ENTREPRENEURSHIP: THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!

Dulce Sierra: Sweetness, Rhythm, and Community Support through Candy's La Chiquita

The spirit behind Candy’s La Chiquita is defined by joy, energy, and rhythm, all embodied by its founder, Dulce Sierra. With a deep passion for Mexican regional dances, Dulce was initially inspired to start her business as another way to bring happiness to her dance students. What began as a gesture quickly evolved into a powerful, community-focused business that repackages and distributes a variety of 4 oz gummies, spicy botanita, and manguito slices to stores and consumers.

Since its launch three years ago, Candy’s La Chiquita has operated with a dual purpose: to provide fresh, high-quality, ready-to-sell snacks to the market and, crucially, to support dance classes for both seniors and young people. Dulce sees her work not just as selling a product but as sharing joy, motivation, and sweetness with everyone she meets. Her greatest achievement is seeing her dream take shape, opening new distribution points, and earning the trust of many stores—all while maintaining the ability to support others, driven by the belief that growth is more meaningful when shared.

The BizStarts Influence:

Dulce’s journey is a testament to working with heart, faith, and a willingness to learn. When faced with the challenge of managing the financial aspects of her growing business—specifically pricing products and tracking profits—she sought help. BizStarts was instrumental in her overcoming these obstacles, providing her with the mentorship and support needed to improve her financial management, value her work, and gain the confidence to make informed decisions. Dulce proudly credits BizStarts with helping her strengthen her organization and step fully into her role as an entrepreneur. She continues to be inspired by her “life sweeteners”—her customers and team—as she works to inspire others to pursue their dreams with courage and perseverance.

Jesse DePinto, Entrepreneurial Executive Leader

Jesse is an entrepreneurial executive leader of high performing teams in real estate and healthcare technology, with a passion for AI-powered solutions. He has demonstrated success in growing business units within larger organization through a Servant Leader culture framework, as well as growing businesses of his own, earning recognition on the Inc 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America (#136 in 2021). Jesse holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UW-Milwaukee. Jesse is a proud husband and father of four amazing children and a complete nerd at heart.

Chrishella Roché Carter: Cultivating Community, Creativity, and Resilience through Art

Chrishella Roché Carter is an accomplished artist, educator, and entrepreneur dedicated to making art accessible as both a form of expression and a powerful tool for learning and healing. As the owner of Vibez Creative Arts Space, she has spent the past seven years building a vibrant hub in Milwaukee where people of all ages can explore painting, fluid art, and diverse creative experiences in a welcoming, culturally grounded environment.

Inspired by her experiences teaching and traveling the world, Chrishella returned home to create a space that reflected the same sense of creativity, culture, and connection she found globally. Since opening in 2018, Vibez has grown from a creative outlet for adults into a comprehensive center offering youth arts, art education, and community-based initiatives that serve as a catalyst for healing, connection, and empowerment. Her work is a testament to the power of art to build resilience. During the unexpected challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chrishella’s proudest moment was successfully adapting and leveraging community support to keep her entire staff employed, ensuring her team and the community remained connected through creativity.

The BizStarts Influence:

Chrishella credits BizStarts with helping transform her vision into a thriving business. BizStarts was instrumental from the very beginning, providing coaching to help her organize her thoughts, refine her business model, and navigate critical startup details like licensing and contracts. Chrishella recalls that BizStarts was her first large-group supporter, proving that her vision resonated beyond herself. Their ongoing support through coaching, networking, and promotion has been key to overcoming challenges and ensuring Vibez remains financially stable and culturally relevant. As a living example of a Milwaukee native who returned home to pour her global experience back into her community, Chrishella is an inspiring figure in the local entrepreneurial landscape.

Jen Adamski: Building with Purpose, Bringing Clarity to Changemakers

Jen Adamski is the founder of Klario, a marketing consultancy dedicated to helping municipal departments, business-support organizations, and mission-driven groups achieve clarity, creativity, and momentum in their marketing efforts. With over 15 years of cross-sector experience in government, healthcare, education, and tech, Jen brings a design-minded, strategic approach to her work, making impactful results both achievable and engaging.

Klario was founded from a place of resilience. After years of navigating personal challenges—caring for her disabled father and rebuilding her life and finances—Jen was laid off in early 2024, which she viewed not as an ending but as permission to build with purpose. Her lifelong entrepreneurial spirit, which started with her first business venture at age 14, now fuels Klario’s mission.

Jen’s greatest pride comes from seeing community work come to life. She highlights leading the marketing for the City of Racine’s HIV outreach, which saw record testing turnout and featured creative approaches like art workshops—a reminder of her commitment to using marketing as a powerful tool for public health and connection. Today, Klario has evolved to become a bridge between strategy and action, focusing on strengthening the organizations that support small businesses and economic development.

The BizStarts Influence:

As a proud BizStarts alum, Jen credits the organization with significantly shaping her entrepreneurial path. BizStarts was instrumental in helping her connect the dots between her personal story and her business strategy, boosting her confidence and clarifying Klario’s mission to focus on serving mission-driven organizations. Now, Jen actively gives back by returning to BizStarts as a trainer, helping other entrepreneurs find the same clarity and momentum. As she says, “BizStarts didn’t just help me start a business… it helped me step into who I’m meant to be as a leader and creator.”