It is no secret that I love living on Moon Lake. In fact, life in northwest Wisconsin is pretty amazing. But, prior to my life in Wisconsin, I spent about a decade working, living and playing in Duluth. Leaving Duluth was extremely tough. There is something enchanting about the city. Many say it is the big lake. As someone drawn to water, I can relate to that. But, it is more than the world’s largest freshwater lake that makes Duluth so unique. This past summer I had an opportunity to write an article for Minnesota Business Magazine exploring why folks do business in the city. It came out last week as a 10-page spread. The online version can be read here.
The article gave me an opportunity to connect with some of the new entrepreneurs to Duluth, along with some old favorites I’ve interviewed in the past. New or old, these entrepreneurs share a passion for life outside of work that reminds me that life is about more than what you do on-the-clock. It is a refreshing and welcome message to hear from successful business owners.
The article also gave me an opportunity to interview Mayor Don Ness. My path has crossed with Mayor Ness since the early 2000s. I first interviewed him while working in news about his efforts to keep young people in Duluth through an initiative called Bridge Syndicate. Later, I played on a softball team that he occasionally played on as well called Bacchus Crew. (For those wondering what Bacchus means, think Greek Mythology and drinking). While my memory is a bit foggy, I am pretty confident we lost nearly every single game we played. But, it was a great networking opportunity that provided plenty of laughs. Even then, I admired Don’s drive (he was President of the City Council). Since then, I’ve enjoyed watching him from the sidelines making a positive impact in a place I still to this day love. Duluth is lucky to have him.
Bottom line, it take more than a big lake to make a city grand. At the end of the day, the people matter. And in Duluth’s case, there are some great entrepreneurs and leaders at the forefront paving the way for a bright future in Duluth. And that is something I was proud to write about. I hope you enjoy the article!