Minnesota at SelectUSA

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Elise Buchen is the International Business Development Manager at the Minnesota Trade Office (MTO), a division of the Department of Employment and Economic Development for the State of Minnesota. In this role, she oversees the MTO’s foreign representatives in the European Union, Japan, and the UK/Ireland, and manages a global network of trade office partners. Elise leads efforts to attract foreign investment to Minnesota and strengthen the state’s international economic connections.

Before joining the MTO, Elise held international business development and sales management roles in the bicycle and housewares industries, where her duties ranged from Latin American and Caribbean business development to international brand sales management and global sales management. Prior to her work in the private sector, Elise coordinated the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program for Global Minnesota, a nonprofit focused on international exchange. She also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia, working on basic sanitation and small business development initiatives.

Elise speaks Spanish and holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Spanish from Smith College. She has lived in Spain, Bolivia, Peru and London and has worked with organizations and partners in more than 45 countries.

Colleen Eddy, is the Metro Business Development Manager for DEED. She is also the Program Administrator for DEED’s Shovel Ready Certification Program and is the Data Center Industry Lead for the state of MN. As the Business Development Manager, Colleen assists with business expansions, retention, and attraction. In her over four years at the state, she has been instrumental in leading projects which have contributed over $1Billion in increased tax base for the state. Prior to joining DEED she was the Economic Development Specialist with the city of Elk River.

Michael Flynn is Senior Director of Economic Development at Destination Medical Center (DMC), a 20-year public-private initiative positioning Rochester, Minnesota as a global hub for health innovation. In this role, he leads efforts to attract and support high-growth companies across biotech, medtech, and healthcare AI, helping them successfully establish and scale within the U.S. market.

Working at the intersection of industry, government, and academia, Flynn advances the growth of Discovery Square, Rochester’s innovation district located just 495 steps from Mayo Clinic—the #1 hospital in the world. Discovery Square serves as a collaborative ecosystem where startups, global companies, and researchers partner to accelerate the development and commercialization of life-changing healthcare technologies.

Flynn leads targeted business development initiatives that connect international and domestic companies to the region’s unique advantages, including direct access to Mayo Clinic’s clinical and research expertise, Minnesota’s Medical Alley ecosystem, and a growing network of innovation infrastructure and talent. He is actively engaged in building global partnerships, supporting market entry strategies, and driving long-term investment into the United States.

With a strategic, data-driven approach and a focus on execution, Flynn contributes to DMC’s mission of generating economic growth, creating high-quality jobs, and advancing the future of healthcare through innovation.

Morgan Hill serves as Director of Business Investment at the GREATER MSP Partnership, where she leads business attraction and prospecting efforts to promote the Minneapolis–Saint Paul region to domestic and international companies evaluating site location and expansion opportunities. She works closely with regional and global partners to advance foreign direct investment, support market entry, and drive job creation.

Morgan brings economic development experience across public, private, and utility sectors. Her work has focused on supporting corporate site selection, facilitating foreign direct investment, advancing certified site and shovel-ready site readiness, structuring incentive packages, and coordinating with government, utility, and community partners to ensure successful project outcomes. She has led and supported initiatives that enhance regional competitiveness and position the Minneapolis–Saint Paul region as a premier destination for global business investment.

Morgan holds an MBA from the University of North Dakota and is both a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and Certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP).

Lambrecht is the Manager, Economic Development Services for Great River Energy serving 26-member owner electric cooperatives across Minnesota. Since 1999, Lambrecht has led and developed industry leading economic development services including innovative financing programs, site selection services, and industry service expertise.

Jean-Luc Mette serves as Director of Business Investment at GREATER MSP Partnership, the regional economic development organization for the Minneapolis–Saint Paul region. He works with domestic and international companies pursuing U.S. expansion, guiding site selection strategy and coordinating state and local partners to execute complex projects.

Jean-Luc focuses on technology-driven industries such as precision manufacturing, medtech, biotech, and microelectronics — sectors where Minnesota’s highly skilled workforce, infrastructure, and regulatory expertise provide a distinct advantage.

Before joining GREATER MSP, he held roles in global corporations, local government, and early-stage technology startups, bringing practical experience across both international and U.S. markets.

Amanda serves as Executive Director of Benton Economic Partnership, Inc., where she leads the county’s revolving loan fund and oversees a wide range of economic development efforts. Her work includes business outreach, retention and expansion, housing, broadband development, and project coordination across Benton County, Minnesota.

Previously, Amanda served as Executive Director for the City of Elk River’s Economic Development Authority and Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and as Community Development Coordinator for the City of Becker. In these roles, she supported public and private development initiatives and focused on strengthening local business and community growth. In Becker, her work centered on business retention, expansion, and industrial broadband development.

Amanda also brings private-sector experience, having worked with a local land developer and commercial contractor. In that role, she supported land acquisition, site selection, project development, budgeting, marketing, and cost analysis for income-producing properties.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Planning and Community Development from St. Cloud State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Amanda is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council and holds an Economic Development certificate from Hamline University. She is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Economic Development Association of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Commercial Real Estate Association, and serves as a student mentor for the SCSU Planning and Community Development Department.

Raised on a dairy farm in Benton County, Amanda values hard work and community. She lives on the family farm with her husband, Aaron, and their children. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, fishing, hunting, and real estate investing.