About Us

Rachel joined APEX in September 2022 and leads the organization as President and CEO. Throughout her career, she’s cultivated strong community relationships and advocated for industrial projects that support job growth, career development and economic investment throughout the region. At APEX, she works to drive investment in our region, bringing citizens and companies together to prosper. 

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from the College of St. Scholastica and has held numerous leadership positions with experience in commercial real estate, permitting, energy sector, stakeholder engagement and communications. 

Rachel resides in Duluth and volunteers on several boards including the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, the Duluth Area Family YMCA Heritage Foundation and Imagine Downtown Advisory Council. Rachel also serves on the Minnesota Sea Grant Advisory Board, playing a vital role in keeping in touch with the needs and concerns of Minnesota citizens, industries, communities, policymakers, and universities. The mission of Minnesota Sea Grant is to work with business, industry, and the public to supply the science and technology they need to ensure abundant, clean, water resources for Minnesota. She also serves on the Large Lakes Council and is the CEO of Northland Housing Partners, a non-profit organization that serves as a catalyst for housing in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin.  

In her free time, she enjoys spending time traveling and being outdoors, running the trails with her friends and doodle Cali, biking and adventuring with partner, Tim, and two adult daughters, Gretta and Mullen, as much as possible. 

With nearly a decade of experience in talent acquisition and recruiting operations, Mickey Pearson joined APEX as the Business Recruiter in March of 2024. In this role, he leverages his expertise in strategic outreach, relationship building, and client service to attract new businesses across the 10 county region of Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin.

Throughout his career, Mickey has excelled at understanding business needs and building connections across diverse industries. He has supported hyper-growth startups like Deel and Updater, premier advertising agencies such as McCann Health and Klick, as well as innovative healthcare organizations including City of Hope. His deep passion for people allows him to effectively match growing businesses with opportunities and talent to aid their growth.

A Duluth resident since 2007, Mickey is proud to call the Northland his home. He and his wife, Keely Pearson (Barr Engineering, 2016 Duluth News Tribune 20 under 40 honoree), live in the Congdon neighborhood with their three teenage sons, all of whom attend Duluth Public Schools. Deeply involved in the local community, he has served on several boards, including Zeitgeist Center for Arts & Community, 3D Robotics Duluth, PBS North and nine years with the Whole Foods Co-op board.

When not supporting APEX's mission, Mickey indulges his love of music, movies, and an active lifestyle through running, mountain biking, and Peloton rides. His outgoing, cheerleader mentality and optimism for the future make him well-equipped to elevate the region's economic development efforts.

Anna joined APEX in May 2025 ready to make an impact on the region. Holding a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management with a minor in Finance, her education mixed with internships and student work experiences prepared her to hit the ground running at APEX. 

Graduating from the Labovitz School of Business and Economics with Magna cum laude and departmental honors, Anna’s prior experiences reflect her commitment to establishing meaningful connections while maintaining a high standard of delivery.  Her student work as the Executive Administrative Assistant at the Tweed Museum of Art during her studies well equipped her to understand the internal processes of a business, stakeholder communication, and project management. Her role as a Sales and Analytics Associate at North and Shore further showcased her skills in data analysis, financial reporting, and customer support. Additionally, her internship at SRS Building Products provided her with valuable insights into operational support and discrepancy resolution.

Outside of the office, Anna enjoys running/biking across Duluth’s beautiful landscapes, attending as many concerts as possible, spending time with her roommate and their two cats, strengthening her electric guitar skills, and sneaking home to southern Minnesota to spend time with her family and dog. 

Chloe Stafford is joins APEX in 2025 as our new Project Coordinator.

A recent graduate from the University of Washington and hailing from Michigan, Chloe is excited to join our community and serve as another ambassador for the APEX region!