Influencers

Dee Thibodeau

Dee Thibodeau

A business owner for more than 25 years, Dee Thibodeau approaches life with the mindset to always be an entrepreneur, no matter what the environment. She has put that to

Brad Tabke

When the city of Shakopee was able to persuade the highly succcessful Internet-based image publishing service Shutterfly to relocate from California, and bring with it 330 full-time jobs, Mayor Brad
Don Ness

Don Ness

Duluth has been a tourist destination for a long time, but under Don Ness's leadership, the Zenith City also is becoming a business destination. He can't (and wouldn't) take all

Christine Morse

The Cargill heir's charitable organizatoin "went public" with its gift-giving shortly after her death in 2006--and it instantly became ranked as the state's biggest philanthropic foundation. Indeed, in 2011, the
James Campbell

James Campbell

James Campbell spent his career inspired by a philosophy of lending time and talent, and it's something he continues since retiring from Wells Fargo a decade ago. One of his
Dave Mona

Dave Mona

Hyerconnected PR exec, media counselor to numerous top businesses, Sid Hartman's extremely close personal friend--one can't imagine that gregarious Mona actually retired (in July) from the agency he started more
Susan Bass Roberts

Susan Bass Roberts

2021, Change agent: The Pohlad Family Foundation made headlines in June, after the killing of George Floyd, with a $25 million commitment to racial justice. The person who will oversee
Rodney Young

Rodney Young

Rodney Young’s stint as CEO of Delta Dental of Minnesota, which recorded 2015 revenue of $1.2 billion, has earned him a significant honor—last year he was elected secretary/treasurer of the
Robin Galloway

Robin Galloway

One of only three women on Schwan Foods’ 10-member leadership team, Robin Galloway became CFO of the frozen-food manufacturer in 2015. With sales of $3.7 billion, Schwan’s is trying to
Margaret Anderson Kelliher

Margaret Anderson Kelliher

Margaret Anderson Kelliher has spent her career in public service, but she’s now playing a pivotal role bridging the gap between private-sector needs and public-sector attention and resources. As Minnesota
Nekima Levy Armstrong

Nekima Levy Armstrong

2021, Change agent: The former University of St. Thomas law professor rose to prominence as president of the Minneapolis NAACP in the mid-2010s and through a competitive run for Minneapolis
Kelley Lindquist

Kelley Lindquist

Over the past 30 years, Kelley Lindquist has quietly built Artspace from a local developer of affordable housing for artists into a national powerhouse that operates 35 properties for artists

Kris Kewitsch

Since 2012, Kris Kewitsch has helped ensure that the Charities Review Council functions as an independent resource for people who want to make informed giving decisions while helping nonprofits advance
Jim McGuinn

Jim McGuinn

McGuinn has been disc-jockeying on America’s AM and FM dials since the 1980s, although perhaps less so since 2009, when he began calling the shots at Minnesota Public Radio’s booming
Kate Mortenson

Kate Mortenson

After the 2018 Super Bowl, the high-profile events for U.S. Bank Stadium won’t be over—the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four is coming to town, bringing March Madness’ oft-dramatic finale
Javier Morillo

Javier Morillo

In the fight for labor protection, you’ll often hear Javier Morillo’s name pop up. The self-proclaimed “thug in pastels” is a fierce advocate for the roughly 6,000 janitors, security guards
Jim DuCharme

Jim DuCharme

The pharmacy benefit management industry is the kind of behind-the-scenes business that never gets much publicity, so Jim DuCharme’s leadership of Prime Therapeutics normally would draw little notice beyond insider
Jamice Obianyo

Jamice Obianyo

Trailblazer and chemist Jamice Obianyo empowers others—women, children, the community and her employer. Not only was Obianyo the first African-American technical director for Ecolab, but she is also a founding