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 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.