Gov. Mark Dayton has named veteran development leader Mark Phillips as the new head of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board.
He replaces Tony Sertich, who left the northern Minnesota state development agency to head the Northland Foundation in Duluth.
Phillips had been state commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development in 2011-12; he is currently Director of Business Development at Kraus-Anderson Construction Company.
Phillips has experience with the IRRRB, which is the state agency that uses taconite fees to promote development in northeastern Minnesota — years ago he was the IRRRB’s Director of Economic Development under Gov. Rudy Perpich.
He’s also been Director of Development for Minnesota Power and Vice President of Northeast Ventures Corporation.
The IRRRB, based in Eveleth, has an annual budget of $40 million and 55 employees.
