Business People: Dr. Sean Ercan-Fang named top medical officer for state veterans agency

GOVERNMENT

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs announced the appointment of Dr. Sean Ercan-Fang as chief medical officer. Ercan-Fang most recently practiced at the Minneapolis VA Healthcare System serving as a staff physician in the Extended Care and Rehabilitation Department.

EDUCATION

Junior Achievement announced that two teams of teen entrepreneurs from Minnesota high schools will compete in Atlanta for the title of Junior Achievement Company of the Year against other student-run business: Green Garden Bakery, a maker of vegetable-based desserts, was created by a group from various north Minneapolis high schools through the nonprofit Urban Strategies; and EARTHA, which creates fashion accessories from recycled glass beads, was started by a team of female entrepreneurs from Mounds View High School. … The Goddard School, a national early childhood education franchise, announced plans to open a campus at 2364 Valleyhigh Drive NW, Rochester, in September; the franchise owner is Callie Voelz.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

TopLine Financial Credit Union, Maple Grove, announced the opening of a branch at 7015 Alvarado Lane North, Maple Grove. … Holmes Murphy, an Iowa-based insurance brokerage, announced the following shareholder additions in Minneapolis: Abby Zipoy, Annie Bushey, Erin Velo, Michael Roane, Nathan Cassin and Nick Karls. … Merrill Lynch Wealth Management announced that Minnetonka-based financial adviser Krystal Julius was named to Forbes‘ 2025 “Top Women Wealth Advisors”, Forbes’ 2025 “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State”, Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors”, and Financial Planning’s “Top 40 Brokers Under 40” lists.

HEALTH CARE

Health insurer UnitedHealth Group, Eden Prairie, has promoted Mike Cotton to lead the company’s Medicaid insurance segment; Bobby Hunter, head of the Medicare insurance division, will take on an expanded role as chief executive officer of government programs, overseeing both Medicaid and Medicare. In UnitedHealth’s Optum unit, Dhivya Suryadevara, a former chief financial officer at General Motors, becomes CEO of Optum Insight, and Roger Connor, who previously held that role, is now CFO of the broader Optum division. The changes were reported by Bloomberg News. … MNsure, the Minnesota state health insurance exchange, announced the appointment of Yusra Arab to its board of directors and the reappointment of Dr. Daniel Trajano to a second term. Arab previously served as a policy aide for the Minneapolis City Council. Additionally, the board elected David Fisher as chair and Trajano vice chair.

LAW

Janet Dorr has been elected secretary/treasurer of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section. Dorr is a shareholder at Fredrikson, Minneapolis, which announced the election.

MEDIA

Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul, announced two additions to its board of trustees: Sarah Karon, board president of the Library Foundation for Sarasota County, Fla., and District 5 Town Commissioner in Longboat Key Fla.; and Brian Harrison, political scientist and author, who most recently taught at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

NONPROFITS

Old School by Steeple People, a thrift store, announced that it will take over the former Huge Improv Theater/Art Materials space at 2728 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, with an expected opening date of July 18. … Project for Pride in Living, a Minneapolis-based affordable-housing and employment services provider, announced Pauleen Le has joined as the director of communications and marketing. Le most recently was a news anchor and reporter at WCCO-TV.

REAL ESTATE

HomeServices of America, a Minneapolis-based Berkshire Hathaway franchised real estate agency, announced the appointment of Renee Gonzales as vice president-core services integrations, a newly created role. Gonzales will remain as CEO of Long Realty, Tucson, Ariz.

UTILITIES

Xcel Energy, Minneapolis, announced the appointment of Ryan Long as executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer, succeeding Rob Berntsen. Long will continue is his current role as president of Xcel Energy – Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Long previously served as interim general counsel in late 2023 and early 2024.

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