Retail has a great story to tell in Minnesota!

Marisa Kinney, Red Wing Shoe Company, Selected As Minnesota Retailers Association 2023 Board Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Marisa Kinney, Red Wing Shoe Company, Selected As Minnesota Retailers Association Board Chair

January 2, 2023 – Marisa Kinney has been selected as chair of the Board for the Minnesota Retailers Association (MnRA), a trade association representing 1,200 retail stores across Minnesota. The volunteer leadership role encompasses leading a group of two dozen Board members and a staff focused on growing Minnesota’s retail economy and jobs.

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Kinney is known as Red Wing Shoe Company’s retail champion and serves as senior director of global retail, working with corporate and dealer/distributor-owned stores in the areas of market development and analytics, real estate, construction and store operations. Kinney—a Red Wing native--has worked for Red Wing Shoe Company since 2004, holding leadership positions in the areas of real estate and store development. Red Wing Shoe Company is an iconic footwear and accessories brand that has been making a difference in people’s lives since 1905. The manufacturer and retailer employs 2,100 people including 1,000 in Minnesota, and distributes its purpose-built products at over 700 retail stores in 110 countries. Red Wing Shoe Company was named a MnRA Minnesota Retail Champion as a Best Place To Work in 2019.

We are so pleased to have Marisa’s leadership at MnRA, where she shares her expertise around the transformation of today’s customer experience as well as love of people and processes,” said MnRA President Bruce Nustad. “Marisa also brings a strong background in bringing organizations together to better our communities, with previous work experience at the Red Wing Area and St. Paul Area chambers of commerce. MnRA looks forward to a strong 2023 under Marisa’s leadership.

I’m honored to be selected Board chair and look forward to working with our members to continue to tell the story of the importance of retail across Minnesota,” Kinney said. “The closer we work together, the better the opportunities are for each and every retail worker, retailer, and community. Our work at the Minnesota Retailers Association has never been more vital and we will be laser focused on shared goals including workforce development as we do our part to advance Minnesota’s retail economy.

Kinney succeeds David Ring with Kwik Trip, who chaired the Board for 2021 and 2022.

As an organization we were fortunate to have Dave’s leadership at a critical time in the industry’s economic recovery,” said Nustad. “We thank Dave for his collaboration on important legislative issues as well as his sense of humor. Dave brought important Kwik Trip insights and his community-focused servant leadership style to his role as Board chair, and we are so grateful.”

The Minnesota Retailers Association supports retailers to the benefit of their customers, their communities, their employees, and our state economy. Retail impacts one in five Minnesota jobs. Learn more at www.mnretail.org.

Contact:
Bruce Nustad
Minnesota Retailers Association
380 St. Peter Street, Suite 1050, St. Paul, MN 55102
Tel. (651) 227-6631, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mn Retailers IMPACT Endorses Candidates

Mn Retailers IMPACT fund says candidates are good for Minnesota consumers, retailers, and communities

2022EndorsedCandidate


Today Mn Retailers IMPACT announced the endorsement of these candidates running for the State Legislature:

Minnesota House

1B - Deb Kiel
6B - Josh Heintzeman
9A - Jeff Backer
10B - Isaac Schultz
12A - Paul Anderson
12B - Mary Franson
13B - Tim O'Driscoll
15A - Chris Swedzinski
16A - Dean Urdahl
16B - Dave Baker
21A - Joe Schomacker
23B - Patricia Mueller
24A - Duane Quam
26A - Gene Pelowski Jr.
26B - Greg Davids
27B - Kurt Daudt
28B - Anne Neu Brindley
29B - Marion O'Neill
30B - Paul Novotny
31B - Peggy Scott
32B - Donald Raleigh
33A - Patti Anderson
37A - Kristin Robbins
44B - Leon Lillie
46B - Cheryl Youakim
48A - Jim Nash
48B - Greg Boe
50A - Heather Edelson
50B - Steve Elkins
57A - Jon Koznick
57B - Jeff Witte
58B - Patrick Garofalo
66B - Athena Hollins


Minnesota Senate

5 - Paul Utke
9 - Jordan Rasmusson
11 - Jason Rarick
12 - Torrey Westrom
13 - Jeff Howe
14 - Tama Theis
15 - Gary Dahms
18 - Nick Frentz
19 - John Jasinski
22 - Rich Draheim
24 - Carla Nelson
26 - Jeremy Miller
27 - Andrew Mathews
28 - Mark Koran
33 - Karin Housley
34 - John Hoffman
35 - Jim Abeler
36 - Roger Chamberlain
37 - Warren Limmer
43 - Ann Rest
48 - Julia Coleman
54 - Eric Pratt
57 - Zach Duckworth
60 - Kari Dziedzic
61 - Scott Dibble

“These candidates have demonstrated an appreciation for what the retail industry offers Minnesota’s economy as the industry supports 750,000 jobs across the State. Each endorsed candidate is a champion for Minnesota consumers, retailers, and our communities,” said Mn Retailers IMPACT treasurer Bruce Nustad.

Mn Retailers IMPACT is funded through personal contributions used to support candidates who appreciate retailer contributions to Minnesota communities.

Eleven Retail Leaders Recognized As Minnesota's Retail Champions

2022-2023 Minnesota's Retail Champion Awards

Watch the 2022-2023 Minnesota's Retail Champions video:
https://youtu.be/ot-82kBILrA
2021MNRetailChampionsPlay

 
Join the Minnesota Retailers Association (MnRA) as we recognize eleven leading retailers and industry partners with the announcement of the 2022-2023 Minnesota’s Retail Champions.

Winners will accept their awards during Retail Rally (www.retailrally.com) on Thursday, October 6, 2022, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in Golden Valley. Retail Rally is changing the way retailers and their key business partners engage with today’s consumer. The event features practical, game-changing, cutting-edge retail innovation strategies and ideas, and the insights of Tim Tang, director of enterprise solutions at Hughes and his presentation “Multi-Industry Perspective on Retail Digital Transformation.”

“We are proud to recognize eleven innovative retailers, communities and partners that are leading the way in connecting with consumers and today’s trends following a vigorous process to identify Minnesota’s Retail Champions,” said Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers Association president. “The retail industry has a deep impact on Minnesota communities, and these award recipients are truly representative of what is great about retail across the state, how the industry is changing, and what it takes to attract customers today.”

The following is a complete list of the 2022-2023 Minnesota’s Retail Champion award recipients:

Lifetime Achievement
Paul Ostergaard, retired McDonald’s owner-operator, Eden Prairie, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Retailer of the Year
Victual, Crosby, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Special Achievement: Five Generations
Bachman’s, Twin Cities, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Best Place to Work
Sugar Loaf Ford Lincoln, Winona, MN
*nominated by the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Advocate of the Year
Dan Wolter, Hy-Vee, Upper Midwest and Southern U.S.
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Partner of the Year
Buncha, Minneapolis, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Customer Experience
My Happy Place Boutique, Somerset, WI
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Retail Manager of the Year
Hans Ahlstrom, M&M’S Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Social Responsibility
Waste Wise, a program of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Building Community Through Retail
Urban Growler Brewing Co., St. Paul, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

Customer Experience
Kendall’s Ace Hardware, St. Paul, MN
>> Click here to read more about this award, including quotes.

MnRA started the awards process by putting out a statewide call for nominations early in the year.  A panel of peer judges reviewed nearly ten dozen nominations and selected the top nominee in each category. Tickets to Retail Rally are $25 online and free for media at www.retailrally.com.

Contact: Bruce Nustad, Minnesota Retailers Association, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (651) 227-6631

About the Minnesota Retailers Association: The Minnesota Retailers Association promotes, preserves and enhances the retail industry in Minnesota by taking a leadership position in development of public policy and regulatory measures that impact members. MnRA also works to enhance the public image of the retail industry by providing information, services and support that adds value to its members. www.mnretail.org.

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