Before joining Enterprise Minnesota in March, I did what I always do when considering a new opportunity: I asked around. You can’t throw a frisbee in this state without hitting somebody who’s in manufacturing or knows someone who is. So, I asked neighbors, former colleagues, and business owners I’d worked with over the years.
The feedback was remarkably consistent: Enterprise Minnesota has a great reputation, real expertise, and people who actually make a difference. A measurable difference. One former coworker said they read everything Enterprise Minnesota put out: Enterprise Minnesota® magazine, The Weekly Report, The State of Manufacturing®, manufacturing workshop content, and more. “It’s just good information,” he said. That stuck with me.
What I found when I got here confirmed those sentiments. This is not just a professional services organization. It’s a team of genuine experts who show up every day connected to work that matters. The consultants, the business developers, and our marketing and finance teams know what they’re doing, and how important it is. Their conviction that manufacturing is a critical part of the fabric of our state’s economy energizes them.
Throughout my career I’ve had the privilege of leading companies with significant manufacturing operations, which sparked my fascination with how things actually get made — from engineering and production to process improvements and the problem-solving that happens on a plant floor.
There’s something remarkable about watching a team of smart, passionate people figure out how to do something better, faster, more efficiently. It never gets old.
I bring that same curiosity to Enterprise Minnesota, where my first priority has been to listen: to our clients, our team, and to our partners across the state. The people who’ve been doing this work for years are the ones who understand our challenges and opportunities. My objective is to learn from their insight.
What I’ve found in early conversations is encouraging. The fundamentals behind our organization are strong. The core of what Enterprise Minnesota does — helping companies grow profitably by bringing in expertise that many small- and mid-sized manufacturers simply can’t afford to carry in-house — remains critical.
And the need for our expert insight is growing. From tariffs and regulatory pressure to workforce development, the new paid leave law in Minnesota, and succession planning, manufacturers are constantly navigating new challenges. They always have. Manufacturers solve problems for a living. They’re going to find solutions. Our job is to help them get to them faster and implement solutions that work.
Enterprise Minnesota has spent decades earning the trust of manufacturers across this state. I intend to honor and build on that trust as we work together to strengthen Minnesota manufacturing.
Return to the Summer 2026 issue of Enterprise Minnesota® magazine.
