St. Paul city attorney reaches rank of colonel in National Guard Judge Advocate General’s Corps – Twin Cities

OF NOTE – LAW

St. Paul City Attorney Lyndsey Olson has become the first woman to attain the rank of colonel in the Minnesota National Guard Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and first woman to be the Staff Judge Advocate for the 34th Infantry Division. Olson was named city attorney in 2018.

EDUCATION

St. Olaf College, Northfield, announced the appointment of María Pabón Gautier as vice president for equity and inclusion.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Lake Elmo Bank announced that it named Jay Geisbauer branch manager at its Oakdale Office location. … Heartland Financial USA, a diversified financial services company with 11 community banks in the Midwest, Southwest and Western United States, including Minnesota, announced that Kathryn Graves Unger will serve as an independent director. Unger is vice president, North America–government relations at Wayzata-based Cargill.

FOOD

Post Consumer Brands, Lakeville, has named Claudine Patel chief marketing officer; the company’s brands include PEBBLES, Honeycomb, Honey Bunches of Oats, Great Grains and Malt-O-Meal ready-to-eat cereals.

HONORS

The Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board announced the following Employers of Excellence recognitions: Small Employer: Bankers Equipment Service, Diedrich RPM, Midwest Industrial Coatings, New Market Bank; Mid-Size Employer: Apothecary Products, Carlson Capital Management, Dakota Electric Association, Hydra-Flex; Large Employer: Entrust, Prime Therapeutics. … The Stillwater Chamber of Commerce announced the following Community Awards: Chamber Ambassador of the Year: Judd Orff; Community Volunteer of the Year: Sara Jespersen; Educator of the Year: Chris Otto; Hero of the Year: Tim Bell; Large Business of the Year: Water Street Inn; Small Business of the Year: Manger Restaurant & Wine Bar; Nonprofit of the Year: Zephyr Theatre; 2020 Vibrancy Award: The Daily Grind Espresso Bar; Youth Visionary Award: William Raymond.

LAW

Moss & Barnett, Minneapolis, announced that Kelsey M. Scanlan has joined the firm’s wealth preservation and estate planning team. … Brandon E. Vaughn has been named the 103rd president of the Hennepin County Bar Association effective July 1. Vaughn is a partner at Robins Kaplan, Minneapolis, where he represents victims of medical malpractice and individuals injured by others due to no fault of their own. … International law firm Dorsey & Whitney, Minneapolis, announced that 69 of its lawyers and 28 of its practices across eight of its U.S. offices were ranked by Chambers and Partners in its annual survey, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2021. … Fredrikson & Byron, Minneapolis, said Chambers USA ranked 10 practice areas and 25 individual attorneys from in its 2021 edition.

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Boston Scientific, a Massachusetts-based maker of heart devices with major Twin Cities operations, announced the election of David S. Wichmann to its board of directors; Wichmann served as chief executive officer of Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group from 2017 to 2021.

NONPROFITS

Artika R. Tyner, founder of Planting People Growing Justice, a St. Paul-based educational organization, was appointed to the boards of Little Free Library and Timebank USA.

ORGANIZATIONS

Joe Shallbetter, president and CEO of States Manufacturing, Golden Valley, has been elected president of the North Central Electrical Manufacturers Club. Other board members include: Vice President: Randy Kuzel, AJB Sales; Secretary: Chris Lee, MRL Co.; Treasurer: Wendy Anderson, Keystone Technologies; Past President: Mike Skovran, EMS Partners; Directors: Pete Deeg, Rouzer Group; Gary Wilcox, Electrotech Inc.; Nate Boike, Burndy; Tom Shepard, Fruen’s Sales Co.; Ashley Suess, 3M Electrical Products; Matt Taets, RAB Lighting.

SERVICES

Media Loft, a Minneapolis-based event-planning agency, has welcomed Mary Lou Wichlacz as executive vice president, production. … Frestedt , a St. Louis Park-based medial research institute for business, announced the hire of Christopher Barkley, a former University of Minnesota research associate in experimental and clinical pharmacology.

TECHNOLOGY

Sopheon, a Bloomington-based business software company, announced the appointments of John Beischer as vice president, Americas, and Ann Marie Beasley as chief marketing officer.