2024 Notable Military Veterans

From serving our country to making an impact in the business community and local organizations, TCB’s Notable Military Veterans bring the ethic of service to their diverse roles. These 17 individuals have served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and National Guard; they now work in industries such as civil engineering, food, finance, and law, and many actively support military and veteran communities today.

Methodology: The individuals featured did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from nomination materials. This list is not comprehensive; it includes only people who were nominated and accepted after editorial review. To qualify for this list, individuals must have at least five years of experience in their field and have shown the ability to effect change in their roles or areas of practice.

To nominate other best-in-class executives in their fields, click here.

2024 Notable Military Veterans

2024 Notable Logo

Lisa Anderson-Levy

Lisa Anderson-Levy

Executive vice president/provost, Macalester College
Lisa Anderson-Levy oversees both the academic affairs and student affairs divisions at Macalester College in St. Paul. Since she arrived in 2021, she has been instrumental in creating its strategic
Douglas Austin

Douglas Austin

Founder/chairman, StrategicSource and ExpenseEdge
Douglas Austin served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Reserve. After that service, over the next 45 years, Austin founded StrategicSource in 1992, a Bloomington-based spend management
Jeff Baker

Jeff Baker

Group vice president of value-added meats, Hormel Foods Corp.
A member of the senior leadership team at Austin-based Hormel Foods, Jeff Baker is responsible for value-added meats offerings sold through retail channels across the enterprise and for strengthening and
Gregory Beilman

Gregory Beilman

Associate dean for DoD research and partnerships, University of Minnesota Medical School
Gregory Beilman served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1990–2014 with five deployments, including service at combat support hospitals and as the U.S. Central Command trauma system director. Beilman directly
Jeff Danielson

Jeff Danielson

Vice president of advocacy, Clean Grid Alliance
Since U.S. Navy veteran Jeff Danielson joined Clean Grid Alliance (CGA) in 2022, he has led its state policy and advocacy team to new heights by encouraging personal growth and
Joe Dokken

Joe Dokken

Vice president/banker, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Joe Dokken works in the Minneapolis office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank, advising business owners, professionals, and community leaders in the Upper Midwest whose financial needs can benefit from an
Robert Fafinski

Robert Fafinski

Shareholder/attorney, Fafinski Mark & Johnson
Robert Fafinski is an attorney and shareholder in the mergers and acquisitions sector and the general corporate and business practice groups at Fafinski Mark & Johnson in Eden Prairie. He
Steve Havig

Steve Havig

Founder/CEO, Lakes Area Realty
Steve Havig served from 1968-1969 in the Vietnam War as a military police officer. He gained the rank of sergeant E5 and was awarded two bronze stars. He is 30%
Kyle Huerd

Kyle Huerd

Owner/president, GeoWall Designs, ERS Midwest, GeoServices
Determined to make a difference, Kyle Huerd enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2005 before finishing high school and did multiple overseas tours. After a service-disabling injury, he completed his
Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson

President/CEO, Aeon
Eric Johnson leads Aeon, a nonprofit multifamily housing developer that owns and manages 6,000 housing units serving more than 17,000 residents in the Twin Cities. In just two and a
Norman Ferguson Jr.

Norman Ferguson Jr.

Director of veterans services, University of St. Thomas
A U.S. Army veteran, Norman Ferguson Jr. has committed his career to supporting veterans and military-connected students. In his role as director of the Veterans Resource Center at the University
Hal Kimball

Hal Kimball

Vice president of sales, Blue Horizon Energy
Hal Kimball has been an indispensable leader at Blue Horizon Energy, a Minnetonka-based clean energy development company. He had the foresight to prioritize customer experiences over the solar industry’s common
Rick Kirchner

Rick Kirchner

Vice president of engineering, Colder Products Co.
Rick Kirchner joined the U.S. Navy at the end of high school and served six years, followed by two more years in the U.S. National Guard. He funnels his military
Trista Martinson

Trista Martinson

Executive director, Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy
Trista Martinson is the first executive director of Ramsey and Washington County’s Recycling & Energy, bringing diverse experiences from her military, nonprofit, and government roles. She joined the U.S. Navy
Steve Schleicher

Steve Schleicher

Partner/chair of investigations and white-collar defense group, Maslon
Steve Schleicher served for 10 years as a JAG Corps officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and then pivoted his scope of public service to the Winona County Attorney’s Office,
Jon Sillerud

Jon Sillerud

Vice president of integrated supply chain, GF Building Flow Solutions Americas
Jon Sillerud oversees the integrated supply chain at Apple Valley-based GF Building Flow Solutions Americas (formerly Uponor) while leading the manufacturing and distribution teams. He guides the supply chain strategy
Craig Warren

Craig Warren

CEO, Washburn Center for Children
The first Black CEO of Washburn Center for Children, Craig Warren brings with him more than 25 years of leadership in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including his service