Off the Record

Even though Red Wing Shoe Co. is her family’s business, it wasn’t always clear to Allison Gettings that she would eventually become the company’s CEO. She had to prove herself, and she faced her first test during her college years, Gettings explains on this episode of the Off the Record podcast. 

“It was a tough few years in the sense that, like any 20-year-old, I’m doing grunt work, which is exactly what I should have been doing,” Gettings says. “It was the right place to start. That doesn’t mean it was fun.” 

Gettings takes a deep dive into her career journey with hosts Kathy Robideau, market president and publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank. Listen to the episode to hear more about: 

• Wrestling with feelings of the heavy responsibility as part of to the family organization. 
• Creating a women’s shoe brand from scratch — and putting it to rest after learning some key lessons.
• COVID-19’s effect on the Red Wing’s operations.
• Honoring the company’s 119-year legacy while keeping up with current consumer tastes.
• Why Getting considers employees, communities and future generations in her business decisions. 

Leaders like Gettings understand the value of moving quickly and acting creatively, just like Platinum Bank. Learn more about business banking with a different kind of bank. 

Never miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Traveling abroad as a leader of a youth ministry at age 22 taught Kelly McGrath a few key things about teamwork. As a regular overnight guest in strangers’ homes, she quickly learned to navigate conversations in a way that put others at ease. In her team leader role, she also had to look ahead at logistics to determine where the group would eat, sleep and host the next retreat. 

“I love all the different elements that are part of something (bigger) coming together,” says McGrath, now the general manager and executive director of Xcel Energy Center. “Changing on the fly. That aspect of, OK, that’s not working, let’s do something else. And that absolutely has translated through my career.”

In this episode of the Off the Record podcast, McGrath tells hosts Kathy Robideau, market president and publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank, about her career story.

Listen to hear more about:
•McGrath’s stint at the MSPBJ.
•A day in the life of someone who oversees operations at a major arena.
•Requests from the riders of performers who come to Xcel for concerts and shows.
•What’s coming with the renovation for “Xcel Energy Center 2.0” — and some major events on the horizon.

Leaders like McGrath understand the value of moving quickly and acting creatively, just like Platinum Bank. Learn more about business banking with a different kind of bank.

Never miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Even though she’s now the CEO of Kowalski Co.,  Kris Kowalski Christiansen wasn’t especially passionate about groceries in her youth. She also never felt pressured to be a part of her family’s grocery business. But she did have a deep respect for the way her mom and dad ran things, she reveals in this episode of the Off the Record podcast. 

“We were super close, a tight-knit, threesome family. I respected everything they did. I respected how they were with people (and) the way they went about their business, the integrity, all the good values — and they were fun,” Kowalski Christiansen says. “So I thought, well, OK, I’m going to do it for them. I’m going to learn from the people I respect most in the world. That’s what pushed me to say, ‘Sure, I’ll give it a try.’ Then I never left.” 

Kowalski Christiansen takes a deep dive into her career journey and what sets Kowalski’s apart with Off the Record hosts Kathy Robideau, market president and publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank. 

Listen to the episode to hear more about: 

·      How the Kowalski’s team decided where its first stores would go and why. 

·      Store partnerships ranging in size from Starbucks to local brands, including those led by women or BIPOC entrepreneurs.

·      Setting up a system for ongoing customer feedback. 

·      What it means to say Kowalski’s is a civic business. 

·      New partners and openings for Kowalski’s in the coming months. 

Leaders like Kowalski Christiansen understand the value of moving quickly and acting creatively, just like Platinum Bank. Learn more about business banking with a different kind of bank.

Never miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

When Melvin Tennant’s mother learned he would become the CEO of the Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau in 1990 — only a few years into his career — she was pleased, but not surprised, he says. “She never placed limits on anything I could do,” according to Tennant, now president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis, in this podcast episode of Off the Record, brought to you by Platinum Bank. 

Tennant shares highlights of building his career in destination marketing with Off the Record hosts Kathy Robideau, market president and publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank. 

Listen to the episode to hear more about: 

• Lessons learned from managing a former retiree as a 22-year-old. 
• Tennant’s take on his 11 years working in destination marketing for Charlotte, N.C. — and the best parts of his time there.
• Significant challenges Tennant faced in his early tenure in Minneapolis, including the 2007 I-35 bridge collapse. 
• Taking care of yourself as a leader when others are counting on you.
• The importance of telling authentic stories about Minneapolis — from its challenges to its changemakers. 

Leaders like Tennant understand the value of moving quickly and acting creatively, just like Platinum Bank. Learn more about business banking with a different kind of bank.

Never miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Brian Bruess, Ph.D., president of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSB+SJU), has a clear memory of a conversation he had with his wife when they were leaving graduate school in Athens, Ohio. 

“After (we spent) five years grinding away in graduate school, Carol and I were driving out of Athens. We made a commitment to each other that we’re in this more vocationally than we are career-wise. We wanted to make choices that would reflect our values in terms of how we led and the kinds of work we did,” Bruess says in the latest episode of the Off the Record podcast. 

Bruess says his dissertation looked at moral reasoning and identity formation in college-age students and explored how to create environments for their optimal growth. Helping students become something they’ve not yet even imagined for themselves is pretty important work, he says: “I’m not sure if there’s a better job in the country.” 

Hosts Kathy Robideau, market president and publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank, explore changes in education in their wide-ranging conversation with Bruess. Listen to the episode to hear more about: 

·      Why Bruess developed an interest in higher education as a student himself. 

·      How Bruess’ high expectations coming into his role as president of CSB+SJU have been exceeded. 

·      Innovating new programs by giving resources to talented faculty members. 

·      Splitting time among three offices — and where the fourth one should be. 

·      Areas of study that are next up on Bruess’ to-learn list. 

Leaders like Bruess understand the value of moving quickly and acting creatively, just like Platinum Bank. Learn more about business banking with a different kind of bank.

Never miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Dave St. Peter, president and CEO of the Minnesota Twins, recognizes how much the experience of a game matters to sports fans — from the talented players on the field down to the malt cups in the stands. 

On this episode of the Off the Record podcast, St. Peter shares the story of “the biggest break in (his career),” which involved the creation of what would eventually become Target Field. The project gave him a runway to build relationships and credibility in his role as the team’s president, St. Peter says. It also empowered him to “figure out how we preserve the long-term viability of Major League Baseball in this marketplace.” Optimizing everything from baseball operations to the fan experience was a big part of that effort, according to St. Peter. 

“Target Field’s food and beverage, for me, is miles ahead of anybody else. That’s something we spend a tremendous amount of time on because it’s really important to our fans,” St. Peter says. “I learned a few years ago the vendor that had done the malt cups did not renew their sponsorships. I said, ‘We cannot be a Major League stadium without a malt cup.’ So we figured out how to bring malt cups back.” 

Listen as St. Peter shares his career journey with hosts Kathy Robideau, market president and publisher of Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank. Learn more about: 

•How an “insatiable appetite for sports,” hard work and sacrifices led to St. Peter’s foot in the door with the Twins. 

•Where St. Peter "lets his hair down” for a bit. 

•What feels most exciting about the future of baseball. 

•The game-day experience for the team’s CEO. 

•The biweekly call that takes place among leaders of Twin Cities’ professional sports teams. 

•What St. Peter hopes people will say about his career legacy.  

Leaders like St. Peter understand the value of moving quickly and acting creatively, just like Platinum Bank. Learn more about business banking with a different kind of bank.

Never miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

WomenVenture CEO LeeAnn Rasachak admits she’s known for not necessarily staying in her lane. Over her career trajectory, she’s worn many hats, including those in PR, retail and financial services, she reveals in the latest episode of the Off the Record podcast. 

“When you’re wearing multiple hats, you learn faster, you get to test, you get to fail,” Rasachak says. 

The idea of trying on a new hat — that of a first-time CEO — came in 2021, after Rasachak returned from maternity leave and started asking herself: What’s next? When she learned WomenVenture, a financial services nonprofit, was seeking a CEO, the idea caught in her mind. “And if I’ve learned anything in the last few years, it’s to go for it,” she says. 

Listen as Rasachak dives deep with Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Publisher Kathy Robideau and Platinum Bank CEO Dave Faust on topics like: 

• Rasachak’s spirit of entrepreneurship that comes from her family history.
• Leading businesses like Sleep Number, Securian Financial and RBC Wealth Management through digital transformations. 
• The importance of sharing ideas and gathering recommendations from colleagues, mentors and allies before pursuing a new endeavor. 
• What has changed at WomenVenture since Rasachak stepped into the CEO role two years ago. 
• Approaching fundraising in the nonprofit space with an “abundance mindset.” 
• Rasachak’s best advice for young female entrepreneurs with a dream. 

Leaders like Rasachak understand the value of moving quickly and acting creatively, just like Platinum Bank. Learn more about business banking with a different kind of bank.

Never miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Luke Palen, president and co-owner of Spectro Alloys, once learned some key leadership lessons from two tarps and a rope, he tells listeners in this episode of Off the Record. 

At an outdoor challenge experience in the Canadian backcountry just before his first year at St. John’s University, Palen’s Outward Bound group realized they didn’t have any tents among their gear — as the rain was beginning to fall. 

“We had tarps and rope,” Palen says on the podcast. “We had to figure it out on our own. And it started raining harder and harder. Long story short, it was obviously a miserable first night.” 

But the group worked together on the second night to overcome the tent challenge, which ultimately made the trip “a rewarding experience,” according to Palen. 

Palen tells hosts Kathy Robideau, president and publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank, the experience taught him about that “facilitative style” of leadership. “I try really hard to lead by sharing a vision and asking questions. And I try not to dictate how things go.” 

This approach means “ultimately, you’re going to get a better result and more buy-in,” Palen says. “If somebody bought into a vision and it didn’t work, they’re bought in — they’re going to find a way to make it work. And that’s almost more important. In the same way that first night we all got wet in the tent, we found a better way to put the tarp up. Those small failures in business many times lead to even better successes.” 

Listen to the episode to hear more about: 

• Palen’s early roles with Spectro Alloys — a family business — and how those physically demanding manual jobs are now done by robots. 
• How Palen knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur. 
• An expert's view of aluminum’s amazing environmental properties and post-consumer opportunities.
• What visitors might see on a tour of Spectro Alloys. 

Leaders like Palen understand the value of moving quickly and acting creatively, just like Platinum Bank. Learn more about business banking with a different kind of bank.

Never miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Five years ago, Pathfinder Solutions CEO and Co-founder Dave Wellstone had an epiphany in a helicopter. He had just had a heart attack and a “weird calmness about what’s important to me” came over him as he was being transported to the hospital, he says in this episode of Off the Record. 

“I’m thinking I’m going to die, and I’m in a helicopter getting flown into the city here from Northfield,” Wellstone says. “The things that were (in my mind), it was like family and what you’re leaving on this earth…This notion of ‘doing well by doing good’ really came back.” 

Listen to Wellstone’s conversation with hosts Kathy Robideau, market president and publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank, to hear more about:

• Building mobile chicken coops in the Peace Corps.
• Lessons Wellstone learned as a corrections officer in Chicago’s Cook County Jail.
• How Wellstone is continuing the work of his late father, Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone, on mental health parity. 
• Connection as the opposite of addiction — and how that mindset drives Pathfinder’s mission. 

Leaders like Wellstone understand the value of moving quickly and acting creatively, just like Platinum Bank. Learn more about business banking with a different kind of bank.

Never miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Pete Scherer’s family business, the Scherer Bros. Lumber Co., was started by his grandfather and his great uncle back in 1930. 

“They were the two original Scherer Brothers. They started it from nothing (at) the height of the Depression and made something of it,” Scherer, now the chairman and CEO of the company, recounts in this episode of the Off the Record podcast, brought to you by Platinum Bank. 

Upon his graduation from Notre Dame, however, Scherer was surprised when his father told him that while he was proud of his son, Scherer shouldn’t expect to work at the family business right away. “We have an employment policy now that my father and uncles created, which is you will work outside the family business” in order to be eligible for consideration, he says. 

Listen to Scherer’s conversation as he “rolls the tape way back” with hosts Kathy Robideau, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal market president and publisher, and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank, to learn more about: 

• Why “fit” matters more than family relation when it comes to hiring someone into a family business. 
• Stepping into a CEO role at age 33. 
• Scherer’s mentorship experiences with the Young Presidents’ Organization. 
• What’s ahead for Scherer Bros. in the next five to 10 years.
• The biggest challenges Scherer has faced as a leader — and his favorite Twin Cities restaurant. 

Leaders like Scherer understand the value of moving quickly and acting creatively, just like Platinum Bank. Learn more about business banking with a different kind of bank.