News and Events

 

At its regular meeting on February 7, 2012, the Board of Directors for Itasca Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) accepted the resignation of Joe Broking, President & CEO, and voted unanimously to name Jeff Borling as Interim President & CEO.

Joe Broking informed the Board of Directors and IEDC Investment Partners of his plans to resign his position on February 1, 2012, after accepting a new role as Chief Financial Officer for Magnetation Inc., headquartered in Grand Rapids, MN. Broking’s last day at IEDC will be March 1, 2012. An Executive Search Committee has been formed and the IEDC Board of Directors anticipates hiring a permanent replacement in Q2 2012.

During the past 18 months, Broking has served as an invaluable asset for IEDC, leading several new business expansion and attraction initiatives on behalf of the organization and its partners from throughout the region. Highlights have included new agreements with future tenants of the Itasca Eco Industrial Park and the Itasca Technology Exchange, as well as several successful consulting projects aimed at helping local businesses increase revenues and expand their employment base in Itasca County.

“It has been an honor to work for this organization and all of the great public offices, foundations and businesses in the Itasca County area,” Broking stated. “This decision was not an easy one, but I am confident in the leadership of Jeff Borling and the IEDC Board of Directors and I look forward to continuing my strong support for the regional economy in my new capacity at Magnetation.”

Jeff Borling has served as Director of Itasca Business Development for APEX and IEDC since February, 2010 and has led countless initiatives on behalf of the two organizations under a collaborative agreement. Borling will assume the President & CEO role on an interim basis beginning March 2nd and will lend the necessary leadership and support to guide IEDC through this brief period of management transition.

Itasca Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit formed in 1981, with a mission of helping create quality jobs. Support for IEDC comes from the Blandin Foundation, Itasca County and several local units of government, as well as from many individuals and private businesses.

 

If you would like more information about the President & CEO position at IEDC, or if you would like to submit your resume for consideration, please contact Teri Heikkila: (218) 326-9411 x.20

 

After nearly eight years as President & CEO, Rob West has announced his intention to resign from APEX in mid-2012 to pursue new opportunities.  West informed the APEX Executive Committee of his decision in July of 2011, in order to allow for a full year of succession planning and executive recruitment.

 

On Thursday, November 3, 2011, at a regular meeting of the APEX Board of Directors, West and APEX Board Chair Dr. Tom Patnoe provided members with an update on the management succession plan the APEX Executive Committee has developed in preparation for West's departure. Although none are pleased to be saying goodbye to APEX's founding executive after nearly a decade of successful leadership, APEX members were quick to offer their feedback and support for the executive search process, which will be led by KeyStone Search out of Minneapolis.

 

Rebecca Driscoll, Principal with KeyStone Search, was on hand to provide an overview of the executive search process and to answer any questions members had about the methodology, the types of candidates being sought, and the basic philosophies KeyStone pursues in meeting the needs of their client organizations. At the heart of KeyStone's approach lies a proprietary process to understand, identify and create a common language to describe the client organization's culture and core values. 

 

Rather than relying on their "gut feel" to understand APEX's unique culture, KeyStone focuses on 14 components which must all be executed with excellence and in true partnership with the client organization, before the "right" candidate can be secured. Interviews with APEX members, economic development partners, staff, and other relevant stakeholders were held during the final weeks of 2011, as KeyStone works to assess the culture and core values this dynamic organization upholds.

 

APEX members raised various questions, including several regarding the emphasis placed on candidates with local ties to the region APEX serves.  Although Driscoll acknowledged the importance of place and the need for APEX's next CEO to understand the unique values and characteristics of northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, she also noted that as APEX continues to grow, it is important that the next leader be measured against successful executives nationwide. She cited the executive search process KeyStone recently concluded for the Blandin Foundation in Grand Rapids as an example of similar work in the region.

 

Rob West joined APEX nearly 8 years ago and has successfully led the organization from a grassroots campaign led by a handful of local executives, to a regional engine for business and economic development activity in a nine-county territory of northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. With support from over 65 of the region's leading private sector employers, APEX, together with its partners, has helped to create or retain more than 2,700 jobs and has spurred on millions of dollars in new economic activity under West's leadership.

 

Although Rob is quick to correct anyone who suggests this is a "retirement," his departure from the organization is indeed pending and the new chief executive is expected to be in place sometime around June of 2012. Over the next several months, we at APEX hope you will join us in thanking Rob for his leadership and his service to the region over the past decade.  There's no telling what will be in store for him over the next ten years, but no doubt his work will continue to benefit the region and all those who work with him. 

 

If you have any questions about APEX or the executive search process, or if you have a candidate you would like to recommend, please contact Rebecca Driscoll at: (612) 375-8841

 

On December 20th, 2011, APEX Members gathered to learn more about the opportunity of hiring from within the Duluth at Work program. With the objective of expanding employer partnerships, the program featured a point of view by Mayor Ness, insights about our future economy from Drew Digby of DEED, two employee/participant testimonials and one employer testimonial. The event was a great success and was well attended by human resources professionals from key employers in the area. As a result of this event, the Duluth At Work program has already yielded five new employer partner relationships, with additional follow-up scheduled for the next few weeks to bring even more connections into the portfolio.

Since 2008, Duluth at Work has focused efforts on two target groups - job seekers and small business owners. A snapshot of the program’s success is as follows.

 
Workforce Development / Job Seekers: 
    • 255 participants 
    • 245 (96%) completed work-related trainings 
    • 192 (75%) successfully secured and maintained long term employment 
    • Results: Increasing incomes, building financial assets, homeownership, higher

      education, reduction in public benefits, career laddering and promotion

 

Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs: 
    • 59 business owner and entrepreneurial participants 
    • 57 completed 9 week trainings, in peer groups and/or received targeted technical

      assistance to more fully develop their business fundamentals and maintain a

      competitive edge in our changing economy 
    • Results: Increasing revenues, new jobs created, storefront renovation loans,

      leverage of new and more diverse funding, expansion into new markets or product

      lines
 
Duluth at Work is a workforce development/poverty reduction model co-facilitated by Duluth LISC and the City of Duluth. To learn more, please contact Emily Larson at: (218) 355-8070

 

On November 16-17, 2011, Elissa Hansen, APEX Director of Business Development attended the Policy and Progress: Border to Border Broadband conference held at the Greysolon Ballroom in Duluth. Hosted by the Blandin Foundation, the conference opened with an overview of the National Broadband Policy by Tom Koutsy from Connected Nation. Connect Minnesota, a subsidiary of Connected Nation, also provided an overview of efforts aimed at getting all broadband providers in the state communicating effectively with one another. Connect Minnesota has created and kept an updated detailed map of the state's broadband coverage, thereby helping to accurately pinpoint the major gaps within the state. You can learn more by visiting www.connectmn.org

The other major focus areas covered at the conference included the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) projects. The four projects occurring in northeast Minnesota include:

 

1. Cook County: Fiber Optics through the Forest by Arrowhead Electric Cooperative
2. Greater Minnesota Broadband Collaborative by Enventis Telecom
3. Fiber to the Premise in Lake County by Lake County 
4. Northeast Minnesota’s Middle Mile Fiber Project by Northeast Service Cooperative

 
Each project focuses on creating more connectivity in varying ways across the Arrowhead Region and throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, while further educating the public on the benefits of expanded broadband infrastructure and its capabilities for personal and business use. To learn more about how APEX is leveraging this world-class infrastructure to expand the region's business base, please contact Elissa Hansen at (218) 740-3667

On October 4th, 2011, the APEX team participated in the Northern Regional Broadband Networks Forum: Driving Business Development and Innovation. During this afternoon forum, over 100 area business owners and leaders gathered to learn more about new business opportunities available through the region's ever-expanding fiber optics network, while further exploring what networks currently exist or are being built in our region. Rob West, APEX President & CEO, facilitated the discussion and moderated presentations delivered by representatives from some of the region's leading companies, public sector leaders and academic institutions, including Involta, UW Extension, Cook County, Granite Gear, and UnitedHealth Group. Representatives from each entity commented on various elements of how broadband technology impacts their day-to-day business, with specific examples of how they have successfully leveraged this technology for greater access to customers, deeper collaborations, educational transformation, and greater rural competitiveness.

 

APEX would like to thank its economic development partners Minnesota Power, Blandin Foundation, Northspan Group and the Northland Technology Consortium for sponsoring this event.  To learn more about how you can leverage broadband technology to grow your business, please contact Elissa Hansen at: (218) 740-3667

 

On Thursday, September 29th, 2011, Elissa Hansen, APEX Director of Business Development attended and exhibited at the Arrowhead Manufacturers & Fabricators Association (AMFA) Energy Conservation for Industry & Tabletop Trade Show. This one-day conference was held at the Holiday Inn in Duluth and provided tips and advice on how to conserve energy in lighting, motors/drive, compressed air, boilers and more. Industry-leading experts advised the group on strategies for getting an energy conservation project approved and how to realize a meaningful return on investment in conserving energy costs. The Tabletop Trade Show, which typically was held in Alexandria, MN was well attended and displayed an array of products and services available through AMFA members across northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. To learn more about how an AMFA membership could benefit your business, please contact Executive Director Sandy Kashmark at (877) 330-2632

 

On September 22, 2011, APEX Members and economic development partners gathered together with representatives from Involta to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new $10.5 million hardened enterprise data center in the Duluth Technology Park. Construction of Phase I, a 24,000 square foot facility, should be completed and operational by mid-year 2012. In addition, a $2.3 million satellite data center will be housed in the former Daugherty Hardware building at Sixth Avenue East and Fourth Street to serve Essentia Health, one of Involta's largest clients in the Duluth area.

Bruce Lehrman, Involta's CEO, called this "a very exciting day," and thanked APEX and its many partners for helping to keep the project moving forward. This milestone comes after nearly five years of persistent hard work, since the APEX management, staff, board of directors and general membership first conceptualized the data center attraction strategy and implemented a marketing campaign highlighting the region for growing companies in this dynamic industry. The next phase of this strategy will be rolled out in early 2012. To learn more, please contact Elissa Hansen at (218) 740-3667

On Monday, August 29, 2011, APEX partnered with the City of Duluth and the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) to host a reception and job fair for AAR Corporation, an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service provider based out of Wood Dale, Illinois. These events represent the culmination of a joint strategy developed by APEX and its economic development partners to attract a new MRO operation to the former Northwest Airlines maintenance facility in Duluth. 

 

Central to the group's efforts to attract AAR Corp is the community's ability to demonstrate an abundant, available workforce in the surrounding region, with a primary focus on highly-skilled, certified aircraft maintenance technicians. To showcase the strength of the region's workforce, the City of Duluth hosted a job fair at the DECC, with 314 persons attending and 260 submitting resumes by e-mail.  According to AAR officials, approximately 80-90% of these professionals met AAR's qualifications.

 

Although this strong turnout certainly bodes well for Duluth's chances of attracting AAR to the community, there are of course many other factors and considerations that must be assessed as AAR continues to weigh its opportunities worldwide.  APEX and its partners will continue to work closely with AAR executives in support of these efforts, positioning Duluth to be as competitive as possible throughout the due-dilligence process.

 

AAR provides major maintenance inspections, line maintenance, aircraft modifications and upgrades to the world's major regional and cargo airline fleets, and for the U.S military and government agencies. The Company's industry-leading capabilities include aircraft inspection and repair; major airframe modifications; avionic service and installations; structural repair; exterior and interior refurbishment; and complete engineering service and support. AAR operates 1.3 million square feet of hangar space and its global team of more than 2,000 AMTs is dedicated to helping the world's leading air carriers keep their fleets flying safely - and generating revenue. AAR operates four major maintenance facilities in the U.S. currently.

 

 

Beginning in May, 2011, Amanda Ringer joined the APEX team as a Summer Intern.  Ringer graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth this past spring, with a B.A. in marketing and a psychology minor. In addition to extensive work experience in the retail sector, Ringer's academic studies have focused on advertising and marketing communications, business-to-business marketing, consumer behavior, marketing management strategy, and more.

Ringer's duties at APEX will involve project management and content development work on various marketing campaigns, along with the many day-to-day responsibilities associated with a fast-paced office in the business/economic development sector. 

As a Pine City native, Ringer enjoys living in Duluth and is excited to learn more about the city and surrounding communities through her work at APEX. She maintains a second job at Rush City Foods, working as a cashier and administrative assistant, and is an active volunteer who has enjoyed working with the students and teachers at Lowell Elementary School this past spring.

Please join us in welcoming Amanda Ringer to the APEX team!

On Thursday, April 28, 2011, the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce's Fuse Duluth hosted a panel discussion/luncheon meeting entitled, "Peripheral Progress: What’s Up Outside the Downtown." The panel featured several APEX members and economic development partners, including Sandy Hoff, President of F.I. Salter; Brian Hanson, Business Development Director for the City of Duluth; Drew Digby, Labor Market Analyst for the Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED); and Pam Kramer, Executive Director of Duluth LISC. The focus of the discussion was on how the downtown Duluth area can best support business development and job creation in the rest of the community and surrounding region.

When asked about perceptions of a disconnect between the downtown area and the rest of the City of Duluth, or between the City and the rest of the region, each of the panelists said this was largely a misperception. "The city has taken great steps towards improving physical connections between the downtown area and the rest of the City with recent transportation infrastructure improvements, thereby enhancing Duluth's role as an economic hub for not just the entire city, but really the entire region," stated Brian Hanson.

In speaking to the success of the downtown area, Pam Kramer referenced the impact of major employers like Essentia Health and St. Luke's for anchoring the downtown business district and thereby encouraging LISC to take on bold new neighborhood revitalization efforts in these areas. Drew Digby agreed, noting that these anchors also serve as catalysts for smaller businesses to move into the area and for new industries to grow, particularly in IT sector. He suggested that economic developers and workforce development professionals should focus on strategies aimed at supporting the spin-off business opportunities associated with the health systems and other major employers, as they expand their satellite locations throughout the region.

Sandy Hoff expanded on these remarks by highlighting new developments in Morgan Park and the Bayfront area as future catalysts for business anchors. He noted that community involvement has been vital to the success of the planning initiatives around these projects and Digby agreed, suggesting that successful involvement of community input throughout the planning process can reduce the level of unproductive opposition late in the discussion, when the projects are already breaking ground.

As an additional strength which binds the different areas of Duluth and the surrounding region, Digby cited the strong entrepreneurial nature of regional businesses for having changed past perceptions of this being an area that is home to "great employees, but not employers." Duluth's LHB, Inc. was offered as an example of an entrepreneurial business that is pushing the envelope in terms of the projects they engage in, the technology they employ, and so on.

Digby also suggested that the Google initiative helped to organize the community's entrepreneurial spirit, and commended the City for channeling this momentum into bold action. According to Digby, the statistics reflect the results of this type of community spirit, as the median age of the Duluth population median has come down considerably as the area succeeds in attracting and retaining more young workers.

At the same time, Sandy Hoff was quick to point out that the Google initiative was just one small part of a broader strategy to drive new employment in the technology and IT sectors, with the potential to attract large scale data storage facilities and develop a technology business campus in Duluth, among other things.

Brian Hanson agreed, but seemed to sum up the conversation by saying that the City of Duluth’s support for new tech-based industries does not need to come in place of traditional industries entirely. He referred to recent announcements regarding Duluth Metals’ plans to expand its presence in the Port, saying the project shows the region can achieve an effective balance where new technologies push traditional industries to innovate, while traditional industries increase the demand for new technology.