OF NOTE
Linda Findley
Sleep Number Corp., a Minneapolis-based maker and retailer of specialty beds and mattresses, announced it has appointed Linda Findley as president and chief executive officer, and as a member of the board, effective April 7. She succeeds Shelly Ibach, who has announced plans to retire. Ibach will continue serving as board chair until the company’s 2025 Annual Meeting. The board also appointed Phillip M. Eyler as independent chair effective after the 2025 Annual Meeting. Findley previously was CEO at Blue Apron Holdings, and chief operating officer at Etsy Inc.
ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS
Nemer Fieger & Associates, a St. Louis Park-based advertising agency, announced the following promotions: Kristin Laursen, vice president of media; Amanda Van Nevel, account director; Claire Fenske, senior account executive, and Bry Murphy, digital media specialist.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
KLC Financial, a Minnetonka-based provider of equipment lease and purchase financing for business, announced the promotion of Lee Ritter to national business development manager. Ritter has over 13 years of experience in the equipment finance industry. … Gravie, a Minneapolis-based health benefits manager for business, announced it has named Steve Wolin as chief executive. He succeeds co-founder and CEO Abir Sen, who will continue as chairman of the board of directors. Prior to joining Gravie, Wolin was the chief operating officer at Oscar Health.
HEALTH CARE
Visana Health, a Minneapolis-based virtual women’s health clinic, announced Dr. Chevon Rariy as chief clinical innovation officer and Mike Tudeen as executive chairman.
LAW
Maslon, Minneapolis, announced the following new leaders for three of its practice groups: Kaitlin (Katie) Eisler, Corporate & Securities Group; Jason Reed co-chair of the Financial Services Group with Brian Klein, and Bryan Freeman, co-chair of the Litigation Group with Katie Maechler. … LGN, Minneapolis, announced the following attorneys have been advanced to to partnership: Jennifer L.M. Jacobs, Simeon A. Morbey, Kyle Pozan, Stephen J. Teti and Arielle S. Wagner. … Winthrop & Weinstine, Minneapolis, announced that attorneys Joel Peters-Fransen and Rafi W. Mottahedeh joined the firm as shareholders and co-chairs of its tax practice. Both previously served as tax counsel at Wayzata-based commodities conglomerate Cargill. … Fredrikson, Minneapolis, announced that attorney Jordan Lee has joined as an associate in its Patent Group.
MANUFACTURING
Winnebago Industries, an Eden Prairie-based maker of large recreational vehicles, motorhomes and watercraft, announced Steve Speich as senior vice president, enterprise operations, effective March 3. Speich previously was an executive at John Deere.
NONPROFITS
Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul announced that Jody Emmings joined as chief program officer. Emmings previously directed Macalester College’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation hub, launching the Idea Lab. … Rise Inc., a Fridely-based provider of services for adults with disabilities, announced Tim Dickie as president and CEO, succeeding Lynn Noren, who retired. Dickie previously was Rise’s chief program officer.
OPENINGS
The Market at Malcolm Yards, a Minneapolis food hall, announced the addition of World Street Kitchen to its lineup in February, taking over the former Mr. Paul’s Po’ Boys and Jams space. … Walser Automotive Group announced the planned April opening of a Mitsubishi Motors dealership at 600 W. 121st St., Burnsville.
POLITICS
Center of the American Experiment, a Golden Valley-based political policy advocacy group, announced that former Minnesota House Majority Leader Matt Dean has been hired as a policy fellow covering state health care policy. Dean succeeds Peter Nelson, who has joined the Trump administration. Dean also previously worked for the Heartland Institute as a senior fellow for health care policy outreach.
TECHNOLOGY
Total Expert, a St. Louis Park-based provider of customer engagement software and services for financial institutions, announced Pete Karns as chief product officer. Karns previously led corporate strategy at Bonterra after a 10-year career at IBM.
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