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 22-24 in New Ulm 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 our photo album!

2026 Summer Conference Photo Album

 

Survey — If you attended the conference, we encourage you to fill out our quick, 2-minute survey below to let us know what you liked, what you didn’t like, and how we can improve our conferences and events in the future.

Tell us how we did!

 

CGMC Executive Director Bradley Peterson kicked off the conference with a presentation that provided an in-depth look at this year’s upcoming election and what the results could mean for governing during the 2027 legislative session.

Attendees then heard from Vice Chair of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Joe Sullivan, who spoke about the work of the PUC, how it impacts local governments, and how local governments can get more involved with the PUC.

Later, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Commissioner Thom Petersen conducted an engaging session on recent agricultural developments in Greater Minnesota and his reflections on the state of the industry.

The day then wrapped up with a city-sponsored dinner and evening activity. Attendees visited the landmark August Schell’s Brewery, where they enjoyed a traditional German-style meal while listening to live music. Guests also got the opportunity to tour the brewery (followed by a tasting of local brews), mingle with property peacocks, and even witness a cannon firing demonstration!

On Thursday, attendees enjoyed their choice of two tour options. The first, a park and recreation bus tour that highlighted recent enhancements and amenities that were made possible through the voter-approved local sales tax, emphasizing its role in expanding recreational opportunities and maintaining high-quality public spaces. Stops on the bus tour included the iconic Hermann Monument, SouthPoint Recreation and Wellness Center, and other community spaces!

The second tour option featured a guided downtown walking tour that highlighted the City’s rich German roots, historic architecture, and vibrant local culture. Attendees strolled past iconic landmarks and unique shops while learning about the city’s founding and development.

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, attendees sat down for a Lunch & Learn presentation from Benya Kraus, President and CEO of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), who shared what’s on the horizon for economic development in southern Minnesota.

Later in the afternoon, Chad Kolstad, Acting Executive Director of the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA), presented on the key priorities related to water infrastructure and how they affect Greater Minnesota communities. As the day began to wind down, attendees were treated to a special panel discussion with retiring Minnesota legislators. As they looked back on their careers at the Capitol, Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-15B), Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL-39A), and Sen. Bill Weber (R-21) shared their reflections and future predictions of the state of Greater Minnesota.

Being an election year, part of the conference programming also included visits from candidates for Minnesota Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Republican gubernatorial candidates House Speaker Lisa Demuth and businessman Kendall Qualls, and DFL lieutenant gubernatorial candidate and former Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer, spoke to attendees about the issues they’re focusing on in their runs for office.

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 2026 legislative session or over the course of their careers. Click here to see the full list of 2026 CGMC award winners!

Friday began with a labor and employment update from Flaherty & Hood Senior Attorney Nico Garcia Lisle, followed by a presentation from CGMC “pirate” staff, who discussed the challenges of finding funding assistance and highlighted a variety of grants and assistance programs, including housing, job training, libraries, parks and trails, and more!

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 2027 legislative session. The new officers are:

  • President – Rick Blake, Councilmember, Grand Rapids
  • 1st Vice President – Kevin Wilson, Councilmember, Cokato
  • 2nd Vice President – Nicole Mace, Councilmember, Alexandria
  • Secretary – Marshall Hallock, Administrative Business Director, Red Wing
  • Treasurer – Lisa Bode, Government Affairs Director, Moorhead

Councilor Blake replaces St. Peter City Councilor Keri Johnson, who served as CGMC President for the previous year. We extend our gratitude to Keri for being an superb 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:

Thursday:

Friday:

Special thank you to our 2026 Presenting Sponsors!

Click on the logos below to learn more about who they are, what they do, and how they help support Greater Minnesota communities.

Click here to view the full 2026 Summer Conference exhibitor directory.
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If you have any questions about the Summer Conference or other CGMC events, please contact Emma Cliff at etcliff@flaherty-hood.com.