November 30, 2022

Minnesota Chamber and Chamber Foundation Board Elect New Leadership from Post Consumer Brands

Jill Bollettieri.

ST. PAUL (11/22/2022) – The Minnesota Chamber and Minnesota Chamber Foundation announced new leadership today. Both boards of directors lead the organization in their efforts to improve the state’s business climate and understanding of its economy and workforce.

Mary Jo Williamson, Mayo Clinic’s Chief Administration Officer of Mayo Collaborative Services, will lead the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as its 2022-23 Chair. Jill Bollettieri, Post Consumer Brands’ Senior Vice President, General Counsel & External Relations, was named Chair-Elect. Angela Heikes, President and Chief Executive Offer of SMSC Gaming Enterprise will continue her position as Secretary/Treasurer.

New officers and other Board members formally announced at the Minnesota Chamber’s 2022 Economic Summit on November 17 and began their terms in October.

“With Mary Jo and Jill at the helm, we are in excellent hands for the 2022-23 year,” said Doug Loon, President and CEO of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. “We are thankful for all of our Board members for time, energy, and leadership in support of the state’s business community.”

“I am honored to be named Board Chair of the Minnesota Chamber. I will advocate for Minnesota’s employers to create and sustain a thriving state economy,” said Williamson. “I look forward to advancing the Chamber’s critical connection to businesses across Minnesota and our state’s private sector economy while also addressing evolving business needs.”

The volunteer board represents businesses of all types and sizes across Minnesota. These business leaders are responsible for setting a public policy agenda to ensure Minnesota’s economic success and a vibrant business community. During the last legislative session, achievements included the reimbursement of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

“I’m thrilled to be selected by my peers to become the next Minnesota Chamber Board Chair,” said Bollettieri. “The Chamber is the leader in the Minnesota business community, and I’m excited to continue their impressive work.”

The full list of new board members is below.

  • Ben Thuringer, Madden’s on Gull Lake, Chief Operations Officer
  • Chris Nelson, 3M, Senior Manager, U.S. Environmental Compliance
  • Jake Reint, Flint Hills Resources, Vice President, Public Affairs
  • Kendall Griffith, Mortenson, Senior Vice President
  • Kim Randolph, Xcel Energy, Vice President of Engineering and Construction, Energy Supply
  • Lori Davies, Clow Stamping Company, President
  • Mary Loeffelholz, Delta Airlines, Vice President, Airport Customer Service MSP
  • Ross Widmoyer, Faribault Mill, President and CEO
  • Wendy Unglaub, General Mills, Vice President, Chief Tax Officer and Principal Tax Counsel

The Minnesota Chamber Foundation also elected new Board members on November 8. Jeff DeYoung, Managing Partner at Baker Tilly, was elected Chair of the Foundation Board, as well as three new Board members.

  • Darin Lynch, Irish Titan, Founder and CEO
  • David Rudolph, JPMorgan Chase, Managing Director
  • Tim Penny, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, President and CEO

“The Minnesota Chamber Foundation is making its mark as a thought leader on the state’s economy and an organization that is driving workforce solutions and inclusion statewide,” said Jennifer Byers, Executive Director, Minnesota Chamber Foundation. “The key to that success is the outstanding board of directors, and committee volunteers, comprised of business and community leaders across Minnesota. Their leadership, deep experience and commitment to the growth of our state economy is integral to our success.”

“The Minnesota Chamber Foundation plays a critical role in producing economic data and analysis on the performance of Minnesota’s economic recovery,” said Jeff DeYoung. “I am proud to lead this organization, along with a highly qualified board of directors, to help inform the state’s business community and policy makers on the challenges that continue to confront our economic growth. Additionally, the Foundation’s growing statewide workforce diversity, equity and inclusion effort is the only such effort led by a state chamber in the country, amplifying our commitment to building inclusive workplaces across Minnesota.

The Minnesota Chamber Foundation is the statewide leader providing economic data, analysis, and in-depth research about Minnesota’s economy. Recent reports include Minnesota 2030: A framework for economic growth, Minnesota Entrepreneurship: A turning point, and the Economic Contributions of Immigrants in Minnesota. The Foundation also offers workforce solutions to ensure employers and employees possess the necessary tools for jobs of the future, and that businesses have the tools they need toward being diverse, equitable and inclusive.

The Minnesota Chamber is a statewide organization representing more than 6,300 businesses of all types and sizes – and more than half a million employees – throughout Minnesota. The Chamber works tirelessly for its members; providing one-on-one business services, opportunities to grow their networks and knowledge base, and cultivating an economic environment where businesses stay and grow in our state. A business climate that allows for innovation and forward-thinking leadership will help grow the strength of Minnesota’s economy for generations to come.

The Minnesota Chamber Foundation has helped member organizations and state leaders understand and grow Minnesota’s economy since 1983. It renewed its commitment to understanding the state’s economy in 2019, through in-depth research, workforce and leadership programs. The Foundation is the only statewide, private-sector foundation focused on the future of the state’s economy across all industry sectors and geographic regions.