Story North

FORWARD Presented by Story North

Business EN ↓ 5 episodes

FORWARD is the visionary blueprint for Northeastern Minnesota's most ambitious leaders. Beyond the standard press release talking points to document the "Oral History" of our region’s community and economic evolution. We sit down with the architects, builders, and decision-makers who are actively shaping the future of the Northland. Our goal is to capture the strategic thinking, the invisible friction, and the legacy-defining moves that are driving our region forward.

Author

Story North

Episodes

The Impossible Path with Bethany Owen 19.05.2026 13:23

OVERVIEW: Bethany Owen, CEO of Allete, shares insights on leading a legacy energy company through a major transition, balancing reliability, affordability, and sustainability while engaging diverse stakeholders. KEY TAKEAWAYS: The strategic and cultural foundations shaping Allete's transition efforts How stakeholder engagement and diverse perspectives guide decision-making Long-term vision for reg...

Breaking the Doom Loop with Shawn Herhusky 20.04.2026 17:05

OVERVIEW: In this episode, Kevin Jacobsen interviews Shawn Herhusky about rural revitalization, community development, and how small towns can spark change without waiting for external funding. They discuss the Revive Virginia project, strategies for local action, and the importance of demographic challenges. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Revive Virginia project as a model for small town revitalization Strategie...

The Logistics of Dignity with Shaye Morris 09.03.2026 8:48

OVERVIEW: In this conversation, Shaye Morris discusses her leadership role at Second Harvest Northland, focusing on the complexities of managing a vast supply chain that distributes 11 million meals across 15 counties. She highlights the impact of the pandemic and inflation on hunger in the region, the importance of infrastructure and partnerships in fighting food insecurity, and the need for dign...

Architecting Systemic Resilience with Deyona Kirk 09.03.2026 14:32

OVERVIEW: In this conversation, Deyona Kirk shares her transformative journey from surviving harm to designing healing, emphasizing the importance of resilience, faith, and community empowerment. As a developer in a challenging system, she discusses the barriers she faced and the lessons learned about power dynamics. Deanna highlights the significance of self-care and mentorship in her work, parti...

Building the System of Trust with Katie Hagglund 09.03.2026 16:24

OVERVIEW: In this conversation, Katie Hagglund, the executive director of the Union Gospel Mission in Duluth, discusses the challenges of addressing homelessness in the region, the need for systemic change, and the vision for a new mission engagement center. She emphasizes the importance of community collaboration, dignity for guests, and the necessity of trust in moving forward. KEY TAKEAWAYS: St...