Community Building Archives » Tunheim

What a Global Network Really Offers: One Agency’s Perspective

Liz Sheets — Mon, 12 May 2025 20:58:47 +0000

When we joined IPREX nearly 20 years ago, our motivation was straightforward: we were stepping away from a holding company and needed a new solution to serve our global clients. We wanted partners in key markets who could help us deliver work at the same standard—people we trusted, who operated like us. IPREX gave us that. And while the nature of global work has changed since then, our reasons for being part of this network have only grown.

For an independent agency, the value of global reach is obvious. What’s less visible—but just as powerful—is what that global reach makes possible internally: better thinking, faster learning, and stronger business performance.

Trusted Delivery, Global Scale

The communications business has never been more international. From launches that cross borders to stakeholders in multiple time zones, our clients increasingly expect agencies to show up globally. For Tunheim, being part of IPREX means we can say yes to those opportunities with confidence. We’re not outsourcing—we’re partnering.

We can call on teams in Singapore or Stockholm, Buenos Aires or Boston. We can deliver local insights in real time and ensure that messaging aligns across markets. And crucially, we’re not just sending work to someone we found online—we’re collaborating with professionals we know, have met, and trust. That’s a game-changer.

Big Thinking from Agencies Like Ours

Of course, global delivery is only part of the story. IPREX is also a brain trust.

We’re a nimble firm. That’s one of our strengths. But like many smaller agencies, we don’t have endless internal teams to test ideas with or pressure-test a plan. Through IPREX, we do.

I’ve sat around tables at IPREX conferences with agency leaders from Tokyo, New York, Cape Town, and Berlin, workshopping the same challenges we’re facing in Minneapolis: how to grow sustainably, how to support our teams, how to price our services more strategically. These aren’t theoretical conversations—they’re real, applicable insights we can take home and use.

Relationships That Make Business Better

It’s easy to talk about “networking.” But what we have in IPREX is much deeper than that. These are real relationships built over years of conferences, projects, and phone calls when something doesn’t go to plan. It’s those relationships that make this network feel less like a club and more like a team.

The result? Better work and better outcomes.

We’ve had IPREX partners help us win new business, shape a pitch, or even jump in on a project at a moment’s notice. We’ve also done the same for others. That kind of trust and reciprocity doesn’t happen overnight—but it does happen here.

A Bigger Business Without Getting Bigger

One of the things I appreciate most is how IPREX helps us punch above our weight.

We don’t need to be a massive agency to take on complex work. We just need to know the right people and how to mobilize them. With IPREX, we can scale up when needed and stay lean when we don’t. It gives us flexibility, without losing quality. Our clients see that—and so do our competitors.

Being part of IPREX means we’re never operating in isolation. We have access to experts in healthcare, policy, tech, and sustainability. We have a sounding board for new ideas and a support system for hard calls. And we’re not guessing at what works—we’re learning from peers who’ve tried it.

Shared Values. Independent Voices.

There’s a reason this works. IPREX partners are independent, entrepreneurial, and values-driven. We don’t all look the same, but we show up with the same spirit: hands-on, smart, and committed.

That alignment matters. It means when we refer a client to another IPREX firm, we know they’ll be in good hands. It means when we join a working group or a global pitch, we’re collaborating with equals—not competing for credit.

It also means we can be honest. Whether it’s pricing models or commitments, we have tough, transparent conversations. That helps us get better.

What Comes Next

The communications industry keeps evolving—AI, social platforms, changing expectations from clients and employees alike. But for us at Tunheim, one thing hasn’t changed: the power of partnership.

IPREX isn’t just a network we belong to. It’s a strategic advantage we use. And we use it often.

If you’re part of an independent agency trying to grow, serve clients globally, or simply connect with others who understand what you’re up against—this is the kind of network that makes a difference. It has for us. And 20 years on, we’re still learning from it.

Learn more about the IPREX global communication network at iprex.com.

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November is National Native American Heritage Month

Ashley Coleman — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 20:32:08 +0000

In honor of “National Native American Heritage Month,” Tunheim is spotlighting local artists, businesses, events, and organizations that enrich our community. We hope this list offers thought starters and encourages everyone to show appreciation by supporting these outstanding individuals and groups.

American Indian Center
Ashley Fairbanks
Bad River Film Screening (Nov. 17)
BirchBark Creations: Crafting Earrings with Tradition and Nature (Nov. 17)
Four Sisters
Gatherings Cafe
Hoċokata Ṫi Fashion Show (Nov. 20)
Indian Mounds Regional Park
James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw
Makwa Coffee
Marlena Myles
NACDI MN
NĀTIFS & Wedge Co-Op: (Now through Dec. 3)
Niimiwin All My Relations Arts (Opens Nov. 7, 2024)
9th Annual Veterans Wacipi (Nov. 8 & 9)
North Star Voices: They Would Not Be Moved (Nov. 9)
Owamni
Pow Wow Grounds
Reclaiming Identity (Nov. 21)
Timberwolves Native American Heritage Month (Nov. 8)
2024 American Indian Night (Nov. 15)
We Are Water: Fashion Show (Nov. 21)
Woodland Indian Crafts Gift Shop

Photo by Paul VanDerWerf, used under CC BY 2.0 / Cropped from original.
Link to original image on Flickr

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Tunheim’s Top 20 Fall Faves!

Ashley Coleman — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 21:11:05 +0000

Have you ever wondered what to do during Fall in MN? Look no further, our team shared some personal favorites, ranging from local apple orchards, national state parks to wineries:

Tunheim’s Top 20 Fall Faves

We hope everyone can take time to experience Minnesota during this beautiful time of year. Our list of fun and memorable activities will hopefully bring forth all the fall vibes!

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School Lessons That Last

Kathy Tunheim — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 17:56:34 +0000

My granddaughter reported that her first day of second grade last week was “the best school day ever.” Since I know that she was wearing a mask and observing social distancing, I’m pretty sure it was not, in fact, the best-ever for her, for her classmates or for the teachers and administrators at her school. But her unbridled enthusiasm was a wonderful reminder of all that school can be for students, and I was glad to know she is off to a good start amidst yet another challenging year.

It is hard to avoid feeling that students are being cheated as we begin the third straight academic year of disruption. Beyond the physical adaptations being layered on – social distancing, masks, curtailed extracurricular activities, shortages of bus drivers – there is the anxiety: which behaviors and protocols are essential to ensuring safety? Is everyone following the rules? Can we trust each other to protect the safety of all the people around us until children, too, can be vaccinated?

My parents were both teachers and two of my brothers, as well. My grandmothers were teachers, my sisters-in-law and cousins, too. From watching them and hearing about their dedication and creativity, I know that most children have the benefit of awesome professionals working on their behalf. And while social conditions have challenged school settings before – earlier pandemics; social upheaval; racism; economic strife – I do believe the fall of 2021 is putting an extraordinary strain on our schools and all the people in them.

Which has caused me to think back to my own experiences and frankly marvel at how many potent lessons and learnings have stuck with me. I did not appreciate some of these lessons at the time and was almost certainly inadequate in expressing gratitude to teachers and classmates who deserved better from me. So, I will hope that this late-but-sincere acknowledgement begins to atone for my deficiencies. And I hope it enables parents of contemporary students to recognize all the good that is happening even in these chaotic times.

Certainly, there were academic gems that really delivered: Dick Scott taught algebra and calculus in ways that enable me to approach all kinds of problem-solving better than I believe I would be equipped to handle without those tools (and not just math problems!). Mrs. Rasmussen nurtured a love of poetry and language that I’m quite sure has fueled much of my success as a communications professional. Mr. Koehler understood and shared the power of presence, of theater and of language that I still reflect on as I prepare to give a speech or coach my colleagues and clients. So many strong lessons.

But I think it is the stuff beyond academics that really sinks into our foundations. Kindnesses from unexpected, usually tough faculty or administrators. Shared experiences alongside students with whom I didn’t have much else in common. That powerful bond of realizing that we were each learning something that we hadn’t known before; I can still recall high-fiving with students when our small group solved a challenging task.

There was competition, too, but I recall it more as an inspiration than a stressor. I learned where I could compete and where I really could not. And I was supported to gravitate to those activities and options that enabled me to shine. I can laugh now at some of my failures and wonder at the lessons they taught me. I know it has been said that we learn more from our failures than our successes – and that is probably true for me, as well.

School wasn’t perfect, neither the teachers nor my classmates were perfect, either. But I am profoundly grateful for all those school days and wish for every child the chance to have those days, too.

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