2024 Minnesota Family Business Awards
Succeeding in the private marketplace is challenging for any business. When it comes to operating a family business, there is an additional challenge that must be navigated. Family members must make the strategic and tough decisions that are central to running the business, but they also need to maintain or build good relationships with other family members.
Among the winners of the 2024 Minnesota Family Business Awards are two family names that are well known in state business circles—Rauenhorst and Duininck.
The Opus Group is still adhering to the values that were important to its founder, Gerry Rauenhorst. A pioneer of the “design-build” model, Rauenhorst founded his company in 1953, and his business has had a longstanding relationship with his alma mater, the University of St. Thomas.
Rauenhorst grew up in west-central Minnesota, which is the region where the Duininck Cos. is headquartered. Based in Willmar, the Duininck family started out in road construction but now operates a diversified group of businesses. Thirteen family members are involved in the companies.
TCB also is honoring a dry cleaner, property manager, and office interior furnishings company—all from the Twin Cities area.
This year’s five honorees and four finalists were evaluated on management, governance, organizational structure, transition plan, success, and other key factors. The selection committee included Tom Hubler, owner, Hubler for Business Families; Jessica Manivasager, shareholder, Fredrikson & Byron; Paddy McNeely, chairman and CEO, The Meritex Company; Jon Keimig, Family Business Center director, University of St. Thomas; psychologist Michaela Smith; Allison Kaplan, editor-in-chief, Twin Cities Business; and Shelly Elmore, publisher, Twin Cities Business.
We formally honored this year’s group of winners at an event at the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis on Oct. 16.
Event photos by Katie Crumley
