It was great to see so many new and familiar faces during the three-day, in-person CGMC Summer Conference last week! City officials and business leaders from numerous Greater Minnesota communities convened July 23-25 in Bemidji for our annual summer event. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Read on to learn about the conference highlights. To see photos, please check out this photo album.
Survey — If you attended the conference, we encourage you to fill out a quick, 2-minute survey to let us know what you liked, what you didn’t like, and how we can improve our conferences and events in the future.
Last week’s CGMC Summer Conference, hosted by the City of Bemidji, brought together city officials and other guests from all over the state for one of the Coalition’s most anticipated events of the year.
CGMC Executive Director Bradley Peterson kicked off the conference with a presentation that provided an in-depth look at the status of the state budget and a breakdown of how we got here, including a detailed timeline of events.
Attendees then heard from a media panel featuring experts with knowledge of state and local news. Panelists provided insight into the decline of Greater Minnesota’s local newspapers and the potential steps towards a solution, as well as the importance of thriving local media across Greater Minnesota.
Later in the afternoon, CGMC staff facilitated small group discussions among conference attendees to build connections, to learn more about communities from across the state, and to discuss what the CGMC can do to better engage with members. Then, Ben Schierer—Director of Civic Partnerships at West Central Initiative (WCI)—discussed WCI’s Rural Democracy program, which works to increase civic participation and ensure an equitable and sustainable future.
Wednesday wrapped up with a city-sponsored dinner and evening activity. After having to pivot due to weather-related concerns, the activity ended up transforming into a one-of-a-kind “Staff-enger” Hunt, with attendees searching for CGMC staff at local businesses around town—who knew a backup plan could be so much fun!
On Thursday, attendees enjoyed a historical bus tour of Bemidji that allowed them to step into the community’s past and discover iconic landmarks, untold stories, and the rich history of the city! Once everyone returned to the conference center, attendees had an opportunity (and several more throughout the day) to explore the Exhibit Hall packed with vendors and sponsors that helped support the CGMC Summer Conference.
Following a busy morning, lunch was served with a side of important information from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), which included updates on PFAS, nitrates, wild rice sulfates, and more!
After another stop at the Exhibit Hall came another expert panel! With the explosive growth in the development of data centers, panelists discussed what cities and local governments should know when approached for data center development in their communities.
As the day began to wind down, attendees were treated to a special discussion with Minnesota House legislators. After an unprecedented 2025 legislative session, Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL-St. Paul), Rep. Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville), and Rep. Spencer Igo (R-Wabana Township) addressed the group and provided insight into what it was like to share power in an equally divided House over the past few months.
The day was capped off with a cocktail reception and our annual awards dinner that evening. The dinner recognized legislators, city officials, and other leaders who were instrumental in advancing CGMC’s goals during the 2025 legislative session or over the course of their careers. Click here to see the full list of 2025 CGMC award winners!
Friday began with a labor and employment update from Flaherty & Hood Attorney Christina Petsoulis, followed by a presentation from Dave Berglund—Real Estate Development Director for CoNorth—who joined us to discuss manufactured housing and ways that his organization is working with communities in Greater Minnesota to expand and preserve affordable homeownership opportunities.
Finally, the conference concluded with our membership meeting, during which CGMC members elected a new slate of officers to lead the organization for the rest of the year and through the 2025 legislative session. The new officers are:
- President – Keri Johnson, Councilmember, St. Peter
- 1st Vice President – Rick Blake, Councilmember, Grand Rapids
- 2nd Vice President – Kevin Wilson, Councilmember, Cokato
- Secretary – Marshall Hallock, Administrative Business Director, Red Wing
- Treasurer – Lisa Bode, Government Affairs Director, Moorhead
Councilor Johnson replaces Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson, who served as CGMC President for the previous year. We extend our gratitude to Mayor Carlson for being an exceptional president over the past 12 months!
If you would like to review presentations from the conference, you can view them using the links below:
Wednesday:
- Structural Imbalances: Is the State’s Budget House Falling Down?
- Civic Engagement for Stronger Cities – Tools and Strategies from West Central Initiative’s Rural Democracy Program
Thursday:
- Protecting Minnesota’s Waters – An Update from the MPCA
- Freshwater: Inspiring & Empowering People to Value & Preserve Water
- Data Centers: One City’s Experience – City of Becker
Friday:
Click here to view the full 2025 Summer Conference sponsor and exhibitor directory.
If you have any questions about the Summer Conference or other CGMC events, please contact Emma Nelson at ennelson@flaherty-hood.com.
