News and Stories
Latest News & Stories
Small Businesses Have Big Impact
Small businesses have a big impact on Thief River Falls and Pennington County. Across Minnesota and the nation, small businesses create jobs, support families, strengthen local economies, and keep dollars circulating close to home. This Advance Thief River blog highlights national and state small business statistics while adding a local lens on entrepreneurship, business ownership, and the important role small businesses play in building a strong, resilient community.
Building the Future: Cole Dazell Shares a Story of Resilience and Innovation at TREK
At June’s TREK program, Thief River Falls native and Neon Forge founder Cole Dazell shared his inspiring journey of overcoming a life-changing spinal injury to build a successful digital marketing and web design business. Attendees learned valuable insights on branding, website strategy, accessibility, and the importance of adapting to today’s digital economy. Cole’s story of resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurship offered practical lessons for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.
Advance Thief River Employer Profiles: Connecting Job Seekers and Employers
Explore Advance Thief River Employer Profiles to connect with local employers and discover career opportunities in Thief River Falls. Job seekers can find pathways across industries, while businesses can showcase their company and attract talent by becoming a member of Advance Thief River. This powerful platform brings together people, careers, and employers to support a strong and growing local workforce.
Two Entrepreneurial Journeys, One Morning at TREK May 5 at 8:30 AM
Join TREK on May 5 at 8:30 AM to hear from two local startup founders, Davis Engen of Echo Healing and Brenna Drevlow of B Sew Cute. This session highlights two unique entrepreneurial journeys—from a wellness-based business to a student-led venture launched through Prowler Tank. Learn how each is turning passion into action, building skills, and growing with community support. Ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone interested in local innovation.
Pull Up a Chair: The Longest Table Returns April 23
Join the Longest Table on April 23 at 6:00 PM at Northland Community and Technical College for a Scandinavian-themed community dinner. Enjoy Swedish meatballs, lefse, rømmegrøt, and more, with live nyckelharpa music by Renee Vaughan. Designed to bring together newcomers and long-time residents, this event creates meaningful connections over a shared meal. Limited tickets available—reserve your seat today.
Ashton’s Mowing Story
Learn how Ashton’s Mowing Service and Snow Removal grew from a young entrepreneur’s goal into a trusted, full-service property maintenance and light construction business in Thief River Falls. Founded by Darwin and Ashton Klemetson, the company is built on hard work, strong partnerships, and community support. Hear Darwin share the journey, lessons learned, and growth story during his upcoming TREK presentation on April 7 at 8:30 AM.
Upcoming Events
The Longest Table
Experience The Longest Table in Thief River Falls on April 23 at Northland Community & Technical College—a Scandinavian-themed community dinner for newcomers and long-term residents, featuring traditional Scandinavian cuisine, live nyckelharpa music by Renee Vaughan, and a unique shared table designed to bring people together. Join this one-of-a-kind cultural event celebrating food, music, and connection.
Meet Bruce Gangelhoff: Innovation at the Intersection of Golf & Technology
Bruce Gangelhoff, owner of BA Custom Products, will speak at TREK on March 3 at 8:30 AM. Learn how he built a commercial-grade golf simulator manufacturing business and is now integrating custom software solutions to create smarter, easier-to-manage simulator systems for clubs, businesses, and home users worldwide.
Inside Juiced: Automating Lead Growth
Discover how Juiced is driving smarter lead growth by simplifying real-time lead distribution. By handling the complexity of matching, pricing, and delivering leads, Juiced allows businesses to focus on scaling, efficiency, and performance. In this TREK session, owner Nolan Nordlund shares insights on building a tech-enabled platform designed for sustainable lead growth, and why automation and systems thinking are essential for entrepreneurs looking to compete and grow in today’s digital marketplace.
Klasen’s Greenhouse: A Year-Round Destination
Join TREK on January 6 from 8:30–9:30 AM for an inspiring entrepreneurship presentation by Kade and Ricki Klasen of Klasen’s Greenhouse. Learn how this family-run Minnesota greenhouse grew from a small side hustle into a year-round business with nine greenhouses and popular seasonal attractions. TREK is a professional development and networking series highlighting real-world business growth, innovation, and leadership in Northwest Minnesota.
Advance Thief River
Mailing Address
PO Box 773
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Office
By Appointment Only
Spark Hub
(Inside Garden Valley Building)
1412 3rd Street West
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
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