Rapp Strategies Rundown – June
Here’s what we did, read, watched and thought about this month.
Todd R.: Full month for us, including a wedding and the 40th Reunion of Maggie’s class at Carleton College, which brought us together with friends we haven’t seen in more than a decade. In the culture sphere, I admit I got a little excited for the Pacers run in the NBA Finals, and I am counting down the days to the end of “cap hell” for my beloved Wild. I had a chance to work on the original sponsorship deal many years ago, so it’s a little melancholy that we will no longer say “I’m going to the X tonight” for a game. White Lotus Season 3 – sorry, this time it didn’t work for me. But Poker Face is off to a great start in Season 2. In our march through great film noirs, Klute is excellent, and Jane Fonda really deserved her Oscar.
Finally, I had the privilege of joining MPR’s coverage of the funeral of Melissa and Mark Hortman. There is no playbook for how to handle an event like that, but the magic Cathy Wurzer, Brian Bakst, Dana Ferguson, Clay Masters and the production team worked behind the scenes was unlike anything I have seen in my career. I am honored that they invited me to join in.
Rich: June was another family month for us. Our son, David, and his wife, Olive, spent the first week in June with us in Minneapolis. We spent a lot of family time together and everyone got caught up. The middle of the month included golf when the weather allowed. It finally feels like summer has begun. The end of the month found us in the Hamptons with our family. This has become a July 4 tradition for us. We enjoyed the time together and the beauty and excitement of this time of year. Of course, the entire month was highlighted by time spent with the two youngest members of the family, babies Elin and Charlie. They are growing and changing every day! Life is good.
Todd S.: June 2025 brought tragedy, celebration and growth — a reminder that life unfolds in so many ways, often all at once.
The month will be forever marked by the horrific attacks on State Rep. Melissa Hortman and State Sen. John Hoffman and their spouses. The news hit close to home at our firm, where Todd Rapp, Sean Oyaas, and Rich Forschler have longstanding relationships with both lawmakers. While I didn’t know them personally, I’ve long admired their commitment to public service and the steady, principled way they tried to lead.
Speaking of excellent leaders, we began the month by celebrating the retirement of our colleague, Jodi Boyne, a senior director at Rapp Strategies. Her thoughtfulness and energy will be deeply missed. Jodi is a trusted friend, and I wish her nothing but happiness in the next chapter of her life. And just a week ago, my son started driver’s ed — one of those small, significant milestones that signals life is always moving forward, ready or not. ... I’ll save the random thoughts on movies, media and music for another time.
Sean: With the extended legislative session, it feels unfair that summer is already a third the way done. Please lookout for an e-mail from me asking you to sign my petition to the Governor demanding that an additional two weeks be added to the “summer feeling” after Labor Day. Our voices will be the change.
June may have been cut short, but the Oyaas house made the most of it. We recently returned from our annual trip our to Green Harbor, Massachusetts, spending time with Rosie’s extended family in a row of beach houses just feet away from the ocean. The water was cold, but our hearts were warm. Rosie was joining her two Oyaas boys from a bachelorette party, so we were flying out there solo. Luckily, my son is the best kid in the world, so he was my little sidekick. We also benefitted from a kind seat partner who let James play with her phone (and yes, I don’t need the lecture, I’m all about limiting screentime but all bets are off on an airplane).
Just an absolutely magical week at the beach, which included an escape day for mom, dad and James as we took the ferry up to Boston for a visit to the aquarium. The trip was so much fun, I didn’t even come home depressed with the thought of falling back into the routine. It was the breath of fresh air I needed.
Anna: June brought challenges, such as a broken AC during the hottest weekend of the year. But that hasn't stopped us from soaking up summer, from walks after dinner to basketball in the driveway and popsicles on the front step. Summer is extra sweet through the eyes of a cheerful and rambunctious two-year-old. Ike and I plowed through the first season of House of David on Prime and have now pivoted to the most recent episodes of The Chosen. We also had a delightful date at Quang, where the pho is always superb and the chicken pad thai was the best I’ve ever had (for very reasonable prices, too). If you’ve never been, now is the time! I had my first facial at The Face Foundrié in Maple Grove, which was absolute perfection, followed by delicious pastries at Paris Baguette with my sister and sisters-in-law. Saying goodbye to our beloved Senior Director Jodi Boyne was bittersweet, but I loved getting the chance to celebrate her and reminisce at Norseman Distillery as a staff. If you're reading this, Jodi, get back to enjoying retirement!
Meredith: June was so jam-packed that it feels like it’s been multiple months since the last rundown. For the sake of space and time, I will just focus on the last week of the month, which I will count as ‘birthday week’ for me. Tasha and I had the privilege of accompanying my God sister, Evie, to NYC for her “Broadway Debut”. She auditioned for a nation-wide casting call and was selected to perform in the Green Room 42, so the three of us flew out for a whirlwind of a week. While there, we got to see the 2024 and 2025 Tony Award Winning “Best Musicals” – The Outsiders and Maybe Happy Ending. In case you are visiting soon, here are my thoughts:
Tailor Public House has the best cheesecake (way better than Juniors)
Darren Criss absolutely deserved the Tony for Best Actor, but I don’t think Maybe Happy Ending is the best musical despite the award.
I didn’t expect to like the Outsiders but it was amazing. I understand why it won 2024 Best Musical.
Everyone should plan to visit the 9/11 memorial and museum. It was amazingly well done.
Liberty Bagels was super fun.
The Museum of Ice Cream is meant for children and more of a playhouse than a museum, but the ice cream was good.
NYC, despite what they say online, is NOT accessible for those with limited mobility or strollers if you want to take the subway or buses.
Central Park Zoo is not worth it unless you have a small child who thinks everything is a “cat” including the bears and sea lions.
The Edge has a lovely outdoor observation deck with clear sightlines and is cheaper than the Empire State Building.
Finally, Evie was phenomenal in her performance and I have no doubt we will be back in NYC before long to watch her on Broadway. You will all be invited when we go – 10/10, you should come.
Cullen: June was quite literally a life-changing month. Twenty-four hours after Lauren successfully defended her doctoral thesis and became a PhD(!) we packed up our life and moved into a new place in St. Paul. We’ve transitioned quickly from getting settled to diving headfirst into final wedding preparations. I’m thrilled to be back in Minnesota for many reasons, but finally getting to work in person is one of the biggest! I was thrilled to get at least a week of crossover in the office with our Senior Director Emeritus, Jodi, before her retirement.
Work was matched with a healthy dose of play. I spent back-to-back weekends on lakes, first in Biwabik for my bachelor party and second at the cabin for my birthday. The time was filled with fishing, biking, catching up with friends, and plenty of golf. I had the chance to play The Quarry at Giants Ridge, which was spectacular despite shooting several strokes over my handicap. To cap off the month, I joined friends for our five-year reunion at CSB/SJU. I envy today’s students who get to enjoy the veritable explosion of new businesses and restaurants that have swept into St. Joseph since my class graduated. It’s wonderful to see a place that means so much to me thriving at a time when most small-town main streets in Minnesota are struggling.
Despite the hectic month, I’m rewatching Game of Thrones because Lauren has yet to see it. I hope to start House of the Dragon once we’re finished. I haven’t been reading much, but Dune Messiah has been staring at me from the shelf for several weeks now – maybe I’ll save that for the honeymoon.
Julia: Happy Summer Solstice! I recommend having a few hippie friends in your life—my good friend, who I met serving in AmeriCorps, hosts two solstice parties a year. I find them both to be such good reminders. The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year and the official start of summer. We spent it jumping in Lake Nokomis, sharing good food, and watching the sun set over the swan boats. The winter solstice is still far away, but I know it will bring with it the hope of spring and the steady reminder of a new, better year.
I also spent the month celebrating—it's wedding season, y'all! I got the honor of celebrating former Rapp Strategies employee Colette as she married her now-husband Dylan at a beautiful hotel in Hastings, MN. I rang in the birthdays of my close friends with a 'Sailors and Sea Monsters' themed party. I also spent some quality time at my uncle's hobby farm in Boyceville, WI, celebrating the second birthday of my littlest cousin. The current crop of pigs is still small and cute—they won't stay that way for long!
Culture-wise, I saw one excellent movie and one that just wasn't for me. If you're a fan of Tim Robinson, I Think You Should Leave, or have ever wondered "should men have friends?" you need to see the movie Friendship. It was a harrowing, hilarious movie that lingered with me so much I saw it twice. I also caught the new Wes Anderson flick, The Phoenician Scheme. While I genuinely admire his aesthetic, his ability to wrangle a star-studded cast, and his attention to detail, I can't help but think these things often come at the sake of plot. I may have started a bit of drama in the office with these "blasphemous" beliefs, so take them with a grain of salt.
As I watch my friends and family start to reap the rewards of their backyard gardens, I'm re-reading Parable of the Sower. It's either a very terrible time to read apocalypse fiction, or a very good one. I'll tell you what I really think if you share part of your tomato haul with me. On to July!
Alida: June was busy! We spent a large part of it getting settled in our new home, which I'll probably still be saying in the next couple of updates! In early June, I went to Chicago for my brother's graduation from the Kellog School of Management (yay!). He's staying there and living in the River West neighborhood, where he'll be running the roofing business he started while in school. If your roof ever springs a leak, I know a guy!
Later in the month, we went to Julian, CA for a wedding — one of Jacob's best friends from Macalester married his high school crush. I'd never been to that part of California (it's kind of in the middle of nowhere, about 1.5 hours northeast of San Diego), but I'd love to find a reason to go back someday. It was a beautiful setting for a wedding - up in the mountains surrounded by vineyards and farmland. I wish I could say we have a quieter July ahead, but it's wedding season, so that would be a lie!
Jorrun: There is a plaque in my Grandparent’s house that reads:
“Cabin (ka’ben) n. 1. a place where Minnesotans go every weekend to spend two days waiting for the fish to bite, the bugs to go away, and the sun to come out.”
That pretty much sums up my June. This month must have broken some records for how much rain we got. As I write this, it is raining. But we persevere. I spent most of my weekends at the cabin with friends, family, and two new puppies. I went to my first Twins game of the season to catch up with Gustie friends, and am reading The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments. For new food this month, I tried Football Pizza in northeast and Dodopop in Minnetonka – both were great.
Jack: I continued working at Rapp Strategies in June and also started my other summer job, coaching 15U baseball. The month has been action-packed with most weeknights consisting of a practice or game. I'm grateful that I have two of the best assistants I could ask for, one of my best friends from high school, and my Dad. The weekends have been filled with boating, swimming, fishing, and all other cabin activities. My family, friends, and I take full advantage of whatever decent weather a Minnesota summer gives us. In other news my sister graduated high school in early June, and my golf game has been "improving" after a fun scramble tournament with friends to support STA wrestling. If anyone is looking for a light-hearted show, I recommend Stick starring Owen Wilson.