Business People: Sekou Kaalund to oversee 2,200 bank branches for U.S. Bank

Pioneer Press
·3 min read

OF NOTE – BANKING

U.S. Bank, Minneapolis, announced that Sekou Kaalund has joined the company in the newly created role of head of branch banking, within Consumer & Business Banking, responsible for more than 2,200 branches as well as consumer and small-business banking in 26 states

ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS

Fishawack Health, a global health care marketing consultant, announced that Ann Baxter has joined the business development team at its Minneapolis subsidiary StoneArch; Baxter previously was with ad agncy Campbell Mithun. … broadhead, a Minneapolis-based marketing agency, announced the formation of a four-member board of advisers: Amanda Brinkman, former chief brand officer of Deluxe; Phil Johnson, Anne Mezzenga, co-CEO of Omni Talk, and Pete Speranza, CEO of Wicked Kitchen.

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING

Braun Intertec, a Minneapolis-based engineering and environmental consulting and testing firm, announced that Margot McManus has joined the company as chief people officer. … WSB, a Golden Valley-based design and consulting firm, announced the promotion of Jake Newhall to director of water resources.

EDUCATION

The Aim Higher Foundation, a St. Paul nonprofit that provides need-based tuition scholarships to local Catholic schools, announced it has named Ricky Austin president. Austin previously served as vice president of advancement and operations and succeeds Jean Houghton, who was named director of mission advancement for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Barton, Walter & Krier, a Maple Grove-based CPA and consulting firm, announced it has named Jay Trumbower as chief executive officer. … New Market Bank, Elko New Market, Minn., announced the hire of Angela Hop as senior mortgage loan officer. Hop previously worked for Guaranteed Rate Affinity, Edina Realty Mortgage and U.S. Bank, as well as her own mortgage brokerage.

LAW

Faegre Drinker, Minneapolis, announced that Gina Kastel has been selected as its next chair, effective April 1. She succeeds Tom Froehle and Andrew Kassner, who have served as co-chairs of the firm since 2020. … S Burns Legal, St. Paul, announced that Michelle Garrod has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Garrod previously was a solicitor in the United Kingdom and is a 2022 graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Paul.

MANUFACTURING

Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., a Wisconsin-based maker of residential windows and doors, announced that Lance Premeau has joined the National Association of the Remodeling Industry Minnesota board of directors. Premeau is general manager of Kolbe Gallery Twin Cities, Edina.

MEDIA

Greenspring Media, Bloomington, announced that it has been awarded the contract to produce Viking magazine, beginning with the January/February 2023 issue, a publication for Sons of Norway members.

ORGANIZATIONS

The American Craft Council, Minneapolis, announced the addition of Diane Hofstede, Minneapolis, and Jim Rustad, St. Paul, to its board of directors. Hofstede is a former Minneapolis City Council member, and now serves as co-founder and chair of the Great River Coalition; Rustad, a former chemical engineer, lawyer, college teacher, and financial services executive, serves on the boards of various local arts and civic organizations.

SERVICES

Viking Electric, a Minneapolis-based distributor of electrical products and services, announced the hire of Robert Hoke as eMobility specialist, managing the company’s electric vehicle charging strategy in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Chicago; and the promotion of Jen Pytleski to enterprise account executive.

SPONSORSHIPS

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx professional basketball franchise, announced a multiyear partnership with cereal maker Post Consumer Brands, Lakeville.

TECHNOLOGY

Tamarack Technology, a St. Paul-based provider of artificial intelligence-based automation for the equipment finance industry, announced the addition of Jeremy Fisher as senior data engineer. Fisher previously was with law firm Robins Kaplan as a financial systems and database administrator.

TRANSPORTATION

The Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and six reliever airports in the Twin Cities, announced the promotion of Evan Wilson to deputy general counsel; Wilson had been a senior attorney with the organization.

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