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.
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.
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:
Camanda in Cheif began as a typo. After Miceli created her Instagram username, @camandaincheif, a friend later pointed out the misspelling. She could have changed it, but instead she chose to keep it. The mistake became a reflection of Miceli’s authentic self and a symbol of the work she does every day, supporting others in showing up as who they truly are.
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.”
In 2025, Miceli navigated the most challenging year of her entrepreneurial career. She was confronted with some of the harsh realities of entrepreneurship and owning a business.
“There were moments I was brought to my knees,” she said. “I felt stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure of what the next step was, but I never lost sight of the vision.”
One of the most difficult decisions she made for The BOLD Marketing Agency was to stop offering its largest revenue-generating service: social media management.
“We were good at it,” Miceli explained. “But it wasn’t our superpower. Branding was, and we had to come back to what we do best.”
Making that shift meant navigating financial uncertainty and restructuring.
During that time, Miceli leaned on trusted guidance, including her mentor Jerry Lintz, NWTC Entrepreneurship and Hospitality Management instructor, who helped ground her through the hardest moments.
“He reminded me, ‘This is normal. This is business ownership. You’re not doing anything wrong, and you’re not alone,’” she said.
From left to right, Amanda Miceli, her mentor and NWTC instructor, Jerry Lintz, and her sister, Alison.
With guidance, support, and persistence, Amanda worked through what she now describes as “the most challenging — and most beautiful — mountain” she’s climbed so far.
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.”
Explore NWTC’s College of Business, Communication, and Social Sciences and find the program that helps build your foundation.
Balancing work, family, and college, 2026 NWTC graduate Carla Larson is already putting her degree to work by growing her career and continuing toward her bachelor’s degree.
NWTC Business Management graduate turned her education into a launchpad — building her own business and earning recognition as the Greater Green Bay Chamber’s 2026 Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
NWTC helped Shelby Balatgek find her love for event management — a passion she now channels into creating vibrant community events across Green Bay.