Chanhassen resident Jan Kruchoski, a managing principal at Minneapolis-based CliftonLarsonAllen, will lead the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors this year.
 
Kruchoski and other new officers and board members will formally begin their terms at the chamber’s business conference on October 8 at the Hilton Minneapolis.
 
“Minnesota’s economy is showing positive signs, but many businesses are still challenged to compete,” Kruchoski said in a statement. “We will be working hard in 2015 to help Minnesota companies maintain and build their competitive edge.”
 
CliftonLarsonAllen, Kruchoski’s employer, is the state’s largest accounting firm and has 90 locations across the country.
 
In July, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce named Bill Blazar, a 22-year member and recent senior vice president of public affairs and business development, its interim president. Blazar replaced the late David Olson, who died July 16 of lymphoma at age 57. Olson had served 23 years as chamber president.
 
The chamber bills itself as the state’s largest business advocacy organization, representing 2,300 businesses across Minnesota. Its volunteer board sets public policy priorities for the business community and shares its message at the state capitol.
 
The chamber also announced a round of elections of directors to their first three-year terms: David Ahlers, Graco, Minneapolis; Michele Engdahl, Thomson Reuters, Eagan; Mark Januschka, U.S. Bank, St. Cloud; Shari Laven, Viking Savings Bank, Alexandria; Lisa Paxton, Ultra Paws, Baxter; Doug Stang, 3M, St. Paul; and Larry Sutherland, U.S. Steel-Minnesota Ore Operations, Mountain Iron.
 
The following directors were elected to their second three-year terms: Rick Trontvet, Digi-Key Corporation, Thief River Falls; Todd Paulson, RTP Company, Winona; Bill Bennett, LHB Inc., Duluth; Stacy Bogart, Polaris Industries, Medina; Latisha Gietzen, PolyMet Mining, Hoyt Lakes; Jerry Goodwald, Gerdau, St. Paul; Jerry Morris, General Mills, Minneapolis; Bob O’Rourke, Target Corp., Minneapolis; Dr. Patricia Simmons, Mayo Clinic, Rochester; Joan Thompson, Minnesota Wire, St. Paul.
 
Cal Brink, executive director of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce, will meanwhile represent the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Executives.