Business Central Magazine
Cover Story
from scratch
By Emily Bertram // Photos by Switchboard
DeNae and Mike Hiltner, owners of Great Harvest Bread Company, bake their bread with a mix of kindness, skill and entrepreneurial spirit..
Fact versus fiction
By Nate Van Huevein
When it comes to your career, leave the fortune-telling to the psychics.
Booth of Opportunity
By The Team at Eyecon Graphics
Trade shows, like any valuable tool in a marketing plan, require preparation and strategy.
Online Only
ship ship hooray!
Shipping products to buyers both domestically and internationally is a lucrative way to expand your business income, but navigating shipping fees and regulations can be challenging. There are several options for fast and affordable shipping solutions to satisfy your customers worldwide.
Up for debate?
In today’s world, where strong leadership is more important than ever, new research from MIT Sloan School of Management shows that debate training can be a powerful way to help people become more assertive—and more likely to step into leadership roles.
time to pivot
Pivoting can be one of the most difficult things to execute, whether it’s in life or when running a company. It takes courage to acknowledge when you may be fighting a losing battle and when to cut those losses. The other option, however, is to go down with the sinking ship. If that’s not for you, then here is some help.
show up locally
Building a business takes patience, dedication, and the right support. You can’t do it alone—and you don’t have to. Your environment matters, and your network plays a vital role in your success. Start by engaging with your community.
from this issue
St. Cloud Area Leadership Program
Click here to learn about more and apply for the 2025-2026 program.
Immigration’s Importance
Click here to view the full report, “The Economic Contributions of New Americans in Minnesota” from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
Economy Central Reference
Bhaskar, A. U., & Mishra, B. (2014). Organisational Learning & Work Engagement: Study of an IT Organization. Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, 49(3), 541–550. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24546996
Deming, D. J. (2022). Four Facts about Human Capital. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 36(3), 75–102. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27151255
Konings, J., & Vanormelingen, S. (2015). THE IMPACT OF TRAINING ON PRODUCTIVITY AND WAGES: FIRM-LEVEL EVIDENCE. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 97(2), 485–497. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43556188
Martins, P.S. (2022). The Economic Implications of Training for Firm Performance. Global Labor Organization, 1-24. https://hdl.handle.net/10419/249569
MN DEED. Central Region Path to Career Success
U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). Soft skills: The competitive edge. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/publications/fact-sheets/soft-skills-the-competitive-edge World Economic Forum. (2025). The future of jobs report 2025: Skills outlook. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/in-full/3-skills-outlook/