Date: January 27, 2016

Contact: David Hakensen

FleishmanHillard
(612) 573-3111
For Immediate Release

JOHN STANOCH NAMED INTERIM PRESIDENT OF

MINNEAPOLIS REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Board Appointment Follows Resignation of President and CEO Todd Klingel
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 27 Business leader and former Hennepin County judge John Stanoch has been
named interim president of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce by the organizations
board of directors effective April 1. His appointment follows last weeks announcement that the current
president and CEO, Todd Klingel, will retire on June 30. Klingel will continue to serve full-time as
president until March 31 and then transition to a part-time advisory role until his departure.
Stanoch has served in senior leadership positions with a number of business, government and non-profit
organizations in the community, including past service on the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of
Commerce board of directors from 2004-2009, and as board chair from 2005-2006.
We are delighted that a leader of Johns caliber is available to serve as interim president, said MRCC
Board Chair Laura McCarten. Johns extensive connections in the business and non-profit community
and his previous service to the MRCC as board chair and board member make him an ideal partner to
work with Todd during his transition to retirement.
Stanoch will become interim president on April 1. He will serve until a board-approved permanent
president and CEO is in place. Stanoch has indicated he is not a candidate for that position, but will
serve until a successor is found.
This is an exciting opportunity for me and I am looking forward to working with Todd and the terrific
staff at the Minneapolis Regional Chamber, said Stanoch. My previous work on the Chamber board,
and with Todd in particular, should help make for a smooth transition as we continue the Chambers
work on local and regional issues.
Stanoch is currently interim president of the Science Museum of Minnesota, a position that will end
when that organization names a new president this spring. He previously served as president of Qwest
Communications in Minnesota and North Dakota, as Minnesotas Chief Deputy Attorney General, as a

Hennepin County District Court judge and as CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Upper
Midwest. He has also served as a Senior Judge in the Minnesota State Court system.
Stanoch has been active in a wide range of community and professional organizations, including past
service as chair of the Science Museum of Minnesota Board of Trustees, President of the Minnesota
District Judges Association, and a board member of the Greater Minneapolis YMCA, Minnesota Business
Partnership and the Minnesota Orchestra. He currently serves on the board of Medica, the Minnesota
Council of Churches Foundation, AchieveMpls and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Political Science
Department Board of Visitors.
About the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce is comprised of over 1,000 members representing
communities throughout the 13-county metro area. Affiliates include the Bloomington Chamber of
Commerce and the Northeast Chamber of Commerce. The MRCC administers the Minnesota Keystone
awards program and Leadership Twin Cities. Our mission is to create powerful partnerships to unite and
grow member businesses in the region.

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