MN CEOs You Should Know

MN CEOs You Should Know

Join us on the "MN CEO's You Should Know" podcast, where we dive deep into the minds of Minnesota's most influential business leaders. Each episode features candid conversations with top CEOs who share their journeys, insights, and strategies for success. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned executive, this podcast offers invaluable lessons and inspiration to help you navigate the ever-evolving business landscape. Tune in to discover the stories behind the success and learn from the best in the industry. Don't miss out on the opportunity to connect with the visionaries shaping Minnesota's economic future!

Episodes

Chad Walding - Co-Founder and CCO at NativePath

May 12, 2025 • 26 mins
In 2010, I received a call from the hospital that would alter the course of my entire life. The nurse on the other end of the line said bluntly: “You need to stop telling my patients about nutrition.”I was a Home Health Physical Therapist at the time and had just discovered the vast world of nutrition. More specifically, I discovered how poor nutrition was linked to many of the health issues my patients were dealing with. So of cou...
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Michael Lazaroff - CEO Signature Cruise Experiences

April 30, 2025 • 30 mins
 Based in St. Louis, Michael Lazaroff is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in jazz. As the director of Entertainment Cruise Productions, he oversees The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise and the most recently added Blue Note at Sea cruise. A former attorney, the energetic Lazaroff came into the business in 2000 when Norwegian Cruise Lines discontinued its jazz cruise and his mother Anita Berry, who ran a travel agency that...
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Kris Lindahl - CEO Kris Lindahl Real Estate

March 17, 2025 • 36 mins
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Courtney Lightfoot - CEO Squeegee Squad

March 17, 2025 • 22 mins
Courtney Lightfoot began her journey with Squeegee Squad, a window-washing company, as an executive assistant and worked her way up to her current position as CEO. Squeegee Squad was founded by brothers Jack and Joe Ruegsegger in Minnesota. Initially named Jack & Joe’s Window Cleaning, the company grew from local roots to a national franchise. Squeegee Squad specializes in residential and commercial window cleaning, high-rise j...
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Ilan Sobel - CEO at Bio Harvest Sciences

January 17, 2025 • 44 mins
Ilan Sobel has been the CEO of BioHarvest Sciences since July 2020. Ilan has brought the company’s first product, VINIA, to North America, building a direct-to-consumer machine that is now generating significant revenues. VINIA’s go-to-market success has established a template for the company’s near-term product pipeline of nutraceutical plant cell banks. In addition to commercial focus and planning, Ilan has scaled production capa...
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Robin Ganzert - CEO at American Humane

December 27, 2024 • 30 mins
Robin Ganzert, Ph.D., serves as president and CEO of American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization and the first to serve animals, whenever and wherever they are in need of rescue, shelter or protection. She is the executive producer of the acclaimed documentary, Escape from Extinction, narrated by Dame Helen Mirren, and its follow-up, Escape from Extinction Rewilding, which features narration by Oscar winner Me...
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Charlie Youakim - CEO & Co-Founder of Sezzle

October 16, 2024 • 27 mins
Charlie Youakim is a serial technology entrepreneur with over a decade of experience driving fintech companies to success. He is the Co-founder, Executive Chairman, and CEO of Sezzle, a leading Buy Now. Pay Later platform that empowers consumers to gain financial freedom. Previously, he founded Passport, a pioneering software and payments service that transformed the transportation industry.
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Chuck Runyon - CEO & Co-Founder of Self Esteem Brands

February 23, 2024 • 23 mins
Chuck Runyon - CEO, Co-Founder at Self Esteem Brands, LLC, Anytime Fitness, Waxing the City, The Bar Method, Basecamp Fitness
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LeeAnn Rasachak - CEO WomenVenture

February 16, 2024 • 24 mins
LeeAnn is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas where she earned degrees in Mass Communications & Journalism – Public Relations and General Business Management. Throughout her career, LeeAnn has focused on consumer retail and financial services with an emphasis on brand building and digital transformations for Fortune 1000 companies including Macy’s, RBC Wealth Management, Sleep Number, and Securian Financial.

In recent yea...
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Justin Kehrwald - CEO Tradehome Shoes

January 10, 2024 • 26 mins
Justin Kehrwald is President, and CEO, and serves as a Board Member for Tradehome Shoes, Inc. Tradehome is employee-owned and operates 130 retail locations across 25 states, with Headquarters in the Twin Cities. Justin began his career with Tradehome Shoes in 1999. He has served several roles within the company including Store Manager, Regional Supervisor, and COO. In 2018 he became the fourth CEO in the company's 102-year history....
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Michael Hund - CEO EB Research Partnership

November 10, 2023 • 23 mins
Michael Hund is the CEO of EB Research Partnership (EBRP), a trailblazing medical research organization focused on curing Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a life-threatening genetic skin disease. Under his leadership EBRP has accelerated the landscape from 2 to over 40 clinical trials and via their award winning venture philanthropy methodology funded the first FDA approved treatment for EB in 2023, the first ever topical gene therapy.
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Joe Ennen - CEO SunOpta

August 7, 2023 • 20 mins
Joe Ennen is the CEO of SunOpta, a pioneer fueling the future of sustainable plant-based and fruit-based food and beverages. An expert in driving dynamic growth at scale, and building vibrant company culture, Ennen believes in the power of people to build a more sustainable future.
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Brian Slipka - CEO True North

June 20, 2023 • 31 mins
Brian Slipka is the founder and serves as the leader of True North. Throughout his career as a senior executive, Brian began investing in numerous independent operating companies, eventually forming the framework of today’s True North Equity Partners. Over time, and with his own hard-earned capital, Brian began acquiring controlling interest in independent operating companies across varied and diverse industries. Among these are Su...
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Jason Johnson - CEO Project K-9 Hero

May 11, 2023 • 17 mins
None
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Simon Davis - Executive Director at Teen Cancer America

April 24, 2023 • 1 min
None
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Mike Childers - President & CEO of The Shaw Company

April 24, 2023 • 1 min
Mike serves as President and CEO for The Shaw Group.

Prior to his role with Shaw, Mike served in several executive level roles throughout the energy industry, including President of Bernhard Energy, President and CEO of Synergy Renewables, CEO of TXU/Luminant Development and SVP, Business Development and Marketing at Saulsbury Industries. Mike also served as EVP at the former Shaw organization.

Mike serves as an independent board mem...
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Scott Dettman - CEO Avenica

October 21, 2022 • 25 mins
Avenica CEO Scott Dettman is a dynamic leader with a strong track record of driving growth through transformation and innovation in the human capital arena.

Scott joined Avenica in 2019 following a six-year stint with ManpowerGroup that included progressive leadership roles spanning analytics and transformation to general management and business development.

Scott has a master’s degree and Ph.D. (ABD) from the University of Wisconsi...
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Ben Lipkin - Co-Founder Carpe Diem CBD

September 1, 2022 • 20 mins
Ben Lipkin is the co-founder of Carpe Diem CBD, a Seed To Shelf Hemp To CBD Company
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Cheri Beranek - President and CEO Clearfield Inc.

August 1, 2022 • 52 mins
Clearfield, Inc. designs, manufactures and distributes fiber optic management products, helping service providers reduce the high costs associated with deploying, managing, protecting and scaling a fiber optic network to deliver the mobile, residential and business services customers want.
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Bob Biesterfeld - President/CEO of CH Robinson

March 29, 2022 • 24 mins
C.H. Robinson solves logistics problems for companies across the globe and across industries, from the simple to the most complex. With $21 billion in freight under management and 19 million shipments annually, we are one of the world’s largest logistics platforms. Our global suite of services accelerates trade to seamlessly deliver the products and goods that drive the world’s economy. With the combination of our multimodal transp...
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