Outlook Magazine - Fall 2025

Fun Facts from Entrepreneurs Alums share special bits about their businesses

Door Born W

here do the best summers live? According to Rex Meikle (’23) , the answer is easily Door County, Wisconsin. Meikle is owner of Door Born, an outdoor lifestyle cloth

ing brand built to capture the natural beauty, sophistication and charm of the Midwest. For Meikle, Door Born isn’t just a brand — it’s a tribute to the Midwest’s rugged beauty and a call to embrace the adventure waiting right outside your door. Five peaceful locations and experiences that most inspire the brand: 1. Whitefish Dunes State Park, particularly on warm days in early spring. 2. Kayaking through Geisel Creek to Dunes Lake in the fall when waterfowl begin to migrate. 3. Snorkeling in Little Sturgeon Bay while spearfishing for yellow perch. 4. Biking the trails in Peninsula State Park. 5. Sitting at School House Beach on Wash ington Island, where the water is crystal clear and the white rocks are soft to the touch. Meikle is a technology education alum, with a sustainability minor. He co-founded Door Born in 2020, with fellow alum Jake Cater (’21) , owner of Cater Create, LLC.

T and Nae Flower Farm Sisters, besties, business partners and third-generation farmers, Taryn Neeser Menne (’09 ) and Renee Neeser are building family and community while making sure flowers feel affordable and accessible to everyone. T and Nae Flower Farm, founded in 2020 in Hugo, Minnesota, specializes in bringing fresh cut flowers to the community through seasonal markets, flower subscriptions and custom florals for weddings and events. Five favorite flowers commonly grown in their two-acre garden: 1. Dahlias 2. Gladiolas 3. Snapdragons 4. Sunflowers 5. Zinnias “These flowers are relatively easy to grow and great for someone wanting to start their own cutting garden. Flowers can ele vate any occasion and brighten any day,” said Menne, a retail management alum.

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University of Wisconsin-Stout