Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin And Colin Engstrom.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My husband and I realized many years ago that we are great partners. All of our favorite activities are outdoors: snowshoeing, kayaking, hiking, and camping. We started working as a team at the Duluth Air Show, working under Stephanie LaFleur (with whom I was in the military). Over time, we eventually took over much of Stephanie’s work at the Air Show. Stephanie could then concentrate on running her business: Minnesota Whitewater Rafting. So, naturally, when Stephanie and her husband, Chiris, were looking to sell that business, they thought of us as a great team that also shared a love of the outdoors. In 2023, we spent the summer working for them and learning the job, and then in January of 2024, we began the process of purchasing the business. In the summer of 2024, we took over full-time operation of MWR. We are now preparing for the 2025 rafting season. Over the past year, we have learned that bonds are made and reinforced on the river.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As it is our first time working for ourselves/running a business, it is certainly a learning process. Since it is a seasonal business, financial planning for winter can be a challenge. We both have other employment during the off-season.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Colin and I enjoy working together as a team. We each bring different skills to the team and complement each other’s strengths to complete any job. He’s the “people person”, loves teaching, and is an amazing problem solver. Erin is the one who excels at the organization and schedules. We started working together as volunteers for the Duluth Air Show as performer liaisons. Our experience as volunteer performer liaisons has provided us with a solid foundation for working together under pressure and in dynamic environments. What we are most proud of is that we have been recognized as a great team while working there, so much so that we have been invited to work at Air shows around the United States.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
We have great mentors in the family that we purchased the company from, and we have great resources in the community. We worked with Christopher Henagin at the SBDC. We have also worked with Michael Montgomery at E-Fund and Mary McDonald at Hansen House. If there are questions about the daily operations of MWR, Stephanie and Chris are always available to assist. We have also learned quite a bit over the years working at the Duluth Air Show with people like Ryan Kern and Katrina Patterson. Dave Olmstead of Continental Air Show Productions has also been a friend and mentor to us.
Pricing:
- Rafting trips pricing starts at $55.00 per person.
- Pricing discounts for larger groups.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://minnesotawhitewater.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minnesotawhitewater/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mnwhitewaterrafting
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTuNxVOCev7XGeWv4dtUAAQ
