Business People: MPR’s Angela Davis wins Gracie Award for news program

OF NOTE

St. Paul-based Minnesota Public Radio announced that talk show MPR News with Angela Davis, has received an Alliance for Women in Media Foundation Gracie Award in the category of radio talk show, non-commercial local. The honor recognizes the October 2022 program “Your Vote: Abortion is top of mind for many voters.”

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING

The American Council of Engineering Companies announced National Recognition Awards to Meyer Borgman Johnson, Minneapolis, for The Dayton’s Project in Minneapolis, and Braun Intertec, Bloomington, for the Arbor Lakes Corporate Center, Maple Grove. … Minneapolis-based architecture firm Davis announced it has received an HREI Insights Award for its design of the 610 Medical building in Brooklyn Park.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Central Minnesota Development Co., an Andover-based small-business lender, announced that Tim Walker, an 11-year board member, has been named CEO and president, succeeding Mike Mulrooney, who has retired as after 20 years with the company.

FOOD

Hormel Foods Corp., an Austin, Minn.-based global branded foods company, announced that Ray Young, former vice chairman and chief financial officer of Archer-Daniels-Midland, and Mike Zechmeister, chief financial officer of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, have joined the Hormel board of directors.

GOVERNMENT

The Minnesota Department of Health announced it has hired Jessica Hancock-Allen as director of its Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division, chiefly responsible for monitoring for infectious diseases and for developing strategies to prevent and control them. Hancock-Allen is a nurse practitioner who most recently worked at St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health, where she managed the tuberculosis control program and clinic.

HONORS

The U.S. Small Business Administration has named Commercial Drywall, Blaine, the 2023 SBA Minnesota Family-Owned Small Business of the Year. The business is owned and operated by cousins Heather Hoffman and Andy Leach. … Junior Achievement North, St. Paul, announced that Janet Johanson, founder/CEO of BevSource, a Little Canada-based business consultant for the consumer beverage industry, has been honored with the Gold Leadership Award for her volunteer service. … Relievant Medsystems, an Edina-based medical technology company, announced it has received the 2023 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award which recognizes highly engaged workplace cultures.

LAW

Fredrikson, Minneapolis, announced the addition of attorney Geoffrey W.B. Koslig to the firm’s Health Law, Health Care Fraud & Compliance, False Claims Act Defense, White Collar & Regulatory Defense, Internal Investigations and Litigation groups; Koslig previously clerked for the Honorable John R. Tunheim on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. … Attorney Melissa Krasnow announced that she was appointed to the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Unauthorized Practice of Law and Artificial Intelligence Working Group. Krasnow is a privacy, data security, technology transactions partner based in Minneapolis with VLP Law Group, Palo Alto, Calif. … Chestnut Cambronne, Minneapolis, announced that Elizabeth (Lisa) Henry has been appointed to the board of directors.

MANUFACTURING

King Technology, a Minnetonka-based maker of sanitized water products for pools and spas, announced that Brian Holliday has been hired in the newly created role of director of strategic growth, and that Alex King has been promoted to director of customer experience. King previously was a regional sales manager.

ORGANIZATIONS

Better Business Bureau of Minnesota & North Dakota announced the promotion of Janet Fahey to vice president of human resources, talent & culture.

RETAIL

Best Buy Co., a Richfield-based national consumer electronics retailer, announced that Sima Sistani and Melinda Whittington have joined its board of directors. Sistani is CEO of WW International; Whittington is president and CEO of La-Z-Boy.

TECHNOLOGY

Total Expert, a St. Louis Park-based provider of customer engagement software and services for financial institutions, announced that Tony Barbone has joined as chief revenue officer. Prior to joining Total Expert, Barbone served as Talkdesk’s first CRO and senior VP of Global Sales. … Tamarack Technology, a St. Paul-based provider of artificial intelligence-based software and services for the equipment finance industry, announced the addition of Quoc (Tom) Huynh. Huynh joins Tamarack from Minneapolis-based law firm Robins Kaplan, where he served as a developer and database administrator.