Class Notes: Fall 2026

Beth (Kieffer) Leonard, ’82 BSB, was honored as an inductee to the Twin Cities Business Hall of Fame in July. She was recognized for her role in growing Minneapolis-based accounting and advisory firm Lurie LLP, which she first joined in her 20s, and leading it through a merger with EisnerAmper, a global business advisory firm. Leonard remained to lead the Twin Cities office of EisnerAmper as a partner and then advisor, before celebrating her retirement this summer.

Jay Nibbe, ’89 MBT, retired from EY (formerly Ernst & Young) in 2024 but maintains strong professional connections with some of his former EY colleagues through a growing joint venture — a vineyard in the Republic of Georgia. The group of friends and owners first set up Friends’ Cellar in 2008 with the goal of making just enough wine to enjoy themselves. But, as businesspeople with an eye for making a profit, they gradually acquired more land and grew the operation, now producing about 47,000 bottles per year.

“This venture is about much more than simply making money,” says Nibbe. At the heart of the venture is the “fundamental purpose from which it all started and which still sustains us ... just wanting to do something together both good and enjoyable.”

1990s

James Drew, ’94 BSB, ’06 MBA, started a new role as vice president of marketing at Zenflow, Inc.

Astrid Benedetto, ’95 BSB, started a new role as operations director at Communities Advancing Prosperity for Immigrants (CAPI).

Bill Gould, ’96 BSB, ’06 MBA, is now president of Allied Solutions, a promotion from executive vice president.

Steven Heimermann, ’97 MBA, started a new role as senior vice president, private bank market leader at Huntington Private Bank.

Scott Jameson, ’92 BSB, recently visited Minneapolis from his hometown of Palm Springs, California, and met with his Minnesota Carlson mentee, Jude Norris, ’26 BSB.

2000s

Jason Cussler, ’00 MBA, was recognized as the 2026 Educator of the Year for Minneapolis College by the Minnesota State Academic and Student Affairs Board of Trustees. 

Sarah Testa, ’00 BSB, was appointed chief commercial officer for Rise Banking. 

Lisa Buetow, ’01 BSB, ’10 MBA, was appointed senior vice president and director of private banking at Associated Bank’s new Minneapolis franchise. 

Luis Moreno, ’01 MBA, is a contributing author to Today’s Inspired Leader (Volume VI) by Jacqueline Ruiz, a collection of leadership stories from 14 writers. In his chapter, he shares personal experiences and insights from his work training leaders, including in his management roles at seven Fortune 500 companies, and teaching leadership to students as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota.

Ryan Aytay, ’03 MBA, started a new role as president and chief operating officer at Code Metal. 

Brian Hillins, ’03 MBA, is now senior vice president of merchandising at Sprouts Farmers Market, a promotion from vice president of merchandising. 

Chad Roberg, ’03 BSB, started a new role as regional sales director at Garner Health. 

Albin Andolshek II, ’04 BSB, started a new role as founder and business technology consultant at Ope Works. 

Karim Oliart, ’04 MBA, started a new role as global business development manager at ProSomnus Sleep Technologies. 

K.C. Glaser, ’05 BSB, ’16 MBA, started a new role as senior partner director — food and beverage at Fetch. 

Dan Stangler, ’05 MBA, started a new role as president at Primal Kitchen. 

Kelly Zech, ’05 BSB, started a new role as trusts, wills and estates counsel attorney at Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. 

Scott Cundy, ’06 MBA, has been appointed a class II director on the MiniMed Group, Inc. Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. 

Steven Dwyer, ’06 MBA, is now the chief revenue officer at Healthcare GPS, a promotion from vice president of sales. 

Tory Gundelach, ’06 BSB, ’10 MBA, started a new role as vice president of loyalty and CRM at Walgreens.

Michelle Heyn, ’06 BSB, ’09 MBA, started a new role as vice president of development at People Incorporated. 

Elda Macias, ’06 MBA, was recognized by Twin Cities Business as a 2026 Notable Women in Banking & Finance honoree. 

Shannon Peloquin, ’06 BSB, is founder and managing partner of Northern Pacific Advisory, an infrastructure advisory firm based in San Francisco. The name of the firm is a nod to her Minnesota roots, as the Northern Pacific Railroad ran through her hometown, with a goal of reaching the West Coast. 

Jason Suydam, ’06 BSB, ’14 MBA, started a new role as director of merchandising at iHerb. 

Andrew Dahlgren, ’07 MBA, started a new role as president and CEO of Fluid Metering. 

Natalie Stein, ’07 BSB, started a new role as director of ecommerce at NEST New York. 

Shay Curry, ’08 MHRIR, is now senior director, HRBP - global footwear and express lane at Nike, a promotion from senior director, HRBP - global footwear & men’s business unit. 

Matt Johnson, ’08 BSB, started a new role as a principal at Sverica Capital Management. 

Sasho Josifovski, ’08 MBA, started a new role as CBM senior advisory, global sales at Relianeering AB. 

Ted Warner, ’09 MBA, started a new role as CFO at New Era Energy & Digital, Inc.

2010s

Lindsay Holden, ’10 MBA, was recognized with a 2026 Visionary Award from Cosmetic Executive Women. 

Mitch Nesset, ’10 BSB, started a new role as senior financial analyst at Google. 

Nick Pilger, ’10 BSB, is now senior director of grateful family and system liaison programs at Children’s Wisconsin. 

Dr. Himadhari Sharma, ’10 BSB, started a new role as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco. 

Beth Cieslik, ’11 MBA, is now vice president of community and stakeholder engagement at Target. 

William Houston, ’11 MBA, started a new role as director of FP&A and pricing at Nature’s Touch Frozen Foods. 

Bryna Krentz, ’11 MBA, is now chief financial officer and treasurer at Marsden Holding, LLC. 

Damola Ogundipe, ’11 BSB, is now senior vice president and managing director at SAI360, a global risk management platform. This new role follows the acquisition of Plural, the company he co-founded as Civic Eagle, by SAI360. Civic Eagle won MN Cup’s social ventures division in 2015 with the mission to improve democracy through technology. 

Asha Sharma, ’11 BSB, started a new role as CEO and executive vice president of Xbox at Microsoft, a promotion from president of CoreAI Product. 

Karthik Viswanathan, ’11 MBA, started a new role as president, enterprise technology portfolio and transformation at UPS. 

Alina Hagness, ’12 BSB, ’14 MAcc, began a new role as treasurer at Women of Global Mobility. 

Stephanie Housmans, ’12 BSB, started a new role as enterprise account executive — CPG ads at DoorDash. 

Lavinia Ivas, ’12 MBA, is now CEO at Clarfon, a promotion from senior advisor. 

Marlene Lopez Ibarra, ’12 MBA, has been appointed president at CRC Industries Americas. 

Ali Weideman, ’13 BSB, ’22 MBA, is now director of product line - ground beef at Cargill, a promotion from senior product line specialist (starches, sweeteners and texturizers). 

James Arnason, ’14 BSB, ’15 MAcc, completed all six Abbott World Marathon Majors after finishing the London Marathon in April.

Blake Corson, ’14 MBA, started a new role as vice president and senior trust investment officer at Ameriprise Financial. Courtney Finley, ’14 BSB, started a new role as a planning director at Décor Global.

Jacquelyn Grimes, ’14 BSB, started a new role as supply chain director (mobile solutions) at Donaldson. 

Tanner Johnson, ’14 MBA, has joined Performance Food Group as vice president of performance business solutions. 

David Weinhold, ’14 MBA, started a new role as an executive advisor at McKinsey & Company. 

Erin Dady, ’15 MBA, started a new role as chief marketing officer at Guy Carpenter.

Kelsi Doran, ’15 BSB, was named a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Class of 2026. 

Steven Kislenko, ’15 BSB, is now an assurance senior manager at BDO USA. 

Jesse Stamm, ’15 MAcc, started a new role as director of accounting at UnitedHealth Group, a promotion from associate director of accounting. 

Andrew Zinkel, ’15 MBA, has been recognized as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member of The Inner Circle for his contributions to medicine, innovation and healthcare leadership. 

Shayla Thacker, ’16 BSB, is now a commercial banking relationship manager at BMO Commercial Bank. 

Ujay Green, ’17 BSB, is a tutor for the Man Up Club, with the purpose of helping youth make measurable academic progress in spite of facing barriers to success. Green also holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Minnesota, and works as a cyber security analyst. 

Juhyun Kwon, ’17 BSB, was recognized by Ad 2 Minnesota with a 32 Under 32 award. 

Nichole Norby, ’17 MBA, started a new role as senior manager, brand insights at Visa. 

Hannah Poss, ’17 BSB, started a new role as a wealth advisor at Mariner.

Elizabeth Richie, ’17 BSB, ’26 MBA, is returning to General Mills as senior associate brand manager for LÄRABAR after completing her MBA at Minnesota Carlson. 

Erik Hillesheim, ’18 BSB, started a new role in customer success at Goodstack. 

Keivin Kilgore, ’18 MBA, was interviewed by Business Matters (UK), and discussed his career in employee and labor relations and his community- rooted leadership philosophy. 

Kaia Nordgren, ’18 BSB, started a new role as senior associate brand manager (Nutrish Dog Food) at Post Consumer Brands. 

Mochen Yang, ’18 PhD, associate professor in Minnesota Carlson’s Department of Information & Decision Sciences, was named to the 2026 Poets & Quants Best 40 Under 40 Business Professors. 

Maryam Becker, ’19 MHRIR, is now a senior human resources manager, operations, at Target. 

Bridget Nath, ’19 BSB, is now senior manager, video and programmatic media, at Ovative Group, a promotion from manager. 

Hans Peterson, ’19 MBA, is now director of strategic development at Ecolab, a promotion from senior marketing manager. 

Alec Wosepka, ’19 BSB, is now corporate accounting manager at Koch Companies.

2020s

Wei Wei, ’20 MSF, was featured in a research profile for the University of Hawaii - Hilo, where she is assistant professor of finance, researching the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to financial analysis. 

Travis Smith, ’21 MBA, was appointed vice chancellor for development and alumni engagement at the University of California - Riverside. He was most recently the senior vice president for central development for the University of Minnesota Foundation. 

Chris Kwederis, ’22 BSB, currently a JD candidate at Emory University, was a summer associate this summer at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in Chicago. Kwederis also had a comment published in Emory’s student-led bankruptcy journal in the spring. 

Nick Downes, ’23 BSB, was appointed attorney at SiebenCarey. 

Peach Schmidtlein, ’23 BSB, was named one of Minnesota’s 2025 Sales Consultants of the Year at Johnson Brothers. She first joined the company in 2023, gaining valuable experience in its internship program, before taking on the sales consultant role. 

McKenna Uphoff, ’23 BSB, is now senior digital insight and marketing intelligence specialist at UnitedHealth Group. 

Daniel Mitchell, ’24 MBA, ’25 MSSCM, started a new role as director of supply chain at Rise Modular. 

Dr. Kannan Ramar, ’24 MBA, earned a 2026 Editorial Excellence Award from The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. Dr. Ramar is a physician, professor, and chief patient safety and mortality officer at Mayo Clinic.

Mergers & Acquistions

Cameron Chung, the son of Alden Chung, ’13 BSB, and Rachael Olsen, was crowned the 2026 Gerber Baby. His winning smile came after eight months of colic — a victory capturing the rollercoaster of parenthood.

Josh Volle, ’25 BSB, and his wife, Elisa, welcomed their son, Peter, in May 2026.

Mary Mooty Kileen, ’88 BSB, ’93 MBA, and Tom Kileen, ’88 BSB, ’91 MBA, welcomed a new grandson this winter who joined his big brother and their family in Phoenix.

Nick Brown, ’25 MSSCM, and his wife, Jordin, married in June 2026.

Laurel Robertson, ’25 MBA, and her husband, Michael, married in December 2025.

Note: While we welcome alumni news, Minnesota Carlson does not verify Class Note submissions and is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in Class Notes.

Top photo courtesy of Star Tribune