Business People: Retired Rise CEO Lynn Noren honored for disability community work

The Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation, Roseville, announced that Lynn Noren has received its 2025 MOHR Legacy Leader Award, honoring recently retied individuals for their contributions to the field of disability services. Noren retired in December as CEO of Rise, a Fridley-based provider of employment services and social services for people with disabilities. … Bemidji State University unveiled its 2025 class of distinguished alumni honorees: Dr. Kenneth Anderson ’03, instructor, Pikos Institute; Christine Imbra ’80, professor emerita, St. Cloud State University, and Tuleah Palmer ‘00, president and CEO, Blandin Foundation. Additionally, Michael Herbert ‘79 professor emeritus of criminal justice at Bemidji State, has been named an Alumni Service Award winner. … The Washington County Community Development Agency announced the following local awards bestowed by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials: Outstanding Professional of the Year: Melissa Taphorn, CDA executive director; and Bluestem Apartments, Cottage Grove, Community Innovation Award of Merit and Award of Excellence in the Affordable Housing category.

Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co., a Minneapolis-based provider of professional liability insurance for attorneys, announced the election of Harold Goldner as chair of its board of directors. He succeeds John Bowden, who will continue to serve on the board. Goldner is a principal at Friedman Schuman Layser in Fort Washington, Pa. … Värde Partners, a global alternative investment firm with headquarters in Minneapolis and New York, announced the elevation of Missy Dolski to partner and global head of Asset-Based Finance and the hiring of Jim Lees as managing director, Asset-Based Finance. Lees most recently served as a managing director on the ABF team at KKR & Co. Inc.

Ballard Spahr announced that Matthew Ebert has joined the firm’s Litigation Department as of counsel in the Minneapolis office. Ebert is a former assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota. … Fredrikson announced that attorney Lindsey M. Pederson has joined the firm’s Corporate, Finance & Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions groups in the Minneapolis office. … The Eighth Circuit Bar Association announced the Richard S. Arnold Award for Distinguished Service was awarded to attorney Thomas H. Boyd of the Minneapolis law firm Winthrop & Weinstine. Boyd previously clerked for the Honorable Ronald E. Longstaff of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa and later for the Honorable Donald P. Lay, then chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and is a member of the American Law Institute.

The Toro Co., a Bloomington-based maker of lawn mowers and snow removal machines for consumers and businesses, announced the promotion of Grant M. Young to group vice president of Golf, Grounds and Irrigation. Young succeeds Edric Funk, who was recently appointed president and chief operating officer. Young has served as vice president of Commercial since 2023. … H.B. Fuller Co., a Vadnais Heights-based maker of glues, coatings and sealants for industry and consumers, announced the appointment of Celine Martin to its board of directors, effective Dec. 1. Martin most recently served from 2022 to 2025 as the company group chairman of the Cardiovascular & Specialty Solutions Group at Johnson & Johnson.

MILESTONES

WSI Sports, an Eagan-based provider of specialty athletic wear, is celebrating 35 years in business. The company’s clients include professional major-league athletes Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Larry Fitzgerald, Joe Mauer and Kobe Bryant. Joel Wiens is founder and CEO.

Jeremiah Program, a Minneapolis-based national anti-poverty organization serving single mothers and their children, announced the appointment of Amanda Luedtke as executive director of its Minneapolis campus. Luedtke most recently served as senior division director of Children and Family Services at Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

45 North Group, a St. Louis Park-based commercial real estate firm, announced the appointment of Becky Sonmore as a senior project manager. Sonmore most recently served in a similar role at RSP Architects.

Egon Zehnder, a global leadership advisory and executive search firm, announced the opening of an office at 30 South 9th St. 7th Floor, Minneapolis.

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