OF NOTE

Abdisalam Adam

The Minnesota School Board Directors of Color and Indigenous announced the winners of its annual Lighthouse and Xiong Awards: 2023 Superintendent Lighthouse: Theresa Battle, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District; 2023 School Board Lighthouse: Abdisalam Adam, Fridley School Board and principal of the East African Elementary Magnet School in St. Paul, and 2023 Xiong Award: Rose Chu, Roseville Area School Board.

ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS

Minneapolis ad agency Yamamoto, a Stagwell company, announced Michael Stelmaszek as chief creative officer. Stelmaszek previously was partner and chief creative officer at Detroit-based LUDWIG+; his credits include “The Middle,” a 2021 Jeep Super Bowl ad featuring Bruce Springsteen.

AUCTIONEERING

The Minnesota State Auctioneers Association announced that Dylan Kallemeyn of Fairmont was crowned its 2024 Champion Auctioneer from a field of 13 auctioneers from Minnesota and surrounding states; he will represent Minnesota at this year’s International Auctioneer Championship in Pittsburgh on July 26; Reserve Champion was Jared Sutton of Flandreau, S.D.; Wyatt Erdmann of Barnesville, Minn., was awarded as the Rookie Champion Auctioneer.

EDUCATION

Hopewell Music Cooperative North, a Minneapolis nonprofit music school, announced Alfred Sanders as executive director. A classically trained vocalist and songwriter, Sanders previously was the director of operations of a local Black arts organization in Minneapolis.

FOOD

Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., announced the upcoming retirement of Pat Schwab, vice president of Retail Sales – East and the promotion of Darren Carter, vice president of sales strategy, to succeed him in that role. … QualiTech, a Chaska-based maker of ingredients for prepared food products for humans and animals, announced that Rick Pedersen, formerly president of Ornua Ingredients North America, has joined QualiTech as chief executive officer.

GOVERNMENT

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, a federally recognized sovereign Dakota tribal government located southwest of the Twin Cities metro, announced it has elected Cole Miller as chairman, Natasha Coursolle, vice-chairwoman and Ashley Cornforth, secretary/treasurer. Miller has served as the tribe’s vice-chairman since 2020. Coursolle and Cornforth were elected to serve their first terms on the Business Council. Outgoing Chairman Keith Anderson and Secretary/Treasurer Rebecca Crooks-Stratton did not seek re-election.

HONORS

St. Croix Economic Development Corp. announced its business of the year awards: Emerging Business of the Year, Barbell Coffee, River Falls; Small Business of the Year: Aves Studio, Troy; Business of the Year: Ciranda, Hudson, and Directors Award: William (Bill) Rubin, EDC.

LAW

Fredrikson, Minneapolis, announced that environmental firm attorney Molly Leisen has been appointed to the Women’s Environmental Network of Minnesota’s board of directors. … Maslon, Minneapolis, announced the reelection of Susan Link and David Suchar to two-year terms on its board of directors; Keiko Sugisaka continues in her role as board and executive committee chair; board members Brian Klein and Julian Zebot are in the second year of their two-year terms.

MANUFACTURING

MDI (Minnesota Diversified Industries), a Minneapolis nonprofit maker of plastic container products for business, and offering manufacturing job opportunities for people with disabilities, announced its expansion into a new space at 2335 Hwy. 36 West in Roseville.

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

DiaMedica Therapeutics, a Minnetonka-based biopharmaceutical company, announced the appointment of Dr. Lorianne Masuoka as chief medical officer.  Masuoka is a board-certified neurologist who has held similar executive roles at other companies.

RETAIL

Revelyst, an Anoka-based owner of brands of sporting and outdoor lifestyle products, announced the appointment of Joyce Butler as chief human resources officer. Revelyst is the outdoor products division of Vista Outdoor and in the process of separating into a standalone public company. Portfolio brands include Foresight Sports, Bushnell, Fox, Bell, Giro, CamelBak and Simms Fishing.

SERVICES

Mill City Laser, a Minneapolis hair removal studio and spa, announced its move to 322 E Hennepin Ave.

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