The Growing Small Towns Show Rebecca Undem

What does it look like to enhance communities through art, partnership, and general change-making? Well, we can’t think of anyone better than Maggie Strong to talk to about it. Maggie loves to work with communities to spur the change they know they need, and do so in a way that makes communities better and more beautiful for all. 
 
About Maggie:  
Maggie Strong is a community builder. She founded Strong Consulting in 2016 to help organizations and communities think creatively and act strategically. A former economic development vice president and marketing executive, Maggie has 20 years of experience in strategic planning, communications, and public engagement. She gets excited about people and data and how combining the two can empower and position communities to achieve real change with lasting impact. Maggie works with civic and nonprofit clients to research, develop, facilitate, and implement strategic plans, assessments, and communication plans. She coaches community leaders, nonprofit executives, and their governing boards on how to be more effective and impactful. Maggie brings authenticity, humor, and urgency to her work and a deep respect for all people.
 
Maggie holds a bachelor's degree in arts management and a master's degree in business administration, both from Quincy University. She is an expert facilitator, trained in the McNellis Compression Planning® methodology, and is certified in Nonprofit Board Consulting through BoardSource. She is a lifelong learner, pursuing her certification as an AI Consultant for Nonprofits. She has served on several nonprofit boards primarily for organizations with missions focused on young people and the arts. Maggie and her husband, Aaron, spend their time raising their kind and courageous kids, Alex, Charlie, and Cecilia, and renovating their beloved 100-year-old bungalow in their hometown of Quincy, Illinois.  
 
In this episode, we cover: 
Why art is so valuable for small towns How to embrace the subjective nature of art (and other things) for small-town development What it means to “Be the Change” in small towns Why we don’t have to personally love something in order to recognize its value The power of partnership Links and Resources Mentioned:
www.MaggieStrong.com (Under construction, but the new website should be up soon!)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiestrong/
https://www.facebook.com/strongconsultingquincy

This is an episode about people and why how we treat them matters, as viewed through the lenses of politics and living in a small town. We cannot possibly agree on everything, and it feels as though nothing makes that clearer than politics. Given that we’re headed for another election season (yay*) we wanted to share this reminder that people should be at the center of everything we do, and a better future starts with us, at home, with how we treat one another and how we learn and grow and literally do better. 
 
Don't worry--this isn't a high-horse episode wherein we preach on high from our cloud of perfection. We're human, too, and so we know how hard it can be to keep it classy and cool when big issues are on the line. It's about what we can all do, right now, today, to make our communities better places, starting with how we treat one another. 
 
(*that’s real heavy sarcasm in case you hadn’t noticed.)
 
In this episode, we cover five things you can do right now to make your community better: 
Notice and call out the use of labels Employ the Golden Rule Consider the implications of selective rights and privileges Beware the echo chambers  Make repairs Links + Resources Mentioned
Ep. 92 with Winona and Tim: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode92
Role Call Talent Attraction Summit: https://www.rolecall.pro/talent-summit
Putting People Back in Politics Blog Post: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/putting-the-people-back-in-politics
 
Get In Touch
Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org
 
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Young people moving to our small towns—either coming back or relocating from somewhere else—is imperative not only so we know the newest slang but also to keep our towns growing and thriving. Having a person dedicated to bringing in new people and making their transitions easier is a proactive way to achieve this. We’re so excited to share this episode with our very own Relocation Specialist, TJ Roney!
 
About TJ:  
My name is Taylor (TJ) Roney and I am the Relocation Specialist in Oakes, ND! I graduated from OPS in 2018 and then went on to NDSU for fashion and business. After pursuing a dream in Minnesota for a few years, I decided it was time to come back to Oakes and venture down a new path in life! It has been amazing being back here with all of my family and so many friends. I have many passions and hobbies that I enjoy spending my time doing, some of which include photography, sewing, ancestry, golfing, and jamming out to Taylor Swift (really any music!)
 
In this episode, we cover: 
Why a pilot program is a great way to try out a new idea What problems TJ solves as a Relocation Specialist Why we can’t leave relocation efforts to employers Why Gen Z are the perfect candidates to move to small towns How to bring back people who have moved away, too Links and Resources Mentioned:
Oakes’ Move Here Page: https://oakesnd.com/move-here.php

“Are Chambers of Commerce even relevant anymore?” In our humble (but not too humble opinion:) YES ABSOLUTELY.
 
While the idea of a Chamber of Commerce is an old one, an active, progressive Chamber can be an enormous benefit to small towns. We brought our very own Chamber Director to talk about everything she does and the benefits of an active, involved Chamber. 
 
About Kausha:  
Kausha lives on her family’s farm and ranch about 15 miles north of Oakes. She and her husband Chuck have been married for 30 years and have three children: Dalton, who is married to McKinzee, and their daughter Nellie Mae; Addison and her husband Parker; and their youngest son Garret.
 
They are so proud to say that their sons are part of the family farm/ranch and so that legacy will continue for the Magill homestead. Their daughter is also involved in agriculture and has started her own Ag Marketing business where she designs and produces bull sale catalogs along with other creative advertising for ag-related businesses.
 
Kausha was an English Teacher in her early days then worked side by side with her husband for several years until their sons were able to be involved in the day-to-day operations. Then, the wonderful opportunity to become the Oakes Area Chamber of Commerce Director became her part-time job, and she’s been serving in that capacity for nearly four years!
 
She can honestly say that she’s never had a day where she dreaded coming to work and finds her job to be incredibly rewarding. She get excited thinking about the fact that there are young people who are coming back to Oakes because it’s a thriving small town!
 
“We can actually boast that we don’t have an empty building on Main Street even though we aren’t immune to the challenges that come with being a rural community.”
 
She loves being able to help our chamber membership promote what they have whether that is merchandise, services, opportunities, or events for the public, as well as just promote Oakes as a whole.
 
In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family (especially her new granddaughter!) and work on puzzles and read in the winter. Her summers are usually filled with outdoor
activities along with riding horses as much as she can!
 
In this episode, we cover: 
What a Chamber of Commerce is, and how they’re funded What Kausha does to help local businesses and events Why seeing things through the eyes of a newcomer can be so helpful The power of being helpful and welcoming Why we should never discount the passion of transplants  Links and Resources Mentioned:
Oakes Chamber Website: https://oakesnd.com/chamber
Oakes Chamber Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakeschamber/
NDSU Extension Community Impressions: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/extension-topics/leadership-and-civic-engagement/programs/community-impressions
Irrigation Days: https://oakesnd.com/irrigation-days

We all want our small towns to grow and thrive, but often, we don’t offer enough support to the people who are integral in making this happen: the entrepreneurs. Kim Nagle is an author, coach, speaker, and entrepreneur who helps her clients start profitable businesses, and she’s here to share with us what supporting entrepreneurs could look like in our small towns. Hint: it’s magic. 
 
About Kim:  
Known as The DAMN Plan lady, Kim is definitely a woman with a plan. Her life’s work is
evidence of her deep-seated love for all things entrepreneurial. She started her first business at 14 and has owned 6 businesses since. As a result of working with Kim, well over 250 clients
have started profitable businesses they love.
 
Kim has been a passionate advocate for entrepreneurs since the late 1900’s. As the founder of
the SBA-funded Minnesota Women’s Business Center she elevated women-owned businesses
as powerhouse economic drivers in communities.
 
Kim is the author of The DAMN Plan® How To Find Freedom, Love, And Money In Your
Business and soon-to-be-released Determined to Succeed. In her books, she presents lessons
learned and core principles for success learned over 30 years of being in the trenches every day- doing the damn thing.
 
If you get a chance to work with Kim, she will show you how to magnify your determination,
make decisions accordingly, and take action like your life depended on it. Because it does. Life
on your terms is waiting. It's just one determined-decision away.
 
In this episode, we cover: 
The #1 reason people don’t start businesses in small towns Why do businesses “fail,” and what is failure, anyhow? The power of “How can I help?” Why embracing the process is worth it The messages we give to our children Links and Resources Mentioned:
More about The DAMN Plan Book: https://www.damnplan.com/the-damn-book
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thedamnplan
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thedamnplan 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedamnplan
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/KimNagle
Free 30-minute Coaching Call with Kim: calendly.com/kimnagle/30mincall 
Order The DAMN Plan®: www.amazon.com/dp/1952233518

When we last talked to Haley, she was pushing full steam ahead on building the beautiful Hearthside Vineyard & Winery. She’s still going full steam ahead but has had to push through some major, heartbreaking setbacks. This episode isn’t the bright, shiny one she (or we!) was hoping for, but it’s better because it’s real and it shows how hard entrepreneurs work to get their dreams off the ground. Real life is rarely bright and shiny, but hard-won victories taste even sweeter—literally, in Haley’s case, since her hard-won victories will end with a beautiful, amazing winery. This episode is for anyone who is building dreams and overcoming obstacle after obstacle to make them happen. 
 
About Haley:
Haley Moen, from Oakes, North Dakota, is the owner of Hearthside, a startup vineyard and winery. As a fifth-generation farmer who holds a Master of Science in Plant Science, Haley is well-equipped to make Hearthside thrive. Hearthside Vineyard and Winery was born from the love Haley has for her home state and the desire to explore growing less-heard-of crops in North Dakota. Haley will be dedicated to producing authentic North Dakota wines that truly reflect the uniqueness of the area. She is excited to share their wine with the world and can’t wait for people to try the fruits of their labor. 
 
In this episode, we cover:
What to do when a crisis hits The value of working through knee-jerk reactions  How to effectively outwork a “no” response when it should be a “yes.” When “what doesn't kill you makes you stronger” is the dang truth Why keeping clarity in the long game and the “why” is necessary to get through tough times Links and Resources Mentioned:
Hearthside Vineyard and Winery: https://www.facebook.com/HearthsideWinery
Haley’s past episode: https://www.growingsmalltowns.org/post/episode118