Leadership Breakfast: Minnesota Chamber Executive Panel

Description

Speaker Bios:

Doug Loon, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, President & CEO
Douglas B. Loon is president and chief executive officer of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, a position he has held since September 8, 2015. The Minnesota Chamber represents more than 6,300 Minnesota companies, 130 local chambers and 65 business trade associations at the Minnesota Legislature on a variety of issues that impact Minnesota’s economy. The Minnesota Chamber was recognized as the State Chamber of the Year for 2021.
Prior to assuming leadership of the Minnesota Chamber, he spent 20 years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 17 of those in Minnesota. As the vice president for regional affairs and advocacy, he managed the seven regional offices that provide political and grassroots outreach across the nation. He also managed the U.S. Chamber’s Midwest Region that includes Minnesota. He was intimately involved in supporting state and local chambers and businesses to move public policy in a direction that helps them be successful.
Previously, Loon served as director of congressional and public affairs at U.S. Chamber headquarters in Washington, D.C. There, he served as one of the organization’s chief lobbyists before Congress on issues critical to the American business community.
Before joining the U.S. Chamber staff in 1995, Loon was legislative director to Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. In his 10 years on Capitol Hill, Loon also served as acting staff director for the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and on the Senate Commerce Committee. In addition, he worked for Senator Larry Pressler of South Dakota.
Loon received his bachelor’s degree in government and international affairs from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. He is a graduate of the Congressional Research Service’s Institute for Legislative Staff as well as the Federal Election Commission’s program on campaign finance laws for incorporated trade associations and membership organizations. He also graduated from Leadership Minnesota, an exclusive program of the Minnesota Chamber addressing the economic and public policy issues of Minnesota businesses. He is past chair of the Eden Prairie Foundation Board of Directors.

Bret Weiss, WSB, President & CEO
Bret A. Weiss is President and CEO of WSB, a design and consulting firm specializing in engineering, community planning, environmental and construction services. Weiss is one of the founders of WSB and has worked in the civil engineering community for more than 30 years. Bret is a passionate leader who is committed to his staff and clients. He believes that a strong culture drives results and he inspires his team to discover thoughtful and creative solutions to infrastructure challenges. 
Bret is also a champion and advocate of the Minnesota business community. He is actively involved in organizations both inside and outside of the AEC industry. Recently. Bret was appointed by Governor Tim Walz to the Minnesota Department of Transportation Connected and Automated Vehicles Advisory Council. In addition, Bret supports the broader business community through his role as the Chair of the Board on the Minnesota Chamber Board of Directors, the Minnesota Chamber Foundation and also dedicates time to the arts by serving on the Hennepin Theatre Trust Board of Directors. In recent years, Bret and WSB have committed to improving industry diversity through WSB’s technical workforce training program, Opportunity+. 
Headquartered in Minnesota, WSB is a fast-growing organization that operates throughout the U.S. from 15 offices in five states. WSB has been regularly recognized as a Top 150 Workplace by the Star Tribune newspaper, a Hot Firm by the Zweig Group and a Top 500 Design Firm by Engineering News Record and recognized in 2021 as a Fast 50 honoree by the MSP Business Journal. 


Alyza Bohbot James, Alakef Coffee Roasters and City Girl Coffee, Owner and CEO
As owner and CEO of Alakef Coffee Roasters, Alyza leads the specialty coffee roasting company that her family founded in 1990 in Duluth, Minnesota. Alakef Coffee Roasters today provides responsibly sourced and produced coffee to grocery stores, co-ops, coffee shops, Universities, and restaurants throughout the Midwest, and online to retailers and consumers.
Shortly after taking over company reins in 2014, she launched an entirely new brand, City Girl Coffee, in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market, featuring USDA Organic Certified blends. She is keeping Alakef’s longstanding support of the coffee industry alive – with a special focus on women. City Girl Coffee empowers women by sourcing as many beans as possible from women coffee farmers throughout the world. A portion of every sale goes to organizations that work to provide these women access to funding, education, resources, and more. In January of 2021, Alyza launched The City Girl Empower Hour, an inspiring new podcast serving up grounded advice and whole bean wisdom on how listeners can succeed in both their personal and professional lives.
Alyza takes an active role in the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and its Women in Leadership program. She is a member of the Minnesota Leadership class of 2017, and currently sits on the Minnesota Chamber’s Board of Directors. She was recognized by the Minneapolis Business Journal as a recipient of its 2017 40 under 40 award, and by Minnesota Business Magazine as one its Women Who Lead. Awarded the Future Forward award from the WBDC for her business acumen, marketing savvy and entrepreneurial spirit. Most recently, she was awarded the Wavemaker award by Team MN Women for making waves in her community, profession, and for her demonstration of outstanding achievement, entrepreneurial spirit and initiative through leadership within her profession and community. 

Laura Oberst, Wells Fargo, Executive Vice President and Head of Central Region
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