Note

A word from the organizers

We're so excited to have you at Milwaukee Stars Merengue!

 

Here to vote? You can scroll all the way to the bottom and click your dancer's box to add votes. Know that the "winner" is determined by dollar amount, not number of votes. You can also help your favorite dancer win by typing in a number of votes in the white "Qty" box by their listing below or using the plus button under their name over to the right.

 

Purchasing tickets, tables, or a sponsorship? Feel free to use the dropdown menu to select a dancer for your purchase to support! You can select more than one.

 

At the end of the day, the true winners are the students, and you are making this all possible!

 

For questions, please reach out to swatry@cristoreymilwaukee.org or 414-436-4600 ext 2022.

Vote


Vote for Michelle Benishek*

As vice president — Wisconsin field operations for WEC Energy Group, Benishek has overall responsibility for the delivery of safe and reliable electric and natural gas service in the We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service and Upper Michigan Energy Resources service areas. In addition to the core electric and natural gas operations, Field Operations also includes locating, joint construction, major projects, contractor-vendor relationship management and resource planning.
Benishek joined WEC Energy Group in 2008 as a project manager in Customer Operations, and went on to hold several positions of increasing responsibility throughout the organization, including director — facilities management for WEC Energy Group, responsible for managing the portfolio of facilities assets, processes and systems. In that role, she had oversight of planning and budgeting for maintenance and capital improvements at 176 buildings and 2,200 sites across four states. In addition, she was responsible for all renovations, new builds and other capital construction projects at these facilities.
Benishek has a Bachelor of Arts degree with emphasis in business and a Master of Business Administration degree with emphasis in leadership, both from Mount Mary University. She serves on Mount Mary University’s Buildings and Grounds Committee, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Milwaukee’s board and WRTP’s board.

$10
Qty
Vote for Hannah Boyd*

Hannah leads a boutique design studio, specializing in transforming antique treasures into luxurious, personalized spaces. Originally from England, her adventurous spirit has taken her to Africa and Portugal before she found her home in Milwaukee. She shares her life with her two sons and her horse. An avid equestrian, she competes in three-day eventing, fueling her passion for adventure and her lifelong pursuit of learning. She is excited to support Cristo Rey!

$10
Qty
Vote for Angie Choy Edwards*

Chief Finanical Officer / Titan 100 Honoree

Angie Choy Edwards has exactly two dance moves: the shake-shake-shake and the shoulder shrug, so naturally she is competing in Milwaukee Stars Merengue!

For her career achievements, Angie was recognized as a WI Titan-100 in 2023 and 2025, an accolade given to top 100 C-suite executives in WI. She was also awarded the CFO of the Year in 2023 by Milwaukee Business Journal, as well as a notable BIPOC Executive by BizTimes in 2025.   

Angie grew up in Singapore and graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Accountancy degree.  She pursued the Master of Business Administration degree from Marquette University where she met her husband, an engineer.  As you can see, an accountant and an engineer together make a perfectly analytical (and rhythmically challenged) dance couple.

So why is Angie in Milwaukee Stars Merengue?  Other than occasionally singing in Church, her only musical experience was playing the tuba in an all-girls high school marching band, which taught her to count beats but apparently not to move to them.  However, her parents instilled in her from a young age that education was everything.  She was a first-generation college graduate from her family.  Her parents were very educated, but they were self-taught, as they could not afford the costs of a formal education.  Therefore, Angie is willing to demonstrate her two left feet in the Milwaukee Stars merengue before supporters and strangers to raise funds for high school students at Cristo Rey in Milwaukee. 

$10
Qty
Vote for Tony Mallinger*

I am currently President of Carlisle Architectural metals, a division of Carlisle Construction Materials.  CAM consists of world class brands of Petersen Aluminum, Metal-Era, Drexel Metals, Hickman Edge Systems and Citadel Architectural Products.  

I grew up in Brookfield and have been raising my family here with my wife Anne for nearly 20 years. Unlike my competitors, I have no robust moves except for the sprinkler and shopping cart, but I have a ton of energy and the deep desire to embarrass my kids while raising a lot of money for Cristo Rey.  Catholic education is very important to me. Both my wife and I attended Catholic grade school and high school. All three of my kids have been in Catholic schools for the past 13 years, and I have been invested in our school and parish communities serving in several capacities, including festival co-chair and as treasurer and trustee. I strongly feel every family should have access to a Catholic education if they so choose, and I am so excited to support the families of Cristo Rey. 

I have also been active in the community in other ways and love to give back.  I currently sit on several boards: Pro Health Care Foundation; Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha, Jefferson and Rock Counties; Catholic Memorial High School; Waukesha Business Alliance; Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce; and several for profit business boards.  

When I am not working, you can find me at my kids' sporting events, enjoying a round of golf, out on the lake or at a Marquette University basketball game.  

$10
Qty
Vote for Jay McKenna*

Jay McKenna is the President and CEO of North Shore Bank. He is on the board of directors of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School of Milwaukee and serves as chair of the Advancement Committee. He is a past Chairman of the Zoological Society of Milwaukee and past Board Treasurer and current Finance Committee Member of Marquette University High School. He has served in multiple banking industry leadership roles at the state and national levels.  Jay and his wife Lisa, a registered nurse, are both graduates of Marquette University and have three adult sons.  

$10
Qty
Vote for Jamie O'Donoghue*

Jamie O'Donoghue

Owner, O'Donoghue Irish Pub, Elm Grove

Jamie O’Donoghue has been a staple of the Greater Milwaukee community as the owner and operator of O’Donoghue’s Irish Pub in Elm Grove. His commitment to Catholic, Jesuit education dates back to his own education at Marquette High School. He and his family are heavily involved in many local charities, and he can’t wait to use his dancing feet to bring additional support to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School by participating in this year’s Milwaukee Stars Merengue!

$10
Qty
Vote for Matt Wessel*

Matt is the President and COO of Milwaukee Pretzel Company, a local food manufacturer that specializes in authentic Bavarian style soft pretzels. He and his wife, Katie, started the company in 2013 after spending a year in Munich, Germany. When he's not making pretzels, you can find him coaching youth soccer, writing music, raising funds for the March of Dimes and spending time with his 3 kids. He does want the crowd to know that he took three years of dance lessons as a kid, so he's basically a professional.

$10
Qty