Nick Gust

Bluestem Brands, Inc. operates as a multi-brand online retailer. It offers home products such as housewares, entertainment related, bed and bath, lawn and garden items, home furnishings, and hardware products. The firm also offers a variety of credit options to provide families on a budget the flexibility of paying over time. The company was founded by Thomas J. Petters and Theodore Deikel in 2002 and is headquartered in Eden Prairie, MN.

Minnesota Public Radio operates radio stations produces programs for radio, Internet, and face-to-face audiences. It operates 37-stations radio network serving to the people in Minnesota and in parts of Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Michigan, Iowa, and Idaho. The company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in St. Paul, MN.

OptumRx, Inc. provides pharmacy benefit management services. It manages the prescription drug benefit of commercial, medicare and governmental health plans, as well as those of employers and unions. The firm serves members through mail service. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Costa Mesa, CA.

Johnsonville LLC manufactures sausage products from meat. Its products include fully cooked links, rope, flame grilled, ground, fresh breakfast, chicken and turkey sausages. The company was founded by Ralph F. Stayer and Alice Stayer in 1945 and is headquartered in Sheboygan Falls, WI.

Northwestern University is a private institution founded in 1851 to serve the Northwest Territory, an area that now includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota. Northwestern has three campuses

Digi-Key Corp. distributes electronic components. It also distributes semiconductors, discrete, electromechanical parts. Its products include audio products, batteries, cable assemblies, capacitors, computer & video accessories, connectors, crystals & oscillators, discrete semiconductor products and many more. The company was founded by Ronald A. Stordahl in 1972 and is headquartered in Thief River Falls, MN.

J&B Group, Inc. manufactures and distributes fresh meat, poultry, and deli products. Its products include beef, poultry, pork and fish. The company was founded in 1970 and is headquartered in St. Michael, MN.

Red Wing Shoe Co., Inc. manufactures branded work shoes such as Red Wing. The firm's products include casual, outdoor shoes and work and steel-toed boots under the Heritage Collection, Vasque, Irish Setter, WORX, and Carhartt Footwear brands. The company was founded by Charles H. Beckman in 1905 and is headquartered in Red Wing, MN.

The University of St. Thomas is an institution that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The private company is based in St. Paul, MN. It offers over 150 undergraduate majors and minors, as well as graduate programs in various fields such as business, engineering, law, education, social work, and arts and humanities. The University of St. Thomas was founded in 1885 by John Ireland.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota offers social services. It enables people with disabilities to lead full and more independent lives. The company was founded in 1865 and is headquartered in St. Paul, MN.

Fraser is a nonprofit organization that specializes in providing healthcare, housing, education, employment, and support services for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including those with co-occurring autism or mental health issues. Fraser is based in Minneapolis, MN and is the Upper Midwest's premier provider of autism services and largest provider of early childhood mental health services. The organization is nationally recognized for its expertise in treating early childhood autism and mental health. The private company's continuum of services helps individuals and families with special needs to live life to their fullest potential, with a focus on specialty healthcare and inclusion services for autism, mental health, and disabilities.

Quality Ingredients Corporation is a contract spray drying private company based in Burnsville, MN. The company specializes in turning liquid into powder and offer custom spray drying and product development services. QIC works with customers to build a manufacturing process customized to their needs, creating a seamless extension of their company. The company focuses on building long-term partnerships and providing a manufacturing advantage to their customers.

Daniele International, Inc. processes and sells gourmet food products. The firm’s products include del duca prosciutto, sopressata, salame, capocollo, pancetta, mortadella, chorizo, paninos and pepper shooters. The company was founded by Stefano Dukcevich and Carolina Dukcevich in 1945 and is headquartered in Pascoag, RI.

Crew Carwash, Inc. provides car wash services. The private company is based in Indianapolis, IN.

Bridgewater Bank provides banking services. It offers commercial deposits and loans, personal deposit and loans, and business services. The company was founded by Jerry Baack and Jeffrey D. Shellberg in November 2005 and is headquartered in St. Louis Park, MN.

Great Range Capital LLC (Great Range Capital) is a private equity firm founded in 2010 by Ryan M. Sprott and Paul D. Maxwell. The firm is headquartered in Mission Woods, Kansas.

Kipsu, Inc. operates as a cloud-based technology platform. It specializes in enterprise software, improving staff to customer relationship and high touch customer service. The company was founded by Geoff Dutton, Chris Smith, Joseph Rueter and Douglas M. Ramler in 2010 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

The American Polocrosse Association offers educational programs to promote the sport of polocrosse for both youth and adult players. The private company is based in Bonneau.

Jonny Pops LLC offers frozen foods. The company was founded by Connor Wray and Thomas Erik Brust and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

Ryt-Way Industries, LLC has been in the foods packaging business for years. The company is organized into two groups, Contract Packaging and Food Products, which produce/package cereals, soup mixes, seasonings, salad garnishes, snack mixes, dry mix products, and fiber laxatives. Walk down the aisle of any food distribution store and there will likely be products that have been blended, packaged, and/or produced by Ryt-way. The firm's serves many of the largest food and pharmaceutical companies in the United States. Customers are also located in Europe and the Middle East. Because of the commitment and trust that exists between each customer and Ryt-way, they have earned a reputation of providing quality products and services for their customers. Founded by Glenn Hasse, Ryt-way has grown from a fledgling venture, into one of the largest contract packagers of dry food products in the United States.