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A bold organizational visionary, who created internationally known brands like Mall of America and the Bold North, recognized for her ability to lead dynamic teams that successfully deliver results! She is Maureen Bausch, CEO of Bold North Associates and Public and Private Board Director of Canterbury Park (CPHC) and Bachman’s.
Maureen has spent the majority of her career working with retailers. She began her career directing Cub Foods advertising for 13 years, her family’s business. During her tenure at Cub, the company grew from 5 stores to 85 stores in 14 states. Cub was sold to SuperValu and transitioned from a private family organization to part of a publicly held, large wholesale food organization.
She then joined Mall of America in 1990, a retail and entertainment leader attracting more than 40M guests annually. She rose to Executive Vice President managing the $1B asset and reporting to the Ghermezian family.
Most recently, the inspiring lady was the Interim CMO of Mayo Clinic, where she led marketing, managed a large team, professional sports partnerships, corporate outreach, and site growth. Prior to Mayo Clinic, Maureen was CEO of MN Super Bowl LII reporting to the Executive Board. Maureen’s forward-thinking marketing and guest-focused strategies generated $450M for the local economy, garnered over 11.5B media impressions, and attracted more than 1M attendees. In the year 2019, the foundation of Bold North Associates was taken with an aim to help build destination retail, medical, and attractions.
Aside from her business journey, Maureen has always been active in the community. She has been a board member for several non-profit organizations, St. Catherine University, Minnesota Retailers Assoc. US Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism. Presently, she is a board member of the Minnesota Science Museum, the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport Foundation and the St. Thomas Law School as well as others.
Maureen is also an amazing writer, she has even written a book named, “Big Brands, Little Budgets” to help those getting started in marketing.
In academics, Maureen graduated from the University of Minnesota with an MA in Journalism/Marketing and has taken further continuing education courses at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.
Standing Out from the Clutter
Bold North Associates turns ideas into a reality through a tested and proven process!
Developing long term growth strategies for their clients.
The company was born out of the belief that when you bring together a group of committed, passionate, experienced individuals and add in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity supported by an innovative, bold, and growing community…magic happens. Led by CEO Maureen Bausch, Bold North Associates was formed by members of the leadership team that planned and executed Super Bowl LII and the 10-day festival celebrating the Bold North. They are focused on providing a proven process to develop long-term business success.
The team is actively presenting customized business plans for new concepts, retail and destination-based attractions, customer experiences, and events. Here, consultants work from concept development through grand opening, implementing sustainable operational systems, forming strategic alliances, and devising long-term strategies for growth and success. Most importantly, they create successful teams that will ensure long-term growth through a signature model.
“Post Covid, Bold North Associates is again beginning to assist those developing destinations or redesign their retail establishment for the future”, shared Maureen when asked about her future plans for the company.
Appealing the Target Audience
Bold North Associates is creating destination retail areas, merchandise mix, attraction offerings, and services that appeal to a wide range of potential guests. With solid research as a base, the team helps to create successful destinations regardless of the industry. The key to this success is keeping the destination fresh and these components are built into the strategic plan from day one.
The Greatest Accomplishment
One of the greatest accomplishments of Maureen’s journey has been building sales of $1B annually at Mall of America. Besides, consistently growing sales each year by keeping it top of mind and constantly new is another key achievement.
Leadership Style & Principles
While talking about her leadership style, Maureen shared, “Those who have worked for me over the years will say I have “heart” because I truly care about their success, not just on the job but in life.” Here are some major leadership principles, Maureen focuses on;
- Be transparent, authentic, and kind.
- Think 3-5 years ahead.
- Build the best team possible.
Lessons on the Way
Listen to your customers and value their opinions.
Definition of Success & Key behind her Flourishing Journey
Maureen believes in Bold North where she and her team work to achieve the goals set up by the client through strategic planning and execution.
“Today I work with people who I admire, enjoy, and on projects that will add value to the community where they are located, and this is what help me move on the success path,” asserted Maureen.
Best Advice, Maureen has Received
Persistence is key to success. Marketing secret – a brand is a promise you can keep.
