Blog Navigation: Business Insights and Spotlights | Chamber Blog
12.01.25
Meet the Leadership FMWF Class: Mariah Bates, Angie Honzay, Collin Johnson
By Hannah Kliniske, Director of Content Strategy, FMWF Chamber
Leadership FMWF 2026 participants (L to R): Mariah Bates, Angie Honzay and Collin Johnson
As the Leadership FMWF 2026 program reaches its midpoint, participants are diving deeper into what it means to lead in their organizations and communities. Three cohort members—Mariah Bates, Angie Honzay and Collin Johnson—share how the program is shaping their perspectives and professional growth.
Mariah Bates
Human Resources and Benefits Manager, Otter Tail Corporation
In her role, Mariah supports employee benefits, wellness and development across the company, working to enhance both individual and organizational success. She joined Leadership FMWF to grow as a leader and gain new perspectives she can bring back to her team. “It’s a chance to step outside my day-to-day and contribute to something bigger,” she says.
For Mariah, leadership is about showing up consistently, listening actively, empowering others, and creating a culture of trust and accountability. She’s enjoyed learning from peers in different industries and gaining insights that can strengthen her workplace and the broader community.
Fun fact: She and her husband bought her grandparents’ house, where she grew up, and now raise their daughter and two goldendoodles there—a continuation of family legacy.
Angie Honzay
Sr. AI Workforce Specialist, Microsoft
Angie helps organizations adopt AI tools to enhance efficiency and collaboration, aligning technology with business goals. Leadership FMWF provides her with a platform to better understand community needs and economic drivers, which she can integrate into her work. “This program gives me a living lab to learn from peers, pressure‑test ideas and bring back practical approaches that strengthen both my work and my community,” she says.
She applied to the program to explore how leaders in diverse sectors drive impact and to learn strategies she can apply in her own role. Leadership, for Angie, means fostering progress, unlocking potential, embracing diverse perspectives and ensuring accountability.
Fun fact about Angie: Her four-year-old daughters are extremely rare identical twins known as monochorionic-monoamniotic, making their birth a unique and intense experience.
Collin Johnson
Project Manager, Zerr Berg Architects
Collin helps guide projects from planning through construction, coordinating with internal teams and consultants to bring clients’ visions to life. He sees Leadership FMWF as an opportunity to learn from other professionals and improve how he communicates ideas to broader audiences. “I also look forward to learning ways I can help others in my organization harness their talents and share them with the world,” he says.
Collin was motivated to apply after hearing about past participants’ positive experiences and wanted to challenge himself beyond his comfort zone, focusing on public speaking and personal growth. For him, leadership means being open to new ideas, collaborating, welcoming constructive criticism and striving for excellence while showing humility. Collin is especially excited to see how individual strengths can combine to create positive community impact.
Fun fact about Collin? He hopes to one day restore an old car.
Looking Ahead: Join the Next Leadership FMWF Class
Participants like Mariah, Angie and Collin are gaining insights, building networks and growing as leaders in ways that transcend their day-to-day roles. The program is designed for anyone in any role from any Chamber-member organization—no matter the industry—offering takeaways that can enhance both professional and personal impact. Applications for the 2026–27 Leadership FMWF class open in April, offering a unique opportunity to connect, learn and make a difference in the Fargo-Moorhead community.
Take the next step in your leadership journey! Apply to Leadership FMWF and see what’s possible.
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