People of Portage County: ‘Mocktails with a mission,’ as Kayla Wellbrock stirs things up in Stevens Point
By Brian Kurzynski
“I was burning out from events and my full-time job. I felt mentally exhausted. After some soul-searching, I realized I shouldn’t separate my personal and business passions.”
It was this realization, as well as her entrepreneurial upbringing, that led Iola native Kayla Wellbrock to start her own business at the age of 23. Wandering Elixir, Wellbrock’s mobile mocktail service, also seeks to remove the separation between customers and their local produce growers.
Wellbrock explained how the example of her parents inspired her to think as an entrepreneur while growing up with her four siblings on the family’s 10-acre hobby farm in Iola.
“We gardened and had horses, chickens and goats, so I was very hands-on with nature, learning about the circle of life and produce,” Wellbrock recalled. “My dad was a mechanic with his own shop on the farm, and my mom was a massage therapist and entrepreneur, practicing alternative medicine. Growing up, I learned about herbs, vitamins and minerals, which feels like second nature now. It influences how I think about flavors and what’s good for the body in different seasons.”
Her parents not only set an example of entrepreneurship, they also taught their children to be mindful and purposeful in their decisions.
“My parents made sure we understood why we did things—like choosing homegrown food over store-bought, prioritizing low-ingredient foods,” Wellbrock said. “That mindset shaped me a lot. I lived there until I was 18, then moved to Stevens Point for college.”
But while attending the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, an unexpected twist changed her path.
“I started my second year, but then COVID hit,” Wellbrock said. “I couldn’t afford college anymore because my hours at work were cut significantly. It was a tough but also an easy decision to drop out since I was supporting myself completely. I had three jobs in the service industry—serving, bartending, managing. I was 19 and loved school, but I couldn’t go into debt. So, I went full swing into the service industry, got invested in mixology and hospitality, and fell in love with it. Many see bartending as a college job, but it brought me so much joy, I knew it could be a career.”
Determined to make the most of her new path, Wellbrock took the initiative in building the knowledge and skills she needed to lay the foundation of her own small business venture.
“I’m completely self-taught, but I had amazing mentors in the industry who took me under their wing,” Wellbrock said. “Other bartenders taught me techniques behind the bar, and I adapted from there. Every person I worked for taught me not just about the industry but also how to invest in people so they’ll invest in me.”
At 20 years old, Wellbrock started working at the Wissota Chophouse while juggling other odd jobs. There, a pivotal manager pushed Wellbrock to grow in ways she hadn’t expected.
“Bonnie was a tough manager—she reminded me of my mom in how she was super hard on me. At first, I thought she didn’t like me. I wanted to be coddled, told I was doing a good job, but Bonnie didn’t do that. I realized I needed to keep my head down, work hard and invest in myself, regardless of what she thought.”
Over time, the learning process became a two-way street between Wellbrock and her manager.
“After a while, Bonnie started asking me questions about bartending because I had a couple years of experience,” Wellbrock said. “We began teaching each other—I showed her bar techniques, and she taught me managerial skills, like handling tough staff situations and communicating with customers to meet goals. That was priceless. A year later, she was promoted and asked me to take her job, saying she trusted no one else with the restaurant. That was huge—she’d never given me that kind of praise before. I thought about it for 15 minutes and said yes. That was almost three years ago, so I’ve been managing at Wissota since.”
Even with the new responsibilities and a heavier workload, Wellbrock looked for more opportunities to continue her professional growth.
“While at Wissota full-time, I also worked a couple of days a week at District One to expand my beer knowledge in a high-volume setting. Wissota is a corporation, but District One is owner-operated, so I saw both sides—corporate structure and the personal, rewarding work of an owner like Chris [Gethers].”
In January 2024, Wellbrock decided it was time to step out and create a business of her own.
“I decided to start my own private bartending business, Wandering Elixir. I built a website, made lists of what I’d need for events, and did a few weddings.”
Wandering Elixir was well received by customers, but Wellbrock said the stress and strain of working private events as well as managing Wissota Chophouse started to take a toll on her. Another turning point soon followed.
“I was burning out from events and my full-time job. I felt mentally exhausted,” Wellbrock said. “After soul-searching, I realized I shouldn’t separate my personal and business passions. I love going to farms, picking produce, living low-waste, and researching the environment. Combining that with mixology sparked something in me—I stopped feeling exhausted. That’s when Wandering Elixir became what it is now: non-alcoholic, locally sourced mocktails. We’re in an area with amazing entrepreneurs and farmers, and I want to share that. People don’t always get to taste a locally grown strawberry, so I bring those flavors to them, keeping it sustainable and community-focused. It’s about supporting local businesses and farmers who put love into their work.”
Wellbrock said Wandering Elixir mobile zero-proof mocktails has made steady progress since starting as an LLC in July 2024. In March 2025, she started doing pop-ups at public and private events and has plans to expand to more areas of Wisconsin.
“A pop-up is a mobile beverage service at community events, like farmers markets or festivals,” Wellbrock explained. “It’s about networking, connecting with the community, and keeping it local. This year, we’ve been at Levitt AMP every Thursday. I’ve also done food truck rallies at District One and Discover Downtown. Since I still work full-time, I’m keeping it small but consistent.”
Wellbrock said she is very grateful for the customer response.
“Every interaction is so positive. I’m living my dream, and my customers sense that energy. It’s not just about the product—you have to live your dreams to do something like this.”
When asked why she chose to focus on non-alcoholic drinks, Wellbrock said it was all about following her passion and filling a niche in the market.
“Initially, I did private bartending with a ‘dry hire’ model—providing everything but the alcohol. But earlier this year, I went zero-proof because I saw a gap in the market. Many in my generation are going sober-curious or fully sober for personal or health reasons. They miss the bar community—not just the alcohol, but holding a drink while socializing. When I cut back on drinking, I felt that loss of community. My business aims to provide that space for sober-curious people, kids or anyone who wants to feel included. Kids love my pop-up cart—they feel fancy drinking what their parents have, not just a kiddy cocktail. So, I’ve shifted entirely to non-alcoholic mocktails to fill that inclusive niche.”
Looking ahead, Wellbrock hopes to one day work entirely for herself, but she’s just as passionate about helping others pursue their own dreams.
“It’s not just about me—I want to give others the chance to be independent, like I’ve taught my staff at Wissota. I give them tools, but they need to solve problems themselves. My goal is to employ people who share my mindset, creating a business that’s good for the planet, people and our community. Keeping things local and supporting hard-working farmers and businesses brings me joy, and I think others will find joy in that, too.”
As for others who may be dreaming of starting their own business, Wellbrock offers her advice.
“If you have an idea that brings you joy, run with it. Don’t quit your day job tomorrow, but pursue your passion. Tell friends, family, even strangers. Make a prototype and share it. Even if it doesn’t go global, if it sparks joy for you, that’s enough to keep you going. I didn’t think people would appreciate what I’m doing, but they do, and I believe anyone who’s passionate and puts in the work can achieve that.”
Wellbrock concluded: “Go to your local farmers market or co-op. Buy something made with love—you have no idea how much it means to those people. At big stores, you’re just a number, but for local businesses, your support means the world. Find something that sparks joy for you, and it’ll spark joy for someone else, too.”