Beyond the Skyline

Tim and Josh Bloom, principals at Bloom Commercial Real Estate, talk to Finance & Commerce reporter Dan Netter. They talk about the repositioning of Highland Village Center in St. Paul, as well as the redevelopment of the Ridgedale Mall Pad in Minnetonka.

LisaBeth Barajas, the Met Council’s executive director of community development, talks with Finance & Commerce reporter Dan Netter about the Met Council’s report card detailing the construction and permitting of affordable housing in the Twin Cities metro.

Minnesota Realtors President Wendy Uzelac talks to Finance & Commerce reporter Brian Johnson. Uzelac discusses the Realtors’ latest housing report and talks about the impact of the Federal Reserve’s recent decision to raise interest rates, among other topics.

Sean Ryan, director of real estate development at Ryan Cos. US Inc., talks to Finance & Commerce reporter Brian Johnson. Ryan talks about the latest happenings at the Highland Bridge development in St. Paul. He also reveals how remnants of the old Ford plant were integrated into the design of The Albert apartment building.

University of St. Thomas economics professor Tyler Schipper talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Schipper talks about the downstream effects of tariffs and increased energy pricing. He also talked about his “On a Stick Index,” a project he and students at St. Thomas undertook to measure inflation at the Minnesota State Fair. This interview was recorded on Sept. 9.

Jason Gabrick, senior vice president of operations for the Northern Division of Ryan Cos. US Inc., talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Gabrick talks about the ongoing shortage of skilled labor, the need for mentorship to get new workers over the “90-day hump,” and the industry’s multistage approach to building a pipeline of future talent.

Avery Ticer, an executive director at Cushman & Wakefield, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Ticer talks about the West End and what makes it such a valuable micro-market within the I-394 corridor submarket.

Minnesota State Fair CEO Renee Alexander talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Alexander talks about improvements at the fairgrounds, including at the 4-H Building and the 75-year-old Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum.

Michael Gelfman, an executive vice president at Colliers, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Gelfman talks about his work leasing suburban office buildings, the health of the market, what an office “reset” might look like as well as why he thinks the Class B office market is in crisis.

Kenneth Bush, executive director of the Minnesota Minority Trades Council, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Bush talks about his background in real estate, the evolution of the Minnesota Minority Trades Council, and recent changes to the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.

Heidi Swank, executive director of Rethos, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Swank talks about her role at Rethos, as well as the nonprofit’s plans for legislative lobbying in the upcoming session and its new grant from the Bush Foundation.

Chris Duininck, president of Duininck Inc., which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Chris Duininck talks about the company’s history, his various roles in the business, and the opportunities and challenges in the industry.

Tia Jacobs, a recently promoted developer at Sherman Associates, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Jacobs talks about her career, her time getting her master’s degree in urban and regional planning, as well as what types of projects she would like to take up in the future.

Matt Anfang, executive director of the Minnesota Commercial Association of Real Estate and Realtors, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Anfang talks about his plans for retirement, MNCAR’s evolution, the rise of young women in real estate, and the challenges and opportunities for the industry in the coming years.

Brian Forcier, CEO of Titanium Partners, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Forcier talks about development in Duluth, misconceptions about doing business in Duluth and what some cities could do to make themselves more friendly to development.

Tim Worke, CEO of AGC-Minnesota, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Worke, who recently announced his retirement, reflects on his long run with AGC-Minnesota, changes in the construction industry in the past two decades and more.

Josh Budish, principal at Endeavor Development, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Budish talks about developing the company and discusses its future as a developer and acquirer of industrial property.

Jordan Milman, chairman and CEO of Archer Datacenters, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Milman talks about his company’s project in Faribault, advanced cooling technologies for data centers, potential benefits to the community, and the regulatory process, among other topics.

Mike Wilhelm, principal at Fountain Real Estate Capital, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Wilhelm talks about Fountain’s founding, its partnership with Midloch Investment Partners and his advice for starting a new company.

Kathryn Hoffman, the executive director of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Hoffman talks in depth about data center project impacts, the environmental review process for proposed hyperscale data centers and other topics.

Laura Russ, the new executive director of the Shenehon Center for Real Estate at the University of St. Thomas, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Russ talks about the transition from her position at the nonprofit Aeon and where she intends to take the Shenehon Center.

Daniel Lightfoot and Craig Johnson of the League of Minnesota Cities talk to F&C reporter Brian Johnson about the 2026 legislative session, taking a deep dive on topics that include bonding, investments in housing and water infrastructure, and tax policy.

Suzanne Schefcik, a vice president at Colliers with experience in industrial and retail properties, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Schefcik talks about the recent uptick in activity happening in the Twin Cities retail market.

Stacy Arnold, director of safety and CHASE at Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Arnold talks about the latest construction safety trends, the growing emphasis on mental health in the industry, and the role of technology in safety, among other topics.

Gretchen Camp, a managing principal at ESG Architecture & Design talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Camp talks about current market challenges for architecture firms, what her day-to-day work tends to look like and why she finds the Twin Cities Housing Alliance valuable.