How We Came Together to Create Happy Bambino
In early 2004, Alison and Lea were introduced through a mutual friend (thanks Laurie!) who had heard both women talk about creating a place where families can come together to create community, ask questions and buy products that they need.  Happy Bambino opened nine months later...

In 2009 long-time customer, Carolynn, joined the team.  Read more...

Alison Dodge, Co-owner

Alison is co-founder of Happy Bambino and proud mama to Liam (2003), Ariana (2007), and Rocky (2009).

Background:
Alison brought a human resources background to Happy Bambino, but her love of children and fascination with the childbearing year have been with her from an early age. Alison is passionate about parental empowerment and choice in health care and the advancement of family-friendly social policies.

Lactation Work:
Alison is a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), assisting with Happy Bambino's Nursing Mamas Resource Station and answering breastfeeding-related questions in the store. Alison teaches the Breastfeeding & Newborn Care and the Breastfeeding: Return to Work classes at Happy Bambino

Outside Projects:
- Alison is the administrator for the Madison Nursing is Normal Project
- Alison is the web administrator and a volunteer for the Mother's Milk Association of Wisconsin (MMAW).

 

Lea Wolf, Co-owner

Lea Wolf is mother to daughter Ma'iingan (2002) and co-founder of Happy Bambino.

Background:
Lea was raised in Bad River, up on the shores of Lake Superior, by a whole lotta strong women who were involved in health and social services.  She became a mama while in grad school for Educational Policy and took a "year or two" off to open Happy Bambino.  Over the course of the past five years, she has, in addition to HB responsibilities, become a doula, childbirth educator, and photographer.  Yes, she's crazy.  But she enjoys very much spending time with babies, children, and families; as well as advocating for better birth, breastfeeding and family policies.  

Special Interests...
Family, photography, lotsa fiction and obsessive blog reading, eating out too often, enjoying chai at Mermaid Cafe, beadwork, and perfecting homemade popcorn.  Lea recently had a lot of fun volunteering as the photographer for the Nursing is Normal - Madison project.

Family...
Lotsa ladies in Lea's family!  A mama, three aunties, a sister, a daughter, three nieces, and her grandpa - the lone male, all of whom (with the exception of her kiddo of course) are at home in Odanah.  She's lucky to escape HB and doula obligations every other month or so to get home.  Her daughter Ma'iingan attends 2nd grade at The Madison Waldorf School (see if you can recognize Lea's "mini-me" on the home page!).  Lea is grateful to have a good co-parenting relationship with her daughter's father and stepmother, and is also happy to have the help of Ma'iingan's grandparents who live in Monona.
 

Carolynn Black Schwarz
Co-owner

Carolynn brings a special passion for locally made and US-made products to her position as Happy Bambino's co-owner & buyer. Carolynn is always interested in what our customers have to say, so don't be shy and say "hi." .

Special Interests... Carolynn is an accomplished musician/vocalist and the the lead singer of local r&b group Vibe Syndicate.

Family...She is the mother of uber toddler Zeke (2007), wife to husband Tom and they are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of "Sweet Pea" later this fall. [Carolynn and Zeke were the first mom/baby nursing pair photographed for the Madison Nursing is Normal Project.]

 

Damis Newman

Damis is a part time Happy Bambino employee, a full time student of graphic arts and a full time parent of a four year old. She likes working for a HB because it offers opportunity to meet and support new parents in the community.

Special Interests...Damis' passions include Urban Culture, Nature and Human Rights.

Family...Husband, Greg and 3-year old son, Rio
 

Elissa Bristow

Elissa graduated from Massachusetts College of Art with a degree in Sculpture. She enjoys working for HB because she gets a chance to write, experiment with marketing and advertising, and work with customers. Elissa loves to meet new people as well as work one-on-one with parents, and is a bit of a baby-gear-head! (Ask her about strollers and carseats - she's amazing!) New to Madison, she's had a great time hiking, exploring, and thus far avoiding the winter weather.

Special Interests...Elissa is into sewing, sculpting, and learning to play frisbee with her boyfriend, Charlie.

Family...Elissa lives with her two cats Leopold and Itty Bitty.

 

Hilary Joyner
Sales Staff & Web Sales Manager

Hilary attended Arizona State University where she received a B.S. in psychology with a minor in family and human development. We don't know what we ever did at HB before Hilary came. A Jill of All Trades, Hilary works as the Bookkeeper, Resource Center Director, and Web Sales Manager, and enjoys working with customers, paying personal attention to each package that we send, analyzing data, and gift wrapping.

Special Interests... include riding her bike, cooking, hiking and traveling.

Family...Hilary currently lives with her sister and dog Heidi.


 

Laura Anderson
Sales Staff & Book Buyer

Laura has been with Happy Bambino off & on since shortly after the store opened. She has done a variety of different things around the store, but is currently serving as the Book Buyer and as well as occasional sales staff. Don't miss Laura's book reviews on Happy Bambino's blog!

Special Interests...Laura is a doula, & has attended over 40 births in the past six years. When not hanging with her family or attending births, she reads.

Family...Laura is married to Eric & a Mama of two, Sophia 8 & Niko 3.

 

Adria Cannon, IBCLC
Nursing Mamas Resource Station

Adria has been helping mothers and babies one way or another for the last 18 years -- and loving it the whole time.

Lactation Work... Adria has been a La Leche League International leader since 1996 and a Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 2006. Adria blogs about breastfeeding news for families in the greater Madison area at MadisonBreastfeedingHelp.com.

Special Interests... Before I started helping breastfeeding mothers, I studied physiology, ecology, and statistics. In other words, I watched lizards run around, kept track of what they did, and tried to create computer models to explain what they did. Now I homeschool our four children and innovative education has become one of my passions. In any spare moments I knit, spin, dye, bake, garden, and keep bees.

Family...Adria started out as a breastfeeding mother in 1991 and breastfed all four of her children.

"I think successful breastfeeding experiences nurture babies and empower mothers. We all know about the benefits of breastfeeding but women often struggle to make it work. I want to help mothers succeed at breastfeeding by providing up-to-date information and caring support. My goal is for each mother to feel good about the time she spends breastfeeding her baby."

 

Jenny Ehrlinger
Communications Assistant

Jenny has been with Happy Bambino since February of "08. She has worked with us as the webstore specialist, facilitator for the Grasshopper playgroup, and now as the Communications Assistant.

Special Interests...Her professional interests also include co-owning Kitchen Intuition with her sister Angela, as well as being a part-time artist--paint, jewelry.

Family...She enjoys cooking, being active, and spending time with her little dude (Miles) and big dude (John).

 

Mary Jo Walters, Maintenance Coordinator

Special Interests...Mary Jo's family are gardeners at Troy and St. Paul gardens. She's an avid supporter of 89.9- WORT- community radio.

Family..."Three kids ('04, '07, '09) and one lovely husband"