Berdan is the Sleepy Eye Branch President of SouthPoint Federal Credit Union, but she sums her job up a little more informally: “I’m supposed to get out into the community, build relationships, and find ways to fulfill needs and to drive businesses back to SPFCU.”
For years, 21-year-old Chelsie Salonek has dreamed of opening her own boutique. She even had a dream location picked out along Minnesota Ave in St. Peter, which she often passed during shopping trips to the Twin Cities.
Jumping from a two-decade career at 3M to running a restaurant may seem unusual to most people, but Mike Bode said that was always his dream.
Business Person of the Year 2016
The 1800s were a century of great discovery, exploration, resourcefulness and achievement. Millions of immigrants arrived in America, drawn by the country’s promise of equality and freedom. While some settled in established cities along the East Coast, others braved untamed wilderness as they pushed farther west into states such as Wisconsin, Indiana—and Minnesota.
Jillian Cousins grew up around animals, so it’s no surprise she has managed to take those experiences and create a successful business. Cousins was raised on her grandparents’ Arabian horse farm and grew up helping prepare the horses for the show ring.
Jeremiah Miller leans forward in the office chair at 4-Seasons Athletics, LLC, in Waseca. His voice grows more intense as he discusses the various aspects of his life: his family, 4-Seasons Athletics, being a licensed agent in his uncle’s insurance company and his mission to help veterans regain stability in their lives.
Just a quick glance at the outside of the Madelia Lumber Company shows what values drive owner Matt Gunderson’s personal life and business philosophy. Placed right underneath the store’s name is a giant Marine Corps emblem, a testament to Gunderson’s four years in the Marines—as well as the military service of many of his employees.
Nathan Stolt has strayed a bit far from the plans he made as an undergrad. The New Ulm native started out studying illustration at MSU-Mankato, but all that changed when he purchased his first computer in 1994.
When Tommy Inkrott became director of strength and conditioning at Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2009, he began to hear the same question over and over from his student athletes: “What’s the best protein supplement to use?”
