# Aaron Brossoit

> Aaron Brossoit is the Stillwater, Minnesota-based co-founder and CEO of Golden Shovel Agency, a communications firm devoted to economic development. A self-taught web designer who started a company while studying at St. Cloud State University, he has spent his career pairing design and emerging technology with the practical work of helping communities attract businesses, workers and investment. His team introduced virtual-reality tools to the economic development field in 2017, and Golden Shovel now says it works with more than 300 communities globally. In 2025, Brossoit was elected to the board of the National Rural Economic Developers Association.

- **Role:** Partner and CEO at Golden Shovel Agency
- **Organizations:** Golden Shovel Agency, PlaceVR, National Rural Economic Developers Association, Mid-America Economic Development Council, Brain Magnet, Webkromatic
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor's degree in Speech Communication, St. Cloud State University, High school diploma, Apollo High School
- **Known for:** Co-founded Golden Shovel Agency in 2009 and developed it into a specialist communications firm that says it serves more than 300 communities globally., Led the team that introduced 360-degree familiarization and site tours to the economic development industry at the 2017 IEDC Annual Conference., Elected unanimously to the National Rural Economic Developers Association board in 2025.

## Career timeline

- **Late 1990s** — Taught himself web design and founded Webkromatic while a student at St. Cloud State University.
- **1999** — Webkromatic merged with a St. Cloud cartography company to form Brain Magnet, where Brossoit later served as president and co-owner.
- **2009** — Brain Magnet closed and Brossoit co-founded Golden Shovel Agency, specializing in communications for city, county and state economic development.
- **2017** — Golden Shovel unveiled PlaceVR and the industry's first 360-degree familiarization and site-tour tools at the IEDC Annual Conference in Toronto.
- **2019** — An industry interview credited him with leading communications tools serving more than 180 economic development organizations across North America.
- **2022** — Presented on economic development and the metaverse at the Mid-America Competitiveness Conference; conference materials said his tools supported more than 270 organizations.
- **2024** — Presented practical applications of AI for economic developers at the Mid-America EDC Best Practices Conference.
- **2025** — Was unanimously elected to the National Rural Economic Developers Association board, with his term beginning in January 2026.
- **2026** — Presented with Chuck Sexton on how economic developers can appeal to site selectors at the Texas Economic Development Council Winter Conference.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Golden Shovel Agency in 2009 and developed it into a specialist communications firm that says it serves more than 300 communities globally.
- Led the team that introduced 360-degree familiarization and site tours to the economic development industry at the 2017 IEDC Annual Conference.
- Elected unanimously to the National Rural Economic Developers Association board in 2025.
- Served on the Mid-America Economic Development Council board and regularly presented at state and regional economic development conferences.
- Hosted and appeared on industry podcasts, including ShovelTalk, Economic Development Secrets, Develop This and The Whittaker Report.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Led a panel discussion on foreign direct investment at the Southern Economic Development Council annual conference.
- **2026-02** — Presented with Chuck Sexton on appealing to site selectors at the Texas Economic Development Council Winter Conference.
- **2026-01** — Began serving the remaining year of a departing member's term on the National Rural Economic Developers Association board.
- **2025-12** — Golden Shovel announced his unanimous election to the NREDA board after he unveiled the association's updated brand at its Nashville conference.

## Links

- Website: https://www.goldenshovelagency.com/about/our-team/p/item/2552/aaron-brossoit
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brossoit

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/aaron-brossoit
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-24