Shows
Unscripted with VersiqueCaring, Challenging and Fun! Pulte Homes' Jamie Tharp Leads with 1% Improvement Each DayIt's not always the big decisions or key moments that make a difference. In fact, those moments are often set up by a series of incremental events. That's why Pulte Homes Minnesota Division President Jamie Tharp encourages her team to improve by 1% per day. In this download, Jamie shares her path to leadership with Kathy & Dardy, a journey that required grit, determination and strong belief in herself.Connect with Versique
2025-11-2544 min
Unscripted with VersiquePeter Stenehjem: Fourth Generation Family Banker Brings His Personal Touch to MSPFounded as Farmer's State Bank in the small town of Arnegard, North Dakota, First International Bank & Trust has grown to serve rural and urban communities across Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. In this episode, it's all about family as Kathy & Dardy welcome fourth generation family CEO Peter Stenehjem to share how his family has kept banking in their bloodline for over 115 years.Connect with Versique
2025-11-1131 min
Unscripted with VersiquePJ Hill: Winning With Authenticity and Never Sacrificing for AcceptancePJ Hill has been a winner at all levels and in multiple professions by simply never, ever giving up. No money? No worries... No car? He'll find a way. Every time opportunity has called, he's answered, no matter what it takes to make it happen. In this inspiring episode, Kathy & Dardy let PJ's game do the talking. The NorthRock Partners financial advisor shares how he found success on the court, and in the business world. Plus, why his goal is to make 1,000 women and minorities millionaires.Connect with Versique
2025-10-211h 12
Unscripted with VersiqueJames Hereford: Believe in Your People and Teams to Achieve SuccessJames Hereford grew up in rural Montana, and while helping his father birth a calf realized that wasn't his calling. While he didn't know it at the time, it was the end of his ranching career and the beginning of a successful career in health care. Kathy & Dardy welcome the Fairview Health Services President and CEO open the fall season of Unscripted by VersiqueConnect with Versique
2025-10-0754 min
Unscripted with VersiqueProject for Pride in Living President & CEO Karla Henderson: Making Non-Profits Sexy Again!Karla started college at age 24, taking her little boy with her to Michigan State University where she earned her degree in Public Resource Management in just four years. She gained significant experience serving under Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, who led the revitalization of the Motor City. In this impactful episode, PPL President & CEO Karla Henderson sits down with Kathy & Dardy to share her career and life journey.Connect with Versique
2025-08-2656 min
Unscripted with VersiqueNavigate Forward CEO Anne Sample: Why a Lifequake Shouldn't Shake Your Career FoundationShe's held high level HR roles at Whirlpool, Pepsi (twice), Citibank, and in tech, financial services and food & beverage. So "lifequakes" come with the territory when you're navigating the world of big business. In this download, Anne Sample joins Kathy & Dardy to share her journey through corporate America to small business owner, and why communication is the key to success at every level.Connect with Versique
2025-08-121h 01
Unscripted with VersiqueDan Schwarz: A Neighborhood Poker Party Leads to a Brewery, Then Full-Circle Back to His Family BusinessDan Schwarz can thank his wife Katie for at least pointing him in the right direction for success. She was the one involved in the neighborhood book and wine clubs, so Dan decided to start a poker party. That's where he met Brad Glynn, who shared his dream of owning a brewery. The two teamed up to found the popular Lift Bridge Brewing Company. Then, just over a year ago, Dan decided to return to the family business he grew up in, Jonti-Craft, maker of children's furniture. In this fascinating download, Dan shares his entrepreneurial journey with Kathy & Dardy.
2025-07-2935 min
Unscripted with VersiqueSteve Grove: How I Found Myself in the Midwest - A Memoir of ReinventionHe's not only climbed the corporate career ladder, he's explored exotic and faraway places on his journey to become CEO and Publisher of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Stops in Tanzania, Japan, Thailand and India, then back in the US, hired as employee #85 at Google. Ultimately, like most Minnesotans who leave their home state, he found his way back and wrote a fascinating book about it. In this intriguing episode, Steve joins Kathy & Dardy to share his travels, experience and what makes the Midwest, and Minnesota in particular, so special.Connect with Versique
2025-07-1553 min
Unscripted with VersiqueLuke Gaalswyk: Lessons From Military Service Apply to Executive Leadership GrowthIntegrity, collaboration and listening: Those three key words describe how District Energy St. Paul CEO Luke Gaalswyk motivates and inspires his team. The U.S. Air Force veteran has made the most of his engineering experience and teamwork in the military, ascending to the C-Suite at Ever-Green Energy in September 2022. Luke shares his life and career journey with Kathy & Chris in this inspiring episode.Connect with Versique
2025-07-0239 min
Unscripted with VersiqueChris Heim: How a People First Approach and Endurance Sports Play a Role in C-Suite SuccessHe grew up in a small Iowa town and wasn't even sure he'd go to college. But that changed one day after stocking shelves at Hy-Vee, and led Chris on an amazing career journey that combined his curiosity and tech savvy with his endless appetite for learning and growth. The Fortra Executive Chairman sits down with Kathy & Dardy to offer why being a vulnerable and transparent leader resonates, and he shares why he took on the role of Mayor of Medicine Lake.Connect with Versique
2025-06-1753 min
Unscripted with VersiqueTia Newcomer: The Ability to Adapt and Empower Your Leadership in Different OrganizationsHer journalism and mass communications degree (with three minors) at Nebraska led to a role in... sales. That pivot at the outset of her career put Tia Newcomer on an ascending path through with the titans of industry- Revlon, Clorox, Frito Lay, HP, and later venture capital. Ultimately, a "life quake" led her to join Caringbridge as CEO. In this episode, she sits down with Kathy & Dardy to share how she's adapted, and excelled, in very different roles.Connect with Versique
2025-06-0346 min
Unscripted with VersiqueMarisa Williams: Bringing Business Leadership to the World of Non-ProfitHer title reads CEO of Girl Scouts River Valleys, but in reality, she's a coach, cheerleader and accountability partner for her team and corporate partners. In this episode, Marisa Williams shares how she's channeled her strengths and transformed from a leader in the corporate world, to transforming the Girl Scouts across the Twin Cities and beyond.Connect with Versique
2025-05-2048 min
Unscripted with VersiqueBridgewater Bank EVP & CSO Mary Jayne Crocker: Curiosity Is a Key Ingredient in Leadership SuccessAs many of us have experienced throughout our careers, the best way to learn is by doing- whether you have experience with the task at hand or not. Never led a private company into an IPO? No worries, you'll figure it out! In this episode MJ shares what inspired her career trajectory, and the unique challenges she's overcome thanks to her natural curiosity.Connect with Versique
2025-04-2239 min
Thrive with R3Leading with Balance and PurposeIn this episode of Thrive with R3, hosts Jamie Gassmann and Dr. George Vergolias sit down with three inspiring female leaders for the first women’s panel discussion — featuring Kathy Robideau, Chief Growth Officer at Versique; Sara Dziuk, President and CEO at Junior Achievement North, and Elisha Engelen, Human Capital Solution Client Leader at Aon —for an insightful discussion on authenticity, leadership, and workplace wellbeing. They explore how embracing emotions, modeling work-life balance, and taking ownership of one’s career path can create stronger, more resilient leaders. Through personal stories and candid reflections, they share the challenges they’ve faced, the...
2025-04-0839 min
Unscripted with VersiqueThe Right Guy at the Right Time: Adam Duininck Brings the Skills and Mindset to Re-Energize Downtown MinneapolisHe grew up near the farming community of Willmar in Western Minnesota, and despite deep family ties to a rural lifestyle Adam Duininck always aspired to live, work and move the needle in a big city. So how did a kid from the country become such a force in the city as President & CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council? In this episode, Adam explains how he navigates today's challenging political divide to build relationships and trust, to work toward common goals and civic projects that everyone can enjoy. Connect with Versique
2025-04-0846 min
Unscripted with VersiquePeanut Butter & Jelly TV CFO Andre Creighton: From Corporate Finance to Startup Leadership, It's More Than Just NumbersThere's comfort in a C-Suite corporate role, but it can also trigger the question of "what if?" Andre Creighton has successfully played on both sides of the ball. He's a visionary finance leader, with high profile past roles at Cargill and SPIRE Credit Union. He's also launched a startup and now is charged with the CFO and revenue role at PB&J TV. In this download, Kathy & Chris explore Andre's unique career journey, and his commitment to the MSP community.Connect with Versique
2025-03-2537 min
Unscripted with VersiqueMenttium CEO Missy Chicre: "You Have One Life, How Do You Want to Live It?"Her unique background, experience, and curiosity led from academia to consulting, then leadership roles at Best Buy and Cargill. And then, in that "what's next?" moment, the opportunity to devote her experience to advancing women's leadership led her to Menttium. In this episode Missy Chicre joins Kathy & Dardy to retrace her path to professional success, while foregoing work-life balance to create one fulfilling journey.Connect with Versique
2025-03-1150 min
Unscripted with VersiqueAncoats Construction Founder & President David Wood: Leave Your Comfort Zone and Chase Your DreamsHe followed in his father's footsteps, and during a decade at Mortenson rose from an intern to a market sector leader at the Minneapolis construction giant. David Wood could've settled in for a long and lucrative career with few career risks. Instead, he chose to start from scratch, founding his own construction company, Ancoats. In this revealing episode, Coats shares key events from his local upbringing that could've derailed his life, and his career. Instead, he leveraged setbacks into comebacks, and is now growing his own company.Connect with Versique
2025-02-2549 min
Unscripted with VersiqueScott Burns: Veteran Entrepreneur's Advice - Forget About "Failing Fast" and Focus on SuccessThe word "entrepreneur" has become a cliche in a world where almost everyone has a side hustle. But Scott Burns in truly an entrepreneur in every sense of the definition: an individual who's created and built successful businesses from scratch, while assuming all risks of the enterprise. In this episode, the general partner at Mairs & Power VC shares insight from a lifetime of innovation at the intersection of the public and private sectors, including his most successful ventures, GovDelivery and Structural.Connect with Versique
2025-01-2154 min
Off the RecordOff the Record’s original podcast hosts Kathy Robideau and Dave Faust reconvene for finale episodeIn a wrap-up episode of Off the Record, the original hosts Kathy Robideau, now the chief growth officer at Versique, and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank, join Jen Hellman, president and CEO of Goff Public, in a memorable conversation. The two special guests open up about their own career journeys and what they’ve learned by going “off the record” over the past 49 episodes with Twin Cities business leaders. “It’s so inspiring to watch the risks people take and the bets they place on themselves and how they do it,” says Faust. Listen to th...
2024-12-2352 min
Unscripted with VersiqueWashburn Center for Children CEO Craig Warren: A Military Mindset and Passion for Helping ChildrenWhile he wasn't a military brat, he moved like one in his formative years. That exposure to different people and cultures, his service to our country, and his career journey into the private sector have all shaped the inspirational leader that Craig Warren is today. In this engaging conversation with Kathy & Chis, Craig shares his life and career journey which has led him to a critical role in the future of children across the Twin Cities.Connect with Versique
2024-12-1058 min
Unscripted with VersiqueAmy Ronneberg: Tell Her "No" and Then Look Out! How a Small Town Kid Rewrote the Rules to Reach the C-SuiteSuccessful executives who grew up in small towns, didn't attend the Ivy League schools, or were told they weren't qualified for leadership roles all have one thing in common: A burning desire to prove people wrong. Amy Ronneberg has done just that, every step of the way on her career path. Amy boldly states that "being authentic is my superpower", and her passion to break personal and professional boundaries is why she's now the CEO of NMDP, saving lives worldwide.Connect with Versique
2024-11-2641 min
Unscripted with VersiqueNo Looking Back: Gillette Children's Leader Barbara Joers Focuses on the Future and Grows Leaders from the Bottom UpAs the President and CEO of Gillette Children's Hospital, Barbara Joers not only navigates the complicated world of healthcare, but the emotional aspect of the providers she leads and the patients and families they all care for. In this inspiring episode, Barbara reveals key moments on her own leadership journey, and how she empowers everyone to contribute by learning from the past, but focusing on the future to find solutions and improve care.Connect with Versique
2024-11-1256 min
Unscripted with VersiqueBell Bank President Erin Procko Shares How Old Fashioned Customer Service and Servant Leadership Drive SuccessGrowing up in Duluth, Erin Procko's parents were her biggest influence as she considered a career in the legal profession. But she worked at a bank while in college and fell in love with that career path. In this episode, Erin shares her perspective on leadership- why it's all about your team, and serving others.Connect with Versique
2024-10-2931 min
Unscripted with VersiqueWelcome Kathy! Versique Makes a Statement Hire, Adding a Respected Business LeaderYou know her as the Publisher and Market President of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal—make that former. While you were away over the summer, Kathy Robideau stepped into the role of Chief Growth Officer at Versique. It's a full-circle moment, as Versique CEO Tony Sorensen placed Kathy at MSPBJ 14 years ago and watched her rise from an advertising executive to one of the highest-profile business leadership roles in the Twin Cities. In this episode, Versique's President of Interim Solutions, Chris Dardis, welcomes Kathy to the team as she shares her passion for business—and, more importantly, for the...
2024-10-1531 minOff the RecordDan Vansteenburg, Spin the Planet CEO, on what happens when you change your mindsetAs Dan Vansteenburg knows, mindset can make the difference between success and failure. Now the CEO of Spin the Planet, which owns and operates 46 Jimmy John's franchise stores and other restaurants, Vansteenburg admits he had to overcome a lot of challenges during his school years. He was small and unathletic for his age and a “horrible student,” Vansteenburg tells Off the Record podcast hosts Kathy Robideau, former market president and publisher for the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank, in this episode. But one day, after his family moved to Br...
2024-06-241h 02Off the RecordJill Renslow, chief marketing officer with Mall of America, on embracing what’s new in retail and entertainmentNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.When Jill Renslow saw the joy she could create for others as the events chair with her college’s American Marketing Association chapter, she knew the event marketing field was right for her.Deciding her dream job at Disney presented a geographic challenge after getting engaged to her college sweetheart, the Minnesota-based Renslow set her sights on “the Disney that’s closer to home” — in her case, the Mall of America (MOA).She started as an events intern in 1997. N...
2024-06-1057 minOff the RecordMarvin CEO Paul Marvin on committing to showing up and being presentNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Paul Marvin is part of the fourth generation of his family to be involved with the eponymous family business. As the CEO and board chair of Warroad, Minnesota-based Marvin, he has learned a lot about building the highest-quality windows and doors over the years — but he’s also learned what’s equally important when it comes to a family business. “To be a family business in perpetuity, which we aspire to be, you have to be a parent,” Marvin, who has six kid...
2024-05-2756 minOff the RecordCale Johnston, founder and CEO of Roy and former CEO of ClickSWITCH, on his entrepreneurial drive and his legacyNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Cale Johnston enjoyed noteworthy success with his first fintech startup, ClickSWITCH, which he sold in 2021. But despite his positive experience, Johnston is prioritizing a smaller-scale legacy as he looks at his career in aggregate, he says in this episode of the Off the Record podcast. “(Five years ago) my focus and my drive were about the company,” Johnston, who is now the founder and CEO of athletics platform Roy Inc., says, but it didn’t take long for people to forget...
2024-05-1350 minOff the RecordNikki Rohloff, managing partner of Rohloff Associates, on facing “one of the hardest things ever” with her companyIn the professional services industry, relationships are the differentiator. One of the biggest challenges Nikki Rohloff has faced in her career was the sudden loss of her firm’s business partner, she says in this episode of the Off the Record podcast, brought to you by Platinum Bank. She’s now the managing partner of Rohloff Associates, but back in 2017, it was Roach Associates — named for her late business partner, Kevin Roach, who passed away in 2021. When it happened, Rohloff not only mourned her colleague, she says, but she worried about his client connections. “We weren’t su...
2024-04-2242 minOff the RecordHeide Olson, founder and CEO of Accountinuity and Veracity Pros, on jumping into entrepreneurship before you’re readyNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Heide Olson, founder and CEO of Accountinuity and Veracity Pros, believes there may be no time like the present to start a business. In her case, she left her job and “threw out her shingle” just before she and her husband were due to have their first baby, Olson reveals in the latest episode of the Off the Record podcast, brought to you by Platinum Bank. “My husband thought I was absolutely insane,” she says. But...
2024-04-0836 minOff the RecordSara Dziuk, Junior Achievement North CEO, on identifying her “aha moment”Never miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Sara Dziuk still has the pencil drawings she used to do of the stapler and tape dispenser in her cubicle at a previous job. Dziuk, now the CEO of Junior Achievement North, says she keeps those drawings as a reminder of her “aha moment” of realizing she needed a job that would “fill her cup,” she says in the latest episode of the Off the Record podcast.“The environment just wasn’t the right fit for me,” she says. “I learned a lot...
2024-03-2552 minOff the RecordDan Stoltz, Blaze Credit Union CEO, on thinking boldly enough to overcome business challengesDan Stoltz took the reins at Spire Credit Union (before it became Blaze) in 2010 — just as the economy was facing some serious difficulties. “It was a tough way to start out as a CEO, but I love challenges,” Stoltz says in the latest episode of the Off the Record podcast. “I’ll never forget calling in my leadership group, sitting in a room just like this, and saying, ‘Look, we’ve got to do this. We’ve got to figure this out. That might mean some pay cuts for the short term. It might mean some downsizing. We’ve got to be c...
2024-03-1152 minOff the RecordAllison Gettings, CEO of Red Wing Shoe Co., on proving herselfEven though Red Wing Shoe Co. is her family’s business, it wasn’t always clear to Allison Gettings that she would eventually become the company’s CEO. She had to prove herself, and she faced her first test during her college years, Gettings explains on this episode of the Off the Record podcast. “It was a tough few years in the sense that, like any 20-year-old, I’m doing grunt work, which is exactly what I should have been doing,” Gettings says. “It was the right place to start. That doesn’t mean it was fun.” ...
2024-02-2651 minOff the RecordKelly McGrath, GM and executive director at Xcel Energy Center, knows how to change on the flyNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Traveling abroad as a leader of a youth ministry at age 22 taught Kelly McGrath a few key things about teamwork. As a regular overnight guest in strangers’ homes, she quickly learned to navigate conversations in a way that put others at ease. In her team leader role, she also had to look ahead at logistics to determine where the group would eat, sleep and host the next retreat. “I love all the different elements that are part of something (bigger) comin...
2024-02-1245 minOff the RecordKris Kowalski Christiansen, CEO of Kowalski Co., on learning from those you respectNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Even though she’s now the CEO of Kowalski Co., Kris Kowalski Christiansen wasn’t especially passionate about groceries in her youth. She also never felt pressured to be a part of her family’s grocery business. But she did have a deep respect for the way her mom and dad ran things, she reveals in this episode of the Off the Record podcast. “We were super close, a tight-knit, threesome family. I respected everything they did. I respected h...
2024-01-2944 minOff the RecordMelvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis, on acknowledging the city’s challenges and changemakersNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.When Melvin Tennant’s mother learned he would become the CEO of the Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau in 1990 — only a few years into his career — she was pleased, but not surprised, he says. “She never placed limits on anything I could do,” according to Tennant, now president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis, in this podcast episode of Off the Record, brought to you by Platinum Bank. Tennant shares highlights of building his career in destinat...
2024-01-081h 01Off the RecordBrian Bruess, Ph.D., president of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, on creating environments for optimal growthNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Brian Bruess, Ph.D., president of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSB+SJU), has a clear memory of a conversation he had with his wife when they were leaving graduate school in Athens, Ohio. “After (we spent) five years grinding away in graduate school, Carol and I were driving out of Athens. We made a commitment to each other that we’re in this more vocationally than we are career-wise. We wanted to...
2023-12-2556 min
Unscripted with VersiqueLeadership Traits That Drive Success | John Mack (Medtronic)John Mack was the Divisional President for the Cardiac Surgery division at one of the largest medical device companies in the world—Medtronic. John knows that great leadership skills are formed through following the path of great leaders; and through his mentors he picked up a slew of tips for success. It was these learned skills that brought him through long nights during mergers and acquisitions, leading new projects, and ultimately paving the path to his successful career today. In this podcast episode, John and Chris cover:Why you should get an Executive CoachSteven Covey’s “7 Habits...
2023-12-2033 minOff the RecordDave St. Peter, president and CEO of the Minnesota Twins, on his career’s big breakNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Dave St. Peter, president and CEO of the Minnesota Twins, recognizes how much the experience of a game matters to sports fans — from the talented players on the field down to the malt cups in the stands. On this episode of the Off the Record podcast, St. Peter shares the story of “the biggest break in (his career),” which involved the creation of what would eventually become Target Field. The project gave him a runway...
2023-12-1149 minOff the RecordLeeAnn Rasachak, CEO of WomenVenture, on making the leap as a first-time CEONever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.WomenVenture CEO LeeAnn Rasachak admits she’s known for not necessarily staying in her lane. Over her career trajectory, she’s worn many hats, including those in PR, retail and financial services, she reveals in the latest episode of the Off the Record podcast. “When you’re wearing multiple hats, you learn faster, you get to test, you get to fail,” Rasachak says. The idea of trying on a new hat — th...
2023-11-2752 minOff the RecordLuke Palen, president and co-owner of Spectro Alloys, on a facilitative style of leadershipNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Luke Palen, president and co-owner of Spectro Alloys, once learned some key leadership lessons from two tarps and a rope, he tells listeners in this episode of Off the Record. At an outdoor challenge experience in the Canadian backcountry just before his first year at St. John’s University, Palen’s Outward Bound group realized they didn’t have any tents among their gear — as the rain was beginning to fall. “We h...
2023-11-1340 minOff the RecordDave Wellstone, CEO and co-founder, Pathfinder Solutions, on identifying what’s importantNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Five years ago, Pathfinder Solutions CEO and Co-founder Dave Wellstone had an epiphany in a helicopter. He had just had a heart attack and a “weird calmness about what’s important to me” came over him as he was being transported to the hospital, he says in this episode of Off the Record. “I’m thinking I’m going to die, and I’m in a helicopter getting flown into the city here from Northfield,” Wellstone says. “The things that were (i...
2023-10-2352 minOff the RecordPete Scherer, chairman and CEO of Scherer Bros. Lumber Co., “rolls the tape way back” in a career conversationNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Pete Scherer’s family business, the Scherer Bros. Lumber Co., was started by his grandfather and his great uncle back in 1930. “They were the two original Scherer Brothers. They started it from nothing (at) the height of the Depression and made something of it,” Scherer, now the chairman and CEO of the company, recounts in this episode of the Off the Record podcast, brought to you by Platinum Bank. Upon his...
2023-10-0949 min
Unscripted with VersiqueCreating Pull Within Your Organization | with Bob Creviston (Agiliti)"The sole measures of success for an HR team, as far as I'm concerned , is, how good are you at knowing where the push and where the pull is?" Bob Creviston is an avid storyteller who recounts his progression from football player at Cornell to Chief of HR at Agiliti Health, a world leader in Medical Equipment Management. His employee-focused leadership style and diligence in addressing challenges has made a lasting impact on his employees, business, and even countries’ labor laws. In this episode we cover: Breaking down what the push and pulls are in HR...
2023-09-2839 minOff the RecordBrian and Kent Roers, cofounders of the Roers Companies, on taking advantage of life’s opportunitiesNow the co-founders of Roers Companies, a Plymouth-based real estate developer, brothers Kent and Brian Roers had a hand in business from a young age. From power washing pig barns for the family farm to selling hockey skate sharpeners to their junior high classmates, the Roers brothers know what it’s like to work hard and take advantage of life’s opportunities. “It was ingrained in us early on that you should take chances,” Kent Roers says in this episode of the Off the Record podcast. “You should take opportunities — and take advantage of them.” Listen as the Ro...
2023-09-2558 minOff the RecordEthan Casson, CEO, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx, on “grit” and “points of differentiation”A basketball player starting in childhood, Ethan Casson, CEO of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx recalled, “There was a grit, (to) outwork everybody, no matter what the circumstances, component to it,” in this episode of the Off the Record podcast. That drive shapes his approach to work today.When interviewing young job candidates, Casson said to hosts Kathy Robideau, market president and publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank, he looks for “points of differentiation. Why do I feel differently about this person that I just spoke...
2023-09-111h 14Off the RecordNancy Korsah, founder of Black Business Enterprise, on entrepreneurship and activismNancy Korsah founded Black Business Enterprise, a hub of resources to help minorities get ahead. She can relate to the trials of fellow people of color in the U.S. and abroad. She recalls her teenage years in Italy where, “if you’re of color there, you’re not getting a job. Definitely not that early,” she says in this episode of the Off the Record podcast. Similar encounters have continued into adulthood and her professional life, Korsah said to hosts Kathy Robideau, market president and publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and Dave Faust, president...
2023-08-2845 min
Unscripted with VersiqueRoadmap to Transforming Culture“Leadership is about lighting a fire within others, not under them” ~ Jaime TaetsWith over 20 years of experience within corporate business culture of which 13 were at Cargill, one of the largest privately held corporations in the world, Jaime Taets has honed the skill of conscious leadership. This ability led her to pave her own entrepreneurial path of starting her own business, Keystone Group International. Today, Jaime uses different platforms to extend her practice of helping leaders on a global scale. She is the host of the Superpower Success Podcast and the accomplished author of two noteworthy books — "You Ar...
2023-08-1641 minOff the RecordRavi Norman, chairman and CEO of Sagiliti, on “the synthesis of Black and green”Today, Ravi Norman serves as the CEO and chairman of energy management services company Sagiliti — but in truth, his first entrepreneurial endeavor was his newspaper route, he says in this episode of the Off the Record podcast. “I learned a lot about how business works inside that paper route,” Norman said to hosts Kathy Robideau, market president and publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank. According to Norman, he and his cousins all had paper routes — but he did them all. “They didn’t like to get up and...
2023-08-141h 08Off the RecordDario Otero, founder and CEO of Youth Lens 360, on inspiring others to createAs a student, Dario Otero didn’t love school. “I had all these other skills, (but) school didn’t necessarily rank,” says the founder and CEO of video production service Youth Lens 360 on this episode of the Off the Record podcast. But when he took a job in a St. Paul high school during a career transition, he knew he had to reframe his thinking. “How do I do this so I don’t drive somebody away from education?” Otero says of his mindset at the time. “How do I inspire, motivate and create different programs students would love to do...
2023-07-2445 minUnscripted with VersiqueHR Lab 2023 | Reimagining the Impact of Leadership CollaborationThis episode is the recording of Versique’s 12th Annual HR Lab where we dove into the topic of Reimagining the Impact of Leadership Collaboration with top leaders from the Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx and The Minneapolis Foundation. This thought-provoking event brought together top HR professionals and executive leaders from various industries to explore innovative ways of working together to drive organizational success.In this session, Jenna Estlick, Vice President of HR Interim Solutions at Versique, moderated an expert panel of Twin Cities Leaders in Human Resources and Executive Leadership. In this recap, you'll learn about th...
2023-07-121h 07Off the RecordMichele Henry, founder and CEO of Face Foundrié, on learning as you go and pivoting quicklyFace Foundrié Founder and CEO Michele Henry knows what it’s like to be scrappy in business. Years ago, to secure a loan for her first company, Primp, she put up her Mitsubishi as collateral. She didn’t mention to the bank that the car didn’t work — and that she planned to ride her bike to Primp’s retail buildouts, she says in the latest episode of Off the Record. “We opened the doors at 4, we were serving wine, we were all excited, and we sold out of every single piece of merchandise that night,” Henry...
2023-07-1045 minOff the RecordDr. Mark Lobanoff, founder and president of OVO LASIK + Lens, on making permanent, positive changesNever miss an episode of Off the Record. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.When he was carrying out his medical school rotations at the University of Michigan, Dr. Mark Lobanoff thought the people working in the ophthalmology clinic somehow seemed the happiest, he says in this episode of the Off the Record podcast. That positive attitude all made sense to him one day when a legally blind patient came to the clinic, according to Lobanoff. "I got to sit in on their cataract surgery and was amazed. It only took 15 minutes. I thought i...
2023-06-2648 min
Unscripted with VersiqueSimplifying How You Work | with Alissa Partee (Restaurant Technologies)Food brings people together – for thousands of years humans have come together over food to celebrate and to grieve. Working with some of the biggest food brand industries locally, Alissa Partee brings two core beliefs to her leadership role as Chief People Officer at Restaurant Technologies: lead with love and clarity. In this episode, host Chris Dardis explores with Alissa:The number one mistake business leaders make in employee and system development How to build a high-performing team that achieves the business’ strategic goalsWhat an HR team needs to know about being in a workplace that drives business“I...
2023-06-1439 minOff the RecordKalyn Hove, regional SVP at Comcast, on sharing your authentic self in the workplaceThere once was a time when Kalyn Hove — now a regional senior VP for Comcast — felt like she couldn’t bring her authentic self to work. In an earlier sales role, she was the lone woman managing a team of men, all of whom who were older than her, she says in this episode of Off the Record. “I seldom talked about my kids or anything like that because I was sitting with men (who had) stay-at-home wives,” Hove says. “I was fearful they would view me as less committed to my role and my job. What I realize now...
2023-06-1245 minOff the RecordMatt Majka, president of Minnesota Wild, on listening well and celebrating Minnesota’s heritageMinnesota is known by many as “the State of Hockey.” It’s a moniker that Matt Majka, president of the Minnesota Wild, finds beautiful, as he says in the latest episode of the Off the Record podcast. “It’s not marketing mumbo-jumbo. It’s true. You don’t have to explain it to a Minnesotan. They know it. They’re proud of it,” Majka says. “Some sports teams have a new brand or theme every year. Our brand has never changed.” Listen to Majka’s conversation with hosts Kathy Robideau, market president and publisher of the Minneapolis/St. Paul B...
2023-05-2248 min
Unscripted with VersiqueModeling Servant Leadership | with Heidi Grange (Northmarq)“Know your role. Just like in sports, you may be the starter, sometimes you might be the leader, and sometimes you’re a contributing, supporting player. But put the time and effort into it and know that you still add value to your team. You can’t always be the lead, but you do add value.” ~Heidi GrangeEarly in Heidi Grange’s career, she remembers leaders taking the time to guide her, coach her, and provide feedback. This investment was incredibly valuable in forming even the small aspects in her career and personal life. Now as Senior VP...
2023-05-1735 minOff the RecordJohn Naylor, president and CEO of Medica, on Midwestern values and mission momentsMedica President and CEO John Naylor vividly remembers the rotary phone on the wall of his dorm at Drake University. As a senior in college, he used that phone to call a St. Louis-based company, Tillinghast, to inquire about a job back in his hometown — but no one picked up. Instead, Naylor ended up taking an actuary position with Transamerica, a role which took him to Los Angeles. “Those are the doors that just present an opportunity,” Naylor said in this episode of the Off the Record podcast. “If they’d have picked up, I’d hav...
2023-05-0848 min
Unscripted with VersiqueNo Fear Mentality | with Kristin Dean (Arctic Wolf)“Live with being kind and working hard. Everything works out when you do that, take risks, and work without fear.” -Kristin Dean Kristin Dean left her full-time role in HR to pursue her dream of being a stay-at-home mom. After a many valuable years, Kristin desired to return to work, but she internalized the fear of not being able to have both a successful career and a strong present role as a mother. Eventually, Kristin made the choice to dive back into her career at a few fast-paced tech companies such as Code42, Delegate, and Revel, eventually landing...
2023-04-2631 minOff the RecordJennifer Hellman, CEO of Goff Public, on finding the thing that distinguishes youJen Hellman, CEO of independent communications agency Goff Public, has always managed to stand out from the crowd. In high school, for example, of all the instruments she could have played, she made a rare choice: the piccolo. “Want to know the best thing about playing piccolo?” Hellman asked Kathy Robideau, MSPBJ market president and publisher, and Dave Faust, president and CEO of Platinum Bank, in this podcast. “You can actually hear it in an orchestra full of musicians.” Excelling at what she referred to as an “endangered instrument” wasn’t the only way Hellm...
2023-04-2446 minOff the RecordDavid Wilson, Manny’s Steakhouse general manager, on creating an environment where good things happenBefore David Wilson became the general manager of renowned Manny’s Steakhouse, most of his career journey in the restaurant industry seemed like a traditional one. In his youth, he worked in a restaurant owned by his family. As a young man, he took a corporate role with a major chain to learn how to establish new restaurants. Oh, and there was that one “little sidestep in Hawaii,” according to Wilson in this podcast episode of Off the Record. “I came across this one guy who used to work at (my family’s restaurant) Brennan’s, and he had...
2023-04-101h 05Off the RecordMargaret Murphy, CEO and founder of Bold Orange, on what it takes to build a high-quality brandFaced with the disheartening prospect of a summer without corn dogs and slushies, 16-year-old Margaret Murphy decided to step up. With their father’s help, Murphy and her brothers spent the summer operating their town’s local drive-in for the owner, who was otherwise unavailable that season. It was her first crack at becoming an entrepreneur, Murphy says in this episode of Off the Record. “We made enough (money) to pay ourselves,” says Murphy, now the CEO and founder of Bold Orange, a customer experience agency. “I made enough to buy my books in college, so that was...
2023-03-2748 min
Unscripted with VersiqueEp. 9 - How to Invest in Your Growth | with Anne Sample (Navigate Forward)When Anne Sample entered Ohio State University, she was set on becoming a Biochemical Engineer. However, her path took a different direction as she gained various experiences that shaped her career. As an AV expert at a homeroom in high school, she developed a strong interest and confidence in technology. Then, her first job in communications administration for Whirlpool in a small town taught her the importance of prioritizing the business in any task she undertakes and ensuring that her contributions positively impacted the company's success. These experiences helped shape Anne's career aspirations and goals as she entered the...
2023-03-1535 minOff the RecordGavin Kaysen, chef and founder of Soigné Hospitality Group, on serving others with intentionWhen Gavin Kaysen was a teenager making sandwiches at his local Subway, the owner of the fast-casual pasta place next door came in on a regular basis. It didn’t take long for him to see Kaysen’s potential. One day, according to Kaysen, the guy from Pasta Time told him: “You understand how to interact with customers. Your hands understand food. I would like to teach you how to cook.” Kaysen, now an award-winning chef and founder of Soigné Hospitality Group, reflects on this incident as a driving force in his early culinary career in the late...
2023-03-131h 03Off the RecordJatin Setia, Twin Cities Film Festival founder and executive director, on finding his smile and expanding opportunities for Minnesota filmmakersJatin Setia did not start in the business of film. The founder and executive director of Twin Cities Film Fest has always been a cinephile with an entrepreneurial bent, but early in his career, he worked in corporate America. It was a layoff during the Great Recession that gave him the opportunity to “find his smile,” as his wife put it. “Growing up in India, one of my first-ever memories is going to a movie theatre with a thousand people (to) this big, Bollywood blockbuster,” Setia says in this fourth episode of Off the Record. “...
2023-02-271h 04
Unscripted with VersiqueSupernaturally Curious | with Sarah Waite (Second Harvest Heartland)“We all get to choose how we spend our time. And we either do it with intention, or by accident. So what do you want to be focused on? Where do you want to spend your time? How are you going to make room for those things in your life? And it’s going to mean saying no to some things that you don’t want to, or need to, or choose to.” -Sarah Waite Sarah Waite is “supernaturally curious.” As the Chief People Officer at Second Harvest Heartland, she is always asking how leaders can think about things...
2023-02-1629 minOff the RecordAllison O’Toole, CEO of Second Harvest Heartland, on pivotal career moments and the hunger moonshotGrowing up in South Minneapolis, Allison O’Toole, now the CEO of Second Harvest Heartland, learned the importance of community connection at her family’s store. Her dad and grandpa owned O’Toole Drug Store. It was there she shaped her early entrepreneurial spirit — by selling cigars at the counter at age 7.“(My dad) would have me run the cigar counter at the front, and he could see me from the pharmacy,” she says in this episode of Off the Record, a podcast about the personal and professional lives of business leaders in the Twin Cities, brought to you by th...
2023-02-1351 minOff the RecordChuck Runyon, co-founder and CEO of Anytime Fitness, on a high-performance culture and the ‘symphony of motivation’The inception of Anytime Fitness didn’t come from CEO and Co-founder Chuck Runyon’s deep passion for health and exercise. “Still, to this day, I probably couldn’t pass a personal trainer test,” he says in this episode of Off the Record, a new podcast about the personal and professional lives of business leaders in the Twin Cities, brought to you by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal in partnership with Platinum Bank.Instead, Runyon reveals it was his knack for sales and marketing — and his ideas for streamlining club operations and expanding member access — that led to the start o...
2023-01-2353 min
Unscripted with VersiqueLeading With Trust in 2023 | with Chris Dardis (Versique)“Every leader should aspire for the people within their team to be able to say, ‘I am a valuable member of a winning team doing meaningful work in an environment of trust.’ And if your team can say that, then they will be engaged within the role.” -Chris Dardis In this first episode of 2023, we’re taking a look back at our top episodes from 2022, featuring inspiring stories from incredible leaders in business. In addition, Chris Dardis, the host of “People make it possible” and the President of Interim Solutions at Versique, will be behind the mic sharing his own...
2023-01-1839 minOff the RecordKris Lindahl, CEO of Kris Lindahl Real Estate, on making his own opportunitiesWhen it comes to business and making an impact in the community, Kris Lindahl, CEO of Kris Lindahl Real Estate, likes to do things differently. His signature ‘arms out” pose is one example of his unique approach to marketing his company — and his clients’ homes. The attention-grabbing gesture exemplifies inclusion. It’s meant to show generosity and impacting the lives of others, according to Lindahl in this premiere episode of Off the Record, a podcast showcasing local leaders by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal and Platinum Bank. In the episode, Lin...
2023-01-091h 01
Unscripted with VersiqueHow to Ascend in Your Career | with Erin Feigal (Prime Therapeutics)“I always think that the best way to be noticed and considered to ascend into the next role is to be the best you can be at your current role.” -Erin FeigalAs the CHRO of Prime Therapeutics, Erin and her team have been pioneers of a new “Way of Work” even before the pandemic began, setting up the future of flexible work for employees. Erin herself was surprised to be on a successor track at a turning point in her career, but embraced the ambiguity by holding fast to a simple principal: “Don’t be hesitant to accept a...
2022-12-2139 minOff the RecordIntroducing: Off the RecordStarting this January, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal and Platinum Bank are teaming up to launch a new podcast called Off the Record. Hosted by MSPBJ's Market President and Publisher Kathy Robideau and Platinum Bank's President and CEO Dave Faust, the show will feature a deep dive with well-known business leaders in the Twin Cities. You know their names and faces — now get to know their stories.
2022-12-0200 minUnscripted with VersiqueRedefining Work Culture | with Kristin Gaarder (Calabrio)Kristin Gaarder was the very first CHRO of Calabrio, a customer experience intelligence company. As a leader, Kristin’s philosophy lies in providing accountability for her team to take a vision they have, break down barriers, and deliver it with excellence. Kristin has navigated the variances in HR while practicing business in over 40 countries around the world. Kristin is a member of Chief, a network dedicated to supporting women executive leaders. She uses her unique experiences to encourage a path of growth through building and strengthening human connection. “If you consider what’s happening...
2022-11-1629 min
Unscripted with VersiqueHaving Faith in Your Journey (with Molly Weiss)People grow exponentially when they’re given an opportunity that stretches them to just the right amount. And they just fly. – Molly WeissNot everyone takes as unique of a path to HR leadership as Molly Weiss. She studied theater history and sang in a band before pursuing post-grad HR and Business from the University of Minnesota. Molly is now a leading industry veteran with 20 years of experience, serving as CHRO of Adolfson & Peterson Construction. From a young age, Molly learned that work should contribute to the world in a way that is tangible. Years later...
2022-10-1930 min
Unscripted with VersiqueStories That Shape Us | with Tony Sorensen (Versique)"People work hard for money, but they'll give their life for meaning." -Tony SorensenYou can tell a lot about a person by asking them the question, "What is one event that has shaped who you are today?" Tony Sorensen, Founder & President of Versique Search & Consulting, uses this question to vet potential employees and create a culture of meaning and growth at his company. Through challenges as an entrepreneur building a company from the ground up, Tony's vision is one based on being one of the team, creating long-term careers for his team members, and holding fast...
2022-09-2130 minUnscripted with VersiqueHit Home Runs | with Shawn Moren"As you build an experience in success or failure, you have more confidence when it comes to an even bigger opportunity or bigger risk...and you can recover and thrive." -Shawn Moren, Executive Advisory/Partner (CHRO Sector), GartnerShawn was the head of HR at Regis Salons when COVID-19 hit, ravishing the nation and service industry. Regis quickly worked to diligently flesh out a safety and operations plan to ride the turbulent months that followed. No stranger to challenges, Shawn recalled a question her father posed to her at a tennis match when she was younger, "Do...
2022-08-1729 minUnscripted with VersiqueWho will you bring with you? | with Kendall Harrell (Caribou Coffee)"To be a leader I needed to get inspired and become a student of culture." -Kendall Harrell, Chief People Officer for Caribou CoffeeKendall began with a desire for orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Lifetime Fitness became instrumental in his HR career, where he started as a personal trainer and quickly moved into the human resource department, thanks to an incredible mentor who encouraged him along the way. "Who are you going to bring with you?" is a motto Kendall learned from his father, applying this to his leadership style to help other people achieve what they...
2022-07-0824 min
The Kris Lindahl ShowKathy Robideau is changing journalism and elevating women … one breadstick at a time — TKLS #9Think you work hard? Chances are, Business Journal Market President Kathy Robideau has you beat. Starting with her days slinging breadsticks at the Olive Garden as a kid, Kathy has always been willing to outwork people and earn everything she gets. But she’s also the type of leader who knows it’s about teamwork, not the individual. In this episode, you’ll hear Kathy’s amazing story of succeeding by always learning, creating groups of supportive like-minded people, and always gravitating toward the people you want to be. You’ll also get her insights on why she helped start the...
2018-12-1042 min