AGRICULTURE
Donavon Stromberg
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation announced Donavon Stromberg from Mora received the organization’s Honorary Life recognition for his service to Minnesota agriculture. He will be recognized alongside Greg and Mary Bartz of Sleepy Eye and Roger and Linda Sauerbrey of Mayer.
ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS
Rise and Shine and Partners, a Minneapolis independent brand navigation agency, announced Angey Iazzetta, partner and director of Brand Integration, will add president to her title, and Seth Thompson, previously partner and director of finance, has been promoted to partner and chief financial officer. Kevin DiLorenzo remains the agency’s chief executive officer.
ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING
WSB, a Golden Valley-based design and consulting firm specializing in engineering, environmental, and construction services, announced the hiring of Randy Hebb as director of financial planning and analysis, a newly created role. Hebb previously spent 22 years in executive roles at Lifetouch.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Merchants Bank, Winona, announced that Brian Hokanson has been named market president in Cannon Falls. Hokanson previously was a senior vice president and ag/commercial banker at Merchants Bank from 2008-2023. He and his family have owned and operated Hokanson Family Farms in Cannon Falls since 1967. … Ameriprise Financial, Minneapolis, announced that Liane J. Pelletier has been appointed to its board of directors, effective Nov. 12. Pelletier previously served as chairwoman, chief executive officer and president of Alaska Communications Systems Group and also served as senior vice president for corporate strategy and business development for Sprint Corp.
GOVERNMENT
Ramsey County announced the appointment of Jaime Wilkins as director of Housing Stability. Wilkins most recently was associate vice president of Economic Opportunity & Youth Support at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and also served as the senior director of Housing Services for LSS.
HEALTH CARE
Allina Health, a Minneapolis-based metrowide chain of hospitals and clinics, announced that Dr. Ram Sankaraneni has been named president of the Allina Health Neuroscience, Spine and Pain Institute. Sankaraneni joined Allina Health in October 2023, most recently serving as director of the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Adult Neurology Residency Program.
HONORS
Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., announced it has been named on Military Times’ Best for Vets employer list for the 13th consecutive year. … Deluxe, a Minneapolis-based financial services and data company, announced that President and CEO Barry C. McCarthy has received the Technology Association of Georgia Lifetime Achievement Award. Deluxe’s Technology Center is in Atlanta.
LAW
Nationwide employment law firm Jackson Lewis announced Paul J. Lukas has joined the firm’s Minneapolis office as a principal. Lukas previously was with Nichols Kaster, where he served as co-leader of the ERISA Class Action Litigation Team. … Fredrikson, Minneapolis, announced the addition of the following associates: Danielle F. Heine, Mallory M. Marolt, Taryn M. Reichow Kriese, Ian Y. Sheppard, Ellen T. Stojak, Jacob G. Vander Weit, Monica Villanueva-Nelson, Frederick A. Yates and Hannah M. Zimmerman. Marolt is based in Mankato.
MANUFACTURING
Niron Magnetics, a Minneapolis developer of rare earth-free permanent magnets for industry, announced the appointment of Jon Olson and Eric Stang to its board of directors. Olson serves on the boards of Advanced Micro Devices, Rocket Lab and Kulicke & Soffa and previously held senior executive roles at Xilinx and Intel; Stang serves as chairman and CEO of Ooma and previously served as CEO of Reliant Technologies and Lexar Media.
MILESTONES
IN Food Marketing & Design, a Minneapolis-based food marketing communications agency, announced it is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
OPENINGS
New Hope-based Taco Bell franchisee Border Foods announced the opening of its 100th Minnesota location at 14751 Armstrong Blvd. NW, Ramsey; it is the company’s 254th location in the Upper Midwest.
ORGANIZATIONS
GF Building Flow Solutions Americas, an Apple Valley-based manufacturer of Uponor-branded indoor plumbing products, announced that Chrissie Walsh, its regional head of Environmental Sustainability, at has been named to the Minnesota Chamber Environmental Sustainability Foundation board of directors.
Related Articles
Business People: Moorhead correspondent Dan Gunderson to retire from MPR
Business People: Former FDA chief Scott Gottlieb joins UnitedHealth board
Ramsey County CFO Alex Kotze named deputy county manager
Business People: Roxane Battle joins Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
Business People: Fredrikson attorney Mark Vyvyan honored for pro bono work
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