Recent content from Catherine Roberts
Star Tribune Top Workplaces nomination deadline extended
Any organization with 50 or more employees can be nominated for the list.
Lee Anderson made his fortune by adding onto his family's plumbing business
Lee and Penny Anderson pledged $75 million to University of St. Thomas on Tuesday.
Nominate your company for Minnesota's Top Workplaces list
The deadline to nominate companies is Feb. 10.
Northshore Mining will be closed until at least next spring
Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves said Friday the company has enough scrap steel to last until next spring and won't need the Iron Range pellets until then.
Workers changed during the pandemic, and Minnesota employers must, too
More workers want flexibility, and a culture that respects their views.
Workers will demand more flexibility. Minnesota company leaders need to figure it out
Those leaders will need to come up with ways to accommodate a new way of thinking.
Inflation, supply chain troubles catch up to Minnesota public companies
Companies ended 2021 on a strong note and were able to raise prices, but in the first quarter, firms from Polaris to Target took a hit on profits or operating margins.
Polaris sees challenging quarter, with profits down 48%
Profit margins were down as the company dealt with supply-chain disruptions that had it chasing presold orders and inflation.
Several Minnesotans make Forbes billionaire list
Glen Taylor, Stanley Hubbard, Richard Schulze and a dozen Cargill heirs are among the billionaires.
Nominate your company for 2022 Minnesota Top Workplaces
The Star Tribune, working with partner Energage, will again compile the state's Top Workplaces based on a surveying process.
Moving beyond devices: Medtronic at critical juncture as technology, competition evolve
A shift in culture is key to achieving ambitious strategic business goals.
Medtronic links new branding, 'Engineering the extraordinary,' to plans for growth
CEO Geoff Martha says company is positioned with money in the bank, global supply chain and tech talent to continue leading role in med-tech industry.
Famous Dave's owner buys California steakhouse chain
Tahoe Joe's is the second acquisition BBQ Holdings has made this year.
Best Buy bringing back some teams to Richfield headquarters for holidays
The move will serve as a pilot for the plan to bring the broader staff back to the office in early 2022.
Amazon launches same-day service out of new Brooklyn Park warehouse
The five-hour delivery service applies to thousands of items on the Amazon website.
Target's fall designer collection includes Rachel Comey, Victor Glemaud, Sandy Liang
Most items in the limited collection will be under $50.
Target increases college benefit as competition for labor continues
The Minneapolis-based retailer has partnered with college programs, mostly online, to offer full coverage for front-line workers.
U.S. Bank branches to close for Juneteenth, other Minn.-based companies make it a work holiday
As part of diversity and inclusion efforts, many corporations have either made the day a holiday or a volunteer day and also have scheduled educational programming around it.
Brave New Workshop teaches how the magic behind improv can help businesses
Brave New Workshop CEO says mind-set is as important as skills and technology.
Best Buy making play for outdoor grill, accessory market
The Richfield-based retailer also said it would start featuring Tumi luggage and bags.
Twin Cities Auto Show sets up at State Fairgrounds with cars in short supply
The car show opens Saturday at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds as dealerships grapple with low inventories and consumers deal with higher prices.
$200 to be a member at Best Buy? Retailer launches pilot program in Twin Cities
In return for fee, customers get more services, discounts, warranties.
Shoreview's Deluxe buying Texas-based payment processing company for $960M
The acquisition will be the largest in Deluxe's history.
Target unveils new plan to deliver online deliveries faster
The process will be tested in the Twin Cities before being rolled out elsewhere.
Eden Prairie's iMedia wants to give Christopher & Banks a new life
The owner of ShopHQ plans to launch a weekly TV show featuring the brand and also will run the online store.
Best Buy makes deal to provide its senior services on Apple Watch
The platform will be the first to use Apple's fall detection technology.
38 Minnesota companies make national Top Workplaces list
Energage has partnered with the Star Tribune for more than a decade to produce a Top Workplaces list for Minnesota. For the first time, it has produced a national list that recognizes companies that "prioritize a people-centered culture."
Specialized mini Apple stores to open in Target locations, online
The deal also means more Apple products will be available
Best Buy will give employees time off for COVID-19 vaccine, announces bonuses
Full-time workers will receive $500, plus eight hours PTO if they get the vaccine.
Target postpones return to downtown Mpls. HQ until fall
The retailer had told employees they would return in June. Target still lists 8,500 employees as based at its headquarters.
Top Workplaces deadline extended until March 19
Any business with 50 employees in Minnesota can be nominated.
Maple Plain-based Protolabs expands 3-D printing business with $280M acquisition
3D Hubs offers an online ordering platform with over 200 manufacturing partners.
Lakeville plastics factory to close, 122 workers affected
Closing follows the sale of Imperial Plastics last spring; 122 workers to be affected.
Nominations open for Star Tribune's Top Workplaces 2021
Winners, who must allow their employees to complete a 24-question survey, will be publicly announced in June.
Minneapolis Downtown Council to offer $1.6M in small business grants
Big companies provided the money, led by a $1 million Target contribution.
Twin Cities Auto Show moving to State Fairgrounds
The annual event also is moving to May because of the pandemic.
3M to cut 2,900 positions next year in response to changes in global economy
The pandemic's economic effects made it more key to react quickly to trends, CEO says.
Rosedale offering augmented reality ride instead of in-person Santa because of COVID-19
The mall also will lean on Instagram to boost online sales for its tenants.
Chaska company turns dog treats into jobs, futures for young adults with special needs
Job development is baked into mission of Chaska-based Finley's Barkery
Leader of chicken sandwich wars named CEO of Regis
He will take over the St. Louis Park-based company after current CEO retires in October.
Medtronic hopes to expand share of diabetes management market with new acquisition
Companion Medical will help the company expand its diabetes management offerings.
3M has spent $100M on PFAS cleanup in Alabama; it agreed Friday to pay much more
Maplewood-based 3M agrees to interim deal with Alabama and the EPA to clean up chemical contamination.
Recession caused by coronavirus hits Graco, Pentair hard in Q2
Both companies saw decreases of more than 10%; earnings were down more than 25%.
Nearly 140 in Twin Cities lose jobs as Cirque de Soleil files for bankruptcy
VStar Entertainment Group in Fridley was bought up two years ago in an expansion push.
Minnesota's Top Workplaces leaders on turning a crisis into an opportunity for improvement
Top Workplaces special-award winners explain how leadership sets the tone amid new challenges.
Minnesota companies have window to have meaningful discussions about workplace culture
Minnesota's Top Workplaces have had a head start in reacting to a crisis.
Minnesota manufacturers must weigh worker safety, changing sector demands
3M’s respirators, especially N95 masks, are in so much demand, the Maplewood-based company’s plants making them are at full capacity and another production line is…
Hy-Vee offering free full-service gas service
The service will be available at select pumps at all stations.
Mask maker 3M lashes back at criticism: 'We are doing everything we can to fight COVID-19'
3M said it would work with the government to boost the availability of its respirator masks in the U.S., but rejected suggestions that it was helping customers elsewhere ahead of sick Americans.
Carousel Motor Group, JB Hudson jewelry closed until April 30 because of coronavirus
Pohlad Companies, which owns the retailers, will pay employees affected by the move.
Plymouth-based Christopher & Banks closes stores through end of month
The women's clothing chain had been in the middle of a turnaround effort that had been showing positive results.
Last week to nominate a company for 2020 Star Tribune Top Workplaces
Deadline is Friday for the 11th annual listing of Minnesota companies.
Wells Fargo's hourly minimum wage in the Twin Cities will increase to $16
The bank has adjusted minimum wages based on the standard of living in different metro markets.
Impact of coronavirus arrives on doorstep of Minnesota companies
Surveys show virus has caused supply slowdown
Star Tribune Top Workplaces nomination deadline extended
The nomination deadline for the 2020 Star Tribune Top Workplaces has been extended to March 20.This is the 11th year for Minnesota's Top Workplaces, a…
Top Workplaces nominations closing soon
Employees will take five-minute, 24-question surveys to help determine 2020's best.
Polaris CEO says company has become more 'nimble' setting up a better 2020
Polaris CEO Scott Wine said he expects a "no drama" 2020. Wine said the company has become more "nimble" with its sales organization, and trade-tariff…
Pentair positions itself to become bigger player in residential clean-water market
Pentair is making a big play in the residential water-quality market, offering "whole home" solutions from pool maintenance to filtration systems for drinking water.In the…
M&Ms 'experiential' store to open in American Girl space at Mall of America
"Chocolate wall" to be a feature of 3-story American Girl space.
Nominations for 2020 Minnesota Top Workplaces now open
This is the 11th year that the Star Tribune, Energage have produced the listing.
White Elephant gift site sells creepy clowns, thrift shop Santas to raise money for homelessness nonprofit
The Periscope marketing group created the site to help combat homelessness.
Minnetonka's Northern Oil and Gas names new CEO
Nicholas O'Grady, current chief financial officer, will take over on Jan. 1 from Brandon Elliott.
Love Your Melon releasing Star Wars-branded hats as part of Disney collaboration
The hats — which will be available the day the movie opens, Dec. 20 — will feature R2-D2, Darth Vader and Yoda.
Christopher & Banks turnaround plan starts showing promise
Retailer posts a profit in the third quarter after several losses in previous periods.
Regis sells 121 of its SmartStyle salons inside Walmarts
The SmartStyle locations are in Walmart Supercenters.
The Oprah effect has helped Edina pajama company more than triple in size
Making the favorites list of O magazine for three consecutive years has helped bring success to the Edina company — along with a host of new challenges.
Bite Squad stopping service in Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester
Duluth, St. Cloud and Rochester are losing the food-delivery service.
Edina teens' bath bomb company hits $20M in sales
"Sisterpreneurs" juggle $20M bath fizzers company as they look to their futures.
Long Lake couple win $250K investment from Mark Cuban on 'Shark Tank'
Dog Threads makes matching outfits for the whole family — including the dog.
Twin sisters launch app to match special needs clients with caregivers
Inspired by their older brother, the sisters launch a service to pair families with special needs children and caregivers.
Heavy September rains will put damper on oil production momentum in North Dakota
In August, the country's second-largest oil-producing state, hit records in both oil and natural gas production.
Duluth Pack introduces co-branded boots with Merrell
Duluth Pack and Michigan outdoor boot-maker Merrell have launched a co-branded work boot.
Minneapolis fin-tech startup offers debit card for paycheck advances
Branch works with employers to offer financial benefits mostly for hourly workers; the new
