contributors
contributors
Quality materials, thoughtful details, and products made to keep up.
Jennai Rusch
Nestled in Wisconsin's Northwoods, Jennai' is a distinguished real estate and investment agent with LPT Realty and the visionary behind Northern Chalet Chic. With a rare talent for unveiling the unique character of each property—from historic lakefront estates to bespoke cottages—she crafts stories that captivate discerning buyers and savvy investors. Rooted in a deep commitment to service through the LPT Military Network, Jennai’s resilience and integrity shape every client relationship. Northern Chalet Chic skillfully blends luxury with the vibrant short-term rental market, providing consulting services to professionals and homeowners eager to elevate their properties into sought-after vacation destinations. More than facilitating transactions, Jennai' curates lasting experiences where exquisite homes and strategic investments come together to inspire a lifestyle of refined leisure and timeless value.
Jen Veralle
Jen Veralle is a lifelong Minnesotan who spent years merely surviving winters—until 2019, when she discovered the life-changing magic of sauna and cold plunging. Now she's obsessed with the rush of diving into icy waters after a steamy sauna session. As a writer, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of Sauna and Sobriety, she's building communities around hot-cold therapy and alcohol-free adventures. When she's not crafting stories about residential architecture or guiding transformative sauna experiences, you'll find her hosting retreats on the shores of Lake Superior or frequenting Minneapolis' sauna scene—from bougie spa saunas to downtown sauna rooftop experiences. Through her work with the Mindful Drinking Movement and 1:1 coaching, Jen proves that the most meaningful connections happen when we're fully present. Her design-obsessed eye and wellness-focused heart create the perfect recipe for authentic storytelling about spaces that heal.
jenveralle.com | @jenveralle | saunaandsobriety.com | @saunaandsobriety
Joe Henry
Joe Henry, executive director of Lake of the Woods Tourism, was named Tourism Professional of the Year for his work on behalf of the Minnesota tourism industry. In addition to serving on local industry boards and commissions, including the Minnesota Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus and the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, Joe has brought major global events to Minnesota and created key alliances with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Canada and the province of Ontario. Joe is constantly working with media outlets, municipalities, economic development groups, and other civic, public and private organizations to spotlight Minnesota tourism.
Justin Graddy
Justin Graddy is a multi-media professional photographer/videographer/web specialist who has established himself in the hospitality field all across the U.S. for many years. A native Minnesotan, Justin strongly believes in growing and organizing community amongst fellow business owners and tourism bureaus within each demographic he services to. He is the sole owner of Buffalo Media Group which provides media all across the U.S. to resorts, lodges, hotels, and western guest ranches. From Bristol Bay, Alaska to the warm waters of Belize and everything in between, he covers a lot of ground every season.
Liz Colsen
Elizabeth joined Women Anglers of Minnesota in 2016 and now serves as Vice President, building industry partnerships, facilitating education programs, and chairing the open water tournament. A general surgeon at Glencoe Regional Health, she balances medicine with a love of fishing. Alongside her husband, Jeremy, owner of Lake Osakis Guide Service and president of Fishing with Veterans, they’ve become a dynamic team in Minnesota’s fishing world. She champions women anglers while he takes hundreds of veterans on the water each year. Most weekends, the Colsens are at their Osakis cabin, where Elizabeth fishes beside Jeremy or sneaks in a round of golf!
Meagan Struck
Meagan Struck is the co-founder of Willow Flour, a family-run business bringing clean, naturally low-gluten French flour to U.S. families who want to bake with health and digestion in mind. With a background in nonprofit development, she is passionate about building community, cultivating meaningful relationships, and creating space to slow down and appreciate the simple joys of life. A wife of nearly ten years to her adventure and business partner, Ben, and mom to three young kids, Meagan finds joy in baking, time outdoors, and adventures as a family. Her faith is central to her life, and while the Twin Cities is home, the North Shore remains her family’s place of peace and renewal.
Michaela Rai
Michaela Rai knows what it means to lose everything—and how to come home to yourself, your body, and your intuition. After surviving family estrangement, religious deconstruction, birth trauma, a child’s serious illness, and an abusive marriage that cost her home, work, and stability, she rebuilt her life piece by piece. Lake Superior became her lifeline, anchoring her in ritual and return; she’s dipped into its waters at least once a month for over three years. Through her writing and photography at What We Saw Stories, Michaela shares narratives that reconnect us to our humanity and the water. Her work invites others to revisit their own stories with honesty and presence, reconnect mind and body, and make space for truth. She lives in northern Minnesota with her love and their blended family of three children, and is the founder of What We Saw Collaborative, a space for nurturing women and their work.
michaelarai.substack.com | whatwesawstories.com | @michaelarai | @michaela_rai
Nathan Carlson
Born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, and now residing in Minneapolis for nearly 20 years, Nathan Carlson has a BS degree in marketing and over 15 years of experience in financial services. He is certified by the International Coaching Federation as of 2022. As a certified professional coach, he’s passionate about helping individuals and organizations achieve their personal and professional goals. “I firmly believe our mindset and the quality of our thoughts dictate our success in all areas of life.”
Rich Bryant
Rich Bryant is a man of the world — though his luggage has a habit of taking alternate routes. Having lived in three countries and traveled through more than 40, he’s collected more passport stamps than practical souvenirs. Currently based in California, this global citizen draws on his wanderings to explore how places and cultures shape our beliefs, quirks, and occasional questionable decisions. When not writing, Rich can be found hiking trails that rarely appear on maps, mispronouncing café orders, or testing the limits of international coffee quality—always plotting his next adventure, just to keep life interesting.
Sarah Barten
Sarah is a seasoned communications professional who has spent two decades crafting impactful narratives across tribal enterprises, hospitality venues, and tourism initiatives throughout Minnesota. A strategic storyteller who thrives in high-stakes environments, Sarah has led major tourism projects including bringing Bassmaster to Minnesota and running point on the Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener on behalf of Big Sandy Lodge & Resort. She is the founder of CommuniCATE Consulting LLC, which provides expert guidance through critical moments, strategic planning for growth-focused organizations, and authentic content that connects with audiences across multiple channels. Sarah combines heartfelt storytelling with proven strategies to help organizations navigate their most challenging transitions with confidence and clarity.
Staci Lola Drouillard
Staci Lola Drouillard lives and works in her hometown of Kitchiibitoobig — Grand Marais — on Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior. Her published work includes Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe (UMP, 2019); Seven Aunts (UMP, 2022), which won the 2023 Minnesota Book Award and the NE Minnesota Book Award for Memoir and Creative Nonfiction; and the children’s book A Family Tree (Clarion Books | Harper Collins, 2024). Staci is a Grand Portage Band of Ojibwe direct descendant and works as a radio producer for WTIP North Shore Community Radio. Her favorite place is an island on Saganaga Lake, deep in the Border Country.
