Everybody's Business
Driver's children’s book; Beckett's salon; Baird exec 'roomed' with McCain
The Business Journal of Milwaukee
Packers’ Driver releasing children’s book
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver is trying a new career — writing a children’s book.
Driver wrote “Quickie,” a fictional book that will be released in November and will be available at local bookstores and through Driver’s charitable foundation’s Web site. The book’s title comes from Driver’s childhood nickname and the drawings by Waukesha artist are based on Driver’s 5-year-old son, Cristian.
“I wanted to take on a fun project and this way my two young kids will have a good book to read growing up,” Driver said. “Spending time reading with my kids convinced me that a good book with a sports focus would be popular for kids.”
Driver said he hopes the book is the first in a series.
The book is being published by Driver and Lammi Sports Management, a Milwaukee sports marketing firm that works with Driver. All proceeds will go to Driver’s charitable foundation.
— Mark Kass
Former Miller Brewing exec opens skin salon
Tina Beckett, a former Miller Brewing Co. executive, has launched a new business venture, Skin by Tina.
The salon, 5115 W. North Ave., Milwaukee, inside Ski’s Total Bodywork, offers facial and body treatments, body polishes and waxes, all performed by Beckett, a licensed esthetician.
“This is an opportunity to be my own boss,” she said.
Beckett spent 26 years at Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing Co., now known as MillerCoors, including 10 years as a manager of supplier diversity and procurement contracts. Beckett also operates Nutshell Enterprises, a firm she started in 2006 that focuses on advancing minority businesses.
One of the firm’s clients, the Metropolitan Business Collaborative, contracted with Beckett to serve as executive director of the Milwaukee Urban Entrepreneur Partnership.
Beckett said she plans to gradually shift her business focus solely to her skin salon.
“With the way the economy is, trying to build a business is going to be a challenge,” she said.
— Rich Rovito
Baird exec was prisoner with McCain in Hanoi
Jerry Gerndt, a top financial adviser at Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. in Milwaukee, “roomed” with Republican presidential candidate John McCain when the two were prisoners of war at the infamous Hanoi Hilton prison.
Gerndt, a Suring native who was a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot when he was shot down in 1967, was imprisoned until March 1973, when he, McCain and others flew home at the end of the Vietnam War. Gerndt later became a commercial airline pilot and then entered the financial industry. Since 2001, he’s been with Baird, where he heads the private asset management group.
Gerndt, 66, said he supports McCain as best for the economy and the stock market. Gerndt saw McCain briefly during a campaign stop in Milwaukee, but hasn’t visited with him for about three years. Gerndt said Baird’s internal regulations prohibit him from donating much to McCain.
“If I could send more, I would,” Gerndt said.
— Rich Kirchen
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