Continuing the Story of a Resilient Duluth
The headlines are easy to find. Challenges downtown. Economic uncertainty. Rising costs. Public debates about housing, safety and the future of our community. Those conversations matter, and we should never shy away from them. Strong communities confront their challenges honestly. But they also have the discipline to look beyond the headlines and focus on what […]
Investing in Our Team
Ellie Pessenda Promoted to Full-Time Role At the Duluth Area Chamber Enterprise, we often talk about building strong organizations through strong people. Today, I’m pleased to share a great example of that in action. Ellie Pessenda has been promoted from her part-time intern role to a full-time position as our Member and Operations Specialist. From […]
A Session About Delivery
There are moments in leadership when the conversation shifts — from what should be done to whether we will actually do it. This legislative session is one of those moments. Across Northeastern Minnesota, we are not short on ideas or potential. We are seeing real movement: projects advancing, institutions investing, and organizations collaborating across boundaries. […]
Rooted in Service and Strength
Duluth and Northeastern Minnesota are shaped not only by our industries and economy but by the people, institutions and organizations that serve our region each day – quietly, steadily and with deep commitment to the public good. These contributors often operate behind the scenes, yet their impact is far-reaching and essential. One such organization is […]
Celebrating Historic Leadership and Honoring Dedication
In this issue, we celebrate a major milestone in the history of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. With the appointment of Dr. Chiamaka Enemuoh as our new Board Chair, we honor her as the first person of color to serve in this role in our organization’s 154-year history. This is a landmark moment, not […]
Looking Ahead at the Chamber’s Tasks for 2026
As we close out 2025 and look ahead to 2026, I’m struck by both the progress we’ve made and the work still ahead of us. This past year reinforced a simple truth: Duluth thrives when we lead with focus, collaboration and a clear plan for economic, civic and business advancement. The Chamber’s mission is grounded […]