Our Story
Meet Our Staff
Joel Ellington, Co-Owner
The original founder of Fisk Avenue, Joel has grown Fisk Avenue DIY Studio & Wine Bar from a woodshop in his garage into the local go-to furniture and home goods workshop spot it is today. Born and raised in Waukesha, he is proud to have the opportunity to teach others how to create well-made and long-lasting products in the community he loves.
After searching for a table for his family, Joel felt disillusioned by the options available in the current fast-furniture market. He wanted something that would last as long as the furniture he had inherited from his grandparents. With this in mind, he built his first dining table as a place for his family to come together and found his passion at the same time. Named after the street on which he raised his family, Fisk Avenue now proudly hosts woodworking classes for clients all over the Milwaukee area and has since 2017.
Madilyn Duffy, Lead Designer
Madilyn has been working at Fisk Avenue since 2021 when she reached out on a whim seeking an internship opportunity, wanting to use the summer to work for a small creative startup. She remained at Fisk Avenue through the summer, returning to a full time position after graduating from Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a degree in Product Design. Madilyn now leads our workshops, conducts design consultations with incoming clients, and became a full partner in 2024. She has a passion for making what clients envision a reality and loves to prototype and create new ideas for our store and workshops.
Duke, Shop Dog
Duke is a young American Bully trying his hardest to train to be the best shop dog he can! He enjoys meeting new people, helping lead workshops, and greeting every passerby at the window. He has been employee of the month every month since starting at Fisk Avenue and is excited to lead many workshops in the future!