FWIW Open letter from more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies

[dalton99a]

https://www.mnchamber.com/blog/open-letter-more-60-ceos-minnesota-based-companies

Open letter from more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies

Jan 25, 2026

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released this letter on behalf of more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies today.

The full text of the letter appears below.

The business community in Minnesota prides itself in providing leadership and solving problems to ensure a strong and vibrant state. The recent challenges facing our state have created widespread disruption and tragic loss of life. For the past several weeks, representatives of Minnesota’s business community have been working every day behind the scenes with federal, state and local officials to advance real solutions. These efforts have included close communication with the Governor, the White House, the Vice President and local mayors. There are ways for us to come together to foster progress.

With yesterday’s tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions.

We have been working for generations to build a strong and vibrant state here in Minnesota and will do so in the months and years ahead with equal and even greater commitment. In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future.

Signatories:

3M – William Brown, Chairman and CEO

Allianz Life Insurance Company – Jasmine Jirele, President and CEO

Allina – Lisa Shannon, President and CEO, Tim Welsh, Board Chair

Ameriprise Financial – James Cracchiolo, Chairman and CEO

Anchor Paper – Brooke Lee, CEO

Andersen Corporation – Chris Galvin, Chairman and CEO

APi Group – Russell Becker, CEO and President

Best Buy – Corie Barry, CEO

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota – Dana Erickson, President and CEO

Boston Scientific – Joseph Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President and Group President, Cardiology

Cargill – Brian Sikes, Board Chair and CEO

Carlson – Scott Gage, Chair

CentraCare Health – Kenneth Holmen, M.D., President and CEO

C.H. Robinson – Dave Bozeman, President and CEO

CHS – Jay Debertin, President and CEO

Children’s Minnesota – Emily Chapman, M.D., CEO

Delta Dental of Minnesota – Rodney Young, CEO

Deluxe Corporation – Barry McCarthy, President and CEO

Donaldson Company, Inc. – Tod Carpenter, Chairman, President and CEO

ECMC Group – Dan Fisher, CEO

Ecolab – Christophe Beck, Chairman and CEO

Essentia Health – Dr. David Herman, CEO

Fairview Health Services – James Hereford, President and CEO

Faribault Mill – Ross Widmoyer, President and CEO

Gardner Builders – Bob Gardner, Founder and CEO

General Mills – Jeff Harmening, Chairman and CEO

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare – Barbara Joers, President and CEO

Greater MSP – Peter Frosch, CEO

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation – Dr. Joseph Lee, President and CEO

HealthPartners – Andrea Walsh, President and CEO

Hormel – Jeff Ettinger, Interim CEO

Kraus-Anderson Companies, Inc. – Peter J. Diessner, CEO

Land O'Lakes – Beth Ford, President and CEO

Liberty Diversified International – Mike Fiterman, Chairman

Marsden Holding – Guy Mingo, President and CEO

Mayo Clinic – Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., President and CEO

Medica – Lisa Erickson, President and CEO

Medtronic – Geoff Martha, CEO and Chairman

Minnesota Business Partnership – Kurt Zellers, CEO

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce – Doug Loon, President and CEO

Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx – On behalf of the entire organization

Minnesota United FC – Shari Ballard, CEO

Minnesota Vikings – On behalf of the entire organization

Minnesota Wild – On behalf of the entire organization

Mortenson – David Mortenson, Chairperson

New Horizon Academy – Chad Dunkley, CEO

nVent – Beth Woxniak, Chair and CEO

Patterson Companies – Robert Rajalingam, CEO

Pentair – John L. Staunch, President and CEO

Piper Sandler – Chad Abraham, Chairman and CEO

Prime Therapeutics – Mostafa Kamal, President and CEO

Red Wing Shoes – Allison Gettings, President and CEO

Ryan Companies US, Inc. – Brian Murray, CEO

Securian Financial Group – Chris Hilger, Chairman, President and CEO

Sleep Number – Linda Findley, President and CEO

SPS Commerce – Chad Collins, CEO

Target – Michael Fiddelke, Incoming CEO

Tennant Company – Dave Huml, President and CEO

Thrivent – Teresa Rasmussen, President and CEO

The Toro Company – Rick Olson, Chairman and CEO

UnitedHealth Group – Stephen J. Hemsley, CEO

U.S. Bancorp – Gunjan Kedia, CEO

Winnebago – Michael Happe, President and CEO

Xcel Energy – Bob Frenzel, Chairman, President and CEO


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Who created the tensions in Minnesota?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. Weak sauce

[yardwork]

3. Both sides....

[Ritabert]

15. Yep. We know who's escalating tensions.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Pathetic that they just don't understand what's going on. /nt

[dalton99a]

5. Betcha most of them are GOP donors

[bucolic_frolic]

8. That's a given, and most worried their money might stop

and they might not get their bonuses and stock warrants.

[Ritabert]

16. Yep.

[RockRaven]

4. Where do your campaign donations and dark money go, motherfuckers?

Assuredly, most of you bought this very outcome. Go fuck yourselves!

[sop]

6. Meaningless corporate pablum

[jmbar2]

7. IOW, "Please don't boycott" us if we donate to GOP causes

[MagickMuffin]

9. Noticed ULINE didn't sign, but they benefit from the Chaos

They are funding it him and the mrs.

[mopinko]

13. uline hq is in wis.

[MagickMuffin]

17. Thx for the clarification 🌹

I couldn't remember which state they were in.

[Whyisthisstillclose]

10. SRFO-Support Republicans Find Out

[Initech]

11. Just one company created the tensions in Minnesota - News Corporation.

[JHB]

12. Corporate mealy-mouthing. Only one entity is escalating yet they "socialize" the de-escalation

[Blue Owl]

14. Seems like all this started after the ICE occupation

So why the tiptoeing — can’t it be identified as such?

I bet 90% of the CEOs of these companies are Republican cowards, only interested in their profits.

[UpInArms]

18. Close your shops

Until they leave

[BeyondGeography]

19. You mean, go back to the way things were before ICE showed up?

Right, cowards?

[fujiyamasan]

20. weak sauce, just pathetic

Not at all impressed.

How is the state and local government not working to lower tensions?

What is the point of this nonsense? Tell the beneficiaries (which is mostly the GOP) of your largesse to stop assaulting the state.