>> THIS IS IN BUSINESS.

I AM KEN BUEHLER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE ARE ON A CHAMBER OF COME TOUR THIS WEEK STARTING RIT HERE AND DOWNTOWN DULUTH.

GOING THROUGH A MASSIVE MANAGEMENT CHANGE RIGHT NOD WE ARE GOING TO INTRODUCE N A LONGFORM INTERVIEW WITH E NEW INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRER AND PRESIDENT OF THE DULUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THN FROM DULUTH, WE TAKE YOU STATEWIDE AND THE MINNESOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AE TOLD YOU ABOUT A CONTEST VY MUCH LIKE THE BIG 10 BASKEL FINALS WHERE THEY GET 64 PRODUCTS IN THE MINNESOTA CHAMBER HOLDS A VOTE ON WHS THE COOLEST THING MADE IN MINNESOTA.

TURNS OUT SOME OF THOSE COT THINGS MADE IN MINNESOTA AE RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN BACK.

FOR INSTANCE, WITH OPERATIN MCGREGOR, THEY MAKE A BOAT ELSEWHERE IN MINNESOTA THAS ONE OF THE ENTRIES.

INFINITY MATZ WAS AN ENTRY.

A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME, U. STEEL ENTERED FROM THEIR P. AND RIGHT HERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE MINNA MARSHMALLOWS FROM DULUTH AE ALSO HAVE A VERY INTERESTIG PART FOR A VERY BIG PIECE F EQUIPMENT THAT WAS ROCKETSD WILL BE SENDING MEN AND WOS ASTRONAUTS BACK TO THE MAI.

ALL OF THOSE ARE PRETTY COD ONE OF THOSE IS GOING TO WE CONTEST.

WE WILL UPDATE YOU ON WHERE VOTING IS AND HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE.

IT IS THE COOLEST THING IN MINNESOTA BECAUSE IT DOES R THE QUESTION WE HAVE HERE N BUSINESS.

WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE FN BUSINESS TONIGHT.

STAY WITH US.

LET'S WELCOME TO IN BUSINE.

I AM KEN MUELLER.

THIS WEEK, WE ARE TAKING AK AT SOME OF THE GREATEST THS MADE IN MINNESOTA BUT FIRS, LAST WEEK, WE SPOKE WITH TW INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE DH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT THE FUTURE OF THE ORGANIZAN IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

HERE'S OUR VISIT.

THIS WEEK'S IN BUSINESS IS LAYING OUT A SMORGASBORD OF TOPICS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

AS ROD STERLING WIT'S END H WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE TWILT ZONE, PLEASE MAKE NO COMPARISONS.

THIS IS A WEEKLY BUSINESS S MAGAZINE SEEN HERE ON PBS H AND HEARD ON THE NORTH 103.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

WE BEGAN THIS ENDEAVOR WITE HELP OF AREA BUSINESS LEADS AND INPUT FROM MEMBERS OF COMMERCE MEMBERS, DIRECTOR, PRESIDENTS SO IT IS FITTINT TONIGHT, WE MEET JIM ROACHE NEW INTERIM PRESIDENT OF TE DULUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCES THIS WEEK'S IN STUDIO GUES.

HE IS TAKING OVER FOR FORMR DULUTH CHAMBER PRESIDENT MT COME -- MATT BUMGARDNER, WO HELD THE POSITION SINCE 20.

HE WAS BORN IN ST.

CLOUD BS DEEP TIES TO DULUTH AFTER O YEARS AT UMD.

HE GRADUATED WITH AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM E UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN MINNEAPOLIS.

HE SPENT SEVEN YEARS HERE E MOVING ON.

HE STILL HAS FAMILIES HIDEO THE CITY OF TOULOUSE PEN RECENTLY RETIRED AS PRESIDF THE MAIN BANKERS ASSOCIATIE SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF NEW HAMPSHI.

HE HAS A LONG-STANDING HISY WITH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING IN BUSS AND LET ME WELCOME YOU TO E SHOW.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WHEN THE BOARD OF DIRECS NAMED YOU AS THEIR INTERIM PRESIDENT, THEY ALSO SAID T THE SEARCH FOR A FULL-TIME REPLACEMENT FORMAT CONTENT- WOULD CONTINUE.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THAT?

I AM NOT.

I RETIRED BEFORE I TOOK THG ON AND IT WAS UNEXPECTED BI FOUND MYSELF REALLY IN RETIREMENT WITH MORE TO DON I EXPECTED OR LESS TODAY TI EXPECTED SO WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME AROUND, I THOUGHT I AM GOING TO GIVEA TRY.

COULD BE GOOD FOR ME, GOODR THE CHAMBER.

JURY IS OUT.

>> YOU WERE SURPRISED WHENS HAPPENED?

BECAUSE I WAS SURPRISED THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED ITSE.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LEDO THIS WERE UNEXPECTED SO THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTING ITSF WAS UNEXPECTED, TOO.

QUITE TO HAVE SOME CHAMBER BACKGROUND AS WE TALKED ABO YOU HAVE BEEN IN THAT PARTF HELPING BUSINESS GROUPS FLH , SUCCEED, MOVE FORWARD.

EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE INTERIMO YOU BELIEVE SOME OF THAT PT EXPERIENCE COULD HELP THE H CHAMBER ON THE SHORT TIME T YOU WILL BE HERE?

>> IT'S ALWAYS PROBABLY GEO HAVE AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVO COME INTO A SITUATION LIKES TO OFFER SOME SLIGHTLY DIFT PERSPECTIVES.

I THINK THE DULUTH CHAMBERA STRONG HISTORY OF REPRESENG ITS MEMBERS WHILE SO TO THE EXTENT THAT I CAN HELP MOVE FORWARD WHAT IS ALREADY IN PLACE, I THINK THAT IS BENEFICIAL JUST IN TERMS OY OWN BACKGROUND.

WHEN I LEFT TO LOSE, I RANA CHAMBER ABOUT THE SAME SIZN UPSTATE NEW YORK CALLED THE MOHAWK VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT THE TIME AND FM THERE, I WENT TO NEW HAMPSE TO RUN THE BUSINESS AND INY ASSOCIATION OF NEW HAMPSHIR NEARLY 17 YEARS AND THEN I FINISHED MY CAREER IN MAINT THE BANKERS ASSOCIATION FOE YEARS SO AS I SAID, HAD RED BUT THE OPPORTUNITY PRESEND ITSELF AND AS I SAID, HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TO DO -- LO DO IN MY RETIREMENT THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD SO IT SEES LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY, A WIN-WIN ON BOTH SIDES.

>> SOME OF THE THINGS YOU LEARNED WHILE RUNNING THE K CHAMBER AND OTHER ASSOCIAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK SOME OF E BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THOSE EXPERIENCES CAN HELP THE DH CHAMBER IN THE SHORT TIME'E HERE?

>> I THINK ANY MEMBERSHIP-D ORGANIZATION HAS TO BE FOCD ON PROVIDING GOOD VALUE TOS MEMBERS AND THAT WAS AN ARA FOCUSED FOR ME IN UPSTATE W YORK IN THE INDUSTRY ASSOCN OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THE ME BANKERS ASSOCIATION.

WE HAVE TO HAVE GOOD VALUEO HANG ONTO EXISTING MEMBERSD IF YOU HOPE TO RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS AND HOPEFULLY IF NT STABILIZE, EVEN BETTER GROE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SO FOCG ON MEMBER VALUE.

I THINK FOR MOST CHAMBERS,T BEGINS WITH ADVOCACY SO CHS OF COMMERCE AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS WERE CREATED E LATE 1800S, EARLY 1900S TOE ADVOCATES FOR THE MEMBERS R THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ANDT IS WHAT CHAMBERS TYPICALLYE FOCUSED ON.

WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE BUSINS COMMUNITY, WHAT MAKES GOODE ECONOMICALLY, WHAT WILL LEO JOB CREATION IN THE CASE OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA WITN ECONOMY THAT IS HEAVILY DEPENDENT UPON SHIPPING.

WHAT CAN THE CHAMBER DO TO ENCOURAGE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIVERSIFICATION SO THAT WHN THERE IS A NATIONAL OR GLOL RECESSION, THE COMMUNITY AE REGION IS A LITTLE BIT MORE PROTECTED FROM THE DOWNFALE ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS CAN REST IN.

CLANCY BROUGHT UP THE TOPIF MEMBERSHIP AND YOU AND I WE SPEAKING I THINK A WEEK AGN YOU CAME BACK TO DULUTH THE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOW G THE CHAMBER IS THE DEFECTIF SOME RATHER LONG-TERM MEMBS COME ABOUT A DOZEN OR SO WO WERE UPSET WITH THE CHAMB'S POSITION ON THE VERY CONTROVERSIAL DATA CENTER R HERMANTOWN.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT, LET'S START OUR CONVERSATION WITH THAT.

IT IS THE ROLE OF THE PREST VERSUS THE ROLE OF THE BOAF DIRECTORS FOR AN ORGANIZATN LIKE THE CHAMBER.

LET'S START WITH THAT AND N LET'S GO INTO THE DATA CENR CONTROVERSY?

WHAT'S THE PRESIDENT RUNS E SHOP DAY TODAY AND RUNS THE ORGANIZATION DAY TODAY BUTG DECISIONS ON PUBLIC POLICY MATTERS ARE MADE EITHER ATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE LEVEL E BOARD LEVEL AND I WOULD SAN TERMS OF THE DEPARTING MEM, THE MEMBERS WHO ARE CHOOSIT TO REMAIN WITH THE CHAMBERE HAVE OVER 950 MEMBERS SO IY MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION, TE ARE EBBS AND FLOWS AND MEMBERSHIP ALL THE TIME.

YOU ADVANCE, YOU RETREAT A LITTLE BIT, SO IT'S NOT UNL FOR MEMBERS NOT TO BE IN LE WITH EVERYTHING THE CHAMBES DOING.

WHILE THE OPPONENTS OF THIA CENTER POSITION THAT WE TON SUPPORT OF THE HERMANTOWN A CENTER ARE VOCAL AND ENERG, I THINK EVERYONE UNDERSTANS THAT OPPONENTS ARE TYPICALY MORE ENERGIZED AND MORE VOL THAN THE ADVOCATES OF SOME.

IF THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH- WITH WHAT THE CHAMBER IS D, THEY MIGHT NOT VOICE THEIR OPINION.

THEY ARE OF -- THEY ARE OKH IT.

I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE TN INTO CONTEXT.

THE DEPARTURES FROM THE CH, IN ADDITION, I HAVE RECEIVA NUMBER OF AFFIRMATIVE COMMS AND REACTIONS TO THE CHAM'S POSITION ON THE DATA CENTEO JUST TO PUT EVERYTHING INTO CONTEXT WITH REGARDS TO THA CENTER IS SO, MY PREDECESS, MATT BUMGARNER, PRESENTED A HERMANTOWN CITY COUNCIL MEG IN MAY INDICATING THE CHA'S SUPPORT FOR THE DATA CENTEO IT WAS NO NEW POSITION THAE TOOK.

THE POSITION THAT WE TOOK N SUPPORT OF THE DATA CENTERS COMPLETELY IN LINE WITH OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES WHICH INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR THE TH SECTOR WHICH HELPS THE AREA DIVERSIFY ITS ECONOMY.

SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SO IS ABSOLUTELY IN KEEPING WITHT -- WITH THE STRATEGIC PRIOS AND WHAT CHAMBERS OF COMMEE TOO.

WE ADVOCATE FOR THE BUSINES COMMUNITY.

ON TOP OF THAT, THE PROJECT ITSELF RESULTS IN A LOT OFD THINGS FOR HERMANTOWN AND R THE REGION.

MORE PROPERTY TAXES, MORE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, MORE JO, REALLY FANTASTIC JOBS, BUTE FACILITY ITSELF AND SUPPORG JOBS THROUGHOUT THE REGIONA LOT OF VERY POSITIVE OUTCOS FROM THE HERMANTOWN DATA C. CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE ADVOCE FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITYD THAT IS WHAT WE DO.

>> JIM ROACH IS OUR GUEST,E INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR- PRESIDENT FOR THE DULUTH CR OF COMMERCE.

WITH YOUR BACKGROUND, AS YU LOOK AS HE DULUTH CHAMBER,T DO YOU SEE AS ITS STRENGTHD WEAKNESSES?

>> OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP E BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

VERY GOOD STAFF.

IT COMMITTED MEMBERSHIP NOTWITHSTANDING THE CONVERN WE JUST HAD.

ALL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE TE WITH HOW THEY ESTABLISH POSITIONS ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES THAT IS NOT UNIQUE E DULUTH AREA CHAMBER BUT THE CHAMBER HAS A VERY LONG TRK RECORD.

IT WAS STARTED IN 1870 SO E CHAMBER HAS BEEN HERE FOR G TIME.

IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE ANT WILL CONTINUE PUT -- TO PUE BEST FOOT FORWARD AND REPRT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON Y PUBLIC POLICY MATTERS.

>> JIM ROCHE IS THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE DULUTH CH.

HE HAS BEEN OUR GUEST ON IN BUSINESS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEG WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ONE OF THE TOPICS WE DISCUSSED WAS THE CHAMBER'S DECISION TO TAKE A POSITION THE PROPOSED DATA CENTER FR HERMANTOWN.

THAT DECISION LED SOME BUSINESSES TO LEAVE THE CH.

WE SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE FT BUSINESSES TO HEAR WHY THEE THAT DECISION.

>> MY NAME IS SARAH BROWN.

I AM THE OWNER OF ZENITH BOOKSTORE.

WE MADE THE DECISION A COUE DAYS LATER, YOU KNOW, OUR INITIAL REACTION WAS THAT E WERE DISAPPOINTED AND YOU , WE DID NOT NECESSARILY WANR NAME ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

THINKING ABOUT IT MORE AND, WE JUST SAID WE CANNOT, IFE -- THEY ARE GOING TO BE PUG UP PUBLIC STATEMENTS, WE 'T WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK UP WHOS SUPPORTING THIS AND WE AREN THERE BECAUSE WE DON'T SUPT IT.

WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE CHAM.

THEY WANTED TO EXPLAIN THER REASONING AND WE LISTENED D DID NOT CHANGE OUR OPINION.

I DON'T SEE OSA REJOINING.

I HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF COMS FROM OTHER BUSINESSES ABOUY THEY NEVER WERE MEMBERS.

BUSINESSES THAT I RESPECT.

THAT HAS OPENED MY EYES A O THE PHILOSOPHY THAT THE CHR HAS REPRESENTED.

I GUESS I WOULD SAY WE HADA HUGE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT ONLINE AND IN-STORE AND WEE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE DH COMMUNITY SHOWING THEIR SUT FOR US IN OUR DECISION.

>> LET'S GET BACK TO SOME E GREATEST THINGS MADE RIGHTE IN MINNESOTA.

AMY IS THE WILLY WONKA, IFU WILL, OF THE MARSHMALLOW.

WE ARE GOING TO TOUR THE FY HERE WHERE WE MAKE MINNESOA MARSHMALLOWS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT -- 70 DIFFERENT S THAT YOU HAVE HERE SHOW ME AROUND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUT HERE IS WHERE WE DO ALF OUR CUTTING AND PACKAGING.

TODAY, OUR TEAM IS CUTTINGR 60 DIFFERENT BATCHES.

WE ARE GETTING READY FOR OR FALL SEASON AND OUR ADVENT CALENDARS AND FALL FESTIVAA LOT OF STUFF.

WE CUT ALL OF OUR MARSHMALS BY HAND STILL.

SHE WILL BE CUTTING A SAMPF OUR BIGFOOT BIKES OVER THE.

WE HAVE OUR SECOND STATIONE AND THEN WE PUT OUR BAGS AD THEN LOAD THEM AND GET REAO GO.

IN THE KITCHEN, WE ACTUALLE A SHARED SPACE SO WE ARE IE WORKS OF BUILDING OUR OWN KITCHEN WHICH IS EXCITING.

WE MAKE IT WORK.

THIS IS OUR PREP STATION OS SIDE WHERE WE GET ALL OF OR GELATIN READY AND THEN PUSR TO MY SITE OVER TO HERE.

AND THEN I GRAB GELATIN, TW IT IN OUR MIXERS.

WE HAVE ALL OF OUR SUGARS N THIS SIDE AND WE PICKED THP AND THEN BRING THEM BACK OR HERE TO THIS SIDE.

I DO ALL MY MAGIC RIGHT HEO I CAN ADD ALL THE FLAVORS O ALL MY TOPPINGS AND EVERYTG LIKE THAT.

AND THEN I TURNED AROUND TT THEM OVER HERE BACK ON THIS SIDE.

>> THESE ARE ALL YOUR RECIS FOR THE DELICIOUS MARSHMALS THAT YOU MAKE AT THE MINNEA MARSHMALLOW COMPANY.

WHAT IS IN A MARSHMALLOW?

E PROCESS OF CANDY EATING -- CANDYING.

IS THERE A LOT OF CALORIESN THERE?

A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S BEEN REALLY FUN.

ONCE I FIGURED OUT HOW TO A MARSHMALLOW, IT'S A BLANK S AND YOU CAN BE AS CREATIVES YOUR IMAGINATION CAN GET.

TIPPING TOWARDS 80 FLAVORSW THIS FALL, WE HAVE STRAWBEY RHUBARB.

I WAS JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING OUR PUCKER UP SO WEE OUR BRAND-NEW SOUR MARSHMAS OUT AND A BLUE RASPBERRY AD SOUR WATERMELON AND THEN TG TO THINK.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S ANOTHE.

WE JUST CREATE -- KEEP CREG AND I LOVE IT.

>> THEY COME AND GO AS FARS THE INVENTORY.

>> YES.

IT IS HARD SOMETIMES.

I DON'T LIKE HAVING TO DO E SAME FIBER EVERY DAY BUT I SHOULD PROBABLY GET BETTERN THAT ROUTINE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CUSTOM ORS FOR LARGE COMPANIES.

WHEN THEY HAVE A BIG GATHEG AND SOFT BIKE -- STUFF LIKT SO WE ARE DOING A WEDDING R THIS WEEK AS WELL SO WE ART ONLY DOING WHAT -- WE HAVEA LARGE ORDER FOR ADVENT CALS COMING OUT AND THEN PREPPIR A WEDDING AND THEN WE ARE G TO BE AT WARREN'S CRANBERRY FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND SO WE ROTATING A LOT OF DIFFERENT FLAVORS AND ACCOMMODATING T OF DIFFERENT THINGS ALL AT.

>> DO YOU TAKE THE TRUCK TO WHERE YOU GO?

>> ORIGINALLY WHEN I STARTI THOUGHT IT WOULD BE REALLYE TO REMODEL A TWO STYLE HORE TRAILER AND USE THAT AS THE BOOTH.

I JUST THOUGHT THAT WOULD E CUTE.

SINCE THEN, WE UPGRADED THE TRAILER AND THEN WE UPGRADT ONE MORE TIME.

WE WERE OUT CAMPING IN 202D SOMEONE AT OUR CAMPSITE WAA DEEP FRYING OREOS.

I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT T TASTES LIKE.

I SAT THERE AND TOLD MY HUD TO START DESIGNING ME DEEPD TRAILER.

I SAID IT WELL.

YOU CAN DEEP-FRIED BUTTER F YOU CAN DEEP-FRIED BUTTER,U HAVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO DO S SO I KEPT MESSING AROUND WH THE RECIPE AND CHANGING DIFFERENT THINGS AND FINALT IT AT ABOUT THE END OF 202D WE GOT OUR TRAILER ORDEREDD GOT TO LAUNCH THAT IN THE BEGINNING OF 2025 SO WE HAW BEEN GOING TO A LOT OF DIFT FESTIVALS WITH THAT.

IT WILL NOT ONLY HAVE OUR T SET UP WHERE YOU CAN CREATR OWN VARIETY PACK WITH UP T6 DIFFERENT FLAVORS GOING WI.

YOU CAN CHOOSE ANY SIX FLAS YOU WANT FOR A BOX AND WE O HAVE OUR DEEP-FRIED TRAILEO IT'S LIKE HAVING A MELTED MARSHMALLOW SHOVED IN FRONA FUNNEL CAKE AND IT IS SUPER DELICIOUS.

>> THE STATE FAIR PROVED YN DEEP-FRIED ANYTHING SO IT S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.

>> YUP.

SO WE ARE WAITING TO GET IH OUR FOOD TRUCK.

WE GOT IN WITH OUR MARSHMA.

WE DO THE KICK OFF FOR THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR AND TS AT THE END OF MAY I BELIEV.

THAT WAS A BLAST.

WE HAD A LINE WRAPPED AROUR LITTLE INTERIOR OF OUR BUIG AT A GRAND STRAND WHICH ISA PROUD MOMENT TO SHARE WHAT SOMETHING YOU CREATED WITHO MANY PEOPLE AND YOU HAVE PE WAITING IN LINE TO GET YOUR THING.

THAT WAS A PROUD MOMENT.

>> WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE TASTING HERE?

>> THIS IS HOW WE GOT NOMID FOR ONE OF THE COOLEST THIS AND MINNESOTA.

OUR YEAR-ROUND THE SELLER.

THAT IS OUR MASCOT RIGHT T. WE HAVE OREOS, PEANUT BUTT, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES, AND FUDGE TOPPED OVER THE TOP.

>> AT THIS POINT, I FEEL LE DIE THEORY.

IT IS SMOOTH -- GUY FIERI.

IT IS SMOOTH.

AND THEN YOU GET THIS EXPLN OF DIFFERENT NOT ONLY TEXTS BUT TASTES, ALL THE SAME TG AND IT IS DELICIOUS.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT.

WHAT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT FLAVORS THAT YOU CAME UP W, YOU USE WRONG, JACK DANIEL, PETER LABOR.

HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THE DIFFERENT RECIPES?

>> ONE OF THE FLAVORS FOR E OCTOBER FESTIVAL I CREATEDS INSPIRED BY MY HUSBAND.

HE SAID WE NEEDED TO DO A Y SWEET PAIRING SO HE WAS LIE WHAT ABOUT A SALTED NUT RO?

I WAS LIKE, OK.

I JUMPED IN THE KITCHEN ANE HAD THAT AND IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE AFTER THE OCTOBER FESTIVAL, WE HAD A LOT OF R FOLLOWERS AND SAYING YOU NO PUT THIS ON THE FULL-TIME .

I LIKE TO SAY OVERACTIVE ST TEA SO ONCE I TRIED SOMETHR I HAVE A DESSERT OR I HAVE SOMETHING IN MY MIND, I AME I CAN MAKE THAT INTO A MARSHMALLOW.

THERE IS FLAVORS LIKE OUR O BROWNIE AND THIS IS INSPIRY ONE OF MY MOM'S FAVORITE TS GROWING UP.

SHE WOULD MAKE THESE BROWNS AND SHE WOULD PUT THEM IN E FREEZER AND IN THE SUMMER,E COULD RUN INTO THE FREEZERN THE GARAGE AND GRAB THESE BROWNIES.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE EATING E CREAM AND IT WAS SO DELICI.

CHILDHOOD NOSTALGIA.

I GOT TO MAKE THAT INTO A MARSHMALLOW SO THAT IS OUR BROWNIE AND I WILL MAKE ITY PATCH AND THEN TAKE MY MINT BATCH AND SWIRL THEM TOGETR WITH FUDGE.

MAY NOT BE AS GOOD AS HER T DARN IT, I TRIED.

>> SO WHAT IS IT THAT MAKEE MINNESOTA MARSHMALLOW TEAMO SPECIAL?

WORKS WE ARE VETERAN OWNED.

BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I. WE HAVE ALSO GOT OUR PAREND STUFF THAT JUMP IN A LOT.

THEY ARE ALSO VETERANS ANDE STILL OPERATE THIS AS FAMID EVERYONE THAT WORKS WITH UN THE KITCHEN IS PRETTY MUCH ADOPTED INTO OUR FAMILY SOO EVERYTHING SMALLBATCH DOWNO EVEN WHAT WE CREATE.

WE HAVE NOT LAUNCHED INTO T BIGGER MIXER THING YET SO E STILL SMALLBATCH, FAMILY-O, VETERAN OWNED, AND WE PRETY MUCH RUN OUR KITCHEN ON GRATITUDE.

THERE'S A LOT OF APPRECIAT.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO T ALL BY YOURSELF AND IT'S RY TOUGH SO TO BE SURROUNDED H SUCH A GREAT TEAM AND GREET PEOPLE TO WORK WITH AND I'S REALLY HEARTWARMING.

>> IT IS A REAL SWEET BUSI.

>> A REALLY SWEET BUSINESS.

OUR FINAL STORY LOOKS AT AR MINNESOTA PRODUCT THAT IS E INTO THE ELITE EIGHT.

ON THE LIST OF COOLEST THIS MADE IN MINNESOTA AND IT IE RIGHT HERE IN DULUTH AND 'A CRITICAL PART IN AMERICA'SE RACE TO TAKE ASTRONAUTS BAO THE MOON.

THIS IS IN BUSINESS AND WEE SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST.

WE TOLD YOU WHAT -- THERE S ONE MORE PRODUCT MADE HEREN THE NORTH LAND THAT SURVIVL THE CUTS WITH THE 64 THAT E ORIGINALLY ENTERED IN OVERA DOZEN HERE MADE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND WE ARE LOOKIR THE COOLEST THING MADE IN F MINNESOTA.

STILL IN THE RUNNING, A PAR A PIECE FOR A TRACK FOR A R THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS.

AT THE METAL PLANT AND OURT IS TOM.

TOM IS THE QUALITY CONTROL EXPERT HERE AND WHAT IS THT PART THAT WE HAVE BEEN WAIG TO FIND OUT ABOUT?

WHENCE A TRANSPORTER FOR N.

>> THIS IS THE CALLER THAT CARRIES THE ENTIRE ROCKET ASSEMBLY LIKE A HUGE BIG SPACESHIP FROM THE ASSEMBLY BUILDING ALL THE WAY DOWN E LAUNCHPAD.

I GUESS IF YOU WERE TO COME IT TO SOMETHING, A HUGE BULLDOZER LIKE TRACK CARRIR THAT WOULD TAKE THE ROCKETE FULL ROCKET ASSEMBLY AND TT FROM THE ASSEMBLY BUILDINGL THE WAY SEVERAL MILES TO TE LAUNCHPAD AND WHAT IS IT TT YOU ACTUALLY MAKE THAT IS T OF THIS INCREDIBLE MACHINE> YOU MAKE A TRANSPORTER SHOO THAT SHE KNEW THAT THE CRAR TRANSPORTER RUNS ON AND THE CRAWLER TRANSPORTER IS ABOE SIZE OF THE BASEBALL INFIE0 FEET SQUARE.

>> ON TOP OF THAT SINCE THE ROCKET SHIP.

IT MOVES VERY SLOWLY, OF C.

>> A MILE AN HOUR IS HOW FT THAT TRANSPORTER MOVES.

>> NOW THESE SHOES THAT YOE ARE LIKE 90 INCHES AND THEY OVER A TON -- WEIGH OVER A. SO EXPLAIN WHERE THIS FITSO THE TREAD.

>> HE TO SHOE FORMS UP ANDT OF THE BELT.

THERE'S 56 SHOES IN THE BED EIGHT BELTS ON THE TRANSPO.

TOUCHING THE GROUND SURFACD SUPPORTS THE TRANSPORTER.

>> THIS PRODUCT HAS BEEN PD -- IN PRODUCTION FOR A WHI.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF IT?

WHAT'S IT DATES BACK TO 20D THE RETURN TO FLIGHT PROGRR THE SPACE SHUTTLE.

NASA NEEDED TO REPLACE ALLF THEIR SHOES FOR THE TRANSPORTERS.

THEY HAVE THREE OF THEM.

WE WON THE PROJECT TO REPLE ALL OF THOSE SHOES.

BACK IN 2004, WE MADE 1100S TO REPLACE ALL THE ISSUES Y HAD.

THOSE ALL DATED BACK TO THE 1960'S.

THOSE ISSUES WERE FAILING.

THAT IS ORIGINALLY HOW WE T INTO MAKING THE TRANSPORTE.

>> IF YOU THINK OF THIS ASA CATERPILLAR TRACK, THE SHOE GOING LIKE THIS.

>> ROTATING AROUND.

>> HOW MUCH WEIGHT DO THEYE TO SUPPORT?

>> RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE DESD TO SUPPORT 24 MILLION POUNO THAT IS THE LODE OF THE ROT GOING UP TO THE LAUNCHPAD E TRANSPORTER.

>> THAT IS A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY.

IF THAT WERE TO TIP OVER, T WOULDN'T BE GOOD.

>> IT WOULD NOT BE GOOD.

YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO MAKET SORT OF NEWS.

THE SHOES PERFORM WELL ANDY DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FR NASA.

>> THEY ARE TELLING US HOWY MAKE THIS PART WHICH COULD BECOME THE COOLEST THING MN ALL OF MINNESOTA.

TOM, HOW DO YOU MAKE THE P?

>> SO WE START WITH THE PA.

THE PATTERN OF THE SHAPE AD THEN FROM THAT, WE MAKE A D AND THEN WE FILL IT WITH LD METAL.

SO THAT METAL SOLIDIFIES AE TAKE IT FROM THE MOLD, HEAO TREAT IT, AND THEN WE GRIND THEN INSPECT IT.

>> THOSE ARE SHIPPED DOWN O NASA IN FLORIDA.

>> CORRECT.

>> DO THESE WEAR OUT?

WHAT IS THE WEAR AND TEAR N THIS?

WHAT'S THE SHOES TYPY LAST ABOUT 30 YEARS SO WE T MADE A SET OF SHOES FOR NAN 2004 AND THEN THIS NEW SETT WE ARE MAKING NOW IS SUPPOG ARTEMIS AND SOME OF THE REN TO THE MOVIES AND MARSH PR.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE CUG EDGE OF SPACE EXPLORATION O THE ATMOSPHERE AND OUTER S. HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEE?

>> WE HAVE A PRIDE IN THAT.

THAT IS KIND OF A TIE-IN TS BOTH HERE IN THE U.S.

AND N THE WORLD.

>> THIS PRODUCT THAT YOU ME HERE IN NEW DULUTH AND SHID TO FLORIDA AND IS HELPING E ARTEMIS PROGRAM TAKE US BAO THE MOON AND HOW MANY OF TE SHOES ARE YOU CURRENTLY MANUFACTURING HERE?

>> CURRENTLY, WE ARE MANUFACTURING 114 SHOES ANT IS OUR THIRD SET OF 114 SH.

WE HAVE ONE MORE SET TO MAE NEXT YEAR.

>> THIS WILL BE INTO THE FE AND THEN YOU TAKE 30 YEARS?

ONCE WE WILL SEE.

>> SEE IF THEY NEED MORE.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WERE N TO BUILD THESE?

>> REALLY BECAUSE OF OUR CAPABILITY IN MAKING THESE.

IT IS THE DOMESTIC SUPPLIER APPROVED TO MAKE THESE SHOS BECAUSE OF THE CAPABILITY R FOUNDRY AND OUR PEOPLE. "

I ASSUME THERE IS A LOT F PRIDE IN WHAT YOU DO HERE BECAUSE IT IS SO UNIQUE INE NORTHLAND.

HOW IS YOUR TEAM?

HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK HERE?

WORKS 150 PEOPLE.

>> HOW ARE THEY FEELING ABT BEING IN THE TOP EIGHT?

>> THERE IS PRIDE IN DOINGE PROJECT AND IT BEING RECOGD AND MAKING IT TO THE TOP ET OF THE STATE.

>> IT FEELS COOL TO BE COO.

>> ROBERT IS THE QUALITY COORDINATOR HERE AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PLANT ANE SHOES YOU MAKE FOR NASA.

HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEE?

WHAT IS YOUR INPUT?

>> NOBODY ELSE INSPECTS THM LIKE I DO SO I KINDA FEEL I HAVE GOT THE ONLY JOB LIKES IN THE WORLD AND THAT IS PY COOL.

QUOTES ARE YOU EXCITED ABOT POSSIBLY BEING THE COOLESTG MADE IN MINNESOTA?

>> I THINK WE DO.

QUOTES WHAT WILL YOU TELL E WATCHING AND LISTENING?

>> VOTE.

>> VOTE FOR THEIR SHOES THT COULD BE THE COOLEST THINGE IN MINNESOTA MADE RIGHT HEN GARY.

>> THANKS TO THE CREW FROM- FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPOT THEIR QUEST, GO TO THE MINA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COOLEST THING MADE IN MINNESOTA AND VOTE.

VOTING ENDS ON SUNDAY.

I AM KEN MUELLER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, YOU CAN ALS WATCH AT PBSNORTH.ORG OR LN ON MONDAYS.

THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING D UNTIL NEXT TIME, LET'S TAKE OF EACH OTHER.

♪ ♪