Pleasant Prairie
Hi, I’m Mary! I was born and raised in Kenosha, then took a ‘tour around the midwest’ before returning home in 2010 – UW-Madison for college, followed by Chicago, then Minnesota and Indiana. I am a freelance graphic designer, helping mostly local and regional clients maximize their brands so their businesses can thrive. In 2024 I also launched a printed apparel company, SWAGR, fulfilling a life-long passion of mine. Giving back has long been a priority for me through local organizations like Kenosha Firefighters CARE, Kenosha YMCA, Tremper Golden Strings, and Habitat for Humanity of Kenosha. I’m married to another Kenosha native, Ryan, who serves as Branch President for Vizance Insurance. We have three active and ambitious kids, Gigi, Will, and Hayes, and a quirky and charismatic golden retriever, Jade. When we’re not busy carpooling to sports and other activities, we love being foodies at all of our favorite local spots.
Top 3-ish in the 262
- Favorite way to be active? Dance fitness classes at YMCA Kenosha (Turn Up and Werq)
- Favorite winter activity? Snowshoeing in the dunes
- Your ideal Saturday night? My friends and I love doing an ‘app crawl’ downtown—spending the evening walking from restaurant to restaurant, enjoying a drink and an appetizer at each stop.
- Favorite family activity? A Kingfish game
- Best burger in town? Wine Knot – they’ve held this title in my book for 15+ years.
- Best brunch in town? Apis
- What do you love about Kenosha County that many people might not know about? That we have some of the best Italian food (and pizza) you can find anywhere. Most people don’t realize our strong Italian history.
Kenosha County Quick Hits
- picking sea glass at Lake Michigan
- gardening
- cooking
- going to the pool at Strawberry Creek
Mary Manthei
Self-Employed, Graphic Designer and Business Owner
