RANGER RESTART: 
Alumni Businesses
This year marks our third annual Parkside Day. Parkside Day is a 24 hour challenge to raise funds for student success, promote volunteering, make a difference, and show your Ranger Spirit.
This year we are featuring alumni success stories and promoting alumni businesses as part of Parkside Day.
Are you an alumni business owner or know of a business that should be highlighted? Nominate today!
Highlighted Alumni Owned Businesses
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Rita Gentile '08
Owner, RG Performing Arts Studio
How did your UW-Parkside experience impact your professional or personal life?
UW-Parkside impacted my professional life through the invaluable connections I made with faculty, many of whom I am still in contact with today. It is a lifelong support to have professors turn into mentors, then colleagues, and then friends. I remember high school classmates being wary of “staying home” for college, but for me there was an overwhelming amount of positive that came from staying connected to the Kenosha community.
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Brian Johnson '93
Chief Marketing Officer & Shareholder, BCI Burke
How did your UW-Parkside experience impact your professional or personal life?
In terms of my professional life, UW Parkside provided me with an excellent business education. My degree in Business Management and Accounting has served me extremely well in my career and provided a great foundation for me to go on and complete my MBA. Additionally, I was very involved during my time on campus with a number of leadership roles that have really helped me over the years.
AND, personally, I met my wife at Parkside! We’ve been married for 27 years and have three amazing kids. I’m very lucky!
I’ve realized how much I valued my time at Parkside, and I want to try to give back and help another generation of students.
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Martha Nicks '01
Navigator Career Solutions, LLC
How did your UW-Parkside experience prepare you for your career?
My time at UW-Parkside prepared me for my career today by opening up a whole new world of experiences for me. I was able to meet manystudents and faculty who challenged my thinking and shaped my perspective. Also, participating in leadership opportunities such as ParksideActivities Board (PAB) and Student Government Committee enabled me to learn more about myself, want I wanted in a career, and strategizesto get there. One of the most pivotal experiences for me was working in what was called back then the Advising and Testing Office as aparaprofessional. It was during my time there that launched my career as a Career Development Professional.
Alumni Businesses
