Lauren Sandbulte, Director of Account Services at Giant Voices, is a detail-driven leader who manages complex marketing challenges seamlessly. Lauren taps a wealth of experience in marketing account management and media coordination with national brands and clients, including 20th Century FOX, Oakley, Great Clips and Procter & Gamble. At Giant Voices, Lauren leads strategic clients like the Softwood Lumber Board, Think Wood, the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, and North Shore Bank.
Lauren is a natural leader and has become deeply involved in onboarding new account executives. She quickly brings them up to speed on client backgrounds and strategy, Giant Voices processes and best practices in account management. Lauren’s experience in media, public awareness campaigns and branding, her keen attention to detail and her spot-on business and marketing instincts have allowed her to take on some of Giant Voices’ most involved lead generation and digital marketing projects. She holds a B.S. in Business and Marketing from the University of Minnesota. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.
Linda Johnson is a third-generation Iron Ranger, proudly born and raised in Chisholm, Minnesota. A graduate of Chisholm High School, she went on to earn a degree in Communications from Bemidji State University and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Linda began her career at Range Community and Technical College (currently MN North College – Hibbing and Virginia), where she served for five years before joining the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR). Over the course of more than two decades, she served as General Manager of Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort—an IRRR-owned property—before advancing to the role of Director of Property Development and Mining. In these roles, she oversaw multimillion-dollar budgets, managed major construction projects, and led diverse teams.
With extensive experience in communication, strategic planning, and economic diversification, Linda brings a deep understanding of the Iron Range’s unique strengths and challenges. Her work across sectors including recreation, mining, education, and economic development has positioned her as a valuable resource for UMFO.
Linda’s involvement with UMFO was inspired by her participation in conversations and site visits for various film projects on the Iron Range alongside Riki McManus. Her local insight, professional background, and strong community ties make her a key asset in promoting Northern Minnesota as a premier destination for film and media production.
Outside of her professional life, Linda and her husband enjoy the natural beauty of the Northwoods. They spend their free time boating, biking, paddle boarding, fishing, alpine skiing, golfing, and traveling to visit their children and grandchildren.
I grew up volunteering and working in politics and also being an athlete. Those passions turned into the beginning of my career in the Legislative Branch and as a cheerleading coach at the University of Minnesota-Duluth after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2017.
In 2018, I started volunteering time with Catalyst Content Festival as they made Duluth their home. I traveled to LA with local and state leaders to talk about the impact of a statewide film incentive, learn about projects that had the chance to be shot in MN, and advocate for the industry to take a chance on us. At the 2019 festival, I was able to moderate a panel to highlight a creator’s submission to raise awareness about child marriage laws across the US, which was an issue the state of MN was taking up that year in the legislative session. Film and production has become another type of passion for me. Storytellers create real change, I am going to do the work with the UMFO to make sure they can keep doing that!”
People say I am a relationship builder focusing on the unique traits of the person I am working with and the needs of employers. Connecting a job seeker’s uniqueness and the company’s needs; that’s when the magic starts! My goal is to continue impacting organizations, through relationships and plain speech, by quickly getting to and then solving the issue at hand.
I have a proven background training and creatively motivating people through the job search process, from recruitment to offer and acceptance. Helping both companies and candidates to find the right fit by matching people and personality traits to job requirements and company cultures is my personal passion – there is nothing better! Currently focused on training high school youth in career readiness focusing on the trades-218trades.com. Created and implemented a hybrid career readiness class for graduating students; mainly on line, but included class lecture. The class covered elevator speeches, personal branding, along with building resume and cover letters. It was based not on how to do it, but why it is done in the first place. Periodically I teach a similar class for the North East Minnesota Office of Job Training (NEMOJT) at the CareerForce location In Duluth Co-Host of Northlands Sports Page radio show covering local and regional sports in Duluth. on Twitter @NSPRadio Public Address Announcer for many College and High School sporting events – mainly Baseball and Ice Hockey. Public Addressed the 2015 NCAA DIII Men’s Ice Hockey National Championship Tournament held at Ridder Arena at the University of Minnesota
Tom has 29 years of experience in the insurance industry, starting his career on the direct-writer side, and then as an independent agent with an Edina, MN based firm specializing in Work Comp. He joined Otis-Magie Insurance Agency in 1998 as Vice President of Sales and became a shareholder a couple years later. In 2010, Tom assumed responsibility as CEO and Chairman, helping guide the agency to Best Practices Quality Management Standards and growing the revenue threefold over eight years. Otis-Magie merged into Marsh McLennan Agency in 2018, and Tom took on the role of President of Northern Minnesota Operations, leading MMA’s office out of Duluth.
Clients and colleagues value Tom’s experience in the industry and his strategic his strategic “30,000 foot view” approach to planning and business. He surrounds himself with a strong team that have a more technical skillset than him, empowering and encouraging everyone to play to their strengths. Tom sees his role as a collaboration with many talented people from Duluth to Minneapolis, who are working hard, having fun, and making a positive difference in the lives of our colleagues, clients, and communities.
Giving back and being active in his community is a priority for Tom. He and his wife Mimi are extremely proud of providing the catalyst concept and funding for the College of St. Scholastica Stender School of Business and Technology, which was named in honor of Tom’s father, a former President of the College. He also co-chairs a committee to raise over $15M for a new Student Center on the CSS campus. Outside of work, cabin life is Tom’s favorite way to spend his time. He enjoys fishing for walleye and pulling his kids and wife waterskiing.
Caitlin Crowl grew up in Spooner, WI, and moved to Duluth with her family during her freshman year of high school. After graduating from Duluth East, she went on to attend the University of Minnesota, graduating in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. While an undergraduate, Caitlin worked as a campaign intern.
She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law where she also earned a certificate of law and business. As an attorney, Caitlin practices in the area of public finance, business, and real estate law.
Caitlin was initially attracted to joining UMFO to bring awareness to the incredible community that is northern Minnesota. Additionally, her knowledge in public finance helps her to better understand the incentive programs that UMFO and Minnesota offer. Caitlin believes that UMFO can inspire further economic development in the region that will help to grow connections between other parts of the world to northern Minnesota.
Outside of work, Caitlin enjoys spending time outdoors, including golfing, snowboarding, and walking her dog, Sam.
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