Whether it's UnitedHealthcare, Best Buy Co. Inc. or one of the many other corporate behemoths in the Twin Cities, 2013 will surely be a pivotal stretch for the area's companies and their leaders.

As we usher in the New Year, the Star Tribune has chosen 10 key executives who will likely shape the fortunes of Minnesota's top businesses and initiatives in 2013.

Among them are Gail Boudreaux, who's preparing UnitedHealthcare for major reforms in medical care, and Richard Schulze, who is staging a bid to purchase Best Buy, the Minnesota electronics retailer he founded. Also on the list is HomeServices' Ron Peltier, who's eager to gain a bigger foothold in the national real estate market.

Some major development projects are underway, too. They include the Vikings stadium, aimed as the thread to bring together adjoining downtown neighborhoods, as well serve as the home base for sports beyond just football. With a groundbreaking scheduled for October, Ted Mondale, CEO of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, will be busy completing the design for the stadium and acquiring the land for the project.

Other local execs are charged with spearheading major turnaround efforts at their companies, including Supervalu CEO Wayne Sales, who could end up selling off chunks of the grocery giant. And let's not forget Hubert Joly, CEO of Best Buy, who is trying to stabilize the electronics retailer even as Schulze tries to get his company back.