Vreeman Consulting, LLC

05/28/2026

Have you used AI to tell your story? In less than 30 seconds, ChatGPT created this infographic. It's entirely accurate, with the hearts and all (my family looks for hearts in nature to remember God's love).

The prompt was "create an infographic of my story."

Try it! Please share yours in the comments or tag me if you post it.

Oh, and "Watch Me Moments" will be released soon! Stay tuned!

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05/18/2026

For all of the graduates: high school, college, masters, doctorates, etc..

My wish for you is that you realize that your degree is not primarily about learning, it's about connecting. The network you create will open doors - even 30 years later!

But the learning never ends. It becomes a part of you.

When life challenges you, I hope you remember how hard you worked to get to where you are today. Create a "brag book" of your accomplishments! You will surprise yourself over and over again because you did that, learned from it, and then did something even more awesome.

Be brave in your adventures. You are changing the world every day by being YOU.

And keep track of every moment that made you feel wonderful. Like this moment when we ended our Storytelling and Organization Decisions at the University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business. It was one of my favorite moments- going into my brag book!

Congratulations to the students who chose this class to complete their Masters journey and those who are on their elective journey.

I am so proud. And I miss them already.

05/18/2026

Process improvement is never just about processes. It’s about PEOPLE.

Over the past several months, we’ve had the opportunity to partner with the TURFCO leadership team on process improvement and leadership development through Century College.

Together at Turfco, we’ve mapped processes, identified opportunities, strengthened communication, and focused on creating better alignment across teams.

The best part? The conversations. These leaders are connecting in ways they haven't before. They can see the big picture- together.

Having them in one room every other week means that they are sharing ideas, successes, challenges, and building the company together.

It's powerful.

And in-between sessions is when the real work happens: when strong leadership and clear processes come together.

Our team is excited to see the momentum continue and proud of the impact.

And as the summer approaches, when you think about landscaping and turf for golf courses, sports fields, etc., look for Turfco equipment.

Turfco truly feels like family.

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05/09/2026

Such a cool experience for all of us - literally going back to our roots!

04/28/2026

Last night was a "PPM" - Proud Professor Moment.

Our Storytelling and Organization Decisions students at the University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business completed their Executive Presentations, graded by our executive panelists: John Mattson, Dianne Shelton, Brent Hill and Michelle Hutchison.

What stood out most wasn’t just the quality of the presentations; it was the growth. These students pushed beyond their comfort zones, leaned into each other’s strengths, and showed what’s possible when collaboration really clicks.

They delivered three presentations that were equally compelling, influential, and polished. It was honestly the strongest set I’ve seen since I began teaching this course.

Moments like this are why I love what I do. It's a true "PPM."

04/14/2026

This morning, I pulled into an unfamiliar parking lot - late, a little rushed, mind moving faster than I wanted it to.

And then, unexpectedly, I felt gratitude.

I was there to meet with my team. Not just for a meeting, but to celebrate something meaningful: a new business adventure for Breanne Kennedy.

Breanne has been a friend, an instructor on the VC team for years, and someone who consistently inspires all of us. Today wasn’t just about what she’s building next - it was about who she’s been along the way.

It struck me in that moment: even in the rush, even in the unknown, our team gets to be part of something that matters. We get to grow alongside people who challenge us, support us, and remind us what’s possible. We do big things and inspire others to do the same.

*And we choose to be together.*

Each of us had our own unique experience during the meeting - touring a new site, imagining opportunities ahead for all of us, and connecting in ways that matter more than anything else while enjoying coffee together.

Gratitude doesn’t always wait for the perfect moment. Sometimes, it meets you in a parking lot and grows from there.

AND In that same parking lot after our meeting, Kelly McIntee, Thomas Stuck, MBA and I continued the conversation - How can we help each other? What can we learn? How are we using AI? What organizations need our help? How can we help them?

The sign at the front of The Coven Richfield says it all: DO THE MOST GOOD.

That's what my team focuses on every. single. day.

I cannot be more grateful.

02/20/2026

What a week it’s been!
On Monday, I had the honor of serving as a guest professor in an undergraduate Change Leadership course at the University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business. These students are nearing graduation in the HR Leadership Program. While I’ve taught in the MBA program for four years, I was reminded just how special undergraduate students are - they truly have the world at their feet.

Their curiosity.
Their optimism.
Their willingness to wrestle with real leadership challenges before they even step fully into their careers.
It’s inspiring.

Then on Wednesday, we kicked off our AI Certification Program through Century College and launched AI Executive Coaching for owners and leaders ready to leverage AI in their world of work.

From students preparing to lead change…To executives navigating it in real time.
The common thread?
Leadership in a rapidly evolving world.

Grateful to be in rooms where people are choosing to learn, stretch, and grow. The future of leadership is being shaped right now — and I’m energized to be part of it.

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12/17/2025

I just learned that I was nominated for the Julie Hays Teaching Award at the University of St. Thomas for my Storytelling: Influencing Organizational Decisions course.

I was nominated by a student, and because nominations are anonymous, I don't get to thank the student directly (unless you reach out to me!).

The email read:
By virtue of your nomination, you have demonstrated the teaching principles that Julie Hays stood for:
· Active engagement with students.
· Ability to stretch and challenge students.
· Concern for the student as a whole person.
· Creative approaches to teaching or the development of effective teaching materials.
· Enthusiasm and passion for teaching.

If you know me even a little bit, you know that this nomination means the world to me (and yes, I did tear up a bit).

I am not eligible for the award because I don't meet the criteria (3 years as a full-time professor), but that's not important to me at all.

What is important to me is that an incredible professional who is working on their MBA while probably working a full-time job took the time to nominate me. That is enough.

I am so grateful.

To all of my students (former and future), I am always here for you.

11/25/2025

What Is the American Dream?

On Monday night, our house was full—full of teenagers, full of laughter, full of that kind of beautifully chaotic energy that only a group of high schoolers can bring. They’re all part of “Higher,” a program at our church, and they decided they wanted to spend more time together than what’s scheduled. So they showed up, spread out in our house (multiple levels), and made themselves at home.

My heart soared.

Then on Tuesday, I was working in my office when one of our “bonus daughters” quietly slipped in after school. I didn’t even realize she was there until I heard a gentle, “Can I interview you for a school assignment?”

I set aside my to-do list for what I assumed would be a few quick questions.
Instead, it became a moment I didn’t want to end—one that, truthfully, still hasn’t.

Because she asked me this:

“How would you describe the American Dream?”

I invited her to sit in my work chair while I settled into a comfortable spot, grounding myself for the depth I knew was coming. And when I finally answered, the words felt both old and new:

My American Dream is the Melting Pot.

For more of the blog, click here:

What Is the American Dream? Where did Thanksgiving come from? On Monday night, our house was full—full of teenagers, full of laughter, full of that kind of beautifully chaotic energy that only a gr…

11/13/2025

🌿 Finding Wings (and Staying Grounded)
I began my career with one simple goal: to help people.
In those early days, I worked at a campground (Beaver Trails in Austin, MN), where my “job description” included everything from cleaning toilets to learning new supervisor skills alongside people who were nothing like me — and laughing a lot along the way. We were a team in the truest sense.

Looking back, I realize how those moments shaped me. I was a friend — maybe even a role model — to a child who is now part of my family through marriage. It’s funny how when you love people, they often circle back into your life. Even now, when I see her in her 30s, I still picture that 8-year-old smile.

As my career unfolded, I worked in many organizations — always leaving pieces of my heart behind with the people I served. My hope has always been that they remember to believe in themselves, even if life moves us in different directions.

From 2001 to 2015, I worked at Hennepin County, helping people, leaders, and the entire organization get crystal clear about what we hoped to achieve for our residents. I was all in — so much so that I moved into the county to live where I served.

During those years, I had the privilege to learn across departments, understand how success was measured, and work with incredible teams to make things better. Together, we started Lean In Hennepin (the county’s first Employee Resource Group), as well as the Hennepin 5K and Hennepin Toastmasters. We implemented the Results Only Work Environment (ROWE) and I developed and launched the Focus on Results Program, which later expanded to the City of Minneapolis.

I loved that job — and the people — so much that when my first baby was born, our team meetings were held at my house. Each teammate took turns holding sweet Emelia while we brainstormed how to make the county better.

By 2015, I had aspirations that stretched beyond my current role. It was bittersweet — leaving behind colleagues who felt like family. My boss and I worked together to find the right next step, and I didn’t take a leap... I took a step — literally across the street — to the City of Minneapolis, this time as an independent consultant. He’s been my anchor ever since.

💫 The purpose of this story, friends, is simple:
Find your wings when you need them.
Seek out friends (even bosses) who help you find them.
And if you’re steady where you are — take a moment to recognize the goodness you’re already bringing to the world, and the potential still ahead.
Let the world — the Universe — help you become your best you.

And as my wise friend Kylie Bjork reminds me:
👉 Eliminate the noise and just focus. We are in this together.