Milwaukee Hospitality Honors
Five Milwaukee Hospitality Leaders Recognized for Business Growth and Community Service
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Key Points
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Brad Schendel rose from locker room attendant in 1977 to general manager of the Milwaukee Athletic Club in 2025, and he has organized the club’s Boxing Night fundraiser for 25 years.
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Jamie Vassallo retained more than 75% of his staff and all of his leadership team over the past year. One example of his career-development approach is a bar manager who started as a bartender 14 years ago and now also serves as a backup front-of-house manager.
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Beyond his Wisconsin policy work, Bill Elliott holds national industry leadership positions: he is chair of the International Society of Hotel Associations and serves on the American Hotel & Lodging Association executive committee.
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Chantal Boncher helped open the Renaissance Milwaukee West during the COVID-19 pandemic before being promoted to general manager in April 2025; she now leads 120 full- and part-time employees. Her nominator noted that women represent less than 40% of U.S. hotel general managers.
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The Wunsch family invested $5 million to renovate the former Bucyrus International employees’ club before opening it as an event venue in 2021, and later purchased the property from South Milwaukee for $680,000 in 2026. Skyline Catering is jointly owned by Ernie, his wife Kathy and their daughter Elyse, who is expected to become majority owner.
Five Milwaukee hospitality leaders are being recognized for building strong businesses while investing in their employees and communities. Business Times highlighted executives who have combined growth with staff development, community service, and industry leadership. These leaders represent a cross-section of Milwaukee's hospitality scene: from fine dining to hotels to historic event venues.
Brad Schendel's 48-Year Rise at Milwaukee Athletic Club
Brad Schendel started as a locker room attendant at the Milwaukee Athletic Club in 1977 and rose to general manager by 2025, according to Business Times. Over nearly five decades, Schendel has become central to the club's community role. He has organized the club's Boxing Night fundraiser for 25 years, generating more than $100,000 for youth boxing programs.
Jamie Vassallo Builds Staff Loyalty at Mo's Restaurant
Jamie Vassallo, operating partner of downtown Milwaukee's Mo's…A Place for Steaks, has made employee retention a priority. Business Times reported that Vassallo retained more than 75% of staff and all leadership team members over the past year. One bar manager started as a bartender 14 years ago and now serves as backup front-of-house manager—showing how the restaurant invests in career growth.
Bill Elliott Shapes Hotel Policy and Tourism Funding
Bill Elliott, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association, has pushed for policies that benefit hotel operators across the state. Business Times noted Elliott has secured greater state funding for tourism, advanced the state film tax credit, and championed updates to lodging codes and human-trafficking training. Beyond Wisconsin, Elliott leads nationally: he chairs the International Society of Hotel Associations and sits on the American Hotel & Lodging Association executive committee.
Chantal Boncher Advances Women in Hotel Leadership
Chantal Boncher, general manager of Renaissance Milwaukee West, leads 120 full- and part-time employees. Business Times highlighted her advocacy for women in hospitality. Women hold less than 40% of U.S. hotel general manager roles, making Boncher's leadership position rare. She helped open the Renaissance during the COVID-19 pandemic and was promoted to general manager in April 2025, supporting Wauwatosa tourism growth.
Ernie Wunsch Transforms Historic Venue Into Community Hub
Ernie Wunsch, owner of Skyline Catering and the Bucyrus Club, invested $5 million to renovate the former Bucyrus International employees' club and opened it as an event venue in 2021. The family purchased the property from South Milwaukee for $680,000 in 2026. Skyline Catering is jointly owned by Ernie, his wife Kathy, and daughter Elyse, who is positioned to become majority owner. Wunsch organized a fundraiser that raised more than $100,000 after devastating local floods.Business Times
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