Class Notes: Spring 2024

1980s

Dan Groskreutz, ’83 MBA, started a new role as chief financial officer at Bluum.

Dan Hagen, ’83 BSB, was appointed to the board of directors at Kratos Defense and Security Solutions.t Bluum.

David Ring, ’83 BSB, started a new role as president and CEO at Sherman + Reilly, Inc.
 

1990s

Bruce Beckman, ’90 BSB, ’99 MBA, was appointed chief financial officer at Malibu Boats, Inc. Steve Weber, ’91 MBA, was appointed chief financial officer at FICO.

Darran Spence, ’92 MBA, is now CEO at Apothecary Products, a promotion from chief financial officer.

Bruce Beckman, ’90 BSB, ’99 MBA, was appointed chief financial officer at Malibu Boats, Inc.

Steve Weber, ’91 MBA, was appointed chief financial officer at FICO.

Darran Spence, ’92 MBA, is now CEO at Apothecary Products, a promotion from chief financial officer.

Charles Kummeth, ’93 MBA, was appointed as a director at Orthofix International.

David Brandmire, ’95 MBA, was elected to a three-year term as board director for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Society Minnesota, one of the oldest chapters of the prestigious CFA Institute, the issuer of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Brandmire is co-chair of the board’s Strategic Planning Committee and works as lead investment research analyst for Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

Chris Hasslinger, ’95 BSB, started a new role as partner at Vesey Street Capital Partners.

Lynn Blake, ’97 MBA, was appointed to the board of directors and chair of the board’s audit committee at Mama’s Creations, Inc.

Shawn Curti, ’98 MHRIR, started a new role as chief client success officer at SMC Squared.

Kevin Kwok Wei Ng, ’99 BSB, ’04 MBT, started a new role as senior group manager for global tax operations at US Tax Operations.

Neil Mumm, ’99 BSB, is now senior vice president, general manager, and head of Visa Debit Processing Services, Inc. at Visa.
 

2000s

Brock Christianson, ’00 MHRIR, was appointed senior vice president and chief human resources officer of Tennant Company. A new premier sponsor of the 1st Tuesday Speaker Series, Tennant Company, founded in 1870 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn., is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of solutions that help create a cleaner, safer, and healthier world.

Mark Lorenzen, ’00 MBA, started a new role as vice president of finance at Interrad Medical.

Peter Gastreich, ’01 MBA, started a new role as managing director of natural resources at Water Tower Research.

Andrew Miller, ’01 BSB, ’04 MBA, is now vice president of finance at Otter Tail Power Company.

Gita Vellanki, ’01 BSB, is the founder of Neeshi, a menstruation-support treat brand, which was recently recognized as a Top Brand at the Expo East Mic Drop Showcase.

Jennifer Barta, ’02 MBA, started a new role as fractional chief executive officer at FINNOVATION Lab.

Rob Scott, ’02 BSB, is now chief financial officer at Nuwellis, a promotion from senior director of financial planning and analysis.

Dan O’Connor, ’03 BSB, is now vice president and general counsel of the transportation and electronics group at 3M.

Teal Perrine, ’03 BSB, started a new role as sales profitability and insights manager at Sabrosura Foods.

David Roach, ’03 BSB, ’04 MBA, started a new role as vice president of the employee benefits group at Alliant Insurance Services.

Jen Wilson, ’04 MBA, started a new role on the investment advisory council at the Minnesota State Board of Investment.

Charlie Schaller, ’05 BSB, is now vice president of planning and analytics–medical policy at UnitedHealth Group.

Andrew Shafer, ’05 MBA, started a new role as chief marketing customer and brand officer at Gevo, Inc.

Matt Wille, ’05 MHA, started a new role as chief operating officer at ThedaCare.

Brendan Connelly, ’06 MBA, is now director of treasury capital markets at Target, a promotion from director, finance (financial planning and analysis) and human resources.

Paula LaBine, ’06 MBA, was appointed vice president of the board at the Home Baking Association for 2024.

Katie Youtsos, ’07 BSB, started a new role as senior sales marketing consultant at Carba, Inc.

Shay Curry, ’08 MHRIR, was appointed senior director of human resources for footwear at Nike.

Nate Dahmer, ’09 MBA, started a new role as vice president of direct to consumer marketing at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC.

Katherine Ellison, ’06 BSB, cofounder of Bright Planet Pet, a Minneapolis-based maker of vegan dog treats, has landed a nationwide spot at Petco. Her 100 percent vegan dog treats are a game-changer, aligning with eco-conscious pet owners’ values. Ellison’s expertise and dedication are driving Bright Planet Pet’s success in revolutionizing sustainable pet treats.

William J. Schumacher, ’09 BSB, started a new role as counsel at Winthrop and Weinstine, P.A.
 

2010s

Zack Geistfeld, ’11 BSB, ’18 MBA, started a new role as senior finance manager–North America food service at General Mills.

Ana Hawkins, ’11 MBA, is now head of strategy and upstream marketing for digital technologies at Medtronic.

Sam Tashima, ’09 BSB, ’17 MBA, was honored as one of 12 recipients with a Rising Actuary Award from the American Academy of Actuaries. The award was presented in November at the Academy’s 2023 Annual Meeting: Envision Tomorrow in Washington, D.C.

Ryan Kaeding, ’11 MBA, started a new role as managing director at Trinity Capital, Inc.

Emilie Knox, ’11 MBA, is now vice president North America retail capabilities activation at General Mills.

Mitch Krautkramer, ’11 BSB, is now chief financial officer of Care Solutions, Risk & Growth at Optum.

Lacee Reynolds, ’11 BSB, is now program manager of capital planning and fixed assets at Allina Health, a promotion from lead financial analyst of fixed assets.

Casey Schannauer, ’11 BSB, started a new role as a senior mortgage underwriter at Navy Federal Credit Union.

Heidi Aherns, ’12 BSB, is now mergers and acquisitions IT manager at 3M.

Inge Groth, ’12 BSB, started a new role as senior manager, commerce and growth strategist at General Mills.

Michael Orlando, ’12 BSB, started a new role as senior vice president of strategy and operational excellence at Emcara Health.

Joe Meyer, ’13 MBA, is now an administrative law judge at the State of Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings.

Brandon Palmen, ’13 MBA, was named to the Daily Journal’s 2023 Top 40 Under 40 list, a recognition of the top lawyers under the age of 40 in California.

Erin Rech, ’13 MBA, started a new role as vice president of employee benefits consulting at CBIZ.

Chakra Sankaraih, ’13 MBA, started a new role as global chief technology officer at RiceTec Inc.

Brandon Bigelbach, ’14 BSB, ’21 MS SCM, is now supply chain data and reporting manager at 3M.

Adam Katz, ’14 MBA, is now chief commercial officer at Badger Mining Group.

Ally Braun, ’15 BSB, is now director of change management at C&W Services.

Martin Caride, ’15 BSB, is now senior director, guest data and marketing technology at Subway.

Aaron Grossman, ’15 BSB, is now senior software developer at EBM Software.

Whitney Heber, ’15 MBA, is now senior marketing manager–top commercial accounts at Schwan’s Company.

Taylor Mohr, ’16 BSB, is now senior manager, social strategy lead at Target.

Cozy (Haugen) Morton, ’16 BSB, was a TEDx Takeda Kendall speaker on the topic of harnessing anxiety to thrive in ambiguity. In her professional life, Morton, the associate director of cross-cultural engagement at Takeda Pharmacy, helps teams identify opportunities to address health inequities. Building on her early career work in change management and her experiences with her own mental health influencing her personal and professional life, Morton shared how others can utilize the same methods she uses to manage anxiety to excel in ambiguity within the workplace, industry, and lives beyond the office.

Amanda Renneke, ’16 MBA, is now associate director of media and strategy planning at Best Buy.

Christopher Scholl, ’16 MBA, is now executive director at the White Bear Center for the Arts.

Jake Shoults, ’17 BSB, is now a finance manager at Optum.

Andrew Walker, ’17 MBA, started a new role as executive vice president of customer strategy and operations at Emtelligent.

Andrew Walko, ’17 MBA, started a new role as president at SANUWAVE.

Stacy Braner, ’18 MBT, started a new role as tax manager at Cargill.

Liz Hadala, ’18 MBA, is now principal marketing transformation manager at Boston Scientific.

Craig Nelson, ’18 MBA, is now environment, health, and safety (EHS) standards, systems & data manager at Solventum, 3M’s new healthcare spin-off.
 

2020s

Lucas Lentsch, ’20 MBA, was appointed to CEO at The United Soybean Board.

Kaitlyn Schammel, ’20 BSB, has been sworn into the Minnesota bar as a licensed attorney and started a new role as associate attorney at Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.

Maddie Sutton, ’20 BSB, is now business recruiting manager at PwC.

Thomson Thamsir, ’20 BSB, ’22 MSF, is now a transactions advisory services senior associate-M&A at STOC Advisory.

Nate Williams, ’20 MBA, is now president at Reviva.

Maria Morande, ’22 BSB, started a new role as an analyst in cyber and strategic risk at Deloitte.

Sarah Adams, ’23 MBA, was featured in the Poets&Quants MBAs to Watch list. Adams is poised for continued impact at Deloitte as a senior consultant, exemplifying the power of merging passion, education, and business acumen for change.

Sanket Jasani, ’23 MBA, was featured in the Poets&Quants MBAs to Watch list. Jasani’s exceptional leadership and problem-solving abilities have positioned him for a successful career at Amazon, where he has started as senior product manager.

Lucia Madero Murillo, ’23 MBA, has started a new role as senior associate consultant at Foresight Strategy.

Grace Zumwinkle, ’21 BSB, (at right) is making her mark in the new Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), which opened its inaugural season this January. Among a roster chock full of homegrown Minnesota talent—including fellow Carlson School alumni Kelly Pannek, ’19 BSB, and Lee Stecklein, ’17 BSB—Zumwinkle’s sights are set on helping PWHL Minnesota capture the championship.