Associate Director

Alison joined BLAEDC in 2020 as the Special Initiatives Director, bringing a unique blend of experience from education, counseling, small business, and professional development. Over the years, she has gained in-depth knowledge of BLAEDC’s operations and member engagement efforts, making her a valuable resource across all areas of the organization. She continues to play a key role in advancing initiatives that support our mission to expand business, build community, and grow jobs in Crow Wing County.

Now serving as BLAEDC’s Associate Director, Alison leads the newly launched Placer.ai program, helping drive strategic growth and opportunity throughout the region through the use of foot-traffic analytics and actionable data. In addition, as a North Central SBDC Satellite Site, Alison serves as the primary business consultant at our BLAEDC office, specializing in supporting start-ups, developing business plans, and guiding marketing strategies.

She holds a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, which complements her 15+ years of experience in education, counseling, social media marketing, and training—skills that contribute to her thoughtful, people-centered approach to economic development.

As an active community member, Alison’s volunteer experience includes:

• Lakes Area Manufacturers Alliance (LAMA) Board Member
• University of Minnesota Extension 4-H Youth Development Program Volunteer in Crow Wing County
• Ambassador with the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce
• Member of the Brainerd Service League
• Board Member of the Innovative Schools Project Board (Sourcewell)
• School Counseling Advisory Board for Forestview Middle School
• Crow Wing County 4H Youth Program
• Gull Lake Sailing School/Gull Lake Yacht Club

Alison grew up in the Brainerd Lakes Area, so she knows this community well. She enjoys spending time on the lake with her family and traveling. Alison is married to Greg, and they have three children.