Two dozen business execs to join Dayton on European trade mission
Thirty-five Minnesotans from businesses, government and higher education will join Gov. Mark Dayton on a 10-day trade mission to Germany, Sweden and Norway next week, according to a news release.
“Germany and Scandinavia are key export markets for Minnesota, generating over $1 billion in annual export sales for local companies,” Katie Clark Sieben, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, said in a statement. “Our goal is to attract foreign direct investment and identify distributors and new business partners to increase exports.”
Minnesota companies already export more than $1 billion of goods to Scandinavia and Germany.
Minnesota Public Radio notes Gov. Dayton's sons, who co-own a Scandinavian restaurant in Minneapolis, are among this year's delegates.
"They're really on their own trip," Dayton told MPR. They're staying in Sweden longer. They're checking out the international competition, some of the other restaurants."
Dayton led 50 Minnesota leaders on a week-long trade mission to China last June.
The following people are participating in this year's trip:
James Allen, founding partner, Masters Alliance Consultancy LLC
Kjell Bergh, chairman and CEO, Borton Volvo Inc. and Borton Overseas LLC
Edward Black, president and CEO, Reimbursement Strategies LLC
Andrew Dayton, principal, The Daft Group
Eric Dayton, principal, The Daft Group
Ellen Ewald, partner, Tysvar LLC and mobileAxept Inc.
Kevin Hanson, president, International Creative Capital LLC
John Hasselberg, associate professor of global business leadership, College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University
Jeffery Hensley, vice president, The Wall Cos./Minnesota Innovation Park
Pat Hentges, city manager, Mankato
Ralf Keysser, managing principal, Hannover Ltd.
Michael Langley, CEO, Greater MSP
Julie Langley, representative, Lakselaget
Diana Lawson, dean, Herberger School of Business, St. Cloud State University
Annette Lund, vice president, Diversified Plastics Inc.
Terje Mikalsen, CEO and partner, Tysvar LLC and mobileAxept Inc.
Bhabani Misra, director of graduate programs in software, University of St. Thomas
Barbara Muller, attorney, Fredrikson & Byron
Thomas Newton, vice president of business development, KNOCK Inc.
Randy Pelletier, owner and president, Pellco Machine Inc.
Bruce Peterson, executive dean for academic initiatives, St. Cloud Technical and Community College
Earl Potter III, president, St. Cloud State University
Jeffrey Rageth, vice president of public affairs, 3M
Susan Rani, president, Rani Engineering
Maureen Reed, executive director, Nobel Peace Prize Forum
Devon Russell, owner and president, ViViR International LLC
Jon Scheve, president of grain trading, Superior Feed Ingredients LLC
Nick Scott, director of international transfer pricing, Grant Thornton LLP
Ken Smith, president and CEO, Ever-Green Energy LLC
Ivar Sorensen, managing partner, The M&A Group LLC
Clifford Steer, professor of medicine and genetics, cell biology and development, University of Minnesota
Lars Svensson, president, Klingborg Consulting LLC
John Wall, president, The Wall Cos./Minnesota Innovation Park
Pei Zhang, CEO and owner, Thin Film Sciences LLC
Jonathan Zierdt, president and CEO, Greater Mankato Growth Inc.
