Move Eden Prairie Excellence Forward

Connect with Brad Canham

Actively Strengthening Eden Prairie

Move Eden Prairie Excellence Forward

As an active community leader, Brad Canham approaches Eden Prairie households and family challenges with a problem-solver's mindset.

I will listen to you, then carefully deliberate, and finally I will take action. We need to ensure safe homes and neighborhoods, manage tax burdens, manage development disruptions and challenges, and maintain the roads, parks, and city amenities.

Present

  • Entrepreneur Jubilee, Eden Prairie - Co-founder, annual non-profit small business community event

  • Eden Prairie Community Foundation - Co-founder, Celebrate Local Fund

  • University of St. Thomas: OPUS College of Business - Corporate Fellow, Adjunct Professor

  • University of St. Thomas - Chair, Adjunct Faculty Council (22-member council representing 450+ adjunct faculty)

  • University of St. Thomas - Member, Institute for AI and the Common Good, Advising External Entities

  • St. Andrews Lutheran Church - Member

  • Friends of Eden Prairie Parks - Member

  • Strengthening Eden Prairie Entrepreneurial Ecosystem - Community Builder, University of St. Thomas Community Entrepreneur Program (CEP) - Mentor for entrepreneurs from underserved communities since 2023; Eden Prairie high school CEP program (46 students, July 2026) adult CEP program (30+ adults, September 2026)

  • Democratic Visions - invited host, public access TV commentary, interviews, human interest stories

  • HomeGrown Hustle - invited co-host, podcast for growing skilled trades, blue-collar businesses

  • Marketvines - Owner, Strategy, Marketing, and Growth for SaaS, Internet of Things (IOT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) firms

Previous

  • Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) - Founding Editor

  • Eden Prairie Schools - Parent (two k-12 graduates of Eden Prairie Schools)

  • University of St. Thomas - Inclusive Classroom Institute - Faculty Certificate, (2025)

  • University of St. Thomas - College of Education, Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Leadership. Dissertation: Navigating Complexity in an Internet of Things Era (2023). Master of Business, Communication (MBC), 2009. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, English Literature, BA.

  • ADC Telecommunications, Broadband Access and Transport Group) - Marketing Executive

  • Allot Communications (exit to NASDAQ), Aisera AI (exit by acquasition) - Marketing and Growth Executive

  • Department of Employment and Ecoinomic Development (DEED) - Member of Governor's WorkForce Council

  • Minnesota Association of Professional Employees - President, Local 1302

  • Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools - Ironman Triathlon Fundraiser, Robotic Kits for Eden Prairie Schools

  • Endurance athlete - 100+ races, bike races duathlons, snowshoes races, 5ks, 10ks, half-marathons, marathons, ultras, half-Ironman and full Ironmans.

Connect with Brad Canham
Connect with Brad Canham

Our Shared "Purple" Foundation

Why Purpleprint?

(neither a "red" nor a "blue"print)

Minnesota and Purple go together. Look, I'm willing to listen, a bit, to objections to that. But, me, they do go together as Forrest Gump said "like peas and carrots," and Minnesota Purple means something important for Eden Prairie.

Because, at the end of the day, and whatever your political leanings may be, we all chose to live here. It is a choice and I deeply respect you for making it. The most important thing is to ensure that your excellent choice remains as excellent of a choice as the day you first made it, don't you think? That is why red and blue make Minnesota Purple and also why...

The focus is Move Eden Prairie Excellence Forward.

Eden Prairie's council-manager arrangement (referred to as a "Plan B" governance structure) thrives when the work of city departments is predictable, transparent, and endures. As a city council member I will focus on the policy and legislative decisions of city council municipal stewardship, which delegates daily and administrative and operatonal duties to the City Manager. The governance structure helps to ensure sound practical solutions, not politics, move Eden Prairie Excellence Forward.

It is an arrangement to ensure that you have a representative voice on the City Council to ensure the practical work of safe roads, fair taxes, sensible development, secure homes, and great neighborhoods. Commonsense, practical excellence is what Eden Prairie's 25,665 households want and serving as your voice on the City Council is what I will provide. Eden Prairie City Council members serve "At Large," they serve all Eden Prairie residents equally, regardless of personal background or location within the city limits.

In a time of partisan tension, "Purpleprint" is my attempt to say I am firmly committed to listening to and serving everyone - without exception.

Connect with Brad4EP

Experienced & Effective

Active Community Builder & Leader

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Civic Builder

Applied Problem-Solving

Community & Educational Leadership

Brad's early career as Editor and news reporter honed his commitment to transparency in government. In 2020, Brad and other civic-minded leaders founded the Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) where he served as its Founding Editor. This background informs his focus on transparency in municipal governance.

Brad is a long time Mentor in the University of St. Thomas (UST) Community Entrepreneur Program (CEP) helping entrepreneurs from underinvested communities launch and scale their bueinsses. In 2025, he connected the CEP with Eden Prairie Schools resulting in the CEPs first 7-week "entrepreneurship bootcamp" program for 46 Eden Prairie students. A CEP for 30+ adults is scheduled for September 2026 .

In 2025, Brad is the Co-founder of a non-profit event, the Entrepreneur Jubilee, helping entrepreneurs and small businesses grown in Eden Priaire. Now an annual event, (called "Celebrate Local" in 2026) Brad established its fiscal fund with the Eden Prairie Community Foundation.

Deep roots in Eden Prairie drive his commitment. Brad understands that true leadership means preserving our foundations while actively building for the next generation's success.

Brad has a career in leadership technology firms, from telecom (ADC Telecommunications) to internet infrastructure, Internet of Things to artificial intelligence (AI). He received a Master of Business from and Doctor of Education (Ed.D) from the University of St. Thomas (UST). In addition to continued work and with private companies he began teaching parttime at the UST OPUS College of Business in 2023. In 2025, he successfuly completed UST's semester-long Inclusive Classroom Institute program.

In 2026, Brad was elected as the Chair of the Adjunct Faculty Council (a 22-member board) responsible for representing, supporting, and addressing the needs of UST's 450+ adjunct faculty.

Based on his experience in AI firms, Brad is also a member of the UST Institute for AI and the Common Good. Brad is a member of the Insititute's "Advising External Entities" group and, in that role, is bringing experts to Eden Prairie for a September 2026 AI event.

Connect with Brad Canham

Support Eden Prairie's Next Chapter

Join Brad in moving Eden Prairie Excellence Forward