Emily Ekstrom 35,

What do you do? (job, community involvement): Owner of Hucklebeary, member of Greater Downtown Council board.

What is important to you? Serving our community through collaborative small-business practice! It is important to me to support Northland artists/makers and help showcase their talents. I’m passionate about making Duluth a destination for residents and tourists alike.

How do you spend your free time? I love exploring the trails around town with my dog, Bear. I really enjoy dining out, grabbing a drink with friends, and shopping — all locally! I have dreams of learning how to roller dance and make my own stained-glass art someday, but for now, you can find me at the beach enjoying the waves until winter arrives.

From nominator: “Emily has navigated the pandemic with brilliance in both personal and business realms. She has pivoted from a store dependent almost solely on foot traffic to a dynamic, online presence (and back again!). She has helped maintain the morale of the HART District and assisted fellow business owners with increasing their visibility/ viability during the most trying economic year in recent history. She has done it all with a smile and grace, and she continues to inspire her employees, customers and contemporaries. She’s the best.”

— Brent Ekstrom