Business People: Dayna Martinez to lead Twin Cities Jazz Fest
OF NOTE — ENTERTAINMENT
The Twin Cities Jazz Festival announced that Dayna Martinez has been named executive director, replacing founder Steve Heckler, who is retiring. The handover will occur after the 2023 event, which is scheduled for June 23-24 in St. Paul’s Lowertown Arts District.
APPAREL
Red Wing Shoe Co., a Red Wing, Minn.-based provider of workplace and leisure footwear and apparel, announced that President Allison Gettings is adding the title and responsibilities of chief executive officer, following the planned retirement of Mark Urdahl, effective Jan. 1. Gettings will become the first woman to lead the company, which was founded in 1905.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Financial services provider Northwestern Mutual-Twin Cities announced that Prior Lake-based health technology company UzObi has been selected to participate in and receive investments from the Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator program, powered by gener8tor. The company was cofounded by Dr. Nneka Sederstrom, who is CEO, and Dr. Serge-Alain Wandji, chief strategy and innovation officer.
ENERGY
Pineapple Energy, a Minnetonka-based provider of solar energy products and services to households and small businesses, announced the hire of Eric Ingvaldson as chief financial officer.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Catholic United Financial Credit Union, Arden Hills, announced that Andrea Ferkingstad has been selected as president, replacing Maureen Daehn, who is retiring. Ferkingstad has been with the organization since 2021, and previously was vice president of operations and marketing at Building Trades Credit Union. … Stearns Bank, St. Cloud, announced that Mohamed Farah, community development coordinator, has been appointed to the Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Board by Gov. Tim Walz. Additionally, parent company Stearns Financial Services announced the addition of Dave Senger to its board of directors; Senger, now retired, spent 41 years as an attorney with Moss & Barnett, Minneapolis.
HEALTH CARE
Love Your Melon, an apparel brand focusing on headwear for children battling cancer, celebrated the unveiling of its Million Dollar Wall at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, noting the company’s nearly $1.5 million given to the hospital over 10 years in business. … Ecumen, a Shoreview-based nonprofit provider of housing and services for older adults, announced that Scott Bjerketvedt has been promoted to senior vice president, chief financial officer. … Vail Place, a provider of community services for people with mental illness, announced the appointment of Karina Forrest-Perkins as executive director. Vail Place has clubhouses in Hopkins and Minneapolis Uptown. … Children’s Hospital Association, a fundraising arm for Children’s Minnesota, announced that Dr. Gigi Chawla, vice president and chief of general pediatrics at Children’s Minnesota, has received the 2022 Walter Ramsey Award, honoring her career with the organization. Children’s Minnesota operates a Twin Cities chain of hospitals and clinics focused on pediatric care.
LABOR
UFCW Local 663 announced that Southwest Minnesota Packing Director Michael Potter has been appointed special assistant to the president and that Organizing Director Rena Wong was approved to complete current President Matt Utecht’s term. The 17,000-member United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663 represents workers in retail, meat packing and processing, food preparation and manufacturing and health care in Minnesota and Iowa.
LAW
S Burns Legal, St. Paul, announced that founding partner Susan Burns has been named among the Top 200 Global Cannabis Lawyers by The Cannabis Law Report.
NONPROFITS
Animal Humane Society, Golden Valley, announced the following board member appointments: Constance St. Germain, Capella University; Kelly Lindberg, Medica, and Todd Solow, Norwest Equity Partners.
REAL ESTATE
Commercial real estate and property investment firm JLL Capital Markets announced the appointment of Senior Director Bill Krebsbach to its retail investment sales advisory team, based in the Minneapolis office.
TECHNOLOGY
When I Work, a Minneapolis-based provider of workforce management software, announced that Vice President of Talent and Culture LeeAnn Belski has been named the company’s first-ever chief people officer. Belski has been with the company since 2016.
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