Minnesota is entering a new economic era, and the regions that will thrive are those that treat talent as seriously as roads, bridges, and broadband. The state’s labor force is growing more slowly than at any point in recent history; retirements are accelerating, and employers across nearly every sector say their biggest barrier to growth is finding skilled workers. This is no longer a temporary challenge; it’s a long-term structural shift. 

At the same time, global economic trends are reshaping opportunity. Advances in technology, the green transition, and demographic change are expected to create 170 million new jobs and displace 92 million worldwide in the coming years. Cities that build strong training pipelines will be positioned to capture these emerging industries. Those that don’t will fall behind. 

Economic development today is fundamentally about people. Companies choose where to expand based on talent - its availability, its quality, and the partnerships that support it. And workforce investments payoff: in FY 2022, federal workforce funding helped create or save 250,000 jobs and unlocked billions in private investment. 

But building a modern talent system also requires tackling barriers that keep too many Minnesotans from participating in the workforce. Gaps in childcare, transportation, training access, and digital skills disproportionately affect low-income families, rural residents, and communities of color. Expanding opportunity isn’t just good policy, it’s essential to strengthening Minnesota’s talent pool. And because most young adults stay close to home - living within 10 miles of where they grew up, and 80% remaining within 100 miles - investing in local talent is the most direct path to strengthening Minnesota’s workforce. 

Minnesota has the assets to lead: strong employers, world-class colleges and universities, and a long tradition of public–private collaboration. What we need now is urgency and alignment. 

If talent is the new infrastructure, employers are the architects. The St. Paul Area Chamber invites businesses to share their workforce needs, challenges, and ideas. Together, we can build the talent pipelines that keep Minnesota competitive and ensure that every resident has a path to opportunity. 

​First, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. And I look forward to gathering on December 9 for our Holiday Chamber Connect, to celebrate another successful year together.

I’ve been thinking deeply about leadership today. Leadership is both an art and a science, and is rarely perfect in practice. When leadership fails, the impact ripples through organizations and communities. On Monday afternoon, Minneapolis Regional Chamber's former president Jonathan Weinhagen pled guilty to fraud charges. It is a sobering reminder that trust is the cornerstone of leadership.

These moments challenge us to revisit what right-minded leadership looks like. Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner’s Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership offer a powerful framework:

• Model the Way
• Inspire a Shared Vision
• Challenge the Process
• Enable Others to Act
• Encourage the Heart

These principles remind us that leadership is not about titles—it’s about behaviors. It’s about modeling values, fostering trust, and creating an environment of respect and accountability. Today, I’m asking myself—and inviting you to ask yourself—how are we living these principles? How do we build trust, communicate openly, and lead with integrity? Leadership is a privilege, and it demands vigilance, humility, and a commitment to the greater good. Together, let’s strive to do better every day.

See you in the trenches,
B