Business People: Sunday Nov. 19

ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS

Advertising agency Nemer Fieger, St. Louis Park, is marking its 60th year in business. … The Public Relations Society of America announced that David Hakensen, senior vice president at FleishmanHillard in the Twin Cities, was one of 11 public relations practitioners elected to the College of Fellows, an honorary organization within PRSA.

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING

Architecture firm CMA is celebrating its 40th year in business. CMA has primary offices in Minneapolis, Fort Worth and Dallas. … Renee Willette has joined the design firm Stantec as water sector leader in St. Paul. … WSB & Associates, Golden Valley, has received the AASHTO Accreditation Program Certificate (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials), formally recognizing the competency of laboratories that perform testing on construction materials. WSB’s Burnsville lab received the accreditation.

CONSTRUCTION

Associated General Contractors of Minnesota honored individuals and companies for their
contributions to the construction industry, including 31 companies participating in the Construction Health and Safety Excellence (CHASE) program: Adolfson & Peterson Construction, Belair Sitework Services, Bituminous Roadways, Carl Bolander & Sons Co., The Boldt Co., Danny’s Construction Co., ECSI Inc., Graham Construction Services, Hardrives Inc., Hunt Electric Corp., JE Dunn Construction Co., Kraus-Anderson Construction Co., L.S. Black Constructors, Lakehead Constructors, Lametti & Sons, M.G. McGrath, M.G. McGrath Glass & Glazing, The Mathiowetz Construction Co., Mortenson Construction, Northland Concrete & Masonry Co., PCL Construction Services, Park Construction Co., Parsons Electric, Q3 Contracting, RJM Construction, Ramsey Cos., Ryan Cos. US, Sellin Brothers, Sowles Co./Northwest Tower Cranes, Veit and Weis Builders; The Legislator of the Year Award was presented to Rep. Paul Torkelson; the Skill-Responsibility-Integrity Award was presented to Jim “JP” Person, vice president of field operations and safety at Ryan Cos.; the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Michael Welch, chairman of Ulland Brothers.

EDUCATION

Herzing University announced a new campus in St. Louis Park to open in early 2018.

ENTERTAINMENT

Hennepin Theatre Trust, Minneapolis, announced that Matt Nielsen has joined the organization as director of development.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Wings Financial Credit Union, Apple Valley, has been named the top financial institution in Minnesota by Money Magazine in its 2017-2018 Best Banks issue and also was named one of the top five credit unions nationwide by BankRate.com in late October. … Mortgage Lending Services, Plymouth, a TruStone Financial company, recently welcomed eight mortgage consultants: Keith Lis, Coon Rapids; Allan Werling, St. Paul; Steve Anderson, Burnsville; Jason Olson, Burnsville; Chad LaRoche, Burnsville; Matt Pivec, Plymouth; Matt Peralta, Kenosha, Wis., and Patrick Miskulin, Oak Creek, Wis.

GRANTS

American Indian Family Empowerment Program Fund announced the following leadership grantees: Goal 1 Preserving & Renewing Cultural Connections: Miskwa-Mukwa Desjarlait (Red Lake Ojibwe); Thomas Kenote (Menominee and Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe); Goal 2 Educational Achievement: Mika Barrett (Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe); Nicole DeCoteau-Vause (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe); Pamela Gokey (Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe); Indigena Lawrence (White Earth Ojibwe); Angel Swann (White Earth Ojibwe); Brooklin Wimbish (White Earth Ojibwe); Goal 3 Economic Self-Sufficiency: Alicia De La Cruz (Mille Lacs Ojibwe); Leya Hale (Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota); Rhiana Yazzie (Navajo Nation).

HEALTH CARE

Minnetonka-based health insurer Medica announced that Nichole White has been promoted to vice president, health services. … AbiliT Senior Living, with existing communities in Southeastern Minnesota, has acquired the Milestone Senior Living Portfolio including campuses in Cross Plains, Eagle River, Eau Claire, Hillsboro, Rhinelander, Stoughton, Tomahawk, Woodruff, in Wisconsin and one campus in Faribault, Minn. … The American Cancer Society recognized Fairview Home Care and Hospice chaplain Dale Swan for serving the needs of cancer patients and their families. Swan serves patients throughout the north metro. … Rocklon B. “Rocky” Chapin, president and CEO of the Benedictine Health System, Duluth, attended the XXXII International Conference Addressing Global Health Inequalities in Vatican City.

HONORS

The St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce announced its 2017 Deubener Award Recipients: Emerging Business: Paul Davis Restoration of Greater St. Paul; Family Owned Business:
J&J Distributing; For Profit Service Business: Evolve Systems; Nonprofit Service Business:
Minnesota Children’s Museum; Women/Minority Owned Business: Afro Deli; Volunteer Award Recipients: Emerging Volunteer of the Year: Rachael Reiling, SPIRE Credit Union; 2017 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year: Doug Hennes, University of St. Thomas; 2017 Legacy of Leadership: Kirby Law, U.S. Bank. … The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute named The Chippewa Valley Ethanol Co., Benson, Minn., its 2017 Ag Innovator
of the Year.

LAW

U.S. News-Best Lawyers has ranked 22 Dorsey & Whitney practice areas nationally in the 2018 “Best Law Firms.” Of those 22 practice areas, nine Dorsey practices were ranked national tier 1: Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Employment Law; Management, Litigation; Antitrust, Litigation; Intellectual Property, Litigation; Labor and Employment, Litigation; Patent, Securities/Capital Markets Law and Trademark Law. Dorsey & Whitney is based in Minneapolis. … Moss & Barnett, Minneapolis, announced that Michael T. Etmund has been selected for a second term as the attorney state chair of the New York chapter of the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals. The firm also announced that Erik L. Romsaas has joined the business law and mergers, acquisitions, and corporate finance teams. … Messerli & Kramer announced that attorney Daniel Quam has joined the Business Services group in the Minneapolis office. … Gray Plant Mooty, Minneapolis, announced that associate Amanda McAllister has earned the Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States private-sector certification through the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

MANUFACTURING

The North American Uponor Headquarters Annex manufacturing facility in Apple Valley has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification through the U.S. Green Building Council Minnesota. … Mulcahy Co., Eagan, announced the acquisition of Blesi-Evans, moving the company into steam boiler sales for the heating industry.

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Center for Diagnostic Imaging announced that Anh Le Kremer has been appointed chief administrative officer. Center for Diagnostic Imaging has offices in Mendota Heights, Woodbury and Maplewood.

ORGANIZATIONS

The St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce announced that Channon Lemon has been hired for the new two-year contract position of vice president of economic development. … The Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce announced that Laurie Staiger has been hired as president. … Brad Finstad, longtime president and CEO of the Center for Rural Policy and Development, Mankato, has announced his resignation effective Nov. 24, to receive a presidential appointment as the Minnesota State Director of USDA Rural Development.

REAL ESTATE

Pat Gleason of Minnetonka-based Alerus was named a Minnesota Housing Top Producing Loan Officer at the Platinum Level for her loan production during the first half of 2017. Minnesota Housing collaborates with individuals, communities, and partners to finance affordable housing.

RETAIL

Scratch kitchen store Farm + Vine is opening a location at The Shops at 1700 in Minnetonka.

SERVICES

Bill Hansen joined human resources consultants MRA-The Management Association as a member relations manager. MRA-The Management Association is based in Plymouth. … Ridgedale Center, Minnetonka, announced it has partnered with Jodi Mayers and Style Partners to offer personalized styling and shopping.

TECHNOLOGY

Reeher, a St. Paul-based developer of fundraising technology for colleges and universities, announced that Mike Bernard has joined the company as vice president of marketing and Kyle Fossen has been promoted to vice president of sales. … IdentiSys Inc., an Eden Prairie-based sales and service integrator of identification, card issuance, emergency response, access control and video security systems, announced the acquisition of ACS and ACS East, identification and card based solutions dealers. … Dealer Teamwork, an Eden Prairie-based provider of technology for auto dealerships, announced the following promotions: Katie Donovan, general manager; James Klaus, vice president of sales; Peter Boesen, senior vice president of original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and strategic partnerships; Hope Wanzek, director of operations; Jennifer Briggs, director of account executives; Gary Cootes, chief operating officer; Joe Skar, chief financial officer, and Christian Miller, chief strategy officer.