# Kathy Tunheim

> Kathy Tunheim is co-founder, CEO and Principal of Tunheim, the Minnesota strategic communications firm established in 1990 with four colleagues from Honeywell. Her career spans speechwriting for Wendell Anderson, corporate communications leadership, crisis counsel, international agency collaboration through IPREX and civic service, including a volunteer job-creation advisory role for Governor Mark Dayton. She received the University of Minnesota Hubbard School’s inaugural Aluminary Award in 2023.

- **Role:** Co-founder, CEO and Principal at Tunheim
- **Organizations:** Tunheim, Honeywell (former executive), IPREX (past global president), McKnight Foundation (board service, 2016-2025), Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Landscape Structures, Itasca Project, Greater MSP (involved in formation), Office of Governor Mark Dayton (former senior adviser), Office of Wendell R. Anderson (former media relations and speechwriting staff)
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A., Political Science, University of Minnesota
- **Known for:** Co-founded Tunheim in 1990 and has remained its chief executive through the firm’s evolution., Past global president of the independent agency network IPREX., 2020 Minnesota Business Hall of Fame inductee.

## Career timeline

- **1974** — Begins a summer internship with Minnesota Governor Wendell Anderson; works on speechwriting through college.
- **1979** — Graduates from the University of Minnesota; begins policy work at Comten.
- **1980** — Joins Honeywell’s public relations team; later becomes vice president for public relations and internal communications.
- **1990** — Co-founds Tunheim Santrizos Co. with four Honeywell colleagues.
- **2001** — Sells the firm to Grey Global (rendered Gray Global in the 2020 Twin Cities Business timeline).
- **2003** — Repurchases the firm as sole owner.
- **2007** — Tunheim joins IPREX.
- **2009** — Elected worldwide president of IPREX, according to her IPRA author biography.
- **2011-2012** — Serves part-time as Governor Mark Dayton’s senior adviser focused on job creation; the appointment is voluntary.
- **2016** — Joins the McKnight Foundation board.
- **2018** — Recruits John Blackshaw as president and chief operating officer.
- **2020** — Inducted into the Minnesota Business Hall of Fame by Twin Cities Business.
- **2021** — Inducted into the Minnesota Women Business Owners Hall of Fame.
- **2023** — Receives the inaugural Hubbard School Aluminary Award.
- **2025** — Completes her McKnight Foundation board tenure at year-end.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Tunheim in 1990 and has remained its chief executive through the firm’s evolution.
- Past global president of the independent agency network IPREX.
- 2020 Minnesota Business Hall of Fame inductee.
- 2021 Minnesota Women Business Owners Hall of Fame inductee.
- 2018 Most Admired CEO honoree, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
- Inaugural Hubbard School Aluminary Award recipient, 2023.
- Served as a volunteer senior adviser on job creation to Governor Mark Dayton.
- Participated in the formation of the Greater MSP economic development partnership.

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — McKnight Foundation recognized her service and announced that her board tenure, which began in 2016, would end that year.
- **2024-03** — Shared a LinkedIn post about her appearance in Being Understood Episode 3, discussing communications and navigating challenges.
- **2023-10** — Honored with the inaugural Aluminary Award at the Hubbard School’s annual strategic communications lecture.
- **2023-09** — Published Rethinking Crisis Planning, arguing that crisis preparedness can help organizations undertake necessary change.

## Links

- Website: https://tunheim.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryntunheim/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/kathy-tunheim
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22