Expert of the Month Kevin
KANE, MD
FOUNDER, EDELICA HEALTH
IN 2017, DR. KEVIN KANE founded Edelica Health, the first clinic in Wisconsin dedicated exclusively to ketamine therapy. Since then, the clinic has provided over 8,000 ketamine treatments to people from all across the state. We asked the doctor to share his knowledge of the innovative mental health treatment.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a groundbreaking infusion treatment for people with severe, resistant depression. It has been called “the biggest breakthrough in depression research” in 50 years and has been shown to improve depression quickly – sometimes as soon as the next day. It can be life-saving for people struggling with suicidal thinking. Ketamine, in a medical setting, improves neuroplasticity. It can actually re-grow connections between nerve cells that were lost due to depression. Then, with improved neural networking, people regain the ability to feel joy and happiness – feelings that may have been lost from years of battling depression.
What is the treatment process like?
At Edelica, you’ll find a calming, spa-like atmosphere with a private room, soft lights and quiet music. The ketamine treatment lasts 40 minutes. People will notice a sensation called “dissociation” that makes them feel light or floaty. The most common thing we hear is that was “weird,” but usually calm and peaceful. After the treatment is complete, patients relax for another half-hour before being discharged to home. We recommend people relax the rest of the day, then they can go back to work or school the next morning.
Anything else?
It’s a very exciting time. For people who are struggling, treatments like ketamine and stellate ganglion blocks can bring new hope for a brighter future. Readers can go to EdelicaHealth.com to learn more. ◆
Edelica Health 10424 W. Bluemound Rd. 414-667-5536
EdelicaHealth.com
Expert of the Month Ben Jondle
MILLWORK SALES SPECIALIST, ZUERN BUILDING PRODUCTS AND DESIGN CENTER
WHETHER SOMEONE IS building a home, remodeling or simply installing new shelving, Ben Jondle works with them to find the right look. As a Millwork Sales Specialist at Zuern for the past four years, he is an expert in interiors, from doors to trims and more. He shares his advice here.
What are the latest trends in interiors?
White oak is a huge trend right now. It’s almost impossible to get because everyone wants to have white oak stair accents, white oak doors, white oak trim, beams. Wall details are making a big comeback, too, whether that be wainscotting or panelized walls. The majority of houses in the Metropolitan Builders Association Parade of Homes this past year had at least one or two walls with detailing. In terms of overall style, the look right now is leaning toward clean and crisp. Not quite minimalist, but closer to that than to the traditional colonial profiles.
What are some things a homeowner should consider when starting a project?
No matter the size of your project, you should decide what overall look you want for your house so it coheres. One of the first questions I always ask when people come into the showroom is if they want their space more traditional or contemporary. For example, a raised-panel door fits in a more traditional look, a flat-panel door fits the more contemporary. I talk through the whole process with clients to make sure they’re happy with their project, start to finish. At Zuern, what we’re really focused on is the customer service experience and making sure we take care of everyone who comes here. ◆
Zuern Building Products and Design Center
426 Railroad St., Allenton (with other locations in Cedarburg, Delafield, Franklin and Watertown)
262-629-5551
zuerns.com
Expert of the Month Heather
SCOTT
INTERIOR DESIGNER AND PROJECT COORDINATOR, BARTELT. THE REMODELING RESOURCE
HEATHER SCOTT HAS BEEN in the interior design industry for over 30 years, the last 10 of which she’s spent at Bartelt, where she oversees the design and selection process with clients. We asked her to share her expertise here.
What advice do you often share with homeowners?
Find images of designs you love and looks you’d like for your home. You may not know what exactly you love about them, but when I see the photos clients are drawn to, often I can see design elements that tie them together – maybe white-painted woodwork, a darker floor, lighter countertops. We start with that inspiration to fine-tune a path to the final design. At Bartelt, we’re with the client from that first brainstorming session through all the selections to the end of the project.
What looks are you loving right now?
One of the benefits of working on so many projects over the years is that I’ve done almost every look at some point. Right now, I lean toward a classic, timeless approach. I recommend keeping the permanent fixtures in your home true to the architecture of it. You can’t go wrong with natural stone, real wood flooring and organic materials. I like to pull clients’ personality into their space with artwork, decorative lighting, furnishings, soft finishes that you can change as styles change without breaking the bank. I think my favorite experience as a designer is coming back to a client after a project is complete and asking them, “What would you change?” And they say, “Nothing.” ◆
Bartelt. The Remodeling Resource 528 Wells St., Suite B, Delafield 262-646-8020
barteltremodel.com
Expert of the Month Sarah
KOMISAR
(AKA SARAH K.)
FOURTH GENERATION FAMILY MEMBER, DESIGNER, BILTRITE FURNITURE – LEATHER – MATTRESSES
SARAH KOMISAR JOINED BILTRITE , and the Komisar family, in 2013 when she married Brad Komisar, a fourth-generation family member and the head of operations. The furniture and mattress store has been a local staple since 1928. We asked her to share her expertise.
What furnishings are popular with homeowners right now?
People love the beauty and quality of handcrafted Amish-made furniture. We offer a large in-stock selection of furniture made by our Ohio Amish craftsmen and amazing special-order options. They’re gorgeous, solid-wood pieces, and our live edge pieces are one-of-a-kind! We have Amish-made furniture for every room of your home – dining, living room, bedroom, home office and much more. We take the time to find the best craftsmen in Ohio, as we work with over 40 different builders. That’s something that sets BILTRITE apart – the attention to detail and care that comes with being local and family-owned. We’ve built an outstanding reputation for our amazing service and our large selection of affordable, better-quality furniture and mattresses.
What design trends are you seeing?
Homeowners are leaning toward more casual, less formal looks. The majority of our living room furniture is made in the US and Canada, and our manufacturers offer performance fabrics that are family-friendly and easy to clean. It’s furniture you can live in. We offer free in-store design services, too – just walk in or give us a call and make an appointment. Our showroom, selection and team are amazing. We have 65,000 square feet full of in-stock furniture pieces and mattresses along with affordable special-order options, and our team, with over 400 years of accumulated experience, is ready to serve you. We’re all dedicated and passionate, and we care about each of our customers – we wouldn’t be doing this for 96 years if we didn’t love what we do. ◆
Expert of the Month Jason
MAAS
MANAGING DIRECTOR – WEALTH MANAGEMENT,
SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER, THE BURISH GROUP AT UBS
WHILE STUDYING ACCOUNTING AT UW-MADISON, Jason Maas interned with financial advisor Andy Burish. Soon that internship turned into a calling as The Burish Group, a team of talented advisors with UBS, recruited Maas. Over 25 years later, he is now Managing Director.
How would you describe the market right now?
The stock market has made a lot of progress. After going down in 2022 – in my opinion, in response to rapid rate increases by the Federal Reserve – we’re seeing growth. People were worried about a recession, but I think the market is telling us that the odds of that have diminished significantly. That’s giving investors confidence. The economy is moving back toward equilibrium. At the same time, I believe artificial intelligence is going to create a ton of productivity for companies, and that’s likely going to boost earnings for businesses and investors, as well.
What are common investing mistakes people make?
I think emotion ultimately leads to bad decisions in investing. That could lead to withdrawing or investing based on a market trend that might not last. We have a bias toward recent conditions and tend not to realize that the market is always going to change. Working with a financial advisor helps to remove that emotional aspect and offers a sounding board with an experienced professional. At The Burish Group, we have decades of collective experience, and we also have UBS behind us – one of the largest global wealth management firms. They provide thousands of professionals around the world who help us navigate alternative investments, complex investments and make it possible for us to help our clients achieve their goals.
Expert of the Month Joe O’Brien
OWNER, FOUR LEAF ROOFING AND WINDOWS
FOR OVER 25 YEARS, Joe O’Brien has owned and operated
Four Leaf, helping homeowners across southeastern Wisconsin design inspirational and eye-catching exteriors. We asked him to share his expertise here.
How does Wisconsin’s seasonal weather affect exterior maintenance?
We go through extremes here, with freezing winters and summer storms. Proper maintenance and inspection are vital. This last winter, a lot of damage was done to roofs. The contraction and expansion cold weather causes is bad for roofs, and it can wreak havoc on gutters. Working with a professional can help make sure problems are identified and repairs are made when they need to be.
What should someone look for when choosing a professional to work on their home?
Find a company you vibe with. You want to be on the same page with them. Whether it’s just a roof or a complete-home transformation, you want to feel excited about the project. I think choosing a company that’s been around for a while is important. We have built a strong reputation over the years. We’ve always been a company that does what we say we’re going to do. We create high-quality, personalized 3D renderings for our clients which allows our clients to make educated decisions while seeing their choices on screen in real time. ◆
Experts of the Month Anthony & Teresa MACHI
FOUNDERS AND CO-OWNERS, MACH1 CAPITAL AND MACH1 LENDING
WITH 30 YEARS of corporate finance and real estate experience between them, Milwaukee natives and husband-wife duo, Anthony and Teresa Machi, started Mach1 Lending and Mach1 Capital in 2016. Mach1 Lending provides private loans for real estate investors and developers, while Mach1 Capital offers clients passive real estate investment opportunities.
How do alternative investments like real estate protect against inflation and market fluctuation?
ANTHONY: Alternative investments historically have earned better returns than most other investments. They can act as a hedge. They typically aren’t offered to the public market, so it takes a lot of the volatility out of the equation. Our investors are paid monthly, and yields are tied to the investment itself providing more stability. With private real estate funds, you don’t have to deal with the usual day-to-day maintenance, or answering calls at 10 p.m., that often comes with owning property. Mach1 Capital has a reputable performance history with its investors doing nothing and getting paid each month. It’s a passive investment.
You provide “hard money loans,” secured by collateral, for real estate investors and developers. How are these loans beneficial?
TERESA: It’s beneficial for buying a competitive piece of property, especially if you need to close quickly. You can feel confident knowing that if you work with Mach1 Lending your offer is as good as cash. We do everything in-house so we’re able to turn things around very fast. We do our own appraisals, valuations and underwriting, and we have our own legal and tax teams so we can close much quicker than traditional lenders ◆
Expert of the Month Jessica Boll
DESIGN AND SALES COORDINATOR, BARTELT. THE REMODELING RESOURCE
FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, Jessica Boll has been helping homeowners’ visions come to life. At Bartelt, she works with the design team to create 3D renderings of the firm’s residential design projects, building photorealistic representations that allow clients to digitally explore their future house.
How does 3D rendering technology work for interior design?
After our team creates a plan with the homeowner, we use a software called Archicad. I draw our plan in the software and use it to create a 3D version. We apply material choices, color choices, all the details the homeowner discussed with the designer. You can explore the 3D model like you’re actually walking through the home. It also renders a photorealistic look at the interior so you can view it as you would final photos.
And how does that process change the final remodel? It is incredibly helpful for people who struggle to visualize a plan. People see the idea come to life. They see what it looks like, and they get a feel for what it would be like to walk through the space. They realize that maybe they don’t like a certain choice – or they love another one – and then we can fine-tune the design to get exactly what they want. At Bartelt, we really focus on those details, too, the kind of small touches that take a design to the next level. We work closely with the client at each step of the process so by the time it’s complete, they’re completely happy with their new home. ◆
Expert of the Month
Alex Foley
FOUNDER, MOXIE MEDISPA
IN 2023, Alex Foley opened Moxie Medispa with an idea. She wanted to create a boutique clinic, where clients receive time, attention and services tailored to their needs. Foley began her career in nursing and midwifery, delivering hundreds of babies, and now she brings that same intimate, caring approach to helping people look and feel their best.
What aesthetics treatments are popular right now?
The most popular is Botox for wrinkles and fine lines. We can also do creative things with Botox like addressing the hooding of the eyelid to give a more awake appearance. We also offer collagen injectables and filler for skin laxity and volume replacement in the face. On the medical side, our weight loss clinic prescribes GLP-1 receptor agonist injectors, which are popular right now. We also offer hormone replacement, such as testosterone supplementation for men and estrogen replacement for women. I’m also very passionate about our women’s sexual health division. When I was in obstetrics and gynecology, I found there weren’t many resources for women experiencing sexual dysfunction, and I want Moxie to be a safe place for that. We use platelet-rich plasma treatments to help with orgasmic and libido dysfunction and other sexual health concerns.
What makes Moxie stand out?
In this industry, you often find two types of places. One is a very sterile, intimidating plastic surgeon’s office. And the other is a very loud and bold type of spa. What I’ve found is that most people don’t like the sterile office, but they also don’t really want bold – they just want to look natural and to feel better and to use these services conservatively. That’s what Moxie is designed to be – a comfortable place for the average woman. And most important, we’re a boutique. You’re not just getting a 15-minute time slot. You’re receiving personal, attentive, thoughtful service. ◆