Dayton’s sons included in trade trip

When Gov. Mark Dayton departs on trade mission to Germany, Sweden and Norway next week, his two adult sons will be part of the delegation.

Thirty-five business executives, government officials and higher education leaders were selected for the trip June 12-21. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced the participants today. The list includes Andrew Dayton and Eric Dayton, who jointly own a Scandinavian restaurant in Minneapolis.

Dayton told reporters that his sons are paying their own way, which is standard practice for trade mission participants. He also said they will only be along for a portion of the trip.

"They're really on their own trip," Dayton said. They're staying in Sweden longer. They're checking out the international competition, some of the other restaurants."

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The 10-day trip includes stops in Berlin, Dusseldorf and Cologne, Oslo and Stockholm. Delegates will explore new trade opportunities and make business connections.

Here is the delegation list:

James Allen, founding partner, Masters Alliance Consultancy LLC
Kjell Bergh, chairman and CEO, Borton Volvo Inc. and Borton Overseas LLC
Edward Black, president and CEO, Reimbursement Strategies LLC
Andrew Dayton, principal, The Daft Group
Eric Dayton, principal, The Daft Group
Ellen Ewald, partner, Tysvar LLC and mobileAxept Inc.
Kevin Hanson, president, International Creative Capital LLC
John Hasselberg, associate professor of global business leadership, College of St. Benedict and St. John's University
Jeffery Hensley, vice president, The Wall Cos./Minnesota Innovation Park
Pat Hentges, city manager, Mankato
Ralf Keysser, managing principal, Hannover Ltd.
Michael Langley, CEO, Greater MSP
Julie Langley, representative, Lakselaget
Diana Lawson, dean, Herberger School of Business, St. Cloud State University
Annette Lund, vice president, Diversified Plastics Inc.
Terje Mikalsen, CEO and partner, Tysvar LLC and mobileAxept Inc.
Bhabani Misra, director of graduate programs in software, University of St. Thomas
Barbara Muller, attorney, Fredrikson & Byron
Thomas Newton, vice president of business development, KNOCK Inc.
Randy Pelletier, owner and president, Pellco Machine Inc.
Bruce Peterson, executive dean for academic initiatives, St. Cloud Technical and Community College
Earl Potter III, president, St. Cloud State University
Jeffrey Rageth, vice president of public affairs, 3M
Susan Rani, president, Rani Engineering
Maureen Reed, executive director, Nobel Peace Prize Forum
Devon Russell, owner and president, ViViR International LLC
Jon Scheve, president of grain trading, Superior Feed Ingredients LLC
Nick Scott, director of international transfer pricing, Grant Thornton LLP
Ken Smith, president and CEO, Ever-Green Energy LLC
Ivar Sorensen, managing partner, The M&A Group LLC
Clifford Steer, professor of medicine and genetics, cell biology and development, University of Minnesota
Lars Svensson, president, Klingborg Consulting LLC
John Wall, president, The Wall Cos./Minnesota Innovation Park
Pei Zhang, CEO and owner, Thin Film Sciences LLC
Jonathan Zierdt, president and CEO, Greater Mankato Growth Inc.

Dayton’s sons included in trade trip

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