North Star Port

2 | NORTH STAR PORT | SUMMER 2025 You were raised in Two Harbors, so Lake Superior has always been near and dear to you. What's your earliest memory of the lake? Growing up in Two Harbors with my parents, who own a campground in Larsmont on Lake Superior, it wasn't just a backdrop, it was basically a member of the family. My earliest memory is probably standing on the rocky shoreline as a kid with my brother, convinced we could skip a stone all the way to Wisconsin. (Spoiler alert: we could not.) However, I do remem- ber being in awe of how big and wild the lake felt. It had a kind of quiet power that made you stop and stare. Whether it was fog rolling in like a ghost story or ore boats slowly sliding by like floating cities, Lake Superior always had this magnetic pull. It still does today. Was there a particular brand of wood stick to which you were loyal during your high school and college hockey playing days? Would you tweak the blade with a torch, or were you a stock curve guy? I was a fiercely loyal Sher-Wood guy, Paul Coffey pattern, right- handed stick, even though he shot left-handed. There was just something about the feel of that stick that made you believe, even for a second, you had hands like the early-80s Edmonton greats. As for the blade, let's just say I dabbled in a little torch work. Nothing too dramatic, just enough heat to give it a bit of extra hook and pretend I had a quicker release than I actually did. It was all part of the ritual: tape job, torch, a few warm-up shots off the boards, and suddenly you were ready for the NHL, or at least another cold Thursday night game in Two Harbors. Looking back on your schooling in the world of accounting and finance, what's one topic you would add to the curricu- lum for today's students? I'd add a course called "Accounting for Real Life: Clients, Chaos and Caffeine." We spend so much time learning technical skills— and rightfully so—but I wish there had been more focus on the human side of the job. Things like how to explain complex finan- cials to someone who is actively trying not to listen, or how to stay calm when the numbers do not balance and it's 4:59 p.m. on a Friday. A little more training in communication, emotional intelligence and crisis management would go a long way. And maybe a short unit on caffeine management. Before coming to the Port Authority as its chief financial officer in 2014, you managed finances at the Midwest Energy coal terminal in Superior. What's something about the coal-shipping business that most people would be surprised to learn? Most people are surprised to learn just how precise and high-tech the coal-shipping business really is. It's not just a bunch of big machines moving black rocks around. Every ton is tracked, timed and quality-tested. When you're loading a thousand-foot vessel, even slight delays or weight miscalculations can have major operational and financial consequences. There's a real choreography to it, massive scale, but meticulous detail. And believe it or not, the whole operation runs smoother than most family Thanksgiving dinners. What's one unexpected thing you've encountered during your opening weeks as executive director of the Port Authority? Honestly? The number of people who suddenly want to talk about shipping over breakfast or lunch! Stepping into the executive director role has defi- nitely expanded my calendar. But on a more serious note, I've been struck by just how wide-ranging the job is. One minute you're discussing international cargo logistics and the next you're talking about land use, economic development, or a community partnership. It's been a fast-paced start, but a rewarding one, and a reminder of just how deeply connected the port is to the region's broader story. Porting in FIVE FOR FREIGHTING 5 Questions with Kevin Beardsley 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

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