Business People: Visit St. Paul in leadership transition

OF NOTE

Visit Saint Paul, a civic promotional organization, announced that CFO/COO Cindy Dupont has been named interim president and CEO of Visit Saint Paul and Saint Paul RiverCentre, a downtown entertainment and convention venue.

ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS

Preston Spire, a Minneapolis-based advertising agency, announced the following new hires: Evon Anderson, digital marketing specialist; Jessa Diebel, associate director, digital experience; Dan Domagala, account director/new business director; Jessica Helman, account manager; Kari Johnson, senior project manager, and Tess Montgomery, media planner.

EDUCATION

The University of Minnesota‘s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences announced the appointment of Andrew Gapinski as director of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, effective May 1. Gapinski previously was director of horticulture at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Boston.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul, announced five new board members: Erin Dady, Bremer Bank; Jason Booth, Windward Engineers & Consultants; Jeff Lin, Bust Out; John Lunseth, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, and Jose R. Varela Garza, 3M.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Hiway Credit Union, St. Paul, announced that President and CEO Dave Boden was inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders in Washington, D.C., by the Credit Union National Association. … Olsen Thielen, a Roseville-based business accounting firm, announced the following new hires: Mark Klinkhammer, senior regulatory consultant; Zach Cochran, business advisory director, and Chris Clasbey, business advisory director. … Wolters Kluwer, a Netherlands-based international business services firm, announced the appointment of Steven Meirink as CEO of Wolters Kluwer’s Minneapolis-based Financial and Corporate Compliance division. Meirink is a resident of Rosemount.

HEALTH CARE

Children’s Minnesota, a Twin Cities-based chain of hospitals and clinics focused on pediatric care, announced the appointment of the following new board members: Chris Hedberg, AB CarVal; Anna Richo, Cargill, and Shelley Carthen Watson, YWCA Minneapolis; joining the board in an ex-officio capacity are Rebecca Lieberman, Children’s Minnesota Foundation and Optum; and Dr. William Mize, medical director of radiology, Children’s Minnesota.

HONORS

Auto dealership White Bear Mitsubishi, White Bear Lake, announced it has been recognized by Reputation, a reputation experience management firm, with its 800 Award, meaning the business achieved a score of 800 or higher on customer satisfaction surveys.

LAW

Fredrikson, Minneapolis, announced that firm attorney Tom Hipkins has been named a 2023 Fellow and that attorneys Natasha Townes Robinson and Roger Yang have been selected for membership in the 2023 Pathfinder program at the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.

MANUFACTURING

Malco Products, an Annandale, Minn.-based maker of professional hand tools for workers in the HVAC, construction and automotive trades, announced that Paul Delahunt was appointed to its board of directors. Delahunt is past president of Renewal by Andersen, a window manufacturer.

MARKETING

Asset Marketing Services, an Eagan-based operator of marketing platforms for numismatics and other collectibles, announced the appointment of Jim Hilt as chief executive officer and member of the board of directors. Hilt previously was president of Shutterfly Inc.

RETAIL

Winmark Corp., a Plymouth-based franchisor of retail resale chains, announced it has named Philip I. Smith to its board of directors. Smith also serves as executive chairman of
Intricon Corp. and as an operating partner of investment firm Altaris. Winmark’s brands include Plato’s Closet, Once Upon A Child, Play It Again Sports, Style Encore and Music Go Round.

SERVICES

Naughtin Group, a Minnetonka-based provider of executive search services announced Christopher Fischer as senior partner and head of agribusiness. Fischer previously was director of organizational effectiveness at Land O’Lakes, Arden Hills.

SPONSORSHIP

Major League Soccer club Minnesota United announced a multi-year partnership with Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley, which will hold the naming rights for the Brew Hall at the team’s Allianz Field stadium in St. Paul..