The Duluth City Council held an agenda session on January 9, 2025, at 5:15 PM. The meeting included a public interview for a Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) board appointment, a review of consent calendar items, and a discussion of agenda items for the upcoming meeting. No formal votes were taken during this agenda session.
Um so we have seven questions for you tonight. And the first one is do you have any personal or financial interest, direct or indirect, uh, with uh the uh HRA board, or are you engaged in any capacity whereby a conflict of interest may arise? I thought about that question. So um uh my day job is as a banker, and in 24 years as a banker in Duluth, I've never had a conflict or I've never done business with the HRA. I can't imagine a scenario where I would if there was some future project where traditional bank financing was needed. I suppose in theory, there could be something there, but like I said, in 24 years as a banker in this community, I I've never experienced it. So I'm gonna say highly unlikely. If there was, if there was a situation situation like that arose, obviously I would abstain and and uh recuse myself. Excellent, thank you for that. A next question is please give a brief outline of your educational and work experience and how will your background experience be a benefit in relation to the housing and redevelopment authority. So from an education perspective, as I said, grew up in Duluth East High School, went on to UMD, so I'm a proud bulldog. Uh continued education uh for my career, went to the graduate school of banking at the Stonier School, which is at the University of Pennsylvania. Also took other other coursework related to banking. Um in terms of the my career itself, uh started my career at U.S. Bank in 2001 as a business credit analyst in 2004, became a lender, a business banker, that is, and then in tw uh was with Republic Bank from 2004 to 2019, I've been with Bell Bank from 2019 until the present, where I'm the market president. So, how will that background and experience benefit the HRA? So I have direct experience underwriting both single and multifamily housing developments throughout the our community throughout the region and in several states with my day job as a business banker and now as I said as a community president, which enables me to bring a realistic perspective when assessing housing projects and a pragmatic approach in decision making. With a background in traditional financing methods coupled with project development experience through my nine years of board service at Center City Housing and nine years on the Duluth Economic Development Authority, I've been exposed to many uh types of non-traditional financing, non-traditional being that otherwise other than a bank, uh, and subsidies to accomplish what is necessary to continue advancing our community while assisting those of whom are in need of the excellent, thank you for that. You t you talked a little bit about this, about your interest in affordable housing. Our third question is if you could expound a little bit more of your interest in this particular board. I think that right now, I think we can all acknowledge that we we hear it all the time, we see it all the time, we feel it all the time. The housing need in this community is massive. And again, it it it doesn't, it is we need affordable housing, we need workforce housing, we need high-end housing, that's my opinion. And I think the HRA's position in the community and the work that they're doing, it's greatly beneficial. Um so all of those things make me passionate about trying to improve our community. I think the HRA is in a great position to do so, and again, I'd like to be part of it. Excellent. Sounds great. Um the fourth question kind of deals with capacity. Do you foresee any personal scheduling conflicts which may prevent you from attending regular meetings? There's times where if quorum isn't met, voting can't happen. Do you ever foresee any conflicts there? I don't. Based on the schedule that's that's public, I don't see any issues with that. Of course, things may come up at times, and I understand that it is a commitment, and I fully intend to make all the meetings I can. Wonderful. Thank you for that. Fifth question. Uh what do you consider your personal strengths that you bring to the HRA? So outside of the past experiences that I have that I've already mentioned, um my willingness to ask hard questions, perform thorough due diligence, collaborate and compromise, should be a uh beneficial to the HRA. Wonderful. Uh next question. Are you presently serving on any other boards or commissions? And if so, which ones? The only ones I'm currently serving on right now are the Miller-Duan Foundation and then the Amber Wing Executive Committee. Thank you. And final question. Is there anything else you'd like to add concerning your possible appointment to the board? I don't think so. Any questions for me?