Adrienne Davis represents the best of community’s entrepreneurial spirit

by Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo
Education, information, unexpected destruction, plus an obvious void, yields an opportunity!
These were the elements that catapulted University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee consumer affairs devotee, Adrienne Davis, from social work aspirant to president of a new business.
The riots of l967, that affected many cities throughout the United States, brought total devastation to several Milwaukee business districts. And, the importance of ownership, feeling a part of the community, particularly the business community, became the impetus for incorporation of the Central City Cooperative, in l968.

This Week

Lifestyle/Entertainment

Vol. XXV No. 41 August 12-13, 2006

With the vision of community owners, decision makers, and community benefits, the banking/savings, lending, ownership-dividends’ initiative, opened their doors at 2118 North Third Street, with Adrienne Davis at the helm.
Excited about the cooperative, after viewing its successes in other cities, the benefits of inclusion, rather than exclusion, were marketable tenets that many concerned citizens could embrace.
The original Board of Directors was diverse in racial composition with stock ownership principally from the majority community, but decision-making was balanced by the "one man, one vote" mandate that ensured central community input, the objective of the cooperative's creation.
Ms. Davis reveals that she never planned to remain President of the Board, with full day-to-day responsibilities. However, she eventually recognized that most of the investors were face-to-face solicitations; and her credibility was an integral part of the investors’ participation.

The more money invested into the cooperative, the more they were able to loan and strengthen the community; and the priorities for growth required vigilant oversight. Understandably, one year led to many years, for Davis, and the rest is history!
From the Central City Cooperative came other ideas through the Board of Directors. The visionaries, all concerned citizens who embraced an uncharted concept that had proven to be successful could meet another void. Soon, The Sight Center was born.
Motivated to bring wealth into the community, while meeting needs within the geographic boundaries devoid of innumerable services, after the riots, The Sight Center embarked. Operating as a cooperative, with stock, dividends and voting rights jointly owned by the investors, the Sight Center grew.
Relocating to 400l West Capitol Drive, for added space and convenience, the optometrical business expanded to three locations, including the principal office on Capitol Drive, plus the Isaac Coggs Comprehensive Health Centers, North and South.
With optometrists, on-site laboratories, and the complete range of eye frames, The Sight Center was a leader in eye health and the dispensing of eyeglasses. Adrienne Davis continued to lead the cooperative.
In fact, all of the investors continue to give her leadership, her ability to identify new venues for servicing the under served, and her tenacity in follow-up and accuracy for driving the success of the center for over twenty years.
The Sight Center and Central City Cooperative operated with major employment opportunities, internships and fellowships from l968 to 2003.
During the growth years, Ms. Davis frequently traveled to universities and colleges recruiting new doctors, technicians and lab-assistants for the Sight Center and the City of Milwaukee.
For years, African Americans were not believed to be significant enough in number to encourage new professionals to consider the city for residency and raising a family.
Later, racial stereotyping and the appearance of inadequate support led many new recruits to reconsider their long-range goals and they left Milwaukee, rather than fight the establishment.
Regrettably, Milwaukee continues to have an image of stagnation of community-based businesses.
Additionally, a history of far too many African American businesses and political aspirants being jaded by institutional derailing, unwarranted investigations and unfettered competition, continuously puts small businesses at a disadvantage in pricing, volume and employment opportunities.
All of which, relegates most minority businesses to striving and survival instead of thriving and expanding opportunities.
This strategy yields reduced employment opportunities. It also reduces the positive imagery that encourages new small businesses to locate within the central community; and promotes the development of cottage industries that employ underage youngsters in unlawful activities that further destroy community development and stability.
Despite continuous revamps, Ms. Davis remains committed to the philosophy of shared growth and mutual benefits. The creation of A.D.I, Inc., in 1996 was her first solely owned corporation, in almost forty years of business experience.
This time, her forty-hour plus week had for-profit benefits with the capacity to hire, fire, without Board approval. ADI continues to be her primary focus today.
ADI is a full-service office decorating business, offering furniture, wall treatments, window treatments and flooring for businesses, regardless of size.
With four full-time employees, down-sized from six, ADI contracts with offices, workstations, restaurants, business lobbies, atriums; and youth and recreation centers.
Skilled decorators identify function, capacity, durability, color coordination, and budget, in developing the plan for each client. Pricing variables dictate mid-line or top of line furnishings for conscientious clientele.
ADI often saves the businessperson by eliminating the middleman and building a plan that affords low-cost replacements of products that must be changed due to wear and tear. In short, their consultation is designed to view the business purchases from a long-range plan rather than short term, a savings that hit and miss cannot ensure.
Competitive in pricing and lauded by customers they serve, ADI has provided quality to clients such as the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, several state universities and the private sector, as well. Currently about 85% of their business has been governmental in nature.
However, they continuously seek to build their corporate list of satisfied customers and the opportunity to provide them quotes.
Adrienne continues to say, "we need more African Americans sitting at the tables. We must be allowed to enter on the ground floor, not after all of the decisions have been made, contracted, and sublet." And that is the lament of the business people throughout the central community.
"No one expects every contract to come to minority businesses, but minority businesses must be given the opportunity to participate if they are to build, grow and provide increased opportunities for employment.
"And, employment continues to be a major requisite for community stability. Jobs lift and mobilize communities, stagnation is a by-product without them," she continued.
This week we salute Adrienne Davis, the mastermind of Central City Cooperative and its outgrowth, The Sight Center and the creator of A.D.I. Inc. the full-service office furnishing and decorating firm.
All of the businesses have offered major employment opportunities for people within the central community, in addition to opening doors for new professionals to serve in the city of Milwaukee.
She is a role model for young African American entrepreneurs who aspire to owning their own businesses.
Ms. Davis continues to represent the "best" of our citizens with a commitment to excellence, service, competitive prices and integrity. Her thirty-five plus years of continuous dedication to bettering the city through business development and stability warrant our selection of her for "Best of the Best" Businesswoman, in our series of long-term contributors who continue to influence Milwaukee today.
We thank you, salute you and wish you continued success, Adrienne. You are our "Best of the Best"!