New MEDA Board Member from Deluxe

Laura L. Radewald

Vice President of Enterprise Brand, Customer Experience & Media Relations

Laura Radewald joined Deluxe in October 2007 as vice president of Enterprise Brand, soon becoming a member of the executive leadership team, as vice president of Enterprise Brand, Customer Experience and Media Relations. She is responsible for building the enterprise brand and managing Deluxe's external communications. Laura has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, branding and advertising. Prior to joining Deluxe, she held marketing consultant or vice president of marketing roles for companies in the software, technology, financial services, entertainment and food industries.

Laura has also been an entrepreneur, owning a Minneapolis-based ad agency serving several Fortune 500 clients. She began her career in brand management at General Mills and direct marketing at American Express Financial Advisors. Laura has a master's in business administration from the University of Texas and a Bachelor's in packaging from Michigan State University.

Welcome Laura!

Uncommon Success

All Washed Up Wins Camp Ripley Contract

MEDA hosts the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) which helps all MInnesota businesses pursue federal contracts.  When a current client, Shantae Holmes of All Washed Up, a laundromat that started up last year in North Minneapolis, came knocking on PTAC's door, Area Manager Jamara Cheek taught her what she needed to know to bid on federal contracts. 

PTAC warns its clients that winning federal business takes time and patience.  But Shantae saw an opportunity, whipped up her bid over the weekend just making the deadline, and now four months later she will start doing laundry for the United States Army's Camp Ripley.  The contract totals $389,000 over five years. 

On her first visit to the Camp, she was introduced to her contract officer who then showed her four months of dirty laundry! 

Congratulations, Shantae!

Meet new MEDA Business Consultant -

Patrick Pariseau 

Patrick Pariseau, grew up in Northern Minnesota, the small town of Eveleth, Minnesota. He obtained his Business Administration degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has over 30 years of diverse corporate executive experience in the financial sector. He has worked as a Trust Administrator, Financial Planner along with holding executive positions with banks and credit unions as CEO/President. Pariseau has worked with businesses of all sizes and specializes in SBA (Small Business Administration) and Commercial Lending of all types. His experience in the areas of raising capital, acquisition, and growth are unmatched in the industry. He has held positions as a Board Member of several foundations and nonprofit organizations though out his career. He enjoys working with and helping small and mid-size businesses to obtain their financial objectives.

Patrick's focus will allow businesses of color to obtain successful financial growth through innovative capital  strategies and maintain progressive growth and stability in an ever changing market.  

Featured MEDA Client 

Meet Garrio Harrison of Doublethink, LLC

Doublethink is a digital consultancy formed in 2010 to help organizations establish and grow their brand presence in the rapidly evolving social web. Together they unlock and expose opportunities for unique marketing moments that attract customers and motivate action.