Allison Hohn named MBOLD Managing Director

Industry leader Allison Hohn will join GREATER MSP next month as MBOLD Managing Director after several years leading food and agriculture entrepreneurship organization Naturally Minnesota.

“I’m honored to join GREATER MSP and MBOLD as Managing Director,” said Hohn. “MBOLD’s coalition model provides a unique opportunity for Minnesota to be at the forefront of solving global challenges in the food and agricultural industry.

The work has long been a source of inspiration, and I’m excited to help build on the progress we’ve made - connecting people, scaling impact, and advancing practical solutions.”

Prior to Naturally Minnesota, Allison worked for more than a decade in R&D and product development roles at companies including Target and Land O’Lakes. She earned Master’s degrees in Food Science & Nutrition and Supply Chain Management at the University of Minnesota. As an MBOLD coalition member, Allison co-founded the Bold Growth initiative, which has accelerated high-growth food and agriculture startups from around the world through hands on coaching from several of the world’s leading companies.

“Allison knows the food sector and the MBOLD coalition inside and out,” said Jase Wagner, MBOLD Chair and President & CEO of Compeer Financial. “Having experienced her passion, dedication and expertise firsthand, we are thrilled to have Allison step into this role. Her leadership and insights will bring immense value as we accelerate our impact and develop practical solutions to global challenges across food and agriculture.”

Allison will provide important leadership across a growing network of coalition members and partners working in teams to drive innovation in protein, advance agricultural resiliency, scale promising startups, and grow solutions for flexible film packaging. The MBOLD team includes other GREATER MSP professional staff Tamara Downs Schwei, BJ Haun, and Matt Lewis, as well as cross-sector experts and senior executives from major companies operating across the food and agriculture supply chain as well as researchers, farmers, nonprofits, government agencies, and other partners helping drive the future of food.

“The GREATER MSP Partnership is building the next economy by focusing on areas where the world needs big solutions,” said Peter Frosch, President and CEO of GREATER MSP. “We are excited to welcome Allison to a growing team of leaders building what’s next. From next-generation agriculture and protein systems to new solutions in medical technology, hypersonic flight, bio industrial innovation, emerging clean-energy technologies, and beyond. With Allison’s leadership, the partnership will be able to grow bigger, faster.”

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