Minnesota CEOs join Children's Minnesota in response to recent tragedy

This release was originally posted on here on the Children's Minnesota website.
The following is a statement on behalf of more than 50 executive leaders from across the state, including Land O'Lakes CEO Beth Ford. They are joining together to stand united against acts of racism and violence.
As business leaders in Minnesota committed to the principles of greater equity, diversity and inclusion in our companies and in our community, we are deeply saddened and horrified by the recent death of Mr. George Floyd. We share our sincere condolences with his family and friends, and all those who mourn this tragic loss. His death while being restrained by Minneapolis police officers is yet another senseless loss of life—one that reflects deeply ingrained, long-standing injustice within our society. We are encouraged by the quick response of the authorities in terminating the officers and launching an investigation. We anticipate that it will lead to justice and accountability. It is hard to watch the video of the event as it is clearly evident Mr. Floyd was not treated with the dignity and respect he was due as a human being. These acts are painful and traumatic for our entire community, especially our communities of color. The repeated occurrence of racially charged events of this nature are contrary to the close-knit employment and residential communities we desire to have in Minnesota. We are committed to taking steps to eliminate the repeat of events like this in our society and committed to investing in substantive change in our organizations and the communities we serve to address racial inequities and social justice.
Change has to start today, and it needs to start with us.

---

Michael F. Roman 
3M
Penny Wheeler, MD 
Allina Health 
Jay Lund
Andersen Corporation
Russell Becker 
APi Group
Amy Ronneberg 
Be The Match
Corie Barry 
Best Buy
Craig E. Samitt, MD 
Blue Cross MN
David MacLennan 
Cargill
Marc Gorelick, MD 
Children’s Minnesota
Bob Biesterfeld 
C.H. Robinson
Barry C. McCarthy 
Deluxe Corporation
Ron Konezny 
Digi International
Paul Sween 
Dominium
Doug Baker 
Ecolab
Greg Mason 
Edina Realty Homes Services
Michael J. O’Leary 
Ernst & Young LLP
James Hereford 
Fairview Health Services
Bob Gardner 
Gardner Builders
Jeff Harmening 
General Mills
Amy Goldman 
GHR Foundation
Peter Frosch 
Greater MSP
Mark G. Mishek 
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Andrea Walsh 
HealthPartners
Jennifer DeCubellis 
Hennepin Healthcare
Beth E. Ford 
Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Greg Frankenfield 
Magenic
Michelle Edwards 
Martell Diagnostics
John Naylor 
Medica
Geoff Martha 
Medtronic
Mark Westphal 
Michael Foods
Charlie Weaver 
Minnesota Business Partnership
Craig Leipold 
Minnesota Wild
Daniel L. Johnson 
Mortenson Construction
David C. Mortenson 
Mortenson Construction
J. Kevin Croston, MD 
North Memorial Health
Nico Wyrobek 
Northstar Balloons LLC 
Morris Packaging Minnesota LLC
Timothy Murnane 
The Opus Group
Chad Abraham 
Piper Sandler Companies
Howard Friedman 
Post Consumer Brands
Eric J. Mercer 
PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services LLC
Michael Armstrong 
RBC Wealth Management 
Tom Sagissor 
RBC Wealth Management
Mark Urdahl 
Red Wing Shoes
Brian C. Murray 
Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Lisa Brezonik  
Salo, LLC
Christopher M. Hilger 
Securian Financial Group, Inc.
Drew Niemeyer 
Smarte Carte 
Archie Black 
SPS Commerce
Brian Cornell 
Target
Terry Rasmussen 
Thrivent
David Wichmann 
UnitedHealth Group
Julie Sullivan 
University of St. Thomas
Bill Gray 
Uponor North America
Andrew Cecere 
US Bank
Laurie Nordquist 
Wells Fargo MN
Michael J. Happe 
Winnebago Industries
Ben Fowke 
Xcel Energy, Inc.
Glen Gunderson 
YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities