Heather E. Ronaldson

Business Desk Intern, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Soon-to-graduate journalism and English student at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.
Social media activist. Storytelling enthusiast. From Wheaton, Ill.

Portfolio

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Journal Sentinel
02/23/2013
Baird CEO Paul Purcell named Wisconsin Business Leader of the Year by Harvard club

Paul Purcell, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Baird Financial Corp. and Robert W. Baird & Co., has been named the 2012 Wisconsin Business Leader of the Year by the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin. Paul Purcell, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Baird Financial Corp. and

Journal Sentinel
02/23/2013
Baird CEO Paul Purcell named Wisconsin Business Leader of the Year by Harvard club

Paul Purcell, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Baird Financial Corp. and Robert W. Baird & Co., has been named the 2012 Wisconsin Business Leader of the Year by the Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin. Paul Purcell, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Baird Financial Corp. and

Journal Sentinel
01/25/2013
Cybros bakery changes name to Angelic Bakehouse

The Waukesha bakery known as Cybros Inc. announced a name change to Angelic Bakehouse on Facebook this morning. Owners James and Jenny Marino added the tagline, "Oh So Pure" to describe the all natural, sprouted grain ingredients that make its products rich in protein, fiber and

Journal Sentinel
01/15/2013
Wal-Mart plan hailed for Wisconsin vets

The Wal-Mart Stores Inc. initiative to hire any recently discharged veteran effective Memorial Day may provide opportunities for Wisconsin veterans seeking employment.

Journal Sentinel
01/23/2013
Employment falls in most Wisconsin metro areas

While Wisconsin gained about 1,300 jobs from November to December last year, metro Milwaukee employment dropped to 810,600 from 813,300, according to preliminary government estimations. While Wisconsin gained about 1,300 jobs from November to December last year, metro Milwaukee employment dropped to 810,600 from 813,300, according to preliminary government estimations.

The Milwaukee Business Journal

The Business Journal
10/19/2012
Group bridges Milwaukee-Africa gap

For most refugees who come to Wisconsin from war-torn countries, it’s important to know two things when getting acclimated: how to speak English and a marketable skill. It is the best way to thrive in today’s competitive market.

The Business Journal
10/19/2012
Shoppes at Fox River opening second phase

T.J. Maxx, Ulta Salon and Cosmetics, Rue 21 and Charming Charlie’s will open Oct. 28 in the Shoppes at Fox River in Waukesha as part of the Opus Development Corp.’s second phase of development.

The Business Journal
10/26/2012
East side location boosts Olive

First-time visitors to Olive Fine Organic Living on Downer Avenue are likely to notice one thing — the smell.

The Business Journal
11/27/2012
Agropur to expand Luxemburg plant

Canadian dairy company Agropur is investing $100 million in its Luxemburg plant to modernize the facility while adding less than a dozen jobs.

The Business Journal
02/05/2013
Top Corporate Counsel: Kelly Grebe

Kelly Grebe is a mother of four who knows how to win “coolest parent award.” She tells her kids she’s a beer lawyer.

The Business Journal
02/07/2013
Racine to acquire two key development sites

The city of Racine’s interest in purchasing two key parcels has generated discussion about the possible redevelopment of the high-profile sites.

The Business Journal
02/14/2013
Push to increase youth apprenticeships

More Wisconsin manufacturers are utilizing private- and state-funded youth apprenticeship (YA) programs to bridge the skills gap among students and rebrand manufacturing’s image for the next generation of talent.

Business Journal
12/07/2012
New program improves Wheaton service

Since launching a patient advocate training program last year with Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin Inc., Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare has seen significant increases in employee retention rate and customer satisfaction among its hospitals and medical groups.

The Business Journal
10/17/2012
Marcus CEO tells shareholders of hotel renovation work

Marcus Corp. announced its renovation plans for two recently acquired out-of-state hotels during its annual meeting with the shareholders at Marcus Majestic Cinema in Brookfield this morning.

The Business Journal
10/12/2012
Potawatomi expo center brings new competition

Potawatomi Bingo Casino’s recent renovation of its 27,000-square-foot exposition center adds another option for trade shows and others seeking exhibit and meeting space in the Milwaukee area. The newly built-out expo center can house about 1,200 people and 135 trade show booths, with Potawatomi’s other sizeable ballroom accommodating about 500 people.

The Business Journal
10/05/2012
CFO Of The Year - Jeffrey Allen

Few Wisconsin professionals carry the titles “sports fanatic” and “financial troubleshooter” in their back pocket like Jeffrey Allen.

The Business Journal
10/05/2012
CFO Of The Year - Sally Gramling

Since being hired as vice president of finance and administration at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School in 2003, Sally Gramling has worked in nostalgia.

The Business Journal
10/03/2012
Koss Corp. increases spending on Wi-Fi headphones

Koss Corp. recapped its latest product initiative of the Striva Wi-Fi headphones during its 2012 annual meeting of shareholders Wednesday morning in the Hilton Milwaukee River Hotel.

The Milwaukee Business Journal
09/05/2012
Transit Express may lay off 100

Transit Express Inc. of Milwaukee submitted a notice of potential layoffs to the state of Wisconsin to forecast the possible termination of 100 staff members should the company not receive a contract for the Transit Plus program.

Extant Online Magazine

Extant Magazine
08/21/2012
Christopher Long: A Testimony of ‘Rock, Ruin and Revelation’

What was supposed to be the opportunity of a lifetime for Christopher Long had flopped. The author and rock journalist was asked to tour with 1980s metal band, Poison, as an assistant to the bassist, and his long-time friend, Bobby Dall. He even scored a book deal for the three-month long stint.

Extant Magazine
08/01/2012
Producing Trio Releases Experimental EP With a Message

Welcome to The Shadow Factory, where three identities meet one collaborative production of an experimental sound. They call it, “Battlestation Zero,” a seven-track EP born of the new production group, which hails from the Midwest. While all three members have mystery aliases, full-time jobs, solo-projects and families, Benjamin Fuse (Caleb Zovar), Deus Prime (Adam Fredricksen) and Sir Earl Black (who chose to remain anonymous), came together in December 2011 to do something fun.

Extant Magazine
07/17/2012
Ministry Making an Impact: Exodus Cry

After a historic prayer against human trafficking and modern day slavery in 1997, Benjamin Nolot since founded Exodus Cry, a prayer movement committed to ending the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world.

Extant Magazine
07/24/2012
KB 'calls-to-action' in debut album

Reach Records’ newest hip hop artist, KB, recently released his first full-length album, “Weight & Glory.” The album serves as a call-to-action for people to respond to God’s greatness.

Extant Magazine
04/21/2012
Holographic Tupac Raises an Eyebrow

The legendary and deceased rap star, Tupac Shakur, appeared on stage in holographic form during a performance with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg on Sunday at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Ca.

Extant Magazine
04/21/2012
Cat Stevens returns to music scene after converting to Islam

The former Cat Stevens now goes by a different name, one associated with a newfound peace and faith. The now Yusuf Islam has stepped back into the lime-light after a temporary break from music following his recent conversion to Islam.

Extant Magazine
03/10/2012
Kirk Cameron Speaks Honestly About Gay Marriage

After Kirk Cameron’s controversial comments about homosexuality and gay marriage on “Piers Morgan Tonight” last Friday, the “Growing Pains” child-star responded Tuesday to GLAAD critics and celebrities who criticized him. The self-identified Evangelical Christian said he does not believe homosexuality is natural, but that he should be allowed to “express his moral view on social issues,” he said in a statement to ABC news.

Extant Magazine
02/16/2012
Q & A with Eric Cross of Creature Clan

Shannon “Eric Cross” Vick of One Route Entertainment’s Creature Clan knows about music. He’s been making it since he was three. But after receiving Christ at age 15, the Milwaukee native—and his music—underwent a change. Cross began to discover his newness in Christ. After being inspired by music groups like The Cross Movement in 2003, he learned his music could be about the gospel message, too.

Fresh Home Magazine

Fresh Home Renovation Color SIP
12/09/2011
Traditional with a Twist

You're the first to admit that classic color combos fill your home, but you're no slave to staples. Being a traditionalist can be as expressive as it is practical.

Fresh Home Renovation Color SIP
12/09/2011
Breezy and Bright

In your world of happy-go-lucky spontaneity, fresh produce and farmers market bouquets inspire your favorite juicy-fruit color palettes.

Fresh Home Renovation Color SIP
12/09/2011
What's your color character?

Find out what your underwear, fashion sense and biggest DIY disaster says about you!

Milwaukee Admirals Online

The Milwaukee Admirals website
01/16/2011
Front Office Summer Fun

As the Milwaukee Admirals’ regular season melts into the summer months, the fans pack up their blue and black colors in hopeful anticipation of next fall. But for the organization’s front office, the off-season is just heating up. Located on 510 Kilbourn Ave. in downtown Milwaukee, the Administrative Office organizes the nitty-gritty starting with the team’s schedule.

The Milwaukee Admirals website
08/05/2011
Summer Fun Part 2: The Players

In uniform, they are lean, mean, puck shootin’ machines. But in the off-season, the Admirals skate with a different agenda--one with less pasta and more downtime. At summer’s start, the players take off-season training tips back to their hometowns, as prescribed by Jason Nordby, the Admirals strength and conditioning coach.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Neighborhood News Service
11/23/2012
Habitat mobilizes veterans to build new homes

Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity and Dry Hootch have joined forces to launch Veterans Volunteer Corps (VVC), an international Habitat initiative to provide veterans and military service members with affordable housing while strengthening the community. - See more at: http://www.milwaukeenns.org/2012/11/23/habitat-mobilizes-veterans-to-build-new-homes/?cat=-12,-34,-3,-18#sthash.GMr6HXzs.dpuf

Neighborhood News Service
11/13/2012
Metcalfe Park takes second place in contest to enliven vacant lots - See more at:...

A small group of Milwaukee residents who came together in May to form the Metcalfe Park Community Action Team won recognition and a cash award in the Chicago-based Metropolitan Planning Council’s (MPC) contest, “Space in Between.” - See more at: http://www.milwaukeenns.org/2012/11/13/metcalfe-park-takes-second-place-in-contest-to-enliven-vacant-lots/?cat=-12,-34,-3,-18#sthash.tmCeNwU3.dpuf

Neighborhood News Service
11/08/2012
Peer support network helps Vietnam vets open up

For veterans, adjusting to life after a war can be as daunting as surviving one. Approximately 38 percent of Vietnam veteran marriages failed within six months of the veteran’s return from Southeast Asia and the divorce rate among Vietnam veterans is significantly higher than for the general population, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. Some vets return to the states with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and relationships can suffer because of family members’...

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
05/17/2012
Urban Underground comes up with improvement projects

After months of preparation, Urban Underground youth recently presented their plans for improving health, public safety, education and juvenile justice in Milwaukee. The organization collaborated with other non-profits to hold a youth summit at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
05/08/2012
YouthBuild program offers young father a second chance

Puerto Rican native Christian Ruemmele has risen from a tumultuous past of drug possession and gang involvement to become a leader since he was hired as an AmeriCorps YouthBuild member. The program has given him a chance to earn his GED and build a better life for himself, his family and the community.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
04/30/2012
Fondy Food Center competing for fruit trees

Fondy Food Center is one of 100 agencies nationwide competing to win a free fruit orchard. To vote, go to www.communitiestakeroot.com.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
04/25/2012
Support groups improve quality of life for black breast cancer patients

Black women in Milwaukee County are more likely than any other racial group to die from breast cancer, but education, early detection and peer support are beginning to make a difference in reducing mortality and improving their quality of life.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
03/02/2012
Lindsay Heights health fair targets sexual health and tobacco risk

A free resource fair offered HIV and STD tests and vaccinations at no cost to Milwaukee youth and family members recently to raise awareness about health and wellness. The fair took place during a youth basketball tournament at North Division High School

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
02/21/2012
Churches check IDs to ensure that parishioners can vote

St. Francis of Assisi Church, like other congregations that are part of Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), took advantage of Sunday services to check whether parishioners have an approved form of voter identification. Includes video!

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
02/13/2012
International Learning Center connects diverse Milwaukee refugees

Pang Vang had never held a pencil before she came to the United States. The Laos refugee, 50, was relocated here in 1991 after spending about five years in a refugee camp in Thailand. There, Vang said, she and her eight children and husband stayed in a hot, cramped living space that was surrounded by a fence. They had to cook outside, and anyone who tried to leave the camp would be thrown in jail.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
01/20/2012
Dr. King birthday celebration conveys 'faith in the future'

About 1,500 people attended the 28th annual celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday on Sunday, Jan. 15, at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Speeches, performances and art projects highlighted the theme of this year’s event, “Maintain Faith in the Future.” Milwaukee is one of two cities to annually celebrate Dr. King’s birthday since 1984. The other is Atlanta.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
01/16/2012
MPS registration available online until Jan. 27

Parents or guardians of children new to the Milwaukee Public School system can now register their child online. This service is a first for Wisconsin and the region, and will simplify the registration process, while increasing the connection between schools and the families.

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
01/25/2012
Select Milwaukee, LISC launch loan fund to stabilize neighborhoods

Select Milwaukee and Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC) have teamed up to initiate a loan fund to aid local homebuyers. The loan fund is another step toward neighborhood stabilization, according to Raymond Schmidt, executive director of Select Milwaukee, and Leo Ries, executive director of LISC. The two nonprofits are the loan fund’s lead partners.

The Marquette Tribune

The Marquette Tribune
05/03/2012
Person to know: Dr. Phillip Naylor

Learning to embrace life’s complexities is an inevitable lesson in Phillip Naylor’s classroom. The Western Civilization and History of Rock ‘n’ Roll professor has been teaching at Marquette for more than 30 years and is a bit of a complexity himself. Between his office’s arbitrary door decorations — insightful quotes, words in other languages, black and white photos — and his affinity for blues and Northern Africa, Naylor said there is one common thread that defines him: the need to explore.

The Marquette Tribune
04/26/2012
Interactive art studio makes a splash

Painting while drinking might sound like a sloppy way to spend an evening. But at Splash Studio painting bar, local art proves to be the perfect mixer to any alcoholic beverage.

The Marquette Tribune
04/19/2012
The art behind creating art installations

A foreclosed home on 24thPlace and Locust Street calls about as much attention as the vinyl prints hanging on its boarded windows. The pictures, featuring interior spaces of local homes, blend into the exterior of the public property. Their subtle presentation suits the environment. People passing by only seem to notice the house-shaped planters and family portraits at a second glance

The Marquette Tribune
04/12/2012
There's Nothing Fake About Caffrey's Bouncer

Fifteen minutes before his set at Comedy Café, Nick Vanden Heuvel scraps together Caffrey’s Pub receipts to organize his stand-up comedy routine. He has thrown up at least three times from nerves but knows that supportive friends are in the audience waiting to cheer him on. With the announcement of his name, pronounced ‘Vanden-hayvel,’ he hops on stage, grabs the microphone and for the next five minutes — rid of all stage fright — feels fully alive.

The Marquette Tribune
03/29/2012
The voices behind spoken word

Autumn Blaze coolly approaches the microphone. She gazes into the audience members’ eyes, ruffles her afro and tauntingly traces her fingers from the nape of her neck to the center of her chest. The Milwaukee spoken word artist, entangled in a love affair with a married man, bares all:

The Marquette Tribune
03/22/2012
88Nine sings praises for several Milwaukee bands

After a whirlwind year of album releases, festival appearances and radio debuts, Milwaukee picked its favorites for the fifth annual 88Nine Radio Milwaukee Music Awards. Radio Milwaukee announced awards including peoples’ choice for album of the year, band of the year and catchiest song on Tuesday, March 6.

The Marquette Tribune
03/08/2012
New MTV shows engage teens but enrage parental groups

There’s no doubt that exploiting high school stereotypes can be as enthralling as it is cathartic. From Danny and Sandy in “Grease” to “Queen Bee” Regina George in “Mean Girls,” television sitcoms and blockbuster hits have attempted to categorize nearly every face in the high school hallway.

The Marquette Tribune
03/01/2012
New MAM exhibit gives everyone a brush with greatness

Milwaukeeans finally have an excuse to be a kid again. Saturday’s grand opening of the Kohl’s Education Center at the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM), 700 N. Art Museum Dr., attracted child-like spirits across Milwaukee to explore the three-part exhibition. Inside, visitors can play with fruit, sketch their favorite Pixar characters and yes — throw paint at tables.

The Marquette Tribune
02/23/2012
Christian rap groups a growing trend

There’s something to be said about real music — music that speaks to the heart. That’s the strategy of Christian hip-hop groups like Lecrae, Identity and Creature Clan. They’re not just rappers – they’re poets – preaching the word of God out of love and delivering messages of truth, love and forgiveness without forfeiting a good dance beat.

The Marquette Tribune
02/16/2012
Heartless Bastards find steady beat at Turner Hall

Last Thursday night, inside the historic and enigmatic walls of Turner Hall Ballroom, the Heartless Bastards performed for a sizeable sit-and-stand audience. The Austin-based band coupled well with the vintage beauty of the venue and performed emotion-laden grunge rock hits that told a story of love, loss and the journey between the two.

The Marquette Tribune
02/09/2012
“Mockingbird” flies off the page and onto the stage at the Rep

Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird” has earned a secure place in the literary canon since its publication in 1960 and winning of the Pulitzer Prize that year. The Milwaukee Rep’s adaptation, which opened last weekend on their Quadracci Pavillion stage, may change the story’s point of view, but it’s no less an authentic look into both a troubling period of American history and the coming-of-age of a young girl in the American South.

The Marquette Tribune
02/02/2012
Vinyl record sales settle into good groove

When statistics showed that vinyl record sales reached a new high since 1991, the music business began to buzz. According to Nielsen SoundScan, an information and sales tracking system, 3.9 million units were sold in 2011, a 36.3 percent change since 2010.

The Marquette Tribune
01/26/2012
Fill in the Blank

Take a break from seeking definitive answers. In the Haggerty Museum of Art’s current exhibitions — Tina Barney’s “The Europeans” and Philip Guston’s “Inevitable Finality” — they don’t exist.

The Marquette Tribune
01/19/2012
Unconventional Group of the Altos flies comfortably under the radar

Meekly tucked behind the main street in Bay View is Burnhearts, a nautical-inspired tavern at 2599 S. Logan Ave. that Group of the Altos considers one if its favorites. The twelve-piece Milwaukee band is known at Burnhearts for overindulging in whiskey and over-exalting Katie Rose, 29, the “bartender-extraordinaire,” she said with a laugh.

The Marquette Tribune
11/23/2011
“Take Care” propels Drake into the future with a boost from his past

Drake does his fanbase proud with his second studio album, “Take Care,” released Tuesday, Nov. 15. Between the introspective lyrics and a supremely swag assortment of featured artists, there’s something to be said about this sensitive – but not soft – album.

The Marquette Journal

The Marquette Journal
04/26/2012
Summer Side Jobs

For cash strapped students, summer means one thing: working. But if you need help deciding what you’ll be doing, here’s our guide to finding the perfect job.

The Marquette Journal
02/07/2012
How to beat the winter blues

Bitter cold and grey skies are sure to cause a little bit of sadness in January. But when does sadness become SAD, seasonal affective disorder? This winter-onset depression usually fades by the summer months, but what are we Wisconsin-folk to do until then? Dyani Saxby at the Counseling Center, sheds some light on the issue.

The Marquette Journal
12/08/2011
How to Make Your Own Beats

Welcome to the Marquette Journal’s beat making 101 course. It may seem technical, but in the 21st century, all you really need is a laptop, patience and some inspiration. Lucky for all you disc jockey wannabes out there, we scoured campus to find the very best DJs and their advice. Let’s get started.

The Marquette Journal
04/17/200
Sun Kissed Skin

In 1920, a sun-kissed, fashion icon returned to the United States after a vacation on the beaches of southern France. This Miss Coco Chanel sported fashion’s first tan, inspiring a bronzed revolution that would change the world.

The Marquette Journal
02/04/2011
Pillars of Success

Every 50 minutes, students swarm Central Mall. Faces become blurs in the sea of The North Face apparel and UGG Boots. Until the showstopper. At 6’7” inches tall, Joseph Fulce, senior in the College of Communication, steps into the quad. He may be listening to The Dream on his iPod but nothing about Fulce calls attention, except for his title: student athlete.