Class Notes: Spring 2022

1950s

Mark Paper, ’54 BSB, recently began his 60th year as president of Lewis Bolt & Nut Company, a 94-year-old family-owned business that employs 275 people. Mark has been married to his wife, Francie, for 63 years, and enjoys walking and biking.

1970s

Harald Borrmann, ’76 BSB, retired from his role as president, CEO, and board chair of Catholic United Financial at Catholic United after 12 years of service and 32 years in the reinsurance industry. He continues his roles on several ;nonprofit boards of directors and as a member of the Board of Directors of SFM Mutual Insurance Company.

1980s

Garry Lowenthal, ’80 BSB, ’83 MBT, started a new role as chief financial officer and director at Elate Moving.

George Brown, ’81 BSB, was appointed executive director of the Stanford Center for Racial Justice.

Bruce Bernstein, ’83 MHRIR, a retired employee rights attorney, authored the coming-of-age novel, You Gotta Have Heart.

Beth Kieffer Leonard, ’82 BSB, managing partner of Lurie, was selected as a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 2021 Most Admired CEO.

Christe Singleton, ’82 BSB, started a new role as the vice president of Minnesota gas at CenterPoint Energy.

John Flood, ’87 BSB, was appointed to CynergisTek, Inc. board of directors. Flood is a founding partner of the CraigHallum Capital Group, and he will be a member of the board’s audit committee.

Kathryn “Kit” Matthew, ’88 MBA, was nominated by President Joe Biden to be a member of the National Council on the Humanities.

Jeff Weirens, ’88 BSB, published a new book, The Synergy Solution: How Companies Win the Mergers & Acquisitions Game, earlier this year. Weirens is also a global business leader at Deloitte and serves on the Carlson School Consulting Enterprise Executive Advisory Board.

1990s

Joe Green, ’90 MBA, has joined Faegre Drinker as counsel in the finance and restructuring practice group.

Carmen Volkart, ’90 MBA, started a new role as a member of the Board of Directors at Antares Pharma, Inc.

Rahoul Ghose, ’91 MBA, was among the winners of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards in 2021. Ghose is chief information officer at ECMC Group.

Mary Zimmer, ’92 MBT, started a new role as a member of the Board of Directors at Alerus Financial Corporation.

Eric Strauss, ’95 BSB, is now chief growth officer at Connected Logistics, a promotion from director of business development.

Matthew Carrier, ’96 BSB, earned a 2022 Five Star Wealth Manager award from Five Star Professional. Carrier is a private wealth advisor at Carrier and Varty.

Jean Guezmir, ’96 MBA, was among the winners of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards in 2021. Guezmir is senior vice president and chief information officer at St. Catherine University.

Dave Sauder, ’97 MBA, is the owner of Verum Illic, Inc. a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business focused on helping small businesses succeed through improved design, development, manufacturing, and customer service.

Sandra Strand, ’97 MBA, was honored by the North Dakota State University Foundation with an Alumni Achievement Award in 2021.

Garrett E. Black, ’98 MHA, started a new role as the chief operating officer at Equality Health.

Marc Christopherson, ’98 MHRIR, was promoted to chief human resources officer of the Consumer Solutions segment at Pentair, a promotion from human resources vice president. Christopherson has been with the company since 2020.

Dawn Hukai, ’98 PhD, started a new role as the acting dean of the UW-River Falls College of Business and Economics.

Jason Grosz, ’99 BSB, ’06 MHRIR, is now vice president of global talent acquisition at Ecolab, a promotion from vice president of global contingent workforce solutions. Grosz has been with the company since 2006.

2000s

Rita Rivard Groneberg, ’00 BSB, realtor with eXp Realty, was awarded the eXp Icon award in November 2021. The eXp Realty ICON Agent Award is reserved for agents who achieve exceptional production goals and positively impact company culture. Groneberg has been providing real estate services with eXp Realty since 2018.

Dawn Moen, ’00 BSB, started a new role as national director of development operations at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.

Two alumni, Brian Slipka, ’00 BSB, CEO & managing general partner at True North Equity Partners, and Anthony Albanese, ’01 BSB, co-founder of Duke Cannon Supply Co. became co-owners of the Sioux Falls Canaries baseball team in 2021. Slipka, a Sioux Falls native, and his college roommate, Albanese, are excited to bring the community together through America’s pastime.

Kathy Tune, ’00 MBA, is now a member of the board of directors at Electromed, Inc.

Jenny Rhodes, ’01 MHRIR, started a new role as managing director and chief human resources officer at PennyMac.

Matthew Sweeney, ’01 BSB, is now the vice president and chief financial officer at Midwestern University, a promotion from controller. Sweeney has been with the university since 2011.

Dennis Anding, ’02 BSB, started a new role as a partner at Crowe.

Kathryn Freytag, ’02 MBA, was among the winners of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards in 2021. Freytag is vice president and chief information officer at Donaldson Co., Inc.

Inge Grasdal, ’02 MBA, started a new role as executive vice president corporate development at Graco.

Sherri Johnson, ’02 BSB, ’11 MBA, started a new role as senior director of client services at Ovative Group.

Jason Lee, ’02 MBA, started a new role as a director of strategy, and operations at Beyond Finance.

Adam Rowan, ’02 BSB, started a new role as a principal business architect at Medica. Rowan has been with the company since 2012.

Diane Palmquist, ’03 MBA, started a new role as the group global chief executive officer of Flooid.

Melinda Pavek, ’03 MBA, started a new role as the consul general of the United States of America for the Kolkata Consular District in India. The role is responsible for advancing U.S.-India relations in the region.

Francesco Redivo, ’04 MBA, started a new role as senior director of business at G42 Healthcare.

Andy Schornack, ’04 BSB, was recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal for his leadership in the community. Schornack is the Flagship Bank CEO and president of Security Bank & Trust Co.

Wes Strait, ’05 BSB, ’10 MBA, started a new role at Best Buy as a director of technology transformation.

Chris Enstrom, ’06 MBA, is now global marketing manager of aerospace structural adhesives and sealants at 3M, a promotion from marketing manager industrial structural adhesives. Enstrom has been with the company since 2008.

Koji Miyagi, ’06 MBA, started a new role as head of portfolio management division, business development unit at SoftBank.

Scott Neils, ’06 BSB, ’07 MACC, is now the interim chief financial officer at Xtant Medical Holdings, a promotion from controller. Neils has been with the company since 2019.

Raj Purmessur, ’06 BSB, started a new role as global head of alternative investment services product development at J.P. Morgan.

Fred Spencer, ’08 MBA, and Perteet Spencer, ’06 MBA, launched AYO Foods in 2019, a line of West African-inspired meals, diversifying the offerings in the frozen foods aisle. In October 2021, they expanded to nationwide distribution when Target joined other major retailers, including Kroger and Whole Foods, in carrying the brand. AYO, which means “joy” in the West African Yoruba language, uses recipes from the Spencer family’s own traditions.

Lindsay Amundson, ’07 BSB, ’12 MBA, started a new role as senior brand director at Sabrosura Foods.

Claudia Drayton, ’07 MBA, was appointed to the Board of Directors of 3D Systems Corporation. Drayton is the chief financial officer of Quantum-Si.

Stacy Eichenlaub, ’07 MBA, founded Kinetica Consulting.

Shanna Koenig, ’07 MHRIR, is senior manager, HR business partner, at Ripple.

Matthew Reck, ’07 BSB, chief financial officer at HelpSystems, was honored by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal with a CFO of the Year Award in 2021.

John Sikora, ’07 BSB, started a new role as a chief financial officer at Bremer Bank. Sikora has been with the bank since 2017.

Na Sun, ’07 MHRIR, is head of compensation programs at Redfin.

Erika Thiem, ’07 MBA, started a new role as deputy chief supply chain officer at Feeding America.

Merchology.com, co-founded by Ally Delgado, ’08 BSB, has grown significantly over the past year, including hiring 60 new employees, opening a new headquarters, and a third production facility.

Terry Haider, ’08 MBA, along with his wife, Colleen, founded the TC Haider Group.

Maggie Manteuffel, ’08 BSB, ’13 MBA, started a new role as product manager at InnoVint.

2010s

Adam Letson, ’10 BSB, is now ;principal at TT Capital Partners, a promotion from vice president.

Ashley Johnson, ’10 BSB, started a new role as a senior property accountant at Target. Johnson has been with the company since 2014.

Monzur Morshed Patwary, ’10 BSB, a senior manager at BRAC, the largest development organization in Bangladesh, has led two COVID-19 response projects in the country. His work has included the distribution of 3.5 million reusable masks, installation of more than 500 handwashing stations, and identification of 8,000 suspected COVID-19 cases. The projects also distributed COVID-related informational materials to half a million people, provided information about accessing telehealth services, raised awareness of vaccinations and preventive measures with 3,400 community religious leaders, and designed comics and murals geared toward creating change agents in school-age children.

Rob Klee, ’11 MHRIR, started a new role as director of benefits at Sony.

Scott Mays, ’11 MBA, is now vice president of government programs commissions and sales incentives at UnitedHealth Group, a promotion from senior director, government programs sales incentives. Mays has been with the company since 2012.

Asha Sharma, ’11 BSB, was appointed to the Board of Directors for AppLovin. Sharma is the chief operating officer for Instacart.

Anne Steiner, ’11 MBA, is now chief executive officer at Cprime, a promotion from head of product and technology. Steiner has been with the consulting company since 2017.

Dino Bilankov, ’11 BSB, is now chief financial officer, E&I Southwest Markets at UnitedHealthcare, a promotion from vice president, corporate strategy, and business development.

Heidi Aherns, ’12 MBA, is now senior product owner of the medical systems division at 3M, a promotion from U.S. sales, commercial solutions division.

Dina Goodman, ’12 MBA, is now senior director of sales and strategic extensions for e.l.f. Beauty, a promotion from director of sales.

Brittany Gowan, ’12 BSB, started a new role as HR director of talent development and training at GardaWorld.

Amelia Helm, ’12 MBA, started a new role as principal product marketing manager at Blackbaud.

Charlie Loes, ’12 MBA, started a new role as senior director, supply chain data and systems, at US Foods.

Scott Loving, ’12 MBA, started a new role as managing director at JLL Capital Markets.

Max Robinson, ’12 BSB, ’17 MBA, started a new role at Publicis Sapient as a senior manager of customer experience and innovation consulting.

Bailey Black, ’13 BSB, started a new role as director of merchandising at FabKids.

Steve Hanson, ’13 MHRIR, is head of employee relations at Google Fiber.

Blake Holman, ’13 MBA, is now business unit director of Totino’s, Dunkaroos, and Pillsbury Snacks at General Mills, a promotion from business unit director, nutrition snack. Holman has been with the company since 2013.

Karen Martin, ’13 MBA, started a new role as portfolio marketing manager of health information systems at 3M.

Lucas O’Brien, ’13 MHRIR, is senior compensation business partner at Dropbox.

Anna Resman, ’13 BSB, is now vice president of strategy and operations at Teamworks, a promotion from senior director of strategy and operations. Resman has been with the company since 2019.

Megan Singamsetty, ’13 MHRIR, started a new role as a talent acquisition partner at ACV Auctions.

Razvan Stanici, ’13 BSB, is now general manager at Amazon, a promotion from site leader of AMZL Central Ops.

Jana Cinnamon, ’14 MHRIR, is now a partner at Abdo. Cinnamon is the first non-CPA partner in the firm’s history.

Nate Condon, ’14 BSB, is now a senior associate at North Sky Capital. Condon is working in the firm’s Impact Secondaries practice.

Blake Corson, ’14 MBA, has started a new role as vice president of institutional trust at Union Bank and Trust Company.

Anders Gregerson, ’14 MBA, started a new role as an account director at Sinequa.

Robert Keller, ’14 BSB, was promoted to assistant vice president at Monroe Capital in Chicago, where he evaluates and manages investments in non-investment grade debt.

Morgan (Landon) Lanzel, ’14 MHRIR, is HR business partner at Compressor Controls Corporation.

Kari Mykerezi, ’14 BSB, was promoted to director of CPG data analytics at Nielsen, a promotion from senior manager. Mykerezi has been with the company since 2014.

Justin Nuahn, ’14 MHRIR, is human resources director at Dynatronics.

Marie Becker, ’15 MBA, is now senior vice president, head of consulting for Americas at Mintel.

Robert Paulus, ’15 MBA, acquired Hotsy Minnesota, an industrial cleaning product company. Paulus will serve as president and general manager.

Jessica Bienert, ’15 MHRIR, is HR leader at Cargill.

Christina Brooks, ’15 MBT, was promoted to director at Redpath and Company, Ltd, a promotion from senior manager. Brooks has been with the firm since 2013.

Alec Haahr, ’15 BSB, is now a senior financial analyst at Amazon.

Whitney Heber, ’15 MBA, started a new role as a senior product sales manager at Schwan’s. Heber has been with the company since 2016.

Mitch Jacobson, ’15 BSB, was promoted to senior research analyst at American Industrial Partners, a promotion from associate.

Catherine Wang Yang, ’08 BSB, ’15 MBA, and Kaizen Yang, ’15 MBA, founded Mama Mimi, a dumpling company. Catherine was also recently promoted to senior market development manager at Medtronic and Kaizen started a new position as director of product management at Nurocor.

Marc Carlson, ’16 MBA, was among the winners of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards in 2021. Carlson is vice president and chief information officer for Land O’Lakes Inc.

Christopher Johnson, ’16 MBA, retired from the United States Air Force after 23 years of active duty and has started a new position as education and awareness control officer at Wells Fargo.

Aanchal Kunwar, ’16 MBA, started a new role as managing director of Daraz Nepal.

Juhyun Kwon, ’17 BSB, started a new role as a business intelligence manager at Publicis Health Media.

Hannah Poss, ’17 BSB, started a new role as a deals advisory senior associate at PwC. Poss has been with the firm since 2017.

Adam Rao, ’17 MBA, current Carlson School student Silas Morgan, ’24 MBA, and the group of local impact investors who make up Third Path Capital, have completed the acquisition of Showcraft, a leading event marketing and exhibit production company.

Tom Vosbeek, ’17 BSB, started a new role as senior associate at Ares Management Corporation.

John Wendorf, ’17 BSB, is now a strategy manager at Accenture, a promotion from Strategy Consultant.

Kaia Anderson, ’18 BSB, is now senior associate communications manager at Post Consumer Brands, a promotion from marketing associate.

John Curry, ’18 MBA, is now the president of Knutson Construction, a 110-year-old family business. Curry retired from the NHL in 2015.

Hanna Okhrimchuk, ’18 BSB, started a new role as a project coordinator at Dragon’s Lake Entertainment.

Sydney Sturm, ’18 BSB, is now an account manager at Rokt, a promotion from account coordinator. Sturm has been with the company since February 2021.

Emma Niemela, ’19 BSB, started a new role as an associate at Foresight Associates, LLC.

Parker Olson, ’18 BSB, left his consulting job to launch Fôrij, a food brand focused on incorporating the medicinal qualities of functional mushrooms into everyday foods. Fôrij’s flagship product is a functional granola, which can be found online or in retail stores primarily in southern California. Olson and Fôrij were recently awarded by Good Housekeeping Magazine and Clean Eating Magazine. Olson now lives out of a pop-up camper van while he travels around the country promoting Fôrij and introducing consumers to the energizing and anti-inflammatory benefits of these mushrooms.

James Pierce, ’19 MBA, started a new role as chief information officer at Salo.

Levi Sheppard, ’19 MHRIR, is talent development manager at Hearst.

2020s

Natalie Kincs, ’20 BSB, started a new role at Storm Creek as an inside sales and account manager.

Liz O’Brien Hakes, ’20 MBA, started a new role as manager of capability development at General Mills.

John Reichert, ’20 MBA, started a new role as a consultant for PA Consulting.

Elizabeth Ann Ullyot, ’21 MBA, was recognized as 40 Under 40 honoree by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal for her leadership in the community. Elizabeth is an associate brand manager of Malt-O-Meal at Post Consumer Brands.