President & Chief Executive Officer greatermankato.com ballingerleafblad.com President & Chief Executive Officer of Greater Mankato Growth Ballinger|Leafblad is pleased to conduct the search for President & Chief Executive Officer at Greater Mankato Growth, a nationally-known business growth and economic development organization supporting the Greater Mankato region. ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. (GMG) exists to intentionally develop the Mankato region by promoting, supporting and serving as a catalyst for economic development. This is done through business growth and development; talent growth, retention and attraction; regional livability and advocacy of the marketplace. GMG is comprised of four business units; Greater Mankato Growth, the regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization; Visit Mankato, the local convention and visitor's bureau; City Center Partnership, a downtown development organization; and GreenSeam, which utilizes agriculture to build on the region's extensive agribusiness assets to develop the ag economy. Greater Mankato Growth is the result of a creative consolidation between Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development organization, and convention and visitor’s bureau. GreenSeam is a new initiative of the organization. Since 2018, the business units have shared office space, an effort that has resulted in efficiencies and so much more. Staff collaborate across business units to share ideas and provide outstanding service. Greater Mankato Growth is governed by a Board of Directors; individual business units also have focused boards of directors. 2 ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY On September 11, 1868, forty-three business leaders convened The Mankato Board of Trade, the community’s first business association. As the organization and community evolved, the name was changed to Mankato Commercial Club in 1900 and then to Mankato Chamber of Commerce in 1920. In 1968, the Mankato Chamber of Commerce received national accreditation as the 120th Accredited Chamber in the country. In 1984, the Convention & Visitors Bureau was established which resulted in a slight name change to the chamber to Mankato Area Chamber of Commerce. By 1993, the Chamber and CVB merged to form Mankato Area Chamber and Convention Bureau (MACCB). The Greater Mankato Area Chamber of Commerce, and its division know as the Greater Mankato Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (now Visit Mankato), merged in 2007 with the Greater Mankato Economic Development Corporation (now Greater Mankato Growth) to form Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. Later, City Center Partnership and GreenSeam also became LLCs within the corporate umbrella. Hosted over 1,600 people during two of the largest 45 Students graduate as 34th Annual conferences to date Leadership Institute Class 1,000+ Alumni to date Visit Mankato purchased the full ownership rights to the Mankato Marathon. 3,500 participants and $1.5 million in economic impact $20k grant for creative placemaking through INFUSE City Art Walking Sculpture Tour Artists on Main Street th Program 11 projects/ unveiled the 8 Annual Walking Hosted Minnesota Sculpture Tour with 27 new 11 lead artists/ Senior Games 300+ artists sculptures participated 3 GREATER MANKATO GROWTH--BUSINESS UNITS Greater Mankato Growth is the regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization serving the regional marketplace. Greater Mankato Growth offers eight levels of membership based on what best matches a business’ desired involvement. Currently, there are nearly 1,000 members who connect and engage through GMG. Members belong to Greater Mankato Growth for the purpose of creating additional and immediate opportunities for business. Others choose to belong because it’s a positive business affiliation and association with a respected and trusted brand in the community. Still others belong because they believe in the mission. They know that the work Greater Mankato Growth engages in and accomplishes simply betters the “business ecosystem”, and that has a positive indirect impact on every business in the region. Greater Mankato Growth is governed by an engaged board of directors made up of prominent leaders in the region. 4 Visit Mankato, LLC is the local convention and visitor’s bureau. It leads the development of the visitor economy in greater Mankato by actively promoting greater Mankato as a premier destination for conventions, tournaments and tourism. Activities such as concerts, sporting events, arts gatherings and more bring a steady flow of visitors and business activity to greater Mankato that benefits local residents and future visitors. The work of Visit Mankato helps strengthen the hospitality industry which provides jobs, a diverse tax base and amenities for everyone to enjoy. Visit Mankato is governed by an 18-member board of governors made up of shareholders representing the tourism industry and the marketplace. Visit Mankato 5 City Center Partnership, LLC is a downtown development organization. The City Center includes the downtown core of Mankato and North Mankato. The mission of City Center Mankato, as a private/public partnership, is to be a catalyst for implementation of the City Center Renaissance Plan and to support private and public investment in City Center projects, programs and initiatives that attract a greater number of customers, employees and residents to the City Center. City Center Mankato holds a vision of a vibrant City Center in Mankato/North Mankato that exemplifies the vitality of the region and attracts visitors, residents, businesses and investment. As promoters, recruiters and advocates for City Center Mankato, the City Center Partnership works in conjunction with its businesses and citizens to find opportunities and solutions to keep the City Center vibrant and prosperous. These include focusing on increasing business and employees, trade and traffic, residents and housing options, multi-modal connectivity, aesthetics, arts, culture and more! In 2017, City Center Mankato became the eighth designated Main Street Community in Minnesota, joining Faribault, New Ulm, Owatonna, Red Wing, Shakopee, Willmar and Winona in gaining the designation. The Minnesota Main Street program, part of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, provides Main Street communities with training, tools, information and networking to invigorate their commercial districts. City Center Partnership 6 GreenSeam, LLC builds on the region’s extensive agribusiness assets to develop the ag economy. Greater Mankato Growth, Inc., along with hundreds of businesses and professionals rooted in agriculture from across the region have been working since 2013 to strategically build on and connect the region’s extensive agricultural business assets in order to develop and position this region to be known nationally and internationally as the place for talent, business, innovation and education in relation to agriculture. Agriculture is currently the largest business industry segment within this region with more than $15.3 billion in sales annually. A majority of businesses in the region are either part of agriculture’s value stream or indirectly impacted through production, processing, manufacturing, professional services, research, technology, education, transportation, etc. The region boasts nearly 1,000 ag related businesses. GreenSeam 7 MISSION Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. exists to support and promote the economic growth and vitality of our members and the regional marketplace. VALUES Greater Mankato Growth believes that the needs of members are best met by growing the regional marketplace. To that end, the organization espouses the following values: Catalysts – Initiating action for economic growth beneficial to members and congruent with the regional desire and culture. Stewards – Using resources efficiently and effectively and wisely leveraging strengths. Collaborative & Inclusive – Cultivating and sustaining relationships, while encouraging the mobilization of the marketplace assets to enhance growth. Approachable – Being visible and accessible and creating a friendly, vibrant and respectful environment. Innovative – Embracing change and promoting progressive solutions. Ethical – Communicating openly and honestly and taking responsibility for actions in all business practices. ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE Team members within the Greater Mankato Growth family are professional and committed. They describe the organization’s culture as: • Service oriented and focused on the community • Forward thinking; creative; open to change and improvement • Energized and future-oriented • Collaborative and easy going, with good work-life balance • A changing culture, still integrating together; getting used to working more collaboratively; getting used to “working under one roof” 8 THE POSITION… President & Chief Executive Officer of Greater Mankato Growth OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION The President & CEO of the Greater Mankato Growth is the chief executive officer of the organization which is comprised of four business units, as well as the Greater Mankato Growth Foundation. This is a prominent position with high impact and visibility throughout the region. The President & CEO supervises a full-time staff of 22 across four business units in the day to day functions of the organization. This role interacts frequently with Greater Mankato Growth members, elected officials, peer organizations, media and the general business community. This position is open due to the retirement and untimely passing of Jonathan Zierdt,