business leadership & rising star Awards
L-R Rising Stars Kaylin Clement, Jack Livingston, Business Leadership Winner Bob Morse, Rising Stars Leah Schaefer and Megan Kysylyczyn
2024 BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AND RISING STAR AWARD WINNERS
One of the greatest assets the northeast metro has is an abundance of leaders with a long history of serving the community. Along with longevity comes a clear understanding of what it takes to get the job done.
Business Leadership Award Recipient
The winner of the 2024 VHEDC Leadership Award is Bob Morse, Senior Community Business Banker at Mid Country Bank in White Bear Lake. Upon learning he had been named the 2024 winner of the VHEDC Leadership Award, Morse said,“ It’ s pretty humbling for me.”
Bob Morse has 30 years of experience in the banking industry. Before coming to Mid Country Bank 11 years ago, he worked at U. S. Bank, Bremer Bank and for the U. S. D. A., making agricultural loans and rural housing loans in all parts of Greater Minnesota. He also has
experience working in the information technology industry.
Morse has lived in Vadnais Heights for 25 years, and in that time has found numerous ways to serve his community.“ I got involved with the Chamber of Commerce, and served on their board for a while,” he said.
Morse is also a former VHEDC board member, a former Vadnais Heights City Council member and has served on the workforce investment board for Ramsey County.
In addition, he has served on the development committee for Hammer & NER, a nonprofit that provides quality services for adults with intellectual disabilities.“ It’ s a passion I have. My younger brother, who is now deceased, had autism and lived in a group home,” said Morse.
Plus, he has done a lot of volunteering in the community. He has worked on the BEAR’ ly Open Golf on Ice fundraiser that raises money for the White Bear
Area Food Shelf, has been involved with the White Bear Lake Rotary and does a lot of mentoring, particularly of young people interested in careers in the banking industry.
“ I think it is so important to lead by example, and service is a big part of it,” he said.
2024 Rising Star Award Winners
The VHEDC also wants to congratulate the 2024 Rising Star Award winners. Rising Stars are young leaders who have been nominated by members of the community who feel they are deserving of recognition for the great work they are doing.
All four young professionals named Rising Stars for 2024 participated in the VHEDC’ s Young Professionals cohort. Plus, each winner is credited with having the ability to bring people together and get things done.
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