You can't recreate the economic drivers we have here. We just need to prioritize a couple things. I think we'll see a great era ahead for Duluth. My first few months have been filled with asking a lot of questions, filled with a lot of meetings and seeking solutions. I’m spending a lot of time thinking about economic development and business conditions, and how to prioritize good business conditions with community leadership."

"We have some of the largest institutions as part of our leadership group. It's important to have groups like Essentia that is investing a billion dollars and making a bet on Duluth. It's also important to have St. Luke's, which is also making a significant bet on Duluth. It's equally important to have groups such as Lake Superior College, which is reinvesting and expanding manufacturing, which is such an important thing that we sometimes don't talk enough about here in Duluth. They're making a bet on manufacturing here in Duluth. LSC is a pipeline of workforce talent for the trades, for healthcare and for advanced aviation. It's also important that we have advanced aviation at the table because Cirrus and the Duluth International Airport under Tom Warner's leadership are making bets on Duluth.

It's important that we have as a part of our leadership cabinet developers and ownership groups that are taking a significant stake and position in Duluth, because they, too, are making a financial bet on Duluth's future. When I think about making those kind of bets, I think back to Canal Park in the seventies and early eighties when people bet on Canal Park. And so it's important to have groups now making a bet on the next 20, 30, 40 years of Duluth."

"Certainly Daniel Fanning, our board chair. He's been great to work with. He in his role at LSC is leading key initiatives such as advanced aviation, manufacturing and nursing.

Jennifer Cady, a retired veteran of the 148th Fighter Wing who works for Minnesota Power Allete in a leadership role, has been instrumental in the work we've done to support our 148th Fighter Wing, which has a significant economic impact as our seventh largest employer. Her leadership has been instrumental in our work to get the 148th $25 million from the state to reinvest into their infrastructure. And then we've got a lot of good financial minds around the table representing different banking institutions, including John Birkeland (Bell Bank) and Steve Glonchak (Members Cooperative Credit Union).

It's been great to have financial minds at the table who have a good sense for where the capital is coming from and how those deals are flowing. And I certainly wouldn't want to leave out Karen Stromme, our outgoing board chair. She's cycling off our board this year, having served for six years and understands how important UMD is to the business community, considering the amount of students they have.

Renee Mattson (Trinity Creek Consulting), Dr. Chiamaka Enemuoh, Aaron Kelly (LHB, Inc.) and Sara Cole (Duluth Area YMCA) also serve on our executive committee. Our entire board and executive committee have been absolutely outstanding and supportive of me as I settle into this role."

► LOCAL GOLF