2026 Leaders Lab participant profiles

Leaders Lab is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to engage Minnesota’s developing business leaders. 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 2026 Leaders Lab participants are profiled!  

Profiled on May 13

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
Probably Summit Brewing or other craft beer breweries.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
Savannah, Ga.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
Leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge. 

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I spent just under a decade as a firefighter.
 

Profiled on May 7

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
My wife and I welcomed our second son in September 2024. Throughout 2025, we valued spending quality time with him and his older brother by visiting new parks, going to the zoo, and enjoying extended weekends at the family cabin.  

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I spent my early years in New Hope, MN before moving to Bloomington, MN in high school. Changing schools let me experience two communities, highlighting how meaningful family, friends, and community are to personal growth.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
One piece of advice that continues to impact me is to not be afraid of asking for help or input, especially as a leader. If you have the willingness to learn and expand your knowledge it is most appropriate to ask questions. I view this as a strength rather than a weakness for developing and existing leaders.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
As a dedicated cyclist, I set yearly distance and training goals. In 2025, my 4-year-old son began riding, so we now plan shorter trips together to new parks and playgrounds in our city.
 

Profiled on May 6

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
In 2025 I proposed to my girlfriend and she said yes! Now we're in the middle of planning our wedding in October 2026.

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
Does a Jucy Lucy count? If so, that would be it.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in small town of Leonard, ND. What made it special was the community feel and the majority of the residents knew each other. Also, the night drives on the gravel roads with corn fields on each side was magical.   

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
Stay curious: Keep growing / learning.  

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
Each year my siblings and I plan a trip to a place we've never been to. This is a time we use to catch up with each others life and go on an adventure, two birds one stone.
 

Profiled on May 4

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
This past year I was able to take two family vacations to Park Point in Duluth Minnesota and had an amazing time. 

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
JonnyPops 

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in Ham Lake, Minnesota and the special part was that there is in fact a lake that is shaped like a bone in slice of ham.   

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
One thing I have been told to do when things don't go as planned is to review what I could have done better as a leader before providing feedback to those I lead. 

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I am a triplet.
 

Profiled on April 30

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
I loved watching Jordan Stolz, a speedskater from a small town in Wisconsin, win the Olympic gold this year. From wobbling around the pond in his backyard to flying through the rink in Milan--he's an inspiration!                 

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
My favorite thing will be Mesabi Metallics' Direct-Reduction grade pellets--coming summer 2026. They will be perfectly positioned to power the Green Steel revolution across the globe, significantly reducing carbon emissions from steel production. 

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in Yankton, South Dakota--the first capital of the Dakota Territory. What made it special for me was having access to a uniquely sophisticated ballet school. Our school's owner and director, Dorota Dannenbring, trained from a young age at the Warsaw School of Ballet in Poland. Beyond teaching us the Russian techniques of classical ballet, she also taught us traditional Polish dances, like the Mazurka. 

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
To recognize what you admire about other leaders (how they think, how they respond, how they handle themselves in challenging situations) and be intentional about modeling that behavior with your own team. 

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I play the oboe, flute, piano, guitar and when I'm lucky, the organ and the harpsicord.  
 

Profiled on April 29

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
A long-time client of mine reached out for permission to use past communications from me as the "gold standard" examples of consultant-client-regulatory communication in their internal training program through out the country. This made me feel really appreciated!                    

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
Formerly, Northland Fishing tackle.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
Elk River, Minnesota. Elk River is special because it is a mix of rural and suburban communities. It is a place where city and county come together. The city of Elk River is located at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi River. I spent a lot of time on the river growing up, the Mississippi River has and always will be special to me!    

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
Understand that everyone is different, thus, there is not a one size fits all approach to leading an effective team.     

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I have been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness many times and believe it is one of the more powerful things a person can experience for several reasons.  

Profiled on April 28

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
A piece of good news from this past year is that I started a new role as a start-up manager for a large project at our plant. I am really excited about this opportunity and feel grateful to be part of this venture. It has been energizing to work with a talented team and help guide an important project through commissioning. I am looking forward to learning even more and making a positive impact!                

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
One of my favorite things made in Minnesota is Yetti Fish Houses. Ice fishing is something my husband and I both enjoy, and it’s even more special because our three little girls love fishing too. The Yetti makes it easy and comfortable for our whole family to spend time together out on the ice, turning cold winter days into fun family adventures.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
I grew up in Esko, MN, a small town with a close-knit community. What is special about Esko is how everyone knows each other and comes together to support one another, whether it’s at school events, sporting events, or local gatherings. It’s a place where I made lifelong friends and learned the importance of community and connection.

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
One piece of advice that has most impacted me in my leadership journey is to “always listen first.” Taking the time to truly hear others, whether it’s team members, colleagues, or customers, helps build trust and often leads to better solutions. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t just about making decisions, but about understanding and valuing different perspectives.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
Something interesting about me is that my husband and I have hosted four weddings at our home. It’s been such a special experience to help friends and family celebrate their big day in a place that means so much to us. Each wedding has given us amazing memories and brought our loved ones even closer together.

Profiled on April 24

Tell us a piece of good news that happened this past year.
My family were able to enjoy a norshore escape to Lutsen Mountains with 0/3 kids on ski training leashes.

What is your favorite thing made in Minnesota?    
The timeless creativity and funky jams of Prince.

Where did you grow up and what was special about your town or home?  
Minnetonka/Hopkins - able to bike from friend's house to friend's house using only landlines to check in with my parents.  

What piece of advice has most impacted you so far in your leadership journey?    
Learned from the solitude of the BWCA and woven into my career culture is to leave the campsite better than I found it.

Tell us something super interesting about yourself.
I have swum in Lake Superior 125 consecutive months.