The Northland Adventurer
  • Northland Adventurer
    • Rum River 2017
    • Rum River 2019
    • Cannon River
    • Superior Bay
    • Upper St. Croix
    • Headwaters of the Mississippi
    • Namekagon River
    • Kalamazoo River
    • Taylors Falls - Lower St. Croix
    • Lake Pepin & Lake City
    • Lake Hamlin
    • St. Paul, MN & Raspberry Island
    • Tall Ships Duluth Festival
    • Stillwater, MN
    • Great Lakes Lighthouses
    • Bridges of Stillwater
    • Wisconsin Central Bridge Ruins
    • Soo Line High Bridge
    • Vertical Lift Bridges
    • Trains
    • Railroad Bridges
    • Tugs and Barges
    • Locks and Dams
    • Business and Industry
    • The Joy of the Journey
    • Overhanging Branches
    • Best of All It's Fall
    • Get Off the River!
    • Our Prized Grand River
    • Crossing Lake Huron
    • Straits of Mackinac
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 2016
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 2020
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 6.10.21
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 6.27.21
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 7.13.21
    • Crossing Lake Superior >
      • Helpful Hints
      • Packing for Great Lakes Crossings
    • SEVENTY48
    • Campus to Coast
    • Paddling the Pere Marquette
    • Avid Kayaker Brushes Death >
      • The Whole Story
    • A Narrow Escape 2019
    • Reflections
    • More about Mike
  • Contact
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About Mike Stout aka Lake Rider
President and Founder, i3 Marketing, Llc.
A strategic marketing and creative services firm.

When Stout is not on the water chasing grand adventure or shattering records, he is a marketing consultant. He is expert in managing change. Whether it be to launch a new business, refresh a tired brand, turn around a struggling business, or improve your communications, he can help.

A FORTUNE 100 BRAND AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE 
Visionary leader delivering exceptional drive, focus, and value.
Driven to create winning strategy to enact change and organization improvement.

​
Highly-experienced marketing professional with over 30 years of transformational marketing and innovation success, consistently exceeding corporate expectations, industry benchmarks, and client expectations.

Possesses broad-based management skills and deep knowledge of current trends, methodologies, and approaches to improve organizational performance, maintain exceptional level of quality, and facilitate growth and change in response to complex business challenges and realities.

A consensus builder, autonomous producer, and exceptional leader who gains the trust of his clients and major stakeholders.

​
To see a few career highlights, scroll below.
SPECIALTIES
Advertising
Annual and Long-term Planning
Brand Management
Brand Revitalization 
​Budgetary Oversight

Business Turnarounds
Channels Management
Innovation
Marketing Communications
​Personal/Professional Coach
​Promotion
Start-Ups 

​Strategic Marketing
Team Development
Website Creation
Mike is an ongoing advisor to local businesses, non-profits, and special causes. For recreation, his passion is long distance kayaking. Over the past six seasons he has paddled over 5,500 miles and solo paddled across Lake Michigan (5), Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Straits of Mackinac, and raced in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Washington.

To view stories and photography of his paddling adventures, click here.
CAREER STOPS & SUCCESSES
• Taken regional brands nationwide, achieved record revenue and profit growth.

• Transformed a private label company into a national brand powerhouse.
• Championed new products development & industry wide innovation.
• ​Turned a long-time declining business into a star financial performer.
• ​Led a number of successful start-ups.
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i3 Marketing, LLC 
Improving business through Insights and Innovation.  
A ​Strategic Marketing & Creative Services Firm
- Est. 2009 -

President and Founder
​Minneapolis, MN | Serving total U.S.


i3 Marketing, Llc. is a strategic marketing and creative services firm specializing in brand and business development. Provides insightful leadership and vision to maximize results for small to large for-profit and non-profit organizations. Collaborates closely with client decision makers to formulate appropriate strategies and practices focused on optimizing marketing strategy, organizational design and development, and brand performance. 
Clients range from the sole proprietor, non-profit, to the half-billion dollar business.
Affordable FaceShields | All Breed Dog Grooming | Babies Grand |
 Canton Literary Management | Carl Buddig & Company | C&E Upholstery | Celebrate Prior Lake | Chris Heeb Ministry | Chaska Curling Center | Community Care | Copper Creek Llc. | Copper Creek Partners |  Country Joe Foods | Dale Swanson (author) | Dingman Auto | Dr. Belter Cosmetics | Fly Over Country Scribe | Free Heroin's Hold | Game Face Training | Glasstastic | Good in the 'Hood | Gopher Laundry | Great Lakes Paddlers | Griffin Gallery | Hawaiian Vacation Condos | Island Park Village Hall Preservation Society | HydroVerge | LeeAnn's Custom Fit | Lupus Research Foundation |  J. Hilburn Partner |  Michigan State University - Twin Cities Alumni Association | Mother's on Main | Noel Skiba | Northland Adventurer | Prior Lake Arts Council | Prior Lake Downtown Business Association | Parental Guidance | PureFresh LLC |  Pet Experia | Perkins Restaurant and Bakery | Prior Lake Arts Council | Renee's Day Care | Safe Zone Here | Shoe Away Hunger | Smoke Signals Gives | StandUP 180 |  Sports Lighting Authority | Stems & Vines | Sunlite Window & Door | Sweet Nautical | The Laker Store | The Arts Council | Thunder Valley Bar & Grill | T-Shirts & More | Veticus LLC | Walgreen Company | WW Johnson Meat Company... 
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
​ADVISORY COMMITTEE  

2013-2015
General Member & Business Advocate
​Prior Lake, MN
Provided strategic marketing for individual downtown businesses and the Prior Lake Downtown Business Association to empower the downtown district for their and the city's mutual benefit.

Services provided include marketing communications, special event concepts, and working across the city to improve relations for mutual benefit.
COMMUNITY CARE
Humanitarian Organization
2009, 2010


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Founding Chairman & CMO
​Lakeville, MN
Worked with local government, community leaders and volunteers to create strategic partnerships for the collection and redistribution of perishable food, clothing, and personal care products to families from Twin Cities seven county area.

Led general board activities, including recruitment, training, development of community leaders and influencers for the purpose of fundraising and advanced our mission.
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SCHWAN'S CONSUMER BRANDS DIVISION NORTH AMERICA
Business Development & Channels Management
2007- 2009



Director of Business Development
​Minneapolis, MN 

Directed marketing functions supporting $220MM sales volume from channels which included club, military, dollar, drug, limited assortment, C-store, international, deli, and others. ​ Crafted a modified stage-gate approach to market new products, and led a cross-functional team focused on new products development. Mentored and coached staff that realized consistent excellence.

Transformed the division which had been reporting years of revenue and profit declines into company's top revenue (% growth of prior years) and profit performer (NP/NS). Achieved enviable results the via the following practices:
  • Formal (collaborative) annual planning
  • Exiting underperforming channels
  • Prioritization of high growth channels
  • ​Discontinuing underperforming SKUs
  • Pricing and promotion management​
  • Brand revitalziaiton​​
  • Rapid innovation
  • Quarterly team training and coaching
  • Cross functional team building
Brands Managed
Company Brands Across Channels: Tony's | Red Baron | Freschetta | Wolfgang Puck | Edwards | Mrs. Smith's |  Larry's 
Channel Specific: Minh | Sabatasso's Pizzeria | Coyote Grill 
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SPECIALTY FOODS GROUP, INC
Marketing Innovation | Executive Leadership
2005 - 2007

VP Marketing Development (Innovation)
​Newport News, VA


Crafted new processes that increased effectiveness and introduction of top-tier products for retail, foodservice, and c-store channels. Drove strategy creation through deep understanding of consumer and market trends, and built strong supplier relationships to close internal capacity gaps.
   -  Led all facets of new product development and product improvement of premium national and regional branded products.
​   -  Served on company's Executive Committee and elected to Management Board of Directors.
   -  Lead contact to national account Dairy Queen.


Brands Managed
William Fischer | Scott Peterson | Kentucky Legend | Mickelberry's | Kentuckian Gold | Fischer | Field's | Comidas Caseras |
 Nathan's | Mosey's
Our passion is improving business performance.
Our goal is laser focused, to set you up for sustainable financial success.
Call us.  We are brand and business development experts.
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THE NORTHLAND ADVENTURER

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Let me take you on my journey. 
Click on the links below (underlined) of those topics which interest you most. ​
Paddling our Major Tributaries
•  Rum River 2017
•  Rum River 2019
•  Cannon River
•  Superior Bay 

•  Upper St. Croix
•  Headwaters of the Mississippi
•  Namekagon River
•  Kalamazoo River

​
Top Stops and Events
•  Lower St. Croix - Taylors Falls, MN
•  ​Lake Pepin and Lake City, MN

•  Lake Hamlin, MI
•  St. Paul, MN and Raspberry Island
•  ​Stillwater, MN
•  Tall Ships Duluth Festival
Objects of Interest
•  Great Lakes Lighthouses
•  Bridges of Stillwater

•  Wisconsin Central Bridge Ruins
•  Soo Line High Bridge
•  Vertical Lift Bridges
•  Trains
​•  Railroad Bridges
​•  Tugs and Barges

​•  Locks and Dams
​•  Business and Industry
Subjects of Interest
•  The Joy of the Journey
•  Overhanging Branches
•  Best of All It's Fall
•  Get Off the River!

•  Michigan's Prized Grand River
​
Grand Adventures
•  Crossing Lake Huron
•  ​Straits of Mackinac 
•  Crossing Lake Michigan #1 - 2016

•  Crossing Lake Michigan #2 - 7.24.20
•  Crossing Lake Michigan #3 - 6.11.21

•  Crossing Lake Michigan #4 - 6.27.21
•  Crossing Lake Michigan #5 - 7.13.21
•  Crossing Lake Superior - 2017
•  SEVENTY48 
•  Campus to Coast -  A 150 Mile Race 

•  Paddling the Pere Marquette
Newsworthy
•  ABC NEWS: Avid  Kayaker Brushes Death
•  The Whole Story


Easter 2019
•  A Narrow Escape

​Reflections
•  A Wonderful Journey

​About
•  More about Mike Stout
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For helpful hints to plan your Great Lakes crossing, click here.

 msplmn02@gmail.com  ​|  (952) 239-3943  ​|  Eagan, MN 55123
Copyright © 2016
  • Northland Adventurer
    • Rum River 2017
    • Rum River 2019
    • Cannon River
    • Superior Bay
    • Upper St. Croix
    • Headwaters of the Mississippi
    • Namekagon River
    • Kalamazoo River
    • Taylors Falls - Lower St. Croix
    • Lake Pepin & Lake City
    • Lake Hamlin
    • St. Paul, MN & Raspberry Island
    • Tall Ships Duluth Festival
    • Stillwater, MN
    • Great Lakes Lighthouses
    • Bridges of Stillwater
    • Wisconsin Central Bridge Ruins
    • Soo Line High Bridge
    • Vertical Lift Bridges
    • Trains
    • Railroad Bridges
    • Tugs and Barges
    • Locks and Dams
    • Business and Industry
    • The Joy of the Journey
    • Overhanging Branches
    • Best of All It's Fall
    • Get Off the River!
    • Our Prized Grand River
    • Crossing Lake Huron
    • Straits of Mackinac
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 2016
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 2020
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 6.10.21
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 6.27.21
    • Crossing Lake Michigan - 7.13.21
    • Crossing Lake Superior >
      • Helpful Hints
      • Packing for Great Lakes Crossings
    • SEVENTY48
    • Campus to Coast
    • Paddling the Pere Marquette
    • Avid Kayaker Brushes Death >
      • The Whole Story
    • A Narrow Escape 2019
    • Reflections
    • More about Mike
  • Contact