Elissa Hansen, the President and CEO of the Northspan group has had a unique career that started running a candy store in Nisswa, Minnesota to now working on behalf of economic and workforce development in Northeastern Minnesota.  She currently has all sorts of irons in the fire to help advance our region, whether it is www.northforce.org, a job bank/HR support website that connects employers to skilled talent and students from regional colleges and universities to businesses, or her facilitation of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy community engagement sessions, or her work facilitating diversity, equity, and inclusion training in our region, Elissa is ALL IN on making this region a better place to live and thrive!

Bud Stone is the President of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.  He runs what is regarded as one of the best chambers in the state of Minnesota and Bud has been an advocate of workforce development and the need to align and find talent for our businesses.  During this episode he talks about the chamber and their role in helping to drive the car for economic development in the region, and Bud shares how he came to become the President of the Chamber.

Episode 2 is an interview with Abby Randall, the Executive Director of the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce.  We discuss the chamber and the challenges and opportunities her membership is facing especially in light of COVID.  We discuss the Bemidji Community and its variety of amenities.  We also discuss Abby's journey to becoming a leader in the Bemidji community which all started at Bemidji State University!

In our inaugural podcast, we interview Kelly Hertling, Human Resources Supervisor at L and M Radiator in Hibbing, Minnesota.  We discuss L &M Radiator, how the global pandemic is affecting their company, what they see for the future, how they provide workforce development and training for their employees, unique ways L & M works with k12 institutions, and more!