Enterprise Minnesota

08/26/2026

Manufacturers who treat continuous improvement as a management philosophy (as opposed to a one-time investment) see reduced employee turnover, higher quality production, and sustained, profitable growth.

Join CI expert Greg Hunsaker on September 24th in Savage to learn new ways to build a culture of engagement where your people become daily problem solvers. Greg will share simple techniques for connecting employees to company goals through clear metrics and a proven structure to keep your CI momentum going.

Exclusive to manufacturers, register here: https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/event/continuous-improvement-sep-24-2026/

This workshop is ideal for manufacturers who know basic lean concepts yet seek a higher level of continuous improvement.

Thanks to Guide Technologies, Olsen Thielen CPAs, and UMB Bank for their support of this event.

08/24/2026

We kick off the State of Manufacturing® survey this month — and one of our favorite parts of the process is back: regional focus groups with manufacturing executives across Minnesota.

Register for a focus group: https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/event_category/focus-groups/
Register for a regional event: https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/event_category/som-release-events/

After facilitating countless focus groups over the years, one thing is clear: the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Talking one-on-one with 10 manufacturers never surfaces what comes out when they're all in the room together.

The survey itself is underway through September, run by Meeting Street Insights, led by pollster Rob Autry, with us since day one 18 years ago. This year we're digging into how executives are navigating economic uncertainty — inflation, interest rates, and expectations for profitability and capital spending in 2027.

If you're a manufacturing executive: please take the call or email from our pollster, and register for one of our eight regional focus groups - we want to hear how things are going for you.

08/17/2026

Is your company one of Minnesota's 400+ defense contractors? The federal government just paused part of its CMMC cybersecurity certification program — but that doesn't mean your compliance obligations disappeared.

We talked with cybersecurity expert Grant Burns about what manufacturers need to know: how to tell if the rules apply to you, why company leaders (not just IT) are on the hook, and why companies that stay audit-ready protect themselves from liability and often gain a competitive edge, winning business by producing a certificate instead of filling out lengthy security questionnaires.

Learn why Minnesota defense contractors should keep strengthening cyber safeguards now, in this week's Weekly Report: https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/remain-vigilant/

Stay ahead of stories like this one — subscribe to The Weekly Report, Enterprise Minnesota's weekly newsletter for manufacturing leaders: https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/subscribe/

06/29/2026

Are you a manufacturing business owner starting to think about what comes next? Join us July 9, 9:30–11:30 a.m. at Productivity Inc. in Plymouth for Enterprise Minnesota's manufacturing workshop on exit planning led by Enterprise Minnesota business growth consultant Steve Haarstad, a Certified Exit Planning Advisor who helps manufacturers explore their options long before any decisions have to be made. With more than half of Minnesota's business owners age 55 or older, the question of succession is increasingly top of mind — and this workshop is designed for owners who want a structured, low-pressure way to think it through. Steve will walk through the "three-legged stool" of exit planning — the business, your personal goals, and the financial picture — helping you understand how to strengthen your company's value, close the gap between what you'll need in retirement and what you hold outside the business, and plan for what you're running toward, not just what you're leaving behind. This event is free and exclusive to manufacturers, but registration is required. https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/event/succession-jul-9-2026/

06/04/2026

"Our goal has always been to help manufacturers grow profitably," said Mark O'Leary in an interview with the Minnesota Star Tribune, "and right now that means meeting them where they are — and where they are is navigating real uncertainty. We’re seeing strong demand for strategic planning, leadership development and continuous improvement, all aimed at growing profits and building resilience against headwinds outside their control."

Read the full article online: https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-factories-inflation-tariffs-iran-war-enterprise-minnesota-ceo-mark-oleary/601642124

In road trips across Minnesota, O'Leary has so far met with over 50 manufacturers to gain a deeper understanding of what companies are doing and how organizations like Enterprise Minnesota can help them navigate uncertainty, keep growing, and continue being employers of choice in their communities. One of those companies, Seacole, has been at the forefront of growth and innovation in custom chemical formulation and is a strong client of Enterprise Minnesota's business consulting services. We appreciate CEO Gregg Elliott opening his company's doors to give Mark a tour for this article.

If your company could use expert advice for navigating economic headwinds, Enterprise Minnesota is here to help – Give us a call.

06/01/2026

Continuous Improvement is a cornerstone of modern manufacturing - applying daily improvements to people and processes that add up over time and help a manufacturing company grow profitably.
Learn more and register: https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/event/continuous-improvement-june-4-2026/

If your CI efforts need a boost or your team could use a refresh, join expert Ryan Steinert on June 4th in Detroit Lakes. He'll show you how to apply continuous improvement initiatives that deliver measurable results - lowering costs, increasing value, and improving productivity. Many of these actions can be taken without financial investment, you just need to know where to look.

This workshop is provided at no cost and is exclusive to manufacturers. Special thanks to Guide Technologies and PRO Resources for their support of this event and others like it.

05/28/2026

The Summer 2026 issue of Enterprise Minnesota® magazine is out now — and it's a good one!
Read it here: https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/magazine/summer-2026/

From a jaw-dropping automated cabinet factory in St. Joseph, to a Minneapolis startup making magnets that could change the world, to a frank conversation with Minnesota lawmakers about the future of manufacturing in our state — this issue is full of stories that inspire, inform, and maybe even surprise you.

Whether you're a manufacturer, a workforce advocate, or just someone who believes in what Minnesota makes, there's something in here for you.

05/05/2026

When Innovation Meets Reality. Read it: https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/articles/spring-2026/when-innovation-meets-reality/
Infinity Mattz developed a standout product to change the industrial market. Now they have to sell it. The Warroad-based brand has developed a product so innovative it could be a game changer for several industries, including construction and mining. But first it needs to implement a go-to-market strategy that gives it significant traction. They’ve built it, but how do they get customers to come knocking?

Infinity’s experience offers a case study in four distinct challenges — and solutions — for companies that develop market-changing products. Here’s a look at what Infinity’s leaders are facing, what they’ve done, and the lessons they’re learning about getting started that may feel familiar to any innovation-based manufacturing firm.

Read all about how Infinity Mattz is offering an alternative to an industry standard.

04/28/2026

Four decades after its founding, the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation helps its communities thrive.
Read more: https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/celebrating-40-years-of-partnership-in-southern-minnesota/

Walking into a room of more than 300 people and feeling like you’ve stumbled into a family reunion— even when you don’t know a lot of the faces—tells you something important about an organization. That was Lynn Shelton's experience last week at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) in Faribault, where the full-capacity crowd exuded a sense of gratitude and excitement.

What makes SMIF remarkable isn’t just what it funds—entrepreneurship, early childhood education, and small-town vitality—it’s the philosophy behind the funding. “When we invest in entrepreneurship, we’re investing in the builders of our region,” Benya Kraus, SMIF’s executive director noted. “When we invest in early childhood, it’s the belief that future generations of this place matter.” That long view, sustained for 40 years, is rare. And in rural communities that don’t always have access to the resources available to larger cities, it has been nothing short of essential.

04/21/2026

Manufacturers — are your lean efforts sticking? On May 7, our Empowering Continuous Improvement workshop at Anoka Technical College will show you how to engage your team as daily problem solvers, turning incremental improvements into lasting results for your customers, your bottom line, and your people. Exclusive to manufacturers.

Register today at: https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/event/continuous-improvement-may-7-2026/

Thanks to Boyum Barenscheer, Marsh McLennan Agency, and Widseth for their support of this workshop.

May 7, 2026 Manufacturing workshop. Learn critical skills to find and eliminate the 8 deadly wastes and continue your lean journey.