Business People: Code Savvy names Marvis Kilgore executive director

EDUCATION

Code Savvy, a Minneapolis nonprofit offering computer science training programs to students and school districts focused on traditionally underserved student communities, announced Marvis Kilgore has been named executive director. Kilgore previously served as program director for Sirtify, a Normandale Community College program dedicated to recruiting and empowering Black men in K-12 teaching.

APPAREL

Abode Outside, a Corcoran, Minn.-based provider of four-season outdoor apparel, announced the additions of four outside rep agencies nationwide, including Skyline Sales, Duluth, run by Bill and Tif Gange.

DEVELOPMENT

The Goodman Group, a Chaska-based developer and manager of senior living and retirement communities, announced it has appointed Kevin Carden as vice president of investments for its JBG Design & Development affiliate, specializing in interior design services, project planning, development, acquisitions and renovation for The Goodman Group’s managed communities.

HONORS

St. Paul-based marketing agency AIMCLEAR announced it won seven awards, including Best Small Integrated Agency, at the 2024 U.S. Search Awards, a contest for search-based integrated marketing. Other awards were: Best Use of Search in B2B SEO; Best Use of Search in Health; Best use of Social Media in a Search Campaign; Best Use of Data PPC; Best SEO Campaign (Silver Award); Best Use of Search in B2B PPC (Silver Award). The firm also announced that Ragan Communications in New York honored AIMCLEAR Chief Marketing Officer Amanda Farley as one of its Top Women in Marketing. … Ameriprise Financial, Minneapolis, announced the firm won five awards for excellence in learning and development from research and analyst firm Brandon Hall Group. Ameriprise received four gold and one bronze award in the category of Human Capital Management Excellence for innovative and effective training and development programs. … Hormel Foods Corp., an Austin, Minn.-based provider of grocery store prepared food brands, announced it has been named on Military Times’ 2024 Best for Vets employer list for the 12th consecutive year.

LAW

Fredrikson, Minneapolis, announced that firm president Melodie R. Rose has been elected as a fellow of the American College of Governance Counsel, an organization of corporate governance lawyers from the U.S. and Canada. The firm also announced that attorney John M. Koneck has been named a Minnesota ICON Honoree for 2024 by Minnesota Lawyer and Finance & Commerce for his work and contributions to the community. … The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers announced that Minneapolis attorney Ryan Garry is one of seven individuals nationwide elected to serve on its board of directors; Garry is the founder and owner of the Law Offices of Ryan Garry.

NONPROFITS

St. Paul-based Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota announced new executive roles for three organizational leaders: Elizabeth Saevig, vice president of Grants, Data Intelligence and Evaluation; Jaime Wilkins, vice president of Economic Opportunity & Youth Support Services, and Heidi Wiste, associate vice president of Children & Family Services.

OPENINGS

Queermunity, a social and cultural space dedicated to Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ community, announced its opening at 3036 Hennepin Ave., Uptown, Minneapolis.

RETAIL

Navab Brothers Rug Co., an importer and retailer of rugs, announced the retirement of co-founder Sam Navab. Along with his brother Far, Navab expanded the original Oriental Rug Services business into four ongoing locations: Navab Brothers Rug Co. in St. Louis Park; Navab Brothers Outlet at American Rug Laundry in Minneapolis; American Rug Laundry in Golden Valley, and Legacy Looms in International Market Square, Minneapolis.

TECHNOLOGY

Clearfield, a Plymouth-based communication fiber management company, announced the election of Kate Kelly and Ademir Sarcevic to its board of directors, effective Dec. 11. Kelly most recently was regional president and executive vice president at PNC and has held leadership roles at U.S. Bank, Minnesota Bank & Trust and Bremer Financial; Sarcevic currently serves as vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer at Standex International, a global industrials company.