Big Hats, Big Impact: 5th Annual Big Hat Soirée Returns to Benefit Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship 

The 5th annual Big Hat Soiree, hosted by the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship (CTE), will take place Thursday, May 21, at 6-9p.m. at the Marcus Performing Arts Center.

Big hats will take center stage as the evening’s signature attire.

The Big Hat Soirée pays tribute to the legacy of ReDonna Rodgers, co-founder of the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship.

Douglas Kelley, president of CTE, said, “One thing about ReDonna is she loved wearing hats, especially big hats, so we wanted to create something unique to honor her legacy.”

“Attendees can look forward to live entertainment, great food, great networking, and a very enjoyable time,” Kelley said. “And each year, CTE honors an entrepreneur of the year and an educator of the year.”

Gaulien (Gee) Smith, Entrepreneur of the Year, opened the doors of Gee’s Clippers on June 1, 1995, with just 4 barbers and himself. Today, Gee’s Clippers has grown into a 30-chair barbershop and is regarded as one of the premier barbershops in Wisconsin. He also expanded his impact through a health clinic in his barbershop, Gee’s MKE Wellness Clinic, which provides health care and raises awareness in the community. Recently, he started a nonprofit, Gee’s MKE Foundation, which provides health and wellness resources to underserved communities.

Tiffany Harris-Fisher has been honored as Educator of the Year. A veteran educational leader with more than 30 years of service in Milwaukee Public Schools, she has spent over 15 of those years as a principal.

She currently serves as principal of Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts, where she is known for her commitment to academic excellence, equity, and the transformative role of arts integration in student learning.

The event advances CTE’s mission, as ongoing funding is essential to support our youth.

“Grants are limited, so this is one of our biggest fundraisers to support the mission, and also one thing ReDonna always wanted was a voice for the youth to speak, so we have The Hustle and Grow Show, which is showcased every last Saturday of the month on WNOV 860 AM. This was also one of her wishes, and it also helps to support and fund that initiative,” Kelley said.

CTE’s Mission is to research, develop, implement, and advocate for programs serving young people ages 9-21 that promote the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and financial literacy, provide an awareness of personal growth opportunities, and build individual responsibility.

Kelley said the most rewarding part of leading the organization is carrying forward ReDonna’s dream and vision. He also noted that this year’s Big Hat Soirée marks the organization’s 35th anniversary, highlighting its continued commitment to giving youth a voice.

“Concerning the future of CTE, I’m hoping that we’re going to get to the point where we have our own or shared location where we can start going back to having some in-house activities and events,” Kelley said. “Then there’s The Hustle and Grow Show, which we’re looking to continue. We will celebrate its 100th episode in July.”

Kelley added, “CTE is already in a few schools; hopefully, we can move this curriculum throughout more schools across the city. We’re already in a few schools, including Green Tree Prep Academy, Victory Christian Academy, and Vincent.”

The dress code for the Big Hat Soirée is simple: you gotta wear a hat.

That’s why it’s called the Big Hat Soirée,” Kelley said. “You can wear a hat with anything, it doesn’t make a difference, some people come dressed to the nines, some people come in jeans, but you’ve got to have a hat on!”

Tickets available at Eventbrite:BHS26 or for more information call 414-788-8104.