OF NOTE

Yoland Pierson

The Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul, announced the appointment of Yoland Pierson as president and chief executive officer. Pierson is a principle in family-owned and Minneapolis-based Pierson & Sons Trucking.

ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS

Betty, a Quad agency based in Minneapolis, announced the opening of  offices in Austin, Texas, and Mexico City.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Thrivent, a Minneapolis-based diversified investment brokerage, announced that Lynn Crump-Caine has been elected chair of the board of directors, effective Feb. 1; Crump-Caine succeeds N. Cornell Boggs, III, who served on the board since 2013 and as chair since 2023. Crump-Caine has been on Thrivent’s board since 2016. She spent 30 years at McDonald’s Corp., where she served as executive vice president of worldwide operations.

FOOD

Hormel Foods Corp., an Austin, Minn.-based provider of grocery store prepared food brands, announced the appointment of Domenic Borrelli as executive vice president of retail, effective Feb. 23. He joins Hormel from Danone North America, where he served as president and general manager of the Beverage Creations business.

HEALTH CARE

 University of Minnesota Physicians, the clinical practice of the University of Minnesota Medical School, announced it has named Dr. Greg Beilman chief executive officer. Beilman has served as M Physicians’ interim CEO since July 2025. Beilman previously served as associate dean of Department of Defense research and partnerships at the University of Minnesota Medical School in addition to founding the University of Minnesota Translational Center for Resuscitative and Trauma Care. Beilman is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. … Nura Pain Clinics, an Edina-based subsidiary of the Capitol Pain Institute family of practices, announced the promotions of Dr. Erin Bettendorf and Dr. Larry Studt, along with the retirements of Dr. David Schultz and Dr. Peter Schultz. Bettendorf moves into the role of medical director of the Nura Surgical Center, and Studt will take over Peter Schultz’s role as medical director of Nura Pain Clinics. … Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, an Eagan-based health insurer, announced the appointments of Allysia Jenkins as vice president of health solutions and Benjamin Pepin as vice president of affordability. Jenkins most recently served the company as senior director of case management; Pepin joins the organization from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, where was vice president of enterprise improvement and business evolution.

LAW

SiebenCarey, Minneapolis, announced that law students John Gauger and Nick Downes will join the firm as associate attorneys following their anticipated admission to the Minnesota Bar in 2026. Both Gauger and Downes are completing their JD degrees: Gauger at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and Downes at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

MANUFACTURING

Apogee Enterprises, a Bloomington-based provider of architectural windows and related products for commercial construction, announced that Mark Augdahl has been promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer. Augdahl has served as interim CFO since Jan. 7; he joined the company in 2000 and previously served as chief accounting officer.

MEDIA

The Minnesota Star Tribune, Minneapolis, announced the addition of Jess Bellville as head of audience strategy and Mark Baumgarten as outdoors editor. Bellville comes from St. Paul-based Twin Cities PBS (TPT); Baumgarten most recently was at Cascade PBS in Seattle.

MEIDCAL TECHNOLOGY

Nuwellis Inc., an Eden Prairie-based developer and provider of bodily fluid management systems, announced the appointments of Katharyn Field and Mika Grasso to its board of directors, effective Jan. 21. Field is chief executive officer of ISpecimen Inc.; Grasso is a private investment manager.

ORGANIZATIONS

The Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners announced Stephanie Lee as 2026 president. Lee runs Global Street Partners, a Minneapolis-based commercial real estate brokerage and previously held executive leadership experience roles at Cargill and Courage Center.

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EMAIL ITEMS to businessnews@pioneerpress.com.

The Bible verse on Minnesota United forward Kelvin Yeboah’s hand tape for Saturday’s season opener was a fitting stanza given how poorly his 2025 campaign ended.

It referenced Matthew 7:7: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Yeboah finished last season scoreless in his final 14 matches, including a hamstring injury in September that sidelined him for three games and had him come off the bench for three more into the MLS Cup Playoffs.

But Yeboah started preseason healthy and kept knocking Saturday against Austin FC, scoring the game-tying goal in the 90th minute to help the Loons earn a 2-2 draw at Q2 Stadium.

“We were working hard toward that,” Yeboah said postgame. “This verse for me — my faith helps me a lot to keep on pushing.”

Yeboah had three total total shots in the opener, including a great chance just before halftime. He chested a pass down to his right foot and ripped a shot, but Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver made a great reaction save that left Yeboah in disbelief.

“It was crazy in a sense,” Yeboah said. “I didn’t expect him to get there. I see (Anthony Markanich) heading the ball, (I) chest it and (with my) right foot try to aim for the corner as close as possible. He stretches it and it was a really good save.”

Loons head coach Cameron Knowles as seen a motivated Yeboah since the start of preseason in January.

“He has been excellent,” Knowles said. “He came into the start of preseason from Day 1 highly motivated. He is a guy who has really high standards for himself and incredible professionalism — always wanting to do extra, always wanting to do more.”

Healthy scratch

Left-sided center back Nico Romero was left out of the 20-player roster for two reasons, Knowles said. He was beaten out for the starting position by Morris Duggan in preseason, and the coaching staff wanted to have a different variety of players available off the bench in Texas.

“Nico is a very good player that has tremendous upside, so to have two guys that can really start on any team in the league at that position is a real blessing,” Knowles said. “Now the difficult thing is when we looked at the balance of the squad and wanting to get an attacker on the … bench.”

Earned debut

Loons called up 19-year-old forward Troy Putt on a short-term loan and the New Zealand native made his MLS debut late in the second half.

Putt turned heads in preseason by winning the beep fitness test and maintaining that hard-charging commitment throughout the six-week preseason.

“His effort, his work rate has been exceptional,” Knowles said. “… He has trained with a relentless work ethic since. When we were looking at it in the balance of the squad and what we might need, he’s a good young player. He has real elite, top-end pace. He has elite ability to work and cover ground.”

In his debut, Putt was buzzing around and breaking up plays in his brief four-minute stint. He also was able to celebrate with Yeboah after the equalizer.

Briefly

FC Cincinnati, the Loons opponent in the home opener on Saturday, lost playmaking midfielder Evander to an apparent hamstring injury in the first half of the season opener. Cincinnati went on to beat Atlanta United 2-0 at home. … Former Loons striker Christian Ramirez was waived by L.A. Galaxy. The Loons could use a backup center forward behind Yeboah, but are not expected to pursue Ramirez, a source said Saturday.

MILAN — No miracle needed. The United States is on top of the hockey world for the first time in nearly a half-century.

Jack Hughes scored in overtime and the U.S. defeated Canada 2-1 in the gold medal final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday to earn the nation’s third men’s title at the Games and its first since the “Miracle on Ice” on 1980 — 46 years to the day of the semifinals upset over the Soviet Union, too.

Unlike that ragtag group of college kids that pulled off one of the biggest shockers in sports history, the Americans in Milan were a machine that rode goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and a stacked roster full of NHL players through the tournament unbeaten.

Hughes’ goal off the rush off a pass from Zach Werenski 1:41 into 3-on-3 OT sent players into a wild celebration as Canada’s entire team watched from the bench. Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk carried a Johnny Gaudreau No. 13 jersey around the ice as the latest tribute to the beloved player who was killed along with his brother in 2024.

Gaudreau’s parents, Guy and Jay, his widow, Meredith, and their oldest children were in attendance. It was John Jr.’s second birthday.

Hellebuyck was by far the best player on the ice, stopping 41 of the 42 shots he faced as Canada tilted the ice toward him. He made the save of the tournament by getting his stick on the puck on a shot from Devon Toews in the third period, then minutes later denied Macklin Celebrini on a breakaway — something he also did to Connor McDavid earlier.

It was only fitting they needed to go through Canada, their northern neighbor that beat them at the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago and has claimed hockey supremacy for quite some time, winning every international competition over the past 16 years that featured the world’s best players.

Not anymore.

Winning a fast-paced, riveting game that was full of big hits and plenty of post-whistle altercations, the U.S. got a goal from Wild winger Matt Boldy 6 minutes in and led until Cale Makar tied it late in the second period. Hellebuyck and the penalty kill was a perfect 18 for 18 at the Olympics.

The U.S. finally came through after generations of churning out talent from the grassroots level like a production line. All but two of the 25 players on the team went through USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.

That group of 23 includes captain Auston Matthews, the top line of Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Eichel, and the second set of brothers, Jack and Quinn Hughes, the latter a Wild defenseman. Much of the team played together either at the program, under-18s, the world junior championship or some combination of them.

The U.S. winning silenced criticism of general manager Bill Guerin and his management group choosing a roster full of experienced veteran players to fill specific roles and leaving four of the top 10 American goal-scorers in the NHL this season at home. Some decisions were no-doubters, like coach Mike Sullivan giving the net to Hellebuyck, who was the best goalie in the tournament.

Canada, back-to-back Olympic champions in 2010 and ’14 and winners of three of the first five, fell short while playing without injured captain Sidney Crosby. The 38-year-old two-time gold medalist and three-time Stanley Cup champion left the quarterfinal game against Czechia and sat out the semifinal game against Finland.

McDavid, the widely considered best player in the world who wore the “C” in Crosby’s absence, suffered another devastating defeat on the doorstep of a title. He and the Edmonton Oilers have lost to Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two years.

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MILAN (AP) — No miracle needed. The United States is on top of the hockey world for the first time in nearly a half-century.

Jack Hughes scored 1:41 into overtime and the U.S. defeated Canada 2-1 in the gold medal final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday, claiming the nation’s third men’s title at the Games and its first since the “Miracle on Ice” on 1980.

Unlike that ragtag group of college kids that pulled off one of the biggest upsets in sports history 46 years ago by knocking off the heavily favored Soviet Union, the Americans in Milan were a machine that rode goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and a stacked roster full of NHL players through the tournament unbeaten.

Hellebuyck was by far the best player on the ice, stopping 41 of the 42 shots he faced as Canada tilted the ice toward him. He made the save of the tournament by getting his stick on the puck on a shot from Devon Toews in the third period, then minutes later denied Macklin Celebrini on a breakaway — something he also did to Connor McDavid earlier.

It was only fitting they needed to go through Canada, their northern neighbor that beat them at the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago and has claimed hockey supremacy for quite some time, winning every international competition over the past 16 years that featured the world’s best players.

Not anymore.

Jack Hughes (86) of Team United States scores the game winning goal against Connor McDavid (97) and Jordan Binnington of Team Canada in overtime during the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on the final day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Winning a fast-paced, riveting game that was full of big hits and plenty of post-whistle altercations, the U.S. got a goal from Matt Boldy 6 minutes in and led until Cale Makar tied it late in the second period. Hellebuyck and the penalty kill was a perfect 18 for 18 at the Olympics.

The U.S. finally came through after generations of churning out talent from the grassroots level like a production line. All but two of the 25 players on the team went through USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.

That group of 23 includes captain Auston Matthews, the top line of Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Eichel, and the second set of brothers, Jack and Quinn Hughes. Much of the team played together either at the program, under-18s, the world junior championship or some combination of them.

The U.S. winning silenced criticism of general manager Bill Guerin and his management group choosing a roster full of experienced veteran players to fill specific roles and leaving four of the top 10 American goal-scorers in the NHL this season at home. Some decisions were no-doubters, like coach Mike Sullivan giving the net to Hellebuyck, who was the best goalie in the tournament.

Canada, back-to-back Olympic champions in 2010 and ’14 and winners of three of the first five, fell short while playing without injured captain Sidney Crosby. The 38-year-old two-time gold medalist and three-time Stanley Cup champion left the quarterfinal game against Czechia and sat out the semifinal game against Finland.

McDavid, the widely considered best player in the world who wore the “C” in Crosby’s absence, suffered another devastating defeat on the doorstep of a title. He and the Edmonton Oilers have lost to Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two years.

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