OF NOTE

B. Todd Jones

National law firm Robins Kaplan announced that B. Todd Jones has rejoined the firm as a partner in its Minneapolis and New York offices. Jones is a former two-term U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, the first confirmed federal director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and most recently served nearly a decade as senior vice president and special counsel for conduct for the National Football League.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Accounting firm Olsen Thielen announced the retirement of Greg Nelson, effective Aug. 31. During his 35-year career, Nelson was a firm shareholder, acting chairman, and the head of the Tax Department. Olsen Thielen has offices in Roseville and Eden Prairie. … Bloomington accounting firm BGM announced the addition of SealedBid, a specialized lower mid-market mergers and acquisitions firm based in Minneapolis. … Deluxe, a Minneapolis-based business services and technology company, announced the election of Angela L. Brown to its board of directors. Brown most recently was president and CEO of Moneris Solutions Corp., a Canadian merchant services company specializing in payment processing. … Holmes Murphy, an Iowa-based insurance brokerage, announced that Paul Crowley has joined as vice president, sales leader for employee benefits in its Minneapolis office. Crowley previously was with Medica, a Minnetonka-based health insurer.

FOOD

Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., announced the pending retirement of Deanna Brady, executive vice president, Retail, at the end of the fiscal year on Oct. 27, and the return of John Ghingo, who rejoined the company on Sept. 2 and will assume leadership of the Retail segment upon Brady’s retirement. Ghingo previously served as president of the company’s Applegate Farms brand from 2018 through 2022.

HEALTH CARE

HealthPartners, a Bloomington-based health insurer and health care provider, announced that Pahoua Hoffman, senior vice president of government and community relations, has been named a Top Diversity Leader in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare.

HONORS

Willmar, Minn.-based accounting and consulting firm Christianson announced that company founder John Christianson has received the American Coalition for Ethanol’s Merle Anderson Award, given to individuals who support the domestic ethanol industry.

MANUFACTURING

Marvin, a Warroad, Minn.-based maker of windows and doors for residential and commercial construction, announced it has hired Sarah Aronovici as vice president of information technology transformation and operations, a new role at the company. Aronovici has more than two decades of corporate experience, mostly at Fortune 500 companies and most recently in strategy and IT operations for McCormick & Co.

OPENINGS

Twin Cities Premium Outlets, Eagan, announced the pending opening of Cinnabon and Jamba franchises in a joint location.

ORGANIZATIONS

The Minnesota Business Partnership, a consortium of executives representing the state’s largest employers focused on quality of life as an economic issue, announced the hiring of state Rep. Anne Neu Brindley as policy director, focusing on health care policy. Neu Brindley’s appointment was effective Sept. 1. Neu Brindley, a Republican, represents House District 28B, encompassing communities in the north Twin Cities metro area and parts of Chisago County.

RETAIL

St. Cloud-based grocery chain Coborn’s Inc. announced plans to open a grocery and liquor store in The Boulevard, a planned retail development in Plymouth, in partnership with developers Roers Cos. and Scannell Properties, located off Interstate 494 and Bass Lake Road.

TECHNOLOGY

Digi International, a Hopkins-based provider of Internet of Things connectivity products and services, announced the appointment of Dane Surkamer as vice president of Global Channel Sales. Previously, Surkamer was the senior director of Sales for Managed Services at Cradlepoint. … Atomic Data, a Minneapolis-based IT-as-a-service company with a focus on sports and large public venues, and Foundation Technologies, a Minneapolis-based IT support consultant, announced the appointment of Chris Heim as joint CEO after the unexpected passing of Jim Wolford in May of this year. Prior to being named CEO, Heim served for six years as board member, and later CEO, of AbeTech. Heim also serves on the board at E.A. Sween Co. and as mayor of the City of Medicine Lake.

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