Adam Froehlich is an assoicate attorney at Gislason & Hunter LLP in Mankato, Minnesota, where he practices in areas including finance and banking, agriculture law and agribusiness, business and corporate law, litigation, and real estate. He earned his J.D. from Willamette University College of Law and his B.S. in Human Physiology from the University of Iowa. Adam is licensed to practice in Minnesota and North Dakota, as well as before the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota. Beyond his legal practice, Adam serves his community as a firefighter with the North Mankato Fire Department, continuing his longstanding commitment to public safety, and serves on other boards and committees. In his spare time, Adam enjoys watching Iowa Hawkeyes football and wrestling, spending time outdoors, and being with family.

Dr. George Taylor is an administrator and academic, who also is an entrepreneur, and most importantly a husband, father, and sibling of Business and Industry at South Central College where he leads the strategic development of business and industry programs. His work emphasizes impactful instructional leadership and fostering partnerships, as demonstrated through active participation on regional and systems advisory boards and committees to include the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) Board, Greater United Way (Mankato), and other business, community, and academic councils. With over 20 years of experience in leadership to include Department Head, Director, and Division Officer assignments in academia and in the Navy, George specializes in cross-team collaboration, communication, and community outreach. George also started a company called EntOrgCorp, LLC which is a consulting company focused on government strategy and training and development and is the author of a popular book, calledBlessed Strategy: A Spiritually-Based Guide for Growing Your Business and Leading.George has experience in working with CEO in that Southwest Minnesota Region, and he currently serves as the Chair for Greater Mankato CEO.

Jake is anEconomic & Workforce Programs Specialist at Greater Mankato Growth. He joined the Board in October 2025 and serves as the Secretary. Outside of the Greater Mankato CEO, Jake also serves on the Board of Directors for 1 Million Cups - Mankato, an organization that helps entrepreneurs grow their business and overcome challenges.

Mankato, Minnesota, United States Josh is an entrepreneur and mission driven leader with a passion for boards and nonprofit work focused on Christian faith formation, housing and homelessness, feeding, clothing, education, and clean water access. In 2009, Josh founded Vanderberg Clean, continuing a tradition started by his grandparents, Larry and Sharon Bomsta, in the 1970s. Like his grandparents’ business, Josh has based operations in Mankato, a central location as Vanderberg Clean now serves all of Southern Minnesota. Today, Vanderberg Clean offers a wide range of services throughout Southern Minnesota, including Janitorial Service, Carpet Cleaning, Critical Cleaning, Post Construction Cleaning, Floor Cleaning and Finishing, and much more. Under Josh’s leadership, Vanderberg Clean has grown to a team of 10 full time leaders and 85+ team members, serving our communities with quality service day after day. ankato, Minnesota, United StatJosh is an entrepreneur and mission driven leader with a passion for boards and nonprofit work in the areas of Christein faith formation, housing and homelessness, feeding, clothing, education and clean water

Tammy Bohlke brings big-picture thinking and real-world experience to the table. With more than two decades in higher education and workforce development, she specializes in building bridges between education, business, and opportunity. A strong advocate for entrepreneurship and innovation, Tammy is passionate about empowering high school students to think creatively, take risks, and see themselves as future leaders and problem-solvers.

Gary has broad-based experience in successfully creating, developing, marketing, and supporting talent development initiatives at the private sector, non-profit, community college, and university levels. Special emphasis on: relationship/alliance building; start up projects/businesses; leadership development; project management; marketing strategy; innovation; and lean. Most recently Gary hasserved as a business consultant for the Minnesota Small Business Development Center. Schott's professional experiences took place across Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota. In terms of volunteering, in addition to being a founding board member for the Greater Mankato CEO Program, he currently has leadership roles with the Waterville Lakes Association, Waterville's Economic Development Authority and its Chamber of Commerce.

Caleb Watson works at the intersection of local industry and education, helping to build the future workforce for the Mankato area. Currently, the Career Pathways Coordinator for Mankato Area Public Schools, Caleb, focuses on creating practical opportunities for students to connect with regional employers. With a background in agricultural and technical education, he has spent over 15 years developing programs that are sustainable and industry-aligned. Caleb is dedicated to ensuring that the next generation of local talent is prepared for the real-world challenges of the business community.

Ashley Eimer, CFRE, is a nonprofit leader with extensive experience supporting higher education and advancing educational missions. With a background rooted in philanthropy and education, Ashley is dedicated to creating environments where learning and innovation can thrive. She brings a values-driven approach to leadership and a deep commitment to education as a powerful force for individual opportunity and community impact.