Business People: MPR culture and arts reporter Euan Kerr retiring after 40 years

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MEDIA

Euan Kerr

Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul, announced the retirement of reporter and editor Euan Kerr after nearly 40 years at MPR News. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Kerr joined MPR 1985 as a research assistant and later as a reporter, most recently covering arts and culture. His career includes work with the BBC in Scotland.

ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS

Level MPLS, a Minneapolis-based branding and marketing agency, announced that President and Chief Client Officer Kim Thelen and Chief Operating Officer Erin Gwiazdon have joined CEO Lois Dirksen as co-owners of the agency.

AIRPORTS

The Metropolitan Airports Commission announced the promotion of Anne Saxton to director of concessions and business development. Saxton has held that role on an interim basis since August 2024, and previously was MAC’s senior manager for strategic partnership development. MAC owns and operates Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and six general aviation airports in the Twin Cities.

CONSTRUCTION

Holcim North America, a Chicago-based construction company, announced that it and the Minnesota Department of Transportation were recognized in the 2024 Slag Cement in Sustainable Concrete Awards by the Slag Cement Association for work on the state’s slag cement study on Interstate 94.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

TopLine Financial Credit Union, Maple Grove, announced the promotion of Alan Sonnenburg to executive vice president and chief revenue officer. Sonnenburg joined TopLine in 2018 as the credit union’s senior vice president of lending and chief lending officer. … The Affinity Plus Foundation, St. Paul, announced the addition of Tim Tacheny, vice president general counsel at Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, and Jamie Baumann, Winona branch manager at Affinity Plus, to its board of directors. The Affinity Plus Foundation is the charitable arm of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union.

FOOD

Hormel Foods Corp., an Austin, Minn.-based provider of grocery store prepared food brands, announced that Steve Lykken, group vice president of supply chain, will be leaving the company to pursue another opportunity. Kevin Myers, senior vice president of research & development and quality control, will succeed Lykken on an interim basis.

HEALTH CARE

Hennepin Healthcare announced the appointment of Dr. Thomas Klemond as interim CEO. Klemond joined Hennepin Healthcare in 2017 and most recently served as vice president of Medical Affairs and president of Medical Staff; he succeeds outgoing Chief Executive Officer Jennifer DeCubellis. Hennepin Healthcare operates HCMC in Minneapolis, a Level I Adult Trauma Center, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and acute care hospital, as well as a Hennepin County-wide clinic system.

HONORS

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced it has named Reichman Cattle Co., Glenwood, as SBA’s 2025 Minnesota Family-Owned Small Business of the Year.

LAW

Faegre Drinker announced that attorney Aaron Van Oort of the firm’s Minneapolis office has been elected to the firm’s board. … Geraghty, O’Loughlin & Kenney, St. Paul, announced that Michelle M. Draewell has joined the firm as a partner, practicing in the area of civil litigation, medical and professional liability.

NONPROFITS

Second Harvest Heartland, a community food bank based in Brooklyn Park, announced that Chief Executive Officer Allison O’Toole will step down in June. Chief Operating Officer Sarah Moberg has been named interim CEO.

OPENINGS

Ziggi’s Coffee, a national chain, announced the opening of its first Minnesota location at 1270 Highway 212 W, Granite Falls. … Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café announced plans for a third location for fall of 2025 in the Galleria at 69th Street and France Avenue, Edina. The chain has locations in Woodbury and at Mall of America. It is part of Tenacity Restaurant Group, led by Dustin Wetzel, Pete Thelen and Dan Vansteenburg.

SERVICES

C.H. Robinson, an Eden Prairie-based global provider of third-party shipping logistics for business, announced the appointment of Dorothy Capers as chief legal officer and secretary, effective May 5. Capers most recently served as senior vice president and general counsel for Xylem Inc., a Fortune 500 water technology company.

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