The Twin Cities Business Show

The Twin Cities Business Show
  • 5.0 (3)
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Real conversations with the builders and leaders shaping Minnesota’s economy, from legacy industries to the frontiers of innovation. The Twin Cities Business Show is produced by the team at Twin Cities Business.

  1. 4d ago

    How Minnetonka Turned Moccasins Into an 80-Year Family Business

    The Miller family has run Minnesota-based footwear company Minnetonka for decades. We sat down with the 3rd and 4th generation of the company's leaders in the latest episode of The Twin Cities Business Show. What is it like to work with your dad? David Miller, the company's CEO, and Chief Commercial Officer Jori Miller Sherer talked about their relationship with each other, both as family and co-workers. In this episode, they discuss what it was like when Jori finally told her dad she wanted to come work for the company. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLtGaFb-61A Fashion moves a lot faster than it used to. For companies like Minnetonka, that's made it harder to keep up with the "micro bursts" that rip through the internet. Trends that used to last three to four years now happen in three to four months. That can make it impossible when a new shoe takes 18 months from concepting to the storeroom floor. Tariffs have made the lives of retailers harder by making everything they use more expensive and creating an uncertain environment for retailers everywhere. They share shares how the company has tried to plan for and adjust to an ever-changing reality. A few years ago, Minnetonka made headlines around the world when they acknowledged and apologized for appropriating Native American culture and design. In 2025, the company launched The Reclamation Collaborative, an initiative to uplift Native artistry and redefine Indigenous representation in fashion. The episode includes: 00:00 — Meet the 3rd & 4th Generation of Minnetonka02:23 — What It's Like Working With Your Dad05:00 — How Minnetonka Became a Cultural Icon08:48 — Is Minnetonka Actually in the Fashion Business?11:57 — Why Fashion Trends Now Last Just Months13:03 — Why It Takes 18 Months to Create a New Shoe16:28 — How Minnetonka's History Prepared It for E-Commerce19:31 — The Family Business: Why David Initially Rejected Jory24:36 — What Jory Has Changed About the Business32:27 — How Tariffs Have Disrupted Minnetonka34:06 — Minnetonka's 80-Year Journey Through Business Cycles34:53 — Confronting the Company's History of Cultural Appropriation39:02 — Working With Native Artists to Redesign Minnetonka Products45:39 — What's Next for Minnetonka Through 203046:19 — How Minnetonka Is Using AI48:18 — Why 80 Years Doesn't Guarantee the Next 80

  2. Sep 10

    How Do You Keep a Newspaper Alive for 92 Years? Tracey Williams-Dillard Knows

    How do you keep a newspaper alive for 92 years?Tracey Williams-Dillard is the CEO and publisher of Minnesota's oldest Black-owned newspaper, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. The family-owned publication was founded by her grandfather, Cecil Newman, in 1934.In this episode of the Twin Cities Business Show, Tracey takes us inside her family's business, which has served African-Americans across Minnesota for decades. She tells us about how they've kept the paper going in a challenging media landscape that has seen many similar organizations go under.She also shares her personal story of what it took to keep the paper going through some of the hardest years of her life, including losing her husband during the COVID pandemic, when George Floyd was murdered a few blocks from the MSR's headquarters, and when she lost her mother only years later.We talk about her grandfather's unusual strategy for building the newspaper, her grandmother taking over after his death, the legendary journalists and talent who came through the newsroom like Larry Fitzgerald Sr., Gordon Parks, and Charles Hallman, and why Tracey believes the MSR plays such an essential role in recording the history of the community.This episode includes:00:00 — Meet Tracey Williams-Dillard00:51 — How Cecil Newman started the newspaper in 193401:54 — Cecil Newman and Hubert Humphrey03:15 — Launa Newman takes over04:31 — Tracey is chosen to lead the family business05:30 — Why the newspaper became the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder06:40 — Growing up around the MSR08:12 — What happened to the neighborhood around 38th Street09:56 — How a 92-year-old newspaper survives10:28 — Why the Black press still matters12:51 — What mainstream media misses about Black Minnesota13:57 — The people and stories the MSR has preserved16:49 — Gordon Parks, Carl Rowan and the MSR talent pipeline19:01 — Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and preserving Minnesota's history20:48 — How the newspaper makes money21:04 — Turning community problems into new businesses23:50 — How Sister Spokesman was created27:01 — The newspaper's changing revenue model27:45 — Tracey's approach to finding new ideas30:23 — The struggle to find media salespeople32:52 — How Minnesota's Black community is changing35:43 — The hardest years of Tracey's life36:16 — Losing her husband while keeping the paper alive38:29 — George Floyd and boarding up the MSR39:20 — "It was like a war zone"40:19 — How Tracey kept going41:23 — Where she finds her strength42:26 — What her grandparents would think today43:06 — Taking the MSR digital—and into AI43:37 — The future of community newspapers45:11 — Supporting the Black press46:07 — Why Tracey keeps going

  3. Aug 19

    The Future of Fertilizer: How Pivot Bio Is Revolutionizing Ag Tech in Minnesota and Beyond

    Pivot Bio is transforming the fertilizer industry with innovative microbe technology that attaches directly to plant roots to continuously deliver nitrogen to the plant. This approach allows farmers to replace synthetic fertilizers, lowering their costs while reducing chemical runoff and carbon emissions. The company recently relocated its headquarters to Minnesota from California. On this episode of the Twin Cities Business Show, the company's CEO, Chris Abbott, talks about where the fertilizer industry is headed and why Pivot Bio is well positioned. We joined their company's tractor tour live from the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol to learn more. They discuss the company's 1 Million Thanks tour, how supply chain disruptions impact farm margins and food costs, and why Minnesota is becoming a premier hub for the next era of crop nutrition innovation.In this episode:0:00 – Welcome to the Twin Cities Business Show (Live from a tractor!)0:31 – The "1 Million Thanks" Tour: Highlighting farmer mental health and rural viability2:05 – How Pivot Bio’s gene-edited microbes replace synthetic nitrogen3:45 – Cutting runoff and emissions: Addressing the limits of 100-year-old fertilizer tech5:38 – How scaling microbial nitrogen can lower farmer costs and impact global food prices7:28 – Chris Abbott’s journey: Investing in 2018 to stepping in as CEO to scale the technology9:30 – Navigating the founder-CEO dynamic and driving innovation with AI11:53 – Scaling up: Expanding supply chain capacity to reach 150 million acres14:40 – On-the-ground sentiment: How global conflicts continue to squeeze farmer margins17:10 – Why Pivot Bio moved its headquarters from Berkeley to Minnetonka18:20 – Minnesota's ag tech ecosystem: Capital, talent, and regional momentum20:18 – Policy at the Capitol: Creating a statewide crop nutrition platform in Minnesota24:14 – Future-proofing the Farm Bill: Supporting new technology, precision ag, and biologics

  4. Aug 12

    The $77 Million Business Behind the Minnesota State Fair

    Every wondered how the Minnesota State Fair actually works? It's so much more than corn dogs, Sweet Martha’s cookies, and rides. It’s a $77 million operation that becomes Minnesota’s third-largest city for a magical 12 days every summer – with hundreds of vendors, thousands of workers, major concerts, livestock, overnight logistics that include hundreds of people spending the night, and millions of visitors. On this episode of the Twin Cities Business Show, we sat down with Renee Alexander, CEO of the Minnesota State Fair, to go behind the scenes of The Great Minnesota Get Together. Renee explains how the fair makes money, why Sweet Martha’s has become such a phenomenon, how the Grandstand lineup gets booked, what happens after the gates close at 11 p.m., how vendors are selected, and what it takes to run an organization that operates year-round for an event that lasts just 12 days. She also shares the story of how she went from her first State Fair internship (a job that she originally lost out on) to becoming CEO. In this episode: 00:00 Intro: The $77 million business behind the State Fair00:51 Why Sweet Martha’s is so successful06:09 How the State Fair makes money06:38 The State Fair gets 15% of food sales and 18% of beer & wine sales07:56 The State Fair is a $77 million operation08:10 For 12 days, the fair becomes Minnesota’s third-largest city08:28 How Renee measures a successful State Fair09:45 State Fair ticket prices and affordability11:00 How to experience the fair for less money11:50 Renee’s guide to a great day at the State Fair15:27 Who books the State Fair concerts?16:40 How Rod Stewart, Salt-N-Pepa and other acts end up on the lineup18:54 The story behind the TLC/Shaggy/Bone Thugs-N-Harmony lineup19:54 Renee’s journey from State Fair intern to CEO29:04 The business of the State Fair Midway29:22 Why Minnesota has an independent Midway30:46 The Great Big Wheel is getting even bigger33:32 The business lessons of 4-H35:18 Why Renee says 4-H looks good on a résumé36:07 The “whole other fair” that happens overnight38:46 What it takes to become a State Fair food vendor40:46 How many people work year-round to make the fair happen57:39 What makes a good CEO—and why leadership can feel lonely58:14 How the Minnesota State Fair stays on top59:34 The State Fair’s new recipe book

  5. Jul 29

    BioMADE's Plan to Bring America's Manufacturing Supply Chain Home Using Corn, Fermentation, and More

    You might not have heard of bioindustrial manufacturing, but it's time that you changed that. Biotechnology is poised to transform manufacturing, national security, and the global economy — and their Maple Grove facility will play a major role in that vision. She tells us how they can turn corn into cement that can be used to lay down a landing strip in hard-to-reach places of the planet. In this episode of the Twin Cities Business Show, we sat down with Jill Zullo, Chief Operating Officer of BioMADE, to discuss how microbes can turn corn, sugar, and other agricultural products into everything from plastics and chemicals to aviation materials and even cement. Before joining BioMADE, Jill had a long-running career at Cargill where she helped with the commercialization of scientific products and served as CEO of NatureWorks, a Cargill joint venture to help build plastics from petroleum-free sources. This episode also explores why the U.S. Department of Defense is investing hundreds of millions of dollars into bioindustrial manufacturing, how Minnesota landed one of the country's largest pilot-scale biotechnology facilities in Maple Grove, and what it will take to turn breakthrough science into billion-dollar businesses. Whether you're interested in manufacturing, startups, biotechnology, venture capital, supply chains, or the future of American industry, this conversation offers a fascinating look at one of the fastest-growing sectors in the economy. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction00:28 How does a cucumber become a pickle?01:29 What BioMADE does and why it matters03:46 Why the Department of Defense is investing in biotechnology06:23 How do you turn corn into cement?07:50 What is synthetic biology?09:00 Why even Cargill had to pilot new technologies overseas11:22 Why Minnesota is becoming a biotechnology hub13:19 What it will take to attract more bio-manufacturing to Minnesota16:17 The airplane tire made from dandelions19:53 How Minnesota landed BioMADE's flagship pilot facility21:37 Why building pilot plants is so difficult27:14 The race to replace petroleum-based plastics30:52 What BioMADE hopes to accomplish over the next decade33:00 Why America can't let these factories move overseas36:39 Jill Zullo's career — from the University of Minnesota and Cargill to BioMADE39:39 How to turn science into money41:39 Building the biotechnology workforce of the future43:03 What success looks like for BioMADE

  6. Jul 22

    College Is Changing Forever – Here's Where the Best Jobs Are | Dunwoody President Scott Stallman

    Scott Stallman, President of Dunwoody College of Technology, joins the Twin Cities Business Show to discuss why higher education is facing generational challenges, what Minnesota needs to build the workforce of the future, the careers that have salaries that might surprise you, and where the economy is headed.Dunwoody partners with corporations across the state to help build a pipeline of skilled workers. While many colleges have seen their enrollment drop, Dunwoody's is up 45% since 2015. From the coming enrollment cliff in higher education to artificial intelligence to automation to skilled trades to young people today, , Stallman explains why Dunwoody is taking a dramatically different approach to preparing students for high-paying, high-demand careers.In this episode:00:00 – Introduction00:42 – What makes Dunwoody College unique?03:48 – The highest-paying careers people overlook04:08 – The $80,000 surveying job (plus a signing bonus)06:43 – How Dunwoody partners directly with industry09:58 – Why higher education is undergoing a seismic shift17:20 – Why many colleges will become smaller or disappear18:24 – The tough decisions that transformed Dunwoody19:28 – Why today's engineers need to know how to use a wrench22:40 – The real return on investment of a college degree23:46 – Do electricians really make as much as lawyers?25:30 – Why technical education costs so much to deliver28:36 – How students build real products not just classroom projects34:48 – Student inventions solving real business problems37:48 – The future of AI, automation, and Minnesota's workforce41:35 – The one thing Scott would change about American high schools

  7. Jul 15

    From Apprentice Carpenter to CEO with Greiner Construction's Josh Helgesen

    Greiner Construction CEO Josh Helgesen started his career counting nuts and bolts at his family's lumberyard in small town Wisconsin. After dropping out of college and becoming an apprentice carpenter, he worked his way up at the company until becoming a CEO and part-owner.Josh joins the Twin Cities Business Show to discuss the future of commercial construction, where downtown Minneapolis is headed (he's optimistic), the biggest trends shaping the industry, how technology is changing the job site, and what it takes to lead a company with more than a century of history.The company has several exciting new projects in the works, including the remodeled 20 Washington and the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame.Chapters00:00 Intro01:34 Growing up around construction05:58 Becoming CEO of Greiner11:47 The state of Minnesota's construction industry18:26 The future of downtown Minneapolis24:53 Building great company culture31:40 Labor and workforce challenges38:18 Technology on the job site45:21 Tariffs, costs, and the economy51:46 What's next for Greiner Construction56:18 Getting to know Josh; Green Bay Packers

  8. Jul 8

    The Minnesota Company That's 3D Printing Rocket Fuel

    What if the future of rocket propulsion was printed instead of molded?On this episode of the Twin Cities Business Show, we sit down with Cora Leibig, founder and CEO of Chromatic 3D Materials, a company based in Golden Valley that's pioneering advanced 3D printing technologies for industrial applications — including a breakthrough approach to 3D printing solid rocket fuel.Cora explains how Chromatic went from printing industrial rubber parts and medical components to working with the defense industry, why 3D printing could reshape American manufacturing, and how Minnesota is becoming a hub for defense and advanced manufacturing innovation. Topics covered in this conversation include: 00:00 Introduction: 3D printing rocket fuel in Golden Valley00:31 Why 3D print solid rocket fuel?02:40 How Chromatic entered the rocket fuel business05:35 Pitching breakthrough technology to the Department of Defense07:26 Minnesota's growing defense and national security ecosystem09:21 What is additive manufacturing?13:23 From Dow Chemical to Minnesota entrepreneurship16:09 Founding Chromatic 3D Materials19:29 Why 3D printing can transform manufacturing23:27 Can 3D printing rebuild America's manufacturing base?25:09 Why Chromatic pivoted toward defense applications27:52 America's manufacturing capacity and defense readiness29:04 Why U.S. manufacturing slowed compared with China33:03 Operating a technology company in the U.S. and Germany34:27 Chromatic's future growth plans38:01 Solving impossible problems: the future of rocket technology41:19 Testing rocket technology at Camp Ripley42:17 Cora's path from MIT to entrepreneurship45:20 Lessons learned from Dow Chemical48:00 Building a deep-tech company in Minnesota52:16 Investing in people and the future of Chromatic55:06 The technical problems Cora loves solving56:27 The science of baking sourdough bread

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5
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About

Real conversations with the builders and leaders shaping Minnesota’s economy, from legacy industries to the frontiers of innovation. The Twin Cities Business Show is produced by the team at Twin Cities Business.

Information

  • Creator
    The Twin Cities Business Show
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Twin Cities Business Show
  • Show Website
    The Twin Cities Business Show

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