LABOR
Monica Byron
Education Minnesota, a statewide labor union representing educators, announced that Monica Byron has been elected president, succeeding Denise Specht, who did not seek reelection. Byron, currently vice president, ran unopposed. Also elected were Marty Fridgen of South Washington County as vice president and Ryan Fiereck of St. Francis as secretary-treasurer. Byron has taught for 24 years in Richfield Public Schools, most recently working as an elementary math coach. The new leadership team takes office July 1.
ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS
Goff Public, a St. Paul-based public relations and lobbying firm, announced that Jake Ricker is joining its team as a vice president of public relations, and that Elizabeth Emerson, a principal of the company, was promoted to senior vice president of public affairs. Ricker most recently served as the senior public relations director at the University of Minnesota; Emerson has led a bipartisan public affairs team of Goff Public at the state Capitol since 2012.
EDUCATION
BestPrep, a Brooklyn Park-based nonprofit business and financial education program for grades 4-12, announced Jason Sanders as chief executive officer. Sanders previously was with the Dodge Nature Center in St. Paul, where he served as executive director. He succeeds Bob Kaitz, who announced his retirement after nearly 50 years with the organization.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
U.S. Bancorp, Minneapolis-based parent company of U.S. Bank, announced that Adam Graves has been promoted to senior executive vice president and head of enterprise strategy and administration, and member of the company’s managing committee. Graves previously was head of strategy and corporate development since 2023. … Baird, an international employee-owned wealth management and private equity firm, announced that it has added Mark L. Brenna as a director and financial adviser to its wealth management office in Minnetonka. Brenna previously was with RBC Capital, where he managed $336 million in assets.
HONORS
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced it has named Paul Kirkman, of Victual in Crosby, Minn., as its Minnesota Encore Entrepreneur of the Year. Victual is specialty goods store featuring house-made ice cream, artisan cheeses, charcuterie, gourmet packaged foods, specialty wines and spirits and gifts. … Minnesota Brownfields, an organization devoted to the cleanup and reuse of contaminated lands, announced the recipients of its 2025 ReScape Awards: Community Impact: Small Project Winner: Bimosedaa, Minneapolis; Community Impact: Large Project Winner: Minneapolis American Indian Center; Economic Award Winner: Hatchery Row, Battle Lake; Environmental Award: Settlers East, Woodbury; Innovation Award Winner: Soul, St. Paul.
LAW
The Minnesota Judicial Branch announced the following members to the new State Board of Civil Legal Aid, which was created to ensure advocacy for persons unable to afford private counsel: Minnesota Supreme Court appointees: Emily Cooper, Katy Drahos, Jeremy Lane, John Murphy and Suumra Shariff, Christopher Wendt; governor’s appointees: Tarryl Clark, John Gordon, Holley Horrell, Anna Pottratz Acosta and Korey Wahwassuck. … Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, St. Paul, announced the following staff appointments: Elizabeth Due and Azure Schermerhorn-Snyder, staff attorneys; Najat Haji, social worker; Zoe Martens, outreach coordinator; Betsy Froiland, paralegal, and the pending retirement of CEO Jessie Nicholson on July 31. … Gilbert Mediation Center, an Eden Prairie-based legal dispute resolution firm, announced it has added the Hon. Shawn M. Bartsh (Ret.) to its mediation team. Bartsh previously served as a District Court Judge for Ramsey County and is a past president of the Ramsey County Bar Association. … Hinshaw & Culbertson, Minneapolis, announced that Peter J. Kaiser has joined the firm as a partner in the Commercial Transactions Practice Group. Kaiser previously was with Moss & Barnett, where he was a shareholder. … National law firm Spencer Fane announced Troy J. Dobbs has joined the firm’s Minneapolis office as an associate in the Tax, Trusts, & Estates practice group. Dobbs earned his juris doctor from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where he served as a student practitioner for a local law firm’s Bankruptcy Litigation Clinic; he also worked as a law librarian for the Honorable Walter Kaminsky of the Tenth Judicial District in Minnesota.
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