Governance

In 1991, Meritex created a Governing Board with a majority of independent directors to guide the company to long term financial stability and profitability while upholding the highest ethical standards. 

Our Current Board of Directors:

Bye Barsness, member since 1998.  Currently an investor and independent consultant, Bye was formerly CEO of Pink Business Furniture and Pink Supply Corporation, CFO of Space Center, Inc., and vice president of St. Paul Companies.  Bye holds a B.A. in accounting from the University of St. Thomas and an MBA from Northwestern University.

Scott Becker, member since 2005.  Scott is founder and managing partner of Northstar Capital and has held management positions at Adler Management, General Mills, and Control Data.  He has an MBA from the University of Minnesota, a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Rolf Engh, member since 2003.  Rolf is currently executive vice president and general counsel for Valspar Corporation.  He was a partner at Lindquist and Vennum law firm in Minneapolis, MN.  He has a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law.

Harry McNeely, Jr., member since 1991, is Chair Emeritus having worked at the company in various capacities since the 1950’s.  He has degrees from Yale University and Stanford.

Paddy McNeely, Chairman and member since 2001 and current CEO of Meritex.  Paddy was vice president of commercial banking at National City Bank of Minneapolis for ten years before he began managing properties for Meritex in 1991.  He became CEO in 2001.  Paddy has a B.A. in business administration from the University of St. Thomas.

Jim Olson, member since 1998.  Most recently president of Schneider National in Green Bay, WI, James has also served as a senior executive with Carlson Companies, Pillsbury, and Graco.  He has a J.D. from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from Harvard University.

Shannon McNeely Whitaker, member since 2001.  Shannon serves as a board member for Eco Education, White Bear Montessori, Garden of Hope Montessori, and the Minnesota Independent School Fund.  She is also a trustee for St. Paul Academy and Summit School and a director of the McNeely Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to education, human services, the environment, and the arts.  She holds a B.A. from Boston College.