Beyond the Skyline

In the aftermath of the civil unrest following the death of George Floyd, Minnesota’s insurance industry has found itself in the spotlight.

Amid the Floyd protests, looters torched, damaged and destroyed hundreds of Twin Cities businesses. When the smoke cleared, perhaps one of the first calls business owners made was to their insurance agents — a first step toward rebuilding.

Insurance will cover damage from riots and looting in many cases, according to the Insurance Federation of Minnesota. However, many business owners learned the hard way that they didn’t have adequate insurance to cover their losses.

In the following interview, Mark Kulda, vice president of public affairs for the Insurance Federation of Minnesota, discusses the insurance claims process, what may or may not be covered, and how businesses can protect themselves.

As the new executive director of the Urban Land Institute of Minnesota, Stephanie Brown assumes a leadership role with an organization dedicated to creating, among other things, “sustaining and thriving communities.”

That’s a big job in any era, let alone at a time when Minnesotans are dealing with a global pandemic and struggling with issues of social injustice. Brown is also filling some big shoes as she takes the baton from Caren Dewar, who served as ULI-Minnesota’s executive director for 17 years.

But Brown, who officially starts her new job Oct. 1, brings plenty of her own experience to the job. An urban planner and strategic consultant, Brown has worked across the globe to address needs ranging from housing to utilities, according to ULI.

Most recently, Brown was a principal with Yellow House Ideas, a strategic planning consultancy with clients such as the McKnight Foundation, the Itasca Project, and Greater Twin Cities United Way. Previously, she had a five-year run with McKinsey & Company, where she served clients in construction, infrastructure and the public sector.

In the following interview with Reporter Brian Johnson, Brown reflects on her experience as an urban planner, discusses her job duties at ULI and offers insight into the challenges and opportunities that await Minnesota communities during these difficult times.

For more than 50 years, the Economic Development Association of Minnesota has been a go-to source of information and best practices for professionals involved in economic growth throughout the state.

The association, founded in 1967 as the Minnesota Industrial Development Association, aims to keep its members abreast of the latest development strategies with an eye toward “collaboration and innovation in the economic development industry,” according to its website.

EDAM’s current leaders include 2020 President Kim Lindquist, the longtime director of community development for the city of Rosemount. Also active in the organization is Daniela Lorenz, business development coordinator for the city of Brooklyn Park.

In the following interview, Lindquist and Lorenz talk about the state of economic development during a time of civil unrest and a global pandemic, and how EDAM’s mission has evolved during these challenging times.

As project director for Minneapolis-based Prosperity’s Front Door, Judy Johnson is part of an organization that sees housing through the lens of social justice, economic stability and community.

The organization — a network of business, community, government and nonprofit leaders — promotes affordable and workforce housing and supports people who face homelessness, evictions and foreclosure, among other goals.

In her role with Prosperity’s Front Door, Johnson draws on a wealth of public sector experience. She previously worked the gavel as mayor of Plymouth and is a current member of the Metropolitan Council. Her resume also includes roles with Greater MSP and the Twin West Chamber of Commerce.

In the following interview, Johnson talks about her organization and the challenges of creating a housing system that works for everybody, and she explains why housing stability is more important than ever amid a global pandemic.

Dyan Ebert has had a strong interest in the law since her middle school days, when she interviewed a local attorney about the legal profession and then penned a paper about her desire to be a lawyer.

That career interest led to a degree at William Mitchell College of Law, a leadership position at Quinlivan & Hughes law firm in St. Cloud, and — as of July — a turn as president of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

As CEO of Quinlivan & Hughes, Ebert represents government entities, corporations and individuals on matters related to employment, liability insurance coverage, casualty law and more.

In the following interview, Ebert talks about her duties as MSBA president, the challenge of attracting and retaining lawyers in Greater Minnesota, and making sure the justice system is fair for everybody.

This special episode of Beyond the Skyline features an Experts Forum on affordable housing. Housing instability and homelessness across Minnesota are being exacerbated by the converging crises of COVID-19 and persistent racial injustice, presenting a serious blow to our social and economic stability. Our panelists discussed how Minnesota’s long-term prosperity and economic competitive edge hinges on elevating housing as a priority, and making a commitment to ensure we build a housing system that works for everyone, and that access to that prosperity is available to all.

The panelists include Seanne Thomas, Warren Hanson, Jennifer Ho, Colin Barr, Lisa Clarke and Trent Bowman.

As a building and planning firm that specializes in school development, design and construction, Minneapolis-based ICS has plenty of work opportunities these days.

In recent months, the firm has advised school districts in Minnesota and beyond on how to prepare for the 2020-21 school year in the age of COVID-19. Goals include adapting buildings with proper ventilation, space management, and technology to keep students safe and healthy.

Arif Quraishi, ICS managing principal, touches on some of those strategies and best practices in the following interview with Reporter Brian Johnson.

This special episode of Beyond the Skyline, features an Experts Forum on how to make solar energy work for commercial property.

Solar energy: We’ve been hearing about it for decades, but sometimes it still seems like a fringe option, or else one of an array of renewable energy solutions.

Finance & Commerce recently brought together (virtually, via Zoom) a group of local leaders in the solar business to talk about the misconceptions business owners have about solar, what new technologies are on the horizon, and how Minnesota might be able to meet ambitious goals for its use of solar power.

Carter Nielsen’s dreams of competing as a wrestler in the 2020 Olympics suffered a massive takedown when the pandemic forced cancellation of the games. But the Minnesotan has since picked himself off the mat with help from another passion: real estate.

Training for the Olympics is a full-time occupation, so when the pandemic struck Nielsen needed a Plan B — and a job. At a time when other employers were laying people off, he landed a real estate school scholarship through Kris Lindahl Real Estate.

Nielsen hit the ground running after graduating from the real estate program and is now selling homes in a robust Twin Cities real estate market. At the same time, he’s staying ready for what he hopes will be another shot at the Olympics.

A 2015 Minnesota State High School wrestling champion, Nielsen tells his story in the following interview with Reporter Brian Johnson.

The COVID-19 crisis was just heating up in April when LS Black Development was officially launched.

Bad timing? Not necessarily, say founders Michael Hudson and William Boulay. LS Black Development, the development arm of St. Paul-based LS Black Constructors, has a strong focus on affordable housing — and the need for those homes isn’t going away.

“Once [LS Black Constructors] had kind of that confidence that their specific business lines weren’t going to be interrupted, they were ready to go,” Hudson said. “And to be honest, we think everything that’s going on now is probably going to make the need for affordable housing even greater.”

In the following interview, Hudson and Boulay talk about how they got into the affordable housing business, what’s on their plate these days, and what policymakers can do to grease the skids for more affordable shelter.