S5:E19 - Small Town Talent Attraction with Alissa Henriksen

We’ve heard it, and you probably have too: “People don’t want to move to rural communities.” Or, “Talented people don’t want to live in small towns.”

Well, we’re happy to say we know that’s not true, and so does Alissa Henriksen. This episode is all about attracting talent to our small towns, how not to write people off, and why sometimes it’s good for a business to run on vibes. 

About Alissa:

Alissa Henriksen is the co-founder and co-president at Grey Search + Strategy, where she leads the community-centric team culture and drives revenue goals for the company centered on personal relationships with clients, partners and prospects. With over 20 years in executive search and recruitment, Alissa guides Grey in serving hundreds of clients, 20+ strategic partners and 50+ community organizations, contributing over 1,000 hours of service annually in the Midwest market. 

After working for a large recruiting firm, Alissa founded Grey Search + Strategy with her husband in 2008 and never looked back. Her collaborative leadership fosters innovation and drive while her expertise drives measurable results and a memorable client experience.

The company consistently ranks on the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Twin Cities Top 25 Search Firms list. It was named one of American’s Top Small Businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for economic and community impact in 2023. In 2024, the company was honored with Twin Cities Business Reader’s Choice in Executive Recruiting, Star Tribune Best of MN awards, and inclusion on the Inc. 5000 and Inc. Regionals Midwest lists. 

Currently, Alissa serves on the board for TeamWomen and its executive committee. She was named to Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 40 Under 40 list in 2019 and inducted into The Reading Center’s Hall of Fame in 2021. In 2024, Alissa was named a Women of the Year by Enterprising Women magazine and won the Empowering Women award from Finance & Commerce magazine. She is also a two-time recipient of the Twin Cities Business Notables in Executive Recruiting honor in 2024 and 2025. 

A graduate of South Dakota State University, Alissa played volleyball on a full scholarship. She was a double major in Business Economics and Spanish.

Outside of work, Alissa mentors young entrepreneurs and enjoys spending time with her family outdoors – especially on one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes – and traveling to new places together. 

Alissa is dedicated to driving success for women leaders and the broader community. She welcomes opportunities to connect with like-minded, professional women in the Twin Cities. 

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the myth that “talented people don’t want to move to small towns” is false

• The role of community “vibe” and culture in attracting talent

• Top workforce trends small towns can leverage, from flexibility to workplace environment

• How authentic leadership helps retain and inspire people

• The opportunities and limitations of AI in recruiting
  

Links and Resources Mentioned:

Grey Search Website:https://grey-search.com/

Grey Search LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greysearch

Sponsor Spotlight: Brodie Mueller and Market on the Plaza

In small towns, coffee is more than caffeine. It’s community! Market on the Plaza roasts beans locally in Aberdeen, in small batches for the freshest, richest cup to start your day or for an afternoon pick-me-up. Stop in to grab a bag for home or linger over a cup with neighbors. Proudly local, always welcoming. Want to be a podcast sponsor? Get in touch with Rebecca: director@growingsmalltowns.org

This week's Small Town Shout-Out is:

Plankinton, SD! Our friend Carl asked us to shout out his small community because of their small businesses. We know that small businesses are the heartbeat of small towns, and we’re so glad to celebrate when small businesses are flourishing. Way to go, Plankinton! 

We want to hear from you!

Some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we’ve decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We’re have two “participation dance” elements of the show: 

1. “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. 
   

2. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we’ll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We’re suave like that. 
   

If you’ve got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can’t wait to hear from you! 

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Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, please click on the images below for Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!