CE VIRGIL WIND ON TOP 100 TO WATCH LIST
By Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures
Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures (MLCV) understands that leadership transcends everyday business. True leadership focuses on creating impactful transformation and empowering others to do the same.
This year, Twin Cities Business (TCB) has distinctly recognized Chief Executive Virgil Wind of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe as one of their prestigious 2024 TCB 100 Honorees. This accolade celebrates visionaries driving change and shaping a brighter future for Minnesota.
“It is an incredible honor to be recognized by Twin Cities Business and I share this recognition with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and our partners at MLCV. I am deeply proud of our work and look forward to driving continuous growth in the interests of our community members here in Mille Lacs,” Chief Executive Wind said.
The TCB 100 is the list of all lists, the essential guide to people in and around Minnesota businesses likely to make news and drive change in the year ahead. The list includes not just corporate types, but also leaders in government and philanthropy who intersect with business. TCB has dynamited silos to bridge specialties and industries to introduce the public to a group of individuals who may not all be household names, but who are expected to emerge in that direction in the year ahead.
Under Chief Wind's dynamic leadership, MLCV prioritizes the empowerment of the Mille Lacs Tribal Economy, playing an indispensable role in stimulating the broader community through job creation, economic development, and pioneering projects that benefit all of our communities.
“Development of modern, affordable workforce housing such as Sugar Maple Crossing, the opening of the Onamia Childcare Center, and creating new jobs through Lake Leaf Cultivation are just a few examples of how MLCV works in partnership with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe under Chief Wind’s leadership,” says Joseph Nayquonabe, Jr., CEO of MLCV, and Commissioner of Corporate Affairs. “Our partnership continuously centers business growth around our mission, and Chief Wind’s leadership fosters unity and strategic development, positioning the Mille Lacs Band as a beacon of growth and opportunity.”
In addition to the successes our community has already benefitted from, Chief Wind has a bold vision—a thriving future for the tribe and its neighbors. This vision focuses on robust economic growth through job creation, vital infrastructure and housing development, enhanced education for youth development, culture and language preservation, as well as strengthened collaboration and advocacy.
Virgil Wind's leadership embodies MLCV's mission to ignite growth and innovation; he cultivates a culture of collaboration and forward-thinking within the organization. This honor reflects his profound dedication to shaping a vibrant future for all.
Join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement and the visionary leadership that propels MLCV toward unprecedented success. We are building a future filled with opportunity, empowerment, and sustainability.
TCB says this of Wind: “As a self-made businessman who operated his own construction company for nearly 20 years, Virgil Wind succeeded Melanie Benjamin after her retirement in 2024 as Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Wind entered the world of tribal politics in 2020 when he was elected as the District I Representative. In that legislative role, he emphasized budgeting, economic development, governing transparency, and community engagement. Since becoming Chief Executive, he was elected president of the Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes. In 2025, Wind wants to support the Band’s fast-developing cannabis business and 'convert the band’s wider economic success into positive impacts for tribal youth.'"
