Jodeen Kozlak to chair St. Thomas board of trustees – Twin Cities

OF NOTE

The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul announced Jodeen A. “Jodee” Kozlak as chair of its board of trustees, effective July 1. Kozlak is founder and CEO at Kozlak Capital Partners and previously held executive positions at Alibaba Group, Target Corp., and Minnesota law and accounting firms, and is a 1985 graduate of the university.

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING

Golden Valley-based engineering and consulting firm WSB announced that Steve Nelson has been promoted to director of water/wastewater. Nelson previously was a senior
project manager at the firm.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Minneapolis-based asset management firm Marquette Wealth Management announced the promotion of Valerie Thomas to managing director and chief client experience officer. Thomas is a member of the firm’s founding team. … The Minnesota Credit Union Network, a trade organization, presented the Outstanding Credit Union Director of the Year award to Tom Heinzen, chair of the Spire Credit Union board of directors; Spire Credit Union is based in Falcon Heights. …  Land Bank Twin Cities, a St. Paul-based nonprofit housing lender focused on underserved communities, announced it has appointed Thomas Streitz as interim executive director. Streitz previously served as legislative counsel to the U.S. Senate, director of housing and policy development for the City of Minneapolis, and deputy executive director of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.

HONORS

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced it has named Garrett Larson, 29, owner of clothing and general store retailer Ronnings, its 2023 SBA Minnesota Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Ronnings has stores in International Falls, Baudette, Roseau and Thief River Falls. The agency also announced it has awarded John Cariveau, Bradley Klatt and Mark Skoglund of Uncommon Loon Brewery in Chisago City as the Encore Entrepreneurs of the Year for 2023. … Volvo Cars USA has announced Borton Volvo, Golden Valley, owned by Kjell Bergh, has received a national dealer Excellence Award.

LAW

Fredrikson, Minneapolis, announced that attorney Kara M. Lillehaug has joined in its Litigation and White Collar & Regulatory Defense groups. The firm also announced that attorney Mark Vyvyan has been awarded Volunteer of the Year by Volunteer Lawyers Network. … Maslon, Minneapolis, announced that Judah Druck, a partner in the firm’s Litigation Group, will be honored with the 2023 Arthur T. Pfefer Memorial Award from the Twin Cities Cardozo Society, an affinity group for Jewish attorneys, judges, and law students, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater St. Paul and the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. … Schromen Law announced the opening of an office at 319 Ramsey St., St. Paul.

MARKETING

Auctus, an Edina-based experiential marketing agency, announced it has named Danny Dobrin vice president of Account Management. Dobrin has held executive positions at several Twin Cities marketing and advertising agencies.

NONPROFITS

The Sheltering Arms Foundation, a children-focused support organization of the Episcopal Church of Minnesota, announced the June 30 retirement of Executive Director Denise Mayotte after 20 years of leading the organization.

ORGANIZATIONS

Greater Mankato Growth, an umbrella civic-promotion group, announced the promotion of Andy Wilke to executive vice president. Wilke previously served on the organization’s board of directors, was chair of the Visit Mankato board of governors, and co-chair of the Greater Mankato Growth Public Affairs Steering Committee.

REAL ESTATE

Transwestern, a national commercial real estate firm, announced the promotion of Greg Munson to president of Transwestern Real Estate Services, based in Minneapolis. Munson previously was executive managing director of the Midwest Region. He succeeds Tom Lawyer, who is retiring.

SERVICES

Restaurant Technologies, a Mendota Heights-based provider of cooking oil waste management to restaurants, announced it has named Chris Hellmann chief commercial officer. He previously was an executive in product development at Coca-Cola.

RECREATION

 Your Boat Club, a Minneapolis-based national membership boat rental service, announce the hire of Anna Shields as director of marketing. Shields previously was acting director of operations for Empire Entertainment.