By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Apr 23, 2023 at 9:33 AM

It was 2016 when Samantha Mitchell took the initiative to plan her first events under the moniker SamanthaStarr Events. At the time, the public relations and marketing graduate was working full time and pursuing her passion for events planning on the side. Six years later, Mitchell is taking an entrepreneurial leap and leaving the comfort of her day job to pursue her events company full time.  

We sat down with Mitchell to chat about her entrepreneurial journey, the wins and losses she’s experienced along the way and the specific skills that have helped her to pay the bills. Along the way, she shares insights into the events she’s created, from MKE Fest to Battle of the Chefs, the little details that have made her business a success and the grand plans she has for the future.

 

 

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Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.