About Us
Monona East Side Business AllianceAbout
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote and foster an environment that attracts, supports and retains private-sector jobs, spurs economic vitality and enables quality educational opportunities for the area while always promoting and encouraging engagement with our members. With the help of our members, MESBA is committed to improving the economic future of our community. We are dedicated to propelling the Monona East Side community forward through sustainable and responsible business growth.
In pursuit of that mission, the Monona East Side Business Alliance offers a variety of networking events and professional development opportunities to connect and foster growth in our business community. We also advocate for business at all levels of government.

Board of Directors
We are governed by an 11-15 member board of directors, representing a diversity of companies, industries, and business interests. The board is actively involved in decision-making regarding our advocacy efforts, financial health, programming, and membership recruitment and retention.

Leah Hernandez – Board President
- The Cozy Home
- Originally from Jefferson, WI
- Favorite part about the East Side:
- The sense of community and desire for growth.

Ryan Ackerman – Board Treasurer
- Monona Bank
- Originally from East Side of Madison
- Favorite Part of the East Side:
- The small-town neighborhood feeling with easy access to the bike path.

Andrew Kitslaar – Board Secretary
- Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association
- Originally from Monona, WI
- Favorite Part of the East Side:

Christine Welcher – Executive Director
- MESBA
- Originally from Bangor, WI
- Best Part of Living on the East Side:
- The friendly small town feel with the convenience of a large city.

Kyla Beard – Board Member
- Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison
- Originally from Wisconsin Dells
- Favorite part about the East Side:
- Either Token Creek or the Frost Woods Beach area.

Joe Long – Board Member
- Guild Mortgage
- Originally from Madison
- Favorite Part of the East Side:
- All the amazing restaurants!

Shawn Nesbitt – Board Member
- Simple Network Consulting
- Originally from the Far East Side of Madison
- Favorite part of living on the East Side:
- How friendly everyone is.

Bill Morgan – Board Member
- Murphy Desmond S.C.
- Originally from McFarland, WI
- Best Part of Living on the East Side:
- The lake loop!

Jaye Clemmons – Board Member
- Mr. Brews Tap House
- Originally from Mount Horeb, WI
- Best Part of Living on the East Side:
- The strong sense of community.

Karen Bosold – Board Member
- Community Member
- Originally from Madison
- Favorite part of living on the East Side:
- All the local restaurants.
Our newly elected board members – joining us in 2024.

Aaron Pruefert – Incoming Board Member
- Country Inn & Suites
- Originally from East Troy, WI
- Best Part of Living on the East Side:

April Carlisle – Incoming Board Member
- Farmer's Insurance
- Originally from Monona
- Favorite part of living on the East Side:

Daniel Capel – Incoming Board Member
- WPS
- Originally from Milwaukee
- Best Part of Living on the East Side:

April Carlisle – Incoming Board Member
- Community One Bank
- Originally from Monona
- Favorite part of living on the East Side:
About Our Area
Wrapped around the eastern shore of Lake Monona and divided by the Yahara River, our community offers some of the best water access to relaxing beaches, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and biking. A plethora of famous photos of the State Capitol and Frank Lloyd Wright’s legendary Monona Terrace as viewed across Lake Monona from our shoreline are what Monona residents experience daily, but never take for granted. The distant calls of trumpeter swans from the lake evoke a serenity that doesn’t often exist in urban communities. In Monona, you’re never far from the waterfront and its natural, effortless beauty.
Historically, Monona was developed as a resort community with cottages and resorts lining the lakeshore. That resort-community feel still exists today, especially in the summer months when you see people portaging their kayaks and canoes down the city streets headed for the lake. Our quaint city of about 8,000 residents is surrounded by the city of Madison and Lake Monona. We are home to the most popular bike route in Dane County, the Monona Lake Loop, a 12-mile ride that circles Lake Monona and takes riders through downtown Madison.
The Monona East Side community is minutes away from downtown Madison, the Dane County Regional Airport, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison College, and numerous eclectic neighborhoods located throughout the east side of Madison, like Williamson Street, Atwood Avenue, and East Washington Avenue. The Monona East Side community is also home to numerous music festivals and food festivals in the Madison area.
We invite you to visit our beaches, bike the Monona Lake Loop, kayak the Yahara River, savor our cuisine, and visit our unique shops. Explore the Aldo Leopold Nature Center and Olbrich Botanical Gardens in summer and winter for endless recreational opportunities.
Download MESBA Logos
Are you a MESBA supporter? We love to see our members featuring our logo on their websites and on their marketing materials. Below are a variety of high-resolution and low-resolution logo files for our members to use. Please contact us if you have any questions or give us a call at 608-416-1610.
