2023 Leaders Lab participant profiles

Leaders Lab is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage Minnesota’s developing business leaders (approximately late 20s to 40). 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. To learn more about Leaders Lab, click here. 

Check back to this page as more of our wonderful 2023 Leaders Lab participants are profiled!

Profiled on August 10

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year in your life.
My girlfriend and I bought a new house on 320 acres in my hometown of Warroad, MN. We're excited to enjoy our outdoor paradise. 

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota? 
Not to be biased, but my favorite thing made in Minnesota is Marvin Windows. Although, I recently discovered a Minnesota company, WinCraft, manufactures the sports goods of my favorite teams. Really cool!  

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place?  
I grew up in Warroad, MN aka Hockeytown USA, and the home of world-renowned Marvin Windows and Doors. Warroad is a great and unique place due to its proximity to an abundance of fishing, hunting, outdoor recreation opportunities, and quality jobs. We also boast a close-knit community that continues to raise the bar for how a small community should be. It is quite a special place. 

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey? 
Advice that has always stuck with me and guided my professional and personal journey is to remind yourself to: “Remember the days you prayed for the things you now have". This advice reminds all of us to take a step back, look around, and be grateful for the people, the opportunities, and yes, the material items you’ve surrounded yourself with, and reflect on the days when you prayed for the very moment you now have. It brings an incredible feeling of gratitude and motivation. 

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I am actively pursuing the title of a Grand Slam Waterfowl Hunter, a challenge that requires you to harvest all 41 waterfowl species in North America. This adventure has already brought me to places like Puget Sound, with the banks of Maine next. 
 

Profiled on August 7

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year in your life.  
Outside of the highlight that was Leaders Lab ’23, I am expecting my second child later this month!

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota? 
Red Wing boots. I grew up with my dad lacing up his boots every morning and they were ALWAYS Red Wing.

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place?  
Nevada City, California, a small historic town in the Sierra Nevada mountains. A diverse economy with everything from agriculture to high end tech startups, unbeatable natural beauty and architecture defined by the gold rush. Truly a special place and I encourage anyone going to Northern California to stop in and get a scoop of homemade ice cream from Treats! 

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey? 
“Nobody cares more about your development than you.” This manifests in taking the initiative to improve yourself. Do you want to be a better leader? Put in the work to be a better leader!

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.  
In college I spent a semester abroad in Paris. It was there that my appreciation for architecture grew and my lifelong quest to find the greatest bakery in the world was began.
 

Profiled on August 1

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year in your life.  
I got married in September 2nd, 2022, it was the best day filled with so much love! We got to go Europe for our honeymoon, it was the trip of a lifetime!

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota? 
My favorite thing made in Minnesota are all of the lovely little lake cabins. There is nothing quite like Minnesota lake life. They all have a story and I love how each of them is filled with so many memories and character. 

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place?  
I grew up in a very small town in Wisconsin called Alma Center, population 500! Moving to the cities after college, I have grown much appreciation for my small town. It's filled with great people and great memories. My husband and I actually chose to get married at a venue very close to where I grew up and it was so special to me!

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey? 
One piece of advice I got when first looking for jobs after college and having informational interviews was to "brand myself" and show who I was just outside of a resume. I loved writing at the time and ended up crafting up a small blogging website. I had so much fun with it and when I applied to jobs, it was fun to include that to tell more of my story and who I was instead of just a resume. Being in the HR industry now, I'd tell anyone the same! Be unique and tell your story outside of just what you do at work. I see so many resumes and cover letters come through and the ones that stand out the most, are the ones that tell me who you are not just what you do.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.  
On top of loving to travel, I love to plan it too! Researching the best places to go whether it be a unique restaurant, coffee shop or activity to do - I love it all and it makes the trip so much more rewarding.
 

Profiled on July 28

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year in your life.   
We bought a new house and are moving this week!  We’re only moving a mile from our current house because we love Saint Paul and can’t imagine moving our family away.

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota?  
Right now I’m really into Minnesota hot sauce – I love Mean Green & Cry Baby Craig’s.

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place?   
I grew up in Rosemount and loved the sports and activities I was able to be a part of and the people who made those experiences what they were. When I was in high school it still felt a little rural, but we were just a short drive to Minneapolis/Saint Paul – we had the best of both worlds.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?  
On our tour of MDI earlier this summer Eric Black encouraged us to make a point of making whoever we are talking to feel like the most important person in the room. I have something to learn from everyone and want those around me to feel valued.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself. 
I love to travel and have been to five of the seven continents. When I’m not travelling, you may find me scrapbooking photos of past trips!
 

Profiled on July 26

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year in your life.  
My wife and I were lucky enough to welcome our first child Charlie to our family this June! We are feeling very blessed and loving our new adventure with the little man.

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota? 
I love to snowmobile to get through our Minnesota winters. I would have to say Arctic Cat and Polaris Snowmobiles. I ride a Polaris sled, but I have to support my fellow leader lab colleague Tim Cutler who works at Arctic Cat.

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place?  
I grew up in Excelsior Minnesota and had a blast! We lived in a small neighborhood but there were about 25 kids within a 2 year age range of each other. We biked all over the town. As a history buff I loved learning about the streetcar boats, amusement parks, and hotels that used to surround Lake Minnetonka. 

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey? 
To never stop learning. Every day provides an opportunity to learn something new. Try to understand what makes other people/businesses successful and what challenges they face. I feel the more you can broaden your worldview and perspective the more well rounded you can become as a person and a leader.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.  
I am in the process of restoring a sailboat and just got it back into the water last weekend. I hope to have the mast and sails up next weekend.  Tying into my advice to never stop learning, I have had to learn all kinds of new skills (fiberglass, upholstery, sail repair, etc) to work on this project. 
 

Profiled on July 24

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year in your life.
It might sound cliché, but getting accepted to Leaders Lab has been one of the greatest pieces of news I got this year. I’ve been afforded the opportunity to learn so many different things about the state and how awesome we are! Every event and experience is super engaging and the relationships made will be lifelong!    

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota?
Salted Nut Rolls!    

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place? 
I was originally born in Duluth but moved to White Bear Lake Area when younger. I love the White Bear Lake area for its diverse yet functional group of communities that surround the lake and its close proximity to St. Paul and Minneapolis. The lake was like a second home for many summer nights while the abundant ice rinks nearby kept me busy all winter long!    

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?
Everyone is going to be different. Engage with everyone and treat them exactly how you want to be treated.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself. 
As a lifelong hockey player, I just recently picked up downhill skiing…I’m hooked!
 

Profiled on July 19

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota? 
Hot dish    

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place?
I grew up in Woodbury and at that time it was more of a country setting. I loved having the room to go outside and play.       

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?
Employees are everything.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I have been at Revolv for 13 years. I started out as a machine operator and have moved my way up by taking on more responsibility and have been promoted to production manager. This is a huge accomplishment for me! I also recently started fostering dogs a love it! I have an 8-year-old son that keeps us busy with wrestling, baseball and football. Overall life couldn’t be better!
 

Profiled on July 6

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year in your life.
I got to see the Northern Lights with my mom! We had tried to see them a few times before, but no luck. One Sunday night in April, we heard that they might be visible, so we drove an hour outside the city and were able to catch them for the first time.

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota?
Fresh produce grown in Minnesota! Especially Sweet Sixteen Apples developed by the University of Minnesota.

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place?
I grew up in South Minneapolis. I love it for the community, and the combination of city and nature. Walks and drives around the lakes were always the best as a kid (and I still love them now)! I spent many summers at the Lake Nokomis beach and getting ice cream at Sebastian Joes.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?
Know when to speak up, when to collaborate, and when to give someone else the floor.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I studied abroad in Sweden, in a college town near Copenhagen called Lund. My favorite things were biking everywhere, fika (coffee) breaks, and comparing college culture and traditions with students from Sweden and other parts of the world.
 

Profiled on June 26

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year in your life.  

• I got married!! September 3rd, 2022!
• I got promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply Chain. Previously, I was the VP of Production Planning. Now I oversee the entire back of the house.
• Bought a house!
• It's been a big year, haha!

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota? 
Faribault Mill Blankets 😊 I also love Fulton beers (any craft beer, for that matter).

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place?  
I grew up in Edina, Minnesota, and currently live there. Edina is a great place because of its excellent public schools, my long-lasting core friend group dating back to elementary school, its central location allowing for easy travel and access to various activities like attending ball games within 15 minutes of home, my family is all in town, and it's where I met my wife. 

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey? 

• Be Humble: Share the success of all departments on a daily and weekly basis to not only commend the team but also inspire hard work in other departments.
• Goal-Oriented: Emphasize a "brick by brick" mentality to achieve metrics and goals. Celebrate incremental progress, which builds confidence and empowers the team to try new things for future success.
• Trust: Lead by example and never ask the team to do something I'm not willing to do myself. Demonstrated by working alongside the team at each station for the first 100 days in my new role.
• Fairness and Consistency: Maintain fairness and consistency in leadership approach.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.  
I have seen Dave Matthews Band 35 times and will be attending my 36th show by the end of this year! Each year, I make it a point to see Dave at a new location if he is touring!

Profiled on June 19

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year in your life.  
I adopted a dog named Johnny Rocket. He’s a black lab mix and is incredibly intelligent. He has so much energy and keeps us active. He’s got a dynamic personality and the whole family instantly fell in love with him.

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota? 
For me, it’s a tie between a Juicy Nookie Burger with a side of curds from the Nook in Saint Paul and literally any of the cheese made by Redhead Creamery. If it’s not obvious, cheese is a theme for me.    

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place?  
I grew up in South Saint Paul, MN. SSP was great because we had a small suburb town experience with very easy access to the city, airport, and malls. It’s always been a blue collar town and has deep roots of raising hard working people. My grandfather, who still lives in town at age 95, used to work at the infamous SSP Stockyards, processing meat.     

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey? 
You are not better off taking it all on yourself or following the old adage that “If I want it done right, then I have to do it.” Great leaders lean on their teams, leverage their resources, and elevate those around them.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.  
I have spent a significant amount of time volunteering in other countries in GMO’s focused on the prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation of human trafficking victims. I live with local families and work full time in the orgs. It’s been a powerful way to explore a new country, learn about their culture, and give back to a very worthy cause.

Profiled on June 12

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year in your life.  
This past year I received an award from my company for technology and innovation for leading the development of a new wood fiber product utilized in producing sustainable high-end textiles.

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota? 
I can’t say I have a single favorite item as there are so many amazing products made in Minnesota. Top of the list are products I’ve had the ability to participate in manufacturing such as Verve, a dissolving wood pulp that is converted into sustainable textiles such as rayon, viscose, modal, Tencel, as well as non-wovens such as disinfectant wipes. Boise X9 office paper is another great product made in MN that can be used around the office. There are so many products I use on a daily basis from the Caribou Coffee to start my day, to the Cantilever cocktail or Ursa Minor beer in the evenings, there are so many wonderful products produced in Minnesota. 

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place?  
I grew up in Stewartville, MN which is a small town south of Rochester. It was a smaller town that had allowed for everyone to know one another’s families, and the proximity to Rochester allowed for large city amenities, diversity, and opportunities. 

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey? 
People, processes, and equipment, are three areas that someone working in manufacturing has to interact with daily. Some roles, you may be focused on one more than the other, but the people always come first. 

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.  
I won an intramural championship for curling while at UMD. One of the teams beaten that season was led by a member of the gold medal winning team USA. 
 

Profiled on May 18

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year in your life.  
I’ve had the opportunity to really define the marketing department and its vision. I’ve added headcount, budget and the team is producing killer results.    

What’s your favorite thing that’s made in Minnesota?  
The USPS postal tote. MDI (the company I work for) is the main provider of these essential containers, with over 100 million postal totes made in Minnesota.    

Where did you grow up and why was it a great place?  
Baltic, South Dakota. I was close to my grandma and grandpa, who were influential in my upbringing. My grandma drove the school bus for 40 years and grandpa worked in the meat plant.    

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey? 
Always know your “why."

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.  
I played club Rugby for the University of Nebraska Lincoln.