PAVE Milwaukee, an education-focused nonprofit organization, gained 1,000 square feet as it relocated its offices to the Matthews Building on Wisconsin Avenue on Wednesday.
The nonprofit, which works to build strong boards for area partner schools, moved from a 3,000-square-foot space in the Germania Building at 135 W. Wells Street, Suite 850, to a 4,000-square-foot space in the Matthews Building, located at 301 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 300.
The move was prompted by Vangard Group LLC’s plans to convert the Germania Building into 70 “affordable” apartments.
“That was the main driver,” said Michelle Burmeister, communications director of PAVE.
PAVE has leased office space in the Germania Building for eight years, according to Burmeister. The organization agreed to vacate the building by mid-summer.
While the nonprofit’s old office featured an open cubicle environment, its new office site has more private offices and two large conference rooms. The Matthews Building, connected to the Shops of Grand Avenue, also offers shared conference rooms for its tenants.
The space was formerly occupied by the Greater Milwaukee Committee, according to Burmeister.
The extra square feet will equip PAVE with more space and flexibility to accommodate the organization’s interns and student staff members while also giving it the bandwidth to grow, Burmeister said.
“As we continue to do our work, we may continue to grow and want to add more staff and it would be nice to have the extra space for that as well,” she said.
PAVE currently operates with six full-time and two part-time staff members.
The new site’s central downtown location is also advantageous as it gives PAVE’s program staffers “quick and easy access to every corner of the city,” Burmeister said, adding that the new location will also be a convenient destination for school officials and board members needing to visit the nonprofit.
PAVE currently collaborates with more than 50 schools located all across Milwaukee.
In February, the organization announced a search for a new chief executive officer as current leader Dan McKinley prepares to move on from the organization.
PAVE’s staff has not yet met any candidates, but its board is fully engaged in the pursuit of a new executive, according to Burmeister.
Board members are being “patient” and “diligent” in their search as they try to identity a successor who will be a “perfect fit” for the organization, she said.
“We’ve been appreciative that they’ve been doing all the due diligence and conducting a well thought-out search,” Burmeister said.
McKinley, who originally intended to exit PAVE at the end of June, has agreed to remain at the helm until a new leader is in place. The timing of that transition is not yet clear.
McKinley is committed to “being our great leader until the next great leader,” Burmeister said.
