 MADISON MAGAZINE MARCH 2020Wisconsin native Carrie Chapman Cattis a well-known figure in the women’ssuffrage movement. She campaignedfor the right to vote and, after the 19thAmendment passed, founded the Leagueof Women Voters.When Catt graduated from IowaAgriculture College in 1890 with a degreein science, she was the only woman inher class. She worked in Iowa as a lawclerk, teacher, school principal and herdistrict’s first female superintendent.After moving to California, she co-editedher husband’s newspaper, wrote a weeklyfeature about women’s suffrage andeventually became San Francisco’s first female newspaper reporter.Activist leader Susan B. Anthony invitedCatt to testify to an all-male Congressabout proposed suffrage legislation, and in1900 Catt succeeded Anthony as presidentof the National American Woman SuffrageAssociation (NAWFA), a position she helduntil 1904, and again from 1915-1920.In a speech celebrating the passage ofthe 19th Amendment, Catt remarked, “Thevote is the emblem of your equality, womenof America, the guarantee of your liberty. That vote has been costly. Prize it!”To assist the millions of women newlyeligible to vote, Catt stepped down fromthe NAWFA and founded the League ofWomen Voters, which celebrates its 100thanniversary this year. She then turned herattention to other social causes, fightingagainst child labor and for world peace. Inthe lead-up to World War II, she organizedprotests against Adolf Hitler’s rise topower and pressured the U.S. to acceptmore Jewish refugees fleeing persecution.In 1982, Catt was inducted into theNational Women’s Hall of Fame along withseveral of her fellow suffragettes. In the1990s, Iowa State University establishedthe Carrie Chapman Catt Center forWomen and Politics and renamed arenovated botany building CarrieChapman Catt Hall.
SPONSORED FEATURECLARA BEWICKCOLBYPTIONCELAIn 1869, six women graduated from theUniversity of Wisconsin. It was theinstitution’s first co-educational class. ClaraBewick Colby was among them and hasthe distinction of being chosen as theuniversity’s first female valedictorian. Aprominent journalist, Colby would spendher life advocating for the causes of womenin higher education and women’s suffrage.Colby was born in England but grew upin Windsor, Wisconsin. As a teenager, shetaught at a Dane County school to earnmoney for her family. After graduatingfrom the UW, she taught Latin andhistory to women students and continuedher own education, taking classes inFrench, Greek and chemistry. Sheresigned from the university only a fewyears later, when administrators deniedher request for a pay increase.Colby and her husband, a UW LawSchool graduate, moved to Nebraska.There, she established a public libraryand worked as principal of a local schooldistrict, along with championing therights of rural women. In 1883, shelaunched the Woman’s Tribune, amonthly newspaper for which she wrote,edited and set type. The Tribune becamethe official paper of the National WomanSuffrage Association.Working with fellow suffragists SusanB. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton,she wrote and lectured about women’svoting rights. However, after a longseparation and eventual divorce, nationalsuffrage leaders shut her out of themovement, fearing she would staintheir reputation.She was, however, allowed to serve asa delegate to the International Woman’sSuffrage Alliance at Budapest in 1913.Sadly, Colby died in 1916, just four yearsbefore the ratification of the 19thAmendment giving white Americanwomen the right to vote.EXFirst FemaleUW ValedictorianWOMEN2020Deb CorningDécor for the Well-Dressed HomeDeb Corning started her design remodel business nearly 20 yearsago. Corning was the first Wisconsin woman to receive a CertifiedRemodelers Designation through NARI and become a licensed generalcontractor. Since then DC Interiors & Renovations has offered designand remodeling services.“We have a reputation for taking care of the details,” Corning said.“Our niche is listening to clients and helping them every step of theway, from design through remodeling. If people love the home thatthey live in they are more successful in every phase of life because theyfeel comfortable, satisfied and surrounded by the things they love.”Most recently Corning opened Décor, a home accents store locatedin Fitchburg where customers can find a unique selection ofaccessories, art, furniture and more in a variety of styles.decormadison.comMARCH 2020 MADISON MAGAZINE89
PTIONCELAEXSPONSORED FEATUREWOMEN2020Lynda J. Patterson, FASAE, CAEAMPED Association ManagementLynda Patterson’s leadership led to her first executive directorposition at age 25. She spent the next 15 years running tradeand professional societies.When she moved to Madison 12 years ago, she looked for anational association CEO role. Seeing none, Patterson built herown association management company, AMPED AssociationManagement.“We’ve brought 17 national associations to Madison andWashington, D.C.,” she said of the company’s success. “We’retheir headquarters.”AMPED’s diverse clients include Women in GovernmentRelations, Association of Equipment ManagementProfessionals, Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association, andAmericas Committee for Treatment and Research in MultipleSclerosis. AMPED also provides consulting services andstrategic planning for associations and their volunteer leaders.Patterson said she hopes other women are inspired by hersuccess as a business owner, volunteer leader and mother of four.“I really want to help open doors for women,” she rey MunsonHilton Madison Monona TerraceIt can be easy to overlook the bronze figurewho watches over Madison from atop thestate Capitol.Audrey Munson was a female pioneer anda symbol of freedom in the 1900s. That is whyHilton Madison Monona Terrace named thenew restaurant after this swing era role model.“She is our muse for the creativity in our foodand beverage menus,” said manager RanetteMaurer.Many of our specialty cocktails are inspiredby Audrey’s personality and lifestyle, includingThe Muse, made with Milagro Silver tequila andOuzo #12 with fresh ginger, lime and chambord.“We wanted our restaurant to be a symbol ofinspiration,” Maurer said. “And Audrey was aperfect choice.”hiltonmadison.com90 MADISON MAGAZINE MARCH 2020
SPONSORED FEATUREEXPTIONCELAGEORGIAO’KEEFFEWOMEN2020Iconic ArtistEven as a young child growing up on aSun Prairie farm, the woman who wouldbecome one of the most important andinfluential American artists of the 20thcentury knew exactly what she wantedto be.Georgia O’Keeffe was inspired by thenature that surrounded her family home,from trees and flowers to barns andcountry life. Her sisters, Catherine andIda, were also budding young artists.A local teacher and watercolorist whoboarded at the O’Keeffe farmhouse gavethe girls drawing lessons.O’Keeffe began more formal art lessonsat Madison’s Sacred Heart Academy, thenlearned from a high school art teacherwho used flowers to demonstrate colorand shape techniques.When she turned 18, O’Keeffe leftWisconsin and began art training, first atthe School of the Art Institute of Chicago,then at The Art Students League in NewYork. Unfulfilled by school, she triedtraveling the country teaching but woundup back in New York, where she beganpainting full time.In the first few decades of her career,O’Keeffe created some of her mostinnovative and iconic paintings, full offlowers and lush lakeside landscapes.Her frequent vacations to New Mexicoinspired a second phase of her career,painting open skies, rugged mountainsand bleached animal bones, all tinted inher own distinctive color palette.Toward the twilight of her career, her1976 illustrated autobiography was abestseller and President Gerald Fordawarded her the Presidential Medal ofFreedom. She died in 1986 at the age of 98.Today, the city of Sun Prairie honorsher with a historical marker and specialevents. The University of Wisconsinawarded her an honorary degree and shewas given the Wisconsin Governor’sAward for Creativity in the Arts in 1966.Kristen CarreiraCarreira Quinn FinancialKristen Carreira did not have any female mentors when she entered thefinancial advising field more than a decade ago. So she decided to set anexample herself, starting Carreira Quinn Financial in 2018.“I am in a very male-dominated field, so to be a significant player in thatfield and be able to reshape it is hugely important to me,” she said.Carreira Quinn Financial, located in downtown Madison, offers an array ofinvesting, financial planning and insurance services to help clients pursuetheir financial goals. Carreira said running her own firm allows her to offermore services than when she was a financial advisor for a national company.She also can take a more personalized approach.“It really allows me to understand my client’s needs and goals on a deeperlevel,” she said.Securities and advisory services offered through LPL financial, a RegisteredInvestment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.carreiraquinn.comMARCH 2020 MADISON MAGAZINE91
PTIONCELAEXSPONSORED FEATUREWOMEN2020Meg PekarskeHusch BlackwellMeg Pekarske of Husch Blackwell didn’t grow up dreaming ofbeing a lawyer, but rather was called to it through her compassionfor others. Little did she know that practicing hospice law wouldlead her to become a respected name in this niche industry.As the exclusive firm practicing hospice law in Wisconsin, HuschBlackwell serves hospice and palliative care providers nationwidefrom Hawaii to Maryland. It’s a dedication to the industry that isunmatched by any other law firm in the country.Pekarske’s successful career can be attributed to her drive andmotivation to give those working in hospice care the best supportpossible, and to the way she connects compassionately andpersonally with clients.“It’s so important to be who you are,” she said. “If you bring yourwhole self to what you do, people see that, and while it may notresonate with everyone it will attract those who you do want to workwith. Hospice people are my people, and I want to continue to learnand grow with them to assist them in new and expanded ways.”PTIONCELAEX33 East Main Street, Madison 608.255.4440 608-258-7138huschblackwell.com/offices/Madison WIWOMEN2020Marla BerghSerial EntrepreneurFounder of The Food Court Agency, Marla BerghPhotography and Borrowed Bar,Marla Bergh is a seasoned marketer and creativedirector who has launched three successful smallbusinesses based in Madison. “In life, work and business,I think everyone should blaze a trail for someone else,”she said.The passionate entrepreneur works with businesseson their marketing campaigns. She has even coordinateda client’s appearance on “Shark Tank.” Her philosophy is:“As long as the Earth is spinning, you should bedreaming and creating.”Bergh recently opened a studio space downtownwhere she runs her photo studio and leads creativeprojects for emerging and established brands.e: marla@thefoodcourtagency.comw: mberghphotography.com@mbergh7892 MADISON MAGAZINE MARCH 2020
Pam KeinerPTIONCELAEXSPONSORED FEATUREMaly Roofing Company, Inc.WOMEN2020Owning a commercial roofing company as a womanis not the norm.Being a woman leader in the commercial roofingindustry requires hard work and resilience, said PamKeiner, owner of Maly Roofing.“For 21 years I’ve been determined to prove that itis possible for women to exist in the roofing industry.”In 2013, she was recognized at her first roofingconference for her success as one of four womencontractors from across the country. Although theaccolades were deserved, Keiner is most proud of herteam’s accomplishments.“We’ve worked at the Madison Library and TheEdgewater Boathouse Patio. It gives me great prideknowing we can thrive in the industry and make adifference in the Madison community,” Keiner said.PTIONCELAEXmalyroofing.comWOMEN2020Katie FrankREFORMadisonKatie Frank is a risk taker.At 28, she graduated from veterinary school with morethan 100,000 in student loan debt and an unsettlingfeeling that working as a veterinarian was no longersomething she wanted to spend the rest of her life doing.With the stressors a new family can bring, she foundsolace through exercise. When she took her first Lagreeclass, a full-body cardio and strengthening session thattakes place on a moving platform, she knew she neededa career change. She had never written a business plan,never taken a managerial class, never even thought aboutowning her own business.“It was daunting, but there are certain opportunitiesthat come around,” Frank said. “And this one was mine.”REFORMadison opened in 2018. As the owner of theonly Lagree studio in Wisconsin, Frank believes REFORM’ssuccess is due largely to the other exceptional womentrainers who believed in the risk she took.reformadison.comMARCH 2020 MADISON MAGAZINE93
SPONSORED FEATUREELECTAQUINNEYPublic EducationPioneerPTIONCELAEXEven before Wisconsin became a state,Native American children and the whitechildren of early settlers in the Fox Valleyreceived a superior education thanks toElecta Quinney, the state’s first publicschoolteacher.Quinney, a member of the StockbridgeMunsee Band of Mohican Indians, grewup in New York. Her spirit name in hernative language was Wuh-weh-wee-neemeew Quan-au-kaunt.Passionate about education, sheattended top-notch boarding schools,received her advanced education at afemale seminary in Connecticut andtaught for six years at a mission school.When the U.S. government ordered theWOMEN2020mass removal of native people fromNew York, Quinney’s brother led hertribe west to Wisconsin to relocate onMenominee lands.A year after arriving in the area that’snow Kaukauna, Quinney opened the firstpublic school in the Wisconsin part ofMichigan Territory. Most of her studentscould not afford to pay educational fees,so the school relied solely on publicfunding instead. (Until then, mostchildren learned under private tutors,at private schools run by churches or atmilitary facilities.)Quinney taught 40 to 50 students atone time, in a one-room log schoolhouseon the Fox River, which operated inconnection with a Presbyterian mission.Though most of her students were NativeAmerican, everyone studied together inEnglish, learning arithmetic, geography,history, language and penmanship. Oneformer student said later the school wasJesse MarcksAu FaitMaster hairstylist Jesse Marcks wanted to create a salonenvironment for clients that felt warm, creative andmodern. She created a learning environment that a
women, young girls were able to imagine themselves as educated business owners . home beautiful and functional.” . Sauna and certified nutritional and functional health coach. Drawing from her own personal health journey and life-changing impact from halotherapy (salt therapy) and i
