Emerging

Zean Nielsen

Zean Nielsen

Named CEO in June, Nielsen was an intriguing choice to succeed co-founder Dale Klapmeier as the Duluth-based personal aircraft manufacturer’s top executive. (Klapmeier is staying on as a senior adviser.)
Kevin Nokels

Kevin Nokels

Though not quite on the scale of Rochester’s Destination Medical Center project, Duluth’s two health providers are in the midst of major expansions. Essentia Health’s $800 million Vision Northland project,
Cale Johnston

Cale Johnston

Since founding his fintech company ClickSWITCH in 2014, Cale Johnston has led the company to nearly 100 percent annual revenue growth. In 2018, he helped secure $3.5 million in Series
Joan T.A. Gabel

Joan T.A. Gabel

2021, Alumni: Joan Gabel has had a lot to navigate amid Covid-19 and the disruption to normal class schedules. She’s decisive and not afraid to make unpopular calls, such as
Ping Yeh

Ping Yeh

2021, Alumni: Under Ping Yeh’s guidance, stem cell-based research firm and 2016 MN Cup winner StemoniX is currently working out the final details of a major merger with New Jersey-based
Carrie Powers

Carrie Powers

Powers has this Plymouth-based med-tech startup off to a fast start. That’s partly because Reprise isn’t exactly a startup. This summer, Eden Prairie-based Miromatrix Medical spun off the company, which
Peter Frosch

Peter Frosch

Peter Frosch took the helm from Greater MSP’s founding CEO, Michael Langley, in March. Frosch knows the ropes. Greater MSP started in 2011; Frosch has been there since 2013. He
Connie Rutledge

Connie Rutledge

Jacquie Berglund, co-founder and CEO of Finnegans Brew Co., came up with the idea; now Connie Rutledge is making it happen. Minneapolis-based Finnovation Lab is a startup incubator/accelerator that offers
John Pacheco Jr.

John Pacheco Jr.

Launched in 2016, the Minneapolis-based Latino Chamber filled the gap left when the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Minnesota folded. Pacheco, a public affairs consultant for minority-focused nonprofits, has been
Grant Smith

Grant Smith

Yamamoto’s new chief creative officer, Grant Smith, spent most of his career with BBDO New York working on big brands like AT&T, Visa, and FedEx. “I’ve always had an enormous
Pahoua Yang Hoffman

Pahoua Yang Hoffman

2021, Alumni: Following George Floyd’s death, Pahoua Yang Hoffman is expanding grantmaking to nonprofits serving people of color. With the goal of redistributing power, she’s also focused on diversifying the
Susie Brown

Susie Brown

Just the fifth president of the Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF), Susie Brown joined the organization in April. Her 144 organization members range from family to corporate foundations and collectively
Neela Mollgaard

Neela Mollgaard

In August, Neela Mollgaard became head of this new state program, which seeks to bring together private businesses and nonprofits to provide training and financial incentives to help entrepreneurs get
Jeff Ochs

Jeff Ochs

Jeff Ochs’ cause is to provide capital to entrepreneurs advancing a charitable purpose who can’t attract traditional angel investment. Venn offers below-market-rate loans, a crying need of companies. Ochs’ vehicles
Chris Pohlad, Joe Pohlad, and Tom Pohlad

Chris Pohlad, Joe Pohlad, and Tom Pohlad

The three sons of Robert Pohlad—Chris, Joe, and Tom—have taken on increasing responsibilities within Pohlad Cos. Founded by Carl Pohlad in the 1950s, the Pohlad businesses are quite diverse, which
Barry McCarthy

Barry McCarthy

2022, Builders: Companies fled core cities for the suburbs amid the pandemic and social unrest. Barry McCarthy is the rare leader who saw things differently. In 2021, Deluxe moved its
Elizabeth Giorgi

Elizabeth Giorgi

Unable to find her dream job in traditional media, Elizabeth Giorgi created Mighteor, one of the first video production companies focused on creating content for the internet. Mighteor clients include
Hassan Syed

Hassan Syed

The largest digital incubation platform for entrepreneurs with early-stage ideas, Twin Cities-based IdeaGist has participants in 195 countries pursuing more than 4,000 ideas. Hassan Syed’s vision to provide training through