The MinnWest Podcast

By Joanna Schrupp

Our goal with this podcast is to share the stories of businesses and individuals on the MinnWest Campus. The businesses range from multi-generational agriculture organizations to cutting-edge technol... more

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FAQs about The MinnWest Podcast:

How many episodes does The MinnWest Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.

The MinnWest Podcast episodes:

July 07, 2021Developing Community w/ Aaron & Sarah of the EDC
Discussion Topics:
Breakdown of the economic development picture within the county
Silver linings that came out of the pandemic
How do EDC projects + ideas come about?
Community broadband initiatives
The Elevate Program = a new opportunity for local entrepreneurs
One dream project to bring to life in our community...

Learn more about the EDC: http://kandiyohi.com/
Learn more about MinnWest Campus: www.mnwesttechnology.com
Connect with Aaron, Sarah, Joanna or Liz on Linkedin!
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43min
May 26, 2021 How did the MinnWest Campus start??? w/ Ken Warner, WLACC Exec. Dir.
It was 2005 and a group of business leaders had a vision for this community.
With jobs disappearing from the once-state owned healthcare facility, many thought the 100 acre property would continue to slip into disrepair and become an eyesore in Willmar...and it almost happened.
Businesses are the lifeblood of thriving communities and at the head of those businesses are entrepreneurial leaders with visions of a brighter future.
Grab a coffee and take a few minutes to hear the story of how the MinnWest Campus came to be.
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43min
April 06, 2021Professional Development w/ Kristi DeGree + Bethany Wallace of Life Science Innovations
Some of the good stuff we chatted about with Kristi + Bethany!
What is servant leadership? And how do you go about implementing this belief system into an organization?
The (somewhat long) process of developing company values + establishing a company purpose.
Performance reviews + values… how are they related?
How to have productive team meetings.
Creating a virtual professional development program.
Learn more about Life Science Innovations: https://life-scienceinnovations.com/
Learn more about MinnWest Campus: www.mnwesttechnology.com
Connect with Kristi, Bethany, Liz + Joanna on Linkedin!
...more
35min
January 25, 2021The Ladies of LSI
Some of the fun things we chatted about with Katie, Linda + Beth!
making decisions about your career path
finding mentors... sometimes other people can see things in you that you don’t see in yourself
the importance of taking risk + leaning into your strengths
advice for females in the workplace
Netflix binge watches
Life Science Innovations… things you might not know!
Learn more about Life Science Innovations: https://life-scienceinnovations.com/
Learn more about MinnWest Campus: www.mnwesttechnology.com
Connect with Katie, Beth, Linda + Joanna on Linkedin!
...more
39min
December 23, 2020Eric w/ the Mid-Minnesota Development Commission
The MMDC has been serving regions all across MN since 1974 with a mission to assist + improve the quality of life within small communities. The commission located in Willmar (and as of late - here on campus!) is one of 9 regional development organizations that all work together to have a pretty substantial impact on greater MN.
Here's a snapshot of some of the things you'll learn about from Eric:
how collaboration is key to making change
what types of projects the MMDC has had a hand in bringing to life
who is able to benefit from the MMDC's services + access funding opportunities
a few exciting upcoming economic development projects currently in the works for our area
Learn more about the Mid-Minnesota Development Commission: http://mmrdc.org/
Learn more about MinnWest Campus: www.mnwesttechnology.com
Connect with Eric + Joanna on Linkedin!
...more
37min
November 25, 2020 Who You Are Matters w/ Liz & Tyler
Curious to find out more about your own strengths? Check out Gallup StrengthsFinder!
_________________
Learn more about MinnWest Campus: www.mnwesttechnology.com
Connect with Liz // Tyler // Joanna on Linkedin!
...more
1h 14min
November 05, 2020 Find Your Own Way w/ Jamie Duininck
Episode 6: Jamie Duininck
On this episode, we sit down to chat with Jamie Duininck, co-President + 3rd generation owner of Prinsco to learn a little more about the family businesses and how it all started in Prinsburg MN nearly 50 years ago.
Prinsco first got its start in the water management industry in 1975 making gravity flow storm sewers out of concrete. It began as a solution for the agriculture market - specifically farmers - to help manage the amount of water that stays on their land. The concrete pipes were short lived, as they transitioned to all plastic in the 80’s - but the need for their product continued to grow. With evolution of demand and the customers they serve, Prinsco has since expanded into the residential and storm/sewer markets. A company growth made possible through additional plants (now 7 total) all across the midwest and southwest parts of the U.S.
note: the Prinsburg plant still holds the title of most pounds of pipe produced per year!
Jamie always had a desire to do something in the family business. After exploring other opportunities after college (including being a private pilot!), he inevitably came back to the Willmar area and started at Prinsco in 1997. Jamie eventually found his way into the Co-President role alongside his cousin, Jeremy Duininck. Staying true to their strengths, Jamie focuses on sales + marketing initiatives while Jeremy focuses on the operations side of things. The two have worked extremely hard to maintain the mission of Prinsco and stay true to their core values of integrity, hard work + relationships. If you’ve ever worked with Prinsco, you’ll understand how those three values are weaved into everything they do.
Special thanks to Jamie for the always entertaining conversation, and for giving us more insight into the dynamics of the family business. We’re proud to have your team here on the MinnWest campus!
Learn more about Prinsco: https://www.prinsco.com/
Learn more about MinnWest Campus: http://www.mnwesttechnology.com/
...more
39min
October 21, 2020 The History of The MinnWest Campus
connect with Jill + learn more about the Kandiyohi Historical Society: http://www.kandiyohicountyhistory.com/
connect with Joanna + learn more about MWTC: http://www.mnwesttechnology.com/

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30min
October 07, 2020Recruiting Rural w/ Jami and Melissa
Melissa + Jami have been in the human resource and talent acquisition field for a combined 15+ years. So, we were super excited to pick their brains on what all goes into the work and why they love it.
Here's a snapshot of some of the topics we covered:
company culture + why it's critical to effective recruitment
how to engage the next generation of employees
what to ask a recruiter in an interview
the impact of COVID-19 on recruitment
the benefits of an internship or Co-Op program
Learn more about: Life Science Innovations // Nova-Tech Engineering
Learn more about MinnWest Campus: www.mnwesttechnology.com
Connect with Jami // Melissa // Joanna on Linkedin!
...more
43min
August 21, 2020 'Public-Private Partnerships Can Make Magic' w/ Kathy and Tim of UofM Extension
Episode 2: Tim Johnson + Kathy Schwantes
On this episode, we sat down with Kathy Schwantes and Tim Johnson from the Mid Central Research + Outreach Center (aka MCROC) on campus. Many people are often surprised to learn that the University of Minnesota has a presence on MWTC, so we brought in Kathy and Tim to help tell - and share - the story.
Kathy is currently the West Central Regional Director for the U of M Extension AND the Director of Operations at MCROC. She’s had quite the career in the Willmar area, from starting out at Heritage Bank, to becoming a teacher + dean at Ridgewater College, then transitioning into economic development working for the EDC, all the way to her current gig with the U of M / MCROC. These days she spends her time traveling across 10 counties in central MN connecting people to the resources that Extension has to offer.
Tim is currently a professor at the U of M’s vet school + the Director of R&D for MCROC. After splitting time between St. Paul and Willmar for a few years, him and his family officially moved “out west” in 2015. Tim has a huge passion for teaching and connecting younger generations with the poultry industry through the research side of things. As he says, much of what his does involves finding ways to “make science sexy.”
After many conversations and a lot of hard work behind the scenes, the MCROC lab opened on campus in 2012. Due to the nature of the work, many things that MCROC lab actually does flies under the radar. The large majority of their research and testing revolves around the turkey industry. In fact, many of the projects are spurred from conversations with local ag workers and the challenges they face every day. Which is an advantage of having their rural location - specially of MWTC alongside other turkey/ag related businesses.
MCROC is also able to partner with our local college and other M-state schools to provide more opportunities for students to learn about research and all of its applications in the ag industry. In collaboration with Ridgewater College and others, Tim is currently working on launching the U of M’s first 100% online poultry training program. It’ll be starting this Fall, so stay tuned for more info on that!
Learn more about the U of M Extension + MCROC: https://extension.umn.edu/
Learn more about MinnWest Campus: http://www.mnwesttechnology.com/
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45min

FAQs about The MinnWest Podcast:

How many episodes does The MinnWest Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.