Elevating BOLDLY

From NWTC student to Young Entrepreneur of the Year

By the time Amanda Miceli was preparing to graduate from high school, she thought her future plans were set. 

She had her sights set on a four-year university, imagined leaving Wisconsin to pursue an English degree, and envisioned a career as a book editor. 

But the summer before college, Miceli started questioning herself: is this really what she wanted to do, and why leave the state and take on decades of debt? 

“I remember realizing I didn’t need to have everything figured out yet,” she said. “I just needed a strong foundation and the freedom to grow from there.” 

Her sister, a 2019 graduate of NWTC’s Human Resources program, encouraged her to attend NWTC. About a month before college was set to begin, Miceli enrolled in NWTC’s Business Management associate degree program. 

“It was the best decision that I could have ever made,” she said. 

Building confidence outside of the classroom

While Miceli’s coursework gave her a strong professional foundation, some of her most impactful growth happened outside the classroom. 

Joining NWTC’s chapter of DECA, a student organization focused on business, marketing, and management development, during her first year at NWTC challenged her to stretch beyond her professional and personal comfort zones. Through competitions, collaboration, and leadership experiences, she learned how to show up confidently in professional spaces. 

“It wasn’t just about skills,” Miceli said. “It was about stepping into a new version of myself.” 

That confidence carried her forward through online coursework during COVID, into post-graduation freelancing, and eventually into entrepreneurship. 

The start of something BOLD

After graduating from NWTC in 2021, Miceli moved to Florida where she began freelancing in marketing while working in the service industry. 

She knew she wanted a business of her own, so she created her own clothing brand. Miceli had the vision, the branding, and even her first line of clothing ready for production, but then she paused. 

“I realized I wasn’t following my own advice to clients,” she said. “I was helping other people clarify their brand and direction, but I hadn’t done that work fully for myself.” 

Instead of forcing a business that didn’t quite fit her life, Miceli pivoted — leading her to create The BOLD Marketing Agency. 

The BOLD Marketing Agency supports organizations and brand leaders to evolve through authentic personal and company branding, as well as intentional gatherings. 

As Miceli moved back to Green Bay and continued working with clients, she saw a growing need — not just for branding, but for spaces where people could connect, reflect, and show up authentically. From there, the BOLD brand naturally expanded into subcategories and Miceli’s personal brand: 

• BOLD EVENTS hosts intentional professional and community gatherings across Greater Green Bay, including the annual BOLD FASHION SHOW. 
• [ASK BOLD QUESTIONS] grew out of one powerful networking experience and has since evolved into a card game and upcoming movement designed to spark deeper human connection. 
• Camanda in Cheif (yes, it’s supposed to be spelled wrong) became Miceli’s home for her work as a speaker, creative, entrepreneur, and personal branding strategist. 

Honored as Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Miceli’s work continued to grow, and so did its impact on the Greater Green Bay community. Through her businesses, she wasn’t just building brands: she was creating opportunities for connection, collaboration, and leadership. 

That commitment was recognized when she was named a finalist and the winner of the Greater Green Bay Chamber’s 2026 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, an award that celebrates a local entrepreneur (aged 21-40) whose work creates positive community impact beyond financial success. 

Amanda Miceli holds her Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Greater Green Bay Chamber’s 2026 Future 15 and Young Professionals Awards. Photo credit: Greater Green Bay Chamber

“Being nominated and receiving this award felt like absolute alignment and gratitude,” Miceli said. “It affirms why I keep going, even when things are hard — because I’m truly making a difference. I’m impacting lives, growing our community, and supporting so many people. And that appreciation goes both ways.” 

Education for long-term growth

As someone who has built both a business and a community, Miceli believes success is measured by more than individual achievement. 

“What matters most is how your work impacts the people around you,” she said. “That starts with knowing who you are and what you care about.” 

She encourages students to seek out learning experiences that are practical, supportive, and connected to the real world, and education that prepares them not just for a first job, but for long-term growth. 

“NWTC was that for me,” Miceli said. “It gave me the foundation to build something that now supports others.”