Story North

10/03/2026

09/18/2026

Pay, 401K, vacation time... that's what goes on a job posting.

This recruitment film isn't that.

It's about the why.

This story is part of a recruitment series we produced for our partners at Arrowhead Transit.

09/18/2026

A few frames from a short documentary we just wrapped up about Duluth's own Pez Davila.

He was the recipient of the 2025 Duluth Peace Hero Award.

Pez has one heck of a story about growing up and his efforts to help kids in Duluth.

You can watch the film this spring at the 3rd annual Peace Hero Award put on by Diana Oestreich with the The Waging Peace Project.

09/09/2026

Earlier this year, our long-time partner Arrowhead Transit approached us with a wild storytelling ask.

Them: "Can you help bring our new jingle 'Arrowhead Transit Saves the Day' to life?"

Us: Crickets. 😅

Then they shared Steve Solkela wrote and performed the song.

Challenge accepted. 🤝

Our team (Jess, Anthony, Gene, Jeremy, Lexi, and Kevin) spent two days crisscrossing the Iron Range with grins on our faces and stuck in a jingle-induced haze.

Shoutout to Steve and our extras for being great sports during the production.

🎥 Link to Arrowhead Transit Saves the Day in the comments.

08/20/2026

Most people view banking as a transactional necessity... a series of boxes to check in a credit matrix.

But for Park State Bank, the transaction isn’t the end goal. It’s the start of the partnership.

We’ve been working on a strategic narrative that explores the single truth behind the bank’s impact on the region.

These are a few frames from the brand film debuting soon.

08/18/2026

We want to congratulate Tracie on the announcement of her upcoming retirement.

We've had the privilege of working with Tracie and First Witness Child Advocacy Center since before we were officially Story North.

Seven years and counting!

First Witness serves a critical need in our region and we're thankful to have the opportunity to continue telling their story year after year.

First Witness Announces Executive Director Leadership Transition - Executive Director Tracie Clanaugh will retire in March 2027, following more than nine years of transformative leadership.

Clanaugh joined First Witness as Executive Director in 2018 and guided significant growth across the organization. She strengthened programs and community partnerships, expanded prevention and specialized training efforts, and built the organization's capacity to serve more children, families, and professionals.

“Thirty-five years ago, our community made a commitment to children; it has been an honor to carry that commitment forward,” Clanaugh said. “My work with the First Witness staff has deeply humbled me. Their wisdom, expertise, and tireless commitment to our mission leave me honored to work alongside them each day. The First Witness Board of Directors and our Multidisciplinary Teams represent a beacon of hope in our community — a group of committed individuals dedicated to changing our world and working to end child abuse, our nation’s largest social problem.”

Following a comprehensive process, the Board has selected Associate Director Tyra Jaramillo-Kraemer as the organization's next Executive Director. With seven years of dedicated service to First Witness, Jaramillo-Kraemer brings deep knowledge of its programs and operations, strong relationships with regional partners, and a steadfast commitment to its child-centered mission. Clanaugh and Jaramillo-Kraemer will work closely with staff and the Board in the coming months to ensure continuity and a seamless leadership transition.

Read the full story at www.firstwitness.org/news.

08/08/2026

Summer time has us thinking about camp.

YMCA Camp Miller to be specific.

We produced this story-driven spot for the camp last summer.

What an amazing experience for kiddos!

07/29/2026

Are you building community policy for your citizens, or without them?

A look at some frames from our latest project with St. Louis County MN Public Health - "WITH US. NOT FOR US".

A strategic story is only as strong as the people at its center, and Ann and Jen are absolute forces of nature.

If you want to see what true community investment looks like, you need to hear what these two have to say.

Stay tuned!

07/23/2026

After an intensive selection process, we've found the person we'll be highlighting as part of FORWARD — our campaign celebrating five years of Story North.

This person spent years mastering something simple and rare: showing up, over and over.

This isn't just a film. It's a commitment to document the grit, the integration, and the real, systemic impact of one person who refuses to walk away.

We're keeping their name under wraps a little longer.

The work has already started.

We can't wait to share the journey and film with you.

Learn more at www.storynorthproductions.com/nominations.

07/21/2026

🚀 Every kid deserves a chance to see themselves as a scientist, an engineer, a problem-solver.

That's what Starbase Minnesota, Inc. - Duluth does, every single day.

We're proud to have captured a small piece of it in this impact film.