The Lake City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors named Ed Hoffman Executive Director in 2021. Ed obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Winona State University graduating Summa Cum Laude. 

Ed has a passion for helping small businesses grow. He owned two successful businesses in Winona, Ed’s (no name) Bar and Boat House Restaurant, for 12 years prior to selling them in 2018/19. Previous to his time as a small business owner, Ed held marketing management positions for Jim Beam Brands, Bacardi USA, and Hale’s Ales. Ed has also done independently contracted marketing work for Visit Winona and Bluff Country Co-op. He has been involved in community development and arts organizations for years, having served on the Winona Fine Arts Commission, and as a founding (and current) board member of Engage Winona. Ed is a Blandin Community Leadership Program and Academy for Community Engagement (ACE) alum. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling, bicycling, hiking, painting, photography, and spending time on his 1956 houseboat, the Shan-Gri-La.