{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"S5:E19 - Small Town Talent Attraction with Alissa Henriksen","description":"We\u2019ve heard it, and you probably have too: \u201cPeople don\u2019t want to move to rural communities.\u201d Or, \u201cTalented people don\u2019t want to live in small towns.\u201d  Well, we\u2019re happy to say we know that\u2019s not true, and so does Alissa Henriksen. This episode is all about attracting talent to our small towns, how not to write people off, and why sometimes it\u2019s good for a business to run on vibes.  About Alissa: Alissa Henriksen is the co-founder and co-president at Grey Search + Strategy, where she leads the community-centric team culture and drives revenue goals for the company centered on personal relationships with clients, partners and prospects. With over 20 years in executive search and recruitment, Alissa guides Grey in serving hundreds of clients, 20+ strategic partners and 50+ community organizations, contributing over 1,000 hours of service annually in the Midwest market.  After working for a large recruiting firm, Alissa founded Grey Search + Strategy with her husband in 2008 and never looked back. Her collaborative leadership fosters innovation and drive while her expertise drives measurable results and a memorable client experience. The company consistently ranks on the Minneapolis\/St. Paul Business Journal Twin Cities Top 25 Search Firms list. It was named one of American\u2019s Top Small Businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for economic and community impact in 2023. In 2024, the company was honored with Twin Cities Business Reader\u2019s Choice in Executive Recruiting, Star Tribune Best of MN awards, and inclusion on the Inc. 5000 and Inc. Regionals Midwest lists.  Currently, Alissa serves on the board for TeamWomen and its executive committee. She was named to Minneapolis\/St. Paul Business Journal 40 Under 40 list in 2019 and inducted into The Reading Center\u2019s Hall of Fame in 2021. In 2024, Alissa was named a Woman of the Year by Enterprising Women magazine and won the Empowering Women award from Finance & Commerce magazine. She is also a two-time recipient of the Twin Cities Business Notables in Executive Recruiting honor in 2024 and 2025.  A graduate of South Dakota State University, Alissa played volleyball on a full scholarship. She was a double major in Business Economics and Spanish. Outside of work, Alissa mentors young entrepreneurs and enjoys spending time with her family outdoors \u2013 especially on one of Minnesota\u2019s 10,000 lakes \u2013 and traveling to new places together.  Alissa is dedicated to driving success for women leaders and the broader community. She welcomes opportunities to connect with like-minded, professional women in the Twin Cities.  In this episode, we cover: Why the myth that \u201ctalented people don\u2019t want to move to small towns\u201d is false The role of community \u201cvibe\u201d and culture in attracting talent Top workforce trends small towns can leverage, from flexibility to workplace environment How authentic leadership helps retain and inspire people The opportunities and limitations of AI in recruiting Links + Resources Mentioned: Grey Search Website:https:\/\/grey-search.com\/ Grey Search LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/greysearch Sponsor Spotlight: Brodie Mueller and The Market on the Plaza In small towns, coffee is more than caffeine. It\u2019s community! Market on the Plaza roasts beans locally in Aberdeen, in small batches for the freshest, richest cup to start your day or for an afternoon pick-me-up. Stop in to grab a bag for home or linger over a cup with neighbors. Proudly local, always welcoming. This week\u2019s Small-Town Shout-Out is: Plankinton, SD! Our friend Carl asked us to shout out his small community because of their small businesses. We know that small businesses are the heartbeat of small towns, and we\u2019re so glad to celebrate when small businesses are flourishing. Way to go, Plankinton! We Want to Hear From You! Some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we\u2019ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We\u2019re have two \u201cparticipation dance\u201d elements of the show: \u201cSmall town humblebrags\u201d: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small\u2014we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things.  \u201cSolving Your Small-Town People Challenges\u201d: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we\u2019ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We\u2019re suave like that.  If you\u2019ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can\u2019t wait to hear from you!  Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode\/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week\u2019s episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you! ","author_name":"The Growing Small Towns Show","author_url":"https:\/\/growingsmalltowns.show","html":"