After a decade, the Maple Grove Ambassador Program will have new faces for its directors. Mother-daughter duo Rebecca Key and Gillian Laursen are stepping down after working as directors of the program since 2014.
The Ambassador program was originally founded in 1999 by Michelene Radulovich. The first girls were crowned in 2000.
Laursen first started with the Ambassador Program when she was a candidate in 2003. “Then I decided I wanted to give it one more try,” she said. “I ran again in 2006 and was selected. It worked out great because I loved my ambassador family who I was crowned with.”
After her year as an Ambassador, Laursen stayed with the program involved with chaperoning events, volunteering, and did some social media marketing.
“In 2014, I told the director at the time that I was ready for a little bit more. Me joining their leadership committee or whatever we could work out,” Laursen said.
That is when she received the news that the director at the time was thinking about stepping down. Laursen was asked if she wanted to run the entire program.
She thought about it for awhile and talked with Key. “I thought it would be a fun challenge to try,” she said. “I love the program and wanted to see what I could do with it. In our conversations, Rebecca said ‘I may as well do it with you, because that’s all we’d talk about when we’re together anyway.’”
The duo took over running the program in 2014. Laursen took on the director role (public speaking and coaching) and Key took on the associate director role (administrative side of things).
During their first year directing the program, the program designed and created a new parade float. Laursen said the original float was “spectacular,” but so large it had to be pulled by a special vehicle with an electric brake system.
Parents of the 2014 Maple Grove Ambassadors helped put the float together. The float was on a smaller flatbed. Teresa and Randy Klasen, Pat and Tony Grabinski and Dars and Dawn Fox were the families involved. Even an uncle, Steve Grabinski, knew about electrical work and helped on the float. The new float debuted in 2015.
Beyond designing a new float, Laursen and Key created a new website for the program and launched new social media sites.
“We tried to help the program evolve throughout time,” Laursen said. “Especially after COVID. We were always trying to listen to what the girls wanted to do, what the program should do, what activities they were interested in.”
She added wardrobes changed from just gowns, to gowns and professional workwear.
“In only 10 years, I feel like it’s changed a lot, but we’ve tried to keep it true to what it is,” Laursen said of the program.
“Society is different, kids are different,” Key added. “Along the way, we’ve tried to include new sponsors and new businesses in town.”
Key said they have added more events the Ambassadors participate in each year. She said this year’s girls have participated in more than 100 events, including parades and other events around town.
“That has helped grow our exposure and experiences for the girls,” Key said. “That’s what I enjoy the most about the program. I just like showing the new ambassadors the experiences.”
“We’ve made a great little team for the last 10 years,” Laursen said. “It’s been more than amazing of what we’ve been able to do together and achieve with this program and all the girls we’ve met along the way.”
Key said one of the reasons she is stepping down is because she retired a few years ago and would like to get out and do more things for herself.
Laursen was married a few years ago and is ready to redirect her focus.
“The last few months we’ve decided that we love the program, but we’re both ready to pass it along,” Laursen said. She and Key will still be involved with the program periodically.
They are ready for the next generation of directors to lead the program.
Laursen said the new leadership team has been working with the two of them on the transition period for the program.
The last event for Laursen and Key as the program’s directors will be at this year’s Maple Grove Days Ambassador Coronation on Friday, July 12, starting at 7 p.m. at Maple Grove Senior High School.
Key said they get lumps in their throats when they talk about their directing roles coming to an end. She added they will continue to be around Maple Grove Days, watching the transition.
“It’s very bittersweet,” Laursen said. “We are excited, but sad.”
They both will be missing this part of their lives.
Laursen said she will miss the girls the most. “The relationships we build with these ladies and getting to know them and their families,” she said. “Going through the process myself and being around the festival community for so long, knowing how life-changing it can be, I love being able to provide that for these young ladies.”
Key agreed. She said the support the program has received from the community has been wonderful. “Our appreciation for [City Administrator] Heidi Nelson, the mayor, the City Council and [Police Chief] Eric Werner, they respect us and we respect them,” she said. “It’s been a partnership that I really treasure. I love that about Maple Grove."
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