Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. has named Mark Phillips as its director of business development.
The name should sound familiar to those in business and commercial real estate circles -- Phillips is the former commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Developmen (DEED). Last month, Gov. Mark Dayton announced that Phillips would return to the private sector and that Katie Clark, director of the Minnesota Trade Office, will take over to head the department.
Now, Phillips is returning to Minneapolis-based Kraus-Anderson where he served as director of business development from 2007 to 2011.
Phillips has a long record of working in public affairs, governmental affairs, and economic and community development, particularly in northern Minnesota. Phillips served as director of community and economic development at the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) under Gov. Rudy Perpich, as director of corporate relations for Minnesota Power, and as vice president for Northeast Ventures/Iron Range Ventures.
Phillips lived in Virginia, Minn., for three decades, so he has deep ties to the region. He worked in Duluth for 17 years and has a long history with his alma mater, the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he earned a business degree in 1973.
Said Phillips, in a statement, ""I was honored to have the opportunity to serve the public as commissioner, and when I began contemplating my return to the private sector, I naturally reached out to Kraus-Anderson. The company and I have a very strong chemistry, and KA's activities have always set the bar for responsible economic development in our state. I'm thrilled to be back and able to put my experiences in government to good use in the private sector."
