Coalition9 Community News - June 2025

Founder Message

Hi C9 Members + Friends!

It’s hard to believe we’re already into June—summer is here, and the energy is high! I’m feeling it in every conversation, event, and connection across our C9 Community.

We had an outstanding C9 SPARK Event last week at Loffler Companies. Safeguarding Business Innovation: AI + Cybersecurity brought the heat—Dustin Bruzenak’s deep dive into AI applications had everyone thinking differently about how to use it in their businesses, and watching Brian Johnson perform a live hack? Wild. The space was buzzing with curiosity, ideas, and new connections. Thanks to everyone who showed up and helped make it such a success.

Looking ahead, we’ve got more great events on the horizon. On July 31st, we’re heading outdoors for a C9 Well Walk + Talk at Westwood Hills Nature Center. It’s a chance to slow down, connect with fellow Members you may not know yet, and enjoy the benefits of fresh air and light movement—all in a beautiful natural setting. Full details are below.

The countdown is on for one of our biggest gatherings of the year: the C9 Summer Social at CHS Field is coming up on Wednesday, August 20th. This one fills up fast, so keep an eye on your inbox for the invite later this month. You’re not going to want to miss it.

As always, if you’re curious about joining C9 or want to chat about the Member Experience, reach out. Summer’s a great time to grow your circle and find your people.

Cheers,

Aaron Eggert
Coalition9 Founder + CVO

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MEMBER NEWS

C9 Member Jasmine Webber is hosting a soft launch of Purpose Fueled Community’s newest location in Apple Valley on Friday, June 13, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 AM. Learn more and register
Member Nathan Young announced that How to be Second's next Finance Workshop is Wednesday, June 18, 2025 from 12:00 to 4 PM at Omni Viking Lakes Hotel in Eagan. This workshop is built to answer the question, “If I’m a leader for my org, what financial decisions will I be expected to make, and what/who do I need to know to make them?” 4 hours, 4 speakers, and lunch is included. The workshop is $299, but use code C9Rocks at checkout to get 10% off, and another 5% of your purchase is donated to the C9 Gives Foundation! Only 12 seats are still available. Learn more and register
Game Changer Communications invites you to join them for their Game Changer 2.0 Launch Party! It will be held at Clubhouse in Edina on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 from 4:00 to 6:30 PM. They’re excited to show off their new corporate branding, logo, and design—as well as unveil the latest version of founder/CEO (and C9 Member) Jason Sprenger's Umbrella Model of Strategic Communications. Join fellow C9ers and others for networking, a seminar, golf simulators, and more. Sponsorships are also available. Questions? Contact Jason at 612-327-1886 or jsprenger@gamechangercommunications.com. Learn more and RSVP
Moving or expanding your business? The right office infrastructure is essential for supporting your team’s productivity and growth. From reliable internet and phone systems to smart product choices and real estate strategies, every detail matters. Join C9 Member Corey Falls and Mytech Partners for their Network Ecosystem Collaborative event on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM at their New Brighton location. A panel of trusted experts will share practical insights and tips to help you set your business up for success! Learn more and register
C9 Facilitator Laurie Hollinger invites you to her "Design Your Decade" 10-week Guided Mastermind, which kicks off on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Dedicate 10 hours to build your vision for the next 3,650 days and live with intention. Grab your seat! Learn more and register
Member Robin Edgar from Wealth Progression Group invites you to Ready.Set.Exit!, a business succession and exit planning event on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley. The event is designed to equip business owners with the essential knowledge needed to build a business with a successful exit in mind. Learn more and register
Member Jake Irey from Authentic invites you to the inaugural Breakthrough T1D Pickleball Classic, hosted by the Breakthrough T1D Minnesota and Dakotas Board of Directors! Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, this fun and competitive event is the perfect way to serve up some summer excitement–all while supporting a great cause. The event is on Saturday, July 12, 2025 starting at 10:00 AM at Mega Pickleball in Minnetonka. Learn more and register
C9 Facilitator Laurie Hollinger is now a "The Six Types of Working Genius" certified guide! Congratulations on this accomplishment, Laurie! Learn more
Community Supporter All In One Accounting announced that they have won ClearlyRated's 2025 Best of Accounting recognition award! It’s presented to companies who have proven to be industry leaders in service quality–based entirely on ratings provided by their clients. With an impressive Net Promoter Score of 66, All In One Accounting clients have made it clear: AIOA's expertise and partnership truly make a difference! Learn more
Member Mark Ostrom from Joy Collaborative announced that NFL football player Adam Thielen’s foundation is the sponsor of the next Joy Room by Joy Collaborative! Adam will be visiting the Joy Room, which is at an M Health Fairview outpatient mental health space, later this month. Keep an eye on your local news for the full story. Want to learn more? Contact Mark at 612-245-8453.
Member Annabelle Fiebelkorn announced that Launch Point is hiring a Project Lead to join their delivery team. It’s a strategic, client-facing role that’s perfect for someone who loves turning messy operations into elegant systems and thrives in cross-functional environments. They’re looking for someone with a strong background in project management or ops consulting, and who is obsessive about details, timelines, and team collaboration. Bonus if that someone has worked with growing companies or led ops improvements. Learn more about the role and apply
Member Mike Bauer announced that Bauer Design Build (a C9 Community Supporter) is celebrating 20 years in business! Since 2005, Bauer Design Build has been driven by a simple promise: help people and give back. That principle guides every phase of their work, from pre-construction to completion, and shapes how they view each facility’s long-term impact. The work and the relationships have made every mile worthwhile. Looking ahead, they remain committed to refining their craft and building spaces that strengthen our community. Happy anniversary, Bauer Design Build! Learn more
Any young adults in your networks looking for a unique summer job? Member Dave Berg announced that YouthWorks is looking for a few more staff to relocate to a new community and facilitate mission trips for teenagers from May 20 through August 6, 2025. Email Dave with questions. Learn more
Member Debbie Stewart and Mike Tonies are rallying support for two of the Carly May Foundation’s most impactful events of the year. The Foundation honors Carly’s legacy by supporting life-changing programs for individuals with Down Syndrome. Join them at the Impact Social on June 18, 2025, at OMNI Brewing in Rosemount, or the Carly May Golf Classic on September 15, 2025, at Brackett’s Crossing. Sponsor, donate, or gather a team to help create brighter futures. Learn more

Do you have news you want to share? Submit the information through our C9 Member News Form, and we'll be sure to highlight you in future updates! Please note: This is exclusive to C9 Members, facilitators, and Community Supporters. Questions? Contact Brenda Harvieux, C9 Marketing + Communications, at brenda@coalition9.com.

Now Available: Coalition9 Subscribable Events Calendar

Stay up-to-date on all of our events + gatherings! Our new events calendar is powered by AddEvent and supports all major calendar platforms, including Apple, Google, Outlook, Outlook.com (online), Office 365 (online), and Yahoo.

When you subscribe, all Coalition9 events will be synced to your preferred calendar (may take up to 24 hours to populate). You can find directions on how to subscribe on our Events Page. Or check out our recent email announcement for more details.

COALITION9 EVENTS

July C9 Well Event

Come together with other C9ers to enjoy a summer morning in nature in St. Louis Park—all while building some new relationships.

We'll meet near The Interpretive Center, then break off into small groups for some walking, talking, and making new friends. Take a self-guided tour of this beautiful 160-acre natural area featuring marsh, woods, and restored prairie as you enjoy the benefits of some light physical exercise.

Walking and talking can have many benefits, including improving mental health, boosting creativity, and improving digestion.

We might even make friends with some local critters—the nature preserve is home to many animals, including deer, turtles, fox, mink, and owls.

C9 Members: Watch your inbox for the official invite next week!

SAVE THE DATE! August C9 SPARK Event - C9 Summer Social at CHS Field

C9 Summer Social at CHS Field

Wednesday, August 20, 2025
5:30 to 9:30 PM
CHS Field in St. Paul

Back by popular demand—the C9 Community is going to a St. Paul Saints game for our 2025 C9 Summer Social!

We have reserved the Treasure Island Terrace at CHS Field, which is a private space dedicated to the C9 Community for enjoying hosted food + beverages, baseball, and building relationships with other C9ers and guests.

The game starts at 7:07 PM, but join us starting at 5:30 PM for a meal and good company. This will be a C9 Member + 1 guest event.

Watch your inboxes in the coming weeks for the official email invite!

June C9 SPARK Event Recap

At this month’s Coalition9 SPARK Series Event, Safeguarding Business Innovation: AI + Cybersecurity, we explored the growing impact of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity on today’s business environment—focusing on real-world applications and how professionals can start using these tools right now.

Dustin Bruzenak from Modern Logic, opened the morning with an engaging, live walkthrough of how AI tools can help generate and develop a business idea from scratch.

Key takeaways from Dustin’s AI session:

Provide step-by-step instructions and examples when prompting AI.
Start a new chat for each distinct topic or idea.
Use paid AI platforms for better performance and fewer incorrect or made-up results (use deep research setting).
AI is great for idea generation—but everything still needs a human touch.
Business use cases: brainstorming names, branding, market analysis, business plans, websites, slide decks, content outlines, and more.
Don’t enter sensitive or trademarked information—AI tools aren’t secure.

Next, Brian Johnson from 7 Minute Security gave a memorable, real-time demonstration of how easily hackers can compromise IT infrastructure.

Highlights from Brian’s cybersecurity session:

A hacker can enter your office disguised as a service provider, plug a small device into an unattended office computer, and access it remotely from the parking lot using the company’s Wi-Fi.
These types of attacks often aim to hold data ransom—typically for amounts that hurt, but don’t bankrupt, a business.
Best practices:
- Use unique passphrases (not short, recycled passwords). Avoid common formats like “Summer2025.”
- Turn on multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
- Use a password manager or even a physical password book kept in a secure spot to track and store login info.
Tools to assess your risk:
- haveibeenpwned.com: check if your email or passwords have been part of a known data breach.
- dehashed.com: search public breach data for personal or company exposure.
Get a penetration test (pen test) to proactively uncover security weaknesses before someone else does.

This event was a great starting point for anyone looking to better understand how to start incorporating AI into their work and how to protect their business.

A huge thank you to our tech wizards, our Event Partners + Supporters, our Community Supporters, and everyone who made it out to the event!

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Are you ready to invest in your personal and professional development this spring? Now's your chance to join the Coalition9 Community!

We have a few spots available in current groups and would love to welcome you to the Community.

If you’ve been thinking about joining C9, let's connect! Contact C9 Founder + CVO Aaron Eggert at aaron@coalition9.com to learn more about the C9 Member experience and apply online for C9 Membership.

About Coalition9 Membership:

Do you want to connect with other leaders who share your mindset? Coalition9 provides peer to peer advisory groups with a focus on growth and development. Our memberships are designed to promote interactive learning regardless of what stage you’re at on your journey while connecting you to the resources and people that will help you be your best. We provide a community where a diversity of experiences in business and life is celebrated. You’ll build relationships with your fellow Members by sharing experiences and investing in one another to create a positive impact.

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