Advocacy Events

The 2026 Greater Mankato Advocacy Forum Series sponsor:

Greater Mankato Growth is committed to providing opportunities for meaningful interaction between the business community, public policy makers, and leading business executives.

Our events bring together compelling speakers and business leaders to discuss timely and relevant political, policy, and leadership issues.  

Advocacy Forum Series typically consists of two forums a year (January and June), one forum with state/regional experts, and GreenSeam’s Rural Forum Legislative Panel (in December).

UPCOMING advocacy EVENTS

2026 Post-Session Legislative Forum

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 | 8:30 – 10:00 am
South Central Service Cooperative, North Mankato

Join Greater Mankato Growth and your fellow colleagues for an overview of the 2026 Minnesota legislative session. Our panel of local legislators will discuss key takeaways and how they will impact member businesses and the community. A Q&A session will be offered as an opportunity to directly engage with local legislators on issues that are most important to you.

Legislative panel:

Senator Nick Frentz (confirmed)
Senator Rich Draheim (confirmed)
Representative Bjorn Olson (confirmed)
Representative Luke Frederick (confirmed)
Representative Erica Schwartz (confirmed)
Representative Paul Torkelson (invited)

GMG members: $25
Non-members: $40

Greater Mankato Day at the Capitol

Tuesday, March 31, 8 am – 3 pm

Join business and community leaders at the Minnesota State Capitol and be an advocate for your industry and the Greater Mankato marketplace. Interact directly with Governor Walz, legislative leaders, and key administration personnel on issues that matter the most to Greater Mankato Growth Members. Busing will be provided by Lake Crystal Coaches, departing from South Central College North Mankato Campus.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Please contact Andy Wilke.

PAST EVENTS

2026 I-90 Party

Wednesday, May 6 | 5 – 9 pm
Securian Financial Club, CHS Field, 360 N Broadway Street, St Paul

The I-90 party, the premier event of the legislative session, is a celebration of Greater Mankato and southern Minnesota. Engage with the most influential members of the legislature: you don’t want to miss the opportunity to connect with more than 100 lawmakers who attend this marquee event at St. Paul’s CHS Field. Legislative staff, administration members, government relations specialists, and professional staff from every industry also attend.

Greater Mankato Growth and GreenSeam are proud to continue the 20-year tradition of the I-90 party, giving Greater Mankato and everyone in the GreenSeam unparalleled visibility at the Capitol.

Sponsorships are appreciated to help support this event. Please reach out to Andy Wilke.

Greater Mankato Day at the Capitol

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 8 am – 3 pm

Join business and community leaders at the Minnesota State Capitol and be an advocate for your industry and the Greater Mankato marketplace. Interact directly with legislative leaders and key administration personnel on issues that matter the most to Greater Mankato Growth Members. Busing will be provided by Lake Crystal Coaches, departing from South Central College North Mankato Campus.

Agenda:

Session briefing with Laura Bordelon, Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Legislator Meetings:
- Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-37A) – Chair of House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee
- Rep. Luke Frederick (DFL-18B) – Co-Vice Chair House Capitol Investment Committee
- Sen. Nick Frentz (DFL-18) – Assistant Majority Leader, Chair of Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Committee
- Sen. John Jasinski (R-19) – Deputy Minority Leader, Ranking Member Senate Transportation Commitee
- Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-15) – Co-Chair of House Ways and Means Committee
- Rep. Erica Schwartz (R-18A) – Co-Vice Chair House Higher Education Committee
Governor Tim Walz – invited

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Please contact Andy Wilke.

Minnesota Legislative Session Forum

Thursday, February 5, 2026 | 11:30 – 1:00 pm

Join Greater Mankato Growth and your fellow colleagues for a preview of the 2026 Minnesota legislative session. Our panel of local legislators will discuss their priorities for the 2026 session and the ways they will support businesses and Greater Mankato Growth policy priorities.

A Q&A session will be offered as an opportunity to directly engage with our local legislators on issues that are most important to you.

Legislative Panel:
Senator Rich Draheim (confirmed), Senator Nick Frentz (confirmed), Representative Paul Torkelson (confirmed), Representative Luke Frederick (confirmed), Representative Erica Schwartz (confirmed), Representative Bjorn Olson (confirmed).

Members: $25 | Non-Members: $40

Registration includes admission, lunch, and refreshments.

Business Roundtable with Rep. Brad Finstad

Wednesday, August 13, 2025 | 9:30 – 11:00 am

Join Greater Mankato Growth and your fellow colleagues for a business roundtable with Rep. Brad Finstad. The roundtable will include a discussion of recent federal legislation, upcoming legislative deadlines, Rep. Finstad’s priorities through this Congress, and the impact of these issues on member businesses and the community. A Q&A session will follow.

This event is exclusive to Greater Mankato Growth member business representatives. Location provided upon registration. Cost: $20 per member business representative.

2025 I-90 Party

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 5 – 9 PM
Securian Financial Club, CHS Field, 360 N Broadway Street, St Paul

Greater Mankato Growth and GreenSeam are proud to continue the 20-year tradition of the I-90 party, giving Greater Mankato and everyone in the GreenSeam unparalleled visibility at the Capitol.

Sponsorships are appreciated to help support this event. Please reach out to Andy Wilke.

2025 Greater Mankato Day at the Capitol

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 8 AM – 3 PM

Agenda:

Issue Briefing: Ms. Laura Bordelon, Senior Vice President, Advocacy, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Darielle Dannon, Executive Director, Greater Minnesota Partnership
Meeting with Legislators
Meeting with Governor Walz (invited)

To view the full agenda and to learn more, follow this link.

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

2025 Pre-Session Legislative Forum

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 | 4 – 6 PM
LocAle Brewing Company, 228 Poplar Street, Mankato

Join Greater Mankato Growth and your fellow colleagues for a preview of the 2025 Minnesota legislative session with pizza and local brew. Our panel of local legislators will discuss the outcome of the 2024 election and how will it affect the agenda in the upcoming season. A Q&A session will be offered. Legislative panel: Senator Rich Draheim (confirmed), Senator Nick Frentz (confirmed), Representative Paul Torkelson (confirmed), Representative Luke Frederick (confirmed), Representative-Elect Erica Schwartz (confirmed), Representative Bjorn Olson (confirmed). Registration includes admission, one drink ticket, and pizza. GMG members receive a discount.

Post-Session Legislative Forum

Thursday, July 17, 2025 | 4 – 5:30 pm
South Central College, Heritage Hall | 1920 Lee Boulevard, North Mankato, MN 56003

Join Greater Mankato Growth and your fellow colleagues and hear from a panel of local legislators as they discuss key outcomes from the 2025 Minnesota legislative session and their impact on local businesses and the community. A Q&A session will be offered as an opportunity to directly engage with our local legislators on issues that are most important to you.

Legislative Panel: Senator Nick Frentz, Senator Rich Draheim, Representative Paul Torkelson, Representative Luke Frederick, Representative Erica Schwartz. Learn more here.

Lunch & Learn with Megan Dayton, Minnesota State Senior Demographer

Tuesday, September 17 | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Pioneer Bank, 1450 Adams Street, Mankato

Join Greater Mankato Growth and your fellow colleagues for a Lunch & Learn with Megan Dayton, Minnesota State Senior Demographer. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear Ms. Dayton’s perspective on the current demographic trends shaping the state, and the impacts these trends will have on the ability of businesses to recruit and retain talent, which is a top priority for our entire community. A box lunch will be served at the event.

Panel: Megan Dayton (Minnesota State Demographer), Kelly Asche (Senior Researcher, Center for Rural Policy & Development), Dr. David Jones (Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, Minnesota State University, Mankato)

Greater Mankato Growth’s Advocacy Forum Series, sponsored by Abdo, bring together compelling speakers and business leaders for a discussion of timely and relevant political and policy issues.

2024 Elections: Candidate Forums

Free Admission | Different locations and days/times

Greater Mankato Growth is pleased to announce a series of candidate forums this election season. These forums provide an opportunity for meaningful exchange between candidates and voters on issues that impact our community’s future and economic growth potential. The public is invited to attend these free events. No registration needed.

The forums will be recorded and made available online after each event. There will be no live streaming or virtual attendance options.

City of Mankato Council Candidate Forum
Thursday, September 26, 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Intergovernmental Center, Mankato Room
Moderators: Andy Wilke (GMG) & Steve Jameson (The Free Press)
Follow this link to view the recording.

Blue Earth County Commission Candidate Forum
Wednesday, October 2, 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Intergovernmental Center, Mankato Room
Moderators: Andy Wilke (GMG) & Jake Palmer (KTOE/Radio Mankato)
Follow this link to view the recording.

Minnesota Congressional District 1 Candidate Forum
Tuesday, October 15, 6:00 – 7:30 pm | South Central College, Conference Center
Moderators: Andy Wilke (GMG) & Maddie Paul (KEYC News Now)
Presented by South Central College.
Follow this link to view the recording.

Minnesota House District 18A, 18B, and 22A Candidate Forum
Wednesday, October 16, 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Intergovernmental Center, Mankato Room
Moderators: Andy Wilke (GMG) & Joe Spear (The Free Press)

Listening Session: Paid Family Medical Leave

Thursday, September 26, 2024 | 1 – 2:30 PM
South Central Service Cooperative, 2075 Lookout Drive, North Mankato

Minnesota Paid Leave Director, Greg Norfleet, and division staff are partnering with Greater Mankato Growth for this in-person listening session to provide employers with program updates, share information they need to be ready for wage detail reporting, respond to questions and gather feedback, connect and establish open lines of communication with employers around the state, and more. Business owners and/or executives, human resource professionals, legal professionals, and anyone interested in learning more about the implementation of the new PFML program.

Legislative Session Recap Panel Discussion

Monday, June 24, 2024 | 6 – 8 pm

Join a legislative session recap panel discussion, moderated by Lisa Norton, Eagle Lake Mayor, and John Whitington, Eagle Lake Councilmember. The event will take place at Eagle Lake American Legion Post 617, 100 North 3rd Street, Eagle Lake, MN 56024. Panelists are Senator Nick Frentz, Senator Rich Draheim, Representative Luke Frederick, Representative Bjorn Olson, Shannon Watson, Founder and Executive Director at Majority in the Middle, and Andy Wilke, Executive Vice President at Greater Mankato Growth. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Questions from the audience are highly encouraged and can be submitted ahead of time via email.

2024 Post-Session Legislative Forum

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 | 3:30 – 5:00 pm

Join Greater Mankato Growth and your fellow colleagues for an overview of the 2024 Minnesota legislative session at LocAle Brewing Company in Mankato. Our panel of local legislators will discuss key takeaways from the 2024 legislative session and how they will impact member businesses and the community. A Q&A session will offer an opportunity to directly engage with the legislators on issues that are most important to you. Registration includes admission, one drink ticket, and pizza.

I-90 Party

Wednesday, May 8, 2024 | 5 – 9 pm

A celebration of Southern Minnesota, the annual I-90 Party, will be held on Wednesday, May 8, at CHS Field (Securian Financial Club), 360 North Broadway Street, St. Paul. To learn more, please reach out to Andy Wilke, Executive Vice President at Greater Mankato Growth.

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's 2024 Chamber Day at the Capitol

Thursday, April 11, 2024 | 10 am – 12 pm

Greater Mankato Growth is happy to, once again, join with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and dozens of chambers across the state for Chamber Day at the Capitol. Participants will get a chance to hear from influential legislators who write the laws that impact your business. Employer voices are needed at the Capitol now more than ever! If you are interested in participating, reach out to Andy Wilke. Learn more about the event here.

Greater Mankato Leadership Institute

Effective Advocacy & Civic Engagement Session

Each year, the Greater Mankato Leadership Institute class engages in learning about our local government, Minnesota legislators, and legislative priorities at Greater Mankato Growth, as we advocate for our members and the regional marketplace. On March 13 and 14, the Leadership Institute class connected with local public servants, and took a trip to the State Capitol to better understand its environment and how Minnesota Legislators work while in session. Learn more about Leadership Institute here.

Greater Mankato at the Capitol

Business and community leaders took a trip to the State Capitol at the end of February to advocate for their industry and the Greater Mankato marketplace. Our group had an opportunity to speak directly with several legislators and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan and discuss issues that matter the most to Greater Mankato Growth members. Our elected officials have the power to make decisions about critical issues impacting the vitality of your business and our regional marketplace. Strong participation from the community is always absolutely critical to the success of this event.

Luncheon with Neel Kashkari

Neel Kashkari, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and one of the nation’s most influential economic policy makers, joined us for a luncheon at Sky One Eleven in February of 2024. President Kashkari shared his thoughts on the current state of our economy and what it means for the greater Mankato region. Time was reserved for Q&A. This luncheon was presented by Gislason & Hunter LLP.

Watch the recording of the Luncheon here.

Pre-Session Legislative Forum

Greater Mankato Growth hosted a preview of the 2024 Minnesota legislative session on Thursday, January 25. The forum featured Senator Rich Draheim, Senator Nick Frentz, Representative Luke Frederick, and Representative Jeff Brand as we discussed the upcoming legislative session and the impact of the “trifecta” on Greater Mankato area businesses. The Greater Mankato Growth Advocacy Forum Series brings together compelling speakers and business leaders to discuss timely and relevant political and policy issues.

Lunch & Learn: The State of Bipartisanship

Greater Mankato Growth partnered with Shannon Watson of Majority in the Middle for a discussion of bipartisanship in Minnesota in December of 2023. As political polarization has increasingly become a factor in our communities, schools, civic organizations, and businesses, we’re all learning how to navigate divides. Attendees learned about (sometimes surprising) origins of division, as well as actual steps you they can take to bring down the temperature.

Policy Roundtable with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

On November 7, Greater Mankato Growth and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce hosted a conversation about legislative impacts on businesses. The decisions made by Minnesota legislators have a direct impact on businesses. Chambers need input to frame their agenda for the upcoming year. The roundtable presented an opportunity to share perspectives, help establish priorities, and look ahead to the critically-important 2024 elections. This feedback will help GMG and the MN Chamber carry the voice of business at the Capitol and support pro-business policies that help grow the economy, while defending against onerous anti-employer measures.

Hospitality Legislative Panel

A roundtable discussion with Mankato legislators was held on Thursday, October 26, at Sky One Eleven, 111 South Second Street (7th Floor) in Mankato. The discussion, hosted by Hospitality Minnesota and Greater Mankato Growth, focused on recent legislative changes, challenges facing the hospitality industry, and what to expect next year. The event presented a valuable opportunity to gain insights, engage in meaningful dialogue, and understand what the future has in store for this industry. The featured panelists were Senator Rich Draheim (District 20), Representative Luke Frederick (District 18B), and Representative Bjorn Olson (District 22A).

2023 Minnesota Legislative Updates Webinar - Impact on Employers

In August of 2023, Greater Mankato Growth partnered with Gislason & Hunter LLP to deliver a webinar that dove deep into the 2023 Minnesota legislative updates. The webinar was presented by attorney Brittany King-Asamoa, partner at Gislason & Hunter LLP, with focuses on labor and employment law, and civil litigation. Attendees received information on sick & safe leave, paid family medical leave, pregnancy and nursing accommodations, wage disclosure protection, legalization of cannabis and changes to drug testing, bans of non-competes, and bans of employer-sponsored meetings. Learn more.

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