North Star Port

FIVE FOR FREIGHTING 5 Questions with Kevin Beardsley Kevin Beardsley is executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority Wildfires dominated the mid-July news cycle. What's the port perspective? The wildfires were a stark reminder of how interconnected and vulnerable our transportation system can be. Even though the fires were more than 100 miles away, the smoke was thick throughout the Great Lakes region, not only in Duluth-Superior, but also in Thunder Bay, Milwaukee, Detroit, Hamilton and Toronto. It created hazardous working conditions for people across the transportation and maritime industries and served as a reminder of the importance of planning, worker safety and operational resilience. While we did not experience significant disruptions to cargo movement, events like this reinforce the need for flexible supply chains. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System remains a reliable, fuel-efficient transportation corridor that can help keep freight moving when other parts of the network face unexpected challenges. Any takeaways from the Minnesota Ports Association summer meeting? One key takeaway was the strong collaboration among Minnesota's ports. While each has its own markets and prior- ities, we're all focused on strengthening the state's multimodal transportation network and supporting economic growth. We also held a very productive discussion with MnDOT on funding priorities for ports and waterways. These conversations are crit- ical because sustained investment in maritime infrastructure helps ensure that Minnesota's ports remain competitive and continue to support businesses, jobs and supply chains across the state. It was encouraging to see continued recognition of the important role ports play, not only in moving cargo but also in supporting manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and regional economic development. When Minnesota's ports and MnDOT work together, we're better positioned to make the case for investments that benefit the region and the entire state. You met with trade representatives from several countries this summer. Is there any common thread running through those conversations? Absolutely. The common thread was a strong interest in building long-term partnerships and developing more resilient supply chains. Whether we met with representatives from Belgium, Japan or other international trade organizations, the conver- sations focused on educating and identifying opportunities to move cargo more efficiently, s t r e n g t h e n c o n n e c t i o n s between our regions and create new business opportu- nities. There is growing recog- nition that the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System pro- vides reliable, sustainable and cost-effective access to North American markets. We also found that many international partners are looking beyond traditional gateway ports and are interested in inland ports like Duluth-Superior because of our multimodal connections, available industrial land, and ability to support future growth. Those discussions reinforce that international trade is built on relationships, and maintaining them is essential to creating new opportunities for our region. On what date and lake did you catch your very first fish, what kind was it and what was your bait? Believe it or not, I caught my first fish in 1978, on Lake Superior, but I don't remember the exact date. It was a lake trout taken on a classic red-and-white striped Daredevil spoon. That memory has stayed with me for decades. Growing up around Lake Superior gave me a deep appreciation for the lake, not only as an excellent fishery but also as an incredible natural resource and an eco- nomic engine for our region. It's one reason I'm so passionate about the work we do today to support the port and the Great Lakes. Your daughter played college soccer, so you have been around the game for years. What were your impressions of the 2026 World Cup? Watching my daughter play college soccer deepened my appreciation for the skill, discipline and teamwork the game demands. I thought the 2026 World Cup was outstanding. The level of competition was exceptional, and it was excit- ing to see the tournament bring together so many countries and cultures. Hosting the event across North America also highlighted the growing popularity of soccer in the United States. It was a great reminder that, much like international trade, sports uniquely build connections and bring the world a little closer together. 1. 2. 3. PHOTOS / Adam Bjornberg DULUTHPORT.COM | 1 Lake trout 5. 4.

• Cover