The Minnesota Star Tribune Announces Additional Speakers for North Star Summit; the Midwest’s Premier Ideas Festival

 

Top national and regional leaders will gather on Sept. 22 and 23 to discuss the issues, ideas and solutions shaping the future of the region and America

 

Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minnesota Star Tribune has announced additional speakers for its second annual North Star Summit. Building off last year’s wildly successful event, the summit will take place on Sept. 22 and 23, 2026 at the Guthrie Theater and the Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis. The Midwest’s most influential leaders, both in the audience and on the stage, will come together for substantive talks, newsmaker interviews and panel discussions.

 

In addition, an extremely limited number of tickets remain for the North Star Summit VIP Dinner on Monday, September 21 at the newly opened Indígena by Owamni, featuring an exclusive dinner curated by Head Chef Dominique Miles.

 

“The 2026 North Star Summit is shaping up to be the can’t miss event of 2026 for anyone in a leadership position across our region,” said Steve Grove, publisher and CEO of the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Tickets for the 2026 North Star Summit are now available at startribune.com/northstarsummit. 

 

Newly-added speakers* include:

· Terry Rasmussen – President and CEO of Thrivent, leading the Fortune 500 financial services organization focused on helping clients achieve financial security while strengthening communities through purpose-driven investing and philanthropy.

· Dr. Kavita Patel – Physician, health policy expert, and NBC News medical contributor, former White House health policy advisor leading national conversations on health care innovation, public health, and health system reform.

· Dr. Nico Pronk – Chief Science Officer at HealthPartners, internationally recognized health researcher and population health expert advancing evidence-based strategies to improve well-being, workforce health, and health care outcomes.

· Rebecca Cunningham – President of the University of Minnesota, physician and nationally recognized public health leader known for her research on injury prevention, firearm safety, and health equity.

· Rob Vischer – President of the University of St. Thomas and former dean of its School of Law, leading Minnesota’s largest private university with a focus on innovation, student formation, and community impact.

· Barry Kudrowitz – Professor of Product Design and Head of the Department of Design Innovation in the University of Minnesota’s College of Design, leading research and education in creativity, design thinking, and human-centered innovation.

· Marc Lacey – Managing Editor of The New York Times, award-winning journalist and former National Editor overseeing newsroom operations and coverage across one of the world’s leading news organizations.

· Kathleen Hennessey – Editor and Senior Vice President of the Minnesota Star Tribune, former deputy politics editor at The New York Times and senior Associated Press editor leading one of the nation’s largest regional newsrooms.

· Allison Kaplan – Director of Innovation & Engagement at the Minnesota Star Tribune and former editor-in-chief of Twin Cities Business, award-winning journalist covering business, entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership.

Additional speakers and session details will be announced soon at startribune.com/northstarsummit.

 

Previously announced speakers* scheduled to attend include:

· Ro Khanna – United States Congressman from California’s 17th District in the heart of Silicon Valley, serving as a leading voice on technology, manufacturing, economic policy, and innovation.

· Varun Shetty – Vice President of Media Partnerships at OpenAI, leading collaborations with publishers, news organizations, and media companies to advance the responsible use of AI.

· Adam Winer –Principal Product Manager at Spotify, leading data-driven content strategy and audience insights to inform business and creator decision-making.

· Susan Dominus – Staff Writer at The New York Times Magazine, acclaimed journalist and author covering culture, science, education, and social change.

· Julie Pace – Executive Editor and Senior Vice President of The Associated Press, overseeing the organization’s global news report and editorial operations.

· Christophe Beck – Chairman, President and CEO of Ecolab and Chair of Greater MSP, leading the world’s water company to drive growth and performance while protecting people and the resources vital to life.

· Dave Bozeman – President and CEO of C.H. Robinson, leading one of the world’s largest logistics platforms with a focus on supply chain innovation and global transportation.

· Carla Vernón – CEO and Board Director of The Honest Company, leading the consumer products company focused on clean, sustainable, and purpose-driven personal care and household products.

· Wemimo Abbey – Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Esusu, Inc., leading the fintech company expanding financial access and credit-building opportunities for renters across the United States.

· Michelle Bellanca – CEO of Claros, leading an international team developing technology to destroy PFAS “forever chemicals” and bring breakthrough solutions to global markets.

· Adair Mosley – CEO of GroundBreak Coalition, an ambitious effort to reshape the future of equity in Minnesota by deploying $5.3 billion to close wealth gaps through homeownership, entrepreneurship and commercial real estate development.

· Dr. Joseph Lee – President and CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, nationally recognized addiction psychiatrist and mental health leader advancing innovative approaches to addiction treatment, recovery, and behavioral health care.

· Matt Caldwell – CEO of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx, leading the organizations’ business operations, fan engagement, and long-term growth initiatives across the NBA and WNBA.

· John Phelan – President of Center of the American Experiment, leading the Minnesota-based public policy organization focused on free-market solutions, fiscal responsibility, and government accountability.

· Andrew Dayton – Founder and CEO of Constellation Fund, a foundation that leverages analytics and insights to identify, fund and empower the organizations making the greatest measurable impact on poverty alleviation in the Twin Cities.

· Amy Webb – Futurist, founder and CEO of the Future Today Strategy Group, and bestselling author known for forecasting emerging technologies and their impact on business and society.

                                                                              *All speakers are subject to change.

 

View key moments from North Star Summit 2025.

 

The North Star Summit is made possible through the help of generous sponsors like HealthPartners, Fairview, Google, Thrivent and the New York Times. Sponsorship and ticket packages remain available. For more information, visit startribune.com/northstarsummit.