SoMN Podcast: Recent Episodes
SoMN
Emily is an entrepreneur and owns Giddy Skin in Mankato, MN. She tells about her experience of business growth and how she balances all aspects of her life.
Over the course of his career, Eric Snyder has had an opportunity to hold management and leadership positions in public, non-profit and for-profit organizations. This breadth of experience has provided Eric with a unique perspective and skillset that allows him to bring insights and value to any client engagement.
Mr. Snyder leads the Excelsior Bay Group’s nonprofit strategy and philanthropic advisory practices. Prior to joining the firm, he spent almost 10 years at Optum (a UnitedHealth business) where he led teams focused on innovation, product development and product management/evaluation.
He acquired his non-profit management experience while serving as the executive director of the Medical Technology Leadership Forum, an organization that facilitates policy discussions between the medical industry, government regulators, and academia.
Eric also had the opportunity to launch and lead PrimeWest Health System, a public-sector health system owned and managed by a consortium of counties in central and western Minnesota. At the time of its inception, PrimeWest was responsible for the health care of 10,000 Medicaid recipients in its participating counties.
Eric is a charter board member of Community for the Commons – a conservancy established for the benefit of Excelsior’s historic Commons park. In addition, he has served in governance roles for a number of organizations including the Excelsior Parks Commission, FairVote Minnesota and ResourceWest. He holds an MBA and a Master’s in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Nebraska.
Eric also holds a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) certification from the American College of Financial Services.
Nate stops by the studio to talk about his new job as the Mankato West Varsity Boys Hockey coach.
Kelly is a wife and mother and works as the Marketing & Communications Coordinator at Bolton & Menk, Inc. She brought her bubbly personality to talk about what it's like to be a working mom, fall in love with her husband, and The University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Zach and Rolando are graduates of Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge, a faith-based, long-term drug, and alcohol treatment center. They share their story about how they came from the very bottom to living their best life of faith, and fulfillment. They now speak to young people about their path and offer hope and guidance to them.
Susu and Milad Sadaka talk about immigrating from Lebanon in the 1980s and bringing with them a culture of family, food, and hard work.
Marissa Brostrom, the owner of Graif Clothing, stopped by to talk about opening a second store during an economic shut down.
Chris is a local artist, rapper, dad, and business owner. He stopped by to talk about his music and becoming an entrepreneur.
Angie is a native of Mankato, MN. She has found a balance being a business owner, a Mom, and faith in Jesus. Join us on an in-depth and revealing conversation where she shares her struggles and triumphs.
Bryce is a teacher, author, and student of history. He stopped by to talk about history, cancel culture, and Abraham Lincoln's legacy.
For more information: https://youtu.be/EQ9czRlJIMY
Ryan is an owner at True Facade Pictures and has traveled the world telling stories through film. He sat down with us to discuss his experiences.
True Facade is a film and video production agency specializing in documentary and non-scripted entertainment, particularly in the music industry. With a background in branded entertainment, celebrity endorsements, and video marketing, True Facade has a keen sense of business and a profound passion for story. Our mission is to bring true stories to the height of their impact and to engage, inform, and entertain audiences looking for an enriching, artistic experience.
Brandon is a MN native and he stopped by to talk about growing up here and Wade's terrible driving history.
Melissa is from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, and over her life has decided to go for her dreams of being an entrepreneur, and not give a "F" what other people think. She's still gonna send it.
Lisa believes storytelling is at the heart of every professional adventure she pursues whether it's from behind the anchor desk at KEYC News Now each morning, or out in the community telling the stories of our business leaders for Connect Business Magazine, or using storytelling as a tool to break down barriers to community integration for individuals with disabilities with the nonprofit MRCI. She loves her job...or jobs! as the case may be.
Melissa Bradley is the Owner/General Manager for Snell Motors in Mankato. She stopped by to talk about Blarney the dog, entrepreneurship, and her 100% Irish ancestry.
Louise Dickmeyer is a long-time resident and contributor to the Mankato Area. She has extensive experience in leadership, entrepreneurship, and non-profit work. She stopped by to talk about everything from love at first sight to being a hard-working mother and wife.
Adam Fries is the head coach for Mankato East Boys Hockey. He shared his experiences growing up in Wisconsin and his eventual journey to Mankato where he and his family call home.
Jordan Moen, D.P.T., is a Physical Therapist at The Mayo Clinic Mankato. He joins us to talk about the small town he grew up in and how he professionally helps people overcome physical obstacles and achieve a healthier life. Jordan and his wife Rebecca have a knack for great Halloween costumes, most notably being very convincing Vikings.
Nancy Zallek is the president and chief executive officer of the Mankato Area Foundation (MAF) and an advocate for our local nonprofits. Nancy dedicates herself to building a community of individuals who believe in the strength of giving while supporting the work of the nonprofit sector.
Since joining MAF in 2009, Nancy has grown the foundation’s assets from $2M to over $22M and annual granting from $50,000 to over $1.7M. Such growth has led to large-scale community initiatives, such as The Children’s Museum of Southern MN, Kiwanis Holiday Lights, and the Fallenstein Field and Playground, as well as increased scholarship opportunities for local students. Nancy also led the strategy to create and design the Shared Spaces nonprofit center, a collaborative workspace for regional organizations and their leadership teams.
What Nancy values most of all, however, is the relationships she builds with people in our community. As she puts it, “Every day I get to connect thoughtful donors with incredible organizations and causes – it doesn’t get better than that.”
The fifth generation of her family to grow up in Mankato, Nancy graduated from Mankato West High School and Gustavus Adolphus College. After graduation, she joined Brett’s Department Stores – eventually serving as Vice President. She transitioned into the nonprofit sector as executive director of Mankato Ballet Company and executive director of the United Way of St. Peter – prior to joining MAF.
Nancy is proud to have volunteered for wonderful organizations such as the Mankato Clinic Foundation, Greater Mankato Growth, Gustavus Adolphus College, First Presbyterian Church, Twin Rivers Council for the Arts, the Mankato Ballet Company, and the St. Peter School District.
She is married to her husband Mark and has three really awesome kids (though she may be a bit biased): Taylor (wife Annika), Bailey (husband Nick), and Brett.
Dr. Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D., is a Sport and Performance Psychology professor at the University of Minnesota-Mankato. She also is the CEO of Mentally Strong Consulting and has more than 20 years of experience working with elite high school, college, and professional athletes. Cindra is the author of the book "Beyond Grit."
Originally from the village of Bangor, WI, Brent has lived in several different cities and states around the United States. For the past four years, he and his wife Erin in Mankato, MN. We discuss what it's like to be a transplant, be a fan of the Chicago Cubs, and learn how to "watch his own bobber."
After a decade of real estate investing, Dan Sprague shares his experiences of how he got started, what he's learned, and where he's going in the future. Dan, his wife Jaci, and their two children live in Madison Lake, MN, where they enjoy time together as a family, especially on the water.
Shelly Sabatka, the owner of The Landing Bar & Grill in Madison Lake, MN, sits down with us to discuss her hustle, passion for her guests, and how she has adapted to business in a Covid-19 world. #SoMN #Minnesota #Restruantowner
Robert J. Miller, Ph.D., has authored several books including Transition Assessment: Planning Transition and IEP Development for Youth with Mild to Moderate Disabilities. Robert shares his experiences from his humble upbringing on a small farm in Iowa to being a rock band front-man to support himself through college. He earned a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Iowa and continued his career as a tenured professor at Minnesota State University until his retirement. Robert is an avid musky fisherman and has caught several fish over 50 inches.
What does learning look like in a global pandemic? We have an 8, 10, & 12-year-old tell us their perspective.
Marissa owns Graif Clothing in Mankato, MN. She has a passion for her business and her community. She explains more about herself and what fuels her passions.