The Minnesota Star Tribune Announces Initial Lineup and Ticket Information for North Star Summit

Event on Tuesday, Oct. 7 will bring together top national and local leaders to discuss the issues, ideas and solutions shaping the future of our region.

Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minnesota Star Tribune has announced its initial lineup for its inaugural North Star Summit. Taking place on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 at the Walker Art Center, the event will bring a collection of top business, political and cultural leaders together to discuss the issues, ideas and solutions that will shape the future of our region and America.  

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

Speakers* scheduled to attend include: 

• Dr. Ronnie Chatterji – OpenAI’s first Chief Economist, leading research into the economic and societal impact of AI.  

• Governor Tim Walz – 41st Governor of Minnesota, former six-term U.S. Congressman, and retired National Guard command sergeant major focused on education, economic growth, and veterans’ issues. 

• Dayna Frank – President & CEO of First Avenue Productions and cofounder of the National Independent Venue Association. 

• Peter Meijer – Co-Founder and Head of Strategy at New Industrial Corporation, former U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 3rd district, and public-sector strategist focused on supply chain resiliency and smart-growth infrastructure. 

• Susan Brower – Minnesota’s State Demographer providing data-driven insights statewide on population trends shaping the economy, workforce, health, immigration, and education. 

• Houston White – North Minneapolis entrepreneur, designer, and community leader known for founding The Get Down Coffee Co. and Houston White Men’s Room. 

• Danielle Russell – Google’s Managing Director for Data, Measurement & Analytics advising the C-suite at Fortune 500 companies in environmental, social, and governance strategies to grow their businesses and strengthen their cultures. 

• Ping Yeh – CEO and cofounder of Vocxi Health, a Minnesota-based medtech startup pioneering noninvasive early disease detection through breath-based sensors.  

• Peter Leyden – Veteran tech futurist, former managing editor of Wired, coauthor of The Long Boom, currently leading “The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050” initiative as a thought leader on AI and transformative technologies. 

• Myles Shaver – Associate Dean of Faculty and Research and Professor of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, where he holds the Curtis L. Carlson Chair in Corporate Strategy. 

• Zachary Mannheimer – Founder and Chairman of Alquist 3D, using robotic 3D printing to address America’s affordable housing crisis through advanced technology and workforce training. 

• Andrew Miller – Chief Operating Officer of the Minnesota Vikings, overseeing the team’s business strategy, operations, and revenue growth initiatives. 

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

*All speakers are subject to change. 

“We’re excited to convene curious and influential leaders for a first of its kind ideas festival in the upper Midwest” said Steve Grove, Publisher and CEO of the Minnesota Star Tribune. “In a nutshell, the North Star Summit will explore the future of our nation, and how the Midwest is making an outsized – but sometimes overlooked – impact on that future. We hope people will leave this event both informed and inspired.” 

Drawing inspiration from events like The New York Times DealBook Summit, the Aspen Ideas Festival and the Texas Tribune Festival, the North Star Summit aspires to be a new showcase of ideas and influences from the region. With substantive talks, newsmaker interviews and panel discussions about topics of deep relevance to the region, attendees will glean key takeaways and inspiration to inform their daily lives and work.