Two Rivers Entrepreneur Kinnection
Entrepreneurship is a journey. #TREKon
We’re entrepreneurs fueled by coffee and conversation. We are focused on growing small business, strengthening the culture of entrepreneurship, and expanding the area economy.
Two Rivers Entrepreneur Kinnection
Partners on your entrepreneurial journey. #TrekOn
Get “Kinnected”
TREK’s mission is to educate, engage, and “kinnect” entrepreneurs. Meetings are the first Tuesday of each month, 8:30 to 9:30 am. There are no attendance requirements or membership fees and everyone is welcome.
The gatherings are run by entrepreneurs and for entrepreneurs. Each month features a special speaker or panel presentation followed by engaging discussion. Each event offers an opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, learn, and share ideas.
Learn. Be inspired. Support area entrepreneurs. Strengthen our culture of entrepreneurship!
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.
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.
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.
Small Business Help From the SBDC
Access no-cost, confidential business consulting through the Minnesota Small Business Development Center. Whether you’re starting out or growing an existing business, registration is the first step to connecting with an experienced advisor.
Financial Resources
There are several financial resources available, including a variety of loans and grants, as well as angel investment. Entrepreneurs needing financing are encouraged to contact Michelle Landsverk, Advance Thief River Director to discuss their project needs.
#TRFStrong Facebook Group
The #TRFStrong Facebook group was created at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic to help business owners support and learn from each other. It is a “closed” group, meaning that anything shared on the page is only seen by other members.
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
Contact Us
Drop us a message to let us know what you need and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!
(c) 2026 Advance Thief River. All rights reserved.