2020 Leaders Lab participant profiles

Leaders Lab is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage Minnesota’s developing business leaders (approximately late 20s to 30s). It will enhance your personal and professional growth, connect you with business leaders statewide, and provide understanding into what drives Minnesota’s economy and how policy affects the success of business in our state. The program consists of four sessions two-day sessions. To learn more about Leaders Lab, click here. 

Check back to this page as more of our wonderful 2020 Leaders Lab participants are profiled!

Profiled on October 22

What is the best part about your current job? 
The best part about working for Watkins is all of the spices and extracts! I consider myself an at-home chef and enjoy making meals with the fish and wild game I harvest. Having access to quality seasonings really adds the “WOW” factor, putting my meals over the top. In Product Development every day is different and there is never a dull moment working on all of the new products we have planned. Along with new products comes testing and tasting, so it is always a treat to sneak up to the lab and see what our food chemist is cooking up that day.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Minnesota? 
Walleye fish on Lake of The Woods!

What’s the first thing you want to do once things are “back to normal?”  
Go to a Packer game. 

Who or what are you inspired by?
I am inspired by the great outdoors and the healing power nature has to offer. Being located on the Mississippi River in the heart of bluff country there is endless opportunities to explore and there is something to be said about the peace and quiet it offers.  

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
I am a shareholder of the Green Bay Packers and number 10,285 on the season ticket waiting list. So I am hopeful I will get my season tickets by the time I retire!
 

Profiled on October 21

What is the best part about your current job? No two assignments are the same.
The diversity of industries as well as space needs of each client make every assignment a unique puzzle to solve. From high-tech manufacturing to standard office use, each have specific requirements to adhere to, and it’s a enjoyable challenge to align business forecasts with the correct real estate strategy to maximize operational efficiency.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Minnesota?
Much of my life revolves around food, and thankfully Minnesota has a strong lineup of great restaurants to try! 

What’s the first thing you want to do once things are “back to normal?”  
Take that beach vacation that was canceled due to the pandemic. May take one anyway even if there isn’t a new “normal” by the time winter comes around.

Who or what are you inspired by?
My inspiration comes from the feeling you get when a goal is achieved. That satisfaction of setting a challenging, distant goal, then putting in the time and effort to reach the end is what inspires me. Negative commentary only makes each achievement that much more special. Knowing you had a vision that many didn’t understand, and pushing through no matter what. 

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
In the summer before freshman year of high school, I fouled a baseball back into my face, breaking my eye socket, nose, and cheek bone. Had to be on six months bedrest (most activity I could do was eat) or else I would have gone blind in my right eye. First game back, was slid into and had to get 12 stitches in my left leg. Not the best summer. 

Profiled on October 20

What is the best part about your current job? 
The people that I work with have been involved with sucrose extraction from sugar beets for so many collective years. The amount of knowledge they bestow daily is a huge learning opportunity.  There’s never a day that I go home without learning something new.  The process of sucrose extraction from sugar beets is complicated, every day I feel like I’m working with a giant chemistry set!  

What’s your favorite thing to do in Minnesota? 
Camping and fishing at the great state parks in Minnesota. 

What’s the first thing you want to do once things are “back to normal?”  
Here are a few…Go to concerts again. Go to a Twins or Vikings game with my family. Take my family to the Valleyfair and the Renaissance Festival!

Who or what are you inspired by?
It may sound cliché but Michael Jordan. His work ethic always fascinated me (not to mention who didn’t want to be like Mike growing up). He always strives to get the job done in an unbelievable fashion. I would have to guess he’s an Enneagram Type 3 – “The Performer” (which I can relate to at times). He is always able to dig deep and find motivation out of anything and subsequently capitalizes on it.

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
I play the drums and have spent many years DJing. I love the outdoors and spend a lot of time fishing, snowboarding, curling, and biking. In the last five years, I’ve definitely caught the golfing bug and am hooked for life!
 

Profiled on October 19

What is the best part about your current job? 
I get the opportunity to travel both domestically and internationally to work directly with other Graco employees, distributors, and customers. You very quickly realize we are all working towards the same common goal: Developing innovative solutions to solve our customer’s problems; ultimately helping them become more efficient while driving a strong return on their investment. I also get to work with some pretty awesome people in engineering, channel marketing, sales, purchasing, and operations. 

What’s your favorite thing to do in Minnesota? 
Be out on the water with my family and friends. We do live in the Land of 10,000 lakes after all. 

What’s the first thing you want to do once things are “back to normal?” 
Attend a sporting event in person.   

Who or what are you inspired by? 
My parents: I am the oldest of five children. Growing up we all played sports, in addition to being involved in band and other school activities. At least one of my parents was at every one of our events/activities to support us. Only now, as a parent myself, can I truly appreciate the commitment and sacrifice they made for their children. 

What’s something super interesting about yourself? 
I married my high school sweetheart. We started dating when we were 15 and got married when we were 22. It’s fun to show our three little ladies pictures of their mom in her cheerleading outfit and dad in his football gear. I’d like to think we haven’t aged a bit
 

Profiled on October 14

What is the best part about your current job? 
The best part of my job is the diverse group of team members that I get to interact with at Christensen Farms! There are so many aspects to our industry and with that, individuals having a wide variety of interests and perspectives. 

What’s your favorite thing to do in Minnesota? 
My favorite thing to do in Minnesota is travel and enjoy the outdoors, especially kayaking and snowboarding. 

What’s the first thing you want to do once things are “back to normal?” 
Post COVID, I can’t wait to attend (and tailgate at) an Iowa State University football game!

Who or what are you inspired by?
As crazy as it sounds, I’m constantly inspired by NASA and their ability to reach the unimaginable in space travel! I strive to bring a fraction of their innovation and advancement into the agricultural industry.  

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
I grew up heavily involved in 4H and FFA. My dad and I traveled the country showing livestock and it has shaped my passions and career path! 
 

Profiled on August 20

What is the best part about your current job? 
I love collaborating with great people to bring amazing construction projects to life!

What’s your favorite thing to do in Minnesota? 
Anything that involves the outdoors. We in Minnesota are so fortunate to have abundant access to nature and recreation activities. Whether it is hiking, camping, fishing, mountain biking, or skiing, there are plenty of ways to stay busy year-round!

What’s the first thing you want to do once things are “back to normal?” 
Tailgate and attend Gopher football games.

Who or what are you inspired by?
I am inspired by the many people in my life that have believed in me.

What’s something super interesting about yourself? 
I am the third of six children. We grew up in small-town New Ulm, MN but have all since relocated to the Twin Cities metro area.
 

Profiled on July 29

What is the best part about your current job? 
Partnering with businesses to create and maintain an effective insurance program. Each Business is unique and have different needs. I love diving deep into understanding each client and their operations to better understand the types of coverages and services that are needed so the client can focus on other business responsibilities while having peace of mind knowing they are fully protected and taken care of. 

What’s your favorite thing to do in Minnesota? 
Ice Fishing

What’s the first thing you want to do once things are “back to normal?” 
Travel 

Who or what are you inspired by?
Helping people. I am all for doing what I can to help make something easier or a better experience for others. 

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
I was 6’0 by the time I hit 7th grade. I have not grown an inch since then! I actually think I may have shrunk a little!