Hey friends — Welcome to the Twin Cities Collective newsletter! 🌟
Whether you’re brand new here or have been along for the ride since the early days, I’m so glad you’re part of this community.
Can you believe Twin Cities Collective is turning 9 years old this August?! 🎉 Back in 2016, I started this as a way to bring creatives, bloggers, and entrepreneurs together. Over the years, we’ve gone from hosting in-person workshops and networking events to becoming a go-to resource for local event promotion, small business visibility, and digital storytelling.
And even though we’ve shifted focus a bit, I’m still out there speaking, connecting, and sharing helpful tools to help local creatives thrive. So I wanted to kick off this issue by sharing a few speaking engagements I’m really excited about—and that I think you might want to attend!
Come Hear Me Speak!
August 6 • Accelerated Global Connections Talk
I’ll be speaking at AGC about my Repeat Method: How to Stand Out & Be Unforgettable in a Crowded World—it’s a great space for business-minded professionals looking to build real connections.
📍Brick X Mortar at 5:00pm
https://www.joinagc.com/event/566
Minnesota Blogger Conference
September 13th
This one’s a full circle moment. The Minnesota Blogger Conference is back for the first time since 2017—and I’m honored to be one of the five featured speakers!
My first ever speaking gig was at this very event back in 2015 (back when this community was eventually launched as the Twin Cities Blogger Collective).
I’ll be sharing everything I’ve learned about growing an audience with Substack—something I think a lot of you will find super valuable.
🎟️ Only 75 tickets available — grab yours here: 🔗 https://www.mnbloggerconference.com
📅 Events: July 15 – July 31
MN Women in AI
🗓 July 15 at 4:30pm
📍 Malcolm Yards
🎯 Women in tech + AI
🎉 Vibe: Smart, supportive, and community-minded
EmpowerHER Summer Happy Hour
🗓 Thursday, July 17 • 4:00–6:00pm
📍 Bauhaus Brew Labs
🎯 Women entrepreneurs + professionals
🎉 Vibe: Friendly, summery, open networking
Ready. Set. Pivot. Punch on the Patio
🗓 Thursday, July 17 • 5:00–8:00pm
📍 Diane's Place
🎯 Women Leaders navigating change or growth
🎉 Vibe: Strategic, social, refreshing
CreativeMornings Minneapolis with Amanda Zweerink
🗓 Thursday, July 18 • 8:30–10:00am
📍 Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)
🎯 Creatives, artists, entrepreneurs
🎉 Vibe: Inspiring, welcoming, creative
Social Good Exchange: July Meetup
🗓 Wednesday, July 23 • 5:30pm
📍 Minneapolis
🎯 Nonprofit leaders, social impact professionals, changemakers
🎉 Vibe: Purpose-driven, collaborative, inspiring
Break the Bubble: Meet New People IRL
🗓 Thursday, July 24 • 6:00–8:30pm
📍 Lake Monster Brewing
🎯 Anyone open to new conversations and connections
🎉 Vibe: Casual, welcoming, social
🔗 https://www.meetup.com/make-new-friends-break-the-bubble-msp/events/308331415
Strangers Meeting Strangers: Town Hall — Calling All Entrepreneurs (Pitch to win $1000)
🗓 Friday, July 25 • 6:00–9:30pm
📍 Theatre in the Round Players Inc, Minneapolis
🎯 Builders, dreamers, doers, and Twin Cities entrepreneurs
🎉 Vibe: Experimental, energizing, community-first
🧠 Optimization Toolbox Update
This week on the podcast, I had an amazing chat with Steve August, ADHD business coach and creator of the Focus Formula. We talked all about how ADHD shows up in entrepreneurship—especially around prioritizing, structuring your week, and actually finishing the things you start.
If you’ve ever felt like you have a million ideas but struggle to follow through, this episode is a must-listen.
🧵 New Name, Same Business
Big news: I’ve officially rebranded my video business to Red Thread Studio!
Why the name change? Because it reflects the heart of what I do—help you tell your story clearly and visually, weaving together the “red thread” that connects your mission to your audience.
If you’re looking for standout video content—whether for your website, Substack, or next launch—VIP Video Days are a great way to make it happen in one focused, high-impact day.
A lot of women events. Where’s all the men’s events?