Staff Directory 6370497

Catherine Roberts

Senior business editor | Business
Phone: 612-759-5392

As senior business editor, Catherine Roberts oversees business special projects as well as the accountability, retail, public company, workplace and energy beats.


A proud University of Illinois alumnus, after jobs in Illinois and upstate New York in business and metro news as well as features, Roberts moved to Apple Valley at the end of 2014 with her journalist husband and their two sons and has enjoyed exploring Minnesota, from the giant ball of twine to Lake Pepin, Twin Cities landmarks, town baseball and the Twins. Find her on Instagram at @cathy_robertsstrib.
Recent content from Catherine Roberts
Minneapolis-based KPMG executive Laura Newinski is now one of the Big Four accounting firm's top leaders nationally as she embarks on a five-year term

Curiosity-fueled leadership a key component in Top Workplaces

KPMG Chief Operating Officer Laura Newinski says AI is her current learning focus, and she is asking every employee to do the same.
Attorney General Keith Ellison, shown speaking during an April press conference, is the leadership award winner for the midsize employer category.

Top Workplaces special award winners say employee empowerment is key to strong leadership

A clear mission and objectives also contribute to buy-in, which in turn builds teamwork, they say.
The one constant over the past 15 years for many companies was change. That's likely to continue.

Change is hard. 15-year Top Workplaces winners talk about how they managed through tough years

Stalwarts share what strategies they still employ to move their companies forward.
Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a news conference about the new Meta data center in Rosemount with Brad Davis, director of data center community development f

Officials hope Facebook parent Meta's data center spurs more Rosemount projects

Site work on the $800 million project will begin this month.

Top Workplaces deadline extended until March

Nominations for the annual Star Tribune program are still being taken.

Nominations open for the 2024 Top Workplaces program

Any organization that employs 50 or more workers in Minnesota is eligible for the Star Tribune program.
Meta plans to build a data center for Rosemount.

Facebook parent Meta plans $700M data center for Rosemount

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents will vote next week whether to approve a 208-acre land sale to the tech giant.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says you need empathy to be a great leader.

In this day and age, leaders need a sharp edge — and empathy

A record 323 employers in Minnesota made the cut in our 14th annual Top Workplaces.
Portrait of Dr. Yohuru Williams, Distinguished University Chair and Professor of History and Founding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative, in th

Diversity expert to companies: Don't lose momentum gained in past few years

In an interview, Yohuru Williams of St. Thomas' Racial Justice Initiative talks about his approach to diversity training and his concerns about trend lines.
Star Tribune Top Workplaces nomination deadline extended

Star Tribune Top Workplaces nomination deadline extended

Any organization with 50 or more employees can be nominated for the list.
Lee and Penny Anderson on Tuesday pledged $75 million toward a new basketball and hockey arena at the University of St. Thomas.

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

Nominate your company for Minnesota's Top Workplaces list

The deadline to nominate companies is Feb. 10.

Best Buy's 'virtual store'

Best Buy has put aside 40,000 square feet of warehouse space for its online expert service.
Northshore taconite processing and shipping facility in Silver Bay and the Babbitt mine will idle at least until next spring.

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.

Watersports contribute over $3B to Minnesota economy

Minnesotans spend $1.1 billion on motor boats and accessories. There are 10,936 total recreational boating jobs, 4,104 marine manufacturing jobs and 54 marine manufacturers in Minnesota.
Workers want choices and flexibility and most want a hybrid work arrangement, surveys have found.

Workers changed during the pandemic, and Minnesota employers must, too

More workers want flexibility, and a culture that respects their views.
Amada Tufano, CEO of Genevive, won the Top Workplaces leadership award for midsize companies.

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.
Trucks lined up next to containers at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Calif.

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.
Edwin Colon Perez worked his shift at the Polaris manufacturing plant in Roseau in 2020.

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.
Glen Taylor, who sold part of the Timberwolves to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, is on the Forbes billionaires list.

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.
Medtronic employees doubled ventilator production during the pandemic, here at the plant in Galway, Ireland.

Moving beyond devices: Medtronic at critical juncture as technology, competition evolve

A shift in culture is key to achieving ambitious strategic business goals.
Medtronic’s operational headquarters in Fridley.

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.
BBQ Holdings, which owns Famous Dave’s, has bought the Tahoe Joe’s chain in California.

Famous Dave's owner buys California steakhouse chain

Tahoe Joe's is the second acquisition BBQ Holdings has made this year.
Some Best Buy teams will return to the headquarters offices in Richfield in November.

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.
Shown is Amazon’s larger fulfillment center in Shakopee. The Brooklyn Park warehouse, though, smaller will rely on automation to help workers as the

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.
An item designed by Rachel Comey for Target.

Target's fall designer collection includes Rachel Comey, Victor Glemaud, Sandy Liang

Most items in the limited collection will be under $50.
Target has increased its higher education benefits.

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.
The choir group Known MPLS performed at last year’s Juneteenth Community Festival in north Minneapolis.

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.
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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 now offers an expanded variety of grills, including Weber and Traeger brands.

Best Buy making play for outdoor grill, accessory market

The Richfield-based retailer also said it would start featuring Tumi luggage and bags.
Preparations were underway this week at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for the Twin Cities Auto Show, which opens Saturday.

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.
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$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.
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Shoreview's Deluxe buying Texas-based payment processing company for $960M

The acquisition will be the largest in Deluxe's history.
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Target unveils new plan to deliver online deliveries faster

The process will be tested in the Twin Cities before being rolled out elsewhere.
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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.
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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.
Winners are chosen based on the feedback employees gave in a survey.

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."
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Specialized mini Apple stores to open in Target locations, online

The deal also means more Apple products will be available
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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.
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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.
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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

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.
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Minneapolis Downtown Council to offer $1.6M in small business grants

Big companies provided the money, led by a $1 million Target contribution.
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Twin Cities Auto Show moving to State Fairgrounds

The annual event also is moving to May because of the pandemic.
3M headquarters in Maplewood.

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.
Shoppers walked past a large Moose made out of Christmas lights during the holiday season in 2019 at Rosedale Center. (RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER/renee.jon

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.
Camille Nelson left , an employee with Finley's Bakery checked pet snacks as Co-owner of Finley's Angie Gallus looks on.] Jerry Holt •Jerry.Holt@sta

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
The Ecolab corporate headquarters building in St. Paul.

Ecolab results improve as economy picks up

The St. Paul-based company rallied from COVID-19 losses.
Shown in this file photo is the Regis salon in downtown Minneapolis. (DAVID BREWSTER/STar Tribune)

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 operational headquarters in Fridley. (Star Tribune file photo)

Medtronic hopes to expand share of diabetes management market with new acquisition

Companion Medical will help the company expand its diabetes management offerings.
3M headquarters in Maplewood. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune)

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.
A robot at Graco assembles air hose needle valves at Graco on Feb. 14, 2019, A key manufacturing index slipped into negative territory in Minnesota an

Recession caused by coronavirus hits Graco, Pentair hard in Q2

Both companies saw decreases of more than 10%; earnings were down more than 25%.
"Paw Patrol Live" is produced by VStar Entertainment in Fridley.

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.
Lana Jones, interim CEO of J.L. Buchanan, said firms need to avoid a hasty response to crisis.

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 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

Macy's will open its stores in malls that are operating: Burnsville Center, Crossroads Center in St. Cloud, Maplewood Mall, Ridgedale Center in Minnet

Macy's, Kohl's stores reopening today in Minnesota

The stores will be open daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Hy-Vee is offering free full-service gas at its stations, including this one in Robbinsdale. (NICOLE NERI/Star Tribune)

Hy-Vee offering free full-service gas service

The service will be available at select pumps at all stations.
3M cautioned that one element of the order gives it concern — that it must cease exporting respirators made in the U.S. to Canada and Latin America.

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.
JB Hudson president Nick Pechman, far left, helped Gene McClurg, center, look for a dress watch, preferably a Cartier or Rolex. ] Luxury jeweler JB Hu

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.
Shown is the Christopher & Banks store in Mall of America. (Shari L. Gross/Star Tribune)

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 is increasing its minimum wage across the U.S. (Dreamstime/TNS)

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.
Alexandria Industries has become creative in hiring strategies since the tight job market emerged in Minnesota. (ELIZABETH FLORES/Star Tribune)

Impact of coronavirus arrives on doorstep of Minnesota companies

Surveys show virus has caused supply slowdown
Star Tribune Top Workplaces nomination deadline extended

Star Tribune Top Workplaces nomination deadline extended

Front end developer Kjrsten Holt works with colleagues in the kitchen at the Clockwork office in Minneapolis. ] (Leila Navidi/Star Tribune) leila.navi

Top Workplaces nominations closing soon

Employees will take five-minute, 24-question surveys to help determine 2020's best.
Polaris reported earnings that beat Wall Street expectations.

Polaris CEO says company has become more 'nimble' setting up a better 2020

Pentair's North American headquarters in Golden Valley.

Pentair positions itself to become bigger player in residential clean-water market

The Mall of America M&Ms store will feature a two-story footprint of the brand's signature "chocolate wall." (Provided by Mars Retail Group )

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.
At SDG, the top-ranked midsize company in 2019, employees have a tabletop-gaming group.

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

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.
Brandon Elliottt, CEO of Northern Oil and Gas, will step down on Dec. 31. (Provided photo)

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.