at the top
Ability Network, Minneapolis, named Ken Ernsting chief operating officer. Ernsting joined Ability in 2012 as executive vice president of corporate development and has held leadership positions at WebMD, Medical Manager Corp. and Versyss.
Meridian, New Brighton, named James Smith chief operating officer. Smith was head of Allina Health's inpatient and residential mental health and chemical dependency services. He has held leadership positions at Right Management, Target, Jostens and Carlson.
moving up
Allianz Life, Golden Valley, named Renee West senior vice president of actuarial. West has more than 31 years of actuarial experience and was a senior actuarial assistant in 1983 for Allianz Life. She worked for Fortis Financial Group and Ameriprise Financial before returning to Allianz in 2000 as vice president of product development.
Doran Construction, Bloomington, named Ryan Kuznia vice president/director of operations. Kuznia joined Doran in 2012 and has worked for Lund Martin Construction. Doran also named Scott Casanova vice president/major projects. Casanova has worked for Carstensen Contracting, Ryan Cos. and Weis Builders.
on the move
Fredrikson & Byron, Minneapolis, named Mercedes Jackson an officer in the Private Equity and Bank & Finance groups. Jackson was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago and is a graduate of Yale Law School. Fredrikson also named Bradley Wallace senior associate in the Private Equity and Bank & Finance groups.
Moss & Barnett, Minneapolis, named Jeffrey Leclerc a commercial real estate development and finance attorney and shareholder. Leclerc was a shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine and is a graduate of the University of North Dakota.
Opus Development Co., Minnetonka, named Pete Carlson senior vice president of its Minneapolis office. Carlson was a co-founder and partner of Chesapeake Cos.
Knutson Construction, St. Louis Park, named Mike Palmer project manager. Palmer was project manager for Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. He is a U.S. Green Building Council member and LEED accredited professional. Knutson also named Dan Imre project manager. Imre has more than 20 years of construction experience and is a graduate of Augsburg College.
on the board
Ecolab, St. Paul, named Suzanne Vautrinot to the board. She is a retired Air Force major general who worked in cyber operations, plans and policies, strategic security and space operations.
Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association's Patent Litigation Committee named Grant Fairbairn chairman. Fairbairn is an attorney for Fredrikson & Byron.
