Image Caption

Destination Medical Center / Paul Vincent

We're Here to Help

Whether you're looking to start a new business, expand an existing business, relocate from another state or country, export your goods, or need regulatory and permitting guidance, the State of Minnesota’s business consultants will help turn your plans into reality.

Contact Us

First Name

Last Name

Organization

Email Address

How can we help you? (Click one of the following options)

Locate and Expand

Exporting, International Investments and Protocol

Start and Grow (Small Business)

Message

Submitting this form means you may be contacted by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. We won't share or sell your email address or personal information with any other party for any reason. For more details, read our privacy policy.

Our Team

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (MN DEED) is the state's principal economic and workforce development agency and your partner in doing business in Minnesota.

Economic Development Leadership

Matt Varilek
Commissioner

Kevin McKinnon
Deputy Commissioner, Economic Development and Research
Kevin.mckinnon@state.mn.us
(651) 259-7432

Business Development Office

Your guide to Minnesota. We work hand-in-hand with companies looking to expand or locate in Minnesota. Our team can assist you with site identification, addressing site due diligence needs, managing Minnesota's regulatory and permitting process, accessing financial assistance, tapping into workforce recruitment and training and development solutions, and more.

Catalina Valencia
Executive Director
Catalina.valencia@state.mn.us
(651) 259-7432

Business Development Managers
Chet Bodin
Northwest Region
chet.bodin@state.mn.us
(218) 232-0022

Bradley Brzezinski
Northeast Region
bradley.brzezinski@state.mn.us
(218) 310-7757

Colleen Eddy
Twin Cities Metro Region
colleen.eddy@state.mn.us
(651) 259-7459

Matt Hauck
Twin Cities Metro Region
matthew.hauck@state.mn.us
(651) 259-7296

David Heyer
West Central Region
david.j.heyer@state.mn.us
(651) 259-7468

Lisa Hughes
Southwest Region
colleen.eddy@state.mn.us
(507) 344-2601

Natalie Siderius
Southeast Region
natalie.siderius@state.mn.us
(507) 205-6069

Minnesota Business First Stop
Licensing, permitting and regulatory matters. Minnesota Business First Stop cuts through the thicket of state bureaucracy, programs, and services to find the right information and resources to help meet your development goals.

Chet Bodin
Director of Minnesota Business First Stop
firststop@state.mn.us
855-893-2099

Workforce Strategy Consultants
We connect businesses to the talent they need to succeed through innovative workforce solutions and facilitating collaboration.

Jessica Miller
Director of Workforce Strategy and Southeast/Southwest Strategy Consultant
jessica.miller@state.mn.us
(507) 508-2578

Adesewa Adesiji
Metro Workforce Strategy Consultant
adesewa.adesiji@state.mn.us
(952) 261-6942

Shayla Drake
Northeast Workforce Strategy Consultant
shayla.drake@state.mn.us
(218) 380-2510

Della Ludwig
Central Workforce Strategy Consultant
della.ludwigi@state.mn.us
(320) 423-0121

James Whirlwind Soldier
Northwest Workforce Strategy Consultant
james.whilrlwindsoldier@state.mn.us
(651) 323-7891

Minnesota Trade Office

We provide international export assistance to Minnesota's manufacturers and service providers and help foreign companies explore the advantages of expanding or locating in Minnesota.

Note: Agricultural businesses seeking export guidance should contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Gabrielle Gerbaud
Executive Director and Chief Protocol Officer
State of Minnesota
Gabrielle.Gerbaud@state.mn.us
(651) 707-2387

Laurence Reszetar
Director, International Business Strategy
laurence.reszetar@state.mn.us
651-785-7211 (WhatsApp and iMessages welcome)

Elise Buchen
International Business Development Manager and Protocol Officer
elise.buchen@state.mn.us
651-387-0335

Rachel Limón
Regional Trade Manager: Higher Education, Latin America, Mexico, Caribbean, and China; Protocol Officer
rachel.limon@state.mn.us
(651) 259-7492

Nate Long
Regional Trade Specialist: Clean Tech & Energy Transition
nate.long@state.mn.us
651-248-3745

Barbara Mattson
Regional Trade Manager: Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
barbara.mattson@state.mn.us
(651) 248-7230

Mykola Megits
Regional Trade Manager: Central & Eastern Europe, and Central Asia
mykola.megits@state.mn.us
(651) 248-2215

Aeli Rosin
Regional Trade Specialist: MedTech and India; Protocol Officer
aeli.rosin@state.mn.us
(651) 259-7487

Molly Rabbit
Administrative Specialist
molly.rabbit@state.mn.us

Small Business & Innovation Office

We help startups and small businesses start, scale, and succeed by providing technical assistance, connections to resources, and access to capital.

Neela Mollgaard
Office of Small Business and Innovation
Executive Director
Neela.mollgaard@state.mn.us

Rob Cimperman
Director, Launch Minnesota
LaunchMinnesota@state.mn.us

Andrew Donahue
Director, Small Business Development Centers
deed.mnsbdc@state.mn.us

Charles Schaffer
Director, Small Business Assistance
Smallbusiness@state.mn.us

Brandon Toner
Director, Community Partnerships
Smallbusiness@state.mn.us

Tammy Wickstrom
Director, Child Care Office
Tammy.Wickstrom@state.mn.us

For a full list of the MN DEED’s Senior Leadership Team and contact information, click HERE.