FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eric Day, Mid-Minnesota Development Commission
Phone: (320) 235-8504
Email: [email protected]
Mike Nicholas Joins Mid-Minnesota Development Commission
Will Serve as the Organization’s New Transportation & Community Planner
September 2023: Mid-Minnesota Development Commission (MMDC) is pleased to welcome Mike Nicholas to the regional development team. Nicholas will apply his skills and experience as MMDC’s Transportation & Community Planner. “It’s obvious that Mike [Nicholas] is a customer-focused joiner”, said MMDC Executive Director Eric Day. “I have every confidence that he’s going to serve our region well by working with our communities to ensure they’re well-positioned for thoughtful development, especially in the transportation realm.”
Much of Mike’s work will center on a longstanding Minnesota Department of Transportation grant, through which MMDC provides technical assistance for the planning and prioritization of various transportation projects in the MMDC region (Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, and Renville Counties). However, he will also be involved with other planning projects to help MMDC’s communities ensure health, safety, a high standard of living, and sustainable growth. In the near term, this will include leading a new Active Living Plan in the Buffalo Lake community. He’ll be working with local individuals to develop a “roadmap” (pun intended) that will help the community ensure physical activities, such as walking and biking, can be incorporated into everyday living. “I’m excited for this project and for my new role at MMDC”, said Nicholas. Prior to joining MMDC, Mike enjoyed a successful career in the manufacturing industry, with roles spanning the gamut of production, maintenance, sales,
analysis, and leadership. He has also gained experience as a member of three separate city planning commissions, including the City of Benson’s Planning Commission, on which he currently sits. Additionally, Mike is a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served as an Electronic Warfare/Signal Intelligence Voice Interceptor (Russian) and Assistant Chief Operator. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Augsburg University and a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Minnesota.
Mike resides with his wife and college-age son, in Benson, MN. In his free time, Mike enjoys spending time with friends and loved ones, biking, and going for drives in his family’s 1972 Plymouth Duster. To learn more about Mid-Minnesota Development Commission, visit MMRDC.org