2025-2026 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 2025-2026 Leadership Minnesota participants are profiled!

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
I'm a quadruplet (not identical; three boys, one girl).

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?    
Great leaders are active listeners.

If you had to pick a karaoke song to sing, what would it be and why?
Take Me House, County Roads by John Denver. It's forgiving for irregular singers! 

What’s a good book, podcast or TV series/show you are into now?
Task on HBO (TV series), Apple in China by Patrick McGee (book), and Heavyweight (podcast).

What is your favorite part of your Leadership Minnesota experience so far OR what are you most excited for coming up in the program?    
Spending time in Warroad and seeing the Marvin significant community and economic impact the company has on the community. 

The Minnesota Chamber just concluded their second year of the “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota” Award. What do you think is the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota? 
3M's Post-it note as a very frequent user of Post-its.    

Tell us why you love your company.
What I love most about the Vikings organization is that our business team is just as talented as our football team, and it inspires me to pursue excellence every day. 

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
Believe it or not, I own two harmonicas. That fun fact should not be interpreted as an indication of my ability to play the harmonica, though... I just happen to own two of them.

Who or what are you inspired by?    
My parents. They're the real MVPs and they gave me the tools I needed to be holistically successful in life.

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?    
Accountability is key.

If you had to pick a karaoke song to sing, what would it be and why?
Karaoke is a waking nightmare to me! When forced, I like low register country songs so that I can avoid having to hit too much of my register. 

What’s on the top of your bucket list?
Visiting several Greek Islands (and thankfully, I crossed this one off of the list earlier this year).    

What’s a good book, podcast or TV series/show you are into now?
IMO Podcast with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. 

What is your favorite part of your Leadership Minnesota experience so far OR what are you most excited for coming up in the program?    
Thus far, my favorite part of my Leadership Minnesota has been meeting my colleagues in the program. They are super talented, impressive, and funny. I hope these connections grow into lasting friendships.

The Minnesota Chamber just concluded their second year of the “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota” Award. What do you think is the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota? 
My perspective may be a bit skewed, but I think the coolest things made in Minnesota are memories at U.S. Bank Stadium! We have the best fans in the world, and I sometimes get chills when I watch them come together to support our team. SKOL!
 

Tell us why you love your company.
My passion is working with Industrial and Manufacturing clients to help them improve their physical space so they can grow their businesses and become even bigger contributors to the success of MN. Pope has created an environment that fosters an entrepreneurial spirit and allows my team and I to pursue our passions and help develop the future of Minnesota!

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
I divide my years into 4 seasons: golf, pheasant hunting, ice fishing, and fly fishing. 

Who or what are you inspired by?    
 I'm inspired by the ingenuity and grit of the business owners that I work with on a daily basis. The amount of sheer determination that it takes to be successful is incredible and I fully appreciate getting to see it firsthand. 

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?    
Growing a business is a long game. I often compare business to farming because it can take years to plant the right seeds, cultivate and foster them, and then finally harvest and reap the rewards.

If you had to pick a karaoke song to sing, what would it be and why?
Karaoke is a waking nightmare to me! When forced, I like low register country songs so that I can avoid having to hit too much of my register. 

What’s on the top of your bucket list?
Going in a dive cage in great white waters. I'm terrified of sharks and I think that would be a profound adrenaline rush.    

What’s a good book, podcast or TV series/show you are into now?
All I watch on TV is golf and football!

What is your favorite part of your Leadership Minnesota experience so far OR what are you most excited for coming up in the program?    
I really appreciate the depth of relationships that we're forming as a class. I also really enjoy hearing about the state of industry in MN. It's extremely relevant and important and I really value the insights that are shared from business leaders statewide!

The Minnesota Chamber just concluded their second year of the “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota” Award. What do you think is the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota? 
There's really too many to name, we're lucky to have such an incredible manufacturing industry here!

Tell us why you love your company.
I am incredibly passionate about supply chain and problem-solving, and I deeply admire the entrepreneurial spirit of small and medium businesses. I'm thrilled to bring our talented team to the companies they can help most!

What’s something super interesting about yourself?
The LeVasseur last name can be traced back to siblings that immigrated from Paris in the mid-1600s, landed in Quebec, and migrated over the Great Lakes to settle in Northern MN, and eventually land in the St. Paul area toward the end of the 1800s.  

Who or what are you inspired by?    
I'm always inspired by ordinary people who do extraordinary things. I love meeting people who seem completely down-to-earth and kind and then learning that they're some big inventor or CEO. 

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?    
You need to prioritize time, space (and sleep!) to be your optimal self. You cannot be a good leader if you're not able to be thoughtful, emotionally stable, dependable, consistent, and strategic. If you don't take care of yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, it's hard to show-up for your team in a meaningful way.

If you had to pick a karaoke song to sing, what would it be and why?
311 - Amber (one of my favorites from my youth).

What’s on the top of your bucket list?
I lived in Valparaiso, Chile for my last semester of college in 2005. I haven't been back since, but it's on my list to visit and take my daughter (who also speaks Spanish).

What’s a good book, podcast or TV series/show you are into now?
I always love the Freakonomics podcast and many of the podcasts in their ecosystem (No Stupid Questions, People I Mostly Admire, etc).

What is your favorite part of your Leadership Minnesota experience so far OR what are you most excited for coming up in the program?    
I really loved seeing mining/logging/power in the Iron Range. It's such a deep part of our state's heritage - I think every Minnesotan should have to understand how it all works.

The Minnesota Chamber just concluded their second year of the “Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota” Award. What do you think is the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota? 
I voted for Cirrus. A plane that can land itself? I mean, come on.  :)