2024-2025 Leadership Minnesota participant profiles

Minnesota’s economic engine is powered by more than 100,000 businesses, a diverse landscape interconnected in ways not understood by the casual observer. For a select group, Leadership Minnesota opens the window to a behind-the-scenes look at what makes our state’s economy tick. This exclusive program also helps you understand how public policy crafted at the Capitol impacts the vitality of each and every Minnesota company. By establishing a rich network of Minnesota business leaders, your shared experiences make you more effective leaders at your workplace.

Check back to this page as more of our wonderful 2024-2025 Leadership Minnesota participants are profiled!

Profiled on December 13

Tell us why you love your company!  
U.S. Steel is such an iconic American company. First billion-dollar corporation, first with a board of directors, first with a code of ethical business conduct, and the first to use the phrase Safety First. USS played a huge role in the US winning two world wars and industrializing our nation. As far as our Iron Range operations go, we are a major employer in our region and provide a great living for so many families and have done this for generations. Our operations are much more complex and technical than most people think. There is always a new challenge to work on. Thankfully we have so many dedicated, hardworking, talented employees. 

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
I have been on 11 Canadian moose hunting trips. On one of the hunts a moose walked 11 yards from me! It was quite a rush, and I managed to get it on my GoPro!

Who or what are you inspired by?
My parents. Both are such hard workers who strive for perfection in everything they do. My father has a bunch of sayings that he would tell me. The two that come to mind are “Be the task great or small, do it well or not at all.” The other is, “If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, when are you going to have time to do it over?” 

When I would bring home a report card with an A- on it my mother would ask “what could you have done to make that an A?”

What is one piece of leadership advice you’d be willing to share that you use? Or if you could give your 22 year old self some advice, what would it be?
I was told by a former Senior VP to follow through and follow up. If you tell someone that you’re going to do something, do it. If you tell someone you will get back to them, you better get back to them, even if it’s not the answer they were hoping for. It really helps build credibility. If you don’t close the loop with them, you’re basically telling them they aren’t that important to you.

If you had to pick a karaoke song to sing, what would it be and why?
I’m going to have to go with Johnny Cash, Ring of Fire simply because the only time I sang karaoke was at session two of this program and that’s the song I picked!

What’s on the top of your bucket list?
Buy a cabin on Lake Vermilion.  (I checked that one off the list in August)

What’s a good book or streaming TV series you are into now?
Mr. McMahon on Netflix. It brings me back to my childhood when I loved watching professional wrestling.

What is your favorite part of your Leadership Minnesota experience so far OR what are you most excited for?
I love seeing all the different business. If I wasn’t in this program, I would never get to see all these amazing companies, how their products are made, or hear their stories. If I must pick a favorite, then I say the time spent at Sun Country has been the most interesting to me. It was fascinating to get a behind-the-scenes look at an airline. I wish we could have had more time to dive deeper.

The Minnesota Chamber just launched their inaugural “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota” Award.  What do you think is the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota? (Remember, it has to actually be made here)
Obviously, that’s a taconite pellet! Seriously, there is so much more that goes into making those little balls of concentrated iron than most people think.  When I travel around, I like to point to random things made of steel and tell people, “You know, that most likely started as a rock in northeastern Minnesota!” Mining is an important part of our economy and is critical to our national security. If we are serious about a sustainable, green economy then we must mine iron and other critical minerals here in the US. You can’t make a windmill, solar panel, or electric vehicle without mining.

Profiled on December 11

Tell us why you love your company!  
ALLETE employs a strong bench of leaders who foster collaboration, empower individual initiative, and provide resources necessary to succeed. These characteristics add up to providing an essential service to thousands of Minnesotans: reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy. Our company is a tight community that works hard, so I'm thankful to be working for ALLETE.

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
I'm colorblind, left-handed, play drums in a soul band, play in a hockey league, play chess, and worked for Congress for eight years. I try to keep my activities diverse and challenging.

Who or what are you inspired by?
My two-year old son Ashwin has a wonderful demeanor and is always looking for the fun and funny things in his surroundings. I aim to do the same.

What is one piece of leadership advice you’d be willing to share that you use? OR  If you could give your 22 year old self some advice, what would it be?
The most important aspect towards building trusting relations with anyone is being a good listener. This takes patience and energy, but it will often result in building better and longer-lasting relationships. 

If you had to pick a karaoke song to sing, what would it be and why?
"What I Got" by Sublime is often my go-to, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

What’s on the top of your bucket list?
Return to Japan on a long trip. I studied abroad there for six months in 2009 and I've always wanted to go back.

What’s a good book or streaming TV series you are into now?
I tend to listen to podcasts, so I find myself listening to Sam Harris quite often on Spotify and YouTube. I find his thought process and conclusions very compelling, so I'm always looking for more of his content.

What is your favorite part of your Leadership Minnesota experience so far OR what are you most excited for?
Meeting and getting to know my fellow participants. I've found them to be interesting, focused, and exhibit strong leadership skills that I hope to carry through long after our Leadership Minnesota experience has concluded. I'm thankful to learn all about Minnesota's diverse economy alongside them. I've noticed our group tends to ask many, many questions, which I take as a strong trait for all leaders to have, curiosity!

The Minnesota Chamber launched their inaugural “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota” Award.  What do you think is the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota? (Remember, it has to actually be made here)
I really enjoy Minnesota-produced wild rice, its health benefits, and its cultivation. 
 

Profiled on December 4

Tell us why you love your company!  
We have the most incredible team. They are brilliant, funny, support one another and inspire me daily. I also constantly learn new things and get to work with amazingly cool businesses across the country. 

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
I am very passionate about donating blood and supporting pediatric cancer patients and their caregivers. I serve on the board for the Memorial Blood Centers in Duluth and also the Northern Lights Foundation, which supports children facing life threatening illness. Our business also has an annual giving initiative, Giant Giving, where we have adopted families, collected thousands of dollars in gifts to support local patients and held numerous blood drives. 

Who or what are you inspired by?
People who are unafraid of being professionally vulnerable and doing the hard work necessary to achieve success. 

What is one piece of leadership advice you’d be willing to share that you use? OR  If you could give your 22 year old self some advice, what would it be?
Trust your gut and be a fantastic listener.

If you had to pick a karaoke song to sing, what would it be and why?
Sweet Caroline, because the whole room would be signing with me! 

What’s on the top of your bucket list?
The Dolomites and Greece. 

What’s a good book or streaming TV series you are into now?
My current “fun book” is A Gentleman in Moscow.

What is your favorite part of your Leadership Minnesota experience so far?
Our group is the best - we ask amazing questions and are like-minded. Session two in the Grand Rapids area and Iron Range was incredibly cool. It’s impactful to witness the pride and hard work coming from these critical northern Minnesota industries. I think we all learned so much we didn’t know about our state and its natural resource offerings. 
 

Profiled on November 25

Tell us why you love your company!  
Palmer Bus Service is a great place to work for people who want to work! Our Core Values of Safety, Integrity, Dignity, Help, and Community are REAL and part of everything we do and guide every decision we make. We are dedicated to serving our communities by safely transporting students which gives all of us an important purpose to carry out each and every day- without us, kids don't get to their future!

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
I drove school bus my senior year in high school:-)

Who or what are you inspired by?
Abraham Lincoln. His humility, dedication to something greater than himself, leadership, gift of storytelling, and ability to truly understand all points of view when looking at difficult and contentious issues stands the test of time.

What is one piece of leadership advice you’d be willing to share that you use? OR If you could give your 22 year old self some advice, what would it be?
Treat yourself and talk to yourself like you are someone you care about.

If you had to pick a karaoke song to sing, what would it be and why?
Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams

What’s a good book or streaming TV series you are into now?
Call the Midwife
 

Profiled on November 21

As chair of Leadership Minnesota, you’ve completed this program as a participant and now going through it again as chair? What was something you learned that you can’t stop talking about? 
I didn’t realize how diverse the Taylor Corp offerings are and how global their reach is. 

What is your favorite part about this program and experience? 
My favorite part of the program is being surrounded by so many like-minded people who love to learn and connect with people.

Throughout your time in the program, you have had the opportunity to really better understand the importance of the work of the Minnesota Chamber. Why should companies be a member? 
Becoming a member means ensuring your company is a part of your local and state community, it means access to resources and information to help your business thrive now and in the future. A membership with the chamber also offers an opportunity to connect with great people and great organizations across our state.

Tell us why you love your company!  
Jasper is a team of “salt of the earth” kind of people…the kind of people who will get out of bed in the middle of the night to come and help you. We truly have a special group.

What’s something super interesting about yourself? 
I’ve played drums in a band at Glueks in downtown Minneapolis and have ridden shotgun in a Formula 1 race car around the track at 180mph at the Brickyard in Indy.

Who or what are you inspired by? 
My six-year-old daughter, Charlie. She reminds me the importance of having fun and not taking life to seriously specifically when she scolds me for balding or having grey hair.

What is one piece of leadership advice you’d be willing to share that you use? OR If you could give your 22 year old self some advice, what would it be? 
If you are addicted to helping others succeed and be the best version of themselves, then leadership could be for you. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, every experience is a learning opportunity.

If you had to pick a karaoke song to sing, what would it be and why? 
Elvira- The Oak Ridge Boys because it reminds me of my first time to Sugar Lake with my Leadership Minnesota cohort.

What’s on the top of your bucket list? 
Operating large equipment, excavators, bull dozers and the like.

What’s a good book or streaming TV series you are into now? 
Alchemy (book), Ted Lasso (TV series)

The Minnesota Chamber launched their inaugural “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota” Award this year.  What do you think is the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota? 
SPAM is my favorite Minnesota item.