Staff
Monica Haynes, Director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research and Adjunct Professor of Economics
Monica is also chair of the Labovitz School's Outreach Committee and on the Duluth Workforce Development Board. She has a Master of Science in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. In her spare time, she enjoys running, biking, cooking, and reading.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
UMD students employed at the BBER gain hands-on, real-world experience working on bureau projects. Given the significant amount of assistance that they provide on each project, their names are listed as authors on final reports.
Morgan Erickson (2026-2027)
Morgan is an Economics major who grew up nearby in Esko, Minnesota. Coming from a background in construction, he is excited to pivot into a hands-on role with the BBER to develop new skills in data analysis and connect with community professionals. In the future, he hopes to research the economics surrounding energy and natural gas. In his free time, Morgan loves to be outdoors, especially hunting and fishing.
Michael Vasichek (2026-2027)
Michael is a junior pursuing a double major in Economics and Political Science. He is interested in regional economic growth and development, particularly exploring how local policies and barriers affect affordable housing in Duluth. By working with the BBER, he is excited to gain hands-on experience in applied economic research, collaborate with community leaders, and develop skills for his future career. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Michael enjoys spending his free time outdoors, especially hiking through local parks and riding his bike around Duluth.
Faculty Research Affiliates
The following LSBE faculty members who are engaged in significant research partnerships with the BBER have been designated Faculty Research Affiliates.
Kim Nichols Dauner, associate professor of Health Care and co-director of the Health Care Management Program, earned her Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health. Her research interests include evaluation of community and workplace wellness programs, health care access and the impact of health care policy, social capital and social determinants of health. She has partnered with the BBER on The Assessment of Age-Friendly Workplaces in Duluth.
Chris McIntosh, associate professor of Economics, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wyoming. His research interests are experimental economics along with industrial organization, environmental and natural resource economics. He has partnered with the BBER on Investigating the Potential for Distributed Solar Energy Production on Commercial Properties in the Greater Duluth, Minnesota, Area.
Neil A. Wilmot, associate professor of Economics and head of the Economics and Health Care Management department, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wyoming. His research interests are energy economics, stochastic processes, and applied econometrics. He has partnered with the BBER on Investigating the Potential for Distributed Solar Energy Production on Commercial Properties in the Greater Duluth, Minnesota, Area.
U of M Extension Partnership
The BBER partners with the University of Minnesota Extension’s Department of Community Development to provide support on community development-related research. The following Extension staff are engaged in significant research partnerships with the BBER.
John Bennett, a Community Economics Educator with the U of M Extension Department of Community Development, serves northeast Minnesota and works with communities on planning, engagement, and economic development strategies. He has a BA in Geography and Urban and Regional Studies from the U of M Duluth and a MA in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. John has a background in public finance, community development, food access, and city and regional economics. Additionally, John was the president of Business Retention and Expansion International and has served on several local, regional, and national board associations in the community and economic development field.
Brigid Tuck, Senior Economic Impact Analyst, U of M Extension, holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Economics. Her work focuses on the structure of local economies and on economic change in communities. She is one of the primary contacts for the BBER and Extension partnership. In addition to her work with Extension, Brigid serves on the Le Sueur-Henderson School Board.