Kelsey Johnson
The board of directors of the Iron Mining Association (IMA), made an announcement on March 10 that it was appointing lifelong northern Minnesotan Kelsey Johnson as the new president of the IMA. North Shore residents got to know Johnson during her run last fall for the House 3A seat held by the late David Dill.
Johnson takes the role in place of previous IMA President Craig Pagel, who announced his retirement earlier this year and has been a champion for iron mining policies for more than nine years.
“The IMA and its members are excited to welcome Kelsey Johnson as our new leader,” said Board Chairman Larry Sutherland. “Her experience and enthusiasm will be valuable assets as we seek responsible public policy solutions at all levels of government on behalf of the iron mining industry.”
Johnson’s experience includes more than five years in the business sector and three years in various roles with the Minnesota House, Senate and Attorney General’s office. Most recently, Johnson represented the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) as its director of state government affairs. While at GMA, Johnson advocated on behalf of the food, beverage and consumer products industry to ensure uniformity among half of the states in the U.S.
Prior to representing GMA, Johnson served as a consultant with Hill Capitol Strategies where she successfully represented a broad and diverse client base on a variety of issues.
Johnson is a native of St. Louis County, Minnesota. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in applied ethics and a Master of Arts degree in organizational leadership, both from St. Catherine University in the Twin Cities.
“I look forward to utilizing my educational and professional experience to bring prosperity and growth to the IMA membership, the iron mining industry and Iron Range communities. It is an honor for me to have the opportunity to represent such an important industry for Minnesota and our country,” said Johnson.
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