Manufacturing Industry Webinar Series - Gateway to the World - The Port of Duluth-Superior

Manufacturing Industry Webinar Series

Exporting Resources and the Port of Duluth-Superior - Your Business's Gateway to the World

Join us for an engaging webinar exploring the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway and discover how the Port of Duluth-Superior can serve as your gateway to global markets. Learn how this vital transportation hub can support your logistics and shipping needs, and get introduced to a new SBDC resource designed to help small manufacturers expand through exporting. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into international trade and regional shipping advantages.

Presenters: Kate Ferguson, Director of Trade & Business Development, Duluth Seaway Port Authority, and Vicki Hagberg, Regional Director, Northland Small Business Development Center

Kate Ferguson is the first point of contact for companies pursuing domestic and international trade opportunities through the Port of Duluth-Superior and the region. Ferguson has two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Superior: Computer Information Systems and Transportation & Logistics Management. She holds her MBA from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Kate’s career includes a decade at CN Railroad managing business for their fleet of vessels on the Great Lakes as well as transload facilities around the US & Canada, more than a year with Essentia Health managing the computer systems that manage health care supplies, and now a decade with the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

Vicki Hagberg is the Regional Director of the Northland Small Business Development Center (SBDC), leading a team of 15 consultants dedicated to helping small businesses start, grow, and innovate across Northeast Minnesota. With a unique blend of technical expertise from her background in geotechnical engineering and over a decade of experience in project management and economic development, Vicki brings valuable insights to rural business development.

The Northland SBDC serves a vast and rural region encompassing seven counties and all or parts of five Native Nations, covering an area the size of West Virginia with a population of 325,000. Vicki is passionate about driving technology adoption and digital equity initiatives for rural small businesses, and is committed to empowering entrepeneurs in underserved communities.

As a cross-sector and cross-industry leader in Minnesota, Vicki has served on various regional boards and committees related to economic development, rural healthcare, workforce attraction and retention, and rural vitality efforts. Her expertise in leveraging AI and technology to support small businesses, combined with her deep understanding of rural economic challenges, makes her a valuable voice in shaping the future of small business development in the digital age.

THANK YOU TO OUR WEBINAR SPONSOR:

As a member of AMFA, CMMA, MDMA or TSMA, or non-member, you and your employees can attend our webinars at no cost.

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Date and Time

Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST

Location

Zoom Webinar

Fees/Admission

FREE. Please register to attend. A Zoom code will be sent in the registration confirmation email.

Website

https://midwestmanufacturers.com

Contact Information

800.654.5773
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