Kristen Leigh Painter
Deputy Business Editor
BusinessPainter has had a diverse reporting career, interviewing dignitaries in Tokyo, rebel leaders in Sudan and slaughterhouse workers in Nebraska. She has a master’s of arts in journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder and bachelor of science degree in history from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, daughter and an energetic Labrador retriever named Luna. In her free time, Painter likes to run, read fiction and plan her family’s next trip or outdoor adventure.
Latest from Kristen Leigh Painter
Variety
Two editors — one a Taylor Swift fan, the other a Travis Kelce fan — want to stop talking about it, but can't
Minneapolis Star Tribune editors take up the cultural conversation about the NFL, women fans and media hype ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Minnesota Vikings game.
October 6, 2023
Business
Delta changes SkyMiles program: Want status? Spend more.
Delta Air Lines is changing how travelers earn status, starting in January for travel in 2025 and beyond.
September 14, 2023
Business
Cargill posts record annual revenue of $177B, the most of any U.S. private company
The Minnetonka-based agribusiness giant records another banner year of revenue gains. It's the largest private company in America.
August 2, 2023
Business
Owner of Bloomington-based Precision Lens dies in Montana plane crash
Paul Ehlen, who founded the Minnesota cataracts lens company, died on Tuesday upon takeoff of his World War II vintage aircraft.
June 28, 2023
Agriculture
Cargill's ex-CEO 'DMac' reflects: 'The next 10 years will be far more volatile'
Dave MacLennan led the agribusiness behemoth through some of its most dynamic years of change, with the last three among the wildest in the company's recent memory.
January 28, 2023
Business![Evan Ramstad poses for a portrait Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 at Capella Tower Stadium in Minneapolis. ]](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/ZCBTYARMTSJNEXLG4OJZGNRKCE.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)
Meet Evan Ramstad, the Star Tribune's newest business columnist
Ramstad, a native Iowan, has worked as a reporter and editor for 35 years.
December 27, 2022
Business
Cargill names a new CEO: Sikes to succeed MacLennan on Jan. 1
Brian Sikes will take over the top post of America's largest private company from Dave MacLennan, who has held the role for the past decade.
November 21, 2022
Business
In major retreat, Bright Health halts individual health insurance coverage
The Bloomington-based health insurer will halt individual coverage in 15 states and reduce Medicare Advantage plans to just California and Florida.
October 11, 2022
Agriculture
Cargill's ex-CEO 'DMac' reflects: 'The next 10 years will be far more volatile'
Dave MacLennan led the agribusiness behemoth through some of its most dynamic years of change, with the last three among the wildest in the company's recent memory.
January 28, 2023
Business
Meet Evan Ramstad, the Star Tribune's newest business columnist
Ramstad, a native Iowan, has worked as a reporter and editor for 35 years.
December 27, 2022
Business
Cargill names a new CEO: Sikes to succeed MacLennan on Jan. 1
Brian Sikes will take over the top post of America's largest private company from Dave MacLennan, who has held the role for the past decade.
November 21, 2022
Business
In major retreat, Bright Health halts individual health insurance coverage
The Bloomington-based health insurer will halt individual coverage in 15 states and reduce Medicare Advantage plans to just California and Florida.
October 11, 2022