MEDIA

Dan Gunderson

Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul, announced the planned retirement of Moorhead-based correspondent Dan Gunderson, after 38 years with the organization.

ENERGY

The American Petroleum Institute announced Julian Cavin, CEO of Low Fuel in Brooklyn Park, and Jeff Anderson, co-owner and president of ATEK Distribution in Minneapolis, completed its six-month Blue Wave Supplier Development Program, a national initiative that helps small businesses meet industry safety and compliance.

FOOD

Hormel Foods Corp., an Austin, Minn.-based provider of grocery store prepared food brands, announced the planned retirement of PJ Connor, group vice president of Retail sales. Natosha Walsh, a 26-year company veteran and vice president of Retail sales – West, will succeed Connor upon his retirement. Conner’s retirement will coincide with his 30-year anniversary with the company this spring.

GOVERNMENT

The Minnesota Department of Commerce announced that Sara Payne has been appointed assistant commissioner of enforcement, effective Nov. 19, overseeing civil enforcement operations, including multi-industry, real estate, insurance and market conduct and the Consumer Service Center. Payne joined Commerce in 2016 as an attorney and has served as general counsel since 2021. Payne succeeds Jacqueline Olson, who served as assistant commissioner since January 2023. …The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs announced the appointment of Diane Lynch-deCombhs as assistant commissioner – Healthcare Division, a new position, effective Nov. 3. Lynch-deCombhs most recently held the role of division administrator of veterans homes for the state of Wisconsin and in the private sector led senior care campuses including rehab centers and skilled nursing facilities; she also is president of the National Association of State Veterans Homes.

HONORS

Washington County announced that Commissioner and Board Chair Stan Karwoski, District 2, received the Minnesota Transportation Alliance’s Transportation Advocate Award for his work on Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure. … The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, a Crookston-based nonprofit, announced StableFeed, a Kasson, Minn., equine feed and supplement company, as the winner of its annual Ag Innovator of the Year award. … Brainerd Community Action recognized Mark Cross as this year’s Community Service Provider of the Year.

LAW

Maslon, Minneapolis, announced the addition of attorney Jeremy Walls as an associate in the firm’s Corporate & Securities Group. Prior to joining Maslon, was with Winthrop & Weinstine. … Fredrikson, Minneapolis, announced the addition of attorney Logan R. Hamilton to the firm’s Technology & Data Group. … Gov. Tim Walz announced the appointment of Ryan Bies as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. Bies will succeed the Honorable Vicki Vial Taylor and will be chambered in Hastings in Dakota County. Bies is a shareholder at Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer in Apple Valley, where he serves both private and municipal clients.

MANUFACTURING

Arctic Cat, a Thief River Falls-based snowmobile maker, announced the hire of Tony Henningson as chief financial officer. Henningson previously held leadership roles at Polaris, Genmar and KTM.

MILESTONES

Vistabule Teardrop Trailer, a 14-year-old St. Paul-based maker of towable recreational trailers, announced production and delivery of the company’s 1,000th trailer. … Minneapolis-based patent law firm Merchant & Gould announced it is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

OPENINGS

Walser Automotive Group, a Twin Cities-based chain of auto dealerships, announced the opening of Walser Kia, 15700 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka.

POLITICS

NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a Washington, D.C,-based center-left policy organization, announced the addition of Minnesota State Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, to its 2025 class of state-level legislative members.

SERVICES

Fastenal Co., a Winona, Minn.-based tool and parts supplier to industry, announced it has appointed Max Tunnicliff as chief financial officer and senior executive vice president, effective Nov. 10. Tunnicliff most recently served as chief financial officer of Beko Europe, a leading home appliance business in Europe and also held senior finance leadership roles with Whirlpool Corp.

SPONSORHIPS

Fastenal, Winona, announced a multi-year partnership with the Edmonton Oilers NHL team, making Fastenal the preferred MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) supply partner of Rogers Place, the Oilers’ home ice.

Related Articles

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

Former Irish on Grand employee buys building, opens new St. Paul store

EMAIL ITEMS to businessnews@pioneerpress.com.

Gophers coach P.J. Fleck had one final comment at the end of an 18-minute news conference on Saturday.

“Congratulations to Max Brosmer, getting his first start, pretty awesome feat for Minnesota Golden Gophers,” Fleck said after a 17-7 win over Wisconsin at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Brosmer’s first NFL start for the Vikings in Seattle on Sunday has had the Gophers buzzing inside the Larson Football Performance Center all week. For the U program, Brosmer is about as rare as a four-leaf clover.

Brosmer’s rise from five years at FCS-level New Hampshire to above-average Big Ten signal caller in 2024, then un-drafted in the NFL last April to now starting as a rookie in Week 13.

Gophers offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh said if Brosmer heard about that story arc two years ago, “He would have looked at you like you were crazy.”

Fleck said messaged Brosmer after starter JJ McCarthy was placed in concussion protocol on Monday, telling Brosmer to be himself, while Harbaugh reached out to Brosmer’s parents.

“It’s an exciting time for them; it’s an exciting time for Gopher football,” Harbaugh said. “He was starting for us and now he’s going to get an opportunity of a lifetime.”

Brosmer is the believed to be the first quarterback to go from the Gophers to an NFL start — without transferring to another college in between — since Mike Hohensee in 1987.

But Hohensee’s two games with the Bears have an asterisk because the NFL was using replacement players during a strike that season. Plus, Hohensee, who played for Minnesota in 1981-82, had stints in the USFL and CFL before his cup of coffee in the NFL.

The most recent example of a former Gopher QB starting in the NFL is Chris Streveler with the Jets in 2022. But Streveler, who played for Minnesota in 2014-15, had transferred and developed at South Dakota in the final two years of his college career. He also went to the CFL before chances with three other NFL teams.

Spergon Wynn was similar to Streveler. While he played very briefly for the Gophers in 1996, he transferred to Southwest Texas State (now Texas State) before starting for Cleveland in 2000. He then went to the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe before two starts for the Vikings in 2001.

The last Gopher QB to be drafted in the NFL was Craig Curry by the Dolphins in 1972, but he never made a start.

Former Gopher great QBs Sandy Stephens and Ricky Foggie didn’t play games in the NFL. Same goes for Tanner Morgan and Adam Weber. Cory Sauter got one game, but it was off the bench for the Bears in 2002.

Tony Dungy had a great career in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Steelers, but he did so as a defensive back. MarQueis Gray played five yers in the NFL, but he did so as a tight end.

Related Articles

Gophers add quarterback and athlete to 2026 class after Axe win

Gophers tighten grip on Paul Bunyan’s Axe with 17-7 win over Wisconsin

After win over Badgers, where might Gophers go bowling?

Two defensive starters to return to Gophers versus Badgers

Gophers add big Pennsylvania running back Niko Castillo to 2026 class

St. Paul homicide detectives are investigating a fatal shooting Sunday morning, according to the police department’s account on X.

The shooting occurred on the 700 block of North Victoria Street and one person has died.

This is a developing story.

Related Articles

How fraud swamped Minnesota’s social services system on Tim Walz’s watch

St. Paul DNR office near homeless encampment increases security after rash of break-ins

Judge turns back Eichorn’s attempt to have child solicitation case dismissed

Thieves are stealing keyless cars in minutes. Here’s how to protect your vehicle

Communities honor West Virginia National Guard members shot in Washington

Freshman Javon Moore scored in overtime as Minnesota’s men’s hockey team beat fourth-ranked Denver, 6-5, in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game Saturday night at Ball Arena in Denver.

One of six Gophers to score goals, Moore scored with 35 seconds left in the extra session to cap the Gophers’ second victory over a Top 5 opponent in eight days. They beat No. 5 Penn State, 3-2, on Nov. 21 in Minneapolis.

Brody Lamb finished with his team-leading eighth goal and added a pair of assists, his fifth multi-point game of the season. Luca Di Pasquo made a career-high 47 saves for Minnesota (7-9-1 overall, 3-3-0 Big Ten).

“Crazy things happen in the sport, and we’ll take it,” Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said. “Our goaltender, not many times you’re going to give up five goals (and) think he was the best player; and he was our best player tonight. In Denver, they’re one of the best teams we’ve seen this year. And we grew up in this game.”

Boston Buckberger and Samu Salminen, Samu each scored a pair of goals for the the Pioneers (9-5-1 overall, 5-1-0 NCHC).

Minnesota closes its first half of the schedule on Thursday against Big Ten rival Ohio State in Columbus. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m.

Related Articles

Gophers add quarterback and athlete to 2026 class after Axe win

Gophers tighten grip on Paul Bunyan’s Axe with 17-7 win over Wisconsin

D3 football playoffs: Bethel, River Falls, Saint John’s all roll into third round

After win over Badgers, where might Gophers go bowling?

Two defensive starters to return to Gophers versus Badgers