Minnesota Business Partnership

We’re thrilled to share that Erika Nelson has joined the Minnesota Business Partnership as our new Chief of Staff. Welcome to the team, Erika! We’re excited to have you on board as we continue our work supporting Minnesota’s business community. https://lnkd.in/gkWvgKey

We loved this story featuring two of our Member Companies, Xcel Energy and Andersen Corporation. Under CEO Bob Frenzel's leadership, Xcel Energy continues to help Minnesota businesses achieve their sustainability goals. Andersen Corporation CEO, Chris Galvin, has committed five facilities to sourcing 100% renewable electricity through the Renewable*Connect program, avoiding approximately 9,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. This is the kind of collaboration that moves Minnesota forward. Read more: https://lnkd.in/guY2nJUn

Congratulations to Barry C. McCarthy, Deluxe President and CEO and MBP board member, on this well-deserved recognition! Barry's leadership in transforming Deluxe into a modern payments and data leader, combined with his extensive civic commitment, reflects the kind of business leadership that drives both economic growth and community impact.

Our CEO Kurt Zellers gave the keynote at yesterday's State of the Economy event in southern Minnesota. The work REDA is doing to align cities, counties, and businesses around a shared economic vision is impressive – and a model for regions across the state.

This video captures the essence of what makes Minnesota exceptional: a business community that leads with purpose, innovates with intention, and builds with future generations in mind. From our Member Companies that employ one-sixth of our state's workforce to the innovations transforming industries globally, Minnesota's headquarters economy is built on a foundation of excellence, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to community.

Our #HQExperience program stopped at Cargill's Big Lake Protein Processing Plant last week, and legislators saw Minnesota's agricultural ecosystem in action. The facility cooks 3 million eggs daily from regional family farms into products heading to breakfast tables across America.  Since 2001, Cargill has continuously invested here—most recently doubling annual capacity to meet growing demand. More #HQExperience visits on the horizon, follow along!

The artifacts on display at #HQElevate told a powerful story about Minnesota's headquarters ecosystem: innovation doesn't happen in isolation. It thrives when businesses root themselves deeply in the communities they serve. From Thrivent's 16 million "Live Generously" t-shirts mobilizing volunteer armies across the country, to General Mills' nearly 160-year commitment to fueling communities, to RSM's team transforming entire Minneapolis schools one volunteer day at a time - we saw how our Member companies have woven community impact into their DNA. These exhibits showcased more than business success. They revealed businesses committed to building stronger communities, creating pathways to opportunity, and making sure Minnesota remains a place where everyone can thrive. There are so many remarkable stories behind these artifacts. For those who saw the exhibits, which one was your favorite? 

“Success in one sector fuels success in another... and innovation thrives where people want to live and work.” - Geoff Martha, MBP Chair At HQElevate 2025, MBP Chair Geoff Martha reflected on what makes Minnesota’s business community exceptional: our collaborative spirit, our commitment to giving back, and our unwavering focus on building a stronger state for future generations. From Fortune 500 leaders to family-owned businesses, Minnesota companies don’t just compete, we lift each other up. We don’t just create jobs, we create opportunities. We don’t just generate profit, we generate impact. That’s the Minnesota advantage. And that’s what we celebrated last Thursday night. Thank you, Geoff, for your continued leadership and vision for Minnesota’s business community. #HQElevate2025 #MNHQEcosystem #MNHQEconomy

At HQElevate 2025, we honored Sonnesyn Elementary with the Minnesota’s Future Award, and for good reason. Through their implementation of the Bridge2Read program and Science of Reading practices, Sonnesyn achieved a 10% improvement in third grade reading scores. We understand that our economic future is built in classrooms. Strong literacy skills create the workforce that powers our headquarters economy. When third graders can read proficiently, they’re on track to become the problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders our companies will need tomorrow. Congratulations to the entire Sonnesyn Elementary community for proving that with strong leadership and proven practices, every student can succeed. #HQElevate2025 #MinnesotasFutureAward #MNHQEconomy #MNHQecosystem