people profile

Carly Van Veldhuizen, the mastermind behind Girl Friday’s mesmerizing creative custom installations, talks inspiration, materials and the value of a solid team.

Q&A with a Cicerone

Kate Sidoti is a private chef, plant-based caterer and owner of Brim.

Leprechaun’s Dreamcycle started as fulfillment of a dream.

Remembering Carrie Donovan Ford’s contributions to Minnesota tourism.

Here’s the one question you might want to avoid asking Robbie Harrell when you see one of his sculptures at an event: “Is that real ice?” The CEO of Minnesota Ice Sculptures says his com - pany’s sculptures are so clear and precisely carved that they prompt that question at every event they’re displayed. “Once people realize it really, truly is carved from ice, they’re excited about it,” he says. “There are always lots of selfies with the ice sculpture.”

Minnesotans have no trouble rattling off the reasons they love this place: abundant lakes, top-notch restaurants, a vibrant arts and entertainment scene, and, of course, the new U.S. Bank Stadium. But all out-of-towners often hear about are the harsh winters. 

Craig Oliver’s success comes from the people he works with and for.

“Hospitality is in my DNA,” says Darren Ennis, owner of Sheba Productions. The event planner is an Iowa native whose youth as a restaurant rat in his father’s Sioux Falls, South Dakota eateries sparked his interest in creating memorable celebrations for others.

Anyone with a Delorean or more than 20 years industry experience can tell you the event planner role looked very different in the ‘80s. This is true for everyone, but especially Koleen Roach, director of meetings and conference management at St. Paul-based Securian Financial Group, who fell into the industry.

Her first job at Dayton-Hudson Corporation was not in event planning. “I was working in the human resources department running all their training and development—basically running all of the programs logistically,” she says.