NONPROFITS
Liliana Letran-Garcia
CLUES, Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio, a Latino-led community and labor organization, announced the appointment of Liliana Letran-Garcia as president and chief executive officer, effective Feb. 2. Letran-Garcia most recently has served as CEO of Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul; she returns to CLUES after serving as its vice president of programs from 2018-2023. … CommunityGiving, a St. Cloud-based consortium of Central Minnesota-based philanthropic and community fund-raising organizations, announced it has named James Ringwald as chief financial officer, effective Nov. 18. Ringwald succeeds Elise Wiener, who will retire on Dec. 31. Ringwald most recently served as director at Marshall & Stevens, Mendota Heights.
ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS
Minneapolis-based Betty, a Quad agency, announced it has been named the creative agency for national consumer adhesive brand Gorilla Glue; the award followed a competitive review.
ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING
WSB, a Golden Valley-based consulting and engineering firm, announced the promotion of Craig Alberg to vice president of contract administration. Alberg previously served as the firm’s director of contract administration for the Metro Region.
DESIGN
Max Allers, creative director at Max Marketing Communications, St. Paul, announced that he has received an 18th national GDUSA American Graphic Design Award for Print Design, Advertising Design and for Website / Digital Design from Graphic Design USA.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Piper Sandler Cos., a Minneapolis-based national investment bank, announced the launch of private markets trading under the direction of managing directors Patrick Gordon, Kyle Mooney and David Ilishah, all new hires. All three join Piper Sandler from Forge Global.
HONORS
The Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce announced its 2025 Business Excellence Awards: Legacy Award winner: Dan Sjolseth, Superior Collision & Automotive; Emerging Leader of the Year: Colleena Carlisle, Dakota Woodlands; Large Business of the Year: Flint Hills Resources; Mid-Size Business of the Year: Lakeview Bank; Small Business of the Year: Minnesota Behavioral Specialists; Nonprofit of the Year: Rosemount Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. … Accounting firm EY announced the following Minnesota recipients of its Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 National Awards: Charlie Youakim, CEO and co-founder of Sezzle, Minneapolis, National Award winner in the Financial Services and Fintech category; National Finalist, Family Business: Sarah Barrett Reiner and Tom Barrett, Barrett Petfood, Brainerd; National Finalist, Health and Life Sciences: Mike Blue, HistoSonics, Plymouth.
LAW
Fredrikson, Minneapolis, announced that attorney Ethan C. Wold has joined the firm’s Health Law and Life Sciences groups. Prior to joining Fredrikson, Wold served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. … Spencer Fane announced the addition of Katherine Cochran to the firm’s Minneapolis office as an associate in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group. Cochran has served as a volunteer attorney for the Innocence Project of Minnesota, the Minnesota Justice Foundation and WomenVenture. She previously served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Nicole J. Starr of the Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul.
MEDIA
Minnesota Public Radio News announced the appointments of Darius Walker as managing editor, and Curtis Gilbert as deputy managing editor of investigations, starting their new roles on Jan. 5 and Dec. 28, respectively. Walker previously served as senior vice president and senior executive producer of CBS News Digital. Gilbert has been a reporter, producer and editor for MPR News for more than two decades. Minnesota Public Radio is based in St. Paul.
ORGANIZATIONS
The Minnesota Business Partnership, a consortium of executives representing the state’s largest employers focused on quality of life as an economic issue,
announced the appointment of Erika Nelson as chief of staff. Nelson most recently served as state director for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.
SERVICES
Fastenal Co., a Winona, Minn.-based tool and parts supplier to industry, announced that President and Chief Sales Officer Jeffery M. Watts will be promoted to CEO effective July 16, 2026, succeeding Daniel L. Florness. Florness, who joined Fastenal in 1996 and became CEO in 2016, plans to serve as a strategic adviser to Watts until early 2028.
SPONSORSHIPS
UNRL, a St. Paul-based athletic apparel brand, announced it has signed on as a Platinum Partner of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, taking place in Minnesota in 2026.
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