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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260512
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260917
DTSTAMP:20260616T195117
CREATED:20260322T235315Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T210728Z
UID:10000220-1778544000-1789603199@dawnmn.org
SUMMARY:THE BUSINESS TRANSITION ROAD TOUR
DESCRIPTION:Northspan · Succession Planning 101 \n🧭 The Business Transition Road Tour\nA free series helping business owners plan early for the future transition of leadership and ownership. \n\n🗓️ May – September 2026\n📍 4 Chamber locations\n🎟️ Free to attend\n\nSee upcoming dates ↓\n\nNorthspan is excited to invite you to our Business Transition Road Tour\, a series designed to help business owners prepare for the future transition of leadership and ownership. \nSuccession Planning 101 introduces owners to the importance of planning early\, highlights the risks of delaying decisions\, and reframes succession planning as a long-term business strategy. \nParticipants will learn when and how to begin\, how to involve trusted advisors\, and how Northspan’s Discover\, Prepare\, Decide framework supports business value\, financial security\, and long-term stability. Join us at one of the upcoming sessions at a Chamber of Commerce near you! \nUpcoming dates\n\n\nMay12\nCarlton Area Chamber of Commerce\nCompleted\n\n\nJun11\nHermantown Area Chamber of Commerce\nRegister →\n\n\nAug18\nGrand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce\nRegister →\n\n\nSep16\nCloquet Area Chamber of Commerce\nLink coming soon\n\n\nWhy choose Northspan for business valuation?\nAt Northspan\, our business valuation services are led by Zack Filipovich\, a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) with a deep understanding of the regional business landscape. \nZack brings a strategic\, data-driven approach to every valuation\, ensuring your business is assessed with the most up-to-date and accurate information possible. Whether you’re planning for succession\, seeking financing\, or preparing for a sale\, Northspan delivers valuations that provide insight and actionable information for your decision-making process — backed by personalized service and a commitment to your long-term success. \nLimited-time grant: Businesses in the Taconite Assistance Area and the City of Duluth can access Northspan’s expert valuation services at half the usual cost. Available first-come\, first-served until funds are fully allocated.\n\nCurious what your business is worth? \nEmail Zack → \nor call (218) 481-7737
URL:https://dawnmn.org/event/the-business-transition-road-tour/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260618T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260618T160000
DTSTAMP:20260616T195117
CREATED:20260322T232427Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260615T233414Z
UID:10000216-1781773200-1781798400@dawnmn.org
SUMMARY:Built to Last: Business Legacy & Ownership Summit
DESCRIPTION:DAWN MN Presents \nBuilt to Last: Business Legacy & Ownership Summit\nA full‑day\, no‑cost summit on employee ownership as a pathway to business growth\, succession\, and long‑term stability — for owners\, employees\, lenders\, and advisors. \nThursday\, June 18\, 20269:00 AM – 4:00 PMBraham Event CenterFree · Breakfast & lunch included\nRSVP — Save Your Spot\nWhy Attend \nWhat You’ll Leave With\nPractical guidance\, real‑world examples\, and clear next steps for keeping businesses local\, retaining jobs\, and building community wealth. \n\n\n\nA Clear Understanding\nEmployee ownership and legacy transition options\, explained in plain language. \n\n\n\nReal Examples\nHow employee ownership supports business continuity and growth. \n\n\n\nThe Right Connections\nTechnical assistance providers and financing partners ready to help. \n\n\n\nClear Next Steps\nAn action path toward stable employment and stronger local economies. \n\n\n\nPlan Your Day \nAgenda\nNo cost to attend. Light breakfast and lunch provided. Whether you’re an owner weighing what’s next\, an advisor supporting succession\, or a lender exploring transition tools — there’s a track for you. \n\nMorning Program\n\n9:00 – 9:30 AM\n\nRegistration & Light Breakfast\nArrive early to connect with peers\, speakers\, and resource partners. \n\n\n\n9:30 – 9:40 AM\n\nWelcome & Opening Remarks\nKirsten Kennedy\, Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MN CEO) \nSetting the stage for a day focused on business legacy\, continuity\, and ownership. \n\n\n\n9:40 – 9:50 AM\n\nIntroducing CoMN\nKatie Marty\, CoMN \nA brief introduction to CoMN and Minnesota’s cooperative network. \n\n\n\n9:50 – 10:20 AM\n\nBroad Overview: Paths to Employee Ownership\nKirsten Kennedy (MN CEO) and Char Vrieze (Cooperative Development Services) \nAn accessible introduction to employee ownership: \n\nWhat employee ownership is and why it matters\nCommon ownership models\nWhen employee ownership is — and is not — a good fit\n\n\n\n\n10:20 – 11:10 AM\n\nOwnership Panel: Real Stories from the Field\nModerated by Kirsten Kennedy (MN CEO) \nHear directly from business owners and employee-owners who have lived an ownership transition — their motivations\, challenges\, lessons learned\, and outcomes. \n\nBen Holder\, Plastic Products Company (ESOP)\nLeah Goldstein-Moses\, The Improve Group (Worker-Owned Cooperative)\nJeremy White\, CodeWeavers (Employee Ownership Trust)\nKathy Lindo\, Lindo Farms (Family-Owned Business)\n\n\n\n\n11:10 – 11:50 AM\n\nSmall Business Resource Roundup: Who to Call\, When & Why\nModerated by Elissa Hansen\, Northspan \nQuick\, practical overviews of the support ecosystem — what each organization does\, how to engage\, and what to bring to your first meeting. \n\nKatie Heppner\, SBDC\nNancy Hoffman\, Chisago County HRA-EDA\nNicole Deters\, LegalCorps\nDarold Berreau\, SCORE\nMaddy LeClaire\, DEED SBAO\n\n\n\n\n11:50 – 12:00 PM\n\nMorning Wrap & Afternoon Track Overview\nElissa Hansen\, Northspan \nHow to choose the right afternoon sessions for your goals. \n\n\n\n12:00 – 1:00 PM\n\nLunch — Beyond the Bank: Unlocking Capital Through Non-Traditional Lending\nModerated by Zack Filipovich\, Northspan \nConnect over lunch and meet organizations supporting ownership transitions and capital access: \n\nJordan Zeller\, East Central Development Commission\nNadene Kruise\, Midwest Business Finance Corporation (MBFC)\nShawn Wellnitz\, Entrepreneur Fund\nDoug Adams\, Initiative Foundation\nMatt Heggernes\, East Central Energy\n\n\n\n\n\n1:00 – 3:00 PM · Choose One \nAfternoon Concurrent Tracks\nParticipants choose one track and stay with it for the afternoon. \n\n\nTrack A\nTransactions & Succession Readiness\nRoom A\n1:00 – 1:50 PMHow to Finance an Ownership TransitionRyan Sperling (Eide Bailly)\, Mark Fick (Shared Capital)\, Jeff Cairns (Retired ESOP CPA/Attorney)\, and Darren Mozenter (MCCD).\n2:00 – 2:50 PMSuccession Planning & ValuationsElissa Hansen & Zack Filipovich\, Northspan.\n\n\nTrack B\nModels\, Benefits & Getting Started\nRoom B\n1:00 – 1:50 PMESOPs\, EOTs & Worker-Owned Co-opsKirk Lindemann (Eide Bailly)\, Christina Nicholson (Nexus)\, Char Vrieze (Cooperative Development Services)\, and Leah Goldstein-Moses (The Improve Group).\n2:00 – 2:50 PMGetting Started & Clearing Up MisconceptionsMark Fick (Shared Capital)\, Jeff Cairns (Retired ESOP CPA/Attorney)\, and Darren Mozenter (Common Trust).\n\n\nTrack C\nAdvisor Edge Clinic\nRoom C\n1:00 – 1:50 PMAdvisor Edge: Supporting Ownership TransitionsFor lenders\, accountants\, attorneys & TA providers. Facilitated by Kirsten Kennedy (MN CEO)\, with Ben Holder (Plastic Products)\, Fred Caslavka (Retired CPA\, ESOP)\, and Kathy Lindo (SBDC / Family Business).\n2:00 – 2:50 PMContinue in Track A or Track BAdvisor Edge participants choose the second session of either track — Succession Planning & Valuations (Track A) or Getting Started & Clearing Up Misconceptions (Track B).\n\n\n\n\n\nClosing\n\n3:00 – 3:30 PM\n\nClosing Remarks\, Valuation Winners & Next Steps\nKirsten Kennedy\, MN CEO \nKey takeaways\, next steps\, and wrap‑up. \n\n\n\n\n\nReady to build something that lasts?\nSeats are free but limited — reserve yours today. \nRSVP Today\nCo‑hosted by MN CEO\, Northspan\, ECRDC\, and SBDC.
URL:https://dawnmn.org/event/built-to-last-business-legacy-ownership-summit/
LOCATION:Braham Event Center\, 655 SW 8th Street\, Braham\, 55006\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260728T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260729T170000
DTSTAMP:20260616T195117
CREATED:20260322T233344Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T210728Z
UID:10000217-1785225600-1785344400@dawnmn.org
SUMMARY:Minnesota Cooperative Summit
DESCRIPTION:Second Annual · Meeting the Moment \n🤝 Minnesota Cooperative Summit\nA statewide gathering of cooperators\, community leaders\, and changemakers building a stronger Minnesota — together. \n\n🗓️ July 28–29\, 2026\n📍 College of St. Scholastica\, Duluth\n🎟️ Scholarships available\n\nRegister Today →\n\nJoin cooperators\, community leaders\, and changemakers from across the state for the Second Annual Minnesota Cooperative Summit\, coming to Duluth this July. \nCooperatives are built for this moment. Rooted in shared ownership\, democratic decision-making\, and long-term thinking\, co-ops play a critical role in Minnesota’s economic resilience — from succession planning and inclusive entrepreneurship to addressing complex challenges that can’t be solved alone. \nBuilding on the success of the sold-out inaugural summit in Morris\, MN — which brought together 200 cooperators — this year’s event goes even further\, connecting people across sectors and generations to strengthen communities through cooperation. \nAt the summit\, you’ll\n\nLearn about the power and versatility of the cooperative model\nExplore how co-ops drive economic resiliency and long-term sustainability\nEngage with Minnesota’s rich history of cooperation\nGain inspiration from real-world cooperative success stories\nConnect with a diverse group of people committed to lasting change\n\nEvent highlights\n\nTwo days of learning\, connection\, and collaboration\nOptional co-op tours and a Tuesday evening dinner reception\nAffordable registration\, with scholarships available\nLodging options and optional bus transportation from the Twin Cities\nPlanned childcare (based on demand)\n\nCo-hosted by Minnesota Farmers Union\, The College of St. Scholastica\, CoMinnesota\, Northspan\, and the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission.\n\nLet’s build a better Minnesota — together. \nRegister Today → \nFull agenda\, speakers\, lodging\, and FAQs are on the registration page.Interested in speaking\, tabling\, or sponsoring? Email info@cominnesota.coop · mncooperativesummit.org
URL:https://dawnmn.org/event/minnesota-cooperative-summit/
LOCATION:College of St. Scholastica\, 1200 Kenwood Avenue\, Duluth\, MN\, 55811\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260819T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260819T210000
DTSTAMP:20260616T195117
CREATED:20260323T135737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T210728Z
UID:10000221-1787155200-1787173200@dawnmn.org
SUMMARY:Builder Lab: Idea Accelerator
DESCRIPTION:ILT Academy · Sponsored by Northspan’s DAWN Program \n🚀 Idea Accelerator Workshop\nA high-energy\, hands-on evening to turn your idea into real\, fundable action. \n\n📅 Wed\, Aug 19\, 2026\n🕔 5:00–8:00 PM CT\n📍 Ecolibrium3\, Duluth\n🎟️ Free with DAWN scholarship\n\nRegister Here →\n\n\nSchedule\n\n4:15 PMDoors open\n4:30–5:00 PMCheck-in — settle in\, connect\, and fuel up\n5:00–8:00 PMWorkshop (Central Time)\n8:00–9:00 PMHappy hour at Bent Paddle Brewing\n\n\n📍 \n\nEcolibrium3\n2014 W 3rd Street\, Duluth\, MN 55806\n\n\n\nAbout the workshop\nThis high-energy\, 3-hour Idea Accelerator Workshop is designed to help local leaders\, entrepreneurs\, and innovators turn ideas into action. Whether you’re just getting started or refining an existing concept\, this workshop delivers practical tools\, expert coaching\, and serious-fun collaboration to help you: \n\nExplore real market opportunities\nUnderstand your customers\nBuild a stronger foundation for your business or nonprofit idea\n\nThrough ILT Academy’s proven Innovation Framework\, you’ll take part in hands-on activities and peer-based feedback to sharpen your idea and confidently take next steps. You’ll leave with practical tools\, new insights\, and a clearer path to move your idea forward — come ready to work\, learn\, and level up! \n\n\nWho should attend?\nThis workshop is for anyone — of any age or background — who’s passionate about solving problems or building something new. It’s perfect for: \n\nAspiring entrepreneurs\nSmall business owners\nTribal & community leaders\nTech\, product\, service\, or nonprofit builders\nStudents\, educators\, or teams with bold ideas\n\n\nReady to move your idea forward? \nRegister Here →
URL:https://dawnmn.org/event/idea-accelerator-workshop/
LOCATION:Ecolibrium3\, 2014 W 3rd Street\, Duluth\, Minnesota\, 55806\, United States
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