Beyond the Skyline

Stacy Arnold, director of safety and CHASE at Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Arnold talks about the latest construction safety trends, the growing emphasis on mental health in the industry, and the role of technology in safety, among other topics.

Gretchen Camp, a managing principal at ESG Architecture & Design talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Camp talks about current market challenges for architecture firms, what her day-to-day work tends to look like and why she finds the Twin Cities Housing Alliance valuable.

Nick Johnson, planning manager for the city of Bloomington, Minnesota, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Johnson talks about his first year as planning manager, as well as the planning commission and staff’s approach to policy and the city’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan.

Matt Mullins, the founder of real estate advisory services firm Bricks and Brand, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Mullins talks about the multifamily market’s post-COVID challenges, the importance of relationships in real estate, and the ongoing affordable housing crisis.

Rachel Robinson, president and CEO of Aeon, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Robinson talks about Aeon’s mission, her background in multifamily real estate, and her decision to go into the affordable housing field.

HOME Line co-executive directors Eric Hauge and Jess Zarik talk to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Hauge and Zarik talk about the impact that Operation Metro Surge has had on their work, touching on topics like rent assistance, pre-eviction notices and where the Twin Cities goes from here.

Cyrus Batheja, the new president and CEO of Ecumen, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Batheja talks about the importance of integrating health care and housing, listening to community needs and fostering collaborative partnerships.

Joseph Peris, a director at JLL, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Peris talks about his transition from building communities to selling them with JLL, as well as offering his thoughts on the state of the market.

Dan Peterson, the director of Kraus-Anderson’s Advisory Services-Mission Critical, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Peterson talks about Kraus-Anderson’s Advisory Services – Missional Critical platform, the future of data center development, and other topics.

Rep. Spencer Igo talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Igo, the co-chair of the Minnesota House Committee on Housing Finance & Policy, talks about zoning and the rural housing crisis.

Brad Hendrickson, COO and incoming CEO of Adolfson & Peterson, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Hendrickson talks about Adolfson & Peterson’s succession planning process, AP’s workload throughout the country, and keys to success in the company’s 80-year run, among other topics.

Dan Ruehl, senior acquisitions manager at Enclave Cos., talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Ruehl talks about why Enclave is jumping into the investment game, what the company is looking for in new properties, as well as his own career.

Paul Donovan, COO of Forte Real Estate Services talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Donovan talks about his job duties with Forte, his experience in site selection and transaction management, and the outlook for the office-industrial market.

Alex Baron, co-founder of Stack Industrial Partners talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Baron talks about the new firm, its goals and what challenges he anticipates for Stack Industrial in its first year.

Tina Wyffels, the new president of BKBM Engineers talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Wyffels talks about her new duties as president, the company’s projected workload in 2026, the struggle to attract workers in the industry, and the importance of “pivoting and adapting” to ensure the firm’s success.

Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Ho talks about her priorities for 2026 as well as federal uncertainty as it relates to housing funding and the increased presence of federal immigration officers in the Twin Cities.

Brent Erickson, a senior managing director in Newmark’s Minneapolis-St. Paul office, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Erickson talks about wrapping up his long career in commercial real estate, the downtown Minneapolis office market, and his experience with properties such as Butler Square and the TractorWorks building.

Bentley Smith, a senior vice president at CBRE, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Smith discusses the Twin Cities industrial market in 2025 and where he thinks it’s headline in 2026.

Delma Palma, principal and market leader for housing and private development at LSE Architects, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Palma talks about her background in urban design and architecture, affordable housing challenges and other topics.

Minneapolis Fed researchers Libby Starling, a senior community development adviser, and Ben Horowitz, a senior policy analyst, talk to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Starling and Horowitz discuss the work from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’ community development team on housing and commercial real estate.

Jason Rentmeester, construction executive at Kraus-Anderson, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Rentmeester oversees the busy K-12 Education Group at Kraus-Anderson. He talks about his experience working on school projects and the outlook for K-12 construction in 2026.

Aaron Barnard, a senior director at Cushman & Wakefield and president-elect of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Barnard talks about his leadership with SIOR, his work at C&W and how the two connect.

Jamie Verbrugge, president and CEO of Catholic Charities Twin Cities talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Verbrugge talks about Catholic Charities Twin Cities’ mission, his prior experience as city manager in Bloomington and the challenge of creating affordable housing.

Tony Ferraro, managing director for Bridgewater Bank’s commercial banking team, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Ferraro talks about how Bridgewater’s C&I team finds clients, as well as what makes for a good loan.

New Founders Properties President Kim Hofstede talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Hofstede discusses her career journey, her new job duties, and challenges and opportunities in the local industrial market.

Jeff Jiovanazzo, managing director and market leader for CBRE Minneapolis, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Jiovanazzo discusses his role in the CBRE office, his leadership style and how the retail and office markets are doing.

Barb Lau, the executive director of the Association of Women Contractors, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Lau takes a deep dive into the changing landscape of the U.S. Department of Transportation‘s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, which was established in part to ensure “nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts.”

Erik Hansen, the director of the Department of Community Planning and Economic Development for the city of Minneapolis, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Hansen talks about the Way Home report as well as what the city is looking to do to encourage development.

Meredith Hayes Gordon, HGA’s Science + Technology Market Sector leader, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Hayes Gordon talks about her role in the Science + Technology Market Sector, the outlook for the science and technology sector, and what inspired her to become an architect.

Tom O’Brien, vice chair at Colliers in Minneapolis, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. O’Brien discusses why he made the switch to Colliers, the transition so far and the state of Normandale Lake.

Bret Weiss, president and CEO of WSB, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Weiss talks about the company’s growth, the outlook for infrastructure projects in the Twin Cities and beyond, and other topics.

CommonBond Communities CEO Deidre Schmidt talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Schmidt discusses the nonprofit’s decision to sell several properties and the move to a mix of in-house property management and contracted management.

Jesse Neumann, owner and president of operations of Designing Earth Contracting, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Neumann talks about the decision to get into residential development and the status of the new Elwell Farms development.

Evan Doran, president and CEO of Doran Group, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Doran talks about the Olinia active adult housing brand, where the company goes next, and how his leadership style differs from the firm’s previous CEO, the late Kelly Doran.

Melissa Meschke, executive director of St. Croix EDC, and Susan Badke, senior planner/deputy director of the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, talk to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Meschke and Badke break down the results of a recent St. Croix County housing study, crunch some of the numbers, and talk about opportunities and challenges in the St. Croix County housing market.

Joe Boone and Jim Hegedus of Water Street Partners talk to F&C reporter Dan Netter. They talk about their collaboration, the strategic partnership with Oppidan and what the future holds for Water Street.

Connor McCarthy, senior vice president of commercial development at United Properties, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. McCarthy talks about his expanded role with United Properties and the current state of the Twin Cities industrial market, among other topics.

Jill Hutmacher, community development director for the city of Eagan, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Hutmacher talks about her work with the city and its multiple redevelopment sites.

Nick Ingolfsland, chief technology officer at Ulteig, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Ingolfsland talks about how AI and automation are changing the way projects are delivered, the growing importance of cybersecurity, and the future of work in the architecture, engineering and construction industry.

Jim Vos, senior managing director of Savills’ Minneapolis office, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Vos, who is also a member of the Minneapolis Downtown Council Board of Directors, talks about the transition to Savills, the importance of downtown and how volunteering impacts his work.

Scott Shifflett, vice president of construction at Opus, and George Parrino, construction project executive at Opus, talk to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Shifflett and Parrino discuss the company’s role in building the new state-of-the-art aquatic center for St. Thomas Academy and Visitation school, project challenges, and other focus areas for Opus.

Katie Trevena, a senior vice president for real estate advisory at Forte Real Estate Partners talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Trevena talks about the office and health care leasing market and about her work as a Chanhassen planning commissioner.

Interview: William Price, senior director of real estate development, Project for Pride in Living by Finance & Commerce

New LISC Twin Cities Executive Director Jonathan Sage-Martinson talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Sage-Martinson talks about past work and his new role with the nonprofit.

Dave Higgins, president of the new St. Paul Downtown Development Corporation, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Higgins talks about his role, the group’s recent acquisition of the bank note for the Alliance Bank Center and how the DDC is meant to help St. Paul grow.

Northside Economic Opportunity Network President Warren McLean talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. McLean discusses the Northside Forward program, NEON’s mission and other topics.

Mohammed Lawal, co-founder and principal of LSE Architects, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Lawal discusses his journey in the architecture profession and some past and current projects.

Devon Dvorak, an associate vice president at Colliers, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Dvorak talks about his first year at Colliers, what the exurban market looks like and gives some advice for people looking to break into the industry.

Heidi Addo, vice president at Michel Commercial Real Estate, talks to F&C reporter Dan Netter. Addo talk about her career, the commercial real estate market and what it’s like to work in the family business.

Tina Hoye, recently retired president of NTH, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Hoye talks about her commercial real estate journey, her decision to retire, and efforts to attract more women to the industry, among other topics.