Advocacy, Economic Development and Empowering Women in Industry

Girls today are growing up in a golden age of opportunity. Wherever they look, they’ll see noteworthy examples of women driving innovation and achieving incredible things. Women are setting records in athletics, STEM, creative disciplines, business, industry and so much more.

In northern Minnesota, we recognize and celebrate the women who stood up and stood out in their respective fields to pave the way for others. Nancy Norr has been a champion for economic and industrial development in the region for over 30 years. When she started her career with Minnesota Power/ ALLETE in the 1980s, Nancy was often one of the only women at the table - but that never slowed her down.

Leading with Passion

Her passion, dedication and expertise have been invaluable assets, and she has been instrumental in shaping the region into an attractive place to do business. As Nancy approaches retirement in July, we’d like to take time to recognize what some of her many accomplishments have achieved for the region.

Nancy is a born leader with a natural talent for leading a room and building consensus. She understands that Minnesota’s natural resource-based economy is a source of good-paying jobs in various industries, but getting projects off the ground requires navigating an extensive regulatory and permitting process. Nancy’s expertise in financing, site selection and government affairs have aided her in becoming one of Minnesota and Wisconsin’s best advocates for economic development with a nationwide audience.

A Champion for Economic Development

With innovation, forward-thinking and the ability to bring the right people together, Nancy has championed change and new partnerships both regionally and statewide. She was a