Ken Warner: 33 Years of Leadership and Impact at the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

In 1988, Ken Warner embarked on a remarkable journey with the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce (WLAC), dedicating himself to the support and growth of our vibrant community's business leaders. For an impressive 33 years, Ken held the distinguished role of President, a tenure that commands respect and admiration.

Over the course of his three-decade leadership, Ken created meaningful connections both locally and across the state of Minnesota, earning a well-deserved reputation as a highly regarded leader. His commitment to service has been instrumental in shaping the Chamber's positive reputation. Throughout Ken's tenure, he led and supported various programs aimed at enhancing the business community.

Among the notable initiatives under Ken's guidance were:

• Business Education Network (BEN): 

• This visionary program aimed to empower the future workforce of Willmar by equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of career opportunities and aligning their skills with the demands of the job market. By bridging the gap between employers, students, and educational providers, BEN contributed to the region's economic vitality.

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• GrowMinnesota! Partnership: 

• As the cornerstone of Minnesota's private-sector-led business retention and assistance efforts, this partnership involving over 90 local chambers and economic development organizations has been instrumental in fostering business growth across the state. Ken played a pivotal role in conducting confidential site visits to businesses, gathering essential data, and devising innovative solutions to address business challenges.

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• Leadership Perspectives: 

• Designed to cultivate effective community leaders with vision and insight, this program offered a diverse range of sessions covering vital topics such as teamwork, diversity, government, health, education, and entrepreneurship. Ken's leadership played a crucial role in empowering future leaders to navigate our region's challenges.

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• neXt: 

• Focused on nurturing young talent and developing the next generation of leaders, neXt, a local organization, attracted and retained young adults within the community. Under Ken's guidance, this initiative provided valuable networking opportunities, skill-building activities, and leadership development programs.

Ken's legacy as a dependable leader of the Chamber will undoubtedly be felt deeply by all. While we bid farewell to his tenure, we welcome James Miller as the new Chamber President, knowing that he is more than capable of upholding the tradition of exceptional leadership. Indeed, he faces some tall pants to fill, both literally and figuratively.