The Greater Minnesota Partnership has selected Scott McMahon to serve as the nonprofit’s new executive director.

McMahon is a former lobbyist with government relations firm Flaherty & Hood P.A., and has been with the GMNP since 2017.

He will lead the organization in its goal of advocating for economic development policies and resources that benefit greater Minnesota. More than 60 businesses, chambers of commerce, economic development authorities, higher education institutions, cities and nonprofits make up the membership organization..

McMahon has a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.

Prior to his work with Flaherty & Hood, McMahon spent more than a decade working in higher education, first as director of government relations at the Minnesota Private College Council and then as associate vice president for external affairs at Saint Mary’s University.

In this interview with reporter Kelly Busche, McMahon talks about stepping into his new role during a challenging time, when greater Minnesota faces the ongoing pandemic, child care shortages, broadband issues and more.