Ian Scherber 28

NSG Investments

What do you do professionally?

I own and operate a small business investment firm that specializes in launching companies, brands and businesses. We primarily focus on adding value in the form of marketing, finance or creative problem solving.

The company is called NSG investments within the portfolio is: Duluth Screen Printing Co., Flagship Apparel, Sawtooth Arbor Supply Tree Care, Stoked Firewood and a few miscellaneous others. My day-to-day consists of working with our creative team to bring new ideas, concepts and businesses to market.

How are you involved in the community?

Do you volunteer with any organizations?

Our team at Duluth Screen Printing Co. participates in a community engagement day where annually we donate our excess clothing to Northwoods Group Home. We also clean up our neighborhood (around our facility). I started a booster club for Proctor High School called SPIKE. It stands for Supporting Proctor In Key Endeavors. Right now we are working on a new brand image for the athletic program. Our goal is to rebuild the brand image of Proctor and ignite everyone from the community under one, single identity. We’ve worked with incredible companies like Likewise, The Thielen Foundation and Bell Bank to complete some of these tasks. I’m also incredibly passionate about the game of golf. Growing up I didn’t have the means to play the game so I’ve been working with First Tee MN on bringing a chapter to the Northland. Their goal is simple: make the game of golf more accessible and inclusive.

What is important to you?

Three simple things: Family, loyalty and staying positive. The combination of those things can pretty much get you through anything, in my opinion. I attempt to emit and preach those through all the things that I do in life.

From the nominators

How do you spend your free time?

I love traveling, fly fishing, golf and skiing. If I had enough time to walk every inch of the earth, I would. I love travel for the fear of the unknown.

Favorite things about living and working in the Northland?

No matter where you go in the world, your return visit is always awesome because Duluth is such an incredible city. I love that Duluth is small enough to where you can almost know everyone but big enough to always stay interesting.

What advice would you give to up and coming professionals?

Just try... I think so many people get stuck with complacency or the fear of making the leap. I’d suggest trying anything and everything. Network, meet people and learn. Find a mentor, someone you look up to and learn from them. Once you’ve learned from them, find another mentor and keep rolling. Life is too short to remain complacent.

Favorite moment in life?

Tough one... Like many people, becoming a parent for the first time was a very special moment. A close second would be the summer I spent with my wife in Europe.

Who has inspired you or your favorite motivational quote?

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.” Steve Jobs

Anything else you want to add?

There isn’t a day I wake up in Duluth… being a small businesses owner... that I feel worried. So much of what makes this a great city is that we, in some small way, all have each other’s backs.

“Ian is an ambitious entrepreneur across several fields of work who puts his community first by using his abilities and opportunities to build and transform our community one interaction at a time. Growing up in our community truly makes him invested and wanting to make a difference.”

— Jordan Walling

“Ian is constantly looking to improve not only himself, but the team that he’s built around him. From an individual and team outlook, he helps us unlock our full potential and reach new heights.”

— John Wetzel

“Ian’s outgoing attitude and genuine demeanor are a gold standard in the business world. He treats everyone as though they are his most important customer and goes above and beyond to show his appreciation to them. As a seasoned entrepreneur, 10 years his senior, I look up to him.”

Dan Neff