Teresa Nicholson is an experienced businesswoman with a deep background in economic development, public relations, marketing, and an understanding of the importance of effectively communicating the benefits and impacts of development projects to ensure success. For nearly eighteen years Teresa led the economic development efforts of a two-county organization in North Iowa and worked with businesses in multiple industry sectors ranging from startups to large corporations. As part of her economic development role, she worked very closely with local, state, and federal elected officials and government departments on legislation impacting economic development and the business sector. Teresa also has experience with non-profit management, finance, public speaking, and is a successful grant writer. 

Before joining Good Steward Consulting, she worked on multiple renewable energy developments including a gas-to-energy facility which captured the methane gas coming off a landfill (from the biological breakdown of refuse therein) which then produced 4 megawatts of power, an ethanol facility producing over 80 million gallons per year and 4 megawatts of energy from its production process, 9+ wind projects producing over 1 gigawatt in power, 2 solar projects producing 5 megawatts of power, and 2 electric transmission line projects stretching over 100 miles to carry new power load and meet the required electrical demand from the public. Since joining GSC she has overseen countless wind, solar, and battery storage (BESS) projects across the Midwest and broader United States to a total company tally of over 20 gigawatts. She knows the renewable sector is going to continue to expand as the energy industry diversifies its portfolio and she believes in the benefits renewable energy brings to landowners, communities, and the country and is proud to be a Good Steward assisting in the development of these renewable projects. 

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She is active in her community and has served on committees and boards managing various non-profits, economic development entities, affordable housing projects, transportation funding channels, conservation projects, and community foundation grants. Currently, she is a member of the non-profit board which owns and operates a local theater, she serves on her church council, and she expresses her musical talents in a girls’ trio consisting of her sister/daughter/herself, and in her family’s country music band. 

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Teresa has spent her entire life in North Iowa and Southern Minnesota and has strong roots in the rural community. She graduated from Waldorf with her BA in Communications. Teresa grew up on a farm where her father raised soybeans, corn, oats, alfalfa and the occasional sweet corn and pea field as well as livestock including hogs and dairy cattle, and of course cats and dogs, which her mother would often find sleeping in her room even though they didn’t have house pets. She and her husband raised two children on their acreage which is only a few miles from where Teresa grew up. She likes to spend her free time cuddling with her cats and dog, reading, writing, gardening, spending time with her family, and visiting and spoiling their grandchildren.