Being a gentleman often means leading with integrity, maintaining quiet dignity – and favoring a timeless sense of style.
Milwaukee native Rob Wilks embodies this notion through his impeccably tailored and stylishly colored suits, ties, glasses and exotic skin footwear – each carefully coordinated to reflect professionalism and confidence. While his presence is commanding, Wilks’ approachable demeanor – characterized by direct eye contact, a firm handshake and a welcoming smile – underscores his distinct brand.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
Wilks is the assistant director of security at Northwestern Mutual. He’s also a Rotarian, a Prince Hall Mason and chair of Northwestern Mutual’s African American Employee Resource Group. But he’s quickest to talk about his commitment to helping young men aged 13 through 18 in low- and middle-income Milwaukee neighborhoods, shaping their futures and steering them away from drugs and violence.
“I just want to be able to give something back and be an example,” he says. “Whatever I can do to influence in a positive manner, I’m going to try to do it.”
Wilks devotes many hours to Running Rebels and the Nehemiah Project – organizations that provide educational and recreational activities, as well as out-of-home placement services and intervention programs.
“We need to learn as much from the young men as we impart to them,” he said, “so we can influence them to be positive, contributing adults. But young people need to understand that you have to work for things. And your brand has to be the brand that somebody wants. So you have skin in the game.”
While many people give back to their communities, it’s how Wilks connects with young men that sets him apart. His brand is an even mix of style and substance, with a message of respect, strong work ethic and professionalism.
“He has a very strong personal brand,” said Montreal Cain, a junior at Brown Deer High School who met Wilks through Running Rebels. “The moment he walks into a room, you can tell what kind of person he is. How he carries himself, how he dresses, how he speaks.”
“When I get compliments from a younger person, I respect that,” Wilks says. “I want to show them you can still be cool in a suit or jacket or tie and still have some swagger.”
Wilks credits his mother for fostering in him the value of a polished appearance. In college, he sported carefully ironed clothes with tight creases, and always a neat, professional look. After college, he delivered and resold men’s formalwear. His affinity for a few New York vendors has not waned; it didn’t hurt that his later career roles required business attire.
Wilks’s family moved to Milwaukee in 1970, a relocation marred by tragedy with the loss of his father soon after their arrival. Raised by his mother, Wilks was guided by the virtues of excellence and respect. A Milwaukee Lutheran High School graduate with an undergraduate business degree, he attributes his career progression to opportunities afforded to him in his youth: a solid spiritual foundation through his church, participation in sports, and a well-grounded family life that introduced him to hunting, fishing and camping – much of which he says his childhood friends never experienced.
“Growing up in this city,” he says, “people have been supportive of me. So, when I see an opportunity for volunteerism, I am in. When you sow positivity, it comes back to you tenfold.”
