Born and raised in Waukesha, Lisa Kaufmann’s got deep Wisconsin roots and a team-first mindset that runs through everything she does.
From answering phones as a part-time receptionist to now leading as Vice President of Sales at Coakley Brothers, her 13-year climb is proof of what hard work, heart, and collaboration can do.
When she’s not driving growth at Coakley, Lisa’s giving back to the city she loves—volunteering her time and energy at Meta House to help empower Milwaukee women and families.
We sat down with her to hear more about her story and what she hopes to see for the future of Milwaukee.
Any stories from your youth that define your path or inspired you?
Sports. Sports. Sports. Starting at an early age, I was involved with soccer, softball, and basketball. I have always loved contributing to a team, which helped me learn critical lessons around accountability, reliability, and collaboration.
I graduated from Waukesha South, played with a group of 9 seniors from 3rd grade through our senior year. We went undefeated in the elite 8 conference back-to-back years. We were the state runners up in 2005 where I played alongside Erin Monfre who was a guest on your podcast earlier this year. Our team has stayed close and in touch over the years, it has been beautiful supporting and cheering one another on throughout our adult lives, careers and family.
Where did you study (if you did higher education)?
UW Milwaukee – proud panther graduate!
Can you talk a little bit about your career journey? How’d you get to where you are now?
Through college I was a waitress at Albanese’s Roadhouse where I slang Friday night Italian Fish Fry’s and learned the essence of customer service. If you can successfully wait tables for tips, I believe you can have a bright future in sales.
I started 13 years ago at Coakley Brothers as the part time “summer help” receptionist. This was the same summer we opened our Furniture Dealership (Brothers Interiors) I would answer phones and schedule appointments for our residential moving division.
Throughout that summer I learned a lot about the moving business and made strong connections with the internal team members. Moving and Storage is a very male-dominated industry, and I had the privilege of watching two very bad ass chicks in business come through the front doors each day like a bolt of lightning. Peggy Coakley and Mary Edwards paved the way for me (and many others) and have been amazing mentors to me.
After that summer, I was offered an inside sales position, lots of cold calling! Then a year or so later moved into outside sales for 9 years. Fast forward to Jan 1st of this year, I proudly accepted the role of VP of Sales. Peggy believes in finding talented, enthusiastic team members and helps grow and elevate them within the organization. My story is not unique at Coakley Brothers, we find good humans and keep them through opportunity!
Can you talk more about your community involvement or volunteer experience?
In 2022, I joined a national leadership group (FLOMA) where 9 individuals from across the country were part of a 2-year program on emotional intelligence, professional development, and leadership. Part of the program was to get involved with a non-for-profit in our community and learn more about how they are run, how a board operates, and of course, to give back to something we are passionate about.
Shout out to Jennifer Bartolotta that pointed me to Meta House, a women’s substance abuse and mental health resource center located in a former historical church and nunnery in Riverwest. I reached out and was invited to come tour the building and learn more about their mission.
Shortly thereafter, I was offered a position on their Capital Campaign Cabinet for Project Horizon. The goal was to raise capital funds for their new headquarters facility planned in Piggsville, where they will double in size and increase available treatment spots for women in the state of Wisconsin by 20%!
Throughout the years, we have been part of the Meta House volunteer Holiday gift drive and we proudly donate all proceeds from our Coakley Brothers Caddy Shack Golf Outing to support the work they are doing for our community. Since this “gentle nudge” from a mentor 3 years ago to get involved, I now push and encourage my sales team to do the same.
Getting involved with a nonprofit has been an incredibly meaningful experience, allowing me to make a real impact while connecting my passion for community with a deeper sense of purpose.
What are some ways you have impacted the community in your line of work?
Through working at Coakley Brothers, I, along with the team, have had the opportunity to volunteer and support the Sojourner Family Peace Center, Hebron Housing Services, Vivint Health, The American Heart Association, and many more. We have been part of the Milwaukee community for 137 years, and the business strongly supports and encourages giving back to our neighbors and friends any way that we can.
What do you like about living in Milwaukee?
Fiserv Forum and the Milwaukee Bucks! I love supporting our local sports teams!
What do you want to see for Milwaukee’s future?
I’d love to see Milwaukee continue to grow as a vibrant, inclusive city—one that fosters innovation, supports local businesses, and uplifts every community through collaboration and opportunity. We are underrated and have a bright future ahead of us!